Between "Deny Thy Father..." and "The Fire..."

Jakuelynn

It's beautiful here tonight in the Wasteland. Stars are scattered across the sky, unmarred by the veil of sand-storms. In fact, there's no wind at all, which can also explain why it's stifling tonight. Although, it has to be said, I've never minded the heat.

Look at me getting all poetic. That's not your style, Jakuelynn. Leave the poetic language to Day. Heh. Perhaps it's his influence finally sinking into my psyche after almost twenty years of knowing each other and two years of living together, one of which has been almost-marriage. I say almost marriage because...well...I've changed my name. Day has too, mixing my name and his. We're both Mar Ghosten now, and should we have any children – Mar forbid – then they'll have that name too. No ceremony, no chain-like rings, no contracts of that kind. Not really legal...Shut up, Nel. You're rambling. And okay, yes, I do have a tendency to talk to myself. Again, Day knows.

I sink my fingers into the sand below the cave which I'm taking shelter in, noting the time. It's three hours into the next day and I can't sleep, although my body craves it. The Deimin Effect again. I miss him when Rhogan sends me on these crazy missions.

"Nel?"

It's a good thing Jak occasionally comes with me. Today was one of those occasions.

"Yeah?" I reply, rolling onto my back from my side.

"You're not asleep,"

"Well noted, Father," I say lightly. "Neither are you,"

"I can't sleep," he replies quietly. "Today...today is..."

He doesn't finish. He doesn't need to.

"I get it," I reply, the weight of the day suddenly sinking over me. Sitting up, I cross my legs and finger the amulet around my neck. It's a particular day for me too – although this one is on the opposite end of the scale to my dad's. "Twenty years today, right?"

My father, also sitting up cross-legged but with his back to me, nods. "Exactly two decades,"

"Shit..." I breathe.

He turns, dark blue eyes on my face. "And today's one year for you, right?"

I nod, swallowing. "Yeah," I say, my voice dry. "A full year, and I'm not home to celebrate it,"

He nods. "What time's he normally awake?"

"Oh," I laugh, "not til way into the morning, especially on a weekend. I'm the morning lark in the relationship,"

My father laughs. "Your mother was the same. Okay, I'd only occasionally sleep til ten, eleven, but she'd be up at four on the dot. My alarm was the banging from the garage as she worked on, well...whatever she was working." He swallows, stretching. "Speaking of which, any new projects forming in your mind yet?"

I shake my head. "Nah, nothing. Not since the family Zoomer that went wrong." I sighed. "It doesn't matter, though, I'll just stick to kicking arse and being a good wife-in-name for Day..."

Jak waved a hand dismissively. "You two are married. Enough of this 'in-name' stuff. Even if it's not legal, you two have been like a married couple for the last three years,"

I laugh. "Yeah, we have. Okay..." I shrug, defeated. "Being a good wife for Day,"

"Let me know if he's not being a great husband and I'll sort him out..."

"Father!"

"I'm being serious." He folds his arms, raising his eyebrows for emphasis. "If he hurts you, let me know and I'll hurt back – "

"If I don't get there first," I quickly counter.

He nods, a small smile on his face. "Good point."

I chuckle, lying back down, staring out towards the horizon as it changed with sunrise, the sky turning from dark blue to the kind of bright, vibrant colours I don't see often enough in Haven...Sandover. Sorry. I'm not the only one who's taking a long time to adjust to the name-change.

I make patterns in the sand with my fingertips as the sunrise paints them purple, red and pink, smiling to myself as Day enters my mind.

"Happy anniversary, baby," I whisper, letting my words be carried by the desert wind, heard only by the Precursors and desert creatures. "I love you more than I can ever say..."