Location: Celestina's private dorms, Hydra Base, Mars
June 4th, 2553
10:41pm

"I can't wait. In due time, I'm gonna meet my nephew! Ooh, I still can't believe it!"

Her jolliness definitely put a wide smile on his face. Jun laid his data pad on his lap as he addressed her. "Well, I'm happy for you, princess. You've got a family member back and a new one too. Not a lot of Spartans can say that. Not after we all stepped into Camp Currahee."

"I wish everyone could..." Celestina said as she climbed into her side of the bed. "Hey, I had a thought. Your dad could still be alive!"

"Celest..."

"He told you to make a run for the transport vessel. You didn't see him die either!"

Jun took her hand in a comforting manner before speaking, keeping his melancholy smile. "It's okay, princess. Death already checked it out. He sustained major injuries and died a few days later."

"Oh..." Well, there went her hopeful expression. "Damn... I was so wishing that he'd be alive too. At... least you have closure, sweetie. I mean, I know you said that deep down inside, you always had a little hope that he would've made it."

"But most of the time, I knew he didn't," He tried to shake off all that negativity he would feel whenever he talked about his father. He certainly didn't want to upset Celestina. "But you're right. At least I have closure."

Wanting to provide him with some solace, she reached up and ran her hand past his right cheek. "I never apologized for what I said that day. About leaving to have a normal life with my brother. I like this life because you're in it. It wouldn't have been the same without you."

"I've always been glad that I go to meet you, princess. Quite honestly? You're the best thing to have ever happened to me. I thought that it was all downhill when my father died but then I met you. And we've been through a lot."

"Yeah, we have..." She then received a loving kiss to her forehead.

"So you never told me much about Christian's mother." Jun leaned against the headboard.

"That's because there is nothing to tell about that bitch."

"Ouch. What'd she do?"

"Before she and Caden found out about Christian? She had been having an affair."

"You're kidding."

"Oh, but that's not the best part," She shifted her weight onto both of her knees and faced him. "When Christian was about 5 months old, she decided that she wanted out. Said that she didn't love Caden anymore and that she never loved Christian either. Said that her happiness was more important and that she wanted to return to her lover. Caden filed for a divorce right away."

"I'll bet that was probably the quickest divorce anyone's ever seen on Mars. So what became of her?"

"After she left, Caden never heard anything of her ever again. She never even came back to see Christian. If you ask me, it's good riddance to bad rubbish. If I ever meet her? I hope she likes Spartan fist." Celestina curled her hand into a tight fist.

"Somehow, I don't think she might," He simpered at that, wrapping one arm around her waist to pull her into an embrace. She instantly responded with her head on his chest.

"Thanks for staying with me tonight. It's been a long day and I'm glad it's ending with you."

He could practically feel the warmth in her tone. "Then you should get some rest."

"Nah..." She dragged in a sigh, making herself a little more comfortable on his chest as she closed her eyes. "I wanna stay like this for a while."

A tiny smile played on his lips. He knew she was tired but he decided to let her have her way, even though he knew for a fact that his light, soft strokes on her head were going to put her to sleep anyway. "Anything you want, princess."

A/N: We're reaching to the end of this story soon. :)