Previously: "I'm just happy that Operation Saviour worked." She lied. "I love you." She added earnestly, so glad that he was alive that it physically hurt. "I love you too."
A Flaw in the Plan
Chapter 14
They had continued their own celebrations when they got back to their hotel room, Jude looking a little surprised at her decision to abstain from any alcohol. Back at the party, she had accepted drinks but had discreetly replaced them non-alcoholic alternatives.
"I've had enough to drink tonight." She told him with a small smile.
Accepting her explanation, Jude started talking about all the things they would now be able to do since the world was not ending. She felt sad listening to him speak with such enthusiasm about the life they would be able to have, knowing that they would actually be stuck in a bunker for who knows how long, but for now she played along.
He trailed off in the middle of his suggestions on places they could live when he realised she was falling asleep against his shoulder. Keeping his movements slow so he didn't wake her, he carefully picked her up and placed her on the bed.
Aware that the announcement of Savour's failure would be soon, Celine was on edge the next few days. If Jude noticed anything he did not say, he had seemed somewhat anxious himself although she suspected his worries were more about how they would support themselves financially now that the world was not going to end.
On the day that the announcement was to be made, and the same day that had been Jude's funeral, Celine woke up to the smell of coffee and warm pastries. Opening her eyes, she saw Jude fully dressed, perched on the edge of the bed as he carefully placed a breakfast tray near her. She gratefully accepted the mug of coffee he handed her and took a small sip.
"I got you something in London." He said abruptly, distracting her from the delicious source of caffeine. She put down her drink and looked at him questioningly, wondering what he had bought for her since she had not seen him go into any shops. "I figured since we were going to make a go of this whole being married business that you might like a proper ring."
He placed a small ring box in front of her, and looked at her apprehensively for her reaction to his announcement. Not even bothering to look at the ring, Celine immediately teared up and flung her arms around him. After several long affectionate kisses, Jude pulled away for long enough to suggest she look at what he picked in case she didn't like it.
"I'm sure it's beautiful." She said with a wide smile, taking the box from him. Opening it, she saw a beautiful white gold ring with an emerald as its centrepiece, flanked by two tiny diamonds. "I love it!" She told him immediately, noticing that he was waiting to see what she would think. She quickly tugged off the ring they had been given by the cult and offered the hand to him so he could carefully slip the new ring onto her finger. She admired how it looked on her for a moment, before squealing and hugging him again.
Unfortunately their mutual elation did not last long as a few hours after that blissfully happy morning they were given the dreadful news about Saviour. Even though she was prepared for it, she still felt her heart sink when she saw the American general's video. Beside her Jude was very still, and for a while she wondered whether he had even heard what was said.
"If something feels too good to be true then it probably is." He observed sadly. She nodded and took his hand.
"We should probably go to Jamie's house, and spend our last few hours with your family."
"That sounds like a good idea." He squeezed her hand back. "I'm sorry we didn't get the chance for a decent life together."
"I'm sorry too." She said, fighting back tears. Today was shaping up to be a very emotional day for both of them, and Celine desperately hoped that the day would end with happy tears, with both of them in the bunker safe from the meteor impact.
Hearing the chaos outside, they decided that they would pray before setting off. Sitting beside each other, Celine prayed that they would successfully reach the bunker, and thanked God for the second chance at righting the wrongs that had occurred. Their thoughts were interrupted by insistent knocking on the door, the sound causing both of them to open their eyes and look at each other in surprise. Before they could even make a move towards the door, whoever behind it clearly too impatient to wait for an answer, the door swung open and Jude's mother marched it.
"Hello Jude!" She greeted them cheerfully. "I suppose you probably don't recognise me-"
"I do." His tone came out more blunt than usual, probably as a result of the shock. "You're dead."
"Not quite." She said with a wink. "And you're not a priest anymore. I heard about you knocking a nun up, I suppose abstinence is a lot easier when there aren't any young attractive women around."
"What?!" Beside Jude, Celine's heart was racing as her secret had been shoved into the open without any warning, how had Mrs Sutton known? Luckily, the woman continued on with her speech, blissfully unaware of the devastating revelation she had inadvertently made.
"I imagine you've heard all about this apocalypse business. Well luckily for you and your girlfriend, I have a bunker nearby. My contractors guaranteed that it would survive anything, and I've had it filled with all the supplies we would need. I even went and bought a bunch of baby supplies for my new grandchild."
At this second mention of a pregnancy, Jude turned to look at Celine in bewilderment but in her panicked state she could not confirm or refute Mrs Sutton's claim.
"But you can thank me for my thoughtfulness later, I have plenty to do right now. I will give you the directions to my bunker, I trust you can make your way there without my help. I'll make sure Jamie and his family get there too, so don't worry yourself about that." Finished with her speech, she looked at them expectantly for the gratitude she had told them she didn't expect, when neither of them spoke she rolled her eyes and shoved a piece of paper into Jude's hands. "Get to that address, I will explain everything later."
"We don't have a car, how will we get there?" He managed to ask, doing his best to ignore all the other questions he urgently wanted answers for.
"Steal one." At his incredulous look, his mother raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "I know that you can hot-wire a car, now is not the time for you to respect the law."
"I want an explanation when this is over, Mother." The calmness with which he spoke despite a number of emotions simmering under the surface was quite intimidating, but his demeanour had no effect on Mrs Sutton. She patted his cheek patronisingly.
"And you will get one." She smiled suddenly. "Oh I have missed you, you were always the most interesting of my children, although your sister is starting to give you a run for your money." At his stunned expression at this new announcement, she hastily added: "I'll explain that too later. For now just get to the bunker."
He nodded and shot Celine a look that told her that she too owed him an explanation. She could feel her tenuous control over the timeline slipping as she wondered whether this day would end with Jude alive but hating her. That morning's affection now seemed like a distant memory.
AN: Drama time!