Chapter 20: A Quiet Moment.

  Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the small window of Eli’s cabin, casting a warm glow over the room as Ava and Eli lay together, savoring a rare moment of tranquility. Outside, Green Arbor bustled on, but here, wrapped up together, they felt blissfully removed from it all.

  Eli chuckled, his eyes shining with amusement. “Miko’s got a point, you know. You and Talon are just as bad as the kids,” he teased, bringing up the mischief with little Ava and the trap incident.

  Ava grinned, her eyes glinting playfully. “Oh, so you don’t like my fun side?” She leaned in, giving him a gentle kiss on the nose before pulling back with a mock pout and sticking out her tongue.

  Eli laughed, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “Oh, I love your fun side, Blondie.” He paused, a slight furrow in his brow. “But that’s just one side of you, isn’t it?”

  Sensing the change in his tone, Ava softened, studying him. “And the other side?” she asked, trying to read his expression.

  Eli hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “The other side… that’s what scares me sometimes.” He held her gaze, letting her see the worry he usually kept hidden. “Not because I think you’d hurt me, but because I know how much you’re willing to do to keep people safe. There’s a lot you take on.”

  Ava shifted closer, brushing a gentle hand through his hair, trying to ease the worry from his face. “I know, Eli. I know it’s heavy sometimes. But you keep me grounded, and that’s what matters.” Her voice softened, her eyes filled with a quiet intensity. “It’s you that I come back to. That keeps me fighting.”

  Eli let out a breath, his thumb brushing her cheek softly as he smiled. “Well, I’ll hold you to that.” He paused, looking at her thoughtfully. “But what’s this I hear about you leaving soon?”

  Ava gave a soft nod. “I was going to talk to you about that.” She held his gaze, letting her thumb trace his jaw. “I’ll be going on a mission, and it won’t be safe to bring Callie. I was hoping you could keep an eye on her while I’m gone.”

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  Eli’s brow furrowed, concern in his eyes. “Dangerous? Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

  Ava chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I’ll be fine. You know me. Besides, I can’t be gone too long when I have you to come back to.” She smiled, but the concern in his eyes lingered, and she touched his hand reassuringly. “Promise.”

  Eli’s grip tightened around her hand, but he nodded, finally relaxing into her touch. “Good. I don’t like the idea of you in danger.”

  Ava laughed lightly, then added, “Oh, and I’ll need you to check in on Echo. Keep him company when you can.”

  Eli raised a brow, surprised. “Echo? Lucas isn’t coming with you, is he?”

  Ava grinned. “Well, yes, but don’t worry. He’ll be staying behind to look after camp and gather intel. It’s not as risky as it sounds.”

  Eli chuckled, lying back with a relieved sigh. “Well, if Lucas is going, it can’t be too dangerous. But I’ll keep an eye on Echo for you. Callie, too.”

  She nodded, resting her head against his chest as a quiet, comfortable silence fell between them. After a few moments, Eli spoke up again. “Actually, I think Echo and Callie have been good for each other. She’s been spending a lot of time with him, even sharing her lunch, as if he’s a friend.”

  Ava’s smile grew. “She needs that connection. She has a lot of potential but needs a little more confidence. She has so much heart, and I can see a bit of myself in her sometimes.”

  “She’s in good hands, then,” Eli murmured, running his fingers through her hair. “But you’ve got to promise me you’ll be careful out there.”

  Ava looked up, leaning her head back to see his face, a warm smile softening her features. “Always. You’re what keeps me grounded, remember?”

  They lingered like that, comfortable and close, until Eli spoke up, his smile returning with a playful edge. “Oh, and speaking of connections… Did I hear right that a young ADF member has taken a bit of a liking to Callie?”

  Ava chuckled, tilting her head in curiosity. “She hasn’t mentioned it to me. Has he told you?”

  Eli laughed, resting his head against hers. “No, but I doubt she even realizes. But it’s there, all right.”

  Ava sighed, smiling wistfully. “That’s kind of sweet. Reminds me of a market boy I knew once…”

  Eli smirked, rolling her over onto her back. “You were a hard nut to crack. Took me getting captured and you shot just to get a date.”

  Ava laughed, reaching up to trace the scar she'd earned that day. “I’d say it was worth it.”

  “More than worth it,” Eli murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her scar, his lips warm and lingering. They relaxed back into each other’s arms, and for that moment, the weight of the world outside felt a little lighter.

  As they lay there, the golden light casting long shadows across the room, they drifted off to sleep, content and entwined. In each other’s embrace, they found the peace that held them steady, even as the shadows of the past loomed on the horizon.