Yes.
The church.
Today is the baptism day at Ben Hawke Parker Church.
Gwen got up early, walked into the wardrobe, opened the closet stuffed with clothes, complaining about having nothing to wear, and after rummaging for a long time, found an outfit suitable for today's occasion.
Hawk's outfit was simpler.
Suit and tie.
After coming out of the wardrobe, Gwen took Hawk's tie when he got up, fixed his tie, and left the door.
Since the church is right next to Palm Street Community, the two decided not to drive but to walk.
As they headed towards the church, Gwen greeted the passing neighbors with a warm smile.
The neighbors responded enthusiastically.
Hawk's face wore a polite smile, with few words.
He didn't talk much to begin with.
This was evident from the dozens of numbers in Gwen's contact list versus the less than ten numbers in Hawk's phone book.
Yet, the Phoenixes have always maintained a mid-to-high level of popularity in the community.
This was entirely thanks to Gwen.
Especially after it was known that the captain of the Twenty-First District, where Palm Street Community is located, is Gwen's father, the Phoenixes became even more popular.
After all, connections make things easier to handle.
Half a month ago, the man from the Smiths next door got picked up by the Twenty-First District for drunk driving, and it was Gwen's intervention that got him out.
Gwen didn't even need to contact George for this, just a call to Detective Mahoney took care of it.
Hawk thought of the recently discharged Detective Mahoney as he walked towards the church, glancing at Gwen holding his arm.
"By the way, has Detective Mahoney's condition improved?"
"He's been out of the hospital for half a month now, and you're just remembering?"
"Forgot."
He's been busy integrating the Blood Dimension into his Netherworld and brainstorming his own exclusive race, leaving no time for other matters.
He hadn't even worried about George afterwards, let alone others.
Hawk thought this over, raising an eyebrow.
"Speaking of which, how's George?"
"Dad?"
Gwen curiously met Hawk's gaze: "What's up with Dad?"
Hawk shrugged.
"George knows my power. Didn't he say anything?"
"Uh..."
Gwen heard this, looked at Hawk, her eyes gradually narrowed, and her lips formed a beautiful arc.
"What do you want Dad to say?"
"Wow, Hawk's amazing?"
"God, Hawk's great, who would've thought Hawk was so strong?"
"..."
Hawk watched Gwen suppressing her voice but exaggerating her expression, slightly raising the corners of his mouth, also lowering his voice: "Your performance now is more exaggerated than your plumber outfit act last night."
Gwen's smile froze, then she directly rolled her eyes at Hawk, releasing his arm, and walked ahead.
Seeing this, Hawk's smile stiffened as well, and he jogged to catch up with Gwen: "I'm sorry, I was wrong."
Gwen glanced at Hawk who was apologizing with his head down, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes.
"Too late, deduct half a month."
"That won't work!"
Hawk shook his head immediately, stating seriously: "The next batch of uniforms is already on the way. Two months agreed is two months. Gwen, one must be honest."
He hadn't forced Gwen to pay such a high reward.
God knows.
At that time, George wasn't even under personal threat, and in fact, was about to enjoy a romantic encounter.
Thus, Hawk didn't have the intention to use George to coerce Gwen.
It was Gwen herself who didn't want George to enjoy the impending romantic encounter and paid two months' reward for Hawk to intervene.
Though after stepping in, he did gain unexpected benefits.
The Blood Dimension.
But God can testify once again, Hawk didn't anticipate gaining a masterless dimensional space when he stepped in.
Moreover, after unexpectedly getting the Blood Dimension, he was able to create his own exclusive race.
But that's not important.
What's called unexpected gain is a reward you never expected.
In short.
He intervened seeing the reward Gwen paid for two months of uniforms, not because he foresaw the gain from the Blood Dimension.
However...
After distinctly rejecting Gwen's unreasonable demand to retrieve the reward, Hawk's eyes rolled, smiling as he looked at Gwen.
"Actually, deducting half a month isn't impossible."
"Really?"
"Look, that female vampire was close to sinking her teeth, you paid me for two months to stop her, now deducting half a month, from the time I intervened, if I intervene in one and a half months, the female vampire would've already bitten. So, I can find a female vampire to sink her teeth, and I'll agree to the deduction."
Hawk said, smilingly looking at Gwen.
Initially, Gwen's eyes lit up, but upon hearing Hawk's suggestion, her face instantly showed a fierce expression, revealing two tiger teeth.
"Don't you dare!"
"Actually, I think George has ideas of his own."
"What?"
Hawk glanced at Gwen, smiling as he spoke: "Otherwise, more than twenty days have passed, and why haven't we seen George when we go back for meals? I guess George might think I ruined his good time back then, so he doesn't want to see me."
Gwen's expression froze for a moment, then she stopped, standing still in place.
Seeing this, Hawk also stopped, then took a few steps back, standing beside Gwen.
Eyes meet.
For some reason, facing Gwen's gaze, Hawk suddenly felt as though the fire burned onto himself.
Indeed.
Gwen smiled at Hawk, her tone seemingly light and cheerful.
"Hawk."
"Yes."
"You said my dad had this thought, what about you, did you have this thought too? If it were you back then, would you have accepted it?"
"No way."
Hawk decisively shook his head, filled with righteousness, without a hint of guilt as he stared into Gwen's emerald-like speaking eyes: "I, Hawk Phoenix, am true to this life."
After awakening the Sixth Sense, among the superpowers it brought, there was only one superpower he used as sparingly as possible.
'Sixth Sense - X-ray Vision!'
If his mind wavered even a bit, this almost bottom-drawer X-ray ability would directly become an ability he could use anytime in daily life.
Without exception.
But Hawk didn't.
One woman is enough.
And...
Gwen was someone he met when he was at his lowest, witnessed his growth, accompanied him through it, and now shares his temporary peak, in the future she will share all he has.
Moreover, he's a warrior.
Everyone knows.
There's a saying that scholars rise and abandon family.
But never have warriors risen and abandoned their wives and children.
So!
With a serious face, Hawk looked at Gwen.
"You are the past, present, and future, the only one I care about."
"..."
Gwen looked at the familiar Hawk, meeting his bright eyes that sparkled with the stars of the cosmos, opened her mouth.
"...Sorry."
"Too late."
"What?"
"You even doubted me, add half a month."
"Dream on!"
Gwen watched as a sly smile appeared on Hawk's face.
"Two months as promised, I won't reduce, you can't add."
"Alright!"
Hawk raised an eyebrow, his serious expression returning to normal, smiling as he said, "I agree to pay as originally promised."
Gwen heard this, looked at Hawk's expression, and reacted.
"Thanks..."
"Language, Gwen, language."
Hawk watched as Gwen was about to curse and interrupted with a laugh as a reminder.
The next moment.
He watched as Gwen raised her brows, and with a swoosh, stepped forward, causing Gwen's furious attack to miss.
"Stop right there."
"No."
Hawk shook his head.
He had no tendencies of masochism.
Gwen was furious, watching Hawk who stood ahead, raised her foot to chase after him.
Hawk turned and ran.
Not stopping.
Soon.
Peter and Felicia, waiting at the door for their son's godfather, saw Hawk and Gwen laughing as they chased each other playfully from a distance.
Peter and Felicia exchanged a glance, then blinked with a face full of curiosity as they looked at Hawk and Gwen, "What's going on with you two...?"
Hawk and Gwen had returned to normal by now, linking arms, smiled at the curious look Peter was giving them.
"Just stretching a bit, where's my godson?"
"Aunt Mei is holding him, the priest is preparing."
"Let's go."
Upon hearing these words, Hawk said to Gwen beside him, "I'll go in first to prepare."
Today is Little Ben's baptism day.
But as the godfather, Hawk also needed to make some preparations.
If it were other people, they might have come early to prepare.
But Hawk grew up in the church, familiar with all the procedures, needing no training, he could directly handle them.
When Gwen, Peter, and Felicia entered the church, Hawk had already swiftly and skillfully finished reciting the prayers before the statue of Jesus, made a cross on his chest, and then took out the prepared Golden Cross, handing it to the priest beside him.
Reciting prayers, the priest placed the Golden Cross around the neck of Little Ben who was in Aunt Mei's arms, sleeping soundly.
This Golden Cross is something Little Ben needs to wear for life.
Because it's a gift from the godfather to the godson.
The sleeping Little Ben seemed to sense something, opened his eyes, about to cry loudly, when his chubby little hand touched the Golden Cross, he chuckled while clutching the Golden Cross.
If you looked at Little Ben's eyes now, eyes as blue as Peter's, you'd find.
Deep in Little Ben's eyes.
Shined—
The light of the Northern Cross!