OUTBREAK: ZERO is a semi post-apocalyptic pandemic roleplay set in the fictional city of Lethford, USA. Current season: Winter, 20/21.
March 2020. The world is in pandemonium as one month ago, GHNv-20 was confirmed, five months after the beginning of norovirus season. The number of the infected are in the higher hundred thousands, and the death toll is at an estimated 250,000, with about seventy percent of the rest of the population experiencing mild to moderate illnesses connected to the S. pyogenes bacteria.
The fear of the unknown has caused mass hysteria and panic.
In an attempt to provide a semblance of safety and control, military personnel patrol the streets, even here in Lethford City, and the police force is trying to keep up with the rising street violence, assault, and theft.
Welcome to OUTBREAK: zero. Will you survive?
HAYANA
SITE OWNER + HEAD ADMINISTRATOR
Hi! I'm Haya. I'm pretty much your girl for everything! If you have any questions regarding our plot, membergroups, etc. don't hesitate to ask me. I'm also in charge of coding, graphics, anything skin related, and advertising/affiliates.
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ADDI
ADMINISTRATOR
Hey! I'm Addi. Hit me up if you need help with anything. I'm always for plotting so don't be shy. I like coffee, booze, and working out. I'm back from a long hiatus the dead so if you need anything, best ask the others until I get back into the groove of things!
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FINNLEY
GLOBAL MODERATOR
Hi hello! My name is Finnley, or Finn, call whichever and I'll be there for you (yes like the FRIENDS theme song). I am in charge of the claims and helping with miscellaneous things. Let me know if you have any questions!
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outbreak
/ˈaʊtbreɪk/ zero /ˈzɪərəʊ/
a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease. number, no quantity or number; nought; the figure 0.
Will was filled to the brim with an overwhelming happiness. A stupid amount that made him not want to leave the moment. If he knew how to live in this forever, he would. They had always been a question mark, even though they had a child together, even though they had said 'I love you', there was always this moment of doubt that she'd run from him. She had been so against him the moment they met. Had basically curled her lip up at him and said a big 'hell no'. Well, except for when she kissed him. Then it was just confusing from there. From her showing up at the base, him helping her escape to his home, then their morning together.
And now he was hers. Even more importantly, she was his. A grin broke across his bearded face as he nodded at her. He was most definitely hers. He was eager to get her moved into his place, and when she confirmed whenever he was ready, he pulled back just a bit to jokingly check the non-existent watch on his wrist. "So we leave in an hour then." He teased. Hell, he'd say now but he also knew that breakfast was an important part of the day. And there was a little girl downstairs waiting for them.
The very same one who was yelling up the stairs to them. "Daddy! Ruby!" As if they could have forgotten about her. He chuckled, giving Ruby a tight squeeze to his chest as he held her for one more moment. Pressing a brief kiss to her forehead before he hollered back to Harper. "Here we come!" He was serious about the next day going to get her stuff. She'd be moving in officially. No more shared places.
The tears that fell from her eyes were quickly swept away by the pads of his thumbs. It didn't halt his words, if anything it only pushed him to make sure they were filled with meaning. He wasn't lying to her when he said that Harper had looked for her. She had. The little blonde went around the house and was calling for her at first, as if they had started a game of hide and seek and she just couldn't find her yet. Will had even caught her staring out the window at times, trying to see if he could find a familiar car or head of brunette hair. Harper even played in her room sometimes and he could hear her pretending to be Ruby. It shattered his heart each time he heard her.
"I went to my apartment late last night after I was cleared, I didn't want to wake Harper, and it didn't feel right. I didn't…it just wasn't home anymore."
Late last night. So she was just cleared, truly just cleared. Part of him thought maybe she had been released a little while ago and she had just held off until recently. He wasn't sure if it was better to know she had been under watch for longer than what he thought. But he also knew that he was glad that she was here. A small laugh left him, parting his lips under his beard. "That's because this is home." He told her. It really was her home. He didn't move any of her things. When she'd actually get time to look around and dive into her space at his place, she'd see that he still had everything of hers.
And then her words were washing over him in a way that was rocking his world. If his feet weren't planted on the ground and held there by gravity, he was sure that he would be falling over. That if they were outside and a breeze picked up, he'd be knocked to his ass and he'd be light headed. That he'd have to hold onto her just to know which way was up. Her words were drowning him. And he as desperate to swallow them. His head nodded eagerly, not cutting her off but clearly reassuring everything that she had to say.
"We want you. I want you Ruby. I love you, you stubborn little brunette. My kitten." He pulled her closer, his lips grazing over hers as he spoke again. "So when do we finish pulling your stuff here? Tomorrow?" He said with a small laugh. Then he closed the space between them and kissed her as if his very life depended on it. As if he needed her to breathe. He wouldn't take half of her anymore. Or any hesitation. He wanted all of her. Everything that she'd give him. Anything and everything because he was selfish. Because he loved her.
"Will, I didn't even tell you about the appointment."
She hadn't told him. Hell, he had no idea where she went. He figured just another day in the office. And then she never came home. Never said a word and it all made sense now. His arms tightened around her. Lips pressing to the top of her head and lingering for a long pause. "It's not like I could have gone even if you did tell me," He was trying to say anything to fill that silence. His eyes screwed shut as he spoke against her hair. He wanted to go to every appointment since she started making them. But with the state of the world. He knew it wasn't possible. Didn't make it any better.
And then something else she said sank in finally. Making him frown and pull away just enough to reach down, his hands resting on her jaw and cheeks, trying to angle her head to look up at him. There was an intensity in his voice and eyes as he spoke to her. "No, you did what a lot of women do. This has nothing to do with being a 'better' mother. You were a fantastic mother. You fought and kept our son alive even when your life hung on the line. That is a perfect mother. Don't you ever think that Ruby. Do you understand me?" His voice might have been rough but it was because it was filled with emotion.
To not feel like a good mother because she tried to do what millions upon millions of women did when pregnant? To continue on their daily lives? She did what she could to prevent it. He was sure of that. Washed her hands, sanitized, wore a face mask. All of it. But things happened. The fact that cases rose instead of fell when they had tighter and tighter guidelines and restrictions made that very clear to him.
"You don't owe me anything okay?"
She moved away from him and that furrowed brow deepened, a frown pulling his lips down. No. This is not how they were supposed to end. They were not supposed to end. That baby... to him sealed that deal. And not because he felt trapped. If anything, he was afraid she felt trapped. So when she tried to push it off, he reached for her. "I want to owe you everything." He told her, looking to wrap a hand around the back of her neck and the other to pull her closer from around her waist. "Harper and I love you. We don't want you to go anywhere. That girl looked for you while you were gone. She asked for you all the time."
His eyes moved to her side of the bed. Where he hadn't moved any of her things. Everything just how she had left it. "You belong here." He told her, blue eyes moving back to her with a serious tone. He meant it. Every word. Every syllable. "Please Ruby. I can't... I can't lose you again."
Will found himself easily focusing on Harper as she made her appearance. On the way she lit up when she saw Ruby. The girl had missed Ruby a lot. She talked about her just as much as Will had thought about her. Which only made it worse. Made him miss her more than he was already doing. It made it worse when his mind had taken the turn it did. That deep down, he had always thought she might run from him. That she’d try and escape. It made it worse when he had convinced himself that she wouldn’t. That the love the two had shared... that should have been enough to keep her around... right?
He watched the little blonde disappear before the two adults were headed to what had been their room. Is this where she told him it was over? That the two of them were nothing but a wild dream that was short lived? The numbness in his chest was starting to grow, making the palms of his hands ache as he tried to stretch his fingers to gain back feeling in them. When they entered the room, he slowly shut them in. Crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at her with unease in his gaze. He wasn’t sure what was about to be said, so when she turned to him, he braced himself.
But he didn’t brace himself enough. The words that came from her had a wide range of emotions run through him. Annoyance for her not telling him about an appointment. Fear as she spoke about the virus. Anger that they wouldn’t let her contact anyone to make sure they knew she was okay. Heartbreak thinking of her being alone during all of this. That he hadn’t been there to help her through the process. Though he wasn’t sure what he could have done besides fuss over her. A sense of relief to hear that she was cleared and no longer sick. That Harper was not in danger.
Will almost swayed at the last part of what she had to say. ‘I lost him’. He knew who ‘him’ was. It was why her stomach had been too flat. Too sunken in for being several months along. His son. Their son. Gone. Before he even had a chance to make it out to the real world. Before Will could meet him and hold him... and Ruby. She had to do all of that alone. Losing her son as well. His eyes screwed shut and he let his chin almost hit his chest as he squeezed his arms from where they were crossed. Trying to swallow the lump in his throat. To stop himself from crying.
It didn’t work. By the time he was looking back to her, tears threatened to fall onto his cheeks. He opened his mouth to say something... anything to her. And yet he wound up looking like a goldfish, opening and closing his mouth a few times. He shook his head to try and restart his brain and vocal cords. But when it didn’t work, he moved to start pacing. He was glad Ruby made it. He was extremely glad for that, and as that thought seemed to kick him in the back of the head, he moved towards her. Gathering her back into his arms if she allowed.
“I’m sorry.” That he wasn’t there. That their son hadn’t made it. That she got sick. That they were going to have to live with the knowledge that they wouldn’t get to meet their son. “I...” He wished he could find more words, but as a few tears escaped him, he fell silent and went to hold her tighter to him.
William couldn't believe his eyes. It didn't feel real that she was there. And even when his arms wrapped around her and she held him back, he still felt like perhaps he was sleeping. That this was some odd alternate universe and he'd wake up alone in his bed once more. He didn't get to hear anything from her. Nothing. He left voicemails until her cellphone mailbox was full. And yet here she was.
He leaned back a little when she shifted and then her lips were on his. He was stunned for about two seconds before he jumped into action. She was his comfort and her kissing him made him realize how much he had been uncomfortable. How much he had been suffering without her. He hungrily met her kisses with his own and his hands gripped her back as he pulled her close. And thats when something didn't feel right. When the gears in his head started turning as she was flush against him. No rounded stomach making it awkward for her to come closer. She should have had one. A noticeable one at this point.
He felt sorrow fill his sense as he pulled back, hearing Harper's little feet bouncing towards them. His eyes moved from her to between them. The tears already stinging his eyes as he had a feeling that her 'can we talk' was just going to shatter him into pieces. He looked back to her, trying to form some words when Harper's voice captured him instead. "Daddy?" He turned to look over his shoulder at the little blonde. Who only lit up as her blue eyes landed on- "Ruby!" She rushed out, and wrapped her arms around the two of them, as Will had not quite let her go just yet.
"We've missed you! Where have you been? Daddy and I were worried. But you are here now! Come inside! Daddy made breakfast! Bacon and eggs and all the good stuff!" Will patted the girls head. "Why don't you go set the table, and we will come in in a little bit okay?" He asked her, and she nodded happily as she skipped her way back into the house. Will reached out to hold the door open and gestured for Ruby to make her way inside. "Our... room?"
William had been going crazy these past couple of months. Everything was going smoothly back then. At least as smooth as they could have at the time. Ruby was pregnant with their son. Harper had come to live with him, but she took a liking to the brunette. He was starting to get into a rhythm of having her with him. Something that he was really loving. The waking up to her when she would stay over, and being there to try and help during those first months of pregnancy. The tank, as he affectionately called her, was his woman.
And then, like magic, she vanished. No trace of her. No answering her phone, even to the point he went to put a missing persons order in. But they wouldn't take him seriously. A lot of people were in and out of the city. Trying to get away from everything and the moment he mentioned she was pregnant they seemed set that they she definitely skipped out and went to a safer place.
He looked for her for weeks. Until weeks turned into months. He would look for her on every day off he had when he still had a babysitter to watch Harper. His limp slowly got better over time. Till it was barely one. His girlfriend and his baby, gone. He lost sleep and eventually had to focus himself completely on Harper. Ruby had skipped town on him. She was always a flight risk. But he just really thought that now she'd stay. He offered himself to her... wouldn't that be enough?
Eventually, he settled into his new routine. Taking care of Harper, having a passing conversation with the babysitter, dinners, sleep. Repeat. Today was one of those days. He was off and Harper was not up yet. So he set off to dressing in gray sweats and a black tee. He went for the kitchen and started up breakfast. Eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy. The kinds of things that him and Harper could devour together before he had to get her up and going for virtual school. With the lovely shut downs, it was all on the computers now.
He went to her room and pounced on the bed. Playfully growling at her like he was some big scary monster. "Wake up my child! It is time to rise and scare the day away!" Will laughed as she groaned and tried to hide her head under the pillow. He laughed and shook the bed a little to get her awake. "Breakfast will be ready in a few. So get up sunshine." He told her, just in time for him to hear the knock at his door.
He got up and made his way down the stairs, not quite sure what he was expecting. Perhaps a package or someone coming to ask if he could come in for the day. It was a hard no. But as he pulled the door open, his jaw almost hit the floor. His blue eyes growing wide in disbelief on what, no, who he was seeing outside his door. Her voice was enough to smack him out of it and he reached forward for her. If she allowed, he would wrap his arms around her tightly and bury his face into her neck. "Kitten, where have you been?"
William was spending the day on the base. He had meetings all day. Light duty still after his shot to the leg during the riots. He was almost recovered, and honestly eager to get back to regular duty. This office work stuff was not the life for him. He did enough in the day to day duties of his job normally. But not being able to run the training field, not being able to do anything when it came to train troops besides point and direct was driving him up a wall. He was itching to get back to sparring or running or anything really.
He had just left a meeting, limping lightly down the hall when a little ball of fur came trotting down towards him. It was confusing at first to see and as the small creature wound between his legs. He stood frozen for a moment as it looked up and meowed at him. "What in the world are you doing in here, little buddy?" He asked, bending down and scooping up the small cat into his arms. It's head immediately rubbed against his bearded face and he laughed a little. This was definitely not a feral cat running around the base. This had to be someone's pet.
He started limping towards the way it came, while wondering who had approved of having a cat on the base? That wasn't in his paperwork, nor scope of support of something he could not approve. He rounded the corner when he spotted two figured ahead, scratching the head of the cat in his arms.
“Well, now you've got me curious. I'm going to have to pull your permanent record now. See what you've been hiding golden boy.”
He raised his brow in challenge. “Go ahead, I’ve got nothing to hide. I think you’ll find a rather clean record.” His tone was neutral but the smug look on his face said it all. “Like I said, I’m good at not getting caught. Can’t say the same thing about all of my friends...” But he liked the idea of her trying to find something on him. She’d probably just get a lot of different schools that had him listed as a student for a year or so here and there. Maybe some little league action in his young years. A toothless smile under a baseball helmet. Or some really questionable batting scores in his young years.
He never claimed to be good at it. But he made for a decent player. Nothing to take him on scholarships, not that he wanted to go that route anyway. He always had a blast with scrimmage games. Well, now that he thought about it, she might actual find something on his record. He recalled a time that his parents had gotten called to pick him up next to an empty lot, with a shattered window across the way. Which ended with a police report and his parents paying to have the window repaired. And him grounded for a few weeks. So if she dug hard enough, she’d probably find that report in there. He had argued that it wasn’t his fault that the ball he hit went that far...
Will laughed at her guess on what he had won. “A superlative? Now why in the world would you guess that I won something like that?” He teased, questioning her because she was certainly making some assumptions on him. “Actually, I do believe that I had won ‘Most likely to break the law without getting caught’.” He laughed as she tugged him closer to her. He happily moved onwards her, murmuring happily as she kissed his lips. Yeah, he could get used to this every day. Her sitting cozily on the counter, stealing kisses from him why he throws something together for a meal. Or her cooking him breakfast while he admires her over his cup of coffee. Where does he sign on for that contract?
At the mention of Fenway Park, he softened against her. God that was a fantastically perfect idea. And he listened contently as she painted a picture out for him with Harper, her and him. Hot dogs, popcorn, and... red shirts? He chuckled lightly. Did it really matter? He’d wear the brightest color whatever shirt for her. But it was too fun to resist. “Red Sox? Oh ma’am, this is a Dodgers household. ” He pressed a kiss to her cheek and nuzzled her lightly. “But for you, I’d wear that red proudly. Under a Dodgers’ cap.”
He watched her cheeks redden at his guess of what she succeeded in in high school. He at first felt like he had nailed it. But go figure, she had done so much more. He looked at her truly with a look of surprise. “Forgive me for underestimating you. I really thought you were about to tell me that you were too cool to do half of those things. And instead would skip class and draw some graffiti on the bathroom stalls.” Halfway joking, halfway serious. UN? Chess? Well that was some fun information to tuck away for later. “For a good time, call Becky at 555-555-5555.’ or something like that right?” He laughed. Poked at her side lightly to tickle her. Away from her still recovering area.
“I wish I had been able to meet high school Ruby. I feel like she might have liked high school me.” He joked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Did she realize how beautiful she was? He wasn’t sure if it was the pregnancy or the fact that he just down right loved her. But she was absolutely stunning, no matter what. No matter when. And he never got enough of her.
He chucked, thinking about the son that was there. God, he really didn’t know if he should be saying that it was true. He believed her when she said that she felt that’s what it was. That the baby would be a little boy. He’d have a balance between the children. And deep down, every father wanted a son as much as he wanted a daughter. He had been with her during some of the crazy mornings, trying to offer her any support her could, though he knew that there wasn’t much except to be there for her. Help hold her hair back or stroke her back to try and soothe her. If she had even wanted that to begin with. And they were only getting started. He might have read a little ahead. But he was prepared to try his best to comfort her as she grew uncomfortable. “Eventually we’d have to give him another name though. So keep that in mind. Gremlin wouldn’t be as cute on a birth certificate.” He laughed lightly.
Will almost felt bad at watching her turn over the time he just laid out for her. And he agreed with her. It was a lot of time. And ideally, he had wanted to serve his twenty years and the retire at the age of thirty eight. He had planned that since the beginning. Securing a good name for his family, good pay for when he left with full benefits. And now more so then ever, it still seemed like a solid plan. But as she had said, that was a lot of time. That was about six years from now. And he’d be asking her to do one of a few things. Either moving with him every time he got reassigned, which meant she was giving up her career. And that was not going to happen. He wouldn’t allow it. He knew how much she had worked for what she had. So the more likely option would be her settling down somewhere, and waiting on him. Waiting for when he could come home and be with her. And that made him almost sick to his stomach.
Would she even wait for him? If he asked, if she agreed to marry him and have this family with him... would she wait? His chest ached at the thought of being away from her for weeks, months at a time. It was hard enough with Harper. But add in Ruby and another child? God he couldn’t imagine. How could he even ask that of her when he could barely stand to think of being away from her like that? “It is.” He agreed, his tone with a hint of sadness behind it. As her head settled on his shoulder, he wrapped an arm around her waist and stroked his other hand through her hair.
He hoped his joke was planted right. It was something that a lot of military men tended to rush into. First girl they found after a few months? Put a ring on it and then worry about the divorce papers later. Not that it was always the case, but it was most of the time. But that wouldn’t be him and Ruby. If he somehow got her to say yes to him, he’d fight for them every step of the way. He’d make it work. He loved her, he wanted her in his home. In his arms. Everything she was willing to give him, he would selfishly take and would give her everything he had to offer back. And all he found himself able to do when she responded, was to take her face gently between his hands and place a soft kiss on her lips. One that was a promise of his own with no words able to be said. “Guess I’ll have to find out.” He whispered as he pulled back.
And then Harper was sweeping in and shifting their moment. Which they both seemed to transition right into without any hesitation. Will went to the door, and upon returning, got to watch the two women that meant the most to him interact. Harper her usual chatty self listing all kinds of drinks to Ruby, who had clearly asked about something on that subject. He laughed lightly as he pulled out plates and started dishing out pieces of pizza appropriately on them. A garlic knot of each plate as he put them on the table. He nodded with Ruby at the idea of heading to the store and he looked between them. Love for them both clearly on his face as he took his seat. “Definitely have to get some more fun stuff now that Harps is around, right?” He said, ruffing up her hair lightly before he dove into his dinner. He could get used to this.
Will made a fake, over dramatic hurt face as she called him a tease, the light banter from her had him easing up about the situation that had been laid out for him. He would make good on that promise, later of course, but once Harper was to bed. And Ruby was tucked into their bed, he would make good on what caused him to be a ‘tease’ right now. He mouthed the word ‘later’ to her as he spoke on the phone, winking lightly at her with a playful smile.
He rolled his eyes with a hint of a smirk on his lips. Forever golden boy for her. He had to admit, he liked that she viewed him like that. There was something endearing about it, and the fact that now it wasn’t tossed around as an insult, he liked it even more. He was sure she felt the same way about her nickname, kitten. “I will have you know, I was a fun teenage boy. Which means I may have done some questionable things that could have gotten me in trouble. Thankfully, I have been very good at getting myself and others out of sticky situations.” She would know all about that. Twice now, he had gotten them out of some damn bad situations. He figured by the third she’d have to promise to marry him one day. Give he a slice of that white picket fence life that she always joked about him wanting.
He tossed his head back and truly laughed. “Football captain? Come now, I know you picture me as the All American Boy, but you have to know that a military family moves around too much to secure things like that.” He did raise an eyebrow though and grin lightly at her. “I was more into baseball anyway.” He turned a blue gaze to her, scanning her up and down before he took a stab at something. “And you, were captain of the debate team and a volleyball player.” He half joked. But he could definitely see the first of those. She was great at arguing. He had gone toe to toe with her several times. And it took him pulling out the ‘you owe me’ cards to get her to take a step back.
Will chuckled at her face when he mentioned ‘they’ instead of ‘him’. Oh this was definitely going to be a touchy subject. And he wasn’t surprised in the least as she corrected him and called the son in her womb a gremlin. “I’m going to tell our son you called him that.” He teased, though his heart was so full in that moment. The idea of his son. It was ridiculous how happy it made him. Even the day that they were at the clinic and woke up to find one another. Hearing that little heart beat just pumping away happily brought tears to his damn eyes. He knew it could be viewed as weakness in him, but it was something he couldn’t and wouldn’t change. He was happy.
Though his smile fell just lightly as she seemed to drop into a more serious tone. When she asked about his contract, he felt a small pang of sadness hit his heart. There were so many things stacked against the two of them. But he was determined that he would be with her, he would do everything within his power and even more if needed. “I’m a little more than halfway through with this one now. So under two years now.” It was too long left, he already knew that was going to be that thought. “What makes you ask that kitten?” He had a feeling it was more than just a ‘wondering’ thing with her. She was sharp and would be trying to figure out their next five moves, like this was a game of chess. And he was more than willing to be that pawn for her in her mind.
“Thats not a half bad idea Torres,” he laughed. Though he decided to take a chance to make her give him a shocked expression. “Would you ever trade Torres for a name like McCabe?” An all teasing smirk on him. Though there might have been a hidden question under it, trying to figure out how far off that idea might scare her.
His mind shifted back to the idea of Harper at work with him. Knowing Harper would love that idea more than anything else. Work day with dad? Get to boss around the other soldiers just to make her laugh? She’d be on board. “A few years back, she was visiting me and I had to go lead a training. I had her come along. She was bossing those boys around, telling them to drop and give her ‘firty five’.” He laughed, trying his best to mimic that little voice of hers. “So adorable that everyone put in extra effort to hear that squeal of laughter from her.” She was a cute kid, and he wasn’t just saying that because she was his kid. Though that might have helped.
When the little blonde appeared, he tried his best to give Ruby small gestures of reassurance. This was new to her, and he wanted her to know that he was going to help her as much as he could. With small touches, brief kisses to her cheek or forehead when Harper was busy studying the new space. He made it his mission to ease her worries. “You’ve got this kitten.” he even whispered to her at one point before he heard the doorbell ring, signaling that the pizza was there. He disappeared to grab the box and place it in the kitchen. Dinner was served, and he hoped that with it, it helped make the rest of the night that much easier. He could see it in Harper’s face that she was tired from her long trip. Which just meant that the moment he got her into bed, that him and Ruby could have one more moment to themselves.
Will nodded when she went on with what she’d want on the pizza. The option for making dinner was a bit lost on him at the moment and he felt like it would be best for neither of them to worry about it. He did however laugh when she asked what he was craving and he shook his head lightly, pressing a kiss to the side of her throat as he reached for his phone. “Nothing that I’d be able to order.” His tone was suggestive that he meant something only she could give him. He quickly dialed the number and pressed the phone to his ear before she could shout at him or anything like that.
”Hi, yes I’d like to place an order for delivery. Large pizza, Italian sausage, black olives, and banana peppers. And a small cheese. Uh yeah, add in some garlic knots as well. Okay... yeah. Thanks.” He placed their order before pushing his phone to the side and turning his attention back to her. Explaining the situation that had brought the little blonde girl to them. All bright eyed and full of questions. He was sure that she was going to make the two of them laugh and probably shift uncomfortably at times as well. Harper had already asked him questions that he had to quickly redirect. And he was sure that once they told her about being a big sister, she would only continue to ask the questions that were going to not only make Ruby squirm, but Will as well. He was sure that would be along the lines of ‘how did the baby get in there?’
He let her hush him, his heart was pounding as he watched her closely. He felt relief wash over him though as she backed up what he felt deep down. That Harper belonged here with them. That she was welcomed. He really didnt even want to think about how that conversation would have gone had it not gone over with Ruby. Because he was determined to make this work. For all four of them now. He wanted Ruby there with him and Harper, and he wanted their little bean, as he had been so affectionately referring to the child she was carrying, to be there with them too. Will hadn’t approached the subject yet, but he knew that he was going to be spending a lot of nights talking to the little bean in her stomach as they grew. No matter how ridiculous or adorable Ruby might have found it.
As he went on about being his girlfriend, he felt his heart stutter a moment at her smile. Okay this was good. She liked the idea of what he said. And that smile said everything that he needed, not that he would turn down her words either. Though as she pondered out loud, he was feeling a little anxious. Why? Well she could decide to torture him and drag out her answer. Which is what she was doing. Though he laughed out when she smacked his shoulder at his ‘child’. He feigned a look of hurt as he grasped his shoulder, only to immediately break out into the biggest grin that threatened to crack his cheeks at her yes. “Oh, let me get to work on those bleachers then...” he teased her, looking behind him like materials were going to just appear for him to get to work. “Maybe tonight I can sneak into your bedroom through the window.” He offered instead.
He knew that the subject was a touchy one, that the idea of the first twelve weeks being the scariest were something that they had treaded lightly around. But he knew that they both thought about it. He was ever so cautious with her, which might be annoying at times but he truly wanted her to be okay. And secondly, he wanted the baby to be okay. He reached forward and brushed her still flat stomach, as if it was to settle them both in their thoughts. “I know they are doing great in there. You are taking such good care of them.” He reassured her. He said ‘they’ and ‘them’ just because they truly didn’t know what the baby was yet. Even though Ruby had said before that she thought it to be a boy. He hadn’t asked since if she still felt that way, but he was curious.
At her questions though, the completely relevant ones that he hadn’t even thought of yet. “I have the two few days off, with the leg and now Harper, they approved some time.” He started. Though what the hell was he going to do? He doubted that there was a daycare on base. But it was also fair to say he had no idea because he’s never had to look into that before. “I’ll have to ask around. I’m not quite sure...” And then like the beautiful, amazing woman she was. One that he did not deserve, she came in to help save the rest of the week at least. His hands immediately reached out and pulled her forward a little, his face going the rest of the way as he gave her a solid kiss. “What would I do without you?” He mumbled lightly against her lips.
Will shifted lightly as they heard the stampede of his daughter come tearing down the stairs and towards them. Clearly done, or at least as done as she thought she could be. And Ruby slide right down the counter. The young girl nodded eagerly at the idea of pizza, like most young kids do. And Will was glad to see the two. “Hey Harper, why don’t Ruby and I show you around the house?” He said, placing a hand on Ruby’s back, his thumb drawing small circles on her back, trying to be as comforting as he can.
When Ruby pulled him in for a kiss before he disappeared, a little bit of worry melted away. She wouldn’t run from him after that right? She would wait, at least talk with him before she decided to leave. But he would put up one hell of a fight to keep her there. There was no where else she belonged more than with him. He was confident in that fact. Whether they had that talk or not, he considered himself hers. Hell, he was willing to move mountains for her if they so much as made her sigh the wrong way. And their baby, the one that she was growing every day inside of her, that had to be another reason as well right? She knew that he would do anything in his power, anything and everything, for the two of them. Just because Harper was there, didn’t mean he cared less.
As he heard her call back from the kitchen, he closed his eyes and let out a breath of relief before he came through the doorway. She was perched up on the countertop, holding up the pizza offer in a hand. He smiled lightly as he moved forward and stepped in close to her. “Takeout isn’t a bad idea. Are you craving anything in particular?” He agreed with her as her head laid down on his shoulder. His hands rubbed up and down her arms lightly, trying to soothe her. He knew this was a lot. He remembered how she looked when she first caught a picture of Harper and realized that not only was he in the military but also how he was a father.
“What happened?”
What a great question. He took a deep breath as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “It happened really fast. I didn’t get more than a couple of hours heads up,” He told her, wanting her to know that this wasn’t an ‘oops I forgot to tell you’ or an ‘I felt it better to spring this on you then tell you ahead of time’ kind of thing. “Maggie, Harper’s mom, called me today. Her brother is sick, infected. And they all live together. As soon as they found out they quarantined him and left the house. But Maggie didn’t want to risk Harper. They all went and got tested and when Harper’s tests came back negative she put her on the first flight out to me.” He explained softly as he heard the soft thuds above from his daughter. He imagined she was throwing her toys around instead of actually putting them away as he had asked. But it didn’t matter.
“Ruby, I couldn’t say no. I didn’t want to say no. I know this is big. It’s a lot to take in all at once. But we have always seemed to live for adventure since meeting one another,” A small laugh bubbling in his chest. They really were a bit reckless together. But he loved every single minute of it. “I’ve told her about you, as I’m sure you could tell by her knowing your name.” He continued on, his hands moving from her arms to rubbing her back lightly. “I… ah,” A nervous chuckle left him as he tried his best to figure out how the hell he was going to word this to her without causing her any panic. Or anything that would have her trying to fly off the countertop from him. “She’s eight, and the best way for her to understand what we are is by telling her you are my girlfriend.” He looked into her eyes at that and gave her a small kiss on the cheek before he placed another one on the other side.
“So I guess in a way, I should have asked you first.” He said with a small smile. Hell, they already told each other that they love one another. And they skipped a few steps to starting a family together. “Will you officially be my girlfriend?” He flashed a bright smile to her as he tugged her closer to him if that was possible. He felt like the question was straight out of a cheesy high school tv drama. But he was never really good at asking it. And asking her to ‘go steady’ with him felt just as odd. “No pressure or anything, you are just carrying my child.” he joked, preparing for her to swat at his arm or something of the sort.
But at that mention, he did look behind him to make sure Harper wasn’t downstairs just yet. “I didn’t tell her about the baby. I figured it might be best to wait until after the first trimester? I read that sometimes its best to do that?” He didn’t want to put out there that there could be complications or anything. It was a true fact anyone could find if they looked at any pregnancy book. But he didn’t want to believe that that would be them. He believed that once they were past the twelve-week mark, he’d be telling everyone and any way that he was going to be a father again. ‘Look at my gorgeous girlfriend, she’s having my baby!’ Okay, maybe not worded exactly like that. But you get the point.
Will watched Ruby the whole time, catching her faltering look as she took in him in full dad mode. He knew this was a lot. That this was a cause for her to try and run as far and as fast from him as possible. He hoped that this wasn’t the case but he could see it on her face. No matter how well she was trying to compose herself as Harper babbled on. Her blonde hair swayed lightly as she shook Ruby’s hand, and as she stood he expected a welcome home as well. The one he had gotten the past few days. But today was different. She stood there as he moved them inside fully and shut the door.
“I'm sure you guys have a lot of catching up to do. I should…go.”
As their eyes met, he moved towards her his hands lightly gripping her upper arms as he drew her to him, pressing his lips to her forehead. Harper seemed wrapped up in checking out the living room at the moment. As she made a comment about them talking tomorrow, his head shook slightly. “No, please stay. I know I am asking a lot of you right now, but please don’t leave. We have to talk about this.” All of it really. Harper, them, if there was a 'them'. Hell, he believed they were a them but they had never really had that talk to say that they were together.
He pressed a small kiss to her lips, his thumb stroking her cheek before he picked up Harper’s suitcases again. “Harps, come on. Let's get your stuff into your room. You can start putting your stuff away while Ruby and I make dinner.” He heard her little feet run towards a hallway that she had no idea where it ran to. His blue eyes turning to Ruby as he gave her a small pleading look, “Please Ruby,” he said before Harper was calling out for him.
His arms gripped both bags as he limped up the stairs with them and down into one of the two bedrooms upstairs. The master bedroom was on the first floor in this house, along with the living room and kitchen. The room he put his daughter into was set up as a plain guest room. A full-sized bed in it, nothing special. But he was sure it would soon be plastered with her drawings and, oh dear god, he was going to have to do some shopping for her. Besides what her mother sent, he had nothing for her there. He placed her suitcases on the ground and turned towards her. “Hey Harps, can you do me a big favor? Can you put all your clothes away and your toys?” She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him again. Which he gave her a squeeze back. And that was when he made his way back downstairs, hoping that he wasn’t going to be met with an empty house. But also half expecting it.
“Ruby?” He almost said her nickname, but he had a feeling with how spooked she looked, that using it would just make her uncomfortable until they talked about what they were. “Babe, are you still here?” Babe was about as close as he could get to a pet name without pushing it too far. He rounded the corner and headed for the kitchen, hoping to find her in there.
It had been about a week since everything had happened. Will and Ruby had been released after a few days from the hospital, and he had been relieved to light duty until he fully healed from his leg injury. He sported a lovely limp that he hated with a passion, but he was easily able to find his mind distracted by getting Ruby into his new home. His Ruby. His pregnant Ruby. God he was still in disbelief that they had been as lucky as they had been. That the bullet she had taken hadn't hit the baby. That she had been the tank as she put it. His strong, beautiful Ruby had been the safe haven for his child. Their child.
Not that it meant that he had forgotten about his other child. The one who he spent an hour on the phone with when the news got out that things were back under control, telling her that he was fine, and that it would take a lot more than an event like that to take him away from her. He was so happy to see her face. He hadn't told her that she was going to be a big sister, not yet. He had to start off small, and introduce the idea of Ruby to her first. Which that took up most of their conversation. Asking what she was like, was she pretty, was she nice. He had been glad that Ruby hadn't been around for that conversation because he was sure that he would have made her sick to her stomach over how much he was gushing over her.
He was at the base when he got the phone call though. His ex, the mother of his child, on the other end. "Will, Harper will be on the next flight to you. You have to take her." Immediately he knew something was wrong. The whole point that Harper didn't live with him was because he moved around too much and her mother could offer her stability in school and everything else. He pressed as to what was wrong, excusing himself from the meeting he was in to go limp pace outside in the hall. She explained that her brother had gotten sick, and after they immediately quarantined him, they went to go get tested. Harper came back negative, and she felt it was best that Harper went to him to keep her safe, because the family lived together.
Will accepted of course, wanting his daughter to be safe. And he had gotten a three bedroom town home to himself, so she could have her own room while the baby had their nursery as well. God, to have a full house. Ruby was right when she said that he wanted that all American dream of a family and a dog. He helped plan out the flights for Harper and how they would go about getting her since she was flying alone. Thankfully the airlines had great policies in place for minors flying. Harper was just excited to be coming to see him. It had been too long and he looked forward to seeing that little blonde girl.
He tried calling Ruby next, leaving her a voicemail telling her to call him because it had to do with Harper. He didn't want to leave everything over the voicemail, but he never received the call back. She was probably busy, or sleeping. He knew from the reading he had started doing that she could probably be really tired or dealing with morning sickness. That was falsely called morning sickness too because really it could pop up at any time. When his day was over, he rushed to the airport to pick up Harper. She ran into his arms and he hugged her tight to him. He held her hand as the girl went right into a whole story play by play of her flight. He chuckled along with her as he texted her mother to let her know that she was safely with him before grabbing her two suitcases and bringing them out to the car that he rented. Motorcycle rides were out the window until his leg healed.
The ride home was easy, Harper was so excited to be with him and Will felt the same way. He had forgotten to check his phone to see if Ruby had replied to him by the time he pulled into the driveway and grabbed her bags. "Welcome home Harper," he said as he unlocked the front door and opened it for her. Only for his eyes to lock onto Ruby and realize that they hadn't talked about this yet. The little blonde girl in front of him stared at the brunette and she walked inside. "Is this Ruby? Wow, she's really pretty daddy! Hi, I'm Harper." And immediately, he laughed. Leave it to Harper to break the silence.
