Trent stepped back into the main area of his apartment while Serena finished getting ready to leave. He left the door open hoping to reassure her of his presence. Looking up he saw that Jason and Brock as well as Lisa and Mandy had arrived.
"We're going out for a bit." Trent spoke to Jason.
"Sonny said. He also said he was crashing here for a bit." Jason glanced to Brock but didn't say anything before adding in a whisper. "Trent, your walls are thin."
Trent laughed and his cheeks turned red. "Yeah I guess they might be."
Serena walked into the room and looked around at everyone before moving to stand next to Trent. Her hand wrapped around his right forearm. "Ready when you are."
"I'm ready." Trent leaned slightly into her subconsciously as his family watched.
They drove around aimlessly for about an hour before he turned to her. "You hungry?"
"I can always eat." Serena smiled at him.
"And that's why I love you." He laughed.
"I love you too. It's sort of weird to say it." She looked back out the windshield.
"It is. But I've known for a very long time." Trent reached his hand to her knee.
"Everything is so different and it also isn't. Does that make sense?" She leaned into his arm.
"Yeah it does." Trent turned on his blinker and made a turn. "So no birth control?"
"Yeah. We probably should have talked about that more but... I needed..." Serena blushed.
"I needed you too, Rena." He smiled at her reddening cheeks. "We can talk about it now though."
"I have always been some god forsaken place or another and it wasn't an option. But now, now I don't think that can be my life anymore." She held his arm.
"We can figure out a way it can still be if that is what you want. I don't want you to give up your dreams." Trent pulled into a parking space and turned in his seat to face her.
"I don't know that those are my dreams anymore. I never had a family, you know that, but snuggled on the floor having movie night with you and Clay... I felt like I did. I stepped into peoples lives for years to capture instances, glimpses, a moment in time, usually the worst moment. Maybe I did that because I didn't have a home... but maybe I always did and just wouldn't admit it. Maybe I've had a home since a sailor called me 'Rena' in a bar in Greece... maybe it was when I cropped pictures after Walter Reed to protect a man I didn't even know. My best pictures included you and I cropped them all. My editor asked if I thought the assignment was up to my normal standards, I couldn't tell him my best photos were unusable because a desperate man with beautifully empty eyes asked me not to publish his picture. But I'm rambling and not even sure what I'm saying anymore. I guess I never thought I could be a mother because I was never in one place and people never stay... but you stayed. You've always been there even when you haven't." Serena's eyes were filled with unshed tears. "So maybe if it happens it would be the best thing that has ever happened."
"Maybe it would but I'm pretty sure the best thing that ever happened is when you said you'd marry me." Trent cupped her face with both his hands. "Anything after that is icing."
"I'm hungry." He leaned in and kissed her just after she said it.
"Let's get food. Brock swears this place had the best pie in town." Trent smiled as they got out of the truck and walked toward the small diner together.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Serena woke early the next morning with Trent still sleeping beside her. She wished she had her camera as she watched him sleep. The pictures she had taken of him sleeping were some of her favorites. His face relaxed is a way that made him look younger and more like the man he would have been without years of the job he chose. She watched him silently not to wake him. His hair was slightly long and brushed against his face in a way he would never tolerate if he was awake. Slowly she climbed from the bed trying her best to maintain silence and allow him the rest he needed.
"Rena." Trent mumbled thickly as his eyes cracked open slightly.
"Shh, I'm okay. Go back to sleep." She reached out and brushed the hair off his face as his eyes closed and he nodded slightly.
She crossed the room and grabbed a sweatshirt on the way out quietly shutting the door as she pulled over her head. It was the one Trent had worn the day before and fit over her casted right wrist. She was surrounded in his scent as she crossed the dining room area and walked to the coffee machine surprised the pot was full and hot before turning to see Sonny sitting awake in the living room.
"Mornin', Ginger Snaps." He raised his mug to her.
"Good morning, Sonny." She smiled at him thinking of calling him Pumba. "How long have you been up?"
"An hour or so. Trent's still asleep?" Sonny crossed into the kitchen.
"Yeah, he stirred when I got up but went back to sleep." She stirred milk and sugar into her coffee before turning to him.
"Usually when he's awake he's up." Sonny opened the refrigerator.
"Yeah. He's exhausted. I'm glad he's still sleeping." Serena watched his back as he pulled items out and put them on the countertop.
"Yeah he forgets to take care of himself more often than not." Sonny nodded at her. "You wanna help make breakfast?"
"Oh um I can try." Serena blushed. "I can make toast."
"Well then you're on toast duty." Sonny smiled at her. "Just wait to start until everything else is almost done or it will be cold."
"Tell me when?" Serena laughed as Sonny nodded. "Thanks, Pumba."
"Pumba?" Sonny almost choked on his coffee.
"Yeah, Pumba. In The Lion King when Simba is scared and alone he is found by Timon and Pumba. They take him in and well... Pumba... he is the family that helps you see where you belong. Clay and I we watched it yesterday. I won't call you that if you hate it." Serena rambled nervously.
Sonny laughed and put his hand on her shoulder. "I love it, Ginger Snaps." Sonny smiled thinking about her considering him family. He moved to get a pan for the eggs before turning back to her. "Clay gonna start callin' me that too?"
"Maybe." She bite her lip as she smiled.
"Well, I have called him Simba a time or two." His smile was hidden but in his voice as he cooked facing away from her.
Twenty minutes later Sonny turned to her as she sipped on her coffee. "You're up Ginger Snaps."
"Gotcha, Pumba." She opened the bread and put four slices into the double toaster. "Hey, Sonny, thank you for everything."
"Awe shucks it ain't nothin', just teaching ya to make toast." Sonny kept his back to her.
"Yeah, toast... You know I was the one who didn't want to meet you guys. He offered to introduce me a while back but... I thought if I knew his team it would make what he does too real." Sonny turned to her. "And when Clay got shot and you were yelling to him to stay down. He didn't listen, it terrified me but you'd crawl through hell for him too wouldn't you? All of you would."
"That's what brothers do, Serena. Trent would risk it all but so would we. We all go home that's the deal." Sonny turned back to the bacon and potatoes cooking on the stove.
"So yeah, thanks for the toast." Serena buttered the toast that was done and started making more.
"Yeah, toast." He turned the burners off. "I'm gonna wake Sleeping Beauty, you wanna grab Trent?"
"Sure." Serena turned and walked to the bedroom door slowly opening it.
Serena crossed the room as Trent snored softly. Watching him for just a moment before she sat on the side of the bed. Trent reached out to her while still sleeping. "Hey sleepyhead. It's time for breakfast."
Trent cracked his eyes open and pulled her closer until she was laying beside him. Snuggling into her neck he mumbled "Let's just sleep now."
"Trent, it's time for breakfast." She laughed as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"Mmhmm. Yeah I guess." He loosened his grip on her allowing her to sit back up. Trent stretched and ran his hand over his face before smoothing his hair down. "Wait who cooked?" He looked up at her in confusion.
"I helped!" She laughed and stood. "With toast."
"Oh course you did!" Trent grabbed a pair of plaid flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt dressing quickly.
Clay was sitting at the at the kitchen table with half lidded eyes. An untouched coffee sat in front of him. He yawned before putting his head on the table.
"You doing okay?" Trent was more awake as he stepped closer.
"Stomach hurts." Clay mumbled into the table.
Trent moved the coffee further from him as he put the back of his hand on the back of Clay's neck. "You don't feel warm. It's probably from the antibiotics. Maybe start with toast and see if you feel a bit better."
Serena walked back from the kitchen holding a jug of apple juice and a glass up to Trent. "Yeah." She poured the juice and placed it in front of Clay before going back into the actual kitchen.
Sonny passed a plate full of food to Trent before grabbing one with just toast and putting it down within Clay's reach.
When everyone had food in front of them Clay lifted his head and sipped the juice slowly fearful it would reappear. He sat more upright and realized there were three sets of eyes on him. "I'm okay just didn't sleep well." He exhaled slowly.
Sonny nodded remembering the three times he had entered the guest room during the night. "Nightmares?"
"I'm not sure." Clay picked at the toast. "Dreams about when I was a kid."
"Anything more specific than that?" Trent took a bite of hashbrowns. "Try to eat if you think you can."
"When I was about ten I guess I got malaria. My grandparents left me at the clinic for care. I keep dreaming about it." Clay took a small bite.
Serena glanced to Trent as anger surged through her and she attempted to ignore the feeling. "Do you want more juice?" She was heading to the kitchen before he answered.
"Yeah, thanks." Clay took another small bite.
"You know how when we are in the field, or training, or even just working out and you are moving a certain way without thinking? Just subconsciously doing it from muscle memory. Well you're recovering from a serious infection so that may be why you are having the dreams. Malaria causes high fevers, so does sepsis." Trent reasoned. "You're body remembers being sick."
"Yeah that makes sense." Clay shifted in his chair. "Just haven't thought about that time... in a long time."
Serena returned with the juice placing it in front of him before ruffling his hair gently as she moved back to her seat beside Trent. "How you doing with the toast?" She sat and picked her fork back up poking at the eggs on her plate.
"Seems a little better." Clay yawned. "Was hoping to run an errand or two today with Sonny." He looked to his best friend who nodded.
"I think you should rest today." Trent sipped at his coffee.
"It'll take an hour, Trent." Clay pleaded.
"Okay but I'm giving you something for the nausea before you go and when you get back you are napping." Trent spoke sternly.
"Deal." Clay smiled in triumph.
An hour later Clay was sitting in Sonny's truck feeling slightly better but by no means well. He exhaled slowly to stem the nausea he had denied to Trent before leaving. The medication had helped but not completely and he was actually looking forward to the Trent mandated nap upon return.
"Where are we headed, Kid?" Sonny watched him closely.
"To get a wedding present." Clay smiled. "More for her than him but the wedding is a great excuse."