"Honey, wake up! Honey if you don't wake up the kids will be disappointed"

A familiar charming voice ringed in my ear causing my heart to violently beat. No she can't be alive, right? This can't be true.  I shot open my eyes and found Catherine laying on my chest and directly looking at me with her emerald green eyes. It felt as if a struck of lightning shook my soul, she's alive, she's really is alive. I instantly wrap my arms around her waist and pull her deeper in to my embrace. "Thank God, you're alive, I thought you died." I whispered as tears form in the corner of my eyes.

"What are you talking about Arthur? You must've had a nightmare last night, come on the kids waiting on you," she replied with a smile and pull herself out of my embrace. She slowly got off the bed and departed the room leaving me awestruck. "Kids? When did we'd kids?" But strangely it seems that my mind immediately accepted it, really shouldn't I be worried about this? I mean one of my lifetime goals is  have children but I really don't remember having kids. Could this be dream or could be all this time that was a really long nightmare? Well, who cares as long Catherine is with me.

Thinking of this, I quickly got off the bed, got dress and walk down stairs to only see three figures happily chatting and eating. One was a girl the size of a teenager;  she'd long black ink hair and abyss black hair. The second was a little boy with short black hair and emerald green eyes, the boy look similar to the third figure - a girl -which indicate that there were twins. They must've heard me coming down the stairs because immediately when I entered the kitchen the three figures all turned around and said in sync "Good morning Dad." 

I stood there speechless without saying a word. What is this feeling? Happiness?  No this feeling couldn't be describe with mere words. It felt like if a thousand ton weight that was holding me down all my life was finally lifted.  It was at this time I felt a pair of exquisite, soft arms wrapping around me. Shifting my head I saw Catherine smiling. " Why don't you say good morning, Arthur?" 

" Oh yes of course, Honey bun." Shifting my head towards the kids, a smile blossomed on my face "Good morning my prince and princesses." Immediately after the words left my mouth, the oldest one pouted and frown. "Dad, I already told you not call me princess anymore!" Hehe, she doesn't want me to call her princess anymore, kids grows up so fast. Wait, but what should I call her? Now that I think about it I don't know any of their names, this is to strange.

As if she had read my mind, the oldest one spoke again "Don't call me princess anymore, just call me by my birth name, Melissa. And because I feel pity for my younger siblings call them by their birth names as well, Donny and Diane."

Immediately in protest, the twins shouted at Melissa. "No! We like daddy calling us prince and princesses, you're just embarrassed by the fact daddy call you princess in front of the guy you like at school." Melissa flustered "S-shut up" she stuttered then grab her backpack and as well as the two twins. 

"Bye dad, love you"

"Bye daddy, love you"

"Yea, love you daddy"

They all say their goodbye's and left the house leaving me and Catherine at the table eating. I should be happy right now but I don't know why  that isn't the case, I feel as if something isn't right.

"Arthur, are you alright?" Catherine suddenly spoke, which even confirm my worry. I didn't notice it earlier but instead of calling me "Honey bear" like she always do she called me by my name. Not only that but earlier I didn't even know my kids name, this is only came to one conclusion: I must be dreaming. Sigh look how pitiful I become. I need to accept the fact that Catherine is dead. She's.....dead. She sacrifice herself for me, she saved my life.

"Arthur, wha-" 

The imaginary Catherine couldn't even finish her sentence before the space surroundings me distorted and twist. And then blackness, everything surrounding me became darkness. All my senses were no more, it felt as if I was in paralyzed from the head down while simultaneously being blind.

.....

My eyes shot open and I find myself staring up to a white ceilings, I shift my eyes around to see a lot of hospital equipment, as I try to sit myself up an overwhelming pain spread across the right side of my chest causing me to groan in pain. Enduring the pain I finally sat up and look down at myself and noticed that the upper part of my right arm and chest is wrapped around in clean bandages.  

So after I pass out, Max and them must've took me to the hospital. I wonder how long I've been out for, a day? Or maybe more? Did Cathe- oh yeah right, she's... As I was thinking of this, I can feel tears pouring down my face as my heart cringe in unbearable pain. I really couldn't control these emotions no matter how much I try to console myself.

"Oh y'all are for Mr. Lewis. Normally we wouldn't let anyone but family members in here but since I could tell that y'all are very worried about him, I'll let this pass just once, ok, but be quick."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Ok, we're very thankful"

It seems that some people came to visit me. Most likely Max and them since I really don't know anyone except them. I'm an orphan and because of that I don't have anyone I can call family, well accept for of course, Dustin, Jeanna, and Max.

Quickly I wiped the tears from my face and try to look normal in which I felt confident that I pull it off.

The door open and I see, none other then the three amigos. As their eyes land on me I can see a fleeting glint of sadness and pain but it was only second before it was replaced by the look of happiness and relief. " Are you doing alright Arthur?" Max was the first one to spoke. Wearing a slight smile, I replied "I'm alright, couldn't be better, Hehe" Of course this was a lie which wasn't unnoticed by them, am I really not that good in lying?

After a moment of silence, Jeanna and them all sat around me while Jeanna held my hand and muttered under her breath. Still wearing my smile I spoke again " So how long did I slept?" Jeanna frowned "A month, you was healed a long time ago but the doctor said that you wouldn't wake due to your mind not wanting to face reality," she spoke with s hint of sadness in her voice. " And for C-Catherine, Dustin, Max, her family and I had already intended to her funeral. Also don't worry her family believe that she died because of her incidentally being at the wrong place at the wrong time and was shot due to that."

I slightly nodded my head " Thats good, I don't want her family knowing why she died. So did the president gave us another mission?" I ask, trying to go to another topic.

This cause Jeanna to frown, obviously she isn't happy that glaze over the topic about Catherine but it can't be help. If I was to talk about Catherine I know I'll cry which make loose face in front of them which they might not care about, however I do.  "Did he?" I ask again causing Jeanna to get up with angry expression "You know, we're friends. You could at least tell us about your worries and problems. I know that you're badly hurt because of Catherine's death, *sniff* *sniff*" After saying this she left the room and slammed the door behind her.

I take a glance over towards Max and saw a perplex expression on his face. "Go after her Max, I'll be alright." I said while smiling.

He nodded to me and said "I'll speak with you later." And with that he left to chase Jeanna.

"Arthur, the president did give us a new mission, not only that he already find a replacement for Catherine." Dustin suddenly spoke. Shifting my head towards him, I frowned and ask " Replacement? "

"Yea, we didn't want a replacement but the president said we need a five man team. So we could only swallow our disagreement and work with it."

"It's fine, I know what you feeling. So when will I meet this replacement?"

"After you're dismissed from the hospital, well I have to go."

"Leaving so soon?"

"Of course, I have to go to my daughter's dance recital and hey, don't think the death of Catherine is your fault. She wouldn't want you hurt and neither do we, well until then." After saying this he got up and left leaving me alone in silence  once again.

......

Its been a week since I've been in the hospital and now today is the day I'll be leaving.  Right now I'm standing outside of the hospital in casual clothes and shoes. My hair is very messy but I'll fix that once I get home.  So now the question is...how should I get home. This hospital and my house is at least 2 hours away by driving and if you count that I'm walking, that should at least take me 6-7 hours to get home or probably even more, sigh I do really feel hopeless.

It was at this moment God seem to answer my call. Pulling up in front of the hospital was abyss black Audi with tinted black windows. When the car stopped, the passenger window was let down and a familiar face appeared. It was my good pal, Max. "Yo! I thought you would've needed a ride, come on hop in." A smile crawled up my face as I enter the car "Thank you." I said.

The tires screech as we drive off from the hospital. I took the initiative to talk. " So what is the mission about?" I'm rather curious about the mission, with nothing to do in the hospital that was all I can think of. He replied. "Mmmmmm, it's somewhat related to last mission. We all have to go undercover, for instance, Jeanna and I is going to be disguised as college students while you will be a highschool student. The president didn't go much in detail about it but we'll find out the detail during the meeting,"

"Is the meeting today?" I ask

"No, it should be tomorrow but before that, we should go and celebrate."

"Celebrate for what?"

"Of course your healthy recovery!"

"The bar?" I ask with sarcasm in my voice.

"Haha, you know me the best"