50.

Korey

I hear the waves of an ocean, and my body relaxes. Something about water, the ocean immediately just makes me forget all of my problems.

Wait, ocean?

I open my eyes and find myself lying in the arms of my husband and I look up and turn my head towards the waves. Just outside my door, there is a sandy beach and a few hopes and skips away, is the beautiful ocean.

"Wade?"

He mumbles some words and I shake him.

"Wade, wake up."

He groans and rubs his eyes, "Yeah, what's wrong baby?"

"How did we get here?"

Wade stretches his body and sits up on his forearms.

"You wanted to come here, remember."

Oh yeah, I did.

"We have this place all to ourselves until you're ready to go home. I had my mother and Fifi bring all our things here for us."

I nod, I lie back down, and I look at him, he lies down and looks at me. He pushes my hair behind my ear and strokes my cheek.

"I am so sorry Korey." He says.

"Hey, hey, it's okay baby. Let's focus on getting her soul back and then we can try again."

"Try to have another baby?"

I nodded, I mean it was a little soon to be talking about having another baby, but I really wanted one so bad but not until I found my baby's soul and brought it home. When her siblings come, I want them to know her.

Wade doesn't seem to like that idea, but I know he'll warm up to it. He has to, we won't be here forever.

"We can talk about this, some other time but for now, can you please, run me a bath and call Gertie for me."

Wade nods and rolls out of bed and stands up, "My mom gave me some herbs to put in your bath water, she says it'll heal you quicker."

"That's so sweet of her."

He hums, he picks up his phone and walks to the bathroom. I hear him turn on the tap and a few moments later he walks out.

"Gertie isn't answering her phone or my summons."

I look at him confused, "What do you mean? She usually responds at the speed of light."

And then my mind takes me back to the hospital.

"No, my baby. Who's going to look after my baby?"

Gertie leans forward and whispers in my ear.

"Don't worry about her, my brother has got it."

I turn my head and look at Gertie but it's not Gertie.

"Hypnos."

"Hypnos?"

"Hypnos was pretending to be Gertie at the hospital."

Wade doesn't seem to believe me, "When you left me alone with her, she put me to sleep but before I closed my eyes, Gertie turned into Hypnos baby, you have to believe me."

"Babe, there is no way. I would have sensed him or seen him."

"And that's the problem, nobody did."

The cogs in Wade's head seem to be turning now and his mouth opens.

"That isn't possible, how? Do you think he took Gertie?"

"Call Peter."

Before Wade could open his mouth, Peter was standing out on the porch, he slides the door open and walks in.

"You called?"

"Gertie is missing, Hypnos might have her," I speak.

"Hypnos shapeshifted into Gertie, and I don't know what he did to her when we left him alone with her."

"Did he say anything to you?"

"No, my baby. Who's going to look after my baby?"

Gertie leans forward and whispers in my ear.

"Don't worry about her, my brother has got it."

"Thanos has my baby's soul," I say, looking at Wade and I could see the rage growing inside him.

"But what would he want with your child's soul?" Peter asks, confused.

"A bargaining chip." Wade replies, "I show mercy, and this is how they repay me."

It's not them, Persephone says.

"I don't think they are the ones that want my baby's soul," I speak.

Wade and Peter look at me confused, "What do you mean?"

"Persephone, says it's not them that want to baby."

The two men look at each other and then at me.

"It sounds crazy, yes, but I think she's right."

Wade lets out a breath and sits down beside me, "Babe, does she know who has our baby?"

I shake my head, "No."

Wade sighs, "We have our work cut out for us and we need to find Gertie asap."

"I'll go investigate, check the hospital footage, the house, the twins' layer," Peter says as he walks to the door.

"Thank you, Peter." Wade nods and I say thank you too.

Peter walks out the door and then disappears into the ocean.

Wade kisses my head, "Are you okay baby?"

I nod, "Yeah, I just want us to find Gertie so she can help me look for my baby, I have a feeling she might know where she is."

"I think so too but what do they want with our baby. What do they know that we don't?"

I shrug, "I just want her back Wade. I want her home."

"I know honey, let's get you in the tub and get some food in you okay, you don't have to worry about a thing."

I kiss Wade on the cheek, and he gives me a smile.

"I love you, Wade."

"I love you too Korey."