Thicker than Water

Chapter Twenty Three

This is definitely way more intimate...  But, I hope it's okay.

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I hadn't wanted to leave.  Not ever.  Eventually, night fell in the world above and everyone went to bed for the night.  I laid on a mat near a strange tree with Haden next to me.  The artificial stars seemed to get brighter and illuminate everything as they slowly moved across the ceiling.  It was bright enough to the point I could clearly define everything, even Haden's sleeping face.  After our incident earlier I couldn't exactly bring midriff to look at him.  Expect right now when he was defenseless in slumber.  No one really said a word to us about our shower, but I felt as if everyone knew.  It was probably me just being nervous, but I couldn't shake that feeling that everyone just knew.  Sam had been the only one to comment on how weird we were acting and the fact that I had put back on my scarf.  He said we both looked like naughty children caught playing a bad game.

When I looked up at Haden who was sound asleep with one arm folded behind his head and the other keeping me close, I felt utterly at peace.  His calm breathing and warmth washed away any doubts I had.  But  I knew once we got home this would end.  We'd have to go back to siblings and I couldn't imagine myself actually handling it well.  I loved him too much.  I smiled with that and traced my fingers over his lips before his face twitched.  He tightened his hold on my waist and said in a groggy voice with his eyes still closed, "Why are you still awake?"

I just smiled then buried my face into his chest.  "I didn't mean to wake you," I apologized with my cheek against his heart.  He sighed and brushed my hair slowly, letting his fingers run through it.  When he didn't say anything, I moved my body a little closer to him until my leg could drape over his.  I could feel his chest shake with laughter.

"I'll move back if you want me to," I told him then glanced back behind me to the other mat.  I went to move away when his hand behind his head moved to grab my leg.  I froze and slowly looked up at him.  He was staring intently at me now.

"You don't have to move," he told me then moved his head to kiss my forehead.  He laid back down and stared up at the fake sky.  "Hey, Rogue..."

"Yes," I hummed in reply.

"Do you think we would have met if your mother hadn't married my father?"

That was an odd question.  I sat up and looked down at him.  He looked dead into my eyes.  "Honestly," I began then shook my head.  "No, I don't think so."

"Are you happy?"

"What?"

"Are you happy you met me?"

"Of course!  Why wouldn't I be happy?"

He smiled gently then sat up entirely, making me sit up too.  "I love you," he told me quietly, avoiding my question.

"I love you too," I said, then went to search his mind.  It was silent.  He was blocking me out.  "Haden..."

"Rogue..."  It grew silent and I stared at him.  He sighed and darted his eyes away from mine.  He was hiding something.

I moved closer until I was straddling his lap to get him to look at me.  He groaned and went to move me off, but I shook my head and draped my arms over his shoulders.  He looked up at me like I had completely inconvenienced him.  "Rogue," he tried but I narrowed my eyes at him, daring him to try to move me away again.  Gently, I lowered my weight fully onto his lap so we were exactly eye level.  He shifted uneasily but didn't try to push me off again.