After War Storm

Mare

Stood in the doorway to the airplane, I stared at the two men on the airfield. The younger was 22, the other was older, I didn't know how old. I realised he was Julian. I'd told him not to tell Cal.

My eyes drifted to Cal then and the shocked expression, probably matching mine, on his face proved he didn't know. Julian had taken a few steps back.

Evangeline came up behind me. "Go get him," she whispered and I slowly started to make my way down the steps. My eyes were locked with his the whole time until I was only a few steps away from him.

We stared at each other, not speaking, for a few moments before he broke the silence. He only spoke one word: "Mare."
"Cal," I said.
"It's been awhile."
"It has." I couldn't resist asking. "Why didn't you write?"
"Why didn't you?" He countered. I wasn't normally the type to give in first but on this occasion I did.
"Because you didn't," I told him.

He didn't say anything for a moment but then he laughed. "What?" I asked.
"It's just that's why I didn't write to start with. After the first 6 months I just thought you didn't want to hear from me or didn't want to write. I didn't think it might be because I didn't write." Then he laughed again.
"What?" I repeated.
"You're just as stubborn as you used to be." He smiled at me, his eyes warm and I smiled back building up the courage to say what I had been wanting to.

"I missed you," I whispered and his smile widened. Cal pulled me in for a hug and he said, his voice muffled by my hair, "I missed you too, Mare."

"Woooo! Yes, girl!" Came a cheer from somewhere behind us and I turned and laughed at Eve who had her hands in the air and was cheering from her place in the doorway to the plane.
"Who's that?" Cal asked me.
"Eve."
"Who?"
"Evangeline."
"Evangeline? As in Evangeline Samos?"
"Yes Evangeline Samos."
"Why?" He asked incredulously and I had to laugh.
"Because she's my best friend."
"No, seriously, Mare. Why did she come with you?"
"I am being serious."
"Really?"
"Two years gives people time to change."
"Hopefully not too much," he said, eyes locked with mine. "But then we needed that time to change."

"What a nice reunion," Eve said from next to me.
"Evangeline," Cal said looking at her.
"Cal," she nodded at him.
"How are you?" He asked.
"Good. Loving the married life."
"Married?"
"Yes. Sorry I didn't send you an invite." Her eyes drifted to me then back to Cal. "I didn't want you two to see each other again before you were ready."
"That's very considerate of you," he said though I could tell there was something else behind the words, Eve didn't notice. "How long has it been?"
"A year and 2 months and now Elane is 6 months pregnant," she told me.
"Pregnant. Who's the father?" Cal asked hesitantly. Eve laughed at his cautiousness and I smiled.
"Tolly."
"Well it's good to see you both." My eyes were locked with Cal's as he said it.
"Yeah, sure. Both of us." Evangeline winked at at Cal and he laughed.
"Well mainly one," he said to me. "But it's nice to see you too." Cal pulled Eve in for a brief hug, but it wasn't the same as mine and his in any way.

Then suddenly, Evangeline was on fire. She screamed form being burnt and for a moment I was stood in shock. What had happened? Cal wouldn't do that. I turned to look at him and he was stood frozen too. What was he doing? Almost two decades of war training and all he could do was stand there?
"Cal! Do something!" I screamed and he snapped out of his daze.

The fire disappeared but Cal froze as a sharp blade of metal was against the front of his neck. Ptolemus was visibly fuming and stood a foot away from Cal, glaring at him.
"Hurt my sister again Cal and you're dead," he sneered.

I sent a spark at the blade and it fell to the floor. "Lay off him, Ptolemus," I growled. I was nice to him for Eve's sake but one wrong move from him and I would go off, though I'd promised Eve I wouldn't kill him and I wouldn't break a promise.

Wren had come running down the steps, carrying Ti and was now on the floor healing Eve. "What happened?" I asked Cal.
"I don't know," he answered "It wasn't me." My eyes drifted to Ti. His power must have grown. Why would he do that?

I walked over to where Wren was crouched on the ground, with Ti, and picked him up. "Ti! That was very naughty! How could you do that?" I scolded him.

Wren was finished healing Eve and they both stood up. Ptolemus was next to his sister, as a protective as usual, checking to see that she was alright. I was looking down at Ti and acting like all mothers do with their babies.

"Mare?" Cal asked, sounding nervous. I looked up from Ti to meet his gaze.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Who's child is that?"
"We're going to leave you guys here," Eve said before she quickly led the others away.
"Mare?" Cal repeated though from everyone's reactions, I assumed he already knew.

Ti turned around in my arms, and his bronze eyes met Cal's.
"Mare?" Cal's voice was growing louder.
"He's mine," I whispered. There was a pause. I whispered the next part even quieter and I could feel the guilty look on my face. "And yours."

I could see the spark in his eye, the happiness there. I felt awful. Then I started to cry.

-~-

Please vote if you're enjoying the story. I know these chapters are short and it's because of the two perspectives. As the story goes on, they'll be longer xx