A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 130: Take Off

~ November 2nd / 2016 ~

I lie awake next to my loving alien boy staring up at the roof of our bedroom, daydreaming on how perfectly sweet and romantic he was during our dance at the Halloween Festival. It's barely dawn, and when there's an uproar outside, I roll over to face him, hoping this moment will last just a little bit longer. I watch him sleep and listen to him breathe. I follow his breaths easily; they're slow and natural, and I have the sudden urge to brush a finger through his hair, tuck it out of the way of his eyes. He's pretty when he's asleep; vulnerable even, and I suppose for a Garde with almost every Legacy, it's odd to see, but I love it.

I love everything about him: the softness of his cheeks against the pillow, the way he looks at me when he wakes up and dozes off and every time in between, the messiness of his hair—it needs a cut soon—and especially the way he thinks and behaves. He's perfect; it's as simple as that. He's the whole package and I'm proud to call him that. I'm glad he's mine and for once, I'm glad to say we're starting a happy family together.

As scared as he is, I think he'll make an amazing dad. I might not be able to see the future like him, but I know that much is true. He'll be a loving, fun, and respectable dad to idolize, and I know he'll do all he can for her, just like he does everything for me.

He rolls over to his side, facing me, and my thumb falls from the beautiful tuffs of hair to his cheek before he opens his eyes. "Hey," he says, gently, groggily.

"Hi," I say. "Sorry to wake you. You're just so smol when you're asleep."

"Smol?"

"Cute," I reiterate. "And pretty, and sweet, and vulnerable, and I love you."

He smiles and chuckles a bit, then smooths a hand over my hair behind my ear. "I love you, too," he says. "How long were you awake watching me?"

I shrug and quickly glance at the clock behind him. "Forty minutes or so?"

The idea makes him frown, inevitably making me frown. "Another nightmare?"

I shake my head. "No. I just couldn't sleep," I explain. "You know, today being the day and all."

He nods. "Oh. Right. Last day."

I nod back. "You need a haircut by the way. May I?"

He smiles and gestures me to it, and as excited as I am—which is considerably more than I thought I'd be—I bound up and scurry to the bathroom for a pair of scissors. He's already in the lounge room standing, waiting for me, as shirtless as can be, and for a minute, I just gawk and take in the beauty. He smirks. "Enjoying the view, Em?" he asks, cockily, almost as much so as Nine. "I thought you were going to give me haircut."

"I am," I huff, playfully, and pull him by the waistband of his sweatpants to sit him down on the toilet seat. "Hold still."

"Only if I can shower with you after," he teases.

I give him a playful sideways look. "I thought that was a given."

***

By the time we're ready to go, bae asks if I have everything, and after running through the checklist I've had in my head for the past six weeks, I tell him I do.

"Even the epidural?"

"Everything," I note, patting my backpack behind me. "It's all there."

"Guess it's time to face the music then."

We're quick to find a loud and large crowd gathered in the middle of the courtyard. Nine's already up on the stage in front of them all, as is Malcolm, Lexa, Colonel Archibald, Henri, Six, Sam, Eight, and half a dozen of—what look like—government men in black suits.