The Captain and His Lady (A Fantasy Short Story) √

Heart in the Home.

Michael sat on his parents' sofa, rubbing his hands together nervously. Emma and her mother would be joining his family for dinner, and he could hardly wait for her to arrive. His father had caught him looking at the pictures of himself and Emma in his room. He asked if there was anything Michael had wished to tell him and he explained everything. Michael's father was not at all surprised to learn about his feelings for Emma.

"I've known you would love her the day you met her," he had said, hugging his son's shoulder before leaving the room. Michael immediately knew that he had to tell his mother. And so he did. The conversation was not as smooth as it had been with his father, but Michael was determined to say everything he had to make her understand. She had given him a look of resignation, accepting that her son was growing up.

At the sound of an approaching vehicle, Michael was on his feet and rushing to the front door. He grinned as he raced to open Emma's door. He grabbed her by the hand, pulling her out and into his arms, turning in a large circle.

"Michael!" Emma squealed as she held tight to his neck. "What's gotten into you?!"

"I missed you is all!" he shouted his reply and peppered her cheeks with kisses.

"It's only been a few hours!"

"I'm always with you. Why wouldn't I miss you?"

Michael returned Emma's feet to the ground, smiling at her. He cupped her cheeks, his face close to hers. Emma smiled as she wrapped her arms around Michael's neck. He kissed her nose, glancing at her mum who was laughing as she entered the house.

"My father knew exactly what I what I wanted to tell him," Michael said, pecking Emma's lips briefly. "Mum . . . It will take her some time to adjust, but she won't say anything about it."

"She opposes our relationship?" Emma asked, with a slight frown.

"No, my lady," he replied with a gentle smile. "If she does, she can't do anything about it. I am my own person. I make my choices as well as my mistakes. They are mine to make . . . Not that you're a mistake, because you're not, an-"

"Shut up." Emma smiled and stood on her toes. She pressed her lips to Michael's and locked her fingers behind his neck. Michael slid his hands down to her waist, returning the kiss.

***

Captain Michael kissed the top of his son's head, whom he held gently in his arms. At two weeks old, the little boy spent more time with his father than any other person in town, not including his mother. Captain Michael's lady never left his side, except when she was in need of rest. Like right now, Lady Emma was napping after having been awake all night. Young Michael the Second was recovering from a fever, and Lady Emma had been awake taking caring of him.

"Your poor mum," Captain Michael whispered to his son as they walked in the garden. "All your fussing only to feel better at dawn."

His son giggled and grinned. With a chuckle, Captain Michael went and sat on the bench beneath Lady Emma's favorite cherry blossom tree.

Lady Emma stepped into the garden and glanced around. Her gaze fell upon her captain beneath her cherry tree. She smiled softly and went towards him quietly. When she heard him speaking to their son, she stopped to listen.

"Your mum is a strong woman," Captain Michael was saying with a soft chuckle. "She stood against so many foul members of the crew. Perhaps she lost her confidence at one time or another, but she always came back. She came back to me. You, my son, would not be here if she had never returned. I do not think I would have survived without your mum. We've been through everything possibly known to mankind. And yet here we are. I'm so grateful to have your mum in my life."

Lady Emma smiled and went up behind her captain. She laced her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek tenderly. Captain Michael chuckled turning his lips to meet hers.

"Sleep well?" he asked as Lady Emma joined him on the bench.

"Yes," she replied, leaning her head on his shoulder, glancing down at their sleeping son. "Has he been much trouble?"

"Not in the very least. He reminds me of his mum."

"Well, he reminds me of his father with all that horseplay he'd do in the womb."

Captain Michael chuckled, "I'm not all terrible."

Lady Emma blushed, "No, you're not terrible . . . You're the best captain I've ever known."

"You're my heart, Emma. And you've been my home for as long as I can remember."

He brought a hand up to cup her cheek. She smiled and leaned down, softly pressing her lips against his. The captain returned her kiss with equal tenderness.

"I think you deserve to know that I've decided our son's name," Lady Emma whispered, pulling away to look in her captain's eyes. "We've discussed so many, but none feel as perfect as the one I will tell you."

"What might that be?" he asked, smiling.

"Todd."

Captain Michael grinned, "Perfect."

Todd stirred in his arms, opened his large eyes and smiled. His parents laughed and pressed light kisses to the babe's cheeks.

***

Michael stood in the front room of Emma's home. He was waiting for her to come downstairs so he could take her to dinner. His heart raced with excitement. He almost couldn't believe he was in love with the most wonderful girl anyone could ever be in love with. Emma could have fallen for anyone she wanted, but she had fallen for him. And Michael would do everything possible to keep her for himself. He would keep her for himself. All he had to do was wait until after they finished university. Any time before that would be too soon. Yet, Michael knew in his heart it would be perfect no matter the timing. Emma was his. No one else's.