Garan's lips twitched under his wife's very cute glare.
He did it on purpose, of course, he did.
He knew how many eyes followed his wife's movements everywhere. He didn't blame them—who wouldn't find his wife beautiful—but how could he not show his position?
He pretended not to see his wife's adorable stare and just held her hand a bit more tightly. He then nonchalantly pushed the stroller along the wide sidewalk with his other hand.
Like before, they walked along the tree-lined avenues, garnering attention wherever they went, though this time… they had their little babies with them.
"Mwhamammm…" Little Pepper cooed, and Little Meatball gurgled.
"Googghmmnghwgh…"
Althea chuckled as she looked down at the stroller. She saw her children's eyes wide with wonder, taking in their surroundings.
They went on walks every day, but they have yet to lose interest in the same scenery even after so many days. It was very cute and it honestly felt hopeful.
She lifted her eyes and met Garan's who were staring at her and the children warmly. They stared at each other for a while, their minds recalling the adventures they had to go through before finally arriving in this… peace.
It took a while, but their family was finally complete.
At this thought, they smiled brightly at each other, hearts full.
…
While the couple was walking leisurely, forgetting why they rushed out of breakfast in the first place, the Terran Mercenary team was waiting around in the restaurants abutting the central plaza.
As they waited, a few team members took turns watching the people coming to the Village Center across the street.
It wasn't that they didn't know where the captain was, but they dared not disturb him.
Not to mention… this place was heaven!
They were totally in vacation-mode the past few days!
Sammy lied lazily on the chair of the restaurant, sipping his lemonade with a noisy gurgle. "Ahhhh, this is the lifeeee!"
Of course, it would've been best if they found family like the Captain, Gill, and even Ryo (all of whom were currently with their families).
Luis nodded as he ate cookies one after another like a hamster.
"I think the captain forgot all about us."
"With a wife like sister-in-law, anyone would forget everything else…" Sammy mumbled dreamily, making the others' heads turn to him.
Except for a few who happened to be near when she visited the barracks, the others had never met Althea.
The Captain's wife, the woman he loved more than the world. The mysterious woman who could actually tame such a man.
But more than being the Captain's wife, they were also very curious about the Miss Althea in the citizens' mouths.
They had heard the Lord of Bright say sister-in-law held a high position in Altera, but they couldn't have imagined that it was to the degree that she was revered by everyone.
Regardless of which Althea they were more curious about, those who didn't know her surrounded Sammy for some gossip.
They surrounded him so quickly that some of his lime juice leaked and he glared at the men in abhorrence. "Shame!"
"Ah, no, sorry," Luis asked, leaning over, though he didn't look particularly guilty at all. "How is she? Is she really so beautiful?"
The image of the woman in memory deflated Sammy's anger and he became a little dazed.
"Hnmm~ Like a fairy, an angel, an elf, a goddess," Sammy said dreamily, hearts in his eyes. The captain took sister-in-law to the shooting range for date night, he happened to be there.
Maybe because they were so immersed with each other, or because he had dark skin that he blended in the night—maybe both—they did not notice him in their flirting.
In all fairness, they did not do anything improper and were really learning to shoot. But the sweet atmosphere between them was palpable.
And sister-in-law… was so beautiful and charming. When she smiled, the whole room lit up, her every movement let your eyes follow her.
People might wonder how such a woman would fall for such an ice block like their captain, but the captain was a completely different person in front of his lover.
He almost believed the man was not their captain, he just wore his skin.
"The captain really lucked out!" Luis could still remember how scary the captain was, especially with women who had designs on him.
He could still remember the many, many times the women-averse captain made women cry with his harsh words. Even beauties like Vanessa were no exception.
It was a mystery how such a woman didn't get scared off!
In fact, Garan was an Idiot as early as Vismont. It was just that he sprinted to Altera too quickly no one really saw his expression.
Sammy looked at their disbelieving expressions and cackled.
"You'll see," he said, "You'll find out later."
...
The team continued chilling in a restaurant for a couple more minutes, ordering yet another batch of food. This time, they were eating desserts. Some ordered fruit platters, some ordered pastries, and some a mix of both.
It seemed they did nothing but eat the past few days? Mao noted he seemed to have gained a few kilograms!
They also did a lot of shopping. They had bought a bit of everything, to be honest. Their space had been filled the day they even stepped in this place, let alone now after so many days. Even Eagle's large space had almost been filled.
They also saw the parks! They were so well-made and well-maintained. They had never seen a territory that had incorporated nature so much and so well.
Even the bathhouse was so special! Everything was customized!
They weren't close enough with Jonathan to know how much things cost, but they knew any modification wouldn't be cheap at all!
There were also medicines from a Pharmacist—who was apparently sister-in-law! Although its effect would be limited when they reached level 20, for now, it was still very amazing okay?
It was unbelievable.
Was it really done by Terrans in a month? Too amazing right?
The lifestyle here was clearly better than the towns outside!
"We'll definitely settle down here, right?" Luis mumbled after a pause, feeling a bit apprehensive.
"Yes yes yes yes. Definitely."
"What about the base in Ferrol?" Plaridel mumbled. He also wanted to stay, but they really worked hard for that property.
"I'm sure the captain will figure something out." Mao shrugged, absentmindedly looking in the direction of the village center by habit.
This time though, he flinched.
"Hey, look! I see the captain!" Mao yelled, running to the balcony facing the village center. Sammy stood up and followed his line of sight.
"It's my sister-in-law!" He yelled, looking dreamily, and every other man took a peek.
They practically piled together on the window, with someone almost falling. The poor guy though, couldn't express his annoyance when he saw sister-in-law, and he gasped with everyone else.
"Beautiful!" Luis said, elbowing Sammy. "She's really an angel! Such a pretty smile…"
Some had sharper eyes and looked at what the captain was pushing. "Is that a stroller?"
"What?"
Someone pulled out a scope from his space, getting a glimpse of what was inside. His mouth made a wide 'o' in shock.
"Babies!? Human babies?"
Chris, who had been the major investigator, seemed to have remembered something during one of his trips.
"I seem to have heard Ms. Althea gave birth? I didn't absorb it though since I was busy eating. I thought I was just imagining things."
They gasped. If this was true—
"Captain not only found his wife, but also his children!"
"..."
"..."
The group couldn't absorb things for a while and they just stared at each other until someone told them to go down to greet them.
"A-Ah, right!"
"I wanna see sister-in-law closer!"
"I wanna see the captain's smile! Is it creepy? I couldn't see clearly…"
"I wanna see the baby!"
Chris stood up and corrected them, "Babies," he said, walking ahead to the stairs. Shaking off the shock, this seemed to signal everyone and they all filed down the stairs.
Their feet were quick. They were not running but they reached the square very quickly. It was just that their approach was halted by an unexpected sight.
The sight of the captain's massive grin as if teasing sister-in-law about something. It was a blinding sight.
"Is that really our captain?" Luis asked, narrowing his eyes. Sammy chuckled. "You should see them (when they think) they're alone," he said, although he'd argue that the couple were partially forgetting they were in a public space already.
Then they saw sister-in-law pouting as she stared at the captain, but their perennially-cold captain just grinned brightly and said something that made sister-in-law blush so, so, beautifully!
He then took the woman's hand he was holding and lifted it up. He placed it against his lips, kissing it, and then he leaned down and placed a wet kiss on her cheek.
In public.
The soldiers almost fell down.
"...!!!!"
Then again, they made out when they met back in Vismont, right? They really ought to stop being so surprised!