Double Barrel

by Dying-Revenge

Axel Baron's wedding is coming to fruition, and it's just around the corner. While him and his fiance share such a fun and stress free relationship, it all catches up to them at the worst moment possible. And in the form of his Fiance's ex-boss, who is still upset since the day Axel 'stole' her best employee away. And there is no better time to try and hurt them the most.

19. Chapter 19 (Finale)

The air around me felt like a shallow grave. The dirt was cold, but dry. Gravity pulled me down deeper into the pit, keeping me further and further away from the breeze.

My back was frozen against the ground, the cold spreading to the rest of my limbs. Quickly, my elbows and fingers felt numb and useless.

My knees and my toes felt weak, they were breaking under my own weight.

I collapsed to my knees. And now the grave I was trapped in sunk ever so deeper.

The words began echoing. Bouncing inside the dirt walls of the grave, as well as off into the sky.

When I tried to speak or use any part of my body, my body felt as empty as the grave.

I could barely lift the phone to my ear, hearing Tiffany begin to cry as she spoke to me.

"Axel… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

The cold dirt began to feel wet. The bitter earth I was trapped in turned to mud.

"Axel, please come home. You… she needs you."

The mud rose above my mouth, muffling anything I was trying to say.

"I don't…."

Every time Tiffany tried to speak, her cries interrupted her words.

"I don't know how long… how long she…"

The mud was filling my mouth, flooding down into the rest of my body.

"She's in… we're trying to…"

The mud began hardening like concrete. It was drying and turning solid, but it was still freezing cold.

"Axel… Axel…. Please. Just…"

And then I could hear nothing but her sobs. I couldn't tell if she was still holding the phone to her face because her cries sounded so far away.

But right before the mud froze completely in my mouth, I tried moving my jaw.

I could feel the cracks and dust from the concrete scratch and burn as I made every effort to speak.

With the last remaining grip I had on the phone, and with all the air and energy I had left, I weakly called out.

"I will."

And with those two small words, I had nothing left.

I dropped the phone, hearing the long buzzing tone continue to ring into this dark room.

But the mud I broke free to speak from became flooded yet again.

My mouth was full, my body was filled to the brim.

And as my eyes began to close, and as I succumbed to the thick cold entrapping me both inside and out, I was only mere moments away from being buried alive in my shallow grave.

At first, I didn't know what I was being buried in.

Pain?

Grief?

Sorrow?

It couldn't have been, I was all too familiar with them.

This mud felt foreign.

I have never felt this before.

All that remained uncovered were my nostrils.

The last part of my body exposed by the mud caving in around me.

I took one last pathetic breath, preparing for it to be complete.

And as I inhaled some of the mud through my nose, I knew what this feeling was.

It was realization.

Being buried alive in this grave, it made me realize.

This was the future.

This is all I would feel.

Cold and hollow, with nothing to fill me besides the walls of my grave itself.

This is the rest of my life.

This grave is how I will live, alone.

Alone.

Cold, hollow, empty.

And alone.

---

"Excuse me, Mr. Baron? I apologize but there seems to be a missing pa- good God man!"

"…"

"Mr. Baron! What's… Jesus Christ what the hell is wrong with you?"

"…"

"Are you… Axel are you crying? Why is the phone on the floor?"

"…"

"Mr. Baron, please. This isn't the man we hired."

"…"

"Mr. Baron? Axel?"

"…"

"Fuck, something's wrong. Here, let me clean up a bit."

"…"

"Forget the story for now, Axel please. I'm not an agent right now, I'm just a friend. Axel, please tell me what's wrong."

"…"

"Axel, we haven't spoken in God knows how long. I finally come back to see you, and the only thing not disgusting is this draft."

"…"

"For Christ sake's man, speak to me."

"…"

"You're on your knees crying your eyes out in the dark, you aren't moving, and you are covered in your own filth. Axel, I'm gonna call somebody if you won't simply talk to me."

"…"

"Oh no."

"…"

"I do hope it doesn't involve your child. Does it?"

"…"

"Axel, does it?"

"…"

"Hmm. I'm… I'm sorry Axel. I wished none of this ever- "

"She…"

"Oh? She what Axel?"

"She… cancer."

"Oh dear God, Axel."

"On her uterus. She…"

"She needs you Axel."

"W-what?"

"Damn this project if your fiancé's life is in danger."

"Rivers, I…"

"None of this is worth it Axel. You're a human being, as well as am I. As well as she, your fiancé."

"You mean…"

"Yes, you can go back home to her."

"But the- "

"These stacks of paper aren't more valuable than her life. I'm married, I've been away from my wife before. I know it can be the one of the most horrible things to endure."

"…"

"Projects can wait. Don't let any of this distract you."

"Are you- "

"Entirely. Do not look back Axel. Whenever you are ready, or even if you are ever ready, all of this will be waiting for you."

"Rivers, I can't believe- "

"Please. Go. I'll set it up, this is what I'm good at. Joe is in the states for a while, I don't want you concerned about any of this."

"God I- "

"Take a shower, and get dressed."

"O-okay."

"And be quick. For her."

"I will."

"Come now, let's get you on your feet. Now then Axel, we sho- oh."

"T-thank you. Thank you."

"There there. Some would say it's inappropriate to hug partners."

"Thank you, Rivers."

"No need. Now please hurry."

---

Instead of three different men to carry my bags and know who I am, I went through the airport all by myself.

Rivers printed out my tickets and passes in my hotel room while I was getting ready, and told me everything was good to go.

He told me to just go through the normal steps as I normally would, but instead id be getting on a luxury jet.

Not by myself, one with other casually wealthy people on it, but I was in no place to complain.

My mind was entirely focused on any one task.

While I was showering, I was only thinking about the shower.

While getting packed and dressed, I was only thinking about my clothes.

The cab ride, the walk inside, boarding, everything was taken one step at a time.

The air around me still felt like a box. It may not have been a cold muddy grave, but I still felt trapped with weight bearing down on me.

Gravity constantly trying to pull me down with every step I took.

But I never stopped until I was seated on the jet.

I only had one bag with me, and so I took it on the jet and put it on the seat next to me.

As I sat down, I could see all of the other passengers board behind me.

One was a small family of four. The parents and their two kids. An older daughter, and a younger son.

The father was piggybacking the boy, while the daughter was showing her mother something on her phone. Something that was making them laugh.

All four of them greeted me individually. I gave them a simple hello and wave back.

Another passenger was a single older man. He kept to himself, didn't say much to anyone.

He sat in the front row, staring out of the window before the plane was even moving.

After him a young couple walked on. Sunglasses on, faces absorbed into their phones.

I only knew they were a couple because they kept trying to hold each other's hand without looking, but they kept letting go to type something on their phones.

And the last one I noticed before takeoff was an older woman. It seemed like she knew everyone on board.

Talking to the flight attendants like they were her friends, asking the family a bunch of questions like she hasn't seen them in years, and complimenting the young couple on their clothes.

However, she did completely ignore the old man, and simply gave me a little nod and hello.

I did the same back.

Once the plane was ready for takeoff, it felt like any other flight.

The captain talked over the intercom while the flight attendants gave a safety demonstration.

And then almost immediately, we were taking off into the air.

I could hear the little boy yelling in excitement, as the mother told him to hang on like it was an amusement park ride.

But I kept staring out the window like the old man. Watching the buildings get smaller and smaller, before cutting through the clouds and soaring into the sky.

Normally my ears would pop and I could feel the pressure in my head.

But all I felt was the angle we were at.

I could feel nothing different.

Whether it be miles upon miles in the air or on the ground, I was still trapped in that box.

And that feeling chased me. I could feel it stalking me, as if it was sitting in the row behind me.

I knew sooner than later, the box would fall apart, drowning me in mud again.

---

The last thing I remember was the flight attendant giving me my soda and snack.

Instead of a flimsy tray that could barely hold a cup, these jets seat had legitimate cup holders.

I placed my unopened can in one, and my bag of biscuits in the other.

And then I stared right back out the window.

The sky was an amazingly pale blue. Like a pair of old jeans that has been through the laundry hundreds of times.

The clouds beneath us seemed as solid as cotton. Seemed so soft and light, yet you couldn't see through them at all.

Staring into the sky and hearing nothing but the plane.

And before I knew it, my eyes closed.

But when they opened, I was greeted by nothing.

All I could see was black.

All I could feel was a thin, almost icy floor.

All I could hear was a distant drip.

I was back. Back into my subconscious.

Back inside my head, where I thought I scared Venus off for good.

I looked down and saw the rest of my body, just to confirm it.

While I stared at my hands and legs, I could hear something walk on the ice.

Every step echoed in every direction, even without any walls in this cave.

I no longer had to wonder.

I didn't have to dread and guess what was approaching, for there could only be one other thing in here with me.

I turned around, and with her arms folded over her chest, Venus approached me.

"So, Axel. Here we are again."

I said nothing.

Even inside my head, the box surrounded me.

One side of the box couldn't handle the pressure and caved in. The mud began to flow into my grave slowly.

"You can make the first move. You know what you are capable of here."

I said nothing, and did nothing.

"Hmm. Coward."

Another crack in the wall of my grave. The mud began to force its way in faster.

I could feel my feet become buried, stuck in the mud.

"It's come to this. Riddling Kyu with an uncurable disease, endangering the life of your unborn child, taking away your opportunity to-"

"I don't give a damn about the project."

The crack in the wall filled itself up, slowing down the flow of the mud.

"Really? Wallowing in your own anguish, practically starving yourself to write the pages, living like a disgusting rat inside a palace? That's you not giving a damn about the project?"

"I knew you did something when you snapped your fingers. You did this to her."

"Of course I did. And I'll remind you, it's all your fault."

The mud continued to flow yet again, but it felt warmer.

"And I must say it happened all too perfectly. Pushing your friend in for the kiss, meddling with the post office, it was all strokes of genius."

"Y-you? I didn't get those letters for months because of you?"

I could feel the mud up to my waist, where it began to tickle my knuckles.

"Yes Axel, of course. I didn't want you leaving Britain too soon, it was all a matter of timing."

The mud was up to my elbows, but it didn't feel heavy.

"She had nothing to do with this. Was all of this just for that!? All because she left her job!?"

"There is more on the line than her duties boy! I needed Kyu more than you did!"

"Then why tell me this now!? Why keep this from her?"

That sickening grin I've grown to despise stretched from cheek to cheek.

As she laughed at me, the mud came up to my neck.

But nothing felt restricted. I felt wet, but not weighed down.

"And what? Cause a rebellion? Kyu was not only my best, but the favorite of all the others. If I came after her, then none of the other fairies would do their jobs either."

"So why me then? Why any of this?"

"Why you? A human male? Whom no one would miss or even care for? I believe the actual question is why not?"

The mud reached my mouth.

"I see your fists. I see you seething. But yet that's all you do. It seems you finally learned."

I tried moving my limbs. I resisted the mud as much as I could, and it wasn't hardened yet. But it felt like something else was in the mud, holding me down with cold hands.

"You didn't have to lie down and die Axel, all you had to do was lie down. The blood that's been spilt, the sanity I ripped away from you, none of it was necessary."

"I could have never given you what you wanted."

"Is that pride? Hmm? Selfishness? Or perhaps regret? Need I remind you, your pregnant girlfriend is rapidly dying on a hospital bed and you're the one on a jet airplane trying to-"

The hands weren't gripping my throat, so it was the only thing I could use.

I couldn't do anything but roar.

I roared and screamed, until I felt something in my throat.

I didn't know if was bleeding or I started to swallow the mud.

The hands brought me to my knees.

"It's over Axel. At least for now."

"Just please… tell me what all of this is for. You didn't need me, and you said there were others so you didn't need Kyu."

"She was the best boy, don't make me repeat myself."

"She was only one! And what's it to you? What does helping people find love do for you?"

"It keeps me alive!"

She swung her leg around, kicking me right in the jaw.

The cold hands didn't weigh me down as I rolled and tumbled on the icy floor.

My skin scraped and burned, even after I stopped.

---

Everything hurt.

My arms and legs were sore and raw.

My jaw and my head felt like they were being ripped apart.

I can feel blood drip from my mouth, as well as above my eye.

But as I felt everything she did to me, I no longer felt the mud drowning me.

I couldn't feel the hands strangling me.

All I felt was the pain.

And so I finally felt somewhat normal.

Normal enough to get back on my knees, and see her coming back at me.

"A-alive? What do you mean alive?"

She lunged forward, gripping the collar of my shirt.

I can see her gritting her teeth as she snarled at me.

"What do you think I fucking mean!?"

She whipped me around like a doll, throwing me back in the other direction.

But tumbling around didn't hurt as much as the first time.

After catching my breath, I got back to my knees again.

I can hear her stomping towards me yet again.

"My existence relies on pathetic cowards like you falling in love, do you have any idea how embarrassing that is?!"

I could feel her arm slam into my spine, flattening me to the ground.

"Do you fucking get it now?!"

With one arm, she gripped the back of my shirt and tossed me again.

Despite the abuse I was taking, I wasn't feeling more and more pain with every attack.

I just felt weaker and weaker.

"With your little whore out of the job, the closer I get to wilting away to nothing!"

She reached down, and wrapped her hand around my neck.

Even though her hand wasn't large enough to grip my entire neck, her grip and strength was enough to crush anything she grabbed.

While she choked me in the air, I stopped feeling all the pain I felt below my throat.

"There, now you know you poor fucking excuse of a man. So forgive me if I'm a little fucking tense!"

With a roar, she slammed me into the ground as hard as she could.

I could feel myself sink into the floor of my mind.

With my eyes open, but unable to move, I could still see the crater she made with my body.

Then and there, everything I felt came back.

My stinging raw skin.

My shattered bones and jaw.

My useless spine.

My inoperable lungs.

I couldn't scream. Even thinking of trying to scream caused me too much pain.

My eyes began to burn as tears drowned them.

I wanted to close my eyes, but a blurry Venus was stood over me.

I could see my blood spattered across her face as she leaned closer to me.

"This still isn't over Axel Baron. And it won't be over until you make a choice."

She wiped away some of the blood.

"It's simple. You can save your precious little whore, but her womb will be useless. You will never be able to have a baby with her."

She wiped away the rest of the blood, but with her dirty hand she gripped my broken jaw.

"Or you can save the child. Killing your fiancé in the progress. So the choice is yours Axel."

She sat on top of me, increasing her pressure on my mouth.

"And decide quickly. Because if you don't, both will die. So Axel…"

She laughed.

And then kissed me. Her tongue felt like a snake.

"Choose."

I could see her cheeks pucker, right before she spat in my eye.

---

"Mister?"

When I opened my eyes, I was still in the plane.

The young boy was standing in the aisle, staring at me.

I quickly looked all over my arms and legs.

No marks, no pain.

Except my head, which still felt broken and crushed.

"Mister, you're bleeding."

"Huh?"

I looked at the boy, who was pointing at my face.

I quickly brushed my face with my sleeve, covering it in dark blood that was dripping from my nose.

"I think you had a bad dream mister."

"Uh… what?"

The lights in the plane were dimmed.

The pale blue sky was now a dark indigo ocean.

I must have slept the whole time until now.

"Mister?"

I looked back over at him.

I can see everyone else on the plane was sleeping in their seats.

He had a bottle of juice and pajamas on.

"Hey uh… what's your name buddy? I'm Axel."

"I'm Adam."

"Hey Adam, uh… take a seat."

I took my bag off the seat and he jumped in its place.

He put his juice in the other cupholder and looked back over at me.

"So are you okay Mister Axel?"

I took a brief moment just to look at him.

I took one shaky breath in, and with that same breath I gave Adam the most honest answer I've given anyone in a long time.

"No, actually. I'm not okay."

---

"What's wrong mister Axel?"

"A lot buddy. A lot."

"Like what?"

"Um… for starters my fiancé is very sick."

"Fee…fee…feen-see?"

"Fiancé, it means I'm gonna marry her."

"Oh okay. How sick is she?"

"She has… very sick Adam. Very sick."

"Is she sleeping and drinking ginger ale?"

"I don't know."

"My mommy always makes me sleep and drink ginger ale whenever I'm sick."

"Ha, mine did too buddy. Mommies always know best."

"I hope she feels better. I don't like being sick."

"Thanks Adam, I'll tell her that when I see her."

"Where is she?"

"She's at the hospital."

"How come?"

"Be-because she's really really sick."

"Oh no. Was she playing outside too long?"

"N-no, not that. She… I…"

"Did she play with someone else that was sick?"

"Um… kind of."

"Kind of?"

"Well, actually. There's a really mean woman that got her sick."

"Why did she do that?"

"Because my fiancé used to work for her. She was really good at her job."

"What was her job? Was she an a-coot-ant?"

"An accountant?"

"Yeah! My dad's an a-coot-ant. He looks at other people's money. That's why he has so much."

"Oh yeah? That's really cool. I wish my dad was an accountant."

"Yeah! And my mom, she, uh…. She's an a… a…."

"She's a what?"

"A.. guy… a guy…"

"A guy?"

"No no! A guy-noo-ca-gist."

"A guy-what?"

"Guy-noo-ca-gist! She um… she's a doctor for girls."

"Oh! A gyneco- girl doctor! That's really cool. Your parents must make a lot of money."

"Yeah! Is your fiancé a guy-noo-ca-gist?"

"What? Oh, no no no."

"Then what is she?"

"She is um… or was… a…"

"A what?"

"Well, she helped other people fall in love."

"Fall in love?"

"Yeah, like your mom and dad. She would help lonely people find other people and those people would get married."

"Why did she do that?"

"Because it's what her boss wanted her to do."

"And her boss made her sick?"

"Yeah."

"Even though she was really good?"

"Yeah."

"So how come she made her sick?"

"Because she quit her job. And that made her boss really mad."

"Why did she quit?"

"Because… me and her fell in love together buddy."

"You fell in love?"

"Yup."

"Why?"

"Well do you want the short version or the long version?"

"Version?"

"Version means like what type."

"Oh, okay. Tell me the long one."

"You sure?"

"Yeah!"

"If you say so. It all started a couple years ago. I was living by myself, and I was very sad."

"Because you were lonely?"

"Yeah, because I was really lonely. And since I was so lonely, a girl named Kyu came to see me."

"Kyu? Like, cute?"

"Uh… now that you mention it, yeah, kind of."

"That's a weird name."

"You're not wrong."

"So why did Kyu see you because you were lonely?"

"Because that was her job."

"Oh yeah!"

"And she told me she was gonna help me find a girlfriend."

"What happened?"

"At first, it wasn't going so well. Me and her didn't really get along, and nothing was really working. But one day, we were at the mall and there were some mean boys there."

"What did the mean boys do?"

"They started saying mean stuff to her. And between you and me Adam, I have a little bit of an anger management problem."

"Oh you do? But you seem nice mister Axel."

"Thanks buddy, I appreciate that. But sometimes you gotta be careful, not everybody is like what they seem. Kyu didn't think I had one either, but when those boys were being mean, I got really angry."

"Did you beat them up?"

"Yes. I'm not proud of it, but I did."

"Why not?"

"Hm?"

"Why weren't you proud of it? Mommy and Daddy always tell me to stand up for myself. That no one has the right to push me around."

"And they're absolutely right, don't let anyone ever bully you. But there is a difference between defending yourself, and overdoing it."

"What did you do?"

"I really scared them. I picked one up, and yelled right at his face."

"How come that was bad?"

"Because what I should have done is go tell a police officer, or another adult. Violence isn't the answer Adam, I promise you. Even though I scared them away, I scared Kyu too."

"And what did she do?"

"Well, she actually forgave me. And she helped me with my anger to."

"She sounds really nice."

"She's super nice bud. I wish you could meet her."

"Can I?"

"Huh?"

"Can I meet her?"

"Um… maybe we can talk to your parents about that when we land okay bud?"

"Okay! So what next?"

"After that, I met a different girl. Her name was Audrey."

"Audrey?"

"Yeah, Audrey. She was a very pretty girl with red hair."

"Do you mean orange?"

"What?"

"My mom calls people with orange hair red-heads."

"Oh, well yeah. That's what they are called, but Audrey had actual red hair. Like, apple red."

"What about a firetruck?"

"Sure, firetruck red."

"And ketchup!"

"Ha, yup. And ketchup."

"So why did she have red hair?"

"Um… good question. I'll ask her next time I talk to her."

"And you said she was pretty?"

"Yes, very. And Kyu helped me talk to her and take her on dates."

"You went on a date?"

"Yes sir. Haven't you?"

"No, my mom says I'm not old enough to go on dates. She says my sister isn't either, but my sister does anyway."

"Your mom is right, you should always listen to your mother."

"But what's a date like?"

"It's kind of like hanging out with a friend. Except, the two people like each other in a different way."

"Like how?"

"Umm… well for example you think the other person is pretty. And you also want to kiss them, and hug them, and impress them."

"Impress?"

"It means to make them think your cool."

"Oh okay. And did Audrey think you were cool?"

"I think she did."

"So you impressed her?"

"I think so, at least at first."

"At first?"

"Well, after a date, a man showed up."

"A man?"

"Yeah, a scary man. This man knew both Audrey and Kyu."

"Why?"

"Because he actually dated both of them before. Kyu helped him because he was lonely, just like I was."

"Whoa, you can do that? Date different people?"

"You can, and it's normal. Some people go on dates, and realize they don't like the other person as much."

"So they aren't impressed?"

"You can say that."

"So what did the scary man do?"

"He tried hurting Kyu and Audrey."

"Oh no."

"Yeah, but then my anger got involved. I ended up hurting him instead, really badly."

"What did you do?"

"…. I broke his arm."

"Whoa! How did you do that?"

"I'm not…. I held it out like this and stomped on it."

"Whoa, cool."

"Adam, it's not cool. It was wrong."

"But wasn't he trying to hurt your friends?"

"Yes, but like I said violence isn't the answer."

"So what are you supposed to do?"

"I… I didn't have to break his arm. That's my point. What I should have done after I got him away from them was just walk away."

"Oh okay. But what If he kept trying?"

"I… I don't know what to tell you bud. I'm sorry. Sometimes you don't know until the time comes."

"But what about Audrey and Kyu?"

"Well, Audrey got really scared of me."

"Why?"

"Because I broke his arm. She was scared of me because of that."

"So what did she do?"

"She ran away."

"And what did you do?"

"I tried to find her. But once I did, I realized I didn't like her as much as I liked Kyu. That whole time."

"Was she mad?"

"No. Yes. No, but not…"

"No and yes?"

"She… she wasn't at the time I guess."

"Well what happened to her?"

"She moved to England to become a model."

"What's a model?"

"It's someone who wears clothes and makeup to make other people buy them."

"Oh okay. So where was Kyu?"

"She was about to leave, but I caught her just in time."

"And then what?"

"We told each other how we felt, and we both loved each other as it turns out."

"Oh wow. I love people too. I love my mommy, and my daddy, and my sister."

"That's good buddy, I bet you do. And they love you too."

"So how come you loved Kyu?"

"How come I loved her?"

"Yeah. I love my mommy and daddy because they take care of me. And I love my sister because she plays games with me."

"Oh well, me and Kyu love each other a little differently than that. Me and Kyu love each other like how your parents love each other. It's a different kind of love."

"Oh, like how they kiss and hold hands and buy each other chocolate?"

"Yup, just like that."

"So is that what you guys do? Why do you love like that? Like mommy and daddy?"

"It's not a super simple answer Adam. Plus I don't know If your parents would like me talking to you about that. You're too young to be worried about how to love other girls yet."

"Aww come on! Please?"

"I don't know man."

"Please?"

"Alright then, but because you said please. But don't tell your parents you heard this from me, okay?"

"Okay!"

"For starters, and this isn't the most important part, I think she is the prettiest girl on the planet. And she's told me she thinks I'm the most good-looking guy on the planet."

"But my mommy says I'm the most handsome-est boy on the planet."

"She isn't wrong bud. It's just that Kyu hasn't met you yet, so for now she thinks I'm the most handsome."

"That makes sense."

"But like I said, the looks aren't the important thing. She's also really funny, she can make me laugh no matter how sad I am."

"Can you tell me one of her jokes?"

"Her jokes? Umm…she doesn't exactly tell jokes. She just says funny things based on what's happening around her."

"Like what?"

"You know what, there's so many to choose from I can't pick a good one right now."

"Oh okay. What else?"

"She's pretty, funny, but no matter what, she just always knows what to do, you know? Whenever I'm sad, angry, anything I don't want to be. She's able to fix it. And that' what I love so much about her."

"How does she fix you when your sad?"

"She can do a couple things. Talk to me, make me something, sometimes she'll just give me a hug and not say anything at all."

"Why does she say nothing?"

"Because sometimes words aren't necessary bud. It's not something I will be able to explain. As you grow up, you'll learn that the things you feel are unique. Only you can feel them the way you do."

"So I'll love a girl differently?"

"Yeah, exactly. Even though you may think a girl is pretty and funny like how I think of Kyu, the way you feel it will be special. So you're just gonna have to wait for it unfortunately."

"How long?"

"I won't lie, it'll be a long time Adam. You've got a lot more important things to do first, like go to school and play with your friends."

"That's what my daddy says. Is there anything else?"

"Else about what?"

"About why you love Kyu?"

"Oh. Well… actually yeah."

"What?"

"Love goes both ways Adam. Kyu would do anything for me because she loves me. Just like how… I'd do anything for her."

"Mister Axel?"

"Y-yeah?"

"Are you crying?"

"W-what? No, no… just… there was a bug."

"A bug?"

"Yeah, yeah. That's all."

"So what happens next?"

"Oh um… well after that we just spent a lot of time together. She didn't have to help other people anymore, so me and her started writing together."

"Writing? You write books?"

"Yes sir. That's what both of us were doing, until her boss came around. Her old boss, that is."

"The one that made her sick?"

"Yup. I'll give you credit Adam, you're keeping pretty good track of this story so far."

"I like stories mister Axel! And this one is real right?"

"It sure is."

"So what did her boss do?"

"Well, the boss was really angry. She was so mad, but she blamed me."

"Why?"

"Because if me and Kyu didn't fall in love together, she would have never quit her job."

"So even though she blamed you, why did she make Kyu sick?"

"Well… Adam this part of the story is really sad."

"It's okay mister Axel. I don't mind."

"I know you don't but I'm not sure how…"

"How to what?"

"How to tell it… appropriately."

"Apro-apro-pitaly?"

"How to tell it to you, in a kid friendly way."

"You don't have to. My parents are sleeping."

"No, I do bud. Hell, I don't even think I should at all."

"Hell?"

"No, don't say that! See, this is exactly why I shouldn't."

"My mommy and daddy always tell my sister she should say whatever is on her mind. She's in middle school and they have drummers there."

"Drummers? Like, a band?"

"No no, drummer. Bad things happen there."

"Oh, you mean drama."

"Yeah, drummer."

"Look, I appreciate it Adam. I do. But this isn't something you should hear."

"Who else can you tell?"

"Honestly, no one."

"You can't tell no one mister Axel. You'll explode."

"That's putting it lightly."

"So please tell me? You did last time I said please."

"It's not that simple bud."

"Please?"

"No, Adam. Really, it's okay it's-"

"Please?"

"Look, alright. But you gotta promise to never tell anyone."

"I'm good at keeping secrets."

"Well then, I'll tell you bud. Her boss got mad at me, so she…"

"She what?"

"She hurt me."

"Oh no, that's mean! Did she punch you?"

"Not just that. She… made me give her kisses."

"Kisses?"

"Yeah."

"But kisses don't hurt mister Axel."

"They do if you don't want to Adam. Remember that."

"You didn't want to kiss her boss?"

"No, not at all. I only want to kiss Kyu, because she is the one I love."

"Oh I get it."

"You do?"

"Yeah. Whenever we go to my cousin's house, I have to play with his toys and I don't like his toys. I only like my toys."

"Close enough bud, yeah. But kind of like how you have to play with his toys, I had to keep giving her kisses. And I hated it."

"For how long?"

"Well for a couple days. But then she…"

"She what?"

"Well, she brought us into my head."

"What?"

"I'm not kidding. She brought us into my head."

"How? Why?"

"I can't tell you how. But why? Because I didn't give her as many kisses as she wanted. So she thought if we went in my head, she can figure out how to make me give her more kisses."

"Did it work?"

"No. I fought back."

"You fought her? You hit a girl?"

"What? Oh… uh… no not really. I, uh… just kind of scared her by yelling really loud."

"Oh okay. So you won?"

"That's what I thought."

"Why?"

"Because she went away for a while. I thought I would never see her again. And so I went to England for a job."

"A job?"

"Yeah, a writing job."

"Did Kyu go with you?"

"No, she stayed home. The writing job was only for me."

"Why?"

"The man that hired me wanted it to be a secret. And before you ask, that's one I can't tell you."

"Aww. Okay."

"It was cool at first. I even saw red-haired lady again."

"Oh really? What did you guys do?"

"We just hung out for a bit."

"Oh. Mister Axel, I thought you said this was a sad story."

"Well, we were hanging out. Before she gave me a kiss I didn't want."

"Oh no, that's mean! Why do girls keep kissing you?"

"Because it was the boss's fault."

"What? She came back?"

"Yeah. I didn't win, I just made her really mad."

"Oh no."

"And so she did that, and then she beat me up for real."

"I don't like her at all."

"Me neither. And… because she was so mad at me…. Oh God…"

"…"

"She made Kyu really sick. All because I had to be brave."

"…"

"It's all my fault Adam. I know it is. I love her more than anything on this earth, and she's suffering because of me."

"…"

"And then she told me to choose. I have to choose Kyu or the baby. Adam, I don't know how I can- Adam?"

"…"

"Dead asleep. Well, I appreciate you lending your ear bud. Hope you don't mind if I use it a little more."

"…"

"If you were me, what would you do? Part of me feels terrible, the obvious choice feels like Kyu. But… she wouldn't be able to have another baby. I'd be taking that away from her."

"…"

"But she'd rather be alive than have babies right? We could always adopt."

"…"

"But if she's alive, what's stopping Venus from doing more to her?"

"…"

"I don't even know what she meant by 'live'. Just, she'll survive the birth but still be riddled with cancer?"

"…"

"Do I choose the baby? Do I actually end up saving Kyu that way?"

"…"

"I'm glad you're asleep right now. Makes me feel better dumping all of this on you."

"…"

"So young. With so much life ahead with you with parents and family that care so much about you. And yet here you are. Listening to a stranger talk to you about choosing who gets to fucking live."

"…"

"I just want to wake up and have all of this be over. I just want to be like you. Wake up, and just be home. Wake up, and those you love will surround you. Happy, and healthy."

"…"

"Do me a favor bud."

"…"

"When you grow up, be a better man than me."

"…"

"Be the kind of man that won't let someone he loves suffer."

"…"

"Be the kind of man… that doesn't jeopardize everything for fucking nothing."

"…"

"Meet someone special, and just fall in love normally. Get married, have kids, just please live a normal life."

"…"

"For me. Please."

"…"

"Because I don't know how much longer I can do this."

"…"

"I'm beginning to feel like I did that day. I didn't tell you, but there was one day. I sat in my car, and I locked all the doors and windows."

"…"

"And I considered something. Something Kyu wouldn't ever let me consider again. But now…"

"…"

"Everything is different now Adam. I've never felt so much pain. Kyu is dying because of me. Our baby is dying because of me…"

"…"

"God, I don't know what to fucking do…"

"…N…no…"

"W-what?"

"…"

"Adam?"

"…N…no…"

"No? 'No' what?"

"…"

"You're probably just dreaming, but… I'm gonna assume you were talking to me."

"…"

"No. No. You're right."

"…"

"This won't be easy. But… no."

"…"

"No. I can't think of that."

"…"

"I can't. I won't."

"…N…no…"

"Yeah. Kyu will kill me."

"…"

"Man I wish you could meet her. You two would get along so well."

"…"

"Sleep tight Adam. Thank you. And remember that promise we made."

"…"

"Goodnight."

---

I fell asleep in my chair.

Once I was done talking to Adam, I looked outside the window and drifted off easily yet again.

I was woken up by Adam's parents.

"Adam, what are you doing in that man's seat?"

My neck was slightly stiff, and my vision was blurry.

But I could see Adam slowly nod himself awake.

"We told you to stay in your seat and not bother anyone."

I was more awake than Adam was, and so I spoke up for him.

"Oh no, he wasn't bothering me at all. He was actually some good company for the flight, you raised a swell young man here."

"Oh. Well thank you mister um.."

"Baron. Axel Baron."

His father reached over for a handshake.

"Well thank you Mister Baron. But nonetheless, Adam knows better."

"I…"

He let out a huge yawn and a stretch before speaking some more.

"I saw him having a bad dream."

His mother wiped away some drool from his mouth.

"But you still shouldn't-"

"He did me a favor, honest. It was a nightmare actually, Adam really did me a solid."

He was just awake enough to give me a fist bump.

The father got him up to his feet.

"Well okay, but you tell us next time okay Adam?"

"Okay dad."

"Cool. Now let's get back to our seats, we're gonna land soon."

"Okay. Bye Mister Axel."

"Hey hey hey, we aren't on the ground yet. We're stuck together for a little bit more."

We all had a little laugh, and settled in for the landing.

The sun was bright, and the clouds were white.

The screen in front of my seat said it was about nine o'clock in the morning.

And before I knew it, the captain was speaking and the seatbelt lights were ringing.

Once we broke through the clouds, the strangest sensation came over me seeing my city again.

Part of me felt relived, I was home again.

The other felt sick and cold. Something awful was waiting for me.

Once the plane landed, everyone took their time grabbing their things.

But all I had was a small carry-on, so I was first in line to leave.

But as I made my way down the aisle, I could hear Adam call out to me.

"Bye Mister Axel!"

"Oh, Adam."

The door wasn't opened yet, and so I went all the way back down the aisle to him and his family.

As his parents and sister double checked everything in their bags, I gave Adam one last fist bump.

"You be good now, alright?"

"I will!"

"And listen to your mother and your father."

"I will! And don't let that boss be mean anymore."

"I'll try not to Adam."

"And I don't think you should choose anyway."

"W-what?"

"It's not fair. You should choose both."

"Y-you… you heard me? That whole time?"

"Yeah! I could still-"

I could hear the plane door open behind me.

All of a sudden, everyone on the plane seemed ready to leave at once.

"Alright, let's go gang. Come on Adam, say bye to mister Baron."

"B-bye Adam. Thanks again."

I shuffled to the side to let them go first.

After them, the other passengers straggled behind.

But I was stuck there in the aisle.

Something about what Adam said stunned me.

He really heard me that whole time?

Choose both?

I was still trying to comprehend it.

But then a stewardess ushered me along, getting me to move again. Once I was off the plane, I could see Adam and his family just leave my sight, headed down the opposite direction I was going.

I know he couldn't hear me.

I know I would likely never see him again.

But I had to thank him one last time.

Under my breath, I said

"Thanks Adam. I'll try."

---

"Hey buddy, how are you?"

"I'm good man, thanks."

"So where you headed?"

I ordered an Uber.

There was already a million black chevy suburban's circling the airport, might as well hire the guy driving the Saturn.

"I gotta get to the hospital. I know I shouldn't tell you to, but as fast as can would be appreciated."

"I'll do my best sir."

He was just a young kid, reminded me of the bellhop from the hotel.

While the red paint was faded, he definitely kept the interior in good shape.

And after he popped in the GPS directions, we took off.

"Hold on."

As soon as we got on the entrance ramp, this dude floored it.

He barely looked in the mirror. He mostly just stared down the minivan doing forty-five miles per hour in the lane next to us.

"Come on, come on."

Did I say he floored it?

I was wrong, because he somehow pushed the pedal in further and the Saturn hated it.

The RPM needle was nearing the red, and I could tell whatever grandma was driving the minivan was about to get woken up.

With just enough room to slip on by before the wake-em-ups on the side of the highway, we slipped in front of the van and was on our way.

"Sorry sir, but you said as fast as possible."

"You beat the shit out of this thing, don't you?"

"Nah, she can take it. Little Miss Rosey is a tough old girl."

"Wait, what?"

"That's her name, Little Miss Rosey. You know, red paint and stuff."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Is it really that funny?"

"Nah man, it's just… reminds me of something else."

He had his phone set up on a stand attached to his air conditioning vent.

I can see his GPS said the estimated time of arrival was about an hour.

I was wide awake after sleeping on the plane.

But now that we were cruising down the highway, and my driver wasn't saying much, I could feel my heart begin to harden.

I craved more distractions.

"So uh, what's your name man?"

"It's uh… it's Paxton. I thought it says that when I pick you up?"

"Oh shit, you're right. My bad man, I'm just… super anxious and unfocused right now."

"Well if you don't mind me asking, is everything okay?"

"I mean…"

I already dumped everything onto Adam. But for some reason, I was still so ready to dump everything on Paxton as well.

"Not really man, but I don't wanna bother you."

"Well sir, no offense, but you came out of the airport with only one bag. That doesn't seem right. Plus you are going to a hospital first thing. If I put two and two together, either you aren't okay or someone you know isn't okay."

Welp, I'll give him credit. He figured that out way too easily.

"Yeah, it's my fiancé. I was on a trip and she… she got sick."

"Aw man, I'm sorry sir. I'll pray for her."

"Thanks Paxton, really."

"Well I won't talk your ear off. I get it you-"

"No no, please. Talk as much as you want. I could really use the distraction honestly."

"Oh, well alright then. If you say so. Umm… how was your trip?"

And so Paxton kept me talking the rest of the car ride.

He asked me about England, which led to me telling the story about Audrey and 'little miss Rosey'.

Then he asked about the project, and I hated having to be vague to him but he seemed satisfied with the simple answers I gave.

I couldn't tell if he was genuinely interested in anything I was saying, or he was just that polite.

---

Paxton did exactly what I asked of him. He kept asking me questions about different things, and I was talking the whole trip.

I barely even looked out the window, I kept looking at him in his rearview mirror as it was the closest thing to eye contact I could keep with him.

It wasn't until we got off the highway and the hospital was a few minutes away that his distractions no longer worked.

I could feel my bottom jaw begin to tremble. It was shivering as if I was cold, but it was shaking because I didn't know what to do with it. It would close, and I would immediately clench it. But then once I clenched it, I would try to immediately lower it.

And I kept doing that rapidly, over and over again.

My heart froze up, and it felt like it was choking me. If I tried breathing or swallowing, my heart got in the way.

And in just a few moments, Paxton dropped me off right in front.

"Okay sir, you're all set. Do you have everything?"

"Y-yeah."

I grabbed my bag, but I didn't want to get out of the car.

Paxton reached over into the back, and offered me a handshake.

"I hope everything goes well sir."

I quickly looked at his hand to grab it. But while shaking it, I looked back at the hospital.

A simple and familiar building all of a sudden felt so ominous and dangerous.

As much as I already knew, there was just as much as I didn't.

I didn't know what waited behind the door.

I kept hesitating. As soon as I got out of little miss Rosey the Saturn, I had to confront everything that was scaring me.

It wasn't until I heard Paxton unlock the door, is what finally set me in motion.

"I think she needs you sir."

I looked back at him again. And all I did was give him a nod, before stepping out of the car.

And now that I was stood in front of the hospital on my own two feet, it suddenly seemed that much taller.

Towering over me, it seemed almost warped.

I started walking, hearing other cars approaching me.

As I got through the front rotating door, all of the familiar sensations felt different and invasive.

The one unique smell that all hospitals share, the sounds, everything.

I've felt them before, but they now felt like strangers.

People you knew before, who are barely recognizable now.

They kept seeping and slithering in and around me, as I approached the woman at reception.

"Hello sir, can I help you?"

"Yeah-um… I'm here for uh…. K-Kyu Sugardust?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Umm.. Kyu… Sugardust?"

"And um… how do you spell that?"

"K, Y, U. Weird name, I know."

"Okay… sir are you okay?"

"Huh?"

"I don't mean to be rude, you just seem flushed."

"Oh, no it's fine. Just uh… I'm sorry can you just tell me where she is?"

"May I ask your relation?"

"I'm her fiancé, Axel Baron."

"Oh Mr. Baron, we've been expecting you."

"Y-you have?"

"Yes. Tiffany Maye is with your fiancé now, she's told us you were on your way."

"O-okay. Good. Good."

I could see her reach down to the phone.

She pressed two or three buttons and didn't wait to begin speaking.

"Mr. Baron is on his way up, repeat. Mr. Baron is on his way up."

She hung up, and started writing something down on a small piece of paper.

"She's in room 412. Take that elevator up to level four, and take a right. Her room should be all the way down to the right."

"Okay, thank you."

She handed me the small piece of paper, and pointed again to the elevator.

As I approached the elevator, a young man got to it first.

He pressed the up button, and I stood beside him waiting.

"Where you headed?"

"Level four."

"Oh gotcha, me too. First time?"

"I'm sorry?"

"I'll take that as a yes."

"You lost me."

"Nah, no problem. I know that look. One small bag,, five o clock shadow, you're having a kid right?"

"Oh. Umm… yeah actually."

The elevator opened up, and he waved his arm, allowing me in first.

He came in behind me and pressed the button.

As the elevator closed, I could see his reflection.

He was staring up at the floor indicators, with a big smile on his face.

Without looking towards me, he asked

"Nervous?"

"A lot. Quite a lot actually."

"Look man, me and my wife just had our third."

"Third? You look as young as me. How do you do it?"

"There really isn't a strategy man. If you want to be a good father, all you have to do is want to be a good father."

"You make it sound so simple."

"Having kids isn't as insane as people make it sound. Sure they can be loud, and messy, and whatever. But at the end of the day, when you look at them and look at their smile, it's worth it."

"And that's all the reward you need? Is their smile?"

"The kids are the reward man. My kids are the greatest thing to ever happen to me. Just you wait, I know you're nervous now, but those jitters will go away once you hold them in your arms. Everything right then and there will make sense."

As he finished his sentence, the elevator opened up.

"Welp, here's our stop. Which way you headed?"

"Uh, the right."

"And I'm the left. Nice to meet you man, congratulations."

"Yeah, thanks. You too."

He quickly walked down the opposite hallway.

When I stepped out of the elevator, I looked towards the right.

It was a short hallway, with only a couple rooms on each side.

At the end of the hallway near a large window, I could see Tiffany pacing back and forth.

As I started approaching, my jaw felt like it was vibrating and my heart felt two sizes larger.

It was hard to breathe, and even harder to carry my bags.

But after a couple steps, Tiffany noticed me.

I could see her bolt down the hallway.

And she didn't slow down the closer she got.

I dropped my bag, and used my arms to help stop her running me over.

She wrapped her arms around the back of my head, and immediately started crying into my shoulder.

"A-axel. Thank god you're here."

All I could muster was one hand on her back.

"H-how i-is she?"

She let go, and took one step back.

Her eyes were red and swollen, she must have been crying for days.

But as soon as I saw her close her eyes and lower her head, suddenly I could feel my heart drop down from my throat straight to the floor.

She didn't look back up at me. She couldn't.

Her tears dropped to the floor like bombs.

"Just… just please go to her."

She brought her hands to her face, and I could see her body try to fight her impulses.

But her breaths and cries caused her body to jerk with every painful breath.

Behind Tiffany, I could see the number 412 above the last door on the right.

The door was open, but all I could see was the rooms window and a chair.

I took one step past a crying Tiffany.

Every step felt like trying to rip my foot from hardened concrete.

I kept staring into the room, seeing a little more with every step.

Soon, my steps just became dragging my foot along the floor.

Now, I could see the foot of a hospital bed.

I could hear steady beeps.

From where I was now, I could see the tips of her feet.

The beeps became louder.

All of a sudden, I couldn't move anymore.

It felt like there was an invisible box, trapping me inside.

I couldn't move, but part of me didn't want to either.

I was scared.

I was terrified of what I was about to walk in on.

But I began to focus on my heart, which still felt like it was on the floor.

I began to hear it's beat. To feel its rhythm.

And every time it beat, I saw Kyu in my head.

The first time I saw her, in my office.

Seeing her outside my car window, begging me to let her in.

Seeing her cry on the couch.

Her outfit when we went shopping.

Her back against the wall, the first time we kissed.

Her under me, the first time we made love.

I saw her in her pajamas, her dresses, her smile, her sleeping.

And the more I saw her, the more I was reminded what I feel for her.

I took one breath in.

I picked my heart up off of the ground.

And I broke through the wall, keeping me from seeing her.

I took a couple steps into the room.

And I saw her.

For the first time in months, which felt like decades.

My heart then became too heavy to hold.

---

Her pink hair was faded, like a dying rose. It wasn't wavy or curled, just oily and straight. I could even see her scalp, her hair wasn't thick enough to hide it.

Her green eyes seemed matte and dark. They seemed like they belonged on an old doll.

Her skin was pale, almost grey. I could see her barely blue veins in her thin neck.

There was a tube around her nose, connected to oxygen.

I could see countless wires going into her shirt, which looked like it barely fit her.

I could see even more wires and tubes on her arms and wrists. She seemed like she was caught in a large spider's web, and she wasn't resisting or trying to break free.

Her light blue scrub barely fit around her chest and arms, sagging down to the bed itself like a poncho.

But in the center of the bed, the scrub was creased and scrunched up.

Past the various folds, was her belly.

And before I could really get a look at it, I could hear her.

I looked at her.

She was looking at me.

With a gigantic smile on her face, and her matte green eyes still somehow able to shine.

She raised her arms, dragging the web of cords up with them.

I could see her arms struggle to stay up as she weakly called out to me.

"Axel!"

---

"H-hey you."

"I can't believe you made it."

"Of course I did."

"Come on, give me a kiss."

Her voice was weak and raspy.

It sounded like she was trying to whisper, but as loud as she could.

Every few words took the breath out of her.

In between every sentence, she would need to take a few deep breaths before speaking again.

I walked over to her to kiss her.

Normally her arms would be around me, or her hands on my face.

But as I got closer and closed my eyes, her arms lowered back to her bed.

She didn't have the strength to touch me at all.

I gently caressed both of her cheeks.

They were ice cold.

Just as her lips. Cold, and dry.

"One more, please."

And so I kissed her again.

Her lips were only slightly warmer this time.

After letting go, I could barely open my eyes back up.

My tears burned them shut.

"Hey hey hey, if I'm not crying you shouldn't be crying."

"I-I'm sorry hon, I just…"

I could barely breathe.

I kept rapidly trying to wipe my tears away, but they never stopped.

Any words I tried to speak just became sobs.

"Well I know what would make you feel better."

With every ounce of strength I had, I cracked open my eyes to look at her.

She was smiling at me, the morning sun presenting her in golden colors.

She was gently rubbing her belly.

"Say hi to them. They haven't-"

She had to take the hand away from her belly to cough into.

Her coughs were loud, louder than her words.

I could hear them scratch her throat.

She was coughing for a few moments, wincing in pain every time.

I walked over to her and put my hand on her back.

I could feel her body contract with each cough.

She coughed a few more times, before settling down.

She laid her head down into her pillow, but her body was still reclined.

After a few deep breaths, she opened her eyes back up.

"They haven't met their father yet."

I looked down at her stomach.

It seemed almost as big as her.

I took one step closer to it.

My first instinct was to feel it.

I didn't say anything to her, I just looked.

She nodded to me, but her smile assured me I didn't need permission.

With an open palm, I laid my hand over it.

It was very firm, and only moved with her breaths.

"Talk to them."

I looked back, and crouched down.

"H-hey there… kiddo. It's me. I'm- I'm your dad."

I always felt speaking to babies in the womb was rather odd.

They couldn't hear anything, never mind comprehend anything.

But as soon as I began speaking, I quickly discovered I had a lot to say to them.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. But it's okay, daddy's here now. And let me tell you, I can't wait for you to come out."

I could hear Kyu laugh.

"The games we'll play, the things we'll do. I'm gonna try to be the coolest dad in the world. But only if you like the things I like."

I can hear her laugh again.

"Just kidding, I'm gonna love you no matter what kid. Boy, girl, I don't care. You'll get all my old t-shirts, I'll teach you how to do an oil change, and you'll ride front row with me on roller-coaster since your mother won't."

I shot her a look.

She smirked back at me. She was always embarrassed by her fear of rollercoasters.

And for just a brief moment, everything felt normal.

"I never even met you, but God I love you so much already. Just…"

My next few words got stuck in my mouth.

Everything I just said to them.

It might have been a lie.

The moment was done, the present showed its ugly face.

I still had an impossible choice to make.

I looked at them, and then looked back at Kyu.

I thought I was done crying, but my body lied as well.

Through sharp tears, I had only one request for my unborn child.

"Just… please forgive me."

---

"Axel."

"Y-yeah hun?"

"Pull up a chair, I want to talk."

"Okay, okay."

"Axel, I've had time to think. In fact it's all I've been able to do."

"Yeah?"

"I don't want you to be upset."

"But Kyu, look at you. I just can't forgive myself for-"

"Stop, please. Let me finish."

"What?"

"I have rehearsed this so many times, you gotta let me…"

"Kyu? Need some water?"

"…"

"Kyu?"

"… y-yeah, I'm good. I tell ya, these coughing fits have a mind of their own."

"Want the water?"

"Nah, nah. I'll probably start again soon anyway."

"Okay."

"But anyway, look babe. I'll just say it, get it done and over with. I don't know how much time I have."

"Kyu, please don't say that."

"We can't pretend this isn't happening Axel. I'm alive for now, I'm conscious for now. We need to talk before… I can't."

"Kyu, you'll make it through this."

"Axel."

"What? You can't say otherwise. Please don't."

"The tumor is almost bigger than the baby Axel. If it wasn't for these fucking tubes coming in and out of me, god knows what-"

"You need to stop talking like this sweety."

"I'm the one dying babe."

"Kyu… please…"

"What I tell you, if I'm not crying you shouldn't."

"But then why aren't you?"

"Do you think I'm not sad?"

"What? No but-"

"I'm beyond scared Axel. I'm so fucking scared and confused, it was just supposed to be a checkup."

"Kyu, I…"

"But then all of a sudden I'm being wheeled off for an x-ray, and within the next hour I…"

"…"

"I get told… there's a tumor next to our baby. Fuck, I didn't want to cry…"

"…"

"And now it all makes sense, that nightmare I had."

"Nightmare? What nightmare?"

"On the way to the hospital, I fell asleep in the car and… at first I didn't know what it meant."

"What 'what' meant?"

"I was being buried. Someone snapped their fingers, and I started being…"

"…"

"It was my funeral."

"K…"

"And that's why… no, well…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…Kyu?"

"They can save the baby Axel."

"T-they can?"

"But I won't make it."

"Kyu! You don't-"

"I do know. I heard the doctors, I heard Tiffany. It's me or the baby."

"Honey, you can't tell me-"

"I want to save them."

"Please… please for the love of God stop."

"Axel, babe…"

"We can save you, we have to save you."

"It won't be the same. I won't wake up perfectly normal anymore."

"It doesn't matter, we can-"

"I can't live like that Axel. I won't live like that."

"Kyu there has to be medicine or-"

"I don't wanna be some burden the rest of our lives."

"You will never be a burden. I will do anything and everything for you with no questions asked, you know this."

"And that's why."

"Why? Why you want to die?"

"I don't wanna fucking die Axel!"

"So why are you saving the baby?"

"Because what I want even less is to just be some… sack of problems forever."

"You won't be!"

"I'll practically live here sweety. There's no guarantee it won't come back, I'll be eating pills for breakfast, I just can't stand to think of living like that."

"Kyu, we can-"

"Don't bring up money or adoption, I know you will. All the money would be for this. All of it."

"I don't-"

"I don't expect you to care, but what about the kid we adopt?"

"What about them?"

"You'll have to work constantly, you wouldn't be able to be a father to them."

"I'd work it out. I would-"

"And it's not like I can be any better. They would wanna play ball or something and all I'd fucking do is-"

"Easy Kyu, easy."

"…"

"Need anything?"

"…"

"Want the water now?"

"…yeah."

"Here you go."

"This. All I'd do is cough and lie in bed. The kid wouldn't have parents, just…"

"Kyu, we could do anything-"

"Stop!"

"…"

"I'm asking you to be realistic, to listen to me."

"…"

"Axel, I love you more than anything on this fucking earth. And believe me, I know you love me too."

"More than anything."

"I know you'd do anything for me, you have to fucking believe me when I tell you I know."

"… I know Kyu."

"That's why I want to have the baby."

"But…"

"I want to live normal, so I'd rather die normal too."

"Kyu please…stop saying that…"

"If I can leave you with anything, our child is the perfect thing. Our blood."

"But Kyu, please."

"This is what I want."

"…"

"This is my decision."

"…"

"I want it to be our decision."

"…"

"Don't let me live like this longer than I have to."

"…"

"I don't wanna be selfish. I don't want to take away our babies chance to have a life."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Do you understand?" Axel?"

"…"

"Just… hold my hand. Please Axel."

"…okay."

"This is happening. We can't avoid it."

"…"

"Axel?"

"How are you so calm?"

"Like I said, I've had a lot of time to think about it."

"But… I don't get it. I don't understand."

"I know."

"What am I supposed to do without you? You are my life Kyu, I just can't…"

"You can."

"I can't!"

"You can and will. Axel, you can."

"How? How can you say that?"

"You will not fail them. You never gave up on me, you won't give up on them."

"Who?"

"Our baby silly."

"What?"

"You'll find a way, you always do. As much… as I want to be here… I know you'll be a good dad."

"Kyu…."

"It's my last request."

"…stop….please…."

"Axel."

"Please… I can't take this anymore…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Well actually, there's one more thing."

"What, what is it? Anything, I'll do anything."

"Anything?"

"Yes, of course. Anything Kyu."

"Well, I know it's last minute."

"What?"

"I… I want to get married."

"M-Married?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yup. I mean, our kid might not have a mom but I'll be damned if I let that son of a bitch be a bastard."

"…"

"Hm?"

"…"

"Axel? Are you laughing?"

"…"

"I actually got you to laugh with that?"

"So son of a bitch, that being you, is okay but not a bastard?"

"Ha, you fucker!"

"Yeah. Yeah. Let's do it. Let's get married."

"Oh my god, I'm so happy."

"Can I still have a bachelor party?"

"Nah, that's my last fuck you."

"Damn."

"So, shotgun wedding. Who saw that one coming?"

"Definitely not me."

"Me neither, it's kind of fun to think about. Well on second thought…"

"Yeah?"

"Guess its more like a double barrel."

"Double barrel?"

"Yeah, a doubled barrel shotgun. One is the baby, and the other is the other asshole."

"Yeah… that asshole…"

"Aw come on, we were having fun. No more crying."

"I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Just hold my hand baby."

"…okay."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…I love you Axel."

"… I love you too Kyu."

---

"Ms. Baron? It's that time again."

"Oh come on Erin, not now."

"Oh, hello."

"Erin, this is my fiancé Axel. Axel, this is Erin. My lovely nurse that forces me to take sleep medication."

"Mr. Baron, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Nice to meet you Erin."

"And no, I don't force her. She's the one that willingly eats the cheese, she knows the medicine is in there."

"Well, I won't say no to provolone."

I can see the nurse take a couple notes on her clipboard, and jot some stuff down on the room's whiteboard.

"So how we doing Kyu?"

"Eh, still the same Erin."

"Any more pain anywhere?"

"Nope."

"How about your coughing?"

"It's-"

She then started having another coughing fit.

I hated hearing it, I hated seeing her shoulders and chest buckle with each one.

"It's still a bitch."

"Well it's a good thing it's time for your nap. You need to keep your strength up."

"Erin, come on. My fiancé is here, can't we talk a little more."

The nurse looked at me in the weirdest way.

I knew she felt bad, but also didn't care at the same time.

"Sorry sweety. You need to sleep."

"I don't want to."

"Kyu, it's fine. I'll come back later when you wake up."

"It doesn't work like that. These assholes keep me sedated for fucking moon cycles at a time."

"Kyu, come on. Don't say that."

"But you're here now! It's been months. I want to talk more."

The nurse started loading up Kyu's pills in a little cup.

"I'll come back, don't worry."

"Axel, it takes me like two hours to wake up. And then it's just treatments and appointments for more hours. And then they knock me out again."

The nurse now had a small glass of water to go with it.

"Axel, please don't go."

"I'm right here. I'll come back. I'll be here when you wake up."

"But what if it's tomorrow?"

"What about tomorrow?"

"You can't see me."

"Alright John Cena, why not?"

She raised one eyebrow.

She then started humming the theme to 'here comes the bride'

"Get it now?"

"Oh, shit."

The nurse perked up from her notebook.

"Hm? Here comes the bride?"

"Oh yeah, I'm getting married tomorrow Erin."

The nurse's eyes went wide, and her mouth was agape.

"Wha-really? Awesome! Congratulations guys!"

She tried clapping her hands with her notebook in one hand.

"Well then let's get you some rest for your big day tomorrow."

"No, come on."

"Hey."

I grabbed her hand, and brought it to my mouth.

I kissed her knuckles, and looked up at her.

"It's okay. I'm here. I'll wait for you to fall asleep."

"It won't take long, it never does."

She took the small paper cup of pills.

I could hear them rattle, before seeing numerous of them go into her mouth.

She then grabbed the cup of water, and with a few large gulps emptied it completely.

"You've gotten good at that, huh?"

"I could medicate you under the table bub."

She tried crushing the plastic cup in her hand, and threw it on the floor.

"Ms. Baron, come on."

"Last time, I promise."

After Erin picked up and threw the cup away, I could already see Kyu's eye grow weaker and heavier.

"Damn, you weren't kidding."

"Nope. It's good…good shit."

"Sleep tight hun."

"Gimme a….gimme a kiss."

She wasn't able to look directly towards me, so I had to twist and arch my body over hers to reach her lips.

I kissed her once, but I kept myself there in front of her.

I whispered to her

"I love you Kyu."

I kissed her again.

"I… I love…"

Her eyes closed.

"I love you… you too."

And then her head fell backwards softly into her pillow.

And there she lied, sedated and unconscious in seconds.

I could hear her small slow breaths, almost in sync with the beeps of her monitor.

It was eerie how calm she looked.

I knew she was comfortable, peacefully sleeping.

It just felt… wrong.

Her body was rapidly deteriorating, trying to support another whole human being inside of her.

And yet, she was still so peaceful while she slept.

I didn't know if she could hear me or not, but I told her one last time just in case.

"I love you Kyu."

Erin then told me they'll be in contact when she wakes up.

I got one long last look at her, before turning around and leaving the room.

I took a couple steps, and could see Tiffany coming towards me.

I heard Erin close the door to Kyu's room.

And then I had no choice but to collapse to my knees.

---

Massive hands were pushing me down.

Both gripped my shoulders tight, and pressed me down onto my knees.

I couldn't stand up no matter how hard I fought them.

It was even harder to resist them holding my face in my hands.

I thought I was trying to push my tears back into my eyes, I didn't want to cry anymore.

I wasn't able to hold everything in, in front of her.

I tried being strong, I didn't want her to see me cry.

But seeing my fiancé dying before me wasn't enough.

I had to sit there, and listen to her be brave.

Hear her words about being strong and accepting it.

All the while, it's completely my fault she is dying in the first place.

Now I was on my elbows as well, hunched over on the ground.

With my body curved, the cries and sobs felt painful trying to claw their way out.

Breathing became a task, trying to take breaths in between my cries.

I felt alone, isolated from everything.

The only thing around me to breathe in was more pain and guilt.

I asked

"Why…"

No one answered.

"Why her…"

Nothing.

"Please… not her…"

My back and knees began to burn, but my throat felt like ice.

The massive force holding me down was pressing harder and harder.

I was about to be crushed. Moments away from being broken in half.

I think I actually wanted it.

All I could consider was the release from all of this.

"Axel?"

Almost as if none of it was happening, I was now looking up at Tiffany.

She was crouching down, trying to be level with me.

With no other words, she wrapped her arms around me yet again.

I did the same, burying my face into her shoulder.

It felt like a sponge, ready to absorb everything I was about to pour into it.

Through even more tears, I whispered to her.

"She's dying…. Tiff she's dying…."

With one arm around my back, I could feel her other one move up behind my head. Pressing me down deeper into her shoulder.

"I don't know what to do… I don't know…"

Over and over again, I kept saying it.

"I don't know… I don't know…"

I had no idea how long I was there for.

But I kept crying until my eyes were stuck shut.

Even though nothing more was coming out of my eyes, I could still feel the guilt and pain inside of me filled to the brim.

When I had no more energy to mutter, Tiffany spoke to me softly.

"I'm so sorry Axel. I'm so sorry."

Being unable to cry, all I could do was tremble.

"I wish I could tell you everything will be okay."

Her armed move away, no longer pressing me in deeper.

But now her hand was placed gently on the back of my head.

"Let's get you home."

I still couldn't stand.

I could feel Tiffany pull away ever so slightly, but I couldn't budge.

"She told me she wants to get married tomorrow. Let's get you home, okay?"

I was barely able to scrape my face away from her shoulder.

"You need to get ready for tomorrow, okay?"

She let go, so she can place me in front of her.

"Look at me. Hey, look at me."

My eyes stung like acid, but I could see Tiffany's eyes were burning as well.

After rubbing her nose on her sleeve, she spoke to me again.

"What we can do is fulfill her wish. Let's make her happy, okay?"

She used her thumb to dry my cheek.

"Okay?"

After a couple more swipes with her thumb, I was able to respond.

"Okay."

---

Tiffany drove me home.

We didn't say much.

The sun was still high in the sky, and traffic was light.

She turned the radio on, and all she asked me before we left was

"Do you need to stop anywhere first?"

"No. I just need to go home."

"Okay."

I was leaning into the window, watching the clouds.

I kept thinking about her.

I tried seeing her before everything happened.

Her vibrant hair, her candied eyes, her smile.

But her dying body in the hospital kept invading my mind.

The beeps of the machines.

Her dry painful coughs.

Her saying to me she doesn't know how much time she has.

Her saying to me she's dying.

I kept replaying our conversation over and over again in my head.

All the way home, which I didn't even know we got to until I noticed the car was stopped.

"Here you go Axel."

I unbuckled my seatbelt, grabbed my bag, and opened the door without saying anything.

"I'll call you, okay? What are you wearing to the wedding tomorrow?"

Before I closed the door, I turned around and leaned in.

"I don't know."

"Well, don't worry about it okay? I'll take care of most of it, you have a lot more on your mind right now."

I closed the car door, but leaned in again through the rolled down window.

"Thanks Tiff. For the ride and…"

"No problem Axel. You don't need to thank me."

"No, I do."

She kept the car running, but stared intently at me.

"You've been here for her when I haven't. I owe you the world Tiff."

"Axel, you don't owe me anything. Just, don't be late tomorrow okay? I know you won't, but still. And please get some rest."

"Okay."

"Call me if you need anything."

"I will. Thanks Tiff."

She nodded her head, and rolled up the window.

I watched her back out of the driveway, before turning around and walking to the front door.

While reaching into my pockets for my keys, my phone started ringing.

I wanted it to be Kyu, more than anything.

But when I finally got it out of my pocket, the name on the screen was Rivers.

"Come on."

As much as I didn't want to talk to anyone, I answered it.

"Hello?"

After talking to him so much on the phone, I was anticipating a 'good afternoon Mr. Baron' but what I got instead was

"Oi, Axel."

"J-Joe?"

"Yeah man, it's me. How you holding up?"

"Uh…uh… fine Joe, I guess. Why are you on River's phone?"

"I don't got mine on me, but I wanted to talk to you."

While pressing my phone in between my shoulder and my ear, I used my free hand to grab my keys and unlock the front door.

"Um, what's up?"

"Well Rivers met me in the states just now. He told me about your fiancé, I'm so fucking sorry man."

"Oh, uh… thanks Joe. Really."

"How is she holding up?"

"Um…"

I walked inside, and placed my bag on the couch.

"Not good, eh? Christ, I'm sorry Axel."

"Yeah…"

"Well look, I don't wanna overstep any boundaries, but do you need anything? How's about the hospital bills, are you guys managing those okay?"

"Oh, Joe please, I really appreciate that but I… we should be fine with the insurance."

"Well does she have any surgeries coming up?"

"No, none that I know of. But tomorrow morning she wants to get married, so I have to prepare for that."

"Married?"

"Yeah. Before she…"

"I get it man, I hear you. Don't take this the wrong way, but don't worry about it one bit."

"What?"

"The wedding, don't worry about it. I'll take care of that for you, and it's not a request. I'm telling you, I'll take care of that."

"But Joe how-"

"And awesome job on this draft so far man. I was reading it, and I forgot it was a story about me for a second."

"Wait wait, Joe hold on. How would you take care of the-"

"This is exactly what we hired you for man, I'm so looking forward to getting more work done on it."

"Um… uh, yeah. Me too, but Joe the-"

"What I tell you? Don't fucking worry about it, Rivers will give me all the contacts I need. You'll get married tomorrow man, I'm telling you. It's the least I can do."

I kept trying to ask more questions but Joe kept cutting me off. Obviously on purpose.

"But Joe-"

"Just show up man! I'll give you a time, let's do it at noon. We'll keep it at the hospital, hope you don't mind."

"Uh… yeah that's fine but-"

"It'll make it easier on your lady."

"Yeah, yeah. But Joe please, just-"

"Get some rest, you sound tired as shit. Just be at the hospital for noon man, can't wait to see you."

"What? Can't wait to see-"

And then he hung up on me.

I took the phone away and stared at the blank screen.

"What the fuck just happened?"

I kept staring at it, keeping nothing else in my vision.

"How could he set up… but what about Tiff?"

I pressed the button on the phone just to see what time it was.

"And did he say can't wait to see me? Where is he?"

I kept thinking of more and more questions to ask, but I already knew I'd get none of the answers.

When I saw the time on the phone, it definitely seemed too early to go to bed.

But I wasn't hungry.

I also wasn't relieved to be back home.

All I could think of was how tired I am.

And all I saw in my future was our bed.

I decided to leave my bag on the couch, and head straight to the bedroom.

But something seemed off the second I made that decision.

Once Joe hung up the phone, all I could hear was birds chirping.

I saw the shadow of the trees outside coming in from the windows. They were swaying in all directions from the wind.

But after I checked the time, I didn't hear any birds.

And the shadows were frozen.

"No…"

My phone's screen was still on.

It was still the same time.

"No…"

I felt surrounded by ghosts.

My rapid breaths did nothing.

"No… not now…"

My head began to burn.

It was in a vice, getting tighter and tighter.

I closed my eyes, wincing in pain.

But then the vice got even tighter.

I knew closing my eyes was a mistake.

Through the pain, through the fire, and through the fear, I kept my eyes closed.

I tried to slow my breaths, using both my nose and my mouth.

I knew what was waiting for me when I opened my eyes.

With my breaths slowed, and the vice loosening its grip, I gave myself an opportunity to prepare.

Keeping my eyes closed, I said out loud

"Venus."

Using only my nose, I took one large breath in. Feeling the vice loosen even more with my breath.

And without releasing the breath out, I didn't have to force my eyes open this time.

As quickly as a blink, I opened them.

And she was there.

"Have you decided yet?"

---

"Venus, wait."

"I'm tired of waiting boy. I gave you plenty of time."

She began to slowly approach me, one step at a time.

But as she got closer, I could see the different details on her face.

Her flawless skin was wrinkled.

Her mint green hair was pale, and thin.

She seemed almost as sick as Kyu.

"Look at me. Look at what has become of me."

"Why, what's happening?"

"Exactly what I told you is happening you imbecile."

Her steps were very slow, and delayed.

I could feel a pressure, almost a gust of wind grow stronger as she got closer.

"I'm withering away. Because you stole Kyu from her responsibilities. Now you can finally see for yourself."

I could see the plants and furniture began to sway and shuffle in her presence.

"Now you can see what all of this was for. Using the rest of my remaining power to get my revenge."

She was close enough for me see the skin on her chest.

It began to form against her ribs.

"The others kept me alive. But Kyu allowed me to thrive on this barren planet. And just like that, it's all ripped away from me."

The pressure she emitted began to push me back.

"And so I made damn sure the one who did this to me would suffer. If it was the last thing I do as a goddess."

I could feel my feet skid on the floor.

I had to hide my face behind my arms.

"The beating, the raping, and now ripping away your family. And somehow I'm still not satisfied."

Her head was hung low, her steps were in a slow, heavy rhythm.

"So make the choice boy. Or they both die."

I was pressed back all the way against the window.

The force was too strong, I couldn't hold up my arms anymore.

"Choose Axel Baron. Choose who you want to die."

I was being crushed between the glass and the pressure.

Even through all the wind, I could hear the glass begin to crack.

I couldn't turn my head, my cheek was being sliced and pricked against the feigning window.

I had to look through the corner of my eye.

Her arm began to raise.

I tried to speak.

"W…w…w-wait…"

I could see her fingertips begin to form a shape.

"St-st-stop…"

Her fingertips were pressed together.

Kyu and our baby were a single second away from dying.

With every ounce of oxygen in the room I could gather, I shouted as loud as I could

"I….surrender!"

But then, everything stopped again.

There was no more wind or pressure.

I fell down to my knees in front of her.

I could feel my cheek begin to burn.

I could see the blood drip onto the floor.

I tried breathing in, before she said

"You what?"

I had only one breath to use to respond.

"I… surrender."

I tried taking a couple more.

"Surrender?"

I had enough oxygen to straighten my back, to look up at her.

"I give up."

I was able to lift my arms like a scarecrow.

"You win."

She looked down at me.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm done. I won't fight anymore. I can't fight anymore."

"I…"

I didn't understand why she was so confused.

I meant what I said.

I was done resisting.

I refused to play a part in Kyu's suffering any longer.

She took one step back.

I stood up, still holding my arms out.

"You win Venus. You were always going to win."

"Is… this a trick?"

Only in admitting defeat, was I able to talk so clearly and honest to her.

"No. I can't keep hurting Kyu. I can't hurt my unborn child."

She placed a hand over her chest, obviously still confused.

I didn't know why she was confused. Was she expecting me to say something else?

To actually choose one over the other?

Did she not understand what I meant?

"I'll do anything. Anything. Just…please."

She still had no words.

"Whatever you want me to do. I'm begging you, just don't hurt them anymore."

It seemed like Venus always wanted something specific this whole time, and so I began to offer it to her.

I removed one arm from jacket.

"I don't want them suffering because of me."

I removed my other sleeve, taking my jacket completely off.

"I'll take the pain. I'll take the torture."

I gripped the collar of my shirt.

"This is all my fault. So just… hurt me, okay?"

I looked straight into her eyes.

They still seemed so confused. So torn.

I took my shirt off, throwing it on the floor.

I took one step towards her, and dropped back down to my knees.

"I love her Venus. I love them. They are my love."

I opened my arms again, as if I was ready to be crucified.

"Do whatever you want to me, okay? Don't take it out on them. Don't punish them for my mistakes."

She took one step closer to me.

"All Kyu did was fall in love. My child isn't even born yet. They've done nothing wrong."

She looked at me, at all of me.

She took another step closer.

"I surrender. I'm yours."

I could see her hand reach out to me.

"Please."

Her fingers were pressed into my forehead.

Feeling her touch overwhelmed me with fear.

I didn't resist my cries and my tears.

I was done resisting anything at all.

"I love them Venus…please…"

She lowered herself down to one knee.

Her other hand reached out towards my chest.

Her cold, wrinkly. open palm was placed over my heart.

Everything felt so cold.

Even though my eyes were open glaring at the goddess in front of me, all I could see in my mind was Kyu.

"Please…"

Breathing and speaking became a chore in between my sobs.

"P…p-please….please…."

Before my eyes flooded with tears, I could see her own eyes change.

They no longer seemed confused.

I have never seen Venus with this expression before.

I didn't know what it meant.

But she took away the fingers from my forehead, and pressed them onto my lips.

"Shh…shh…shh…"

All of a sudden, both of her hands felt very warm.

The fingers on my lips, as well as the hand on my heart.

A radiant, glowing warmth.

She closed her eyes, as if taking in a deep breath.

She kept her eyes closed, and waved her head side to side.

"I haven't felt love this pure in ages."

With her hands still on me, I watched her take a long deep breath in.

But as her chest rose with her breath, her body changed before me.

Her wrinkles were filled in, leaving her skin smooth.

Her thin mint hair got thicker and more vibrant with color.

The warmth from her hands was still radiating, spreading to the rest of my body.

Her deep breath wouldn't stop.

Her complexion kept restoring, her limbs were filling in around the bones.

And when she finally opened her eyes again, once the breath was over, she looked exactly the way she did the first time I ever saw her.

She looked right at me, with eyes and emotions I didn't know she had.

"Gods, what have I done?"

---

She reached out to my hands, and held them with a grip as soft as cotton.

She slowly stood me back to my feet.

"V-Venus?"

"Shh shh, it's alright Axel. It's over."

"O-Over?"

She began to wipe away the tears from my cheeks.

"Axel, I will never be able to fully apologize for what I did to you."

"Wait… what's happening?"

"It's over. I've been rejuvenated. From your love."

"My love?"

"For Kyu. For your child. It's brought me back to my senses."

She backed away from me.

Suddenly, a strong golden light began to seep in from all the windows.

I couldn't see the trees past the solid rays of light.

When I looked back at Venus, she seemed to be fading away into the rays.

"Wait!"

I took a step towards her.

"What do you mean?!"

She seemed transparent, but still spoke clearly to me.

"Remember what I said about love keeping me alive?"

"Y-yeah, so?"

She giggled. It wasn't a chuckle, it wasn't an evil laugh. It was a giggle.

"Well, thanks to you, I'll be good for a while."

"But I don't understand!"

She turned around, getting deeper and deeper into the golden light.

"Wait! I have more questions!"

Now I could barely see her, the light began to blind me.

"But what about Kyu?"

Using my arm as a visor, I could see Venus stop her progress.

She turned around to face me.

And she was smiling.

It wasn't a smirk, or an evil grin.

A genuine smile.

"Oh right, you have a wedding tomorrow. Get some sleep Axel. And thank you… and I'm sorry-"

She quickly raised her hand, fingers pressed together.

"And congratulations."

Her fingers snapped.

And with a blink, I woke up in my bed.

---

I rocketed up to a sitting position.

I looked around not knowing what happened.

I looked at my bed and my room, but they seemed normal.

I patted myself down, seeing if I was okay.

I was in my pajamas, and I felt fine.

I actually felt better than before, I felt extremely well rested.

I looked over to my bedside table where I keep my phone.

There it was on the charger.

I reached out for it, turning it on quickly.

The first thing I noticed was the time.

"Ten o'clock? And it's…"

The date was different. It was tomorrow.

"What the… she knocked me out until tomorrow? Er- today?"

Beneath the time on my phone, was a couple text messages.

One was from Tiffany. It was short enough I didn't need to open the phone to read the whole thing.

'Don't go crazy, just where something nice today. See you at twelve."

The next was from Rivers.

The message got cut off so I had to unlock my phone to read it.

"Hey Axel, Joe again. Hope you got some rest. Listen, the ceremony Is at noon tomorrow. It's all set. All you gotta do is go the hospital's courtyard for about fifteen minutes before showtime. Congrats man."

Despite how well rested I felt, I still had to take time to process what Joe was saying.

It only felt like three minutes since I last saw Venus, but now here I am two hours before my wedding to- shit!

"Fuck, I only got two hours, god fucking dammit!"

I jumped out of bed and ran straight into the bathroom.

I stripped down on the way there and jumped again into the shower.

I turned the knob about a little over halfway with one hand and started dispensing shampoo in the other.

The water was freezing at first but my heart was pumping my blood so fast my body kept warm enough to keep moving.

I would say I was done within ten minutes.

I violently scrubbed myself down with a towel sprinting back towards my room.

Streaking while soaking wet through my house didn't bother me one bit knowing I still had a long drive to do and not a lot of time to do it.

I grabbed some underwear, and used the couple seconds putting them on to decide what to wear.

"Fuck, what's nice enough?"

I saw dark blue jeans, and that was a no brainer.

But for my shirt, I was lost.

I opened two different drawers before seeing something familiar.

It was the shirt Kyu picked out for me for my first date with Audrey.

The red and black button-down flannel.

"Well, she did say it was the perfect casual choice."

I threw on a black t-shirt underneath it, and with my go to boots on, I figured I was at least good enough to go.

I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and drenched myself in Kyu's favorite cologne.

"You know what…"

I grabbed it again, knowing full well I will put on more when I get there.

With the cologne, and the other essentials, I locked up the house and went to my car.

I started it up, and could tell Kyu was the last one in it since a Meatloaf CD was halfway through on the radio.

"Meatloaf man, why is she so crazy about Meatloaf?"

I had about an hour and a half to get there, and a long hour drive in between.

I backed out (still letting Meatloaf play) and started my trip there.

Up until I got on the highway, I was good.

The rush of getting ready and the drive kept me going.

But once it was just a long straight drive, everything came in.

---

I was feeling a million different types of anxiety all at once.

The butterflies in my stomach were crashing their go-carts high on adrenaline, I still couldn't believe I was about to be married.

My head felt like slushy ice, I still haven't been able to comprehend what happened to Venus.

But then my heart felt like it was grinding its gears, it wasn't sure how fast it wanted to go.

It knew I loved Kyu, to hell and back. But it wasn't sure I was ready to see her dying again.

The slush in my head seeped down and got caught up in my heart's gears.

Was this a trick by Venus? Would Kyu even… make it to the wedding?

As my heart tried grinding up the slush, the butterflies in my stomach shared some of their adrenaline with me.

"I'll make it. She'll make it. I'm coming Kyu. I'm coming sweetheart."

Now the Meatloaf CD looped around to the beginning, but I just let it play.

I couldn't care what music was playing, I had to get there for Kyu.

Plus it's a sin to turn off I Would Do Anything For Love.

---

My car practically skidded to a halt in the hospitals parking lot.

When I parked, the clock said ten thirty-six.

"I made it. I'm coming."

With one last bath of cologne, I sprinted towards the hospital.

Not until the I got to the front door did I realize I had no idea where the courtyard was.

I skidded to another halt right at the front desk, and gave the clerk a heart attack.

It was the same one from yesterday.

"Oh! Mr. Axel, my goodness."

"Yeah yeah, I'm sorry um…. Where's the courtyard?"

"Oh, you're wedding! Congratulations, everyone is talking about it."

"Thank you thank you, but please, I need to know where it is."

"Of course. Just go down this hall past the elevators, and keep going down. Keep going until you see the courtyard windows, and it'll be the first door on the right."

"Keep going down this way until I see the windows and take a door on the right?"

"Yes sir."

"Awesome, thank you!"

"No problem, congratulations again!"

I started another sprint.

I ran past a couple staff members that each told me to 'slow down' but I couldn't spare any breath to respond with an apology.

Soon, I could see some tall windows with some plant life on the other side.

"Here it is!"

But then when I looked back down to keep going straight, I could see a man wearing a suit waiting outside the courtyard.

As I got closer, I could tell there was only one man it could be.

I yelled out to him

"Rivers?"

He looked towards me, confirming it was him.

"Mr. Baron! Just on time! Come here, come here."

I started slowing down so I didn't have to skid again.

When I stopped in front of him, I didn't have enough air left to say anything.

So I just hunched over and tried catching my breath.

I could feel him pat my back, but then pull me back up straight.

He started adjusting the collar on my shirt.

"Ah Mr. Baron. Here's the dapper fellow I remember. Last I saw you, you were a crumpled mess on the floor."

I still hadn't had enough breath to talk back.

"Now now, catch your breath. You're here, everything is fine. You made it."

All I could do is give him a thumbs up.

After adjusting my collar, he then started tugging on the bottom of my shirt to straighten it out.

"She is quite the lucky lady, might I add. I had the privilege of meeting her this morning. Your friend, Tiffany is it? She introduced us."

I had just enough breath to say back

"Cool."

Once he straightened out my shirt, he then used his finger to fix my hair.

"I'll tell you now Mr. Baron, this is going to be magical."

At this point, my lungs were no longer on fire. So I was able to talk slightly normally.

"I hope."

"No need to hope, it will be."

"How do you know? And where is Joe? Is he here? He kept using your phone."

"You'll see, you'll see."

He then started giving everything a once over.

While he was fixing everything I ruined by running, I looked into the courtyard.

The lower half of the windows were actually covered by some kind of white sheet or tarp. I couldn't see in at all besides the trees from above the covering.

"Hey Rivers, why is everything covered?"

"Ah ah ah, no more questions."

Once he was done, he took a flower that was sitting on a nearby chair.

He pinned it to my shirt over my heart, and gave me a handshake.

"It's time. Follow me."

He took a couple steps towards the double courtyard doors.

But once I got a couple steps away, he raised out his open palm.

"Not yet."

He adjusted his own shirt and collar, and cleared his throat.

"Wait for me to open these doors, I'll guide you in. And just remember to walk nice and slowly."

He knocked on the door a couple times.

From behind the tarped windows and doors, I could hear muffled music start to play.

He reached forward, and opened both doors at once, pulling them open towards him.

Now the music was clearer and louder.

It was just one acoustic guitar, but I already recognized the notes and the riff.

It was Two Steps Behind by Def Leppard, one of our favorite songs.

Rivers stepped away from the door, and waved me over.

I took a couple steps.

The butterflies were having a steel cage match, my stomach felt crazy.

But with one deep breath, I took a step around the corner.

It was incredible.

---

The first thing I saw was Joe Elliot.

Standing under a white archway, playing the guitar.

I couldn't believe it, Joe was playing the song himself.

At this point, he started singing.

Walk away, if you want to.

It's okay, if you need to.

I then noticed a couple people sitting in the few white chairs in front of the archway.

Some were just some hospital staff. But then a few others as well.

One was a woman and a child. I recognized the woman as Kyanna, Tiffany's girlfriend. So the child must have been their son.

Behind them was a large man. Once he turned around, I realized it was Brady. The limo driver. I could see the huge grin on his face, still holding onto the imaginary cigarette.

On the other side, I saw a woman with familiar red hair with her back to me.

She quickly turned around. Audrey was here, and she was smiling at me.

You can run, but you can never hide.

From the shadow, that's creepin' up beside you.

As I walked past them, they all kept giving me huge smiles.

I could see Audrey bring her fingertips to her lips. A couple small tears beginning to drip.

There's a magic running through your soul.

But you can't have it all.

As I approached Joe, I could see his eyes were closed. Getting lost in the song he was playing.

Whatever you do,

I'll be Two Steps Behind you.

Wherever you go,

And I'll be there to remind you

That it only takes a minute of your precious time,

To turn around,

I was now in front of him.

He opened his eyes, and looked at me.

He left the last note on the guitar hanging, and used his head to gesture back towards the door.

Once I did, he continued playing.

I'll be Two Steps Behind.

I saw everyone in the room looking at me.

But then as Joe kept playing, everyone else turned around as well.

All I could see was Rivers waving more people in.

It was strange.

The butterflies were calm.

My heart and head were warm and smooth.

With Joe playing more guitar, the next person to walk in was Tiffany.

She was wearing a white sundress.

She had a basket full of rose petals, and was gently throwing them down the aisle as she approached the altar.

I could see her wave towards Kyanna and her son.

When she noticed Audrey, she gave her a big wave and smile too.

Joe was still playing the guitar, while Tiffany approached me.

She put the basket on the ground, and hugged me without hesitation.

I hugged her back out of instinct.

She let go, and never said anything.

But I could see a new look in her eyes.

They weren't the red and puffy eyes I saw yesterday crying along with me.

Here eyes were clean and fresh. As if they haven't cried in months.

She turned around, and took a seat in the front row.

As calm as I was, I still had conflicting thoughts.

I had thoughts and visions of Kyu having to be wheeled down the aisle. And I just assumed Tiffany would be the one to help her.

But once she sat down by herself, I mouthed out to her 'where is kyu?'.

And all she did was raise her finger to her lips and shushed me, and used the same finger to then point back towards the door.

When I looked back up, Rivers was waving another person in.

With Joe playing guitar, everyone in the room looking back, and my mind and body finally at peace, I saw her come from around the corner.

I could see Kyu again.

She…

She…

She was beautiful. She was healthy. She was still pregnant.

Take the time,

To think about it.

She was glowing.

She seemed brand new.

She looked just as healthy as the day I kissed her for the first time.

In front of her belly, she was holding a white bouquet. She then began walking down the aisle.

Just walk the line, you know you just can't fight it.

Take a look around, you'll see what you can find.

Like the fire, that's burning up inside me.

She was wearing an outfit similar to mine. Jeans and a loose black shirt.

From this point on, we never broke eye contact.

I looked directly into her eyes the entire time she walked down the aisle.

Now there's a magic running through your soul.

But you can't have it all.

I could feel myself begin to cry. She looked amazing. She was amazing,

Whatever you do,

I'll be Two Steps Behind you.

Wherever you go,

And I'll be there to remind you

That it only takes a minute of your precious time,

To turn around,

She got to the altar. I could see she was crying as well.

I'll be Two Steps Behind.

Joe started playing a solo.

Yeah, yeah.

She stood across from me, now holding the flowers in front of her chest.

Oh, ho ho.

As she looked up at me, I could see her emerald eyes were brighter and more vibrant than ever before.

Her pink hair was thick, and vivid.

It's like she was never sick.

We took these seconds to just admire each other.

No one else existed besides us.

Oh, there's a magic running through your soul.

But you, you can't have it all.

We were both smiling through our tears.

For the first time in what seemed like forever, everything was perfect.

Whatever you do,

I'll Be Two Steps Behind you.

Wherever you go,

And I'll be there to remind you.

That it only takes a minute of your precious time.

To turn around,

We took one small step closer to each other.

I'll Be Two Steps Behind.

Yeah, baby. Two Steps Behind.

One more step closer.

As the song came to an end.

Oh sugar, Two Steps Behind.

---

"You may join hands."

Kyu handed the bouquet to Tiffany. Without looking back at Joe, we grabbed our hands and held them near our waists.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to bind these two in holy matrimony."

Once our hands were touching, I could see her giggle. It made me laugh as well.

"Oh yeah, by the way, I'm licensed to this. Amazing what you can do in forty-five minutes on the internet."

I could hear the small crowd laugh, and it made us laugh too.

"But just because I'm licensed doesn't mean I'm good at it. So cut me some slack."

Everyone was still laughing from his first joke, but now we began laughing again.

"Axel."

I looked at Joe.

"I've only known you for a short while, but in that short while I've quickly became a huge fan of your work. And with that work, I know just how a hard worker you are. Your determination to your job, your loyalty, your aptitude. All of which proves to me you will be a great husband."

I gave him a nod.

"Thank you Joe."

"But don't get any cheeky ideas, you're back to work the second you come back from your honeymoon."

Another wave of laughs from everybody.

"Kyu."

I looked back down at Kyu, who was now looking at Joe.

"I've known you for an even shorter while, and man what a spitfire you are."

While everyone was laughing, she quickly looked back at me.

Quietly, I can hear her say

"Joe Elliott called me a spitfire."

She looked back at Joe, who was laughing himself.

"For those who didn't hear, she just whispered to him 'Joe Elliott called me a spitfire.'"

Joe was incredible.

When he was playing music and singing, everyone was incapsulated.

But then when he started speaking, everyone was laughing nonstop.

"I may not have known you two for very long, but that's all I need to know you two are perfect for each other. I'm looking forward to spending more time with you guys."

The lead singer of Def Leppard just told us he can't wait to spend more time with us.

But yet, standing here staring straight into Kyu's eyes, made that feel like nothing important at all.

"So how's about we move this along? Do you guys have your own vows?"

That actually completely caught me off guard.

I wasn't prepared at all.

"Uh…"

"I do."

Kyu stared at me.

She took a couple seconds, but then began to speak.

"Axel, you completely turned my world upside down. From the moment we met, my life turned into an adventure. The things you have made me feel, to the things you've helped me to experience. You have this way of making me feel like the most important thing on the planet, and yet that's what you are to me. The most important thing, what I love the most."

She began to hesitate, her cries began to return.

"Even when I was on death's door, the only thing I thought about was you Axel. I wasn't scared about what would happen to me, or what was waiting for me. But all I know is, heaven isn't just some place up in the clouds. Heaven is wherever you are."

I could feel her grip tighten on my hands.

"With everything that you given me, and everything you have made me feel, I thought it couldn't be better. But now, we are going to have a family together. Everything just keeps getting better and better, because of you."

She closed her eyes, and started laughing.

"And after all this time, turns out Belinda Carmichael…carstyle, whatever the fuck her name is was right."

Everyone started to laugh, even Joe.

"Because of you, Heaven truly is a place on earth."

She raised my hands to her lips, and kissed them.

Joe then said

"Axel?"

I couldn't stop staring at her.

"Well Joe, not sure how I'm gonna follow that."

I could hear everyone laugh again, but I kept watching Kyu.

Seeing her laugh was magical.

"But here goes."

I cleared my throat, and tried putting my love for Kyu into words.

"Kyu, you are everything to me. Your laugh, your smile, everything about you is all I ever want, and all I need. When I wake up in the morning, you are the first thing I see. And every time I wake up next to you, I know everything Is okay."

It was my turn to squeeze her hands tighter.

"The only thing I ever wanted is to see your smile every day for the rest of my life. But here you are, giving me even more than I ever wanted. Becoming my wife, becoming a mother to our child…"

My eyes contracted, my cheeks were sore.

I was having trouble speaking, until I felt her hand on my cheek.

I opened my eyes, and there it was. Her smile. The only thing I ever wanted.

"You are my life Kyu. You are my world. You are my heaven."

And just like she did, I raised her hands up to my lips and kissed them.

They were smooth and warm. Just how I remembered them.

After a couple seconds of silence, Joe called out

"Rings?"

I could see Tiffany stand up, as well as Rivers.

They each walked up, holding a small box.

Tiffany handed hers to Kyu, and Rivers handed his to me.

"Axel, place the ring on Kyu's finger."

I opened the box, and inside was a thick golden ring.

I took her right hand, and slid the ring down on her ring finger.

"Now Kyu, place the ring on Axel's finger."

While she opened her box, Joe said

"Hopefully it fits."

Kyu almost dropped the box laughing.

But once she got it out, she took my hand put the ring on.

It felt like a perfect fit.

"Join hands one more time."

We took our hands together again, and I could begin to feel the butterflies.

"Axel Baron, do you take Kyu Sugardust to be your wife? Through sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

With no hesitation, I said out loud

"I do."

"And do you Kyu Sugardust, take Axel Baron to be your husband? Through sickness and health, till death do you part?"

I could see a familiar grin on her face. A grin that meant she had something planned.

"Hell yeah I do."

With a laugh from the audience, Joe began to yell

"And by the power somehow given to me, I now pronounce you man and wife. Kiss her dude!"

I had no time to let go of her hands before Kyu jumped over to me.

Her belly made it hard for her to reach me, so I quickly leaned down and forward.

Her arms were wrapped around my head, while I gripped her at her waist.

One long unbroken kiss.

Her lips felt like a warm flame, melting away a wax seal that kept all of my pain locked inside.

Her body felt like a holy ray of light, shining down onto a black pit full of shadows.

She felt perfect. She made everything feel perfect.

And now, we officially belonged to each other.

Our journey brought us here.

What was a feeble attempt to get me laid, ended up with us getting married in a hospital by Joe Elliot.

Once our kiss was done, we could hear the few people in the audience cheering.

We turned around, and everyone was either clapping or using their hands to make their yells louder.

Behind us, we could hear the feedback of an amplifier.

Joe just grabbed an electric guitar out of nowhere, and started playing some simple notes I didn't recognize.

But Kyu grabbed my hands again, and guided them towards her belly. She said to me

"Let's start our new lives together. All of us."

Through the guitar and everyone else's yells, I said back to Kyu

"Man, what a story to tell our kid one day, huh?"

Joe was yelling to the crowd, something about he needs their help singing and they all know the words.

Kyu looked back towards me and said

"You mean kids."

I could hear Joe yell 'let's go'.

"Wait…What?"

Step inside!

Walk this way!

You and me babe!

Hey hey!