Expiration Date Fanfic

1.

“Molly, Arrietty, and Jonas time to come in!” I shout outside to the kids swimming in the pool. 

One by one, they each run inside dripping went with towels wrapped around them. Jonas, now seven, slides on the floor with his wet feet and I can’t help but giggle. Oh how I miss you so much, Jonas…

“Come on, dry off. Daddy will be home soon.” 

“I can’t wait! Daddy has a big surprise-”

“Shut up Molly!” Arrietty,the middle of the two, warns her younger sister as she pats her legs dry.

“What do you mean surprise?” I question my youngest.

“I- I can’t tell!” She tries to hide behind her older brother.

“Jonas?” I question him.

“Nothing.” He pushes his sister away slightly and sits on the floor to dry his own legs.

“Alrighty then, if you don’t want to confess to me then you’ll have to answer to the... tickle monster!” Molly and Arrietty panic and dash off, while Jonas remains on the floor.

“I’m not scared, I can handle myself.” He tries putting on a brave face. 

“Alright then,” I take a step forward, pretending like I’ll leave him alone. At the last second, I turn and attack him. Kneeling down, I scoop him up and began tickling his belly and his feet as he squirms trying to get away while laughing.

“I’m home!” Erik calls, the front door slamming shut after. I hear my two little girls run screaming joyfully to him. Soon, he enters the kitchen. Arrietty clinging to his leg, while standing to his foot making him walk stiffly. He holds Molly in one of his arms. He holds a bouquet of beautiful flowers in his left hand.

“Dad! Make her stop!” Jonas says in between fits of giggles. I stop momentarily and he runs to his father and clings to his other leg for support.

“Happy Mother’s Day, Honey.” He smiles holding out the flowers. I stand up with a smile of my own and accept them. As I do so, the sleeve of my shirt rises revealing my Mark.

“Mommy, what’s that?” Molly asks pointing to it.

“It’s a Mark, sweetie.” I pull down my sleeve again and grab the flowers from Erik, who looks at me worriedly. “Thank you.” I smile at him and smell them. Lovely.

 I walk into the kitchen, pull out a vase and fill it with water. I set the flowers inside, overhearing the conversation in the other room.

“Dad, what is a Mark?” Jonas asks innocently.

“It tells the date you are supposed to die.” He replies hesitantly.

“How come we don’t have them?” Arrietty asks.

“Because we don’t need them here.” Erik replies.

***

12 years ago…

“Jonas, I love you.” I hold his hand, trying to hold in my tears. He lies next to me on the hospital bed, barely alive. Colton and Erik stir behind me. Jonas’ mother cries into his father's shoulder on the other side of the bed.

He winces in pain, “Iris, I love you. I love you so much.” He winces again and draws in a shaky, deep breath. 

“Jonas, this bullet is not going to be the thing that kills you. You were shot before, you can make it through again.” 

“Iris,” he breathes in again, his eyelids beginning to fall. “I- I- I love you…” 

The heart monitor flat lines.