A Wife’s Comfort  
(Play BGM - Tifa’s Theme)
 
Celaeno woke up, eyes still blurry from her awakening. Looking around, two things caught her attention. The first was the alarm clock which read one in the morning. The second and most noticeable was that her husband, Azure Glide, was nowhere to be found. Getting up, her pregnancy nearing its end made it difficult to get up sometimes.
 
Azure, my husband, Celaeno whispered internally, what’s hurting you?
 
 
It had been two weeks since that day. With reports of a mall shooting all over the news, Celaeno knew Azure, then a lieutenant working with Canterlot’s boys in blue would be the first responder. Yet, she didn’t know that day was when she would almost lose him. Upon hearing that he was admitted to the hospital in critical condition, her heart raced so fast as she worried for his life. Hearing he was going to pull through was a breath of fresh air. After he woke up, she could tell something was wrong, as his mental scarring remained.
 
Walking into the living room, Celaeno saw Azure, sitting alone on the couch. His face looked weary and forlorn. Down his cheeks ran a small stream of tears yet no sobbing was heard.
 
“Hey dear,” Celaeno whispered as she sat next to her husband, rubbing her belly, “What are you doing out of bed? You worry me. Are you okay?”
 
“I’d be lying if I said I was.” Azure sighed, wiping a tear away, “I just… have a lot of things on my mind right now.” Celaeno knew what he meant. Since the weeks he came back and his subsequent retirement, Azure had been afflicted with remembrances of that day and other moments of his career, ever traumatic.
 
“Azure, I’ve heard you call out my name. What’s wrong, my love?”
 
“Since that day where I… nearly died,” Azure said with a hitch in his voice, “I’ve been having a nightmare.”
 
“What was it about?” Celaeno gingerly rubs Azure’s hand, easing him, “What frightens you?” It took Azure a minute to gather the courage to explain. Just the thought of revisiting those memories was enough to make him feel pain and nauseated.
 
“I found myself in a void, pitch black as if space had no stars. Off in the distance, I saw you cradling our daughter as it cried. Sniff I~ tried to reach the two of you to assure that everything was fine but I felt darkness swallowing me, cold like death. I kept calling your name but I kept sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss until…” Azure breaks down and cries, “I just didn’t want to lose you! I didn’t want to leave you and our daughter behind! You both mean so much to me!”
 
Knowing of her husband’s mental scars, Celaeno never liked the sight of Azure in agony. Ever since he woke up that day, he was morose and depressed. To hear those words from him made his thoughts loud and clear to her. He needed her more than ever. Gently, Celaeno pulled Azure into a hug, rubbing his back as he cried in her shoulder. It wasn’t the first time it happened. It also wasn’t the first time she saw him feel fear.
 
“Azure, dear, it’s going to be alright.” Celaeno reassured, “I know you’ve been mentally wounded by what happened. I tell you now… I’ll never abandon you. I’ll be with you every step of the way. That is my promise as your wife.”
 
Azure never knew his wife to be a liar. If she said something, she would mean it. During his time working with her in the police department, Azure got to know Celaeno better and it all led to their current state, no regrets.
 
“God, I must look pathetic right now.” Azure muttered.
 
“Azure, when I said yes to marrying you, did you think I made that decision based on your toughness?” Celaeno asked, “When you took the knee that one day, right as I looked into your eyes, I saw something within you and it made me appreciate you for who you really are. I saw the real you, a sweet and loving soul. You truly cared about me, loved me. I love you for what’s in your heart. No other man would do.”
 
Before she could catch her breath, Celaeno’s lips were met by those from Azure. Feeling his hand rub across the surface of her stomach, Celaeno found herself lost in the intimacy of the moment. Breaking away, Celaeno saw the look in his eyes she grew accustomed to, one that she cherished the most.
 
“Here,” Celaeno said as she laid back on the couch, “rest your head on my belly, I’ll be perfectly comfortable.”
 
With a nod, Azure did as she advised, laying on the couch with her and resting the side of his head on her belly. Such intimacy, Azure couldn’t help but shed a few more tears as Celaeno brushed her fingers through his hair in a loving gesture. Relaxing on the place that held his unborn daughter elevated his spirits. He couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms and neither could his wife. As he began to relax, he felt a kick to his cheek, surprising him.
 
“Hmmm, looks like the little one can’t wait to see us.” Azure yawned, kissing the spot.
 
“She’ll be growing up with a loving mother and father.” Celaeno yawned as she saw Azure close his eyes, “At least she knows when her father is feeling upset.” Resting her head back, Celaeno began to doze off with a smile on her face. For now, Azure was at peace but it was a challenge she had to overcome. All in all, she loved her husband and would never break that sacred bond for anything in the world.
 
Don’t worry, honey, I’m here for you no matter what.
 
(If you want to read more of my work, be sure to check out my FimFiction)