When she finally pulled back again, just enough for him to catch his breath, Milo let out a tiny giggle, a sound that was sweet and shy and so pure it made Ruby smile against his forehead. His cheeks were flushed pink, his chest rising and falling faster than before, but now it wasn’t from fear.
He looked up at her through his lashes, his lips pink and just a little damp, eyes glowing like a soft lantern. He felt beautiful, not because he looked it, but because in that moment, wrapped in her gentle touch and warm breath, he was beautiful. Loved. Wanted.
And all he could do was whisper, his voice so airy it barely reached her ears, "Thank you... wife... you make me feel... so beautiful..."
Ruby couldn’t help it — the way Milo’s cheeks flushed such a soft, lovely pink made her heart feel so full she thought it might burst right there beside his bed. He hid his face a little behind his tiny hand, lashes fluttering as he peeked up at her through the small gap in his fingers. His lips still looked a touch rosy, slightly parted from the warmth of her kiss, and the way he pressed them together shyly now just made him look even more adorable.
She let out a warm, quiet chuckle, the sound slipping out before she could stop it. She leaned in closer, brushing her thumb over the tip of his ear, feeling him shiver ever so slightly under her touch.
"You’re so cute when you’re shy," she teased softly, her voice low but full of warmth. "What should I do with you, hmm?"
Milo peeked at her again, eyes wide and glowing, his hand slipping away from his mouth only to hover near her wrist like he didn’t know what to do with it. "Wife..." he whispered, his voice so sweet it was like honey dripped into the rainy quiet. "You’ll... make me more shy..."
Ruby laughed again, but it was soft and light, a sound just for him. "Good," she breathed out with a small grin. And before Milo could bury his face in his pillow or squeak out another shy word, she leaned in and pressed another quick, gentle peck to his lips.
It was so light, like a feather brushing over him but it made Milo’s shoulders rise up to his ears, his breath catching as a soft, startled giggle slipped from his throat. He hid his warm face in the blanket, his fingers curling into the fabric as if he could hide from the whole world but the tiny smile that curved at the edge of his lips gave him away.
Ruby just stayed there beside him that night, her nose brushing against Milo’s soft hair as she rested her hand gently over his heart, feeling that faint, steady beat that reminded her again and again why she’d do anything to protect him.
The next morning, Milo felt so much lighter like the fear he’d been carrying for days had melted away in the warmth of that simple promise and her gentle kisses. He sat up with a shy grin as he slipped into the soft yellow robe Ruby brought him, the color bright against his pale skin.
By the time Ruby came to collect Julian and other, everyone else was already waiting by the door in their fresh new robes — Karl bouncing on his heels like he might explode with excitement. "Wife! Is he ready yet?! The movie! The movie!" he kept shouting, making Milo hide his face behind his sleeve with an embarrassed laugh.
Milo was sitting in the middle of the back seat between Julian and Adrian, while Karl sat up front. Julian gently tucked a small blanket over Milo’s lap, just in case the wind turned cold. Ruby started up her car, the soft hum filling the air as they lifted above the village and drifted smoothly toward the city.
When they reached the theatre, Milo’s eyes widened so big they looked like glass marbles. He clutched Karl’s sleeve tightly, and even Adrian, usually so calm and stiff, looked quietly impressed at the sleek building with its bright banners and neon signs. The theatre was already buzzing with city people dressed in fancy clothes, their perfumes mixing in the air like sweet mist.
Ruby guided them through the small crowd, her hand protectively on Milo’s shoulder, while Julian stayed close behind him, one palm hovering near his back like a quiet shield. She bought them all red popcorn in shiny paper buckets, and Karl almost dropped his in excitement when he saw the giant fizzy drinks lined up at the counter.
She handed everyone their VIP tickets that made Karl puff up with pride as if he owned the entire buliding. She laughed under her breath when he kept flashing the ticket to random strangers, just to show they were important today.
Inside, the theatre was dark and cold but so grand it made Milo’s eyes sparkle. Ruby led them to the last row, the wide VIP seats with soft cushions. She settled Milo down carefully, sitting right beside him so he could lean against her shoulder if he got tired. Julian took the seat next to Milo, his calm presence a quiet wall of comfort. Karl plopped down beside Julian, already cramming popcorn into his mouth, and Adrian sat on the far end, arms crossed but eyes bright with a rare spark of curiosity.
When the lights dimmed and the giant screen flickered to life, Milo’s mouth fell open. His fingers curled around Ruby’s sleeve, tugging at it every few seconds when a stunning visual flashed on screen, wild colors, beautiful scenes, so different from anything he’d seen in Soulstream.
The cheers and claps from the city crowd echoed around them every time something breathtaking happened on screen but the real warmth for Ruby came from seeing her family’s eyes shining in that big, dark room, the way Karl laughed too loud, how Adrian’s lips twitched in a smile he tried so hard to hide, and how Milo’s eyes glowed brighter than the entire movie itself.
—To be continued...🪄