CHAPTER 29: THE MORNING AFTER

CHAPTER 29: THE MORNING AFTER

I woke up slowly.

The room was still dim. The soft light from the wall was still on low, the way Killian likes it at night. I did not open my eyes at first. I just stayed there, listening.

His breathing was steady. His arm was still around me. His hand was still on my belly.

He had not moved all night.

I opened my eyes a little. He was awake and was looking at me.

"Good morning, my love," he whispered.

I smiled. "Good morning. You still did not sleep?"

He smiled back. "I didn't sleep much. But I woke up early to watch you. You were sleeping like an angel again."

I laughed small. "Killian, you always say that."

"Because it is true," he said. He kissed my forehead. "How is your body? Did the twins disturb you at night?"

"just a little" I said. "They kicked once, then they slept again. I think they like sleeping on your chest too."

He laughed. His laugh was low and soft, so it would not wake the whole bunker. He rubbed my belly slowly, in small circles. "Good. Let them sleep. Their mama needs rest."

He helped me to sit up. Slowly. He always holds my back when I sit up now. He does not let me struggle.

"Eva," he said, "turn on the camera and audio for our room."

Eva answered softly, "Understood, Killian. Camera on. Audio on."

And just like that, the bunker woke up again.

We heard Leo's small voice from the corridor. He was already awake. He was trying to have normal talks with Eva.

Bianca was in the inner room with Tiny Elena. The baby was awake, but she was calm. Her body was finally calm from last night. No more fever. She was looking around with her small eyes.

I stood up slowly, with Killian holding me. We walked out of our room together.

Bianca looked up when she saw us. "Good morning," she said. Her voice was soft. She looked like she slept better last night too.

"Good morning," I said. "How is she?"

"She is better," Bianca said. She smiled. "Her body is calm now. Thank you for yesterday. For staying with us until Killian came."

I nodded. "It's okay."

Damian was standing in the corridor. He was not looking at us at first. He was looking at the floor. He looked like he did not sleep well. His eyes were red. He was holding his iron pipe in his hand.

It is not a smoking pipe. He does not smoke. That iron pipe is his weapon. It is what he uses to fight raiders when they come close.

When he saw me, he looked up.

"Elena," he said.

Killian stood beside me immediately. He did not say anything, but he moved closer to me. Protective. The way he always does.

Damian looked at Killian, then back at me. He swallowed hard.

"I... I want to say thank you," he said. His voice was low. "For letting us stay. I know I don't deserve it. After everything I did to you... after everything...I didn't know what I have until I loosed you, you still saved us. You still let us into your bunker."

I did not say anything at first. I just looked at him.

He continued, " I know I messed up. I was regretting everything last night, lying in the corridor. I was thinking about how I treated you. I should not have done that to you."

Bianca was quiet. She was holding Tiny Elena close. She did not interrupt him.

Killian put his hand on my waist. "Elena, you don't have to answer him now if you don't want to," he said. "You just woke up. You need to eat first."

I looked at Killian, then at Damian.

"It's okay," I said to Damian. "We are all alive. That is what matters. You can stay here. Tiny Elena needs a safe place. And I didn't do what I did because of you, I did it because of the baby."

Damian nodded. His eyes were watery, but he tried to hide it. "Thank you," he said again. "Thank you, Elena."

Killian took my hand. "Come, let's go and eat. Leo is already waiting."

We walked to the small table in the main room. Eva had already prepared something light through the automated kitchen. She is a robot AI, she does not cook with her hands. She used the machine to heat the water, warm the bread, and bring out the small soup. The machine placed everything on the table for us.

Killian pulled out my chair for me and helped me to sit down.

Leo came running to us. "Good morning, Elena! Good morning, Killian!" He smiled. He had already cleaned his face.

"Good morning, Leo," I said.

He sat beside us. Killian gave him his food first, then gave me mine.

"Eat slowly," Killian whispered to me. "Don't rush."

I ate small. He watched me eat, the way he always does. Every time I took a bite, he would smile, as if he was happy that I was eating.

Bianca came to the table too, with Tiny Elena in her arms. She sat down slowly. Damian sat a little far from us, at the end of the table. He was eating quietly, his iron pipe kept beside his chair.

Nobody was shouting. Nobody was fighting. The bunker was calm.

After we finished eating, Killian stood up. Before he would go out, he turned to the speaker on the wall.

"Eva, how is outside?" he asked. "Is it safe? Any raiders near the bunker?"

Eva answered quickly, "Checking outside cameras and sensors, Killian. Outside is clear. No raiders near the bunker this morning. The road is empty. It is safe to go out for a quick check."

Killian nodded. "Good. I will go and check outside myself to be sure."

I held his hand. "Be careful."

"I will," he said. He kissed my hand. "Stay inside with Bianca and Leo. Don't stress yourself. I will be back soon."

He left with his pipe. Damian stood up too, carrying his own iron pipe. "I will follow you," he said to Killian. "Let me help."

Killian looked at him for a moment. Then he nodded. "Okay. You can come."

They both went out. The door closed behind them.

I stayed inside with Bianca and Leo. Tiny Elena was on Bianca's lap, looking at the lights.ee

Bianca looked at me. "Elena," she said softly, "I'm sorry too. For everything."

I looked at her. "Bianca, it's okay. Let's just take care of Tiny Elena. She needs us both to be calm."

She nodded. Tears came to her eyes, but she wiped them quickly. "Thank you."

Leo looked at me. "Elena, when Killian comes back, will he play with me again?"

I smiled. "Yes, he will. He always plays with you."

I placed my hand on my belly. The twins moved small. I felt peace.

Last night, I slept in our room, on Killian's chest. This morning, I woke up in our room, in his arms. And even though Damian is outside with him, even though everything is still complicated, I know one thing.

I am safe. I am with Killian. And this is where I belong.