What would it be like for my child? I look to the mass of muscle next to me. Fuck, what would life be like for our child?
‘What’s got you so troubled, princess?’ Liam asks, pecking a light kiss on my forehead — something he’s recently started to do.
‘This isn’t a world to bring a child into.’
‘You could say that about every species, every timeline in history.’ The palm of his hand caresses my back. ‘What matters is that he or she is born into a family of love. One that will do everything to protect them and I can say for a fact that that bit is true.’
Oh hell, here come the tears again.
As if he has some sixth sense, Liam pulls me into his chest. It’s like he can smell when I’m on the verge of a crying session.
‘You wouldn’t judge a bird for hatching chicks straight into a storm, or a dog for having a litter when there aren’t many people left that are willing to be owners now, would you?’
‘Are you comparing me to a dog?’
Liam chuckles, his large chest rumbling against my cheek.
‘I would never, princess.’
‘Good, because I’d kick your ass if you did.’ I joke.
With his forefinger gently placed beneath my chin he tips my face up to look him in the eye, his cheeky grin firmly in place. ‘I would expect no less from such a strong woman.’
We continue down the steps until we are on the ground level. The stadium really has been completely transformed and if I had never visited when I was younger, before the outbreak, I would have never thought it was one to begin with.
Crops are strategically placed around the field, whilst others line where seats used to be placed. Animals are scattered around the stands, chickens, goats, pregnant sheep and some newborn lambs bleating away. It’s incredible.
We don’t stop to look around much. Instead, The Skull guides me through the compact farm life and into a dimly lit tunnel.
Suspicion rises but I try to talk myself down. I can't keep thinking everyone is the enemy, it isn’t healthy, not when I made the decision to join this group of survivors. The group that my brother helped form and the man I voluntarily confided in two weeks ago.
‘I found a few things whilst I was looking around and thought of you.’ Liam explains as he opens the door to what I can only describe as a large storage unit.
I step inside, accepting the lantern that he has kindly lit and handed me.
My breath catches in my suddenly thick throat. Furniture is stacked around the room, wardrobes, a chest of drawers, tables, and a rocking chair are all here.
I walk over to the oak table. The feel smooth beneath my fingers as I glide them across the surface. You’d have thought it would have been in worse condition but it feels perfect.
‘We could make a cushioned mat to go on top as a changing table, and if you’d like maybe something for the sides since it is quite high up?’ Liam’s voice is just over my shoulder.
I feel his body heat behind me, reassuringly close.
‘That sounds…’ I swallow. ‘Good.’
‘I’m not sure if you like any of this stuff, but if you do, I can get it cleaned up a bit more and taken upstairs for you?’
Is that uncertainty I hear in his voice? Or maybe I'm just imagining it, being hopeful that he cares enough to listen to what I really want. Instead of just assuming for me now that my brain apparently doesn’t work since I’m growing a baby.
‘This stuff is great.’ I answer, but my heart sinks when I picture our living arrangements. ‘But I don’t think they would fit in my room.’
‘Leave that to me, princess.’ His thumb finds a knot at my neck and I sink into his touch. ‘I’ll have a think about how we can work around the space, then we can talk it through. Does that sound alright?’
‘Mmmhmm.’ I moan as he continues to magically work on my muscles.
‘You feel tense, baby.’
I’ve been tense for the past seven years of my life. Moving from place to place in the apocalypse tends to do that to you.
