Page 14

June 8th, 2027

“This box belongs in the master bedroom, Butch!” Marta shouted out of the living room to her friend, who was currently carrying a heavy box up the stairs.

Today Oliver and Marta moved into the house next to Lynn and Nate and none of them had expected that there was actually so much to do, especially because the two had been living in small rooms in headquarters. How was it possible for them to have so much stuff?

“Understood, boss,” Nate answered before heading towards the open door on his right, where Oliver had told him the main bedroom would be.

While maneuvering the box through the door frame, Nate accidentally crashed into something, or someone, as he realized when he heard someone moan.

“Another one?” Oliver asked, shocked.

“Yeah. Your better half told me it belongs in the bedroom as well.”

“I didn’t even realize she’d so many clothes. Godammit.”

“Wait until she starts to shop for baby clothes,” Nate laughed, remembering that the girls’ wardrobe had been bigger than his own even before they were born.

“Oh, she already did that. It got worse after we started to renovate the house and chose a room to be the nursery.” Oliver shot Nate a pained smile after they put the boxes into one corner, right next to the walk-in closet .

Thankfully, Marta had organized for a lot of their furniture purchases to be delivered today too, which meant that they not only had to get the stuff inside the house, they also had to build as much furniture as they could manage. It was a good job Nate had skipped arm day that morning.

“We have to build the nursery later, if you don’t mind.”

“Oh, isn’t that something you and Marta want to do on your own? Like, really celebrating the moment? I know we did back then.”

“I want to do this with you, Butch.” Oliver bumped his shoulder into Nate, not daring to look at him.

There were so many emotions swirling within the two Agents that both of them needed to swallow a few times. Life hadn’t been fair to them and they’d shared more traumatic and sad moments than happy ones, but things had changed when Nate found Lynn and Oliver and Marta finally became a couple. They started to collect happy memories, they laughed more than they cried, and it had brought the two men together in a different way than simply trauma and guilt bonding. They were really enjoying their lives together and, with Baby McGreen, this would be their pinnacle.

Nate knew how overwhelmed with happiness and pride he’d been on the day Ann and Luna were born and he couldn’t wait for his best friend to have the same moment. It was something you’d never be able to describe. You needed to feel it.

“It means a lot, pal,” Nate mumbled, before pulling his friend into a hug.

“But before that we need to feed the beasts and get the last boxes in,” Oliver laughed.

“Should I guess who you mean with the beasts?”

“I’d never call our wives beasts, so of course I’m talking about the little munchkins. Maybe they’ll calm down after they’re fed.”

“Wives, huh?” Nate shot Oliver a quick smile who only averted his eyes in reaction .

“Yeah, well…”

“Did you ask her?”

“No. Not yet.”

“You’ve had the ring for months now. What are you waiting for, pal?”

Oliver let out a loud sigh, turning around to dig into one of the boxes without looking for something specific. Nate knew he was stalling, but he let him do whatever he needed, because that was one of the things he learned over years of therapy: everyone coped with difficult situations and conversations differently.

“I know. I wanted to, but the right moment never came, and then, against all odds she got pregnant and I didn’t want her to think that I was only asking because she was pregnant. Because that’s absolutely not the case. I want her by my side because she’s the perfect addition to my life and there’s not a single moment I want to spend without her.”

“Then fucking tell her that, you little coward.”

“Hey, I’m not…”

But Nate was already out of the room when Oliver turned around to yell at him, so he quickly made his way out of the bedroom and down the stairs. His best friend was nowhere to be seen, but the conversation wasn’t over for Oliver yet. He didn’t need to justify himself, but he wanted to.

“Uncle Oliiiiiiii,” Luna shouted in his direction and he didn’t have a single second to look for the little girl before small arms wrapped around his legs.

It had only been a few months since he could differentiate the girls by their voices. They’d changed so much over the past year that no one would blame him for not knowing which was which; even as the girls’ godfather.

“What’s up, big girl?”

“Marta sent me to look for you.”

“There, you found me. Mission accomplished. ”

Luna started to giggle before letting go of his legs and grabbing his hand instead, slightly pulling him towards the living room and the attached kitchen. He loved the open-plan concept of the main area for the same reason as Nate; he could have a nice conversation with Marta while cooking, and he’d love to watch their baby in the crib which was already placed next to their couch It was the first item he’d built for their house, as it had been delivered two days ago.

“You looking for me, Sugar?”

Marta turned around when she heard her boyfriend’s voice and the sight of her pregnant belly made Oliver’s heart skip a beat. He couldn’t imagine that he’d ever be able to not love this human. She’d literally produced a tiny living being within her own belly. His child. It amazed him and freaked him out all at the same time.

“Did you hear me?”

Oliver blinked a few times, looking from Marta’s belly up to her face. She was sporting an angry frown.

“Sorry, I was distracted by your beauty.”

She only rolled her eyes at him while carefully caressing her hands over her belly. It was something she did often since becoming pregnant.

“I told you that we’re running out of snacks and asked if you could drive and grab some food from that Chinese place we love so much.”

“But I made a million tacos for all of us. Are they already out?”

“Baby boy was hungry. Not my fault.” The pout on her lips was so adorable, that Oliver couldn’t stop himself from stepping towards her and engulfing her in a hug as he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.

“I’ll go and get you more food, no worries.”

“You’re the best, mi cielo .”

“Oh, that I know,” Oliver chuckled before giving Marta a proper kiss .

“Ew,” Luna commented, making Marta and Oliver laugh out loud.

“What’s wrong, Little Star?” Lynn asked, who had just finished getting the stuff in both bathrooms ready so that they were usable.

“Marta and Oli,” the girl answered and Lynn turned her head to the side to shoot her friends a questioning look.

“I kissed my totally hot girlfriend,” Oli explained and Luna imitated some gagging noises in return.

“Love isn’t disgusting, Luna. Stop that,” Lynn scolded, kneeling down and opening her arms for her daughter.

Luna had her arms crossed in front of her, considering whether she should go for the hug or not. In the end she decided to go for it and cuddled into her mother’s arms.

“See I love you too. Is that disgusting?”

“No, Mama.”

Crisis averted.

“Did you see Daddy anywhere?”

“No.”

“And your sister?”

“Ann’s playing outside.”

“What do you think about going out and playing with her until we have lunch?”

“Okay!” Luna squeaked before running towards the door that led to the garden. Lynn stood from her kneeling position, shaking her head slightly.

“That’s new, right? The disgust for kisses,” Oliver commented, one arm wrapped around Marta, who had her head leant against his shoulder.

“Yeah. It started two weeks ago, when she literally pulled us away when we kissed. Don’t know where it’s coming from, but she’s definitely in the first stage of stubbornness.”

“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Luna’s been stubborn since the day she kicked Ann aside and decided to be the first-born,” Marta responded, before letting out a small laugh .

“True,” Lynn laughed as well.

Grunts could be heard from the hallway and Lynn turned around to see Nate carrying two boxes at the same time all the way up the stairs.

“Be careful, Honey,” she shouted towards him and only got a grunt in response.

“I should probably go and help him.” Oliver raised his brow before letting go of his pregnant girlfriend.

“No, you should go get some food for us,” Marta intervened and gave Oli a strong slap on his ass.

“Yes, Ma’am!”

“Well, I’m definitely gonna leave the room now,” Lynn mumbled and quickly left the room to follow her husband upstairs.

She found him in the nursery, which was painted in a beautiful pastel yellow that made the room look like a peaceful day in summer.

“There you are.” Lynn shot him a wide smile and he turned around with the same smile dancing on his lips.

“Can you imagine that in a few months a mini-Oliver will be sleeping in this room?”

“I can and I’m more than happy for them. They deserve this so much after everything they’ve been through. I know they’re gonna be amazing parents.”

Nate had his arms outstretched towards her and Lynn stepped closer so that he could engulf her and press her close. For a moment they stood like that, the stress of moving day and the screaming voices of their girls from outside forgotten because the only thing that mattered was them. It was like Nate was creating a barrier of love with his arms, making the chaotic world around them disappear.

“Thank you,” he mumbled into the top of Lynn’s head before resting his cheek on it.

“For what? ”

“Knowing me better than I do. You’ve been so patient with me over the past few months, when I had the feeling the demons were slowly crawling back into our life. But you’ve been there and you knew exactly what to say and how to say it. I really appreciate it.”

“I love you, Nate. There will be no day in our lives that I’ll let the demons win. When I vowed to you that we’d fight through everything that comes our way, I meant it. With my whole heart. We knew life wouldn’t be a picnic with our pasts, but you and I looked into each other’s eyes on our wedding day and we promised that we’d fight. Sometimes we’ll win and sometimes we’ll lose but, no matter what, we’re doing it together and there hasn’t been a single second where I thought about giving up.”

Nate shifted slightly, making Lynn look up into his face and see tears linger in his eyes. He slowly cradled her cheeks with his hands, leaned in, and pressed his lips on hers.

“I don’t deserve you but I’m happy you’re mine,” he whispered between kisses and a shiver went down her spine.

“You deserve to be happy and I’m glad I can help you with that.”

“You’re more than only helpful, Darling. You’re everything. Without you…”

“But there is no without me. We’re the Sheppards. We’re a family. You, Ann, Luna, and Me. We’ll stick together till our last breaths. I promise.”

“I love you, Mrs. Sheppard.”