Dominick woke up first, and for a long while, he simply watched her... He still couldn't believe it was real; it felt like a dream come true. She had accepted him, despite everything that had happened between them, Jade wanted him to be part of her life.
Attempting to explain how that made him feel was impossible. He hadn't stopped smiling, and he was certain he had even slept that way, with a huge grin plastered across his face. It was wonderful.
Several minutes later, Jade began to stir, and he pulled her into an embrace, burying his face in her neck.
Jade opened her eyes and couldn't help but smile.
"What time is it?" she asked, rubbing her forehead.
"It's early, almost eight-thirty," Dom replied.
"I have to go to the restaurant," she mentioned, sitting up. "Can I shower here?" Dominick nodded. "Thank you."
"I'll go with you," he announced.
"Where?" she inquired with a furrowed brow.
"To the bathroom," he gave a roguish smile, "and also to the restaurant, if you want. That way I can see Luka while I'm at it. What do you say?"
"I think that's fine," she let out a nervous little laugh.
Dominick got out of bed and took her hand, leading her to the bathroom and handing her an unused toothbrush. They both brushed their teeth amidst laughter at the silly faces Dom made, trying to keep her from feeling tense and help her feel more comfortable.
When they finished, Dominick wasted no time and stripped down to his boxers.
"Need some help?" he asked, smiling.
She nodded.
Dom moved behind Jade's back and lowered the zipper of her dress. She slid her arms out, and the fabric fell to the floor instantly. He proceeded to unclasp her bra until it was removed. He slid his fingers across her warm skin, and Jade felt her skin prickle with goosebumps. He lowered her panties, leaving her completely naked.
His morning erection became more prominent seeing her naked before him; she was beautiful in every sense, and he would never tire of saying it. He had hit the jackpot with her.
He extended his hand and she took it. They stepped into the shower and Dominick discarded the last garment covering his body. He turned on the water and passed her the soap, which she slid across Dom's chest. She didn't look him in the eye, nor did she look further down, because she knew exactly what she would find...
Dom took the sponge and lathered it with soap. They both focused on washing; he washed her hair amid complicit giggles and a few bold touches from Dominick, who didn't miss an opportunity to touch her breasts or graze her nipples.
When they finished, they stepped out and each dried off with a towel. Dominick told her that, for some reason, Nerea had left her a few changes of clothes, claiming she knew Jade was going to stay. Jade went to the closet, and just as she was about to pick up a pair of panties, Dominick intercepted her from behind.
"And are you really going to leave without giving me at least a little affection?" he probed, sliding his hands up her abdomen and ending at her breasts, squeezing them gently.
"I have to get back... I've neglected my duties," she murmured, a deep sigh escaping her when Dominick began to touch her nipples.
"It will only be a few minutes. At least let me give you some pleasure for a little while," he nibbled her right earlobe. "What do you say, Jade?" One of his open palms slid down her belly, stopping near her pubis. She held her breath. "Do you accept my proposal?"
Jade nodded, pressing her legs together and biting her lip. Dominick caused whirlwinds inside her; he put her in a staggering, feverish state. Sometimes she thought that no one else could awaken the lustful side she kept hidden... It was as if only Dominick held the key.
He smiled like a rogue and took the towel Jade was holding in one hand, letting it drop. He led her to a small piece of furniture in the closet, sat her down, and knelt between her legs... He hadn't even touched her yet, and Jade's heart was racing.
It was the Dominick effect...
Only he could make her feel this way; only he touched her in such an inexplicable manner. Jade felt different in his arms, and in that moment, as Dominick kissed her belly and moved down toward her mons pubis, she felt she had made the best decision in a long time. Not just for the pleasure he could provide, but because his words let her know she could truly be happy...
Jade gripped the arm of the small sofa the moment Dominick caught her clitoris between his lips...
[...]
Some time later, Jade and Dominick got out of the car. They headed to the restaurant entrance and went inside. He went up to the apartment, while she went to the kitchen to greet Floren and ask about Luka, who-just as she had thought-was upstairs with Casmin.
She climbed the stairs and found Casmin, Dom, and Luka standing in front of the doors.
"Mommy!" Luka squealed, trying to free himself from his father's arms to run to his mother. Jade picked him up.
"My love," she kissed his forehead. "How is mommy's little prince?"
Luka burst into laughter at the tickles Jade gave him, while Dominick watched them with a smile... Without a doubt, they were the greatest achievement of his life, and he was determined to ensure that nothing and no one would ruin what they were beginning to build.
"I have to go," Casmin announced, adjusting her cap. "Bye, Lukiquita."
"Bye, Casmin, and stop giving your mother headaches," Jade scolded.
The teenager shrugged.
"Bye Camin," Luka said.
Jade and Dom smiled at the way the little boy spoke. They went into the apartment, and Luka immediately ran to his room to look for his toys. They sat down on the couch. Dominick smiled at her.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Something like what?" he replied, still looking at her, still smiling.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?" Jade ran her hand over her face.
Dominick leaned closer and stopped her hand.
"I'm just happy to have you, Jade," he said, massaging her knuckles. "Everything feels so unreal, like a dream, and I smile because I feel like the luckiest man alive to have you."
He kissed her, and immediately the heat began to bloom between them. Dominick slid his palm to her bare knee, and when it started to move upward, they were interrupted by Luka. They pulled apart at once.
"Come here, little one," Dom said as he lifted him and sat him between them. Jade smiled, thinking that at last, her son would have the family he needed... a complete one.
The days began to pass, and things couldn't have gone better. Living together was wonderful. Little by little, Jade grew closer to him; they were managing to shape a pure feeling...
In those twelve days that had passed like drops of water, Dominick made sure to show her that his words were true. He never missed a chance to tell her how much he loved her, and following some of Nerea's advice, who seemed to hate him a little less every day, he gave her small details, simple things in his opinion, but effective when he saw her smile.
That day was special. It was the first birthday of Luka that Dominick would witness, and like a child with a new toy, he didn't know what to do with his excitement.
"We need to start preparing the food. We'll close the restaurant as agreed. Can you remind me how many people are there?" Floren asked, tying on her apron.
"Well, it was supposed to be something small, but it got out of hand," Jade smiled, picking up a notebook. "We have Dr. Ernes, Kevin, Armand, and his friend..."
"Friend?" Nerea asked with a mischievous smile, wiggling her eyebrows. "Yeah right. Armand's been sneaking around, that's why he travels so much."
"Nerea, leave Armand alone."
"Isa, continue," Floren asked, smiling at the chestnut-haired woman's antics.
"Where was I...? Oh, right. Marcus, his girlfriend, and his son," she read. "As I understand it, Dominick gave him permission to invite whoever he wanted."
"How many people?" Floren asked.
"Well, Ketlan, his wife, their children, a man named Antón and his wife, of course, with their child... My God, we have two more guests. André, Henry-oh, I forgot this one," she exclaimed, scanning the list, "Dimitri."
"Alright, for now we have seventeen people, but something tells me the list isn't finished yet," Floren smiled as she looked for the menu she had chosen.
"Yes, I think the party will be more for the adults than for the kids," Nerea commented. "I'm going to have fun! I hope some single people show up."
"I'll keep working on the decorations," Jade said when she saw Dominick's message telling her he was already on his way. "The list is there. You know, although I think it's better to make a larger menu, because a surprise guest always shows up."
"Oh, look what we have here," Nerea smiled, taking the list. "Maximiliano and his girlfriend. The things one finds out."
"Yes, Maximiliano is coming with his girlfriend and her sister," she smiled.
"Sounds good. What time are Alicia, your aunt, and your cousins arriving?" Floren asked.
"In a few hours," she replied excitedly. "I'll finally get to see her after so long. Besides, Lisbeth's baby is a little chocolate bonbon-you should see him."
"At least the guests are bringing kids, from what I hear," Floren commented.
"Yes, my Luka practically has no friends, he doesn't even go to school yet. We'll have to enroll him soon," Jade said as she walked toward the door.
"The rest of the staff will be arriving soon," Floren informed her, tying up her hair.
"I'll go take care of my part."
Jade began arranging the tables with the tablecloths. The decorations wouldn't be childish—that was her decision—, because she would set aside a special area for the children. Several minutes later, she felt arms wrap around her from behind. She immediately knew, by that familiar scent, who it was.
"You look beautiful in that dress," Dominick whispered. "I really want to take you to your room... and take it off," he said as he turned her around to see that sparkle he loved so much in her eyes.
"Hi, Dominick," she greeted him, smiling.
He kissed her passionately, leaving her wanting more...
"Hi," he smiled, holding her by the waist.
"You're very happy today," she observed.
"You make me this way, in a good mood," he said, placing a chaste kiss on her lips.
"Besides, it's Luka's first birthday that we'll spend together."
"The first of many," Jade assured him, caressing his face.
"That's the spirit," he murmured. He was about to kiss her again, but the noise of the employees coming in made her step away.
"We have to finish up here. Come help me..."
By the time five o'clock arrived, the decorations were finished, the food was ready, and only the cake was missing, which would arrive in an hour. Nerea, Floren, and some of the employees were finishing setting out the trays.
[...]
"Where did Dominick go?" Nerea asked. "I saw him leave a moment ago."
"To the airport. He went to pick up some friends," Jade informed her.
"Isabel, Mr. Vial is asking for you," one of the waitresses said.
Jade nodded.
She went upstairs toward her apartment, where she knew she would find him. She smiled-she was happy. It had been a long time since she'd seen her friend. She entered the apartment and ran to hug him when she saw him at the start of the hallway.
"I missed you so much, Armand," she confessed. He returned the hug immediately. "I have so many things to tell you, you won't believe them..."
"Jade, we'll have time later..."
A throat-clearing stopped him. Jade turned around and saw a woman sitting on the couch. She mentally scolded herself for not noticing her before. The girl was watching their affectionate exchange with a serious expression. She didn't look happy at all; on the contrary, her annoyance was obvious.
"Oh! I'm so silly, I didn't see you," Jade said with an embarrassed smile. "Aren't you going to introduce us, Armand?"
"You already know each other," he replied.
His stony expression made Jade frown. Only then did she notice the strange exchange of looks—murderous on the girl's side, irritated on his—and she began to sense the tension filling the room.
"Do we?" Jade looked at the girl, then at Armand.
"It's Diana, Juliana's daughter," he explained, making surprise shine in Jade's eyes.
"What a... surprise," she cleared her throat, uncomfortable. She remembered that the few times she had seen the girl before, she hadn't exactly been friendly...
"Where's Luka?" Armand asked, changing the subject.
Jade smiled.
"He went out with Casmin. She'll bring him back later," she said. "I want to talk to you later... I have something to tell you."
She didn't need to turn around to know that Diana was glaring at her.
"There's no need to wait," Armand said. "Later everyone will be busy, and we won't have time for anything." He looked at Diana. "Stay here, Diana. You can go to the bedroom too, if you want. I need to talk..."
He didn't get to finish, because furious—more jealous than anything—she stood up from the couch and stormed down the hallway.
"Anything you want to tell me?" Jade asked, narrowing her eyes. "One more minute and that woman was going to jump on me."
"She's just jealous," Armand said, dropping onto the couch. "Sometimes she makes my life hell."
"Women are complicated."
"'Complicated' doesn't even begin to describe her. I don't know why I brought her, I don't know what I'm doing," he said, rubbing his face. He was clearly upset by the girl's attitude, which did nothing but push his buttons. He sighed. After all, there was nothing he could do, the rebel girl attracted him far too much to let her go. "Enough about me. Tell me, what did you want to say?"
"You already know that Dominick and I reached a peace agreement to raise Luka," she said with a smile, remembering what a good father he had proven to be. "A few weeks ago, we decided to try-to give ourselves a chance and see how it goes. I won't deny that I still have some doubts, that fear still lives in a small corner of my heart... but I want to take the risk. Despite everything that happened between us before, all the pain we caused each other, these last days with him have been unforgettable. I don't know how to explain it-I feel like I'm starting to live again."
"I'm happy for you, Jade. More than anyone, you deserve to be happy," he said, caressing her cheek. "Enjoy every second life gives you, because you never know which one might be the last."
"Believe me, I'll follow your advice," she smiled. "You'll see, you'll be happy too. Maybe Diana will help you forget..."
"I'll never forget her, because she was part of my life, an incredibly important part, maybe the most important one," he said softly. "She gave me peace and happiness, and that's why I want to keep her memory as something beautiful. I know I have to move forward, but sometimes I don't know if I can give Diana everything she deserves."
Jade noticed Armand struggling with an inner dilemma. After all, Diana was the sister of the woman he had loved most in this world, after his mother.
"Things will be, if they're meant to be, Armand," she said, repeating a phrase Dr. Ernes had once told her during a session. "And if they aren't, it's for a reason, because it wasn't good for us, or not what we thought it was. And if it is... then we accept it. Things can't be forced, because nothing ends well that way."
"You're right," he said. "I'll try to talk to her. Diana is very jealous, and if she really wants to be with me, she has to drop that childish attitude. We're adults. We need to act like it." He stood up. "But if she chooses to keep acting immature, then it's better to end things peacefully."
"Whatever you decide," she said, standing as well, "I'll be here to support you. Now I have to go shower, Dominick went to the airport to pick up some friends, and he won't be long."
Jade left him in the living room and went to her bedroom. The dress she and Nerea had chosen for the occasion lay on the bed. She went into the bathroom and looked at her hair, which was getting blonder every day...
The day she had gone to dye it again, Dominick had told her she looked beautiful with her natural color. He had given her a thousand and one reasons to leave it that way, but in the end, he told her it was her decision.
She remembered a conversation with Dr. Ernes and finally understood her words: We can't escape the past or forget it... We must learn to live with it, study it, so it doesn't become a train of repeated mistakes. That was why she let her natural color return on its own.
She undressed completely and stepped into the shower. The water was somewhat cold, but she didn't mind. She washed her hair and then took the sponge, washing every part of her body. When she was about to finish, an intruder intervened...
"Is there time for us to shower together?" a naked Dominick asked as he stepped into the shower with her.
Jade smiled foolishly. This man was truly handsome, a sculpture worthy of admiration... and he was her man. Completely hers, just as he had said.
"There's always room for you," she smiled.
Dominick kissed her passionately, and they ended up making love within those four glass walls...
Everything was ready. People kept arriving and settling in, the older children running from one place to another while the younger ones tried to keep up...
Jade was curling her hair while Dominick adjusted his tie.
"I think we lost track of time," she murmured.
"And it was the best way to lose it," he agreed, watching her through the mirror.
Every day he found something new about her to admire. She was truly beautiful, but not only physically. Her essence, her way of being and of treating others, made her a wonderful person, a woman he loved madly.
She finished fixing her hair and applied lipstick.
"You look stunning. You're going to be the eand nvy of everyone out there," he said as he stepped closer and took her hand. "Today I love you more than yesterday," he whispered near her lips.
"We really have to go now," she smiled.
She still didn't feel ready to tell him that she loved him, nor did she know when she would be... For now, she would simply allow herself to feel-with her soul, her body, and her heart.
Dominick smiled and kissed her forehead, tightened his grip on her hands, and together they left the room, then the apartment.
The music in the restaurant was soft. The children were playing, and everyone chatted cheerfully with the people they knew.
Jade was about to greet someone when her sister's voice stopped her. She turned to see Alicia and nearly cried with emotion as she rushed forward to hug her.
"I missed you so much, sister," Jade murmured.
"Me too," Alicia replied.
"Jade, it's so good to see you! Look how beautiful you are," Martha exclaimed.
Beside her were Vi and Lisbeth, the latter holding her little son in her arms.
"Aunt, I'm so happy to see you," Jade said as she hugged her.
The greetings followed one after another. Jade spent some time talking with her cousins, her aunt, and her sister. She met little James and guided them to their table. She took Martha to Floren, because her aunt wouldn't stop insisting that she wanted to help-until she finally got her way.
The two women immediately began talking, though Jade had to remind her aunt to call her by her second name...
Dominick, who had stepped away to give her privacy, returned to introduce her to his friends.
"Marcus, this is Jade. The brunette next to her is his girlfriend," he said with a smile, shaking his hand.
"Nice to meet you," Sve said with a nod.
"The pleasure is mine," Jade replied. The girl looked younger than her, but she was very beautiful.
"The famous Jade!" Marcus exclaimed enthusiastically as he stood up. "So I finally meet you. This man forced me to learn your name the hard way, please don't disappear again, because now we really might die. Congratulations on little Dominick's birthday. I can't wait for him to meet my son."
Jade smiled.
"Well, I haven't heard much about you, Marcus."
"That's how friends are," he scoffed. "Once they get a woman, they forget about you."
"Marcus, stop being dramatic," Dom rolled his eyes. "Jade, that grumpy guy you see there is another one of my best friends-Ketlan, and his wife, Anny."
"I think we know more about you than you know about us," Ketlan smiled as he stood and shook her hand. "I hope there won't be any more problems between you two."
"I hope so too," Jade smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Anny." She extended her hand.
"Just Anny," she said, shaking it. "The old one here is someone else," she joked.
Everyone at the table chuckled while Ketlan shook his head, looking at his wife.
"And this other old guy here," Ketlan began, pointing at a dark-haired man with a light beard, "is Antón, his wife Lia, and... where's the ragazzo?"
"He's playing with those kids over there," Lia pointed to a corner as she adjusted the baby in her arms.
The introductions continued, until a very cheerful Maximiliano intercepted her.
"For a moment I thought you weren't coming!" She exclaimed, hugging him.
"And miss my nephew's party? Never!" he smiled. "How have you been?"
"Even though I went through some difficult things, I'm good now, happy. My son is healthy, and—"
"She let me back into her life. What more could she need?" Dominick joked, appearing beside them.
"I'm happy for you both, and I can't wait to meet Luka," Maxi said, taking Irina's hand. "Jade, this is Irina, my girlfriend. Irina, she's the friend I told you about."
"She's very beautiful, Maxi. And you, if Maximiliano introduces you as his girlfriend, consider yourself lucky," Jade smiled. "In all the years I've known him, I'd never met a girlfriend. I thought he was gay," she joked.
"Hey," he protested.
"I've heard a lot about you, Jade," Irina said. "Sometimes I feel like I already know you. This is my sister, Agatha."
"Nice to meet you," Jade said, extending her hand.
"The pleasure is mine," the woman smiled.
"But look who's coming in now," Dom said, pointing toward the door.
Gideon and Lennon walked in hand in hand.
"Good evening," Gideon greeted. "This is for the boy." He handed Dominick a box.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Lewis," Jade said. He nodded in response.
"It's been so long, Jade," Lennon exclaimed, hugging her.
"I hope you don't mind if I steal her for a moment," Jade said, taking her hand.
"I-" Gideon was about to protest, frowning, but Dominick and Maximiliano cut him off.
"Let's go to our table," they said, pulling him along. "I want to know why Nikolas didn't come."
"Dominick's right. Come on, let's go," Maxi added, dragging along a not-so-convinced Gideon.
Jade and the redhead walked off toward a more private spot.
"I can't believe it," Jade murmured, touching her friend's rounded belly.
"Everything feels like a dream," Lennon smiled. "I'm very happy with Gideon. I won't deny that I'm still afraid... I don't know if I'll ever fully recover from what happened..." she admitted. Jade placed her hand on Lennon's shoulder. "But I'm going to try. For myself, for him, and for my children."
"Children?" Jade asked.
"There are two," she smiled, caressing her belly.
"Congratulations," Jade said as she hugged her. "After everything, you deserve to be happy. You're so close to meeting your babies."
"Yes. I had to beg Gideon for us to come-he's very overprotective."
"And with good reason. That man is still free," Jade lamented.
"I know, but let's not think about that now. Come on, I want to meet Luka."
They both returned to the party, and Jade introduced Lennon to almost everyone she knew-including her aunt, cousins, and sister-and finally to the light of her eyes: Luka. Everyone was charmed by the little boy. Joy was the only thing visible in that place.
Jade approached the musicians and stopped the music. She took the microphone, a little embarrassed, but took a deep breath. Dominick stepped beside her and smiled-he would be her support, always more than that.
"Thank you all for coming," she began, smiling. "It makes me happy to know I have friends willing to travel miles just to share this important day with us." She squeezed Dominick's hand.
Nerea brought Luka over, and Jade picked him up.
"I'm sure Luka is happy with all of you, and not just because of the gifts," she added, making everyone laugh. "Say thank you, my love."
"Tank oo," he said.
Everyone melted at the way the little boy spoke, still learning his words.
Jade signaled for the music to continue and set the microphone aside.
The party went on. All the children were settled in Jade's apartment-she had planned ahead and, with Dom's help, rented extra mattresses. The adults continued chatting, dancing, and enjoying themselves.
From a distance, Jade noticed Armand's sour expression. Instantly, she knew something was wrong. Diana stood at a careful distance from him, drinking alcohol. Jade was about to go see what she could do, but Dominick intercepted her.
Dom led her outside the restaurant, to one side where a canopy of vines and flowers created a semi-private space.
"Dominick, what are we doing here?" she asked.
"I want to give you something... and ask you something," he replied.
"Does it have to be here? It's cold," she pouted.
"Don't complain-I want a little privacy," he said, slipping a hand into his pocket and pulling out a long box. "The box got a little beat up in my pocket," he smiled, handing it to her.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it," he urged.
Jade opened the box and found a white gold bracelet. It was delicate, with two small initials hanging from it—D and J.
"It's beautiful," she smiled. "Thank you."
"It's a gift. Because today we're celebrating..." he said as he helped her put it on. "And not just our first birthday with Luka. It's also a gift because I'm celebrating that you'll accept my proposal."
"Proposal?" she frowned.
"Will you be my girlfriend, Jade?"
She smiled, took his hands, and stepped closer.
"You took long enough to ask," she murmured, lifting a hand to caress his cheek. "Of course I want to be your girlfriend, Dominick. I've been waiting for you to ask for days."
Dominick bit his lip and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly-so tightly she thought he might leave her breathless.
"Did I tell you today that I love you?" he asked, pulling back slightly. Jade nodded. "Once isn't enough." He kissed her.
"We should go back..." she said when they parted, her breathing uneven.
"I know," he replied, kissing her chin, "but I'm dying to sneak away somewhere and give each other a little affection."
"We have to take care of your friends," she said, smiling and took his hand, dragging him along.
"You're such a killjoy," he murmured, letting himself be led.
They went back into the restaurant. Jade tightened her grip on Dominick's hand and looked around-everyone smiling, chatting happily. She observed all the couples in her restaurant; happiness was clearly written on their faces.
She walked forward with Dominick.
She remembered everything she had been through, all the pain she had suffered at home, seeing her father cry over a woman who never knew how to value him. A small smile grew on her face as all the bitter moments of her life replayed in her mind like a movie—the misunderstandings with Dominick, his harshness, the one time he had shown his humanity to her, all the damage he had caused...
Two tears escaped her eyes.
Then she remembered all the good things that had happened, the help she had received when she arrived here, the greatest gift Dominick had given her despite everything that had happened before, and she smiled fully.
She turned to look at Dominick, who grew alarmed when he saw her crying. He guided her to a quieter place.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" he asked, worried.
She kept crying, but she was smiling.
Dominick hadn't been meant for her. He had made her suffer so much... But that didn't matter. He was the man she wanted by her side, as the father of her son. And despite everything, she was happy to have him, because he was fighting—and proving every day—that all he wanted was to see her happy.
"Jade, say something."
"Thank you..." she said as she threw her arms around him. "All these years I've been able to grow as a person. My mistakes have helped me be stronger today. And I cry with happiness because I have a family that loves me, friends who would give everything for me, a son who is the light of my eyes... and finally, but no less important..." she pulled back slightly and cradled his face between her palms, "I have you. The man who steals a little more of my heart every day. The same man who, even though he made me suffer, is making me the happiest woman in the world."
"Jade..."
"Let me finish," she smiled. "Today I know I can be happy by your side, and I want to leave fear behind, and insecurity too."
"It'll be a job for both of us," he said. "I promise I'll try to make you happy until the day I die." He kissed her. "Will you dance with me?"
"Today, and always, Dominick..."
Jade took the hand he offered her, smiling. They joined the others on the dance floor, and they spent the whole night dancing, laughing, and enjoying themselves more than ever.
That day was an important one. They were both beginning to feel truly happy. And even though she knew the road ahead would be difficult, she didn't care, because in life, those who don't take risks don't win... and she was willing to fight for victory. She had decided to fight for what she felt, to fight tooth and nail to build the family she had always wanted. It wouldn't be perfect, but nothing ever is.
This time, she took the initiative and kissed him, silently telling him how much she loved him. And that dawn, hidden away in a closet—after finding a private place where no one would disturb them—, they made love until exhaustion, letting their bodies speak, silently screaming how deeply they loved each other...
The End