𝗀 𝗁 𝗈 𝗌 𝗍 | | 𝗌 𝗍 𝖾 𝗏 𝖾 𝗋 𝗈 𝗀 𝖾 𝗋 𝗌

𝗌 𝖾 𝗏 𝖾 𝗇 𝗍 𝗒 － 𝗇 𝗂 𝗇 𝖾

✧ 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟥, 𝗎𝗉𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗋𝗄 ✧

𝖿𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗅𝗂𝗉

MARTA HAD COME TO TERMS with the fact that her life was the way it was, and there was no changing it. She had started to become okay with that harsh reality. The only laughter in the dark compound came from Steven, who was two and a half and thriving. He provided smiles, joy, and a perfect distraction from the fact that nearly everyone Marta cared about was dead and never coming back.

"Doggy!" Steven said suddenly, pointing at a woman walking her dog down the street as they drove past.

Marta smiled. "That is a doggy," she spoke. They were driving through the town Marta visited her patients in, on their way home from Steven's preschool. "What are we going to tell Daddy and Auntie Nat when we get home?" Marta questioned her son, glancing at him through the rear-view mirror.

Steven played with his dinosaur. "I tied my shoes." he said, kicking his little feet up in the air.

"Good job, little soldier." Marta said with a grin. When Steven was around, Marta was able to be happy. When he wasn't, she was depressed, like everyone else.

Steve smiled when his son walked into the compound, holding his dinosaur. "Daddy! I tied my shoes!" Steven said excitedly, making his way towards his father.

Marta's smile widened as she watched her husband pick up their son. "That is very impressive, buddy." Steve held out his fist, and Steven bumped it with his own hand.

They ate dinner, Steven talking about a million things nonstop. He never took a breath, and he filled the empty silence his parents had become used to. Marta fixed her son's shaggy hair, smiling at him. It was impossible to not smile after spending even one minute with Steven. He was his mother's little soldier, and his father's twin. They all shared the same bright blue eyes, and Steven had the same dimple between his eyes that Steve did.

"You ready to go, little man?" Steve picked his son into his arms, Marta dusting off his little shirt. Steve was the best father in the world, just like Marta knew he always would be.

Steven nodded excitedly. Steve grabbed Steven's stuffed dinosaur, placing it in the boy's arms. "Drive safe." Marta said to her husband, hand resting on his arm.

Nodding, Steve covered Steven's eyes and kissed his wife. "I love you." Steve said, pressing a soft kiss to Marta's temple. Their love had never dimmed through Steven's arrival. There had been ups and downs, and Steven's stay in the NICU had placed intense hardships on their marriage, but they persevered, never again willing to break apart like they had once before.

"I love you, too," Marta said, turning her attention to her little boy. "I love you, angel. I'll see you tonight." Marta kissed Steven's forehead and he giggled.

"I love you, Mommy." Steven returned with an infectious grin, pushing his face into his father's shoulder.

Steve had started a support group over a year ago. People gathered to talk about their hardships during the blip. It gave Steve a feeling of satisfaction, knowing he was helping the only way he could. Often times, he took Steven with him. It was nearly impossible for anyone to be upset with Steven holding his dinosaur in his father's lap.