Painted in Fate

Extra Chapter 7:

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room as Babe stirred awake. He blinked slowly, his eyes adjusting to the soft light before turning his head to find Billy still asleep beside him, his arm draped lazily across Babe's waist.

Babe smiled to himself, feeling a quiet contentment settle over him. It wasn't often that they got mornings like this—mornings where there was no rush, no deadlines, no obligations. Just the two of them, tangled up in the sheets, with all the time in the world.

He gently slipped out of Billy's grasp, careful not to wake him as he padded across the room and made his way to the balcony. The view was breathtaking—blue skies stretched out as far as the eye could see, the ocean below shimmering under the sun. It was one of their favorite vacation spots, a private little beach house they'd rented for a few days of pure relaxation.

Babe leaned against the railing, letting the cool breeze wash over him. He closed his eyes, breathing in the salty sea air, feeling the calmness of the moment settle deep into his bones.

"Hey," Billy's voice came from behind him, soft and groggy from sleep. "Why'd you leave me in bed all alone, Tofu?"

Babe chuckled, turning around to see Billy standing in the doorway, his hair tousled from sleep and his eyes still half-closed. He looked adorably disheveled, and Babe couldn't help but smile wider. "Just wanted to enjoy the view."

Billy smirked as he walked over, wrapping his arms around Babe from behind and resting his chin on Babe's shoulder. "You could've enjoyed the view from bed. I'm right there, you know."

Babe rolled his eyes, though the warmth of Billy's embrace made him feel even more at peace. "You're such a dork, Mumu."

Billy chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to the side of Babe's neck. "And you love it."

Babe sighed dramatically but leaned back into Billy's chest, feeling completely content. "I guess I do."

They stood there for a while, watching the waves crash against the shore, the sound of the ocean filling the peaceful silence between them. It was one of those rare, perfect moments where everything seemed to align—the sun, the sea, and the quiet joy of being together.

After a while, Billy spoke again, his voice low and thoughtful. "You know, we've come a long way, haven't we?"

Babe tilted his head, looking up at Billy's face. "Yeah," he said softly. "We really have."

Billy tightened his arms around him slightly, his voice filled with emotion. "I'm glad we made it through everything. I can't imagine my life without you, Tofu."

Babe's heart swelled at Billy's words, and he turned around in his arms, looking up at him with a soft smile. "I can't imagine mine without you either."

They stood there for a moment, their eyes locked, the weight of their journey together hanging in the air between them. There had been so much—so much heartache, so much pain, but also so much love. And now, standing on the other side of it all, it felt like they had found something deeper, something unbreakable.

Babe leaned up and kissed Billy gently, the soft press of their lips saying more than words ever could. When they pulled away, Billy's eyes were filled with that familiar warmth, the kind that made Babe feel like he was the only person in the world.

"You hungry?" Babe asked after a beat, wanting to break the intensity of the moment with something lighter.

Billy's stomach growled in response, and they both burst into laughter. "I'll take that as a yes," Babe said, shaking his head as he stepped out of Billy's embrace and headed back inside.

An hour later, they were sitting out on the balcony again, a breakfast spread laid out in front of them—fresh fruit, pancakes, eggs, and coffee. The beach stretched out below them, the sound of the waves a constant, soothing backdrop.

"This is perfect," Babe said, cutting into his pancake and taking a bite. "We should do this more often."

Billy nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "Agreed. We definitely deserve more of this."

They ate in comfortable silence for a while, both of them basking in the tranquility of the morning. Eventually, Billy set his fork down and leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful.

"You know," he began slowly, "I've been thinking..."

Babe raised an eyebrow, curious. "About what?"

Billy hesitated for a moment before continuing. "About us. About the future."

Babe set his fork down as well, giving Billy his full attention. "Okay..."

Billy's expression softened as he reached across the table to take Babe's hand. "I want this, Babe. I want more mornings like this. I want us to have a future where we're not just surviving, but really living. Together."

Babe's heart skipped a beat at Billy's words. "Billy..."

"I know we've been through a lot," Billy continued, his voice steady. "But I feel like we're finally in a place where we can start thinking about the future. Our future."

Babe squeezed his hand, feeling a wave of emotion wash over him. "You're right. I want that too."

Billy smiled, his eyes filled with love. "Then let's make it happen. Let's build that future together."

Babe smiled back, his heart full. "Yeah," he said softly. "Let's do it."

They finished their breakfast, the conversation shifting to lighter topics, but the weight of Billy's words lingered in the air. The future felt wide open, full of possibilities, and for the first time in a long time, Babe felt ready to embrace it.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, they decided to head down to the beach for a swim. Babe had always loved the ocean, and Billy had insisted they spend at least one full day lounging by the water.

They spent the rest of the day in and out of the waves, the sun warm on their skin, the laughter easy and carefree. It was exactly the kind of day they had both needed—no worries, no past haunting them, just the present and each other.

And as they lay on the sand later, watching the sun dip toward the horizon, Babe felt an overwhelming sense of peace. This was what he had always wanted—just him and Billy, living their lives together, free from the weight of the past.

"Hey, Mumu?" Babe said softly, his eyes still on the horizon.

"Yeah?" Billy replied, turning his head to look at him.

Babe smiled, his heart full. "I think we're going to be just fine."

Billy smiled back, leaning over to press a soft kiss to Babe's lips. "I know we are."