Chapter 14: Voyage to Fleur Isle

Salene had stopped dreaming since her dream of Ryan as a Techno. Or she thought so, but soon dreaming returned to her, although they were a bit hard to decipher. Like the one she was having now.

"She was resting, lying in a hammock, an infant resting in her arms. There was another child, three or four playing in the sand with a man, but she could see none of their faces, and she was at complete peace. Something she hadn't felt since before the virus."

The dream seemed decipherable enough, yet she didn't understand why she felt so at peace, or why she could see no one's face in the dreams.

Suddenly she was being reeled from dreamland into reality. Sleep had departed, and someone was standing over her.

"Good morning," came May's voice.

The other woman had come into the room to wake her friend, who seemed more at peace than usual.

"Morning it is, good, I'm not sure about. Is something wrong?" Sal asked alarmed.

"Other than you slept past the crack of dawn, your nutcase is awake," May said, "Yet he's as calm as still water, it's quite eerie."

Sal climbed out of bed, "He's out of bed?"

"Yes, come see for yourself," May left the little Hut.

Salene made haste and hurried out to the beach. Sure enough the Guardian sat in the sand watching the water lap at the shores of the beach.

"Jaffa?" she questioned.

He turned, smiling. He then stood, giving her a quick embrace before speaking.

All his ulterior motives had deteriorated. He would not use the Mallrats for his glory, or selfish, foolish pride. All because of the kindness of a woman with a heart of gold.

Salene startled, took a step back, but what he said next gave her hop instead of fear.

"Thank you."

Lefty, with much debate agreed to fix Trader's boat, but he needed many supplies. Luckily after searching the resort, the Mallrats scrounged enough to give the boat life again.

Next, came the debate of whether or not to make the journey to Ram's place or head to Fleur Isle.

Amber argued on behalf of Ebony as well as for her broken heart to make the journey to Fleur Isle. Everyone consented to the pleas only because Mikhail reminded them they needed another boat to transport them all and the resources to keep them alive. Thus they packed up their things and made the journey to the beautiful island of flowers, even the Guardian was permitted to journey along.

It was a three day journey that seemed nearly as long as their journey to the resort in their anxiety.

When they docked at the docks of Fleur Isle, none wee as thrilled and speechless as Salene for there standing among a throng of people in a makeshift market was her husband, Ryan.

Mikhail noted the two reactions between the blonde and redhead.

"You two know one another?"

Ryan found his voice, he was as stunned as Salene, "I told you I was married once?" He asked Mikhail to refresh her memory. When she nodded he continued, "This is my wife, Salene."

Mikhail suddenly felt overcome with nausea and excused herself. The nausea was from jealousy and fear as much as it was from morning sickness.

Ryan had told her of his wife, and that he loved her deeply, but that Mikhail was written across his heart. She couldn't' think of losing Ryan, not in her condition, and she wasn't just talking about the pregnancy. Ryan was deeply engraved upon her heart as well. Losing him, like she'd lost other loves would kill her.

Salene did not understand Ryan's awkwardness as she embraced him for the first time in a long time. She may as well have been hugging a limp noodle.

"I have dreamed of this day Ryan, and all you have to offer is a lousy silence?"

Ryan spoke softly, "I am thrilled to see you, all of you," he acknowledge the other Mallrats, frowning at the sight of the Guardian, "but we'd better talk, In private, preferably."

Salene nodded, "Later, right now there's much at hand to do."

Ryan sighed, "I'd rather get this out now."

"Salene, go, we'll manage," Trudy demanded.

Sal nodded and followed Ryan out of the busy place.

Ryan sat Salene down at the Fleur Café. It was mostly deserted, though some people remained eager to get a glimpse of the new comers.

After gathering his thoughts, Ryan look a breath and spoke, "You look well."

Salene wanted to reach across the table and slap him, "And you look, alive," she pulled her chair closer to him, "Don't beat around the bush. Whatever you have to tell me, say it."

"Sal, you can imagine I thought you were dead," he grimaced at the memory," and I would have made my way back to the Mallrats, but the Technos came along. To sum it all up, I figured you were dead, our child was dead, and that whatever didn't kill me could only make me stronger. So I put the past behind me, and moved on in life."

"I know what you are saying, I moved on as well. I searched and could not find you, so I begin life afresh. You're your memory was alive in my heart always."

"And yours in mines, but the point is I moved on. I gave my heart to someone new, and I won't leave her."

Salene was crushed. Everyone she had ever loved let her down in some way. Her heart was held together by flimsy tape, and every time the healing began, her heart would fall apart again.

"I guess we'll be the first couple in this strange, new world to be annulled, where's the press?" she joked.

Ryan heard her voice crack. "Sal I'm sorry things have to be this way, I never meant to hurt you, but you can't help who you love. Mikhail is special to me in every way, and I love her."

Salene stood up, "I completely and utterly understand."

Ryan was amazed at how strong she was holding herself together. There were no tears springing to her eyes. He reached out to grab her hand, but she pulled back.

"Don't, you'll just upset the matter. I'm glad we had this talk," she paused looking for more to say, "I hope we'll always be good friends."

"Eternally," Ryan smiled.

She returned his smile, it was a small gesture that did not completely reach her eyes, but it hadn't done so in awhile anyways, not since the last day she kissed Pride.

She wondered off aimlessly toward the direction in which she had come off the coast to find the other Mallrats. Oddly she wasn't full of sorrow; she was hurt, true, but unable to cry. She knew for certain one thing though, Ryan wasn't the man in her dream.

Mikhail had been hiding. She had no choice, she knew she couldn't face Ryan, especially now that his wife was back in his life.

"Hiding from someone?"

She tensed at the sound of his voice among the serenity of beautiful pink, violet, and white flowers.

She didn't want to hear what he had to say, fearing the worst of the conversation that was coming.

"Me? Hiding? You know I love these flowers, I just wanted you to get reacquainted with your friends."

"I would much rather spend time with you."

Mikhail turned around, "That's your family out there!" Your friends, how can you say that?"

He smiled, "Because I love you."

"Ryan…" she hesitated, but he interrupted her.

"No Mikhail, I know you've been hurt many times before, the impression of life and love you've been sold has left your heart guarded, but I love you. And I need to hear you say it to me, tell me you love me."

Mikhail could feel her tears forming in her eyes. As much as she wanted to say it she couldn't, she had been heartbroken too many times before Ryan. The first time she thought she could bounce back, the second time she fell in love, it ended in tragedy, and the third time it ended in betrayal. A fourth time and she'd swear her heart would never mend.

Ryan took her left hand in his and got down on one knee, "Mikhail, I'll surely die if you don't tell me you accept this proposal. Let me build my life with you. We'll be connected soul to soul. I promise I will never leave you, lest death do us part, I'll be by your side. All you have to do is say you love me as much as I love you."

Speechless, Mikhail let her tears flow. After a few moments of silence and reflection, she spoke, "I love you, like I've never loved before, I love you."

Ryan's whole face lit up as Mikhail pulled him off his poor knee and kissed him with love and glee. When they finally broke apart, Ryan pulled something from his pocket.

On a gold chain there was a bluish-pink pearl hanging? "I thought a ring was too hard to come by, and I know how much you love pearls. Iwent through five clams empty handed before I found this in the sixth, which was a tasty oyster instead. So Mikhail will you marry me?"

Her reply was a kiss. It was all that needed to be said before she came to her senses. "There's something we need to discuss."

"You've changed your mind?" he asked.

She playfully slapped at him, "No, we're going to be parents."

Ryan felt overcome with joy. He had been granted a second change at life in everything he'd failed in. He sopped her in his arms as a groom does his bide and kissed her before shouting, "I'm going to be a father!"

Mikhail laughed, before feeling overcome with nausea. "Yea big daddy, you might want to put me down before I upchuck on your head."

"Oh," he gently set her down on the ground, "Come on, I'm ready to tell our families the good news.