Chapter 91
Felicity POV.
About two hours later Maximus came back to the cave and it was a relief for me, almost all of our friends who were awake got up and walked over to him. "Hey, so how did it go?" Ava asked as she approached Maximus.
"It went great, the crowd was really into it. But I'm exhausted now," Maximus replied, handing out bottles of water to everyone.
Agent Brown raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem too enthusiastic about it though. Is everything okay?"
Maximus hesitated for a moment before responding. "Honestly, I just didn't want to talk about it. Can we please just drop it?"
Our friends looked at each other, sensing that there was something more going on.
I walked over to Maximus, holding our crying baby in my arms. "Thanks for the water, it was really thoughtful of you."
Maximus smiled and leaned in to give me a quick kiss on the lips. But as soon as he pulled away, I felt a wave of guilt wash over me.
"Max, I need to talk to you about something," I said, looking down at my feet.
"What's up?" he asked, concern etched in his features.
We distance ourselves a bit from the rest of the group.
"I kissed Adrian when we were apart. I just needed to tell you. I feel terrible about it," I blurted out.
Maximus looked at me for a moment before wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug. "It's okay, we all make mistakes. I forgive you," he whispered in my ear.
I realized that there was more to Maximus than just his drag persona. He was a compassionate and forgiving person, the kind of husband that every women needed in their lives.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged him back tightly, grateful for his understanding and kindness.
"Thank you for all Max!" I said my voice shaked.
"I'm here for you, always," Maximus replied reassuringly.
"I know," I said, "and I appreciate it so much."
After a few moments, we pulled away and joined our friends.
"You guys okay?" one of them asked.
"Yeah," Maximus replied, "just having a moment."
From that moment on, Maximus and I grew even closer and I knew our love for each other will continue to blossom.
"You mean everything to me," I told him when we sat.
"And you mean everything to me," he replied, looking directly into my eyes.
We both knew that no matter how much we may mess up and make mistakes, there is always forgiveness and a chance for redemption. And with a loving and understanding partner by your side, there is nothing that can't be overcome. The baby was still crying, " Shh, it's okay here, have some water." I said gently.
I gave him some water and he calmed down immediately.
Maximus wrapped his arms around me and leaned in. "You did great today, love. You always know how to handle everything."
I sighed contentedly, feeling protected in his embrace. "Thanks, babe. I'm just glad it's over."
Maximus played with my hair, his fingers gently brushing against my neck. "Are you feeling okay? You seem a little tired."
I chuckled, snuggling closer to him. "Yeah, being a mom can be exhausting sometimes. But I've got you to help me out."
Maximus kissed my forehead, his lips soft against my skin. "Always, love. I'm here for you."
I closed my eyes, feeling my body relax against his. The baby stirred next to me, but I felt calm and content knowing that Maximus was by my side.
Maximus smiled at me, brushing my hair away from my face. "You're exhausted, love. You should get some rest."
I nodded, feeling comforted by his warmth next to me. "Thanks for being here.
I snuggled closer to him, feeling our son sleeping peacefully next to us. "I'm just so tired. The baby kept me up all night."
"I know, but you're doing an amazing job as a mom," he said, kissing my forehead.
I smiled, feeling grateful for his support.
"I love you, Maximus," I whispered, my voice small in the darkness.
"I love you too, love. Always and forever," he replied, his voice steady and reassuring.
We fell asleep together, our bodies intertwined and our love surrounding us like a warm blanket. Nothing else mattered in that moment, as long as we had each other.
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside. I sat up and saw Maximus still sleeping soundly next to me. I couldn't help but smile at how peaceful he looked. I gently placed a kiss on his forehead before getting up to tend to the baby. As I was changing the baby's diaper, Ava approached me. "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure, what's up?" I asked.
"I think something might be bothering Maximus," she said hesitantly. "He seemed really distant last night and I just don't want him to bottle things up."
I sighed. "I know, but he doesn't want to talk about it. I don't want to push him and make things worse."
Ava nodded. "I get it, but maybe you can just let him know that you're there for him if he ever does want to talk about it?"
I thought about it and realized that was a good idea. "Thanks, Ava. I'll do that."
I finished changing the baby's diaper and I laid him on clothes that I had placed on the ground, before going back to lie down next to Maximus. I gently stroked his hair and whispered, "I just want you to know that I love you and I'm here for you if you need me." Maximus stirred and opened his eyes. He looked at me for a moment before pulling me into a tight embrace. "Thank you," he whispered back.
We lay there for a while, just holding each other. I could feel the tension in his body slowly melting away and I knew that he was feeling better. Sometimes, all we need is someone to be there for us, to listen, and to offer support.
As the day went on, we left the cave with our horses, Maximus slowly opened up about what was bothering him. It wasn't an easy conversation, but I was glad that he trusted me enough to share with me. It made me realize that relationships take work and effort, but it's worth it when you have someone you love by your side. And that's what Maximus and I had a bond that could withstand even the toughest of challenges.