Found

Chapter two: Unsteady

"Josh?" I whisper.

"Yes?" He says quietly.

"Are you sure we're ready for this?" I ask.

"Ready for what?"

"Ready to settle down, I can still feel the action in my heart. I was ready before we got captured at the Box, but now I'm not sure. And just so you know, this has nothing to do with you. I love you."

"I love you too. I also understand completely. I'm not ready either. I think that we shouldn't dis settling down until we try it. You never know, we could get an action-packed job, if of course that is, we choose to settle down." Josh says. He smiles. I smile back and kiss him lightly. He kisses me back. Qwin is asleep in the seat next to me. I let her sleep and put my head on Josh's shoulder. I close my eyes and fall asleep. I dream of what it'll be like when we get to the house. I smile.

++++

"Raven, wake up." Josh whispers in my ear. I open my eyes. Qwin sits next to me awake and getting ready to get off the bus. I stand up-Josh behind me-and get my bags. The line starts moving. I walk with the crowd, trying not to lose Qwin or Josh in the process. I flinch at the sunlight. We've been on the bus for twelve hours and in that time, I've been asleep for four of those twelve. I go over and sit on a bench. There is a sign by the bench that has a picture of a bus and says, "Bus Stop". Qwin comes off, then Josh. Josh comes over and sits down next to me.

"You ready?" He asks.

"Ready as I'll ever be." I answer, "What about you, are you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be. Hey Qwin!"

"Yeah!" She shouts back.

"You ready for this?!" Josh asks.

"Sure!" She says. I get up, Josh gets up with me. I grab the handle and pull it up, so I can roll it to the house.

"Let's get going." I say. We start walking to the house. We've got five blocks. I can't wait! I'm nervous and excited all at the same time.

++++

Josh, Qwin, and I get to the house around noon. We walk up the steps. I get the key out of my bag, and unlock the door. I push the door open. I take a deep breath in, the house smells like new car with a hint of roses. We walk into the foyer and set our bags down next to the coat closet. I look around. I see a set of stairs that probably lead up to our bedrooms, a hallway that leads to the living room, utility room, dining room, one of the bathrooms and the door to the garage. To my left and right are the two sitting rooms and from the sitting room to my right is the family dining room.

"You guys hungry?" I ask.

"Yeah." Josh says.

"What about you, Qwin?" I say.

"Yeah, I could eat." She says.

"Okay. I'll go fix something up." I say. I walk into the kitchen and look in the cabinets and find a box of Mac' n Cheese. I put a pot full of water on the stove and start waiting for it to boil.

I pick up my suit case and walk up the stairs to Josh's and my room. I set the suit case on the bed and open the closet. I start to unpack.

"Hey Josh?!" I yell down the stairs.

"Yeah?!" He yells back.

"Is the water on the stove boiling yet?!"

"Yeah!"

"Put the pasta in the water and stir it please!" I say.

"Sure!"

"Thanks!" I keep unpacking.

When I finish, I change into a T-shirt and shorts. I put my hair in a braid. I go into the bathroom and look in the mirror. I lift my T-shirt. I see the scar on my abdomen from where the bullet entered my body. I run my finger over it. I feel the texture of the scar. I see the spots where the stitches were removed. I take a deep breath. For a second, I don't know how I got here, how I've survived, but I have. It's been almost a year since I met Josh, we've been through so much. I'm glad we went through everything together. I let my T-shirt fall. I turn the light off and walk out of the room. I walk down the stairs and go into the living room. Josh is sitting on the couch watching the television, Qwin sitting in the chair. I check on the pasta and stir it. The pasta is done. I get out a strainer, a stick of butter, the milk, and a knife. I cut the butter into squares and put half of the stick in the pan. I stir it around to melt the butter. I add the cheese powder, and the milk. I shake some salt and pepper in and stir. I get out three bowls and three spoons.

"Lunch is ready!" I say. I spoon equal amounts in each bowl and put a spoon in each also. Qwin and Josh come to the kitchen and pick up their bowls. Qwin walks back into the living room and sits down in the chair. Josh looks at me. He puts his bowl down on the counter. He puts his hand on my cheek. I lean into his gesture.

"It isn't so bad here, huh?" He says peacefully.

"No, no it's not. I was unsteady on the bus, I was nervous because, we've never really settled down. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to. I was wrong." I say quietly, smiling. I kiss him hard. I breath in and enjoy every second. I end the kiss and hug him. My hand on his cheek, his lips on my forehead. I kiss him again. I grab my bowl, Josh behind me, and sit down next to him on the couch.

When I finish, I put my head on Josh's shoulder, he puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. I grab his free hand and put it between us. I hold it tightly. All I can think about is how much I love him and how happy I am when I'm with him.

++++

I hum to the music on my phone. I twist the handle that turns the water on in the shower. I feel it. It feels perfect. I pull the thing on top of the faucet, the shower head starts to spray water, I pull the curtain closed, open it a crack, and get in. I walk into the spray of water. I soak my hair and scrub my body. I hum to the music and smile.

I walk into our bedroom. I open the closet. I take out a plain black T-shirt, I go over to the dresser and take out a pair of black leggings. I take a bra out of the top set of drawers in the dresser. I then take a pair of socks out of the drawer next to it. I close the door and change into the clothes I took out. I tie my hair into a knot and open the door. I climb down the stairs. Josh is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.

"How was your shower?" He asks.

"It was good. I feel so much better now. What have you and Qwin been doing while I was in there?" I say.

"We've been watching the television. I like having a TV. You wanna go hunting later? Just us. Like old times." He says, smiling.

"Sure, just tell me when." I say. I kiss him lightly. I wrap my arms around him and pull him close. Josh picks me up off the stairs. A squeal with joy. He carries me into the living room and puts me on the couch. My head starts to hurt because I'm laughing so hard.

I was wrong. I like it here. I like settling down. I like having Josh by my side, and having Qwin with us. I love him, I love her, and I love it here. I smile.

I sit up. Josh sits down behind me. I lay back and rest my head in Josh's lap. He grabs my hand and holds it tight.

"I love you." I whisper.

"I love you too." He whispers back.