CHAPTER 31: A QUIET EVENING

I slept in the afternoon.

Not deep sleep. Just small rest, the way Killian always tells me to rest. His hand was still on my belly when I woke up. He had not left me.

He was sitting beside the bed, watching me. When he saw my eyes open, he smiled.

"You are awake, my love," he said softly. "Did you sleep well?"

"yes, I did," I said. "The twins were kicking me. I think they don't want me to sleep."

He laughed small. "They are like their father. Stubborn."

I laughed too. "Killian, so you know that you're stubborn."

He helped me to sit up slowly. He held my back, the way he always does. He gave me water. Eva had already prepared warm water through the automated kitchen. Killian brought it to me himself. He does not let anyone else to bring water for me. He likes to bring it himself.

"Drink slowly," he said.

I drank slowly. He watched me.

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

Eva answered, "Yes, Killian. Main room camera on."

We could hear Leo laughing in the main room. He was playing with Bianca and Tiny Elena.

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

Immediately we came out of the room, Leo ran to us.

"Elena! You woke up!" he shouted happily. "Look, Tiny Elena is smiling!"

I looked at Bianca. She was holding Tiny Elena on her lap. The baby was smiling small. Her face was bright. Her body was no longer hot. She was truly better.

"See?" Bianca said, smiling. "She is better now. She slept well this afternoon too."

I sat down beside Bianca. I looked at Tiny Elena. "Hello, baby," I said softly. "You are looking fine today."

Tiny Elena looked at me and moved her small hand. She touched my finger. I smiled.

Bianca looked at me. "Elena, she likes you." " she's always comfortable around you."

I smiled. "She is a sweet baby."

Damian was in the corner of the main room. He was not sitting idle. He was helping to arrange the small chairs. He was cleaning the table. He was trying to be useful.

When he saw me, he stood up straight. "Good evening, Elena," he said. His voice was respectful. Not like before. Before, he used to shout at me. Now he was speaking softly.

"Good evening, Damian," I said.

He nodded. "I cleaned the corridor. And I helped Bianca to carry Tiny Elena's things. I want to help. I don't want to just sit and eat free food."

Killian looked at him. He nodded small. "Good. That is how it should be. If you stay here, you work. You protect. You don't just sit."

"Yes," Damian said. "I understand."

Killian sat beside me. He put his arm around me.

"Eva," Killian said, "how is outside now?"

Eva answered quickly, "Checking cameras and sensors, Killian. Outside is still clear. No raiders. The evening is quiet. The road is empty."

Killian nodded. "Good."

He turned to me. "Do you want to eat some food before night?"

I nodded. "Yeah, but a little."

Eva prepared light food again through the automated kitchen. She heated the soup, warmed the bread, and the machine placed everything on the table. She controls the machine to prepare everything for us.

Killian served me first, then Leo, then Bianca and Tiny Elena. Damian served himself last, quietly. He sat at the end of the table again, his iron pipe kept beside his chair.

We ate quietly. Nobody was fighting. Nobody was shouting. The bunker was calm.

After we ate, Leo asked, "Killian, can you tell us a story?"

Killian smiled. "What story do you want, Leo?"

"A story about how you will protect us when the twins come," Leo said.

Killian laughed. "Okay. When the twins come, I will be here. I will hold them. I will protect them. And you will be their big brother. You will teach them how to play with toy cars."

Leo smiled wide. "Yes! I will teach them!"

Bianca laughed a quiet laugh too. Even Damian smiled small. It was the first time I saw Damian smile like that in a long time. Not a wicked smile. A real smile. A tired smile.

After the story, Bianca stood up to carry Tiny Elena to sleep. Damian stood up to help her. He carried the baby's small blanket.

"Let me help you," he said to Bianca.

Bianca looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. Thank you."

They walked to the inner room together. Tiny Elena was already sleepy.

I looked at Killian. "Did you see that?" I whispered. "He helped her."

Killian nodded. "I saw it. Maybe he is really trying to change. Let's watch him."

He helped me to stand up. We walked back to our room.

Leo followed us small. "Elena, can I sleep near your room tonight? I don't want to be alone."

Killian smiled. "You can sleep in the corridor near our room. I will put your mat there. So you will not be alone."

"Thank you, Killian!" Leo said happily.

Killian put Leo's mat near our room. Leo lay down, hugging his toy car.

We entered our room. Killian closed the door quietly. He helped me to lie down on the bed.

"Eva," he said, "turn off the main light. Put on night light. And lock the bunker door."

Eva answered, "Understood, Killian. Night light on. Bunker door locked."

The room became dim and warm. Killian lay beside me. He put his arm around me. His hand was on my belly.

"Killian," I said softly, "today was a good day. Nobody fought. Everybody was calm."

He kissed my forehead. "Yes, my love. Today was good. Let's pray tomorrow will be like this too."

I closed my eyes. The twins moved . I felt peace.