Day 32

You know that song? The one about heaven being a place on earth? That's Murphy's life as far as he's concerned; except the earth part. Emori's warm breath on his shoulders, Isla asleep in the cage of his arms, stirring softly when he turns over onto his back. They didn't have anywhere to be, not really. They were on their own time, in their own world, where no one else matters. John's heart has never been so full.

Day 740

"What time is it?" Isla shoots up into a sitting position, flinging John's arm away.

"Half past the monkey's ass and twice around his-" Murphy replies coyly.

"I'm serious." The blonde slaps his chest.

"Always." He narrows his eyes at her before peering over at the clock on the bedside table. "8:33."

"Shit." Isla swears, running both hands over her face.

"Is my breath that bad?" Murphy teases her.

"No." Isla exclaims, sliding off the bed and grabbing rapidly at piles of clothes on the floor. "I was supposed to meet with Monty an hour ago to start working on the hydrozen substitute and I can't-" she huffs loudly. "What is wrong with this shirt?"

"Well for starters, it's Emori's." John arches an eyebrow at her.

"Damnit," she snarls.

"And I'm pretty sure your arm is in the head hole."

"Stop laughing and help me." Isla snaps, in just her underwear and the knotted mess of a shirt.

"How did you even get it on like this?" He says in amusement.

"I just-" When the material pops over her head Murphy grins, smoothing down the hair standing in all directions.

"What's it gonna take for me to convince you to blow off Monty and come back to bed." The boy asks, placing gentle kisses to the spot behind her ear.

"A secret stash of hydrozen or another way back to the ground." Isla catches his face in her hands, pecking his lips several times as a consolation prize. "You've got nothing? Didn't think so. But I love you, and I expect you to be just like this when I get back."

"When's that gonna be?" John does his best not to be upset, this is her job. She's damn good at it.

"Soon as I can baby," she winks, finishing clothing herself and leaning down to Emori's sleeping form. "Good morning," Isla strokes her dark tangled curls.

"Mmm," the other girl groans.

"It's 8:40." Isla says softly and Murphy's heart still skips a beat when he sees them together.

"Already?" Emori peeks at her through squinted eyes.

"Yeah," Isla kisses her forehead, "I'll see you there." With that she's gone, the doorway flooding in bright light before sliding closed.

You know that song about being locked out of heaven? That's a more accurate description.

"What happened to my shirt?" Emori frowns at the tangled mess on the floor.

"Your girlfriend happened." Murphy rocks back on his heels as Emori drags herself out of bed.

"Why is she only mine when she's done something wrong?" Emori wraps her arms around the his neck.

"Because that's how it works."

"John," she glares at him.

He pulls her closer, "when are you gonna tell her?"

"About leaving the lab?"

"The other one." Oh that.

"I don't..."

"Whatever you're afraid of isn't going to happen." Murphy assures Emori, stroking the worried line between her brows.

"Does she want a child?" Emori asks hopefully.

"She'll want this one." John's sure of it.

"Even if I'm the one carrying it?" She averts her eyes.

"If Isla was pregnant you'd love our baby wouldn't you?" He already knows the answer, but asks to prove a point.

"Of course I would."

"Alright then, nothing to worry about." John waits until her eyes come back to his. Tracing the cleft of her chin.

"Isla is good and smart and kind, everything a mother should be; all the things I'm not."

"She is," he won't argue, "but so are you."

"John," Emori rolls her eyes, "I'm a murderer and a thief; frikdreina, cast out of my clan as an infant-"

"Your home is with us. We are your people. You will never be cast out again, this baby will never be cast out. This baby will be loved; it's already so loved." John puts a hand on her belly, still flat but not for much longer.

Emori wants to believe him. She knows John loves her, that Isla loves her. Yet part of her is still so afraid. "Get dressed and meet me at the lab, I have a job for you."

"Took you long enough." Isla smirks at Emori as she enters the lab.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Emori takes her usual seat at the metal table aside of Isla.

"Yeah of course, what's up?" The blonde turns back to her work, plush bottom lip tucked between her teeth in concentration.

"Put the chemicals down first." Emori says.

"Is something wrong?" Isla sets the beaker down, removing her gloves and goggles.

Emori shakes her head. "I've been working here with you and Monty for a while now. You've taught me so much."

"You're the perfect person to teach," Isla gushes; taking Emori's left hand in her's, nearly causing Emori to change her mind and just stay.

"You're a good teacher, ai niron." The brunette beams at her, "Beautiful, talented, smart-"

"I sense a but coming." Monty chimes in from the algae tank.

"Shut up Monty." Emori snaps, two years ago she wouldn't have, two years ago she was still wearing her glove to work. Not now.

"Hostile much." Harper raises her brows.

"Can you give us a minute?" Isla says to the pair, her eyes not leaving Emori's. She can feel the tension radiating off her.

"Sure." Harper shrugs, dragging Monty off with her.

"What's wrong?" Isla asks softly, so the love birds outside have no chance at ease dropping.

"I was thinking maybe Raven could use..." Emori pauses, wracking her brain for the word Isla had taught her, "an apprentice."

"You wanna leave me to be Raven's apprentice?" Isla's brows furrow.

"Don't say it like that." Emori catches Isla's face between her hands. "I'll stay if you want me to. You know I love you, and I love working with you. But-"

"You wanna space walk don't you?" Isla tries to keep a straight face. She's not thrilled about Emori leaving, she's been a huge help. But more than that, all she really wants is for the other girl to be happy.

"I wanna space walk." Emori smiles, her genuine, excited smile, "but only if that's ok with you."

"Go." Isla nods.

"Are you sure?" Emori pulls back to really look at her. They have been together long enough for her to know when Isla's lying.

"Yeah." She's telling the truth.

"I've got a little something to soften the blow." Emori kisses Isla's cheek.

"Why is Murphy here?" Monty charges in.

"Reporting for duty." John replies, Emori scurries out of the room before Monty has a chance to yell at her. "I'm here to mix shit, cut wires, write down a bunch of numbers on a piece of paper and then crumple it up. Whatever else you nerds do all day."

"Don't touch anything!" Monty objects. "Isla this isn't really the best time for bring your Murphy to work day."

"You really want to help?" Isla's tone is curious, guarded. Ignoring Monty's outburst.

"Yeah. I've got nothing better to do." John tells her. God she's a cute nerd.

"Ok." She smiles, still clearly taken aback, but more than happy that he's finally willing to do something.

"Ok?" This time it's Harper. "What do you mean ok?"

"I promise, no fun of any kind." Murphy waves the worry warts away. "What's on the agenda for today?" He rolls up his sleeves, taking Emori's abandon chair.

"We'll start small," Isla pulls out an old, torn, piece of paper from the front of her desk, full of measurements. "You can mix this for me."

"What's it do?" John wonders, flickering his eyes over the instructions.

"Excelerates algae growth." Isla grins, watching him intently.

"Nice." He catches her staring with a grin. "You made this?" He grabs for the container beside him, knocking it onto the floor instead.

"Mhm," she hums. "Just a protip for mixing." Isla slides his goggles into place, "it helps to look at the ingredients while mixing them."

"Yes, boss." John turns his attention back to the task at hand. He's spent time with Isla most his life, Murphy knows she's great. Like way out of his league, never in a million years get to tap that, wet dream inducing, great. But it never occurred to him how out of this world brilliant she was. He loves watching her, to share in her excitement, almost like she is riding some kind of high unlike any he's ever known. Isla makes things, things that help people, things that save people. John's never made anything but a mess, but Isla is patient. She never gives up on him, and he loves her for that. But there is something churning in his mind, something that isn't happiness at all.

The three of them return to their room after dinner, Emori perched awkwardly at the edge of the bed as Isla sprawls out, kicking off her shoes, and closing her eyes. John sitting on the metal chair in the corner.

"So what's it like working for Raven?" Murphy asks Emori, after a moment of silence.

"Good." Emori clears her throat. She doesn't want to talk, not small talk anyway. She's practically bursting at the seams, but she just can't quite get the words out. You're gonna be a mom. "No spacewalks, not for a while."

"Oh, how come?" Isla rolls onto her elbow, facing them.

"I'm learning the comm system for now. Just a bunch of radio silence. The mechanic part isn't so different from engineering." Her tongue is heavy in her mouth. We're having a baby.

"Don't let Raven hear you say that." Isla purses her lips.

"What'd you think of the lab?" Emori turns her attention to John.

"They run a tight ship." The boy thrums his fingers against his leg. "Gotta say, getting bossed around by this one was a turn on."

"Stop." Isla scoffs.

"How do you feel about children?" Emori blurts, the question hangs in the air for a moment too long, she shifts uncomfortably as Isla's expression does the same.

"Way to be subtle," Murphy mutters under his breath.

"They're ok... I guess. Why? Do you have a bun in the oven?" Isla laughs, because that's ridiculous, especially while they're trapped up here on the ring. Emori and John are watching, waiting on bated breath because- "Emori, you're pregnant." Isla says softly; finally. No longer a question.

"Be happy." The dark haired girl whispers, not trusting her own voice.

"Oh baby," Isla sighs, holding out her arms from Emori who melts into them. "I'm happy," Isla kisses her hair. "I'm happy." She is.

"Congrats baby mama." John comes over to ruffle her blonde hair, and then comfort Emori who is now crying inconsolably into Isla's neck for no good reason. It's going to be a long nine months.