Midnight Storm

Chapter 3: Maria

'Are you sure you've got everything? All your books? All your clothes?' I asked Hope 'Yes it's all packed' Hope said. 'I'm ready' she said looking at the photo in her hand. 'Here, these should help you keep in contact with us' I said as I gave her a leather notebook and a quill. 'Best ones there are'. 'And this should help to protect them' Maria said as she gave her a satchel. Inside the satchel was a compartment for a photo. Hope started to take the picture of her family out of her frame, 'Here, one last thing' I gave her a photo of all of us on New Years Eve and put it in the notebook and she put the picture of her family back into the frame. 'Thank you, I'll miss you both' she said with tears starting to run down her face. Maria wiped them away and we took her to the train station where the school train was waiting for the students to make their way aboard onto it's ancient carriages. The train looked a lot like the train from a series of books I once read when I was a boy. It looked alike but completely different at the same time. I watched as she boarded the train, her luggage was in the last carriage but she held the satchel containing the two photos, the notebook and quill close to her. The train started up, the driver blew the whistle and before I knew it Hope was smiling and waving a sweet farewell to us from her seat. I sighed, 'Don't worry Mark, she will be fine.' Maria said reassuringly. I held her hand, 'Yes she will.' I replied

Yesterday I had watched as the girl I had learnt to love and care for was taken away to her new school. Even though I would miss her I knew that it would give me a chance to spend a bit more time focussing on Maria and I's relationship. Just then I looked at my pocket watch and realised I was going to be late for work. I ran down the stairs almost tripping on the bare nothingness that surrounds everyone. As I got into work my boss's car pulled up ' Thank the heavens he's late again' I thought with a silent sigh of complete and utter relief 'Sorry I'm late everyone, my baby kept me up last night. Where's Maria?' He asked 'No idea she wasn't with me at the house' I said surprisingly, Maria never missed work, EVER 'Shes been in the bathroom since she got here, she doesn't sound well' said one of my colleagues 'I'll go check on her' I said worriedly. I ran to the female bathroom as fast as I could without making it too obvious that I was panicking. I knocked and opened the door as I called her name softly. 'Maria? Are you ok?' I said. 'Come in' she said quietly. Her face was paler than the white clouds I loved to watch as a child and her eyes were red like she had been crying for days. 'Are you ok?' I asked 'I'm going to tell you something and you have to promise not to freak out.' She said worriedly 'I promise' I said curiously 'I'm.........I'm pregnant. You are the father' she said looking at her hands as she wrung and rubbed them nervously 'That's amazing.' I said excitedly. 'There's another thing, I think....... it might be more than one.Twins perhaps...' 'That's still fantastic news! Should we tell the others yet or go and make sure first?' 'Check it out first' she said 'Follow my lead' I said. I put my arm under her to support her and I helped her out of the bathroom. 'Is she ok?' My boss asked 'No sir, I think she has the flu. I'll take her home and take care of her. We should be back on Monday' I said as Maria leaned on my shoulder, I loved it when she leaned on me, I felt like I would never have to be alone anymore.

We got back to my house and I carried her inside like we had just gotten married, her arms were around my neck as I held her close. ' I will never let you go' I said to myself looking at her calm face. The colour had come back into her face and her eyes had gone back to normal. I could hear Alexa out in the backyard chasing birds or something. I sat down still holding her in my arms, she kissed me with a smile and I kissed her back.

'Your turn, what did you think of me the first time you met me?' I asked as I pulled the covers over her shoulder. 'I thought you were the most amazing, beautiful, and kind man I had ever met. Your turn, same question' she said romantically. 'I thought you were a beautiful, independent, young lady. I knew from the moment I saw you that you were the one I needed.' I said as I looked shyly into her beautiful blue eyes. 'I couldn't take my eyes off of you, your turn, why did you come here on Christmas?' I asked. I kissed her from her finger tip to the top of her forehead, finishing with a long passionate kiss on her beautiful, crimson red lips. 'You have to promise not to tell anyone. I'm an orphan, that and something about the candles in the windows, snow on the ground and people singing carols reminded me of you.' She said, she got up and lit five different candles in the far corners of the now dimly lit room. 'Um Maria, would you...' I stuttered 'Yes Mark' she said as she laid back down elegantly and pulled the covers up over us once again. She was so beautiful in the candle light, I was speechless, her long, wavy brown hair fell perfectly around her face, her perfect, sky blue eyes sparkled in the light of the candles. 'Do you want to...I mean would you like to move in?' I asked nervously. 'Aww Mark, of course I'll move in with you!' 'I love you so much Maria.' I said 'I love you too' I pulled her close and put my arm around her as she put her head on my chest. I woke up the next morning with Maria's hand on my chest, still leaning on my shoulder and my arm still around her. I looked down at her as peaceful as a desert flower, she was so calm. She started to flutter her eyes, she looked up at me with a weak smile. I smiled back and tucked the hair over her beautiful face back behind her ears.