Daring to Dream

Chapter Thirteen

OK, hi guys! I swear I'm not dead lol, just very very busy. I finally finished this chapter, but this is pure filler and friendly fluff. Or rather, the calm before the storm. The story will go downhill from the next episode, which will come sooner!

Emerie whirled to the guilty culprit, her little sister, who had evidently fallen after the throw and was inspecting her knee. "OMEGA!"

"I'm sorry! I just wanted to show I can throw the ball far." She gave the cutest reason and sprinted over to me to check.

"Well you proved your point." I smiled, taking off the hood I wear every time I go outside. "But you got hurt."

Omega gasped and hugged my middle. "HI ZOYA!"

"Hello, kid," I bent down to hug her and kissed her cheek. "How are you?"

"Good. Everyone has been asking where you were. Let's go, I'll show you round the house."

As I stood up, I saw a tall figure crossing his arms, Omega running to him, the settling dark making it difficult to see anything except for the bright red shirt and bandana.

"Omega, I told you to play safely."

"And I am safe." She tried to joke, but quickly amended, "sorry, Huntah."

"You have to be careful, kid." Hunter crouched on a knee and looked at her. "Now, tell me, are you hurt?"

My heart jumped to my throat as Hunter approached us. He was looking much better than my expectations after his burns, if you don't count the bandages on his arms. He looked like a carefree version of himself, with a red T-shirt and dark blue jeans, hair blowing slightly in the wind.

"Hello, Zoya," he came to me and gave a slight smile. "Glad to have you here. Are you hurt?" He gave a very dad-like look, trying to be strict but unable to hide his fondness, to Omega, who was holding my hand, ready to be my guide around the house.

"No, no, I'm perfectly fine, thanks. How are you now? I'm sorry I couldn't come to see you."

"I'm very much fine, thanks for asking. And it's completely OK, you couldn't have done anything else anyways in the unit. Thanks for bringing Emerie and the others dinner."

I blushed. "It was my pleasure. Shouldn't you be resting?"

He rolled his eyes, steps guiding towards the house as I dogged after him. "Rest is for the dead. Anyways, I have had too much rest already."

"I'm sorry that you couldn't participate in the tournament. I really understand you," I said earnestly, having felt the same when I caught the fever, my words tumbling in a rush. "I saw your replay, and you were fantastic. I wish you all the best for the future."

He looked at me, slightly surprised, but nodded and just said, "thanks. It means a lot."

"I gave her the clips!" Omega piped in. As I ruffled her hair, Hunter opened the door to a hallway, and he took the nearest flight of stairs. I still hadn't gained the courage to give him the flowers. "Well, I guess he's tired," Omega announced, as if it wasn't evident from his face.

As Omega introduced the first room, the living room, I saw a sea of familiar faces.

"Look who showed up." Crosshair threw his toothpick at me.

"Hello!" Wrecker yelled. "You're just in time for cake!"

I smiled and took a place next to Honora on the carpet and took a piece Crosshair offered.

"Did you bring your laptop?" Alysleil asked me.

"Yeah. Did you send them to my email?"

"The videos are too large and too many to be transferred. So we might connect the datapad to your device." Tech supplied.