Chapter Fourteen: The Road Back

(Steve)

I wake to Alex slumped across my chest, fast asleep.

Best. Morning. EVER!

If you've never woken up to someone you love asleep beside you or on top of you, highly recommend it. Gosh, how I've missed her.

Alex murmurs something in her sleep, curling into me, and I nuzzle her head softly, happy to be here with her rather than in that dark, cold stronghold.

Alex jerks awake with a gasp, then freezes up. "Steve?"

"Yeah?" I ask, pulling back so she can roll over and look me in the eyes.

"Love you," Alex says softly, leaning over to kiss me. I push back gently, kissing her with as much strength as I can muster.

"Love you too," I answer, breathless as she finally pulls away from me. "But I'd love you more if you'd get me something to eat."

Alex stares at me, horrified. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I should've gotten you something to eat, but I was so wrapped up I-"

I press my hand to Alex's cheek, cutting her off. "It's okay. I'm just kind of hungry is all."

Alex smiles at me, then pulls out, oh thank goodness, steak, honey, and even some apples. Yum!

"Here," She passes them to me and looks away, embarrassed. "I…" Her shoulders slump, and she lays a hand on my arm. "Steve… I…" Alex takes a deep breath. "Steve I am so, so, so... sorry."

"You're-" I start, but Alex cuts me off.

"I'm sorry about our fight," Her hand creeps down my arm, finding my hand and resting atop it anxiously, like a rabbit that could be spooked easily. "Some of those things… some of the things I said were really, really, awful. I don't wish I'd never met you. In fact, I think that meeting you was one of the best experiences I've ever had. You saved me from my past. You protected me from Herobrine, and what do I do to repay you? I explode all over the place, screaming and shouting and throwing a fit. I was being unreasonable, and I'm so sorry."

I catch her hand in my free one, touched by her apology. "Thank you for apologising, and I forgive you, Alex." She smiles at me as I continue. "But there's something I still have to do." Her face falls, and she looks away from me, choosing not to make eye contact. I squeeze her hand in the most soothing way I can muster. "I have to apologize for my actions. I really didn't hear you out, and I should've listened to your concerns and tried to be validating rather than just ignore you."

Alex stares up at me, awe on her face, as touched by my apology as I am by hers, but I'm not done yet. "Speaking of… 303… is she still looking for us?"

Alex looks away from me suddenly, and I can feel a sudden rise in her pulse. Anxiety's building in her, I can feel it. What happened?

"303… is… not coming back," Alex sighes, looking towards the roof of our tent and not meeting my eyes. "She died shortly after falling from a cliff. I have Herobrine's sword in my inventory."

"You kept it?" I ask, glancing down at her in surprise. That's not something I'd expect from her. Usually she'd throw it away as soon as it got close to her.

"I wanted… you to see it," Alex explained. "And we could bury it or something."

She curls against me, looking upwards, piercing green eyes glittering in the dim light of the tunnel. I lean down to touch my nose to hers. "Of course we can do that. As soon as you want."

Alex smiles slightly. "How about now?"

I lean towards her, pulling her closer using an arm. "Of course."

०००

(Alex)

The burial goes smoothly. Steve quickly crafts a coffin (read:chest) from the wood I give him. I dig a hole three blocks deep, and we place the chest inside, opening it to place the sword inside. Then, together, we fill the hole, dumping dirt back into the grave we made in the earth.

Then we start out for home. Steve still isn't strong enough to walk very far yet, so Star comes in handy once again. Rex trotts beside us, tongue hanging out as we cross the dusty savanna.

When we reach the ocean, Rex sprints up to the edge of the water, and barks excitedly,wagging his tail until I step out over the water, freezing it instantly. Steve stares from Star's back in amazement.

"How…" He starts, staring down at the ice as Star clops dully behind me.

"Magic boots," I try to explain. "They were given to me by a wandering trader."

"Okay…" Steve still looks confused, but appears to accept my answer as valid. "That's cool, I guess. What else did you do while I was gone?"

"Went to find you," I explained, pulling Star a little closer to me and walking a bit faster. "Why?"

"Just curious," Steve explained. "'Cause I got stuck in this stronghold, and…"

He trails off, recounting his tale more bravely that I would be able to in that situation. Star snorts when Steve cracks a joke, and Rex growls at any mention of 303. When we reach the edge of the ocean again, Rex hops of the ice and swims to shore, shaking himself off wildly.

On that edge of the ocean, I sit down and help Steve off, the two of us climbing into the bed to spend the night.

The next morning goes smoothly, as do the next two days. It takes nearly four days before I begin to recognize the path I originally took to leave our home. I break out into a run, and Steve urges Star into a gallop, rex sprinting alongside us. I sprint through the trees, crossing the tree line and running up to the edge of the clearing where our house is, hopping up the porch to find Pumpkin napping on the railing.

I stare at her incredulously for a moment. "How did you get out of the house?"

Pumpkin flicks her tail at a broken window, and I almost facepalm. Oh, that makes sense. Steve comes out of the woods, riding Star.

"Wow," He stares up at the house. "Did the house get trashed or what?"

"Steve!" I practically shout, spinning around to face him. "What was that?!"

"I'm not wrong, am I?" Steve asked, trying to gracefully leap from Star's back, but accidentally falling on his face. He pulls himself off the ground, approaching me to hug me from behind, the golden light of the evening lighting the scene.

Steve rests his chin in my hair, his prickly beard poking my scalp. "It's been so long," He whispers, squeezing me gently.

I lean back, relaxing against his body. "It has, Steve. It really has."

Because it was. It never should've been, but it was. And now, together in the golden evening light, we would face it… together.

Review Replies:

Some Random Kid: No, no, You're good. That's a pretty Wicked skin, by the way! Ella came from the same village as Herobrine, and that village was destroyed. (Fall to Darkness can explain more, if you're interested.)

JimmyPenguin421: Yes! The penguin skin! After all that aunguish, hopefully Alex and Steve will have a better time. (Spoiler alert: They don't)

ScarOfHerobrine: Yeeeaah, nothing really happened there. Whoops.

ThinMintE: Yes! I love cats as well, and dogs. Basically all animals.

Moatazabou4: Actually, that point might be a source of strain in their relationship later…. hmmm...