To Our Only Hope

Part Six: The Spiral Galaxy

We got to the restaurant and got out of the car, Linus tucked neatly into my elbow.

"Behave yourself, okay?" I told him.

"Okay, Momma." He replied.

"You too, okay?" I looked at Ben and giggled.

"Yes, ma'am!" He chuckled.

We walked into the restaurant. Ben stood and helped me up when they called, "The Chesters?"

I was confused. We weren't married, so why did they call us as if our last names were the same? 'Oh, well.' I thought. 'Maybe they just assumed.'

The waiter led us into the restaurant, and sat us down at a booth.

We ordered our food. Ben and I finished eating, but Linus was still daintily eating his Tuna & Chicken bowl.

Ben looked me in the eye and said "Abigail, I love you very much. I want the two of us to be together forever. You complete me. Without you, I was empty, and I had no purpose. I was almost to the point of committing suicide before I met you almost three years ago. You know that. And I always want to be yours, and I want you to be mine, so I know what I'm going to do."

He stood and pulled a small black box from his pocket. He kneeled down onto one knee at my side, and I turned to face him, my eyes wide and already tearing up.

"Abigail Victorus Miranora. The Victory that won my heart. Will you marry me?" He opened the box to reveal a silver ring with a large black onyx gem.

My eyes overflowed and tears streamed down my cheeks as I sat in shock. I looked into his hopeful eyes and tried to speak, but the words were caught in my throat, so I just nodded, my cheeks already sore from the enormous smile spread over my cheeks.

He slipped the ring out of it's box and slid it over my left ring finger. Then he stood up. I stood up along with him. He wrapped one arm around my waist, and with the other, he wiped my tears away. He looked into my eyes and smiled, "I've finally realized I'm worth something." He whispered, tears sliding down his cheeks.

"Not just something. Everything." I brushed his hair from over his eye stood on my toes, trying to reach his height so I could kiss him.

I giggled, "Could you, uh, lean down?"

He chuckled and leaned down. I kissed him and he combed his fingers gently through my hair.

Linus hopped onto my shoulder and said, "Is Ben my Poppa now?" I smiled.

"Yes, I am, Linus." Ben said quietly.

I looked at Ben in shock. He could understand Linus. I smiled, remembering the note.

'Anybody who is attached to you will also understand this creature, and any other Hellbourne creature.'

"Linus, this is your new Poppa. Poppa and I are gonna raise you right. We'll be just like a family should be."

"That's right. We'll raise you right, and we'll never do anything to hurt you, like Momma and Poppa's fathers did." Ben stated, and scratched under Linus's chin.

Ben kissed me on the cheek. He paid our check and we walked out of the restaurant as congratulatory applause filled the whole building.

That was a beautiful day.