Page 36 of Accept Me (Fate’s Choice #4)

We could step out of the long night of our lives.

Star slowly lowered his head again, looking at me from under his long, teasing lashes. He was still sitting on me, keeping me buried deep inside.

"Are you mine, Hunter?"

"I am yours."

"Don’t leave me anymore. Please." His lips pouted just slightly.

I kissed them softly.

"I won’t. Ever. I don’t need to leave you anymore. I needed to deal with this, and it’s done. Now it’s only you and me… and—"

"Sol."

I flinched.

"What?"

Star looked sheepish.

"I’ve already been thinking about his name, you know…" He blushed, his fingers lightly tugging at the collar of my black T-shirt as his eyes lingered on my neck. "I know it’s crazy early, but…"

He hesitated. I stayed silent, just listening.

Star sighed and murmured softly, pointing at the sky behind him.

"You know, the sun is also a star. In Latin it’s called Sol. I thought maybe… it could be… a way of keeping a piece of what you lost alive."

I closed my eyes.

"Solace."

He nodded.

"Yes, that way… we’ll honor him. He’ll live on through his brother’s name."

I let out a loud sigh. After a night consumed by adrenaline and dark duties, something inside me finally loosened, as if a knot had been untied, and I felt a measure of solace return.

Star's eyes were wide and he touched my cheeks with slightly trembling fingers.

"Thank you. He’ll be perfect… our Sol," I whispered. "Just as perfect as you." Then I pulled him closer, resting my head on his shoulder.

We sat like that for a while, still joined physically but even more deeply united by our souls, and Star was slowly stroking my back with his hands.

Silence fell around us, and with it, this new kind of solace sank even deeper into my heart, filling me completely.

Sadly, soon we had to part, because I heard Veyron’s voice calling up from below deck, asking if he could come out. To avoid embarrassment, we quickly separated and Star pulled up his pants.

Veyron and Bay emerged.

"Hey, Hunter! How was your… mission?" Vey said as he came closer, patting my shoulder.

His bright smile followed with, "I’m just glad to see you in one piece."

"Wow, did you assume I was in danger?"

A brief silence fell. I noticed Bay’s expression shift slightly, and Star lowered his gaze.

"Yes," Vey said quietly. "You seemed so intense about why you had to go… somewhere."

I clenched my jaw.

"Whatever I did, it was necessary and important for both my future and Star’s. And let’s leave it at that, because it’s a beautiful day, and I’m exhausted. I haven’t slept all night."

"Oh, all night?"

"Yes. Things had to be handled and closed permanently."

"I see," Veyron said softly.

Star remained quiet, staring at the deck, and Bay said nothing either. After a pause, Veyron brightened again.

"So, breakfast then? If you can stay awake long enough, that is." His grin widened as he slipped back into his usual cheerful self.

Soon we sat down together for breakfast.

The topic shifted when Veyron asked Bay about his upcoming concert, and we talked about it for a while. Star admitted that he was subscribed to one of Bay’s channels, which earned him a polite thanks. The conversation was pleasant, though I had trouble concentrating.

After breakfast, Star and I said goodbye to Veyron and Bay.

As we were leaving, Bay gripped my hand firmly, more firmly than the situation called for, and said quietly, "Remember my offer. If you have any trouble, you know where to find me."

"I truly appreciate it," I replied, and hesitated. Then I leaned toward him slightly and whispered, "I may have one little, tiny thing that I would love to do just to put a cherry on top."

"Contact me anytime."

"Will do."

Then Star and I stepped off the yacht. Veyron waved after us until we disappeared from sight.

As we walked toward the parking lot, I said,

"Could you drive? My focus isn’t what it should be."

Star blushed, swallowing hard before answering. "I’m afraid I don’t drive. For the past two years I barely left the house, and even before that… I never got a license."

"That’s something we’ll have to change," I said with a sigh as I slid behind the wheel. "You need to get your normal life back, Star. No fear, no limits on what you can do every day. I want you to be able to go wherever you want on your own, to handle your own errands without feeling afraid."

We pulled out of the lot. Star stayed silent for a long time before whispering just one word.

"Thank you."

As we drove through the city, he suddenly pointed toward a shopping mall that was just opening, with the first cars pulling into the lot.

"I know you’re tired, but… could we stop there for a bit?" he asked shyly.

"Of course. Anything for you," I said, parking there too.

We got out of the car, and I watched as Star looked around slowly, but without fear.

The wind lifted his hair, he slowly straightened up, tilted his head toward the sky, and closed his eyes.

He stood like this for a moment, letting it sink in.

Then he took a deep, slow breath and blew the air out.

"Dear Fate, it feels so… free. No fucking stalkers around!"

When our eyes met, he broke into a wide smile that showed his perfect white teeth, so rarely seen.

"Shall we go inside?" I asked with a matching grin.

"Sure."

I held out my hand, and he took it. Walking together, even swinging our linked hands playfully, we stepped into the mall.

Star seemed to know exactly where he wanted to go, glancing at displays as he led us down the long row of shops until he stopped at one at the very end.

Inside was a store filled with everything for young parents—baby clothes, cribs, strollers, carriers, rockers, and all the little essentials for newborns and toddlers.

I watched him in surprise. We had only just learned about the pregnancy, and already Star had chosen a name, and now he wanted to browse a baby store? I blinked, taken off guard but also overcome with a sudden wave of joy.

This was exactly how I wanted to experience the beginnings of parenthood as well, but I had held myself back before.

I remembered how Olaf had been so different. He never made plans for the future, not even when we were on leave and back at home. Did he already know, deep down, that parenthood would never be his? Or was he simply never ready for it?

But I was.

All those thoughts crossed my mind as I watched Star stop at a shelf of tiny newborn outfits, adorable onesies and shirts. He picked up a small blue set decorated with little yellow stars. He marveled at it for a moment.

So suddenly I said, almost without thinking,

"Let’s buy it. It’s so cute."

Star looked up, his eyes meeting mine as a blush spread across his face.

"But it’s still so early… I just wanted to come look at these things, to get a feel for it all."

I gently took the outfit from his hands. It was so tiny.

"I really like this one. Especially the stars," I said, winking at him.

We stared at each other, the moment felt sweet and intimate.

"Star… I want you to know that… I want it all, with you," I whispered, and saw his eyes glistening.

"Me too, Hunter. I want to be a dad. I want to hold my baby in my arms and feel nothing but love and joy and wholeness…"

His fingers intertwined with mine and we just stood there, probably looking weird to the salesman, who was watching us from afar.

Finally I let out a breath and pointed toward the shelves with my head.

"So what’s stopping us? We can buy half of the store already!"

"Well, that can be our next step, but for now we can start with just this one," Star tilted his head. "I want to feel it, savor it, every piece of baby cloth, every toy, live through it, experience it all…" He chuckled quietly, almost giddy. "Of becoming a parent!"

"I fully get that!"

And I did, we were just in sync.

We walked toward the register.

But suddenly I just wasn’t done. I grabbed a small blanket covered in tiny stars, and then, right before we reached the counter, I picked up a little hat from a stand, one with a big sun printed on the front, its rays stretching across the fabric.

Star watched me, visibly moved, his face filled with excitement and more complex emotions. After we paid, he scooped everything up without waiting for the bag and carried the blanket, onesie, and hat pressed against his chest as he headed for the exit.

As we stepped into the corridor, we exchanged easy smiles.

Outside the mall, as we walked, he still clutched everything to his chest. And I couldn’t resist anymore. I stepped closer, pulled him into my arms rather vigorously, and pressed his head against my chest with my hand.

A soft sound escaped him, something between a sob and a sigh of happiness.

"You know, I almost said I can’t believe this is happening… but that would’ve been a lie. Because I do believe it, Hunter. I already feel it. That it’s real, that it’s beginning. Our new life!"

Without a word I leaned down and kissed him softly. "I feel it too. And I can’t wait for every single day with you. Tomorrow. And the next and the thousands more…" Then I smiled, wider than I had in years.