randomplaces | Breaker 'verse 12

"Now who out here?" the female voice was irritated.

"Jus' me. I'm passin' through." Alvin went down the steps and wandered off toward the end of the house where the punching bag hung.

"Watch dem snakes." The admonishment followed him across the yard.

He stumbled his way through the darkness to the stump, managing to miss all major toe stubbers. With a whoosh, he sat heavily on the chopped tree, leaning forward to rest his head on his knees. I never thought in a million years that I'd be here in this place, wondering if... I could be husband as well as a father. He sat up slowly, taking in the stars in the velvet sky. Father, You need to help me here. I don't know what ta think.

With a sense of awe, he slid to his knees, bowing his head and resting in the quiet. He waited for a sign, a feeling, anything that would ease the questions in his heart. Why? Why all of this at once? Can I handle it? Will I fail? Forcing himself to be still, he waited. Night birds sang their songs and rustling of grass and trees accompanied with a gentle harmony. As the wind wound its way through the Spanish moss a single heart cried out to its Maker, a sharp counterpoint to the night music. The ground was starting to dig into his jeans and his kneecaps protested but he waited. Tears no one would ever see were seen by the One who could see them. Still he waited. His heart fighting between love and duty, he waited.

Just as he reached the last of his will, a single croak of a bullfrog disturbed his vigil.

"He'rum."

Alvin frowned. Father?

"He'rum, he'rum."

In the dark, he blinked, turning his head in the direction of the giant frog.

"He'rUM."

A great horned owl sounded. "Whoo?"

The dark headed man stood. "Father?" he whispered.

"He'rUM?"

"Whoo?"

A chorus of small frogs began their song, a seeming million voices all at once blending with cicadas. "Got, got, got, got, got, got..."

It's new to me but it's You, isn't it? It's You telling me You're here and I'm here. He breathed in, stretching his arms out wide. Peace fell in the midst of the noisy cacophony.

"Y' gon' stan' out der all night or get ya some sleep?"

Alvin ran a hand through his hair. Whatever comes, Father, I know You'll be there for me like You always have. He grinned at the night and headed toward the cabin, only to start and wince as his cellphone went off and he stepped on a rock.

"Oww... Dangit, anyway." He fished out the offending piece of electronics and scowled at the glowing screen. "Whaddya want, Wreck?"

"Is that any way to talk to yer old buddy?"

Alvin growled and bit off what he'd nearly said, then wondered where his gum had gone.

"He'rum."

He sucked in his breath. "Sorry. Rough day... How's... Mrs. Delgado?"

"Pretty dang good," the sailor's grin could be heard in his voice. "She's busy right now. Her shift gets off in thirty so I'm waitin' for her."

"That's... that's great, Hector." Alvin ran a hand through his hair, then sat down and carefully rubbed his freshly-bruised foot. "Why'd ya do it?"

"Do what? What'd I do now?"

"Why'd ya get married?" The dark haired man's voice was hushed.

Hector hesitated for a moment but decided to speak honestly with his longtime friend. "She loves me in spite of myself. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah..." Alvin cleared his throat. "Yeah, it does. Is that all?"

"What is this? The Spanish Inquisition? No, really. She's something else, man. I can't wait for you to meet her."

Alvin cleared his throat again. "Does she finish ya off where you're kinda rough? Understand what you're sayin', sometimes nearly before ya say it? Fit inta your life like there'd ben a big hole that ya never noticed till she was there?"

"Oh." Hector whistled between his teeth. "Yeah. Yeah, she does. It's like a part filled in, making me better'n I was. And you know me. But she knows the real me, ya know? The one I want to be." He took a breath. "You sound like...."

Alvin shivered and looked up at the stars. "Yeah."

"For real?"

"Yeah..."

"For real, for real?"

"She's already plannin' our family."

"Family?" The sailor's voice cracked. "Anyone I know?"

"Her name's Jubilee." Alvin wiped at his face, feeling glad for the covering darkness and the wind that kept the mosquitos away.

Hector made a sound of surprise. He knew the firecracker by her father's reputation. "Not Wolverine's kid? You must have it pretty bad, my friend... actually, she's pretty cute, kinda sparky and all. Hey! I'm talking about Alvin's new girlfriend..." The voice trailed off, muffled by something.

"Um, hi... Alvin?"

"Yeah?" he said gruffly, suddenly feeling embarrassed by the tears in his voice.

"This is I'Lee. I think we met once a few years back. You had burns on your hand from a radio exploding?"

"Oh, yeah." He unconsciously clenched his burned hand as he remembered a small woman with strawberry blond hair and dark green eyes.

A voice butted in. "She never forgets a face, Breaker."

"How is your friend? Has he been taking the T3s and resting?"

"Most' the time." Alvin raised an eyebrow as a huge white moth flew past, his mind going to Dove's maiden flight.

"Okay, then. Here's Hector back."

A shuffling sound was heard, then, "Hey, Alvin? Don't overthink, okay? It's not that hard."

Alvin gave a breathless laugh. "Wreck, you don't know how hard it's ben. I just ended up a father 'a two, got shot at by a crazy Dreadnok, 'n now this. I thought I was gonna lose my mind just now."

"But ya didn't, didja? No, cuz you know better. You know if ya wait, a plan'll form and you can handle it."

"I think the plan's ben formin' while I wasn' lookin'." Alvin bit back the urge to laugh.

"Henri, go get dat homme 'n haul 'is crazy rear t' bed," came a low voice from the porch.

"Sometimes it does, bro." A smacking noise was heard. "Hey, I need to run. Call me, okay? Lemme know?"

"Yeah. Thanks, Hector." Alvin closed the phone and lay back with his arms outspread. Father, Ya did it again... He cocked an eye upward as a shadow fell over him. "I'm alright, Henri. Just gimme a few more."

The young giant nodded and returned to the porch.

First, I feel like I'm losing my mind and then You open up the world to me and now... now, I can rest easy. You are so awesome. He rolled to his knees and laughed as the bullfrog bellowed again.

"He'rum?"

"Yeah, I hear Him."

He went to get up, but then hissed through his teeth and put a hand to his ribs, suddenly feeling every ache, burn, cut, and scrape.

"Y' feel better if I help?" Collete was suddenly standing next to him, her sharp brown eyes oddly soft.

He nodded, gritting his teeth as the motion set his back to aching.

"Alright." She got under his arm, bracing her legs as he sagged slightly. "Y'know, God, He good at listenin' anywhere. Y' din' need t'be out 'ere in de mist."

Alvin refrained from comment as they made their way up onto the porch and then into the cabin.

"Oh." Collette stopped and looked from the couch to the bottom bunk, then at the top bunk before looking up at him. "Where ya wanna sleep?"

He watched Jubilee cuddle the children in her sleep for a few minutes, then raised his eyes to the top bunk and groaned. "I guess I'll try to climb up there."

"Al? What 'appen?" There was a creak from the couch and he turned to see Ettiene sitting up and frowning at him in concern.

"Nuthin', E. Go back ta sleep."

The big marine gave him a look. "Y' din' look like dat d' las' time I see ya. What 'appen?"

"I run inta something," said Alvin wearily.

Ettiene's eyes narrowed, but then he glanced toward the bunks and got to his feet. "Hey, Jubes." He walked over and swatted her on the butt. "Get outta dere, Al need dat spot."

"Mmphffff... goin', Dad," came the half-awake reply as she rolled off the bed and stood next to the bunk ladder.

"Dere." Ettiene turned and glared at Alvin. "Lay down 'fore y' squish Collette."

"I ain' dat dainty," the Creole girl growled as she guided the dark haired man to the bed. She helped him ease down and lifted his legs on to the bunk, then murmured sympathy as he groaned. No sooner had the sheet settled over his chest then he was out like a light.

The big marine jerked his head toward the door and Collette made her way out, blowing a raspberry at him as she went. Then he poked Jubilee in the shoulder. "Ya goin' up or down, sha?"

She blinked at him blankly, then calmly flopped down next to Alvin and curled up.

Ettiene scratched his head and grinned. "I knew she do dat'. Wonner what took 'er so long." Still grinning, he grabbed a bite to eat and took care of business before heading back to the couch. Sleep had never looked so good.

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