Treasure for All

8. Would It Have Been Different

Sunshine warmed the city in the early hours the next morning. The crew was allowed to sleep in a little, but Hongjoong woke up at the usual wake-up time to double check his maps. Everyone else started to wake up and get ready for the day about an hour later. Breakfast was not made that morning since the crew decided to eat out for meals while wandering the city. As usual, Hongjoong instructed everyone to check in periodically to make sure everyone was safe.

However, only three people did not join the exploration: Jongho, San, and Celestia. Jongho was still on his punishment from throwing fists, so he spent time cleaning and repairing weaponry for most of the morning. San was ready to explore more of the city but changed his mind when Celestia woke up expressing her exhaustion from walking for so long the previous day. He'd never know what pregnancy would feel like, but he wasn't about to wear his wife out by having her push her limits.

"Hi, angel," he whispered in her ear as he tapped her shoulder to wake her up from falling back to sleep for the third time. Her eyes fluttered open, and she was met with a peck on her cheek.

"I'm going to get breakfast from the kitchen," he informed.

"Okay," she replied.

Once he was out of the room, Celestia slowly sat up from the bed and stretched her arms over her head to release any stiffness she had from slumber.

The baby began to kick, and she couldn't help but giggle. Her hands rested on her bump. "You're active this morning," she said to her unborn daughter.

Rolling to her side, Celestia stood up and made her way to the bathroom to begin her morning routine: face washing, brushing her teeth, skin care, brushing her hair, and applying her makeup. She often found herself singing an old song or something from Broadway, and that morning was no different. "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera was the first one to pop into her head. Baby girl would often move around in Celestia's womb as a way of telling her, "Keep singing, Mommy. I'm listening."

Celestia had always loved to sing and was often praised for her soprano skills. She had participated in the school choir, but her real passion was archaeology. Singing whenever she was working or doing mundane activities evolved into something habitual.

"Breakfast is served, my queen," San's voice echoed from the doorway as she finished putting on her lip-gloss. She exited the small bathroom to find her husband holding two bowls of strawberries and sliced apples.

"Since Grace-Anne and Yunho didn't make breakfast this morning, I had to improvise," he explained as handed her one bowl.

"It's perfect," she smiled before taking a bite of the first strawberry.

San stared lovingly at her. He wasn't sure if it was her pregnancy or her natural beauty, but she always seemed to be glowing; it made her seem more angelic in his eyes. Her red hair fell in natural waves and shined in the morning sunlight, her sapphire eyes always sparkled when she was happy, and her voice could easily melt away wintery days. Her lips, however, were something he could never get over. It wasn't just because how plush they were whenever he kissed her, but rather how there never seemed to be a moment where they frowned.

"She moved this morning," Celestia said, interrupting his thoughts.

"Did she?" he grinned.

His wife nodded as he set his bowl on the bed and kneeled in front of her belly. He placed his hands gently on the basketball-sized bump.

"Are you about to ready to see us, princess?" he cooed. "Just a little bit longer, and then we'll finally be able to hold and snuggle you." He kissed the bump before standing up again.

The couple smiled at each other before Celestia's gaze turned to the floor.

"What is it?" San asked.

Celestia turned towards the large windows and stared out at the ocean's horizon. "Do you think it would have been different?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

She sighed, her hand now rubbing her belly. "If we had just waited and told the rest of my family about us before going to Dubai? Or even just getting married at all?"

San didn't want to admit it, but he sometimes pondered the question himself. They both regretted not telling anyone else, other than her mother, about their elopement. Her dad had always wanted to marry Celestia off to a son of a fellow business partner, but it wasn't anything forced, thankfully. Mr. Wilcox did have a habit of hinting at it, though. The business partner's son was good friends with Celestia, but he was already in love with someone else and respected her and San's relationship despite being hidden from everyone else.

The Choi's wanted to keep their marriage a secret for as long as possible, but as soon as Celestia found out she was pregnant, it was their wake-up call to tell the truth no matter how much it might pain the Wilcox family. That plan never took place due to that fateful night of the murders.

San took his bride by the shoulders and faced her towards him. He used his index finger to lift her chin. "Look at me," he commanded. Her eyes met his, and his hand caressed her neck. "Nothing could have prepared us for what happened that night at the house. Maybe things would have been different, but I'm not a time traveler. You're mother knew about us and got us out of there for us to start over, and that's all that matters. Yes, we lost a lot that night," –His hand traveled to the top of her bump- "but we didn't lose everything."

Celestia stared off for second, then back at her husband. "I guess you're right," she sighed.

San kissed her, and then remembered something. "I meant to give you your gift last night."

As he went to grab the bag from his nightstand, Celestia eased herself down on the edge of the bed. San then pulled the desk chair up to it, and a smile couldn't seem to leave his face as he gave her the small gift bag from the jewelry store.

"I was going to give this to you after baby girl comes," he admitted, "but I figured since we were already at the shop in town, I might as well get it now. Think half of it as an early birthday gift."

"And what's the other half?" she asked as she pulled the box out and opened it.

Her big, blue eyes lit up and jaw dropped as she stared at the small bracelet nestled in the box. "Oh, honey!" was all that came out of her mouth.

"You like it?"

"It's beautiful! I love it!"

Her fingertips gently glided over the smooth pearls. She thought about it being linked around her daughter's tiny wrist, reminding her of how her mother shared a similar bracelet. Tears began to form in her eyes.

"What's wrong, angel?"

Celestia sniffed. "Hormones."