Page 42 of Healing the Leonid Doctor's Heart
“No. But, I do realize I don’t want that.” The hope in her eyes was much brighter now, shining as she leaned forward and slid into his arms, the thin sheet between them. “Are you telling me that you— love me? Just like this? Just like I am, without anything else? I know you said I’m enough, but we survive on ‘enough.’ Love is a luxury.”
“And by Bastet, that is one luxury I can give you, Abigail. I can love you until my heart stops beating. It’s only working again because of you.”
“Oh, Marcus!” she flung herself more fully into his embrace, arms wrapping around his neck, face buried in his shoulder as he rocked her.
“Abi,” he finally said, swallowing hard. “I just flung my heart at your feet. Isn’t there something you wanted to tell me?”
Abigail pushed herself out of his embrace, stooped, and picked up something invisible from the floor, then lightly patted Marcus’ chest. “There. Heart is back in place.”
“Abigail! My Queen... My love...” he wheedled, knowing full well she was about to make his dreams come true.
“I love you. You are my first love, and my last love. I will love you until my heart stops beating. It’s only working in the first place—because of you. And that’s true,” she smiled tremulously, wiping away tears that overflowed her eyes, “you kept me alive. You kept me going by being my friend. You saved me again and again. You’re my hero, Marcus. How could I avoid loving you?” she whispered.
“I don’t know, but I’m so glad you didn’t. Now.” Marcus cleared his throat and sat her firmly back on the bed. “Since I’m already on my knees, love, I think I’d like to get something outof the way. No, that sounds wrong. I’d like to live my fantasy, is that okay?”
“Well, anytime you have a fantasy where I’m on the bed and you’re kneeling next to it, I’ve been very, very happy,” she laughed.
“Oh, that comes later, my Queen. First, I ask you something. Will you marry me?”
He hadn’t expected her to burst into tears again. Surely she could have seen that coming? “Abi!”
“That means forever? Like... it’s not like when you say you love someone and then you break up? At least, I hope not.”
Marcus put a paw on his chest. “Are you insane? You nearly died to get here, and I nearly died waiting for you. I’m too old to do all this again, Abigail. Marry me, forever?”
“Yes! Forever!”
Marcus sighed and pulled her into a long, enraptured kiss, ages of pain and tension leaving his body. When he finally broke it off so his beautiful, blushing bride-to-be could breathe, he demanded, “Come on! Get dressed! We have to go tell everyone the good news! We have to pick a date. Kamau needs time to get things for a cake. I’ll need to take you on honeymoon—I have conferences to rearrange!”
“Marcus, Marcus,” Abigail cautioned with a giggle, catching his paw and pulling him back as he began to rush off in his excitement. “Can’t we celebrate in private first?”
“Oh. I suppose we could,” he purred, tackling her to the bed.
Epilogue
“Ilike the idea of a pre-honeymoon,” Marcus said as the shuttle set down at Leo Falls, a small planetoid in the beautiful, tropical zone of the liquid belts surrounding Leonid-One. “The little shack we’re staying in is called Ru’s Rest. Don’t let the termshackfool you. Layla and Rupex had the place turned into their private love nest. We’re just borrowing it. Rupex’s family owns this little island.”
“They own anisland!?”
Marcus was glad to see her perking up. Their first cycle hadn’t worked, and Abi was worrying about disappointing him, even while her betrothal bracelet was shining on her wrist. “It’s a small island. An islette, if that’s a thing. There used to be multiple two-room places, probably similar to Sapien-Three standards, but a little bit...”
“Primitive?” Abi said with heavy sarcasm in her voice.
“Primitive or simplistic. Anyway, you know that type of thing—bathroom in one room, everything else in the other? The two still standing are Ru’s and his sister’s. Jaxson comes here sometimes, too. Just to remember Alana,” Marcus’ voice faded. “They never had cubs. Couldn’t have. Not compatible. He loved her still.”
“Well, maybe there’s hope for him and Kaylie... If either one of them will ever bloody well admit they’re more than friends.” Abigail peered out the shuttle window, face breaking into an awed smile. “Marcus! It’s like... It’s like one of those tropical paradises!”
“It is. There are humid, tropical woodlands, the beach, and you can fish right on the sand... I can chase my Queen along adark, jungle path, pin her down next to the crystalline pool, and spread her out on a rock like a picnic.” Marcus licked his lips. “I promise, I’ll take you somewhere fancier when we have more time. With the program in such early stages, and all the hoops they make us jump through—when it was their idea as much as mine,” Marcus stopped grumbling, seeing that the joyful look was fading from Abigail’s face. “Sweetie?”
“No, no. That’s fine. I’m happy to wait to postpone the wedding for another cycle or two, until Skyla finishes her obstetrics certification.”
“She’s a hard worker. Good to have on the team. Like you.” He took her hand.
Abi smiled at him, but she shifted restlessly in her seat. “Honey, are you sure—”
“Abi. I brought all the injectables and boosters, the mini scanner, the hemoanalyzer and refills. I brought a lab in bag, basically, just like you asked. I’m not ready to give up after two cycles, but you look so miserable sometimes. Are you sure you want to keep going?”
“I want to keep going. It’s going to take time. It takes time for lots of Felid couples with no problems, doesn’t it? Sometimes?”
