Azura, 19 years after emergence day
The planet of Sera had come a surprisingly long way since the end of the locust war. It was the closest they'd had to peace in over 100 years. The planet was still recovering and rebuilding, but the population was slowly going up. A lot of Sera had decent housing and food. They were still working on fuel and power, but had done pretty well using natural resources like solar energy and wind power. The planets future was staring to look pretty good. There was still a lot of bitterness between members and ex members of the Cog, and the stranded. A lot of them were not stranded any more, but old grudges are not always forgotten. There was still a lot of gangs that caused a lot of trouble, but no war to speak of.
Marcus and Anya now lived together in one of the first apartments built here on Azura. They moved in about a year ago, and it was the closest place that felt like home in years. The island had done pretty well. There were various shops for basics like food and clothing, anyone who had a trade before the war, opened up a business, sometimes in their own home. Paper currency wasn't exactly in circulation yet but people were starting to use it, in the form of I owe you's. Most people still traded things, like food for clothing. Everyone played their part. They'd even opened up a school. There were plenty of ex stranded that used to be school teachers or professors. Anya volunteered teaching the younger children. Cole also helped out the kids teaching them thrashball.
Bernie and Hoffman had stayed at Anvil Gate. The community was quite similar there. Sam almost decided to move there as it was her home. But she wanted to stay in Azura with Baird . After the war, their feelings for each other came to the surface pretty quickly. He was doing fine, fixing, pretty much anything for anyone who needed it. That paid for the small house they lived in that Baird helped to build. They were very happy together, even Bairds attitude had imprived due to being with her.
Back on Azura, one ex stranded family had decided to open a small restaurant. They had been very successful as it was the first on to open here. Marcus and Anya had decided to dine here tonight.
They didn't often go out to eat so they wanted to make the most of the evening. Anya couldn't believe she was sitting, eating in a restaurant. During the war, this was a luxury she never thought she'd have again. She smiled as she looked across the table at Marcus. After all these years they were still together. She never thought the day would come when they'd actually be living together.
Marcus noticed Anya smiling at him.
"Thank you for giving me such a lovely evening" She said.
"Evenings not over yet" He replied with slight smirk.
After their date, Marcus suggested they go for a walk along the beach. It had been a lovely evening, but Anya noticed he seemed a bit distracted and preoccupied tonight. Maybe even a little nervous. Little did she know that it was due to the small box in his jacket pocket.
18 months ago
Marcus was going through the process of sorting through the remains of his fathers belongings.
It was a hard thing to do, going through a loved ones belongings after they had died. There wasn't much personal stuff, mainly work and research. That's why he was here in the first place after all. After about 4 hours of sorting through various research, scientific data and journals, he decided to sit down and take a break. After a few minutes, he spotted a small box up on a higher shelf, he hadn't noticed before. He got back up and reached up to get it. The box had a small padlock on it and was locked. It was only a flimsy padlock so cutting it open wouldn't be a problem. He grabbed some small wire cutters to open it, but suddenly felt guilty. The box was locked for a reason. He had to respect that, even though he was dead. Curiosity got the better of him though. Was there another secret in there he wasn't supposed to know? More about his fathers knowledge about the locust, or a photo of him on a date with the locust queen? He couldn't stand it any longer. He got the lock off, took a deep breath and then opened it. What was inside, wasn't what he expected at all.
There was a handful of old, worn photographs. He looked at them one by one. The first one was a photo of his father and mother on their wedding day. The next was a photo of Adam, looking extremely proud, holding Marcus as a baby. Then one of a young 14 year old Marcus, alongside his best friends Dom and Carlos. Seeing this one almost brought a tear to his eye, as he felt a pang off loss and sadness in his chest. The last photo was a of Marcus and Anya the night he received his Embry star medal. That was a very memorable night for him. Not because of the award he'd received but because that was the night Marcus and Anya's relationship had begun. There was some other stuff in the box, including Adam Fenix's Cog tags and a few medals he'd received himself. There was also a small box in there. He opened it to find a diamond ring. He inspected it closer and saw that it was engraved with the words, 'forever and always' He realised that this had to me his mothers engagement ring. He figured that Adam must've grabbed whatever precious belongings he could, when he attempted to flee the mansion all those years ago. It meant a lot to Marcus that his father saved these belongings. He looked at the ring again, knowing that he should keep hold of it. He wasn't quite sure what to do with it. He certainly didn't want to sell or trade it for anything, it was a precious object that his father saved and he would save as well. There's only one person that he might give it to one day . . . .
The present
"Are you ok Marcus, you seem distracted"
" Yeah, I'm fine sorry, just thinking"
Anya didn't always ask what he was thinking about. It had been two years since the end of the war but old wounds never healed. She didn't ask as she didn't want to ruin a perfect evening. She stopped when she realised that Marcus has stopped a few paces back. She turned around to face him. She could usually read him quite well, but she wasn't sure what was on his mind tonight.
He began to speak.
"Anya, did you ever think the war would end"
"I hoped it would, but didn't think it would if that makes sense" She replied.
"Well, when you hoped it would end, how did you imagine your future would be?" he asked
13 years earlier, 5 years after Emergence day
It had been a long shift for Anya, but it was nearly over. She couldn't wait to get home an relax for a bit. Not that anyone could relax these days, with half the world destroyed and the locust war raging on and on. At least they were safe here in Jacinto.
"Hey Anya, you finishing soon" Sophie, one of the girls Anya worked with in CIC asked
"Yeah, in about half an hour"
"Me and Steph were going to grab a drink. Wanna come?"
Anya found it almost funny that in a world running out of resources, they still managed to have plenty of alcohol. I suppose people needed it during these dark times.
"I think I'll pass tonight. I'm pretty tired" She replied
"Come on Anya, just for a bit. You should get out more"
"It's ok, I just want to get home. Anyway, there's someone I want to see tonight" Anya said trying not to invite any further questions.
"Don't tell me your still seeing that Marcus guy"
Anya replied, "I don't see how that's any of your business, but so what if I am?"
"None of my business? You've spoken to me about your relationship before. Well if you can call it a 'relationship"
"What's that supposed to mean" she asked offended by that statement.
"Anya. He's never taken you on a date, he's never spent the whole night with you, probably never even told you he loves you. Why do you continue to see him?"
She sighed and simply replied " Because. . . I love him. I don't expect you to understand. You don't
know him like I do"
"I do understand. We all need someone in this world. What's left of it that is. I just don't think he feels the same way you do"
"Look, I appreciate your concern but . . .
"Anya, I'd like to think that we're friends. I don't want to see you get hurt that's all.
"You won't. But thanks. I appreciate the concern, but I'll be fine"
When Anya got back to her apartment it was she collapsed onto the sofa. She couldn't help but think about what Sophie had said to her. Was she just wasting her time with Marcus? Everything her friend had said was true. They'd never really seen each other socially out of work or privately. He'd never spent the whole night with her, and she was to afraid to tell him that she loved him because deep down she knew he would never say it back. Maybe it was time to get some answers out of him. She deserved that at least. A knock at the door made her jump. That must be him she thought. 'I'll just ask him what this relationship means to him' she thought to her self. One good thing about Marcus was that he was honest. 'If he can't say anything meaningful to me, then we may as well end things' She got up and answered the door to let him in. Her thoughts of talking things through with him and possibly ending the relationship were pushed out of her mind when she saw him. Marcus gently pulled her close to him, gently brushed the strands of hair out of her face to kiss her.
"Marcus wait, I think we need to talk"
"About what" He asked
She couldn't bring herself to carry on. If they talked things out she may end up alone tonight, instead of spending the evening in his arms.
"Nothing, don't worry" She said as she kissed him. Marcus was a man of few words and didn't waste much time. Anya had forgotten all her worries and doubts now, as they made their way to the bedroom. She even ignored the nagging thought in the back of her head that she would be waking up alone the next morning.
The present
"I don't know, never really had time to think about the future" She said, but that wasn't entirely true. She always imagined a life with Marcus. She wouldn't want it any other way
"How about you?" She asked
"Honestly, I thought we'd be fighting the war until we dropped dead" He replied
Anya thought hard about what to say next.
"Are you happy Marcus, now were at some kind of peace, now the wars over and all the fighting has stopped?" She asked.
He didn't answer straight away, he looked out to the sea for a few moments. She didn't think she'd get an answer out of him. Then he finally said
"Yes. I am happy Anya"
She smiled not expecting that kind of answer from him.
"Do you know why I'm happy?" He asked still looking out at the ocean
"Why" she asked
He turned to face her, looking deep into her eyes and replied
"Because of you"
Anya's face lit up when he said those words. He moved a step closer to her and brought his hand up to her cheek.
"Your the only reason I'm still breathing" he said with more feeling and sincerity she'd ever seen from him before.
Marcus had never been one for expressing his deepest feelings which is why the words he had said meant so much to her. She put her arms around him as he pulled her close to him wrapping his arms around her. She couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening.
Marcus knew he had to do this now before he lost his nerve.
"Anya, there's something I need to ask you"
She pulled away slightly to look up at him
"Ok" she said feeling slightly nervous
"We've know each other for a long time Anya. I haven't always been the best man I could be for you and I haven't always been clear about my feelings, which I am sorry for. But the bottom line is, I love you. I always have and I should've told you that when I first realised it. Are you happy with me?
"Marcus, of course I am. I love you and I always will" She replied "Is that what you wanted to ask me?
"There was something else" he said. He'd never been a man for tradition but he wanted to do this right. He then did something Anya wasn't expecting. He knelt down on one knee and began to speak.
"Anya, I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else" Anya was too speechless to say anything. Marcus reached into his pocket for his mothers ring that he'd found 18 months ago.
"Anya, will you marry me" he asked, terrified that she was going to say no
She was so overwhelmed with emotion that her eyes welled up with tears. She didn't even have to think about her answer.
"Yes" she said through happy tears "Of course I will"
He was filled with relief as he heard her answer, filling him with a happiness he hadn't felt for, well ever. He took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. Luckily it fit perfectly.
He stood up and saw the tears in her eyes.
"You ok" he asked
"I'm fine, just never been this happy before"
He gently wiped the tears from her cheek and pulled her into a gentle embrace
"I never thought I could be this happy" He said, as he gently stroked her hair
She pulled away slightly to look up at her future husband. He leaned down to kiss her like he had so many times before, but this time it seemed different to her. Like a promise that he'd never leave her and always be there for her. After there kiss, they walked hand in hand back to there apartment to really celebrate their engagement. They spent the rest of the night laying in each others arms, looking forward to what the future may bring, knowing they'd be ok as long as they had each other.