Is this destiny?

Felix's words made Sophia's heart ache. She realized that while she was finishing up work, he was thinking about his father, and how he left them. 'Felix was reliving all the pain he went through when his father left.' She was thinking about his family and how he grew up without a father and with an overbearing mother. He probably struggled a lot. He must have struggled a lot. How else could he be such a wonderful man, against all odds?

Many things Sophia took for granted because she grew up in a harmonious family, but Felix… he didn't have anyone to talk to, to guide him, to help him out. He was by himself. Feeling abandoned. She could imagine Felix as a young boy coming home from school, back to his mother's nagging. She could imagine young boy persistently going to Beaver Lake with a lump in his chest, wishing, hoping… and then returning home dejected after another failure to meet with his father.

For Sophia, this was too much to bear. Under the emotional boost of pregnancy hormones, she was not able to hold on and started sobbing.

Felix immediately pulled her to sit in his lap and cradled her in his arms.

Sophia buried her face in his chest while tears poured out of her like a dam collapsed. She heard him say that he is sorry. She heard him say that he will not do it again. She heard him ask what he did to make her cry. But she was not able to respond. Sophia was only sobbing harder. Felix reminded her that she should not cry, but it didn't help. After some time, he stopped talking and held her tightly, letting her cry it out. Her tears were making his t-shirt wet, and her hands held onto his back tightly. And she sobbed. For a long time. Maybe because he didn't, so she did it in his stead.

When she ran out of tears, Sophia was exhausted. He wiped her face from tears and snot and helped her get into bed to rest. She was holding onto him, not willing to let go and urging him to join her.

"I need to change my top." Felix didn't want to get into bed wearing a t-shirt soaked in tears and snot. But Sophia held onto his arm tightly, and her eyes pleaded him to stay with her. He gave her a small smile of surrender and swiftly removed his t-shirt before getting under the blanket.

Felix laid on the back, and Sophia's head settled on his shoulder while his arms cradled her.

She took a deep breath. "I like your scent."

He was relieved that she calmed down.

Sophia's hand moved with intent to his toned chest and her fingers teased the golden love blanket, how she called his chest hair which was sparingly covering middle of his chest and created a narrow path to his navel.

When he felt her touch, Felix smiled remembering that long-ago Sophia said how his chest hair is shaped like an arrow because is showing the right direction. He ran his fingers through her hair. "Rest now. I will not leave." He kissed top of her head.

"Neither will I. Ever." She felt his body stiffen at her words. Sophia looked up and saw that Felix is looking at her, as if he is expecting some clarification. She shifted her body up and kissed him on the lips lightly. "When I said that I will spend my lifetime with you, I meant it. If we have a misunderstanding, we will talk about it. And when we hit an obstacle, we will go over it together. I will not give up on what we have. I will not leave."

Felix looked at Sophia with eyes full of love. 'This beautiful woman is mine!' Even after all the time they spent together, and everything that happened between them, he still needed a reminder that it's all real, and he is not dreaming. She is his beacon, a safe harbor, and he is her pillar of support. He smiled and confirmed that he will do the same: not give up on what they have.

He held her tightly and they kissed. Slowly and gently at first.

Felix forgot that Sophia wanted to rest, and she forgot about that also. They kissed while greedily inhaling each other's breath as their clothes ended up around them, tossed randomly.

Sophia got on top of him. She likes to be in control. And Felix likes that he gets to see her body, the area where their bodies connect and all her expressions while she is lost in passion. He loves to hold her hips and trace her contours as she is moving like an exquisite exotic dancer to the music only she can hear, and he can feel it through her every move. And then the music changed. This beat was faster. Much faster. The fire within them increased until both of them were ablaze, igniting the world with two of them in the center of an inferno. Their sounds disappeared in a massive explosion, which resembled a supernova… and then everything was still.

They gazed at each other like two people who just discovered the art of love. As if they were hit with a sudden realization how powerful, unyielding, unforgiving it is. They can't separate, ever. Because if they do, they will violate some ancient commandment and their souls will be incinerated in an eternity of pain and suffering. That is an understanding they had. Their bodies and souls are bound together, and it would be akin to desecration if they try to part. But if they stay together, they will be strong, safe, loved, invincible. If they stay together, they will have the power to shape future to their own liking, to keep themselves and their loved ones shielded from any mayhem coming their way.

Sophia took a deep breath inhaling his fragrance. It was a unique mix of after-shave, deodorant, and that special something that could only be described as Felix.

Felix fidgeted for a moment. "We should shower."

"Not yet." Sophia showed no desire to get out of the bed, or to let go of him.

"What if you sleep off like this? Don't you find it uncomfortable to be…" Felix was choosing this last word carefully. "…sticky?"

Sophia smiled. "I don't mind, as long as I stick to you."

A low chuckle escaped him. He was happy.. Felix hugged her tightly and they kissed.