It was a little after noon, and Rei had returned to her small cottage after working in the fields for a better part of the morning. There was still some time before lunch, and since she wasn’t on cooking duty today, she felt she’d rather wait at home for Marcus to return.

‘I was supposed to be on laundry duty after lunch, but Gren said someone volunteered to do it for the next week. Not that I’m complaining, but…’

Truth be told, Rei wasn’t exactly a sociable person. There wasn’t anyone she didn’t get along with, but in terms of close friends, she had none. Their little hamlet had only just been settled six months prior, when she and the other 44 people that made up their community had ventured out here as part of the Kingdom’s expansion initiative. Besides Marcus, the person she knew best was Gren—though he was more like a father (self-proclaimed) than a friend. After that, there were the two brothers Marcus seemed close with, but it wasn’t as if she knew them on anything more than a superficial level. To them, she wasn’t “Rei”, she was “Marcus’s wife”; if he wasn’t there, she wondered if they’d even notice her.

Rei sat on the edge of her bed, then fell backward onto the straw-filled mattress, staring up at the ceiling out of sheer boredom.

‘Everyone always has something for Marcus to do… Even Raji is more useful than me at this point. But, that’s fine.’

Rei smiled as her mind wandered to her happiest memories, all of which were from the short span of time in which she and Marcus had come to meet each other—and fall in love.

‘As long as the two of us- no.’

Rei slowly placed her right hand over her stomach, her smile widening.

  “Everything will be fine,” Rei muttered to herself. “As long as the three of us are together.”

***

Marcus and his two muscular companions arrived in front of the Chief’s house just in time to see lunch nearly ready. Some people were already forming a line—bowls in hand—waiting for a ladle-full of stew and a hunk of bread. As he got closer, Marcus made eye contact with Gren, who gave a curt nod upon seeing the logs and jerked his head toward the back of his house. After dropping off the logs and leaving the axe propped up against the side of the Chief’s house, Marcus made his way back to Paul and Raul.

  “I’ll catch up with you two after grabbing Rei. Make sure you don’t eat everything before I get back.”

  “Sure, sure, whatever you say,” Paul said.

  After a moment, a mischievous grin appeared on Raul’s face. “Your little wife could do with a bit more meat on her bones, so maybe I’ll sneak a little extra just for her. Gotta be strong when it comes time for bab-”

  “And that’s enough of that.” Marcus said hurriedly, cutting Raul off. He turned around and walked toward his own cottage at a brisk pace, waving goodbye without looking back. “I’ll see you two soon.”

Behind him, he could hear Paul chewing out his brother, followed by the telltale sound of Raul getting another smack to the head.

‘Babies, huh? Don’t think that’s happening any time soon. Rei and I haven’t even talked about it yet, not to mention...’

Marcus’s thoughts returned to his conversation with Gren that morning.

“I’ve done everything I can to make sure my past stays in the past. I wouldn’t stay anywhere near Rei if I didn’t think it was safe. But... I can’t say for certain that things will always stay that way.”

What he’d said wasn’t a lie; the fact that he was with Rei meant he really did think the two of them were safe. But, for some reason, the thought of one day having a child of his own left him feeling uncertain.

‘Would they have to live their whole life in danger, danger forced onto them by their father’s mistakes?’

Marcus’s introspection was cut short, as he found himself standing in front of the door to his home. Pushing his worries to the back of his mind, he opened the door, finding his wife fast asleep on their bed.

He stood in the doorway for a moment, before quietly making his way to her side. Marcus sat down on the bed’s edge, doing nothing but watching her silently. Just being near her provided him with a sense of serenity, one which freed him from his mind’s anxious inclinations.

  “I love you,” he whispered, gingerly stroking her cheek with one of his hands.

She stirred, slightly, but her eyes remained closed. Marcus wished he could let her keep sleeping, but Raul’s joke carried with it some truth. Skipping meals would do her no favors, and getting sick became all the easier with a weak body. He tapped her cheek with his index finger, causing her to moan and curl up tighter.

  “C’mon sleepyhead, food’s waiting.”

Rei opened her eyes, squinting, and let out a yawn.

  “I was waiting for you.”

  “Well, here I am.”

Rei lazily wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling Marcus in for a kiss. After a few seconds, their lips parted, but their faces remained close. Marcus could feel her hot breath. He could tell she wanted to go further—part of him wanted to as well—but he pushed those urges aside.

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  “Alright, let’s get up,” he said as he escaped her grasp. “Think of this as revenge for earlier.”

  “Don’t tease me like that,” she pouted. “You should be thankful that I stopped you from being later than you already were. Now you’re turning me down?”

  Marcus grinned. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

  Rei rolled her eyes and got up with a huff. “I suppose there’s always later, unless”—she smirked—”you’re just not feeling up to it.”

With that, she walked out the door, not giving Marcus the chance to respond.

  “H-hey, I didn’t mean it that way! Wait up!”

Marcus quickly closed the distance between them, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as they made their way to the lunch line—which had grown longer since before.

  Rei giggled, leaning against him. “I know.”

***

Whenever the two passed someone, they always stopped to say hello to Marcus. Some thanked him for helping them, and others had new favors to ask.

‘I might as well be invisible.’ Rei thought to herself, gloomily.

Just as they were nearing the back of the line, Raul approached the pair, carrying a bowl and bread in both hands.

  “Thought’cha might wanna skip the line and come’n eat with us.” He looked at Marcus, his usual wide grin plastered across his face. “Think of it as an apology for earlier.”

  “Earlier…?” Rei asked, turning her head in Marcus’s direction.

  “That was, well, Raul’s just sorry for bumping into me earlier. Isn’t that right, Raul?”

  A sudden look of realization appeared on Raul’s face. “Y-yeah, I was bein real, uh, clumsy. Ran right into him. ‘S water under the bridge now, so c’mon; Paul’s waitin.”

Their white lie seeming to have worked, and the trio made their way to a pair of logs that the brothers had been using as seats.

  “How’re you doing?” Paul asked the couple as they sat next to eachother on one of the logs.

  “Good so far,” Marcus said, shoveling stew into his mouth as he spoke. “Depends on what the Chief has planned for me after lunch.”

  “And you, missy?”

Rei’s hand—holding a spoon full of stew—stopped right before her open mouth. She hadn’t actually been expecting Paul to initiate a conversation with her.

  “The same. I suppose today’s been a nice surprise. Someone volunteered to do the laundry for a week, so it’s a burden off my shoulders. When I find out who it was, I’ll have to thank them”

Paul and Raul glanced at each other, while Marcus tried to contain his laughter.

  “Don’t worry Rei,” he said, “your thanks will reach them before you know it.”

  Raul grinned. “Sure will.”

The rest of the meal passed with little of note. The four exchanged pleasantries, though Rei remained reserved unless directly asked a question. By the end of it, Paul and Raul were in a heated discussion about news of monster attacks further south.

  “I heard it myself,” Paul said, “when me and the Chief went’n to Talmond four days ago. There was talk of villages on the border burnin. All of em next to the wildlands, just like ours. They say they’re lookin to send out an expedition; find out what kinda monster’s responsible.”

  “I’m tellin you, it’s a dragon!” Raul exclaimed. “What else’s razin whole villages to a crisp?”

Talk of danger, now that got Rei’s attention. For the first time during their meal, Rei spoke out of her own volition.

  “A-are we in danger, then?”

  “Don’t worry,” Marcus hurriedly assured her, “if we were in any real danger, you think Gren would be having us carry on as usual? There’s never been any dangerous monsters around these parts before. It’s probably just more dangerous in the south.”

Before they could speak on the matter any further, a sudden shout brought an end to their conversation.

  “Raul! Paul! Get yer lazy asses back to the river!” Gren shouted. “Them clothes ain’t gonna clean themselves.”

Rei’s eyes widened slightly.

  “So it was you two…”

  “Well, see you ‘round. Seems like me and Raul aren’t off the hook just yet.”

As the two brothers left, Gren approached Marcus and Rei.

  “Good work lad. One more haul t’morrow and we’ll keep the collectors outta our stores for the winter. They’d rather take back lumber than more crops.

  “Happy to help, Chief. I’ll see you in the morning, then.

As Marcus turned to leave, Rei stopped him.

  “I’ll come back later. I have something I need to talk to Gren about.”

  “Is something wrong...?”

  “Of course not, silly! You’re always such a worrywart. Do I pester you for details every time you talk to those two friends of yours?”

  Marcus let out a sigh. “No, you don’t. I’ll be waiting at home.

Rei waited until Marcus was well away—out of earshot—before she turned back to Gren.

  “Whad’ya need with me, Rei?” Gren asked, his stern expression turning soft. “Want some advice on romance from an experienced old man like me?

  “Actually,” Rei hesitated, “it’s about what I told you last month.”

  “You mean-”

  “I haven’t...bled in two months now. Which means...” Rei’s voice trailed off. Even with Gren, she found it hard to talk about such personal matters.

  Gren smiled. “I’m happy fer you; the lad, too. And me, I finally gettuh be a grandfather!”

  At that, Rei giggled. “Who would want an old grouch like you as their grandfather?”

  “Yer breakin my heart girlie. Anyway, I’ma guess yah haven’t told him yet. Boy would’ve yapped my ear off by now if yah had.

  “Not yet. I’m going to soon, but... I just haven’t found the right time.”

  “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years, ain’t no time like the present.”

Rei remained silent for a moment, contemplating the old man’s words. Honestly, she was anxious. Her and Marcus had never discussed children, and now one was already on the way.

‘What if he’s angry? What if he doesn’t want a child?’

Those same thoughts had been echoing in the back of her mind for some time now. She knew she loved him, and she was more than certain he loved her, but that nagging what if was never fully silenced. But now, with Gren’s words of encouragement, she steeled her resolve.

‘He will be happy, I know it.’

  “Thanks, Gren. I’ll tell him later tonight.”

Before Rei could leave, Gren suddenly grabbed her shoulder.

  “I… You...” The old man fumbled his speech, having trouble finding the words he wanted to say.

  “I can guess what you’re trying to say, it’s fine.” Rei said as she placed her hand over his.

  “I know yah do, but I’ma still say it. I hope the two of you raise em right; better than I did for you.”

  “You found a little girl and you took her in when nobody else would. That’s not something many mercenaries would do. So, don’t apologize, you old codger. I’m here now thanks to you.

Gren didn’t say anything else. Instead he turned around, with his back to Rei.

  “I hope you’ll have some ideas for names next time we speak. That’s one thing I don’t trust Marcus with.”

Having gotten what she needed, Rei began walking back toward her house. Meanwhile, Gren remained where he stood, completely still. As Rei’s footfalls grew distant, and he was sure she wouldn’t see, Gren raised his left hand to his face—wiping away the single tear under his right eye.