Screaming (but no noise comes out)

Chapter 17

It was official. Autumn Knight was no more. She and Winter were driving down the motorway, marriage certificate balanced on her lap. As of an hour ago, she and Winter were officially married. She didn't want to be a Knight anymore, and after what her father had done she had made the decision she'd be changing her surname in the near future. Now she was Autumn Fortune, and she and Winter were heading to the passport office. It was her birthday tomorrow, and for their honeymoon they'd be going to Venice, starting her 35th year of life in Venice as Autumn Fortune. She had plans to burn her old passport once she had her new one today, and she didn't have her driving licence after it was revoked due to her seizure. Winter parked the car and they went into the passport office, proudly holding the new marriage certificate. They did look quite fancy compared to everyone else, Winter in his suit and Autumn in her black dress.

The appointment didn't last too long, it was only ten minutes and lots of paperwork to be signed before it was official. Autumn Louise Knight was no more, she was now Autumn Fortune. They'd packed their suitcases in the car, and would be spending the night at a hotel by Heathrow airport, ready to leave the next morning. Nobody knew what they were doing except the two of them, and they were excited. The newlywed Mr and Mrs Fortune checked into the hotel, and while they had decided to stay at a hotel near the airport their flight didn't leave too early in the morning, but it also meant they wouldn't have to wake up too early in order to travel to the airport, instead only having to walk five minutes to the terminal. It also meant they could take their time on their wedding night and not have to wake up too early, instead being able to stay up and fall into a post-coital sleep. They did still have to wake up early to get to the airport, but had an excited and giddy feeling as they bypassed the check in desk and headed straight to security, having already checked in online and opting not to take any checked baggage, and only hand luggage instead, not wanting to have too much baggage. They only wanted to have what was needed and could be fitted into the small suitcases that would go into the overhead compartment of the plane. That, and the tulip coloured Jellycat blossom bunny that Winter had bought from the hospital shop. The one they held alongside their daughter, the only remnant they had that she'd touched. And they knew they had to get away.

Autumn took the lead across the terminal going straight through world duty free without a second glance until they were in the main part of the airport.

"Let's go get some breakfast my sweet" Autumn said. Winter smiled, glad that she was eating again. He'd noticed that she was running to the toilet more often after meals, and picking at her food instead of eating it properly, often leaving some behind. He knew she thought he hadn't noticed but he did. He always did. They sat down at a restaurant and ordered coffee, winter was somewhat surprised when Autumn ordered the avocado toast instead of the bacon, but didn't say anything. While he and Autumn had been away many times together, they were all UK based and it was their first time going on a plane together. Once breakfast was finished, they walked around the shops and went to Harrods. Winter noticed the way Autumn looked at the baby clothes but she didn't say anything, flashing Winter a nervous smile before they went to their gate.
They hadn't booked business class, as there was no availability and they only booked the flight the day before.

"It's your birthday" the gate agent commented.

"It is" Autumn smirked.

"Enjoy your flight, and happy birthday" the gate agent said as she passed the passports back to Autumn and Winter. Autumn nodded her thanks, and she and Winter went through the corridor, past the drop off point for gate checked items and onto the jet bridge. There wasn't much of a queue, so they were able to go straight onto the plane and down the aisle. Fortunately even though they wanted business class, there wasn't that much of a difference on British airways between the business class seats and regular seats, as Autumn and winter walked towards their seats, just over the wing of the plane. Autumn settled herself in the window seat, Winter in the middle with some of the bags on the aisle seat in the hopes that nobody would sit by them. Luckily for them, nobody did.