Her Viking 2

Chapter 1: Again?

It is spring and the middle of May. Kage was currently working at the dock. Unloading a heavy shipment of supplies and food from a boat. His white t-shirt starting to stick against his skin due to the thin layer of sweat. His hair held back in a bun and eyes intense and focused.

Mariana was currently home working. She is trying to push through the uneasiness still lurking in her stomach from her recent sickness. Lunch was done but she hasn't had an appetite today. A white cropped t-shirt hugs her figure as grey sweatpants loosely engulf her warmly. Her hair is in a messed bun. A pen in Mariana's mouth, crumpled notepad paper littering the coffee table, and her laptop resting on her lap.

Flashbacks from five months ago cross her mind. Closing her eyes, Mariana takes deep breathes and regains her original focus. She holds back her emotional pain. Her eyes almost becoming dull at the thoughts. She stands and reaches the kitchen. Mariana sits down and fixes herself a small portion of food, trying to see if she can digest it.

"I'm in a happier place now. I'm almost done healing," Mariana speaks with strength.

At the dock, Kage steps onto a boat and grabs the last two boxes of shipment. His attention is caught from something floating in the water. Kage makes his way onto the wood and places the supplies in the hands of one of his workers. He walks to the end of the dock and rests on the rail.

Finally getting a better view Kage stands with a clouded mind. His mind spinning down a hole. Kage stares blankly until painful memories make their return. He lets out a deep, shaky sigh. Kage is a second from turning away when it brings his attention back again. Realization dawns on him.

"I thought it died and withered away," Kage thinks. "There's even a little one growing next to it."

Kage connects the dots like lightning. His eyes looking off in the distant. The flower bloomed when he Mariana were coming together and starting to grow a relationship. The flower died when his unborn child died. It died when part of her died. Kage and Mariana are finally getting to a better place and it's alive. The flower is alive with a smaller flower. Mariana is alive with...

"It's can't be," Kage mumbles to himself in shock.

Kage runs off the dock and into his truck. All of his workers watch him in shock and confusion. He drives off in a hurry to get back home. Kage unknowingly is crying. A sad but hopeful smile forms on his face. Kage quickly parks and bursts through the door. A Mariana chokes on her glass of water at the sudden loudness. Patting her chest, she turns to see Kage wide-eyed.

"Kage?"

Kage takes long strides towards Mariana. He grabs her face and slams his lips on her's. Mariana is stunned and doesn't move. Kage let's go and smiles down with glossy eyes. He carries her bridal style upstairs and sets her down.

"Wait here," Kage commands tenderly.

Mariana furrows her eyebrows but listens. Kage rushes into the bathroom and rummages through the cabinets. His search ends and Kage hesitantly grabs what he needs to prove his theory. Each step towards Mariana becomes heavier. Kage silently hands over the test to Mariana. Mariana takes it and realizes what he wants.

"No," Mariana says firmly and throws it in the trash.

Mariana stands up to leave but Kage quickly grabs her wrist in desperation. "Please. I need to know."

"It's not possible."

"How?" Kage questions.

"We've just started to become intimate and have been careful. It's too early to try. We need to focus on us. I haven't shown any signs." Mariana argues the best she can with the few points she has.