When I saw Mara in the park, I jogged over to him. “Sorry I’m late. I had to work an extra fifteen minutes.”

“That’s fine. I needed to make a couple phone calls anyway.” He gestured to the trail. “Shall we?”

With a laugh, I agreed.

“I guess this is our first proper date,” I said.

“Yep. Never had the chance to take you on one all those years ago. Speaking of, let me properly explain what exactly happened that day.” He took a deep breath, then continued. “I went home and told my parents what you told me. Then they explained everything while packing basically our entire house. When my parents were on the other continent, they used to help oppressed Underbrush hermaphrodites begin new lives instead of the traditional practice of feeding them to the wild animals of the forest. The way they did that was by faking their clients’ deaths with burned cadavers. Whichever way the government saw it, they were definitely after my parents, so we ended up living on the seas, finding sympathizers to our cause, and built an organization around helping intersexuals and hermaphrodites that are being discriminated against. I wanted to return home sooner, but my parents became slightly paranoid and made us stay on the sea for three years. The party we just had was to celebrate our return.”

Too shocked by everything else he said, I asked the simplest question. “You wrote while you were out there?”

“Yeah. Somehow they didn’t find out about it.”

“And you never found anyone else you liked?”

“Well, people suck, Jiyuru. I tried to convince myself I could love someone else at times…but everyone I dared to try always had something else planned for our ‘relationship.’ I spoiled myself when I met you, I guess.”

He wore a sad smile, something I never thought I’d see. He’d been hurt a lot, but he was willing to try again with me. I…wondered why.

“Is it bad to say I’m kinda glad? I mean, I never could stop loving you, no matter how hard I tried.”

He seemed surprised at my words. “I really thought you’d be way more mad at me for leaving like that.”

“I couldn’t be. You gave me fair warning, and it wasn’t even your choice. Plus, if I was mad at you, I wouldn’t have agreed to go on a date with you.”

Mara’s smile changed from sad to happy, and he offered me his hand.

Holding hands for the rest of our little date, we made small talk. Yet, it felt so easy again, like we were never apart.

He walked me home, but before I could go up the steps, he gently turned me towards him, placing his hand on my face. “May I?”

“You’re asking?” I teased.

“Better to ask for permission first than forgiveness later.”

“Fair. But, you may.”

He leaned in and gently kissed me. Multiple times. For about three minutes. Anyway.

He smiled at me. “Let’s go out again soon, okay?”

“I’d like that.”

~.~

“So, he’s here to stay?” Kailee asked hopefully.

“That’s what it sounds like. I…really want it to work out this time, and I’m gonna make it clear to him what I want. I mean, it’s better for us to be on the same page, right?”

She nodded. “I take it you’re going out with him again soon?”

“Yeah, in a couple days. We’re gonna get dinner, then go on another walk.”

“Fun, tell me how it goes.”

“I will…”

I sure hope it goes well.

~.~

During dinner, he asked, “I’m sensing there’s something you wanna say…”

I sighed. “I don’t mean to make it weird, but I just wanna know how seriously you plan to take our relationship. I’m not doubting you or anything…”

“Makes sense,” he said. “To be honest, I’d like it to last.”

When he didn’t continue speaking, I asked, “How long?”

He stared at me, a puzzled expression on his face, then laughed, catching me off guard. “Forever would be nice.”

“But what about your pre-existing fake girlfriend? And your parents probably won’t be too happy about you dating me again.”

“I’ll take care of my ‘girlfriend,’ and, for now, my parents don’t need to know. Eventually we can start small with reintroducing you as a friend, and then, at some point, my partner.” He smiled at me, and I couldn’t keep myself from smiling back.

We finished up dinner and took our walk in a different park than last time.

“Oh, yeah, I heard about tha–”

Mara stopped when I did. “What’s wrong?”

“Didn’t you hear that? It sounded like a cry.”

We fell silent and listened for a moment, then I definitely heard it again.

“That way,” I directed, walking into the woods.

The cry became louder as we neared it, and we soon reached the source of the sound.

When we saw it, we both gasped, mortified.

A baby in a basket, a thin blanket wrapped around him–or her–or them. I couldn’t tell. I picked up the infant, cradling them and shushing them. Soon, they were fast asleep in my arms.

“A baby,” Mara breathed, tickling the baby’s chin.

“They seem older than a newborn, which is a bit relieving, but I’m concerned. How long have they been out here? When was the last time the baby ate? Are they coming down with anything?”

Mara gently rubbed my shoulders. “The baby’s asleep right now, so let’s clear our heads and head to the Department of Child Services. I know there’s a building right near here.”

I nodded mutely, his arm still around my shoulders as we made the short walk to the building. The building was empty, save for a few officers and the clerk.

“How may I help you?” she asked sweetly.

I cleared my throat. “We found this child when we were taking a walk in some woods close by.”

“Let me make a quick phone call, please.”

We stood by while she made the call.

“Yes, I’m calling about housing an infant who was found abandoned nearby…Mhm…Mhm…None?...At all?...Too crowded? Anyone on the waitlist looking to foster a baby?...I see…Thank you…You too, bye bye.”

Her cordial smile became obviously strained. “You two wouldn’t happen to be law-abiding citizens who are looking to adopt a child, would you?”

“Sure,” Mara said.

I glared at him. “He means, we need to talk.” Ushering him into a corner, I asked, “What do you mean sure? I work a full-time job and live in a teeny apartment, and your parents will have so many questions about why you came home with a baby.”

“I mean sure because I am sure. I may or may not have a few properties in my name currently vacant.”

Slightly taken aback, I asked, “You want to take care of the baby on your own?”

He smiled at me. “Oh, Jiyuru…No.”

“Then what?”

“You could move in with me.”

Shocked, I couldn’t speak for a moment. “Wha-I mean–What happened to starting small?”

“Well, that went out the window for me the moment they didn’t have room for the baby. What about you?”

I sighed, looking down at the child in my arms. He was right. We couldn’t just leave the poor thing.

“Okay, but Kailee’s coming with me, just so you know.”

“Didn’t expect otherwise.”

We walked back to the clerk and gave her our answer.

“Perfect! We should have a car seat here somewhere. Congrats on becoming parents!”

Parenthood, huh? Didn’t expect that in the slightest.