Chapter 25

Kai rounded the corner of the third lobby and let out a sigh of relief when he saw the red head he was searching for. "Scarlet?" He asked as he moved closer.

"Kai!" Scarlet exclaimed, almost jumping out of her seat. "What are you doing here? How did you know where I would be?"

"I'll admit that it took me awhile," he said taking a seat next to her. "This place has a ridiculous amount of waiting rooms."

Scarlet looked puzzled, tired, and worried.

"Thorne told me what happened and I thought you could use some company."

"But what about Cinder?"

"Sound asleep," Kai answered. "The Earth could crash into the moon and I'm pretty sure she would sleep through it." He was happy to see Scarlet returning his smile. "Besides, she doesn't need me taking up space on that tiny bed."

Scarlet laughed. "They are really small. The nurses had to push two of them together for Ze'ev."

Kai watched as he smile faded into the tired, worry filled one he saw earlier.

"They haven't told me anything, Kai." Scarlet's eyes were filling with tears faster than she could wipe them away. "I can't lose him."

Kai wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, "I know." Scarlet let out a choked sob and he tightened the hug. "I don't think you will. Ze'ev's made tough and he's made it though worse."

Scarlet wiped the tears away. "That's what worries me though," she said as she regained control of her breathing. "He's already been through so much, what if this is it?" She wasn't crying anymore but she still looked distraught. Scarlet was one of the strongest people he knew and it broke his heart to see her so scared.

"I know how you feel," He finally said, hoping he wasn't about to make things worse. "We didn't say anything but Cinder had a few complications during the pregnancy."

"What?"

Kai shook his head. "Something to do with the way her brain moderates her body. The doctors were concerned the computer would shut down during the more intense parts of the pregnancy."

"Oh, Kai." It was hardly a whisper.

"They were able to work around it and everything was okay but I was so afraid. I was terrified that something would go wrong and I'd lose her." He took a moment before continuing. "The truth is, I'd love to say I know for certain that he'll be okay…but I don't. The doctors will do their best and it may not be as bad as we think. I may not know for sure but I believe he's going to pull through."

Scarlet nodded, tears filling her eyes again.

"I was so scared when I found out Cinder was facing complications, but one thing that helped was focusing on how strong she is. She can handle anything, and she did. I think Ze'ev has that in common with her."

Scarlet smiled, "You're right….Thank you Kai. Thank you for being here with me."

"It's no problem at all."

Scarlet stayed close to her friend as they continued to wait.

Wolf was not having a good week. Scarlet wasn't allowed in very often and he had never felt so weak. The doctors seemed to think that it was an old, mostly dormant disease that he must have picked up from an older resident of Rieux. It's a very treatable disease, unfortunately he wasn't a very treatable patient. They didn't feel comfortable working with his surgeries and alterations, planning instead to send him to Luna. The surgeries being the problem in the first place, as his body was no longer meant for fighting long term illness.

It also didn't help that prejudices still ran deep here in the Commonwealth. These doctors didn't seem to care that being away from Scarlet was agony for him. Or that the tubes and needles still terrified him. I wonder if they'll even tell Scarlet before shipping me off he thought bitterly.

Suddenly there was a pounding at the door. Scarlet.

Wolf wished more than anything that he could walk over and open the door, but the tubes and needles stuck to him kept him in place.

"Let me in! I want to see my husband!" Scarlet commanded as the doctors continued their work, trying to ignore her.

Wolf had enough. He tried being nice, calm even. Maybe it was time for a different approach. With the strength he could muster Wolf snatched the jacket of the doctor closest and yanked him towards him. "Let. Her. In" he growled. The doctor gave a short, hurried nod and Wolf shoved him away. The man motioned for the android to open the door.

Scarlet rushed in and went straight for Wolf, wrapping her ares around as much of him as she could. "Are you doing alright?" She asked, eyeing the needles.

"Could be better," Wolf said with a smile. "I'm happy to see you."

"You'll be out of here soon."

Wolf's expression darkened. "They've been talking about sending me to Luna."

Scarlet whirled around to face the doctor, "No one has mentioned anything about Luna. Why was I not told about this?"

The doctor shrugged, "We didn't want to bring it up until we were certain."

"And?" Scarlet asked, all patience gone.

"We are still deciding."

Scarlet turned back to Wolf, face red and both fists tightened into balls. "I'm going to talk to him."

"Scarlet they just had a baby—"

"I know but this is ridiculous. They are treating you so unfairly."

"I don't want to cause any more trouble."

"Well luckily for you I will be the one causing trouble." She took his face in her hands and kissed him. "I love you and I'm going to take care of all this."

"Scarlet—"

"No! You don't have to back there and I'm not going to stand by why they force you into it." She kissed him again before storming off.

Thank the stars for her.

Things did improve, but not by much. The doctors were treating him like a person rather than an inconvenience, but he still had to go to Luna. A wolf hybrid with a human disease was pretty rare and they would need the Lunar labs to develop something specifically for Wolf. Luckily Scarlet could go with him. Thorne and Cress also agreed to take them since they were scheduled to make a run to Luna soon anyway.

Wolf was still dreading it. He had truly hoped to never go back to that godforsaken rock again. He told Scarlet that he'd understand if she didn't want to go. He meant it too, but he was relieved when Scarlet scoffed at him. Of course I'm going with you had been her response, don't be ridiculous.

"Mind if I come in?"

Wolf looked up to see Kai in he doorway. He sat up as the emperor made his way into the room. "No doctors today?"

"They just finished up," Wolf responded, "We should be taking off soon."

Kai nodded, "Nervous?"

"Very."

"It's going to be okay. Luna has really changed over the years."

Wolf sighed, "I'm sure you're right."

"And look, I'm really sorry about before."

"It's not your fault."

"But it shouldn't have happened," Kai said, frustrated. "And you both should have made me aware earlier."

Wolf shrugged. "I spend a lot of time feeling like a burden on my own wife, I didn't need to feel like that with you as well." Kai looked like he was going to argue so Wolf continued. "I appreciate all you've done, really, but if dealing with a few prejudiced doctors meant that you could have uninterrupted time with your child, then it was worth it."

Kai was speechless.

"You're already doing so much, and things are much better than they used to be," Wolf continued. "These kind of changes don't happen over night."

Kai sighed. "I know you're right but that doesn't make it any easier."

"You're a good emperor, you know."

Kai smiled, "Thank you. The reassurance is always nice."

"Oh I know."

"There you are."

Kai turned around to see Cinder in the doorway.

"We were looking all over for you," She said as she handed baby Peony to him. "How are you, Ze'ev?"

"Things have been worse."

Cinder laughed, "I thought Scarlet was the snarky one."

Wolf smiled, "I guess she's rubbed off on me."

"Great," Cinder smirked. "How long will you two be in Luna?"

"If everything goes smoothly it should only be a few days"

"I'm sure it will, the ex soldiers have really assimilated into the community and the doctors have made a lot of headway in their health and treatment."

Wolf seemed to relax a little bit.

"They are really accepted up there," Cinder continued.

"I'm glad to hear it."

Cinder reached for Peony, taking her gently from Kai. "Come say goodbye to your uncle," She said quietly before handing her to Wolf. He took her in his massive hands and held her close. Peony looked up at him, reaching for his face with her hands.

"I think she likes me," Wolf said as Peony continued grabbing at his beard.

"You do have a way with kids," Cinder replied. Wolf blushed.

Scarlet quietly entered and stood next to Kai, waiting as long as she could before speaking.

"We're all set, Z." She said after a few minutes.

Wolf said a quiet goodbye before gently passing Peony back to Cinder. The three of them walked with Scarlet and Wolf out to the Rampion.

"Have a safe trip," Cinder said, giving Wolf a hug.

"Thank you," Wolf said, "We'll see you soon?"

Cinder nodded.

"Hurry up down there, we don't have all day!" Thorne yelled down from the cockpit.

Cinder rolled her eyes and Wolf let out a laugh.

"Well we better get up there before Daisy yells at us too," Wolf said, taking Scarlet's hand.

"She gets more and more like him each day doesn't she?" Cinder asked.

"Unfortunately."

Cinder laughed. "Oh stars."

They all exchanged a few more hugs before Scarlet and Wolf made their way up the ramp. Cinder and Kai stayed in the loading zone, waving until the ship lifted off the ground and started making its way towards Luna.

"Ze'ev Kesley, Scarlet Benoit," a smiley and boisterous Doctor called out as he approached the ramp of their ship, "We've been expecting you, I hope you've had a pleasant flight?"

"Not too bad actually," Scarlet said, a little caught off guard by the friendliness of this Lunar. "It's like he finally learned how to fly."

"I heard that!" Thorne called down.

"I didn't say it quietly!" Scarlet shot back. Cress could be seen in the co pilot seat, giggling.

"Keep it up, Benoit and you can find your own way back to Earth!"

Thorne retorted, "Z of course can still come with us."

Scarlet gasped rather theatrically, "You wouldn't!"

"Watch me!" Thorne started up the ship.

"Wait, are you actually leaving? I didn't hug you goodbye!" Scarlet sprinted back up the ramp.

The doctor and accompanying nurses stared blankly as these scene unfolded. Wolf shook his head, turning back to them, "Sorry about my friends, we're uh…"

"You all seem very close," The doctor replied cheerily.

"I was going to say weird, but yeah, that's true too."

The doctor laughed and Wolf smiled back. He noticed no one flinched at the sight of his teeth and relaxed a little more.

"I'm Doctor Singh," he said, "and if you're ready, we're ready to get you in."

"Thank you," Wolf responded as Scarlet joined him and they followed the doctor out of the loading dock.

"So you have a cure?" Scarlet asked skeptically as Wolf gave in to another fit of coughing.

"Oh yes," Dr. Singh replied. "Ze'ev is not the first one to contract this sickness while on Earth. A few other lunar operatives returned with it. Those who were in rural villages such as your own." The doctor was looking through pages on a clipboard while the nurse was rummaging through a series of small vials. "Luckily we've had plenty of time to alter the vaccine to work for all lunars."

"That's a relief," Scarlet said, finally taking a seat next to Wolf. He took her hand in his and smiled before giving in to more coughing.

"I'm just disappointed that we couldn't get this to you sooner," Dr. Singh continued, taking the vial from the nurse and prepping the needle. "You see, we were never contacted by your doctor back in New Beijing until you were being sent here" Scarlet scoffed. "I take it there's still bad blood there?" Wolf nodded. "I'm sorry to hear that." The doctor pulled out a needle and inserted the vial. "Unfortunately I will have to administer the vaccine via needle," he said as he saw Wolf stiffen a little. "Are you ready?" Wolf nodded quickly and focused his attention on Scarlet as the doctor gave him the shot.

"Alright, you're all set," Doctor Singh said while starting to clean up.

"Really? That's it?" Scarlet asked.

Doctor Singh nodded, "However you will have to stay here for a few days to make sure the vaccine isn't rejected."

"Oh."

"Have you two been to Luna since the war?" Doctor Singh asked. Both Wolf and Scarlet shook their heads. "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Things have changed a lot. I would suggest taking a look around Artemisia while you're here."

"We'll see," Scarlet replied.

"Can I ask one more question?" Wolf said.

"Of course."

"Why didn't more hair come in? I thought that was part of the full surgery."

"Ah," Doctor Singh briefly looked at Wolf's chart before continuing. "If I am to understand correctly, you're surgeries were a little different." Wolf nodded. "They were rushed and they didn't allow for some of the effects to take place fully."

"How come?"

"Well the hair growth is a result of added testosterone over a fairly long period of time. Since yours was done so quickly you weren't given the same amount of added testosterone, meaning excessive hair growth didn't happen." The doctor could see that Wolf still looked confused. "You would have needed a lot more injections to grow the amount of hair that others did."

"So it won't ever come in?" Wolf asked.

"Not unless you start taking injections for a period of time," Doctor Singh replied, "Which is not something you look like you need."

Wolf smiled and shook his head.

"Is there anything else I can do for you two today?"

"I don't think so," Wolf said as Scarlet picked up their coats.

"Then I'll see you in two days. And really, take a look around if you can."

Scarlet and Wolf both nodded before closing the door behind them.

"What do you think?" Wolf asked Scarlet. "Do we dare?"

Scarlet laughed, "It can't be that bad right?"

"Well we survived this place last time," Wolf replied, "And let's be honest, things were pretty crazy around here."

Scarlet snorted, "That's a mild way of putting it." She looked out the window, down at the city of Artemisia, and watched as people bustled around in the artificial sunlight. "Let's go."

"Really?" Wolf asked, a little surprised.

"Yeah, I'm getting sick of this room."

"Same." Wolf handed Scarlet her hoodie and the two made their way down to the market.

"The lack of staring is a relief," Wolf said as they wound their way through the various shops.

"Well if everything Cinder said is true, then there are a lot of citizens like you." Wolf nodded in agreement. "It is nice though." They came to a statue of Cinder in the center of the market. "She really changed things around here didn't she?"

Wolf nodded again. "I bet she hates that statue though."

Scarlet laughed, "And I'm sure it's not the only one."

Wolf smiled, taking Scarlet's hand and leading her towards the rest of the shops. Overall it was a successful day. They were only stopped once by some children who recognized them as two of the heroes that changed Luna forever, they found a shop that specialized in clothing for the larger Lunar citizens where Wolf found a number of new button up shirts, and they had some of the best street food from multiple vendors.

By time they got back to their room they were exhausted and surprised at how much fun they had.

"How are you feeling?" Scarlet asked once Wolf was sitting on the bed, "You haven't been coughing as much."

"I feel a lot better," Wolf replied. "Still a little weak, but definitely better."

Scarlet sat next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder, "Don't ever scare me like that again."

"I won't."

"I mean it," Scarlet said, "You're all that I have, and if we hadn't figured this out in time…" Scarlet stopped, not wanting to speak her fears.

"I know," Wolf said, "I'm so sorry, Scarlet. It was stupid of me not to say anything."

"So stupid."

Wolf smiled, "You're right."

"I know I am."

He pulled her closer and they sat like that for a long time, watching the artificial sunset shift to stars.

Cress and Thorne showed up the next day to take them back home. Doctor Singh cleared Wolf to leave early that morning, and the two of them were eager to get back home. They were waiting in the loading bay when The Rampion landed in front of them. Before they could board, Daisy came running down the ramp. She flung herself at Wolf, hugging him fiercely.

"Hi Daisy," Wolf said, picking her up.

"I was so scared," Daisy replied burying her face into his shoulder.

"Why's that?"

"Mom and Dad said you were really sick and that's why you had to come here."

"Oh," Wolf paused, "Yeah, I was. But I'm better now."

"Promise?" Daisy asked quietly.

"I promise." Wolf hugged Daisy before lifting her up to his shoulders. They three of them walked up the ramp where they met Cress at the top.

"Are we visiting the farm?" Daisy asked her mom eagerly.

"I think that's up to your aunt and uncle," Cress responded.

Daisy looked hopefully to Scarlet who let out a laugh. "Well how could we say no to that face?"

Daisy's face broke out in a grin, "Uncle, uncle put me down."

"How come?"

"Because we gotta get going!"

"Alright, alright," Wolf set Daisy down and followed her to their seats.

"We don't have to stay long," Cress said quietly to Scarlet after the others were out of ear shot.

Scarlet shook her head, "Stay as long as you like. He's had a rough few weeks, I think it'd be good for him."

"And what about you? How have you been holding up?"

Scarlet thought about this for a second before answering. "It was really rough at first and I was really scared." Cress nodded in understanding. "But minus all that, it was really great to see Luna and all that's changed here."

"It's completely different," Cress agreed.

"We might have never seen it for ourselves," Scarlet continued, "And it's—it's- I'm just happy to see that things have gotten better here." Scarlet was feeling too emotional to say more. Luckily Cress understood. She linked her arm in Scarlet's and they followed after the others.

A/N: I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to write this chapter. It's not my favorite, but I really wanted to give them some closure when it came to Luna. But I do hope anyone still following this story enjoys this one. And quick shout out to BlueSaffire, thank you for leaving so many nice reviews! I'm glad you like this story so much :)