A/N: I know this update is a long time in coming. I'm doing my best! I really do want to finish this story so bear with me. I know this chapter is a little short, but I wanted to do something to add to the story, to push forward. I also felt it important, dear reader, to make an effort so you would know I haven't quit on this. Thank you for reading! I hope you like the new addition.

A white picket fence. A little white house. Green, green grass. White magnolias bloomed on an old, tall tree in the yard. White gardenias spread their softly frilled petals against the backdrop of dark green waxy leaves on the bushes lining the front of the two bedroom cottage. Such a pleasant scene of domestic perfection. White light and innocence. The green of life and tranquility.

A child's giggle carried on the soft, warm breeze. A white lace dress, hair the color of a copper coin flowing out behind her as she run on chubby legs. About two years old and full of joy, her musical laugh rang through the air again as she looked behind her. The bright yellow sun shone down on her creating a halo around her head. The special child. The blessed child.

"Catch me, Daddy! Catch me!" she called.

Daddy?

"Mira! Mira!"

The man appeared running after the child. A loose white linen shirt and pants clothed his body increasing the beauty of his peach hued, sun warmed skin against the back drop of white and green and purity. His shaggy burnt orange hair curled over the tops of his ears and at the nape of his neck. His eyes, the deepest, warmest brown held familiarity.

"Kō," Callie breathed as she stared at him in wonder.

Was she observing a picture of the future? She sure hoped so. Her handsome husband. Her beautiful little girl. A girl! They were having a daughter. A happy little home. No more fear. No more hiding. Oh, please let it be true.

Ko continued to give chase, gaining on his daughter. Reaching down, he scooped her up to swing her around in a circle while holding her securely. He laughed, calling her by her name again.

Mira? Could that be short for miracle? Their child truly would be a miracle.

~\..'../~

"Callie? Wake up, honey," Kō pleaded with her.

Callie moaned and thrashed, tears running down her face. Seconds earlier her face had looked so serene, so happy. Then her eyebrows knitted together, her smile fell down into a deep scowl. The tears followed, trickling from her eyes and into her hair. Presently, she continued to writhe around, extending her hands, her fingers opening and closing as if she were trying to hold onto something.

"Nurse! Nurse!" Kō yelled, panic surging inside of him.

Turning back to Callie, he stroked her forehead, begging her to wake up. Using the tail of his t-shirt, he wiped at the steady flow of tears streaming down her temples, smearing her across her cheeks, and soaking her hair.

Mrs. Fujiwara entered the room pushing a metal cart in front of her. Instead of elbowing the concerned boyfriend out of the way, she went to the other side of the bed to start taking Callie's vitals, her blood pressure and pulse. Callie's tossing and turning about prevented the simple tasks from being simple. She had to wrestle the young woman's arms away with Kō's help to press the stethoscope to Callie's chest.

"What's wrong with her?" Kō asked, worry twisting his face.

"I think she's dreaming. This is a good sign. She's probably about to wake up," Mrs. Fujiwara explained, a smile lifting the corners of her mouth.

"Kō? Kō! Don't leave me!" she screamed, thrusting her arms out in front of her. She accidentally smacked the man she chased in her dream right in the nose.

"I'm not! I'm right here! I'm right here!" he exclaimed, grabbing her by both of her arms. He lifted her up, wrapping his arms around her body to try to stop her frightening flailing.

"Mira!" she cried out.

"Mira? Who's that?" Kō speculated aloud in befuddlement.

The nurse picked up a syringe and a medicine bottle from the tray.

"What's that?" Kō asked, holding on to Callie as she began to fight him in earnest.

Callie punched him in the chest and pushed at his face with her open hands in an attempt to free herself. He held on tight, determined not to let her go.

"A little something to calm her," the nurse explained, swabbing Callie's shoulder with a cotton ball soaked with alcohol. "Hold her still and keep yourself out of the way so I don't accidentally stab you."

"I don't want her to go back to sleep," Kō said, following directions by pushing Callie down onto the bed and pressing her arm flat against the mattress.

Callie pummeled him, punching him squarely in the jaw. It hurt like hell, but he kept her still by lying on top of her upper body and holding her arm with both hands while the nurse inserted the needle. She hammered him in the back with her free arm, but the hits did not hurt quite as much as the shot to the face. Gradually her movements became slower before ceasing entirely.

Kō stood up, staring down at her as her head sank back into the pillow and her entire body relaxed. He breathed a sigh of relief before leaning down to kiss her forehead. This time he used a corner of the sheet to dry the tears from her face before he replaced the blanket over her, taking care to fold the damp edge of the sheet away from her. His heart beat faster when she opened her eyes then blinked rapidly as if to clear them. When those lovely hazel eyes focused on him, he smiled broadly at her.

"Hey," he murmured, tears clogging his throat. "I've missed you. Welcome back."

"How long has it been?" Callie asked, her voice croaky.

"Three days," Mrs. Fujiwara answered, handing her a cup of water with a straw. "The doctor will be pleased you woke up on your own and so quickly. I am too. We feared it would take a lot longer for you to recover. There's so much we don't know about Ajins. You're truly amazing. I suppose that's why us mere humans fear you and envy you so much. You remind of just how fragile and limited our existence is and how we wish but never will attain immortality."

The nurse placed all the items she had used back onto the rolling cart before pushing it toward the door.

"I'll leave you two alone," she announced, going out of the door. "I need to talk to the doctor anyway."

"Kō, I had the most wonderful dream," Callie said excitedly, sitting up in the bed. She patted the mattress beside her in an invitation for him to sit down which he did, facing her so he could look at her.

"Are you sure? It didn't look like you were having a good dream. More of a nightmare," he murmured, sliding his fingers through her slightly wet hair.

"Oh, but it was the most amazing dream!" She sank back against her pillow, her face collapsing into an expression of profound sadness. Her hand pressed to her belly. "I don't want it to be just a dream."

"Who's Mira?" Kō inquired, taking her hand in his.

"Our daughter," she responded, her voice low, sorrowful. "I think her name is short for miracle."

"So we're going to name her Miracle?" He squeezed Callie's hand when she nodded. "I like that name. What if it's a boy?"

"I-I d-don't kn-know," she stuttered, sitting up straight again to lean toward him. She placed her hand over his, looking into his eyes as she spoke. "We lived in a little white house. There was a white picket fence of course. Everything was so beautiful. Including you," she said, placing her hand on his cheek which flushed with embarrassment. "You looked so happy as you ran after our gorgeous little girl. She has bright red hair. So pretty. Our baby."

"Oh, I love you," Kō sighed, hugging her tightly. "I'll do everything I can to make sure your dream comes true."

"I know."

Callie pressed her lips to his, allowing them to linger. She relished the sensation of his lips against hers, enjoying the intimate closeness. Reluctantly, she lifted her mouth from his slightly without moving away from him.

"I love you too," she whispered, her lips brushing across his with each word.

"Callie, I -" Before Kō could say anything else, she pressed her mouth back to his.

"Oh, my god," Kei grumbled, killing their moment. "I would say get a room, but you already have one."

"You have the worst timing in the world, Kei, you really do," Kō grumbled, holding Callie in his arms as he turned to glare at the man. "Where the hell have you been, asshole?"

"He was gone?" Callie asked.

"Just for a few days. I had to save my sister," he confessed. Usually not one given to justifying his actions, he shocked everyone, including himself by giving a reason for his abrupt leaving.

"Save her?" Callie stared at Kei waiting for him to explain.

"Satō ambushed a military base and is holding everyone hostage. He fired a missile containing poison gas killing a bunch of humans. Afterwards, people went nuts, rioting and killing Ajins. And unfortunately a lot of fellow humans too," Kō added, his tone woeful. "Kei did what he always does and ran away after quitting, giving up on everyone to save his own skin."

"I had to go save my sister! They put her picture on the news saying she was my sister! The stupid fucking reporters even gave out the name of the hospital!" Kei yelled. "I was going to leave, but I came back!"

"How very noble of you," Kō sneered, anger rising inside of him. His arms tightened around Callie until she grunted indicating her discomfort so he loosened his grip but did not let go. He would never let her go.

"It's nice to see you've grown a backbone," Kei commented.

That was the closest Kō would ever get to receiving a compliment from him so he took it.

"We should go talk to Tosaki. I have a plan," Kei announced.

"Oh, yeah? What possible new trick could you have hidden up your sleeve now, genius?" Kō challenged him, reluctantly dropping his arms from around his girlfriend.

"I have an ace up my sleeve," Kei said, taking out his cell phone. He showed Kō and Callie a picture of Masumi Okuyama, Sato's tech guy. "He contacted me and wants my help. We now have an inside man. A couple of them in fact."

"I'm coming too," Callie proclaimed, throwing back the covers to get out of the bed.

"You are not!" Kō exclaimed, pushing her back into the pillow. He placed his hand flat on her tummy. "You have to stay here to protect the both of you. That's your job. It's my job to go out there so I can make that dream of yours come true. Take care of Mira."

"Okay," Callie murmured, looking a bit astonished and a little excited by his gentle forcefulness and sudden dominance.

"Who's Mira?" Kei inquired as they walked out of the door.

"My daughter. I need your help protecting them."

"For once in my life, I have someone besides myself who I want to protect so yeah, I'll help. That's why I'm here."

Kō slapped Kei on the back, giving him a smile. He endured the insults and even the betrayals at the hands of his so called friend, yet he was glad he had decided to follow him no matter what. Although, Kei really did piss him off like no one else in the world could.