16. Chapter 16
Chapter sixteen
D riving through the streets of Auckland felt absolutely surreal, seeing people coming home from work, going to the shops, their lives the same as they had been that morning.
Ash felt like a whole new person.
At Charli’s request they drove through a McDonald’s. Then Willow wanted KFC, and Ash wanted a gigantic soft drink from Wendy’s. They returned home with far too much fast food, everyone laughing and joking.
It was a relief to see the house looking normal, no extra shadows or blacked out windows. In fact, the whole neighbourhood looked bright and new as the sun went down.
Dinner was a feast, trading bites with each other and watching a game show on TV. Once everyone had eaten their fill, they lapsed into a companionable silence.
Until Charli sat up and pointed at her mother. “Mum, you totally have magic. Have you even processed that?”
Willow wiped her hands on a napkin and tossed it into a Mcdonald’s bag. “Nope.”
“We should tell dad.” Ash exchanged a look with his sister. “He’s going to be shocked.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t tell him, let him relax.” Willow chewed her lip. “I feel bad about him being stuck in the retirement village, but I don’t have the energy to look after him, Charli and myself. Besides, the stairs here, he can’t manage them.”
Ash considered. “Maybe there’s another option.”
“Like when you get your own place, you could have him move in with you?” Charli grinned.
Ash looked at Hallow. “I want to stay with Hallow, but I want to stay with you two — three including dad— as well. Is that possible?”
Hallow tilted his head. “There’s no reason why not, now. The Quetch is vanquished and it was the one sealing doors and messing with my travel between worlds. Others can travel to the tavern from wherever with no trouble after all. There would need to be a portal left open here...”
“We could use the cupboard in the hallway!” Charli sat up and clapped her hands. “It’d be a full Narnia situation.”
Willow frowned, considering. “And then we’d what?” Ash took Hallow’s hand. “Split our time between your world and mine?”
Hallow’s smile warmed the whole room. “Yeah, is that okay? You want that?”
Ash moved closer, not quite climbing on his lap but hooking an arm around him and kissing him. “More than anything. I’ve just reconnected with my family, I don’t want to give them up, and I am certainly not giving you up. This way I don’t have to do either.”
Charli clapped her hands. “And then I can go through whenever I want too!” “Wait a second, missy.” Willow rolled her eyes. “No. There will be rules and boundaries on this thing. If it goes in the cupboard, I’m installing a lock. Something Ash and Hallow can open from inside. Teenagers won’t be allowed through unescorted.”
“But maybe we could take your father to my village,” Hallow suggested. “The elders would love to talk to him, and maybe the change of scenery would do him good. There are plenty of dwellings without stairs.”
Ash nodded. “It sounds good, but I’ll run it past him first.”
“We can hash out the details tomorrow,” Willow said. “I’m going to shower and go to bed.” “I gotta journal this whole wild day.” Charli followed her mother upstairs.
Hallow put his feet on Ash’s lap and rested his head on the back of the couch. “I like this plan. I want us to be together, too.”
“I know it hasn’t been very long, but we’ve been through so much together.” Ash stroked his hands over Hallow’s feet, petting them like kittens. “I want to be with you forever, Hallow.”
Hallow squeezed his hand. “If we get married, we can have a big party in my village and bring your family over. It’s very beautiful when we have a party, lots of streamers, flags, and food.”
“Sounds great.” The mention of marriage struck a thrill through Ash. Not one of fear, one which made him want to flee. This was a thrill of excitement and happiness. “When you want to go home, we’ll go to Bunnings first and grab a variety of fungicides and pest control. Then we can test out which works and bring more of them. Your mission will be done!”
Hallow laughed. “It’s strange to think the solution could be so mundane.”
“Well, you did have to travel between worlds to find it.”
Everything was working out perfectly. Ash moved Hallow’s feet off his lap and stood up, offering him his hand instead.
Hallow took it, getting to his feet with inhuman grace. He leaned in to kiss Ash.
“Wait, we should get the rubbish into the bin, first.” Ash pulled away reluctantly. They picked up the discarded food wrappers and bundled them into the outside bin. Once the chore was done, Ash checked the windows were closed and the doors were locked, and they went upstairs together.
Ash was bone tired, but he didn’t think he’d be able to sleep any time soon.
Ash pulled the curtains shut. In a moment, Hallow’s hands wound around his body, his lips on Ash’s shoulders.
“I love you, Hallow.” Ash murmured.
“I love you, my darling Ash.” Hallow drew him towards the bed. and they pulled each other’s clothes off slowly, reverently. Hallow had some scrapes and bruises from the fight.
Ash pulled his magic up, and placed his hand over each of them, healing them simply by willing them gone.
They sank onto the bed together, a naked tangle of limbs, and made love slowly. Each kiss felt like a promise, the act of penetration, a ritual of commitment.
Afterwards they lay together panting, gazing into each other’s eyes.
“Forever?” Ash asked, tracing his fingertips along the shape of Hallow’s jaw.
“Forever.”