"Damn it!" I cursed under my breath as my toe caught the edge of the final cement step leading up to my front door. I stumbled forward, the heavy landing on my palms jarring, yet they thankfully protected my forehead from a worse fate.

As I was gathering myself, the front door squeaked open. I looked up to see Cody’s large figure looming in the doorway. "Cody!" I exclaimed, a mix of surprise and embarrassment colouring my voice. There I was, awkwardly caught on all-fours on my own doorstep.

Any semblance of pleasantry vanished from my face as I noticed a familiar white fur-ball making a dash for freedom out the open door. "Snowflake!" I screeched, reacting instinctively. I leaped forward, scooping up the mischievous cat just as she tried to squeeze past my thigh.

Snowflake immediately hissed in dissatisfaction, clearly annoyed that her escape had been thwarted. I scooped her up into my arms, trying to regain some semblance of grace as I clumsily brought myself to my feet. With Snowflake securely in my arms, I barged past Cody without a second glance.

Hearing the door click shut behind me, I set Snowflake down, her fluffy white fur a stark contrast to my current mood. I turned back to Cody, my mouth already open, ready to unleash a tirade of disgruntled thoughts that had been simmering since our last confrontation. But as I looked at him, standing there in his clean black suit and freshly polished shoes, I found myself momentarily speechless. His cleanliness and formal attire were unnerving, especially in comparison to my sweaty appearance and the less-than-graceful manner of my entry. "Why are you all dressed up?" I found myself asking instead, my curiosity piqued despite the frustration boiling within me.

The question felt odd on my tongue, considering the context of our recent interactions. Hardly impressive, I thought to myself, quickly cutting off the thought. I reminded myself that I was still mad at him. Any desire to impress him, given the current circumstances, seemed unnecessary, even foolish.

I hadn't heard from Cody since our confrontation yesterday afternoon and I had learned that he was a Guardian... and stolen Chloe, my stubborn mind couldn't help adding. The day had been filled with running errands for Luke and trying desperately not to think about Joel's body in the back of the truck, nor the vomit I had left behind at our aunt and uncle's house. I feared these clues would lead the police straight to us.

Despite my crankiness toward Cody – and my frustration with myself – I found myself almost unconsciously following him toward the kitchen. It was as if some part of me still sought answers, or perhaps a resolution, from him.

"I want to make it up to you, Gladys," Cody said, his voice carrying a tone of earnestness as he poured the deep red wine into my glass. The gesture, under normal circumstances, would have been endearing, but given everything that had transpired, it felt loaded with unspoken apologies and complexities.

"How?" I asked, my voice a mix of skepticism and a faint, unwilling curiosity. As I accepted the wine and took a sip, I found myself grappling with conflicting emotions. Could I ever forgive him for Chloe's loss? A part of me, perhaps the part still clinging to the memories of better times, seemed willing to at least entertain the possibility.

"I'm cooking you dinner," Cody answered, gesturing toward the dining table with a motion that seemed almost too casual.

Wine in hand, I turned to look at the adjacent dining room. My eyes rested on the table, which was set cleanly and adequately, though without extravagance. I gasped, surprised by the sight. How could I not have noticed this as I passed earlier? The realisation struck me with a pang of guilt, as if I should have been more observant, more aware of my surroundings.

"How long do I have?" I asked, my question hanging in the air between us.

Cody's expression shifted, his brow furrowed and his dark eyes filled with an unexplained fear as they met mine. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Realising how my question might have sounded, I chuckled, slightly embarrassed by my own ambiguity. "For a shower," I clarified.

A visible wave of relief washed over Cody, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red. "Of course," he said, his eyes briefly darting around the unprepared kitchen. "Take as much time as you need," he finally conceded with a shrug, his demeanour relaxing slightly.

I placed my glass carefully on the bench beside us and leaned in, my actions spontaneous. I kissed Cody gently on the lips, intending it to be just a fleeting moment. But the feel of his full lips under mine was unexpectedly comforting, causing me to linger. I felt his hand make its way firmly up my spine, sending a shiver through me.

Gently pulling away, I reminded both him and myself, "I really should shower."

Cody's hand stayed in place at the centre of my back, his lips pressed against mine for a few seconds longer. "Okay," he whispered, finally drawing away. "I'll have dinner prepared by the time you are finished."

I glanced around the kitchen, noting the lack of any real preparation for dinner. A slight scoff escaped me despite my best efforts to hold back a laugh. "I don't take that long in the bathroom," I teased him with a playful thump on his shoulder.

Cody looked grim, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "I guess I'm not very practiced at this," he admitted.

I moved towards the top drawer, pulling it open to reveal a handful of local restaurant brochures and vouchers. Spreading them across the benchtop, I offered a practical solution. "Maybe you should just order us something," I told him, throwing another playful smile his way as I walked away.

Seated at the dining table opposite Cody, I took a moment to appreciate the fine spread he had managed to arrange. It was a pleasant surprise, given our earlier conversation in the kitchen.

"If I didn't know any better, this could almost have passed as your own home cooked meal," I told Cody, a playful smile stretching across my face. I could feel it almost disturbing the freshly applied makeup, a small rebellion against the effort I had put into looking presentable.

"Perhaps next time it will be Freya that cooks for you," Cody replied, his voice carrying a hint of mischief, a coy smile embossed on his face.

"Who's Freya?" I asked, my curiosity piqued as I poured a decent helping of gravy over the food on my plate.

There was a pause, filled with silence that seemed to stretch on longer than comfortable. Cody's fork idly rearranged the food on his plate before he finally looked up. "Freya is my daughter," he said, his eyes locking with mine, revealing a vulnerability I hadn't seen before.

"Oh," I replied, my voice small, breaking the gaze and looking away. A wave of embarrassment washed over me for not having considered the possibility that Cody might have a family. His life was still largely a mystery to me.

Cody inhaled deeply, as if bracing himself to elaborate further. But my curiosity got the better of me, and my question beat him to it. "Is she in Clivilius?" I asked, a part of me hoping that the answer was yes. If she was in Clivilius, it would mean I'd likely never meet her, or her mother, who I assumed was still in the picture. The thought brought a mix of relief and an odd sense of disappointment.

"Yes," Cody answered, his response simple yet laden with unspoken stories and a past that suddenly felt more real and tangible.

I quickly shovelled a large forkful of potato into my mouth.

"Gladys?" Cody began, his voice tentative, as he rearranged his plate once again, seemingly unsure of how to proceed.

In no rush to respond, partly because my mouth was full and partly due to apprehension about what was to come, I replied with a muffled "Mm?" through tight lips.

"I'd like to tell you more about me. Is that okay?" Cody asked, his tone suggesting a mix of hope and hesitancy.

His request hung in the air, and I took a few moments to consider it. Was I really prepared for what I might learn? Could I handle more surprises, more revelations about this man who had already turned my world upside down? Finally, after swallowing the mouthful of potato, I nodded my head in agreement. I chased the potato down with a large gulp of wine, as if the liquid courage could somehow prepare me for whatever Cody was about to reveal.

For the next ten minutes, I found myself in a state of rapt attention, my words sparse, as I absorbed Cody's life story. My glass of wine became a frequent companion, a comforting presence as I listened, the food on my plate almost forgotten. Cody's tale was woven with threads of both joy and pain, the latter etched deeply into the creases of his face as he spoke.

Born in Gawler, a country town near Adelaide, Cody's early years on a farm with his siblings painted a picture of a life vastly different from my own. I was captivated as he spoke of becoming a Guardian at nineteen, back in nineteen-eighty-seven. It was a world I could hardly imagine, yet it felt so real as he recounted it.

He shared how he met Grace in Belkeep, a small settlement that relied on his Guardianship for survival. The tale of his marriage to Grace, followed by her tragic death giving birth to their twins, Freya and Fryar, filled me with a profound sense of sadness. Despite the heartache in his story, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, knowing that his affections toward me were genuine, unencumbered by a present partner.

Cody's story continued with what I considered to be a vague description of Belkeep; almost all he revealed was that his settlement had struggled to thrive and despite the constant persistence of cold and snow, the area was strikingly beautiful. I could see the tormented conflict in his eyes as he described the place he had learned to call his half-home, the other half of his life, which I would have argued was likely the greater half, was spent on earth. Cody's life had become a constant battle of gathering food and supplies while trying to stay under the police radar and providing for his small community. The tale echoed Luke's current struggles, though in a completely different climate. A silent question lingered in my mind: Does this mean Luke and Cody's settlements are nowhere near each other?

I sat there, a mix of awe and deep contemplation colouring my thoughts. His story was like a puzzle, revealing pieces of a life so complex and intertwined with events and responsibilities that were almost unimaginable to me. The reality of Cody's existence, straddling two worlds, fighting to provide for his community while staying hidden from the authorities, was both fascinating and overwhelming.

"I was the first in my Guardian group," Cody revealed, finally pausing to take a breath and put some food in his mouth.

As I watched him finally eat, I realised the enormity of the life he led, the sacrifices he had made, and the burdens he carried. It gave me a new perspective on who Cody was – not just the man I was growing feelings for, but a Guardian, a father, a widower, and a survivor in a world that was as harsh as it was beautiful. The revelation of his past and his responsibilities brought a new depth to my understanding of him, and with it, a complex mixture of emotions that I was still trying to untangle.

"Guardian group? What's that?" I asked, pausing with my fork halfway to my mouth, intrigued by the term.

Cody, seemingly grateful for my interest, continued to explain as he ate. "A complete Guardian group consists of five Guardians."

"And your Guardian group is complete now?" I prodded, curious about the dynamics of such a group.

"No," Cody replied, his head shaking slightly. "There were Sylvie and Randal..." His voice trailed off, hinting at a deeper, more painful story.

I leaned forward, encouraging him to continue. There was something compelling about the way he spoke of his past, a mixture of reverence and sorrow.

"But they both died a long time ago," he concluded, a note of finality in his voice.

I gasped, the shock of his revelation causing me to sit back abruptly in my chair. "What happened to them?" I couldn't help but ask, the question escaping me before I could consider its intrusiveness.

"Those details aren't really important, Gladys," Cody dismissed quickly, then shifted the topic. "The first Guardian in the group to activate their Portal Key, it would appear, opens a Portal in a new, random location in Clivilius. When I activated my Portal Key for the first time, I found myself in a dark, cold, empty place."

"Why?" I asked, my curiosity growing with each word he spoke. I sunk my teeth into another succulent chicken leg, but in my haste, warm juice escaped the corner of my mouth and dribbled down my chin.

"Nobody seems to know the answer to that yet," Cody replied. He reached across with a napkin, gently wiping away the juice from my chin. "The next four Portals are close to this main one, each one appearing at random time intervals after the main Portal."

"How do you know that?" I asked, intrigued by the complexity of the Guardian system. "Aren't there still only three Guardians in your group?" The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them, realising my thoughtless reference to the deceased Guardians.

Cody's expression changed subtly; lines of sadness formed across his forehead as he replied. "Sylvie was using my Portal in Clivilius for about six weeks, and Randal was almost one year. Sharing a Portal in Clivilius poses plenty of challenges."

"Like what?"

"For starters, only one Guardian can have the Portal active at a time," Cody explained. He paused for a moment before adding, "I'm surprised Luke hasn't discovered this already."

My brow furrowed as I pondered this. "He may already know. We don't really talk much about what it's like to be a Guardian. He just has me running around like a headless chook, sourcing and collecting supplies for him."

Cody chuckled at my description, his laughter creating a brief respite from the seriousness of our conversation. His knife squeaked against the plate as he cut through the chicken breast, a sound that made me cringe slightly.

"When the fifth Guardian Portal Key has been activated, each Guardian receives another five devices that enable them to each repeat the cycle," Cody continued, offering more insight into the Guardian system.

My eyes widened. "Sounds complicated."

"Well, that's assuming that all the Guardians remain alive when the fifth device is activated," Cody said with a heavy sigh.

"And if they're not all alive?" I asked, a knot forming in my stomach, fearing the implications of my own question.

"The cycle ends," he answered simply, falling into silence as he took a large forkful of beans.

"That still doesn't make any sense. Why would another five Portal Keys be given if they're only going to start a new location?" I pressed for more clarity.

Cody shrugged, pausing between bites. "I honestly don't know, Gladys."

As I absorbed the information, more questions than answers swirled in my mind. But Cody seemed content that he had shared enough for the moment and skilfully steered our conversation onto lighter topics. The shift was almost palpable, like stepping out of a dense forest into a clearing. Despite the many unanswered questions and the looming complexities of Cody's life as a Guardian, I found myself drawn into the lighter conversation, grateful for the temporary respite from the heavier topics that had dominated our evening.

The television played softly in the background as the two of us sat comfortably on the couch. My head rested snug on Cody's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It wasn't until the brush of my fingertips through the few hairs scattered on his chest sent an unexpected pulse of sexual energy through my body that I realised that my hand had found its way beneath Cody's shirt.

"Sorry," I muttered, deciding quickly to remove my hand.

Cody caught the movement of my hand, and pressing it firmer against his toned abdomen, "It's okay. You don't need to stop," he said softly. His head turned slightly toward me, and my eyes met his as he glanced downwards.

I could feel my heartbeat accelerating as my palms began to sweat, and my nerves began to build.

Wrapping his arm around me, Cody hugged me, pulling me closer until my breasts pressed against him. Unexpectedly, my nipples hardened and my body began to tingle with sexual anticipation. I began to breathe deeper, feeling my warm exhale bounce off of his chest with each breath.

Leaning in, Cody's lips found mine. The first kiss was slow and gentle, our lips barely moving. Following Cody's lead, I mirrored his movements as his lips began to part. I shuddered with soft pleasure as Cody's tongue ran the length of my lips, and pressing firmer, it slunk inside my mouth. The initial coarseness of his tongue was softened by the minty saliva that quickly enveloped it, the sensitivity allowing a smooth and tingly dance to ensue.

Cody's large hand gripped my thigh. Shifting position, as I placed my leg across his lap, the firmness of his crotch was unmistakable. My mouth breaking lock with Cody's, I pulled away while I momentarily gasped, my own passionate desires catching me by surprise.

No words were needed as Cody's eyes gazed into mine, "Everything okay?" I could feel them asking me. In reciprocated silent reply, I untangled myself from Cody and after rising to my feet, I grabbed Cody's hands, pulling them firmly as I enticed him to follow me.

A playful smile on Cody's face spread from ear to ear as he pulled himself from the couch.

Heart thumping in my chest, while a pleasant calm encapsulated my brain, I led Cody to the bedroom. Unable to ignore the obvious wetness, I closed the door behind us.

Bending over as I switched on the bedside lamp, firm hands gripped my arse. Returning to full height, I turned to find a bare-chested man standing barely a few inches from me. Steady hands gripping my waist, Cody manoeuvred me onto the bed. A loud, pleasurable moan escaped my lips, and completely surrendering to the moment, I allowed Cody to make me his.

Nestled comfortably against Cody's shoulder, his arm wrapped warmly around me, I found a moment of tranquility. I could hear the steady pounding of his heart beneath my ear, a reassuring rhythm in the midst of the evening's revelations. A satisfied smile naturally found its way across my face.

"I know it really wasn't your fault," I whispered, the words slipping out almost involuntarily.

"What wasn't?" Cody asked, his voice gentle, fingers tenderly running through my hair, a gesture that somehow felt both comforting and intimate.

"Chloe," I replied simply.

For several minutes, we lay in silence, my head moving gently with the steady rise and fall of Cody's chest. The quiet was a soothing balm, a much-needed pause in the cascade of revelations and emotions.

"Gladys," Cody eventually broke the silence, his head tilting downwards to meet my gaze.

"Yes, Cody?" I replied softly.

"There's someone I want you to meet tomorrow."

"Oh," I said, my curiosity piqued as I rose up on one elbow to look at him more directly. "Who?"

There was a brief pause, a moment that seemed to stretch, filled with anticipation. Then Cody answered, his voice carrying a weight of significance.

"My Guardian Atum; the man who made me a Guardian."