Pennyroyal frolicked under the wallow breeze. Rays of sunlight poured on earth, becoming flecks under the verdurous canopy of leaves. The scent of pine mixed with a peculiar smell of dewy silt roamed. Rippling sound of a stream faded as Ash started mumbling and chewing on his toy. I brought him to my lap, not before attacking his cheeks with kisses.

"Your daddy is busy, isn't he?" I muttered, looking towards Alfie who stood at the gate. He was mending the fence, stopping only to send the commander off.

Xax waved at us then disappeared in the distance. She visited this time after getting news of Ash a few months back. Up to this day, she still worked with FOS, an insider for HEROINE. However, she didn't curate any plan yet. For now, it was a matter of investigating them, she said.

A year had passed since our escape from the Capital. The forest had become our sanctuary.

Meeting my gaze, Alfie flashed his cheeky smile. He put down the pillar in his hand and started to me. "Charis, why don't we go somewhere tonight?"

I smiled back, meandering interest. "To where? How about Ash?"

Alfie wiped his hands on his shirt before reaching for Ash. The mini version of him snuggled instantly. "Somewhere I can't tell you yet. Ma can take care of him. I miss us time. Don't you?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

Even after a year, I still couldn't hold back my blush; somehow, he never stopped making me love him even more. But I was reluctant. "I'm not sure..."

"You two should go." A voice said, its gentleness giving away Ember as the owner.

I tilted to my side, where she and July were grinning. July was once again wearing something unusual, this time a helm. She had been tinkering with things she found.

"We'll take care of him. I mean, how hard can it be, right Ember?" July shrugged, pinching Ash's cheek.

Ash's concentration veered from the touch. He stopped toying with his little hands and turned to July. A curious look took up his face.

July leaned slightly to Ember, whispering something the proximity didn't permit secrecy. "He's staring at me again."

"He's a baby. They do that," Ember replied awkwardly, narrowing her eyes to July before making a peek-a-boo for Ash.

Ash giggled, drooling heavily onto Alfie's arm. Ember was whom he liked most among the HEROINES, even over my mother. He stretched his hands to her.

"I can't hold you, sweetpum. I'm dirty." She showed her palms from all the gardening she'd done since morning.

"Are you sure? I don't want him to be a burden," I questioned, trying to convince myself with their offer.

The two nodded vehemently. "Yes, you guys go. We'll be okay."

***

Night came faster than I anticipated. Ash was still latching on me, mouth moving in a rhythm even after his eyes were already closed. I patted his bum gently, lulling a soft hum. Gradually his grip on my shirt loosened. His hand fell to his tummy, signalling his deep in sleep. Satisfied, he let go, lips puckering before I give him his pacifier. "Awww..." I cooed, staring at his calm face. Why was it so hard to part with him even though knowing I would be gone for just a while?

Alfie sat next to me. He caressed Ash's head. "I miss you. I know I sound childish, but I miss having you to myself." He pouted, moving his hand to my chin for a quick peck.

I match his gaze, looking at his hopeful eyes. He had been waiting for hours with utter patience, even after I intentionally gave excuses not to leave yet. "Let's go." I smiled. Slowly I got up with Ash safely in my arms. Alfie tailed me behind, once or twice brushing his hand on my waist.

When we arrived at the trio's cabin, the door flung open before my knock came. Ember stood at the threshold, while July was making a nest out of blankets. She patted the centre and gave a thumbs up.

"How can you be a genius but dumb with biology?" April appeared, shaking her head.

July glared at her. "Shut the" —she clasped her mouth to mind her words— "I'm a better aunt than you'll ever be." She rolled her eyes then smiled at me and Alfie, who I caught boggle-eyed.

Ember sighed, pinching her nose bridge. "He's so peaceful, look at him." She held out her hands, gently taking Ash, who was miraculously still soundly asleep through their berate. She hugged him with a motherly look I'd seen so many times on her.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" I questioned. But before she could answer, my mother emerged from where I remembered as their kitchen. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Ash.

"He'll be fine. Off you go and give me more grandchildren." She chuckled, ushering Alfie and me before closing the door on our face.

My mouth hung open. I wanted to bang on the door but reminded of my child, I decided against it; if he got startled and woke up, the situation would turn for the worst.

Alfie touched my arm, going down until he entwined our fingers. "The night won't wait for us."

I frowned, but eventually nodded and followed Alfie. He was leading us into the forest, leaving the vicinity of closed walls. The lamp on his hand beaconed our way in the dark. Soon the sound of water became distinct, masking the buzzing and clicking of cicadas. After some trek, a clearing appeared ahead. The vast sky illuminated a stream at the centre. Alfie's strides quickened, as of mine. We ran like children, giggling towards the cascading waterfall. I had never seen one ever in my entire life, and it was beautiful.

As if hurrying, Alfie made a bonfire. I sat down and still, without any of us volunteering to break the silence. He started undressing down to his undies and dipped into the water. "Charis?" He called.

I shook my head, understanding what he was suggesting. "I can't swim."

"It's not deep. You're missing the fun." He splashed water at me. While I continued to hesitate, he got out. Water dripped from his body, sending tingles to my spine. He extended his hand. "Please?"

Relenting, I removed my clothes and proceeded with him to the stream. A shiver hit when my feet touched the water. But eventually, my body adjusted to the temperature. Alfie guided me to where the water levelled my chest. One of his hand started stroking my lower back, and the other touched the crook of my neck.

"I need this," he breathed. The burning desire was evident in his eyes, even greater than the flame, melting me under the cold. In seconds, he hoisted me up and supported my thigh on either side of him. His chest rumbled, something I never before knew in him surfaced. His hazel turned to emerald, but with a hue of fire. He looked wild.

When I jerked back, he hugged me tighter. "You're not going anywhere," he rasped. I was momentarily perplexed by what I was feeling; a mix of shock and excitement. His eyes were deep and hypnotising. "Now you're mine." He ravished me on the instant, sucking my neck, lower and lower until he got to my chest. "I miss you. Don't you feel the same?"

Only the universe knew how much I miss him. But I doubt the universe would even have the right number if it could be counted. "I do, and even more, I love you," I let out between the running moans.

I felt his hand reaching my nether, pushing aside the cloth between us. He began to tease, dipping and sliding his finger. The surrounding almost faded until I felt my back leaning on a rock. He docked his mouth to mine as he eased into my canal. Ecstasy pummeled along his filling, undoing my winding world. The spring throbbed around us, tides forming on each thrust. I gripped harder on him, gasping for air upon my release. Then I watched his eyes closed in paradise. His breathing became heavier and heavier; the waves around us turned violent until his surge reached peek. The water eventually stilled, and the colour of earth came back into his eyes.

Under a silent shudder, he trailed kisses on my jaw to my lips. "I love you, Charis. Marry me?"

I gaped at him, confused by his words. "What is marry me?"

He chuckled. "It's something people use to do in the past to make a union. Officially. Although we don't have it anymore now, I wish for it with you. Would you?"

I bent, touching his forehead with mine. "Yes, I want it too."

***

(Meanwhile, somewhere inside the settlement, 2 warriors were left with a baby)

"Why is he making that face?" July squinted her eyes, probably using all known formula to figure out what the baby was doing.

I shrugged, continuing my exercise using the prosthetic limbs. With full concentration, I finally gripped on the glass. "You see that? I did it!" I jumped in excitement.

July made a face. "Yeah, yeah, praise yourself. Thank me, will ya? I'm the one who made those."

Out of a sudden, an awful smell detonated our perimeter. I swivelled to July. "Disgusting. How could you fart while handling the poor child?"

July put him down on her speciality made nest, which she claimed to be the best for a baby with her profound knowledge. "Me? I did nothing. This baby, this. . . Whatever Charis feed him, pooped on me!" She got up, gagging while running to the back of the cabin where our water was stored.

Ash started crying, tugging something in my heart. Bearing the stench, I tend to him. "No, don't cry. It's okay. I'll smack aunty July for you later, okay? Don't cry." I wanted to touch him, but my hands were metal, and I doubted it could be gentle on him. "Please. Please. Don't cry," I pleaded.

July came back with a change of clothes. She pinched her nose. "Oh, I'm so not ready for this. I'm made to kill. To kill—"

"Now kill your pride and change him!" I interjected, voice breaking by the incoming tears. My heart broke from Ash's cries.

"We should wait. Ember and ma will be back any second now. They said they're just getting hot water, right?"

July rushed to the door, but I grabbed her. "No! You change him now." I squeezed her arm, making her hissed. Suddenly I had the machine on my hand following my nerve's command. But to call it working was stranded when it declined to let go.

"Let go of me!" She gushed, making a roundhouse kick to unwind the prosthetics. It detached from me but continued to grip on her. "Fuc*ing piece of—"

Before she managed to finish, she crashed to our table, catapulting everything on it to the air. The machine unfastened from her at the same time a pack of flour landed on her head. Particles of white exploded, making a cloud of dust. She coughed and sneezed. "Wow, guess who's changing clothes again and sending this to the fire?" She held up the metal hand.

Ash, who I only noticed didn't cry anymore, started laughing, wiggling his hands and feet. "Do it again, July. Go get more flour. You're a genius."

July cleared her throat. "Yes, I meant to do that."

The door sprang opened, calling our attention. A shock faced Ember stood on the outside. "I left you two for half an hour and, you know what. I'm just glad Ash is laughing." She shook her head, hurrying to Ash. "Did these two idiots entertained you?"

July, still insisting she did nothing wrong had her mouth dropped. She put a hand on her hip. "Excuse me. He pooped on me. I'm the victim here."

As if understanding he was the topic, Ash turned to her. He continued the scrutiny while sucking on his thumb.

"He's staring at me again. Didn't you guys see it? He did that so many times."

Ember ignored her and began the process of changing Ash's soiled cloth diaper. Yet I was curious, looking at Ash who still stared at July until she was out of sight.

"Is that really normal, Em? He does stare a lot at her," I questioned.

Ember smiled. "It's not her. It's the gadgets she wears."

The day eventually turned out fine. We returned a well sleeping Ash to his parents. We successfully helped Alfie's mission to propose to Charis, and we hoped for the best on what was to come.

But would it?

***

I hope you enjoy reading.

I didn't want to prolonged the story with their wedding, so I stopped it there and let your imagination decide.