The Last Man on Earth

The Last Man on Earth

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and am merely taking them out for a good time. No one will be harmed permanently.

Chapter 55: Looking Towards the Future

Outside the Infirmary:

It seemed to Marcus that he had been standing in this spot for hours. His heart was still beating uncomfortably fast. Pomfrey had taken one look at Katie’s face and then at his pale panicked one and tossed him out of the infirmary gently but firmly. His distracted mind could feel the presence of someone else but, for the life of him, he had no idea who it could be.

“Flint,” said Lee Jordan in a subdued voice.

“Normally,” thought Marcus distractedly. “Jordan’s voice usually irritated him. It was the way he said Gryffindor and Slytherin.”

“You really love her, don’t you,” said Lee in a perplexed tone. His voice also had an undercurrent of something else Marcus couldn’t put his finger on. He turned and was about to snap at Jordan when something in Lee’s face stopped him. He wasn’t taking the piss out of him. Jordan was genuinely surprised by Marcus’s love for Katie.

“Yes,” said Marcus seriously. “I love her. Why else would I be marrying her?”

“Most people thought you were playing around with Katie,” said Lee just as seriously. “Nobody thought you had serious intentions towards her. Most thought it was out of control hormones on Katie’s part and a desire to rub Ollie’s face in it on your part.”

“Oliver Wood had nothing to do with what happened between Katie and I,” said Marcus firmly. “I am only glad that prat was stupid enough to let her go when he did. It saved me the trouble of stealing her.”

“What’s wrong with her,” asked Lee with concern.

“I don’t know,” said Marcus blandly.

“Yes, you do,” said Lee perceptively. “Is there something seriously wrong with her that neither of you will tell the rest of us? You’ve both seem awfully secretive lately.”

“Nothing that nine months won’t cure,” thought Marcus shiftily. He answered Lee with a curt no. Suddenly Marcus noticed something in Lee’s face that he never did before. Lee was prattling on about Katie and it suddenly struck Marcus.

“You fancy Katie, don’t you,’ said Marcus with a slight frown. He stiffened when Lee’s face flushed.

“Katie is a long time friend of mine,” protested Lee.

“A long time friend that you fancied,” rejoined Marcus.

“Look Flint,” said Lee uncomfortably. “I don’t know what you’re going on about but-“

“Katie is mine Jordan,” said Marcus flatly. He was going to nip this in the bud.

“I know,” said Lee as his eyes narrowed on the unsmiling Slytherin. “Look Flint, I am well aware that for months now Katie has had eyes for no one but you. She’s absolutely madly in love with you.” Lee looked away after he finished talking.

“Does she know how you feel,” asked Marcus a touch suspiciously.

“Not a chance,’ said Lee with a bitter smile. “Like I said she is in love with you.”

After a long uncomfortable silence, Marcus said grudgingly, “Katie likes you. She says she never had a more loyal friend.”

“I still want to be her friend,’ said Lee with a touch of sorrow in his eyes. “Are you going to let her?”

“I’m a possessive and jealous man,” said Marcus as he looked in Lee’s eyes. “I would prefer that she didn’t have so many male friends but I am also not completely thick. Katie is a strong willed witch. She decides who her friends are.”

“That’s good to know,” said Lee as he gave Marcus a tentative smile.

“But just so as you and I are very clear on this point,” said Marcus. “Katie is my witch.”

“Understood,” said Lee.

“Good,” said Marcus. “I would like to thank you for your help earlier this morning.”

“Katie is my friend,” said Lee with a worried look towards the infirmary door. “She would do the same for me.”

Marcus looked towards the door with a worried expression and nodded his agreement.

In a hallway near the Great Hall:

“Angelina,” said a smooth voice beside her ear. “You slept in.”

“I did,” said Angelina with a pang of guilt when she looked into Adrian’s warm topaz eyes. “Why aren’t you in class?”

“I lost Marcus,” said Adrian with a shrug. “Snape told me to procure him straight away. Is Bell skiving off class right now? Usually, if I can find Bell, I will find Marcus.”

“I have no idea,” said Angie with a frown. “She didn’t come down to breakfast but that’s not unusual lately.”

“It wouldn’t be, would it?” said Adrian with a raised eyebrow.

Angie stopped abruptly then leaned closer. “You know, don’t you,” whispered Angie.

“I’ve known Marcus since we were three,” said Adrian. “Of course, Terry and I know. You and Spinnet know too, right?”

“Yes,” said Angelina. “Maybe she’s sick. I’ll check the infirmary.”

“If she is,” said Adrian. “Marcus will be by her side. He’s rather protective lately – like a mother cat with her kittens. Please do not tell Marcus I said that. I like my teeth where they are.”

“Why do both you and Terry call her Bell instead of Katie,” asked Angelina with a perplexed look. Adrian’s eyes darkened to a warm caramel and he laughed.

“Because my love,” said Adrian as he slipped an arm around her waist and squeezed. \"Ter and I do not want Marcus to be getting the idea that we fancy or covet Miss Bell in any way, shape or form. Marcus is very possessive and passionately in love. You see, Marcus does nothing by halves. He has fallen hard for Katie and we know it. No need to rouse Marcus and his very volatile temper.”

“He would never share Katie with anyone, would he?” asked Angelina with a slight frown.

“Never,” said Adrian firmly. He gave Angie a perceptive look and continued, “But I am a different person than Marcus and I have a very different temperament.”

“Are you able to share me because you don’t have feelings for me,” asked Angelina with a deeply hurt and secretly guilty look on her face.

Adrian stopped walking and pulled Angelina into a dark alcove. He touched Angie’s face lightly and looked into her eyes.

“What we have together isn’t just physical Angelina,” said Adrian seriously as he searched her confused face. “I don’t deny that I am a sexual person, Angie. I enjoy sex. And on occasion, I like to have more than one partner in bed with me. But it’s just physical sensation; it fades away. But you are different. I feel like you are my friend as well as my lover. That’s the kind of love I am looking for. You can see me. You see past the Quidditch player, the lover and the Slytherin and you can see me.”

Angelina closed her eyes and despite her best intentions began to cry softly.

“Love,” said Adrian. “I didn’t mean to make you cry. “ His thumbs rubbed away the tears.

“I don’t deserve you,” said Angelina as she buried her face in his robes and breathed in his scent.

“If it makes you happier,” said Adrian. “We will not have threesomes in the future.”

“But you enjoy threesomes,” said Angelina.

“I enjoy you more,” said Adrian. He paused and laughed, “Merlin, does that mean I am growing up? I beginning to sound like Marcus. And I think I just promised to be faithful. Marcus and Terry are going to laugh at me.”

“Why?” asked Angie with a pang of guilt.

“Marcus, because he said that one day I would know what it was like to not even want to sleep with another witch,” said Adrian as his eyes lightened back to topaz. “I called him a filthy liar. And Terry because although I love Terry, he couldn’t even spell the word faithful.”

“What?” said Angie with surprise.

“Even when Terry and I were together,” said Adrian affectionately. “He was always having little adventures, that promiscuous tart. One time, he was shagging Medea MacDuff last year and had the nerve to shag her sister later that same week.”

“Oh,” said Angelina in surprise.

“Terry said he couldn’t help himself,” said Adrian with a snicker. “He said Medea had the prettiest arse, but her sister’s was even prettier.”

“Merlin,” said Angelina. She tightened her grip on Adrian’s hand. She made a silent vow to never let Adrian find out about her and Terry. Adrian was real and Terry was just a pervy forbidden fantasy.

“We’d better go find Marcus,” said Adrian as he led her towards the infirmary. “Snape will have my hide if I don’t come back soon.”

Outside the Infirmary:

“Mr. Flint,” said Madame Pomfrey. “You can come in now. Mr. Jordan, Miss Bell will be perfectly fine. I suggest you get to your next class.”

Lee gave a relieved sigh as he gave Marcus a slight salute and left. Marcus followed Pomfrey into the infirmary.

“Are you all right love,” said Marcus as he rushed to Katie’s bedside. Katie was lying against the sheets looking pale but composed.

“Like I had said earlier,’ said Pomfrey firmly but gently. “Some magical pregnancies are tricky. It seems that Miss Bell has a problem with her blood pressure. Mr. Flint, the problem is treatable but she must remain calm and must monitor her blood pressure at all times. Try to avoid stress. It is a good thing that you have no OWLS or NEWTS scheduled this year, Miss Bell.”

“I gave her a calming draft,” said Pomfrey. “And I will give her some more to take back to the dormitory. Miss Bell, you must eat regularly and try not to get upset. What do you think triggered this attack?”

“We just told our parents about the baby and our engagement just been publicly announced,” said Marcus.

“High stress,” said Pomfrey as she nodded her head. “When is the wedding?”

“My father said it will be on June 24th,” said Marcus as he stroked Katie’s hair.

“Try to make sure that Miss Bell remains calm,” said Pomfrey with a frown. “Weddings are stressful.”

“My mother and hers will be doing a majority of the planning and implementing,” said Marcus as he reached out for Katie’s hand.

“All I have to do is show up,” said Katie with a rueful grin.

“Are you feeling better Miss Bell,” asked Pomfrey.

“Yes,” nodded Katie. She ignored Marcus’s frown.

“You can go,” said Pomfrey. “But take it easy.”

Marcus insisted on walking her back to Gryffindor Tower. They meet up half way with Adrian and Angelina. He promised Adrian he would be in Potions immediately after escorting Katie back to her dorm. Katie protested but was secretly grateful for Marcus’s strength.

Later that Night:

Katie leaned her head back on Marcus’s broad chest as they watched the sun sink behind the mountains from a bench along the edge of the lake.

“Feeling better kitten,” murmured Marcus. He kissed the top of her head.

“Yes,” said Katie drowsily. “It’s so beautiful here and peaceful. Look at all the colors.”

Marcus looked down onto her hair that was a mixture of dark brown strands, light ash highlights and, it seemed to Marcus, every shade of blond known to man. He rubbed his head on hers and looked at the setting sun with his arms wrapped around his Katie.

“It so romantic,” sighed Katie as she shifted up to look into Marcus’s dark rugged features. She ran a finger down his high cheekbones and gave a particular smile.

“What are you thinking,” said Marcus.

“I love you Marcus,” said Katie softly.

“I love you Katie,” said Marcus softly as he gave her mouth a soft kiss.

“Let’s sit here and enjoy the silence,” said Katie as she settled back into Marcus’s arms. She felt safe and loved. Her fingers idly stroked his large callused hands. She looked at the sky and gave a dreamy smile of contentment.

“I’ll keep her and our baby safe,” vowed Marcus to himself as his arms tightened around her still slim waist. “She feels like forever to me.”

The couple silently watched as the sun dipped below the horizon lost in their own world and wrapped up in each other.

The End of Last Man on Earth