First Flower

The Swing

Maca's Pov

We've been flying on our way to Normandy for about an hour now. Dusk approaches, and I can't help but to feel a mix of fear and hope for the future that's ahead of me and the brunette sleeping on my side. I look at her. It was always a bit uncanny for me to watch Zulema sleeping, because she always looked like she was suffering, that she was sad. But for the first time since we've known each other I notice that she was carrying a posture that I could only describe as peaceful. And I could relate to that, because even though I felt anxious about the future, I also felt that by leaving the motel, we were also leaving behind all our demons and all our mistakes. And we both had a lot of those.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" Zulema inquires in a lower and raspier voice than the one she usually has.

"I can't fall asleep, I'm feeling a bit sick." I don't face her.
"Oh. Do you want to stop for a couple of hours?"

"No, the faster we arrive the better. I'll feel better soon."

"Is there something I can do then?" She asks and I notest a tone of concern.

"Thank you, but no. Really I'm fine, I should be able to fall asleep soon enough. Get back to sleep now."

"I can't. I'm wide awake now."

She rests her head near the window and slightly turns her body to face me.

"Who is the father?"

"What?" I stutter. Ever since I got pregnant I expected her to ask me that, but I really didn't think it would matter, since the father is obviously not around.

"Ever since we started living together I never saw you with any man, you can't blame me for being a bit curious." She frowns a bit, like she usually does when she's asking something important.

"Yeah, I guess you have the right to know anyway. So, do you remember when we went to that pub where you shot that man that was trying to rape that girl?"

"Yes, so while I was doing a good deed you were having sex?" She laughs.

"Don't be an idiot. The guy could just bump into you and you would shoot him anyhow."

She laughs once again. "Touché. But I'm now willing to quit those habits."

"I'm glad. But back to my story. I don't know if you remember but we had a big argument earlier that day so we were barely talking, so whilst you were outside I was inside the pub and there was this guy standing next to me who offered me a drink. We talked for a bit, but I just kept thinking about our argument and how angry I was at you, so next thing I know I was in the pub's bathroom with him." I finally face her with a bit of embarrassment.

"So you had sex with that man because you were mad at me?" This time she bursts into laughter and I can't help to appreciate that beautiful sound.

"Don't get too cocky, it's embarrassing. But at least the result made me happy." I put my hands on my stomach. "I just hope I won't mess up everything."

"You won't, you will be a terrific mother, I know it." Zulema smiles at me with tenderness and my heart immediately warms. "Do you want to put your head on my lap? Maybe you'll sleep better if you're laying down." Her voice has a tone of uncertainty, she still is a newbie in showing affection, but I think she does it very well. I nod with my head and and put it on her lap. As I'm falling into a deep sleep, I feel her lips pressing against my left cheek. "Sleep well rubia." She says softly before caressing my hair. With a peaceful feeling, I fall asleep.

I wake up a few hours later being shaken up by the brunette.
"Maca, we're here." With difficulty due to the strong light, I open my eyes and examine the space around us. Looking at the windows of
the helicopter, I could see a big green field, and a bit ahead a long road and a car parked there, and I guessed that there was our way to enter our new life.