Huxley

“I can't believe you’ve done all this in such a short time,” I say to Miriam, glancing around the giant greenhouse that’s filled with blooming myosotis parviflora. There are rows upon rows of the budding plant. This greenhouse is a literal miracle.

I’m still a bit breathless from walking the distance from the medical facility to the converted warehouse, but I’m getting stronger every day. In the month since Thorne and the Director were killed and I almost lost my life, so much has already changed.

“It’s only the beginning,” she wheels her chair to one of the plants and picks a delicate white blossom, spinning it in her fingers. “Now that Banks has patented the cure, we’re making sure it’s readily available in all countries.”

“Even administered in the later stages of pregnancy, we’re seeing a huge increase in survival,” Tia says, taking my hand in hers. “It’s incredible really.”

The plant may be incredible, but it is her that amazes me. Her pregnant belly has doubled since the night I almost lost my life, and she is a sight to behold. Her long hair is loose around her shoulders, her soft pink, flowy dress making her look like a garden nymph here among the pure white flowers.

Damn, I think, running a hand over my beard, a near death experience made me a fucking sap. But I don’t care.

Looking around I am reminded just how much I have to live for.

“No wonder Banks is up for a Nobel Peace Prize,” I say, glancing across the massive space at the man who is frowning over one of the plants that doesn’t have any blossoms.

“Don’t mention that to him,” Tia says, resting her hand on my arm. Her touch still sends shock waves of desire through me. I don’t think it will ever get old.

“Really? Why?” I ask.

She sighs. “He’s thinking about not accepting it.”

“Does he even have a choice?” I ask, frowning.

She shrugs, biting her bottom lip. “No. But he doesn’t think he deserves it since it was Grace and Emerson that really discovered the flower.”

“True,” I say slowly. “But he’s the one that perfected the formula. Who worked night and day to prove that it worked.”

“Tell him that,” Miriam says with a knowing smile. “I swear that man’s more stubborn than my son.”

“Talking about me again, mother,” Salinger queries, coming into the large greenhouse, decked out in the Director’s uniform, his usually shaggy blond hair slicked back, and his jaw newly shaved.

I watch as Tia’s eyes sweep over her husband. While other men might feel jealous at the prospect of sharing a wife with such a powerful man, not me. Sal is my best friend. Seeing him now, becoming the man he was born to be, makes me feel fucking proud.

He leans down and kisses his mother’s cheek, before straightening up and pulling Tia into his arms, his palms splaying over her round belly. “Shouldn’t you both be resting?”

“I’m fine,” I mutter, even though I can already feel my energy waning. What I’m really looking forward to is getting home, and having Tia in my bed. Banks has put a no-sex rule on her for the safety of the babies, but even just having her in my arms, is heaven compared to the sterile hospital room I’ve been stuck in for weeks.

My saving grace was having her at my side for so many hours a day.

Salinger grunts then looks down at Tia.

She makes a face up at him. “I just wanted to show Hux what Miriam and Banks have been up to. I’m going straight home after this. Promise.”

Sal sighs, then looks at me. “So, what do you think?”

Tia’s smile returns as she beams up at me. “It’s really incredible, isn’t it?”

“It is,” I say. Then I turn to Miriam, one thing on my mind regarding the facility. “How is the security system?”

“Good. But it could be better,” she says with a note of apprehension. “There will always be some people who will want to take the cure and harvest it for profit, but we’ve already dispatched seedlings, along with the patent, to every nation in the world. Soon, what you see here will be a global trend. There has already been a call to make it illegal for any government to charge a fee for the drug.”

“It’s just a matter of growing the myosotis parviflora fast enough,” Banks says as he approaches, dark brows drawn together.

“Unlike a purely synthetic substance, the flower takes time to grow,” Tia reminds him.

“And the potency isn’t as high as the wildflowers that grow on the island,” Banks continues.

Tia places her hand on his chest. “Which is why Em’s parents have started to harvest fields of it. More soil is being tilled every day for more usable acreage and eventually, the island will hold the most protected land in the world. Everything is good, Banks. It’s time you relaxed and reveled in your accomplishments.”

“What about Russia?” I ask, knowing there were rumors that the country was threatening to attack in order to gain access to Miriam’s list. I’ve been out of the loop for so long as I recovered. “Are they still a threat?”

“My list is no longer worth as much now that we have a cure, and we gave every country the patent and seedlings.” Miriam’s good hand shakes as she presses something on the small monitor that’s hooked up to her chair. Her trembling reminds me that she has also undergone a long recovery after her stroke. I feel kindred to her at this moment, knowing we both understand the value of life. That there are no guarantees. The truth is, so many of us in this family share the sentiment. Nearly all of us have had near-death experiences, but somehow we are all here today, standing. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and right now, no truer words could be said.

Miriam continues speaking, and I listen intently. “There’s no reason for Russia to be a threat now. But there are still some very valuable files that we need to keep safe, which is why I wanted to speak to you.”

“To me?” I frown down at her.

“In lieu of Banks’ research, Alaska has been given a large sum of grant money for future research.”

“What else needs to be researched, you have the cure--”

“It’s not a cure for every disease,” Banks mutters, shaking his head at me. “We may have fixed the population crisis, but that’s only the first step in re-creating our world.”

“And how can I help? I don’t know anything about science or research.”

“But you have other skills,” Miriam says, one brow raised. “Skills we’ve been watching for some time.”

Shit. She’d known about me and the business I run. “I... uh...”

“I believe some of those skills would be helpful in keeping this facility safe,” Miriam says, one side of her mouth lifting in a smile. “Once you’re able to get back to work, I’d like you to come work for me.”

“For you?” I rub the back of my neck, knowing she’s giving me an option to get out of the shady business I’ve been dealing.

I liquidated most of my business in the week leading up to Thorne’s death. I wanted to make sure that my family was taken care of. What I didn’t expect, was to be here today, alive and free.

Tia takes my hand and squeezes it, and I wonder if she’s had any part in Miriam’s proposition.

“I’m not going to be around forever,” Miriam says. “And I’d like to free up some of my time to spend with my grandchildren. I believe that, eventually, you and Tia will be able to take over most of my work here working alongside Salinger.”

It’s a real fucking job. One I could be proud of. One that I could make a difference at.

I’m speechless.

“Well?” Tia asks.

“Yes.” It’s all I can say.

Salinger slaps me on the back and grins at me. “Looks like we’re going to be in business together again.”

“And this time it won’t be running a brothel,” Miriam mutters, before rolling away.

My face heats up, most likely turning red and so does Sal’s, realizing that his mother most likely knew all along about our youthful pursuits.

Tia just chuckles beside me.

“Time to get you both home,” Banks says. “You’ve both been on your feet too long already.”

I don’t argue with him, but I do wrap my arm around my wife’s waist as we head out of the greenhouse towards the parking lot.

By the time we get to the compound, I’m grateful for my bed, and the fact that I don’t even have to ask Tia to join me. She always seems to know exactly what I need.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me,” I murmur against her hair as her head rests on my shoulder. “It’s hard to believe that everything is...” I give a small shake of my head, not knowing the right word to use.

“Good,” she offers.

I kiss her gently. “It’s better than good, Tia. I have you. And no one can ever hurt you again. And there’s finally hope in this world again. I didn’t think...” I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath. “I didn’t think we’d get this.”

“What?” She runs a hand through my hair, eyes shining with emotion.

“A happy ending.”

She smiles. “This isn’t the end, Hux. It’s only the beginning of our story.”

“You’re right.”

The door opens slightly, but I don’t see anyone there. Not until two little bodies crawl onto the bed and snuggle between us in a fit of giggles.

“What are you monkeys doing?” I ask, tickling Caroline, who gives a full belly laugh.

Beth, who’s still more reserved, gives me a shy smile. “Are you all better, Uncle Huxley?”

“Yeah, sweetheart, I’m all better.”

“Good.” Her face brightens. “Cause Uncle Em said we can go to the island and see the farm when you are.”

“We’ll definitely go soon,” I say, knowing the fresh air would be good for me and the girls, but also not wanting to leave Tia.

Banks won’t let her travel again until the babies are born, which in a way, is good because it means she’ll be surprised when she finally sees the work the men have been doing getting our new home ready. Both Salinger and Emerson have shown me pictures and blueprints of the twenty bedroom house my money has funded.

Everything will be state-of-the-art. Only the best for my wife and children.

“Sorry,” Giles says, coming into the room. “I thought these two were napping.”

“I want to nap here,” Beth says, snuggling deeper between Tia and me.

“Nap.” Caroline claps her hands, then sticks her thumb in her mouth and curls into Tia’s side.

“It’s all right,” I say. “They can stay.”

“You’re sure?” Giles asks.

“Yeah. And thank you for stepping up and helping with them. Salinger told me how much you’ve done.”

“No need for thanks. They’re all of our responsibility now.” He winks at me. “But you do need to get better soon because we’re going to be needing all hands on deck when the other six arrive.”

Sometimes I forget that we’re having six babies. I have no idea how we’re going to manage, but we’ve come this far and faced greater challenges.

I know I should shut my eyes and let my body rest, but I can’t stop staring at my wife. I reach an arm over the two smaller bodies and place a hand on Tia’s stomach, feeling a small movement beneath my palm.

It’s a miracle really. Everything we’ve gone through. Everything we’ve survived. And as the girls and Tia’s breaths turn shallow in sleep, I start to drift off as well, and I know in this bed is more than just my family. This right here is my legacy.