782THE INVISIBLES
By: Hitanner85
FIVE YEARS LATER
It was a beautiful day in Eros. The grass rolled in hearty waves while the flowers sang their gleeful tune. Ezra Boom stood in her white frock, hands on hips, eyes closed toward the sun. Behind her were a thousand trees with tie dyed leaves. "TWENTY!" She yelled, spinning around and surveying the surrounding landscape. "Ready or not…here i come!"Taking a few steps toward the fantastical trees, she spotted an mop of orange curls peaking above a flower speckled bush.
"Oh no," Ezra grinned. "I see a munchkin!" With that exclamation came a chorus of giddy giggles. The tiny curls bounced with laughter and took off running toward her. Ezra scooped the tiny girl in her arms and squeezed her tight.
"My my little one, you are getting very good at hiding!" Emilia blinked up at her mother, her big blue eyes searching for sincerity. "Who's been teaching you?"
"Daddy," Emilia giggled once more, burring her face in her mothers shoulder. "He said he would play too." Ezra nodded, glancing over her shoulder at her brooding husband. "OH! Daddy's here!"
Lucian came walking toward the happy pair, a slow smile spreading out over his perfect mouth. Emilia wiggled from her mothers embrace and made a dash to her fathers open arms. He threw her high in the air before catching her tight and hugging her against his chest.
"How was work?" Ezra asked, still smitten after all these years. Lucian shrugged, pressing a swift kiss to his daughters temple before letting her down to run off toward the trees. A path flew out from beneath her feet. She jumped along its pebbled surface.
"Come here," He held his hand out to Ezra who ran into his arms. He lifted her up and pressed a kiss against her smiling mouth. "I missed you, Midget. Sorry I had to leave without giving you a proper goodbye this morning."
"Missed you too, ." She looked up at him, arms looped around his waist. "It's okay. You'll make it up to me." Lucian grinned suggestively at her reply.
"Hows our girl behaving today?" He pushed her wild curls behind her ears, pinked by the sun.
"She's wild, but beautiful." she sighed. "We made you a cake."
"Strawberry?" He yawned, exhausted from a full days work.
"Pineapple," She corrected. "It's on the counter if you'd like some."
Ezra was shook hard as her daughter ran smack into her legs, hugging them tight.
"Sebby and Maddy are coming today?" She looked up at her pleadingly.
"Yes my little munchkin," Ezra replied, pretending to dust the freckles off her daughters perfect nose.
"Will they bring the boys?" Emilia jumped, pulling at the white fabric of Ezra's sundress.
"Of course," she responded accordingly.
"I like the boys." Emilia giggled.
"Hear that, Lucy? She likes the boys already." Lucian's jaw tightened, shaking his head disapprovingly.
"Couldn't you wait till you were older, Munchkin? Three's a little young." Emilia pulled away and pushed her wild curls away from her face.
"No." Emilia shook her head. "I like them now."
"She likes them now." Ezra shrugged.
It was then that the two little monster Bears came tearing down their own path. They were twins, with big purple tinted eyes and floppy mops of charcoal colored hair. They brandished wooden swords and candy stained mouths.
"Maxy and Jace!" Emilia screamed, jumping up and down in one spot. The two boy were five, nearly six in the fall. They ran all the way to Ezra's bouncy baby girl and offered and handful of sticky gumdrops that they'd kept in their pocket all day. Before Ezra or Lucian could object, the little one had taken a bright pink star shaped candy and popped it in her mouth, grinning wildly.
"Let's go sword fight!" Maxy yelled, letting out another war cry before rushing off toward the more open part of the field. Emilia's smile faded and she watched him sadly from her place.
"What's the matter, Emmy?" Jace asked curiously.
"I don't have a sword." Her eyes were shiny, filling with pitiful tears. She sniffled, rubbing her nose with the back of her arm.
"It's okay, we will find you a stick. It's just as good." Jace replied after seconds of deep thought. "Or you could have my sword and I'll use a stick!" He smirked, face lighting up with a problem solved. Emilia giggled, taking his sword in one hand and grabbing his hand with her other. He allowed it and they took off running toward the more rambunctious Max.
"Why are you frowning, Mr. Boom?" Ezra looked up at her husband, aggravation etched all over his perfect face. "There are worse things. She could like a Gray, or even worse… a Lucian."
He smirked at that, leaning down and pressing a quick kiss to her forehead.
"I talked to Tarrin. He wants us to come visit." Lucian looked grim. I made a face.
"What's that look for?" I asked.
He never responded as our to old friends made their presence known.
"There you boys are," Madsy made her way down the path still stretching from town. "I wish you wouldn't run off." She was frowning, breathing hard, and arms crossed over her chest.
"Sorry mom." They cried in unison, stopping only long enough to look momentarily sad before going back to the battle they'd created.
"Ah its fine," Madsy shrugged, no longer irritated.
Jogging up behind her was Sebastian, his face pleasantly pink.
"Be careful with those things," Sebastian called, referring to the large wooden swords they swatted at each other. His voice, strong and authoritative, shot straight to the young mens ears. The fighting died down to a comfortable rumble.
"Yes sir." They responded gloomily.
"I swear they are killing me." Madsy smiled, reaching forward and pulling me into a friendly hug. I had missed them. They came to Eros as much as they could, bringing their boys and stories from the 'real world' as it were.
"Come on Madsy, we will go inside for the cake and let these boys be." Ezra smiled.
"Hows school?" I asked Madeline. She was sitting at my tiny table in my kitchen, occasionally glancing out the window at our children. Lucian and Sebastian were sitting in two rocking chairs, their voices too far away to make out the topic of their conversation.
"They're good in school. They save their antics for home." She grinned.
"I think my Emilia has a crush." I cut into the pineapple cake and handed her a slice on a green plate. Madeline wasn't paying attention, her mind elsewhere, eyes settling on her plate without any real intention of eating.
"Something wrong?" The fork was in her hand but she did little with it. She seemed to come back to reality then, eyes shooting up to meet mine.
"I'm pregnant again," She blurted out. I smiled, clapping my hands together excitedly.
"That's great news."
"I know I'm just shocked. We are always so careful. I don't know… surprise baby!…I guess" She didn't look completely sure, setting the fork down and folding her hands primly in her lap.
"You two must always be having sex." The exclamation seemed to startle her. For a moment her eyes widened before she broke into a fit of nervous giggles.
"So it's a yes?" I pushed, shoving a large piece of pineapple cake in my mouth. She shrugged, nodding curtly before shrugging again.
"So how does Sebastian feel about it?" Ezra asked. Madeline's brow furrowed and her bottom lip jutted out in thought. "Ohhh so that's what this is all about."
"Yeah…" She sighed. "We haven't had any alone time. We got married and almost immediately I got pregnant and now that the boys are in school and we actually do have some days to ourselves… I'm knocked up again."
"And you're worried that Seb is gonna freak out?"
"Yeah…" She sighed. "It's fine though."
"Of course it is. Y'all are both good parents. He loves you and your children. It's one more."
"Just one," Madeline smiled. "Hopefully a little girl."
"I'll keep my fingers crossed.
It was hours later that the children were all curled up sleeping in the living room, that the adults parted ways and enjoyed the quiet of the evening. An episode of their favorite puppets danced across the screen. Sebastian was nodding off outside when Madeline made her way into his lap. He woke, wrapping his arms around her waist and inhaling the very unique scent of his souls match. She relaxed, letting her arms encircle his shoulders.
"It's a beautiful night," she sighed. Sebastian pulled a strand of her hair before responding.
"You're beautiful." Madeline smiled, leaning over and pressing her lips to his temple. They sat like this, admiring the shiny star plastered sky, listening to the crickets dancing along the grasses edge.
"I'm pregnant." Her voice seemed obtrusive and unwanted. Sebastian looked up at her, curiosity shiny in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I've known for a few days. I know we never get to do this anymore, ya know.. just sit here and feel each other. I miss that and I miss this. I just wanted to have some time with you and if you're annoyed… I don't know. It's both our faults though… but I don't even want to say fault because its a baby. It's our baby."
"Madsy," Sebastian interrupted her, shifting to where she was facing him. "Stop rambling, baby. I love you and I'll love that baby. I already do." He laughed. "I already knew you were pregnant. I can tell when your body changes. I'm connected to you remember."
She suddenly felt silly and young. She nodded, looking away and taking her first shaky breath since she'd started on her verbal diarrhea.
"Hey, look at me." Sebastians voice brought her back. "I love you." He smiled, pulling her down and pressed his mouth against hers.
"I don't know why I freak out so bad," Madsy sighed. She looked down at her husband, his tired eyes a lively purple.
"It's part of the reason we work, Madeline." Sebastian informed her softly.
"Because you freak out over nothing…" She grinned, putting both her hands on his face and pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.
"Exactly. Now lets get home so I can show you how much I love you."
It was a mere thirty minutes later that the Bears were gone and the Booms were left alone in their home. Lucian scooped up his tiny Emilia in his arms and walked toward her sparkly pink bedroom, and tucked her in safe and sound.
Ezra cleared the table, giving one last look out at the dark Eros night. It was peaceful. She sighed, they'd been through so much. She never stopped thanking the gods for her gift; bringing Lucian back to her after his death. She was so lost in thought that she didn't feel her beast of a husband walk up behind her.
"You lost in thought, midget?" She jumped at his voice, giving a nervous giggle before turning to face him. With her hands on his forearms, she looked up at her perfect man.
"I'm grateful for you." She stated plainly. Lucian grinned, gripping her hips and dragging her flush against him. She rolled her eyes, a playful smirk still playing on her lips.
"I'm grateful for you too, in spite of your many flaws."
"You're too kind," She giggled. "You want another baby?"
"Are you pregnant?" Lucian's voice was even, there was no way to guess what he's thinking. She made a face, shaking her head fervently.
"No.. no I'm just asking if you would want another little one. Maybe a boy or something?"
"I'm happy with Emilia but if we have another child I'll be happy with them too." He said matter o'fact.
"Good. I was just wondering."
Lucian didn't push the subject, just picked her up rather suddenly and threw her over his shoulder. She laughed, covering her mouth as to not wake her slumbering child.
"Oh no," she whispered into his shirt. "Come on now, beast. I have to finish these dishes."
"They will most likely be there in the morning," Lucian retorted. "We are going to bed now. You know I can't fall asleep without you next to me."
And it was true. Even after five years of a promised forever, Lucian Boom didn't feel safe without her next to him. She often woke up in the morning with him watching her. It wasn't creepy, though years ago she'd say there'd never be an exception to creepy sleeping stares. It was nice having him there, wanting her, worrying about her. She hadn't realized life could be this good, yet so normal.
"Could we go see your brother soon?" She asked as he tossed her rather haphazardly into their bed. He was unbuttoning his shirt, sliding it off his shoulders and letting it lie crumpled on the floor. She watched as he let his pants fall and smiled as he reached forward and started untying the straps of her sundress.
"Answer me." He shrugged, pulling the dress down and eyeing her undergarments hungrily. "Answer me or there will be no touching allowed."
"I don't know though, Ezra." Lucian grunted.
"Oh and now he's grouchy." Ezra tutted, batting her lashes at him. Lucian sighed, turning away and sitting down on the edge of the bed. He pulled off his socks and flipped off the lamp. Ezra sat half naked, staring down at her husbands back.
"Whats the matter with you, baby?" She placed a cool hand on his back. He sighed again, laying flat on his back and looking up at his wife with an unfathomable expression etched in those crystal blue eyes.
"I don't want to bring you both over there. It's a long journey and so much could go wrong. You both are too precious to me." Lucian rarely spoke so honestly. Usually his words were tainted with a joke or a chuckle. There was no humor here. Ezra traced lazy circles across his chest.
"I love you." She sighed. "We will see if they can come here instead!" She pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"That's it?" He asked curiously. "No fight?"
"No fight." Ezra scooted closer, cuddling him to him under the comforter. "You don't ask for much. If it's really that bothersome we will figure out another way."
"Thank you."
"Thank you," Ezra grinned. "Enough of that. Now shut up, and kiss me."
Gray was sad. He had given up on the thousands of girls he'd once adored and now sat alone outside his tiny apartment. He was smoking a marshmallow flavored cigarette and sipping on some sort of alcoholic beverage, eyes glazed with melancholy. He couldn't exactly pinpoint anything that he was feeling, other than the fact he felt old and alone. It was all a mess.
He was just about to retire for the evening when a path lit up in front of his bare feet. He thought he'd had too much to drink at first, rubbing his eyes and once again, letting them focus on the florescent pebbles glowing in front of him.
"What the…You've got to chill out, Gray." He stood up, tapping it with his toe before throwing away the bottle and going inside. He was drunk. He had to be. He got undressed and fell into his bed. He laid on top of the covers, eyes following the cracks in his ceiling. It was bothering him. He wouldn't sleep. So pulling on clothes and a pair of dingy old sneakers he walked outside toward the path.
He followed it for a good twenty minutes, past Eros limits, past blue where The Booms slept in their tiny confusing house. He followed him through the great green valley speckled with flowers, all the way into the woods where he saw a great light. Or it seemed as such. What he had actually fell upon was a meeting of sprites, tiny rambunctious fairies that always had something to do. He didn't even realize what was happening until they were buzzing all around him, pulling at his clothes, and lifting him into the air.
Where they were dropping him, he had no clue.
But that's another story all together.
:)
SO there ya go. This wasn't meant to be something deep... just short and cute. The Bears are happy and very fertile obviously haha. Ezra and Lucian are in love and perfectly happy being normal and together. Gray... well I have't made up my mind if I'm going to make a full story out of him or something short and sweet. We will see.
I skimmed this after I finished but there was no real editing. Love you all.