24. New Year
x
It was the second loudest night of the year. Usually around this time of the year the night sky would be filled with a spectacular light show accompanied by lots of colors and loud noise. But tonight the sky was clear, the blinking stars on the night sky were the only light show for the evening. And there was no noise, no bangs, no crackling, no sputtering to be heard. They would be welcoming the new year without a big show this time around. She still remembered last years show.
They had been lucky to come home from a deployment just before Christmas and for New Year's Eve she had been with Alisha, Sarah, and Burk by the piers watching the fireworks. She could remember the laughter and the jokes they had made. The feeling of not having a care in the world. Enjoying the night as they drank beer and ate take away pizza. She had been a little tipsy by midnight and she could faintly remember Burk trying to kiss her just because it was a New Year's tradition, but she wasn't sure how his attempt had ended up. Chuckling to the memory, she wondered if things would ever go back to normal?
She glanced around the beach on the island they were at. People were enjoying the company of their family and friends. There was different types of sounds in the air, there was laughter, chatter, some were even singing and playing an instrument. Kids were playing with each other. Only crackling sound was coming from the bonfires. This was a sound of a different New Year, perhaps it was even better than the old celebration, she thought. Despite of their setbacks with making the vaccine, people seemed to still have hope for the future.
She leaned backwards and felt the warm body of Danny. He was holding his arms around her as they sat on the beach. Closing her eyes for a moment, she could feel the tingling on her body where he was holding her. The thrill going through her as she could feel the warmth of him continue on to her body. As she opened her eyes she could hear the countdown..
"10.. 9.. 8.. 7.. 6.. 5.. 4.. 3.."
She turned her head towards to meet Danny's gaze and they shared a kiss when the countdown was over.
"2.. 1.." "Happy New Year!" Was the joyous sound of people shouting in unison.
"Happy New Year." She heard Danny whisper to her. Thinking one year back she never thought she would be married. Never thought she would be pregnant. This year she would become a mother. She would have her own child. The thought was scary, would she know how to care for the baby? And more importantly how would it be to have a child in the situation they were in?
Smiling at Danny she then got up and hold her hand out to him. "Come on." She said. She was getting tired and there was only one thing she wanted at the moment and it was him. She guided him through the celebrating people on the beach to their little tent that they had on the island.
As he had closed the entry to the tent and turned to look at her, she had taken off her shirt wearing only a bra. Seeing him smile at her and gaze her body, she was around 12 weeks now, but the pregnancy wasn't showing on her fit body. He closed the gap between them and embraced her as he was gently kissing her neck. "You're quiet tonight." She heard him whisper as he continued on to trace kisses on the curve of her shoulder. "Mhm.. I just wanna feel you." She whispered back as she then met his gaze and kissed him passionately. She had a need to feel his touch at the moment, to be reminded that life might not be over, to feel something awaken inside of her.