TWENTY-TWO: Apocalypse Now

With all of the craziness that was going on in the world around them, Charity McLeod couldn't wait to be on the plane to Scotland with her husband, Bruce. The trip was an opportunity to see his homeland as he hadn't been there since he was a boy. Charity had also planned a surprise to take place while they were there. It took everything in her not to reveal it to him or let on that there was even a surprise to begin with. At just over twenty-three weeks pregnant with twins, the woman knew her opportunities to travel were going to lessen as time went on. This trip was important because it would be the last real get-away they'd get to do before their son and daughter arrived.

She had just finished putting the last articles of clothing in her suitcase and overall was packed. Bruce had run out to pick up some last-minute toiletries as their flight was the following morning. Their gray pittie mix, Loch, was laying on the bed next to Charity's suitcase. His ears were perked up and he was watching his mom with interest. He knew something was going on, but he wasn't sure what. Looking at his face, Charity couldn't resist, sitting next to him and scratching behind his ears.

"Oh my good boy, Mommy and Daddy are going to miss you so much, but you're going to be the best boy for Auntie Gretchy." Loch lifted his head, tail wagging in response. "Yes you are and you are going to get all the treats and lovies." Charity had never been a big dog person, but she'd stumbled upon a social media post about a three-year-old Pitbull mix who had spent the majority of his life in and out of shelters. From the moment she saw the pictures, the blonde knew that Loch was meant to be with her and Bruce. He had been the perfect addition to their family. "C'mon, Lovie, let's go get some treats and wait for Daddy."

As soon as Charity had pushed to her feet, which was getting more difficult by the day, Loch wasted no time in jumping down. He followed her into the kitchen area, his paws making tippy-tappy noises all the way. It was at that moment the dog lost all interest in treats as his ears perked straight up and he ran to the door that led out to the garage. Barks accompanied his tail wags as the door opened and in walked Bruce with bags of groceries in hand.

"Loch, treat." She had a piece of beef jerky in hand that brought the dog back over to her so he didn't trip up Bruce or try to Houdini escape out the door. Leaning over a bit, she handed the treat to him and looked at her husband with a confused smile. "That's a lot more than what was on the list." She walked over to take a few bags out of his hands. "What gives?"

"The world's gone mad," Bruce replied, sounding a little winded as he put the rest of the bags down on the counter, sliding his sunglasses down his nose to give her a bemused look. "Saw some stuff out there you wouldn't believe. Shelves were already barren. Had tae almost wrestle this skinny knob-jockey for a package of arse-wipe." Turning away, he moved towards the door, sighing and catching himself before he tripped over the dog. "Oh. May want tae check yer messages. The airline called – apparently they've got my number for contact as well. Caught me in the car when they couldn't get hold of you. Change of plans, love. Flight's cancelled. We're grounded for the time bein'."

"Are you serious?" Charity's face fell as she looked at her husband. "There has to be another flight we can get. I mean I'm already packed and Gretch is picking up Loch this afternoon." She grabbed her phone out of her cardigan's pocket and started going through it. "I'm sure there's something else we can do and uh still make it to Glasgow."

"They said it's only a matter of time before they close the borders. Stop lettin' US citizens leave the country. Could be a chance we'd arrive and have tae come right back home." He ducked outside and grabbed the packages of toilet paper he'd left outside the door. "Italy's 100% infected. Closed up like a drum. Do you really wanna fly overseas, that long a flight with someone who might be carryin' that shyte? I sure as hell don't."

Charity bit down on her lower lip as her hand came up and rested on her forehead. "We have to be in Glasgow this weekend, Love. There are plans and arrangements made." She felt as though she were grasping at straws, knowing they most likely wouldn't be going. "Maybe someone has a plane we could borrow."

He dropped his burden to the floor with a thump, giving it a little frustrated kick. "Who's gonna fly it, Cherry?" He shook his head slowly, "least they gave us a full refund. We'll go next year... when all this craziness has blown over."

"With two infants? Are you nuts?" Her face mirrored how ridiculous she thought that was. "And after they get here, I'm not leaving them like that." Charity shook her head as she continued to go through her phone. "Baby, I planned things for this trip, specific things that might be difficult to reschedule."

"Trip insurance'll reimburse if they won't cancel." Bruce was oblivious to how desperate she sounded as he started to unload the bags that he'd left on the kitchen island. "It's nae the end of the world," he chuckled ruefully, "well, actually it is. From what the stores look like, anyhow. Fuckin' Armageddon out there – apocalypse now. Give it a few weeks, an' our larder'll make us the richest folk on the block." He was rambling on, in good spirits despite the fact that their trip had been cancelled. It still felt like a vacation. The reality that he was unemployed with some rather tenuous prospects didn't really matter. He had banked every cent made working for Chasing Glory Wrestling, including the huge bonus he'd earned by winning his very first match there.

Things weren't dire, at least not yet. The bar that he owned in Henderson was still open for business and even once the mandate hit for businesses to close, they would still have food delivery as an option.

"THIS IS BULLSHIT!" Charity's frustrated roar snapped him out of his optimistic reverie and he turned around to see her glaring at the screen of her phone.

"Love?"

"Fuck!" She felt ready to throw her phone against the wall. She had worked so hard to get things ready for the time they'd be there and now it was pointless. "Why aren't you more upset?" She'd completely forgotten that he still knew nothing about what she'd planned. She couldn't help the irritation she felt and it boiled over as she turned that dagger stare to him. "Don't you even care? This is gonna be our last trip for a long time, a couple of years at least. Did you even want to go?"

He was used to her wild mood swings by now so he didn't really feel that flare of anger at the accusation. Instead he finished putting some cans of soup into the cupboard and turned to look at her with one brow quirked in amusement. "Did I say that, hmmm? I wanted it, sure. Just as much as I wanted tae still be workin' a steady job right now but the world's got other plans."

Charity was on the verge of tears as her arms folded across her chest. Her head was starting to spin with how much she had to do. In the grand scheme of things, she really only had some calls to make, but it felt like a lot more. Looking at it rationally, it was the reality of everything else setting in that had her about ready to melt down over this one inconvenience. Sniffling, she muttered, "guess I better go fucking unpack." Without giving him a chance to say anything, she wiped at her eyes and made her way towards the bedroom.

"Cherry..." Bruce caught up with her in the hall, the dog trailing at his heels, looking hopeful for another treat. "I was lookin' forward to it. Yeh know I was." He reached out and grabbed her hand, halting her attempt to flee. "What's all this about, then? Something more than spoiled plans, isn't it?"

Charity stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. "Yeah..." She kept a hold of his hand, not wanting to let go. "When I suggested we go to Scotland, I had this idea that we could get married there – renew our vows. I found this beautiful old castle that overlooks the water and Sam and Smith were going to be there, too. I just thought that it would be perfect and now..." her expression crumbled, tears slipping down her cheeks unchecked.

"Oh, Babylove." Bruce shook his head, looking disappointed at the ruin of the plans she'd gone to such great lengths to arrange. "A castle?" He muttered a string of swear words under his breath as he pulled her in closer for a hug. "No wonder..." he kissed the top of her head, feeling a strange sort of melancholy wash over him. She was right. This was probably their last time to travel for a few years, at least until the little ones were big enough to manage a flight without crying the whole time. "Am sorry. Should I call the airline back? See if we can still arrange something else? Mebbe it's not a total wash..."

"No, you're right. With everything that's happening right now... it's better if we stay here." She wrapped her arms around him. "Like you said, it's crazy out there and the last thing either of us need is to get sick."

"Aye. Moreso for the weans... last thing we need is that when you're this far along." He didn't have to say it – she knew he was just as worried about complications as she'd been, given how things had turned out the last times she'd been pregnant. The fact that she was this far along and things hadn't gone wrong yet was a miracle.

She found herself breathing a sigh of relief now that he knew. She realized then that keeping such a huge secret from him and then having it ruined was what had stressed her out. "We can do it another time, right? After the babies come?"

"Aye," he nodded, "on our anniversary. When they're five or six, old enough tae settle for a spell without wreakin' havoc. We'll make it a bigger thing. Invite your sisters and their families, too."

She could picture it, nodding as she wiped away the tears. "That sounds nice." Now that he knew the truth, she felt better about the whole thing.

"In the meantime? We'll do what the World Health folks say. Stay in. Self-quarantine. Stay safe. Gonna call Sam later... make sure she's not puttin' herself at risk if she's going along with that Jones fella tae his shows. I know they're still running. Saw Lex bitchin' about it on the socials."

She nodded and kissed his cheek, the idea of having to stay at home with him not exactly unappealing. "Well at least our buddy will be happy he gets all of our time." She looked down at Loch who was sitting at their feet, looking up at them expectantly. "How about if I help you put the groceries away?"

"We gonna still let Gretchen take 'im for the day? Have a little alone time?" He chuckled, following her gaze to the dog. "Looks like someone wants tae help with the food – put it all inside that rotund little belly." He chuckled, nudging the dog with his foot and earning a toothy, slobbery grin for his efforts.

"Nah, let's keep him home. I've got a new bone that'll keep him occupied." Charity kissed her husband and gave him a squeeze before heading back into the kitchen with the dog trailing at her feet.

He watched her go, a part of him almost disappointed now that he knew what they were missing out on. The thought of marrying her all over again, in the country he'd been born in – it held a lot of appeal, simply because it sounded like something out of a movie. Walking up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, his hands resting against her pregnant belly. "I love you," he murmured, kissing her neck, "all three of you's."

She closed her eyes, leaning back against him. She felt safe here, comforted in his arms. Even though she was extremely disappointed that they weren't going to have that wedding in Scotland, she knew that staying home was the best thing. The most important thing was making sure their twins were safe, especially now that the world seemed on the brink of collapse.