It had been six months since the Hollow disappeared.
Six months since the woods.
Six months since Axel and I had stood together and decided that fear wasn't going to make our choices for us anymore.
Things were different now.
Not perfect.
Just different.
Better.
I sat on the hood of Axel's car, watching them struggle with a grocery bag.
“You know,” I said, “vampires are supposed to be strong.”
Axel looked at me.
“I am strong.”
“You're losing a fight with a bag of bread.”
“The bread is aggressive.”
“Terrifying.”
“Extremely.”
I laughed.
They finally got the bag open.
A loaf of bread fell out.
We stared at it.
Axel sighed.
“I hate this.”
“You've fought an ancient supernatural entity.”
“Yes.”
“You've survived vampire hunters.”
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“Yes.”
“You've jumped through a window.”
“Yes.”
“And bread defeated you.”
“Please stop talking.”
I smiled.
They scowled affectionately back.
There was something comforting about this.
The stupid little moments.
The ordinary ones.
The moments we never would have appreciated before.
Axel sat beside me.
Our shoulders touched.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then I said,
“I've been thinking.”
Axel immediately looked nervous.
“That sentence has never ended well.”
I nudged them.
“Shut up.”
“Okay.”
I stared out at the road.
“I think I know when it started.”
“When what started?”
I looked at them.
“This.”
Their expression softened.
“Oh.”
“I think I loved you before I knew what love was supposed to feel like.”
They didn't say anything.
So I continued.
“I thought I was just protective of you.”
Axel smiled.
“You were.”
“I thought I was scared of losing my best friend.”
“You were.”
“I thought I cared too much.”
“You definitely did.”
I laughed.
“I'm trying to have a moment.”
“Sorry.”
They looked down.
I took their hand.
“I think I was in love with you long before the crash.”
Axel's eyes met mine.
“You think?”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Do not ruin this.”
“I've been waiting years for you to figure it out.”
I laughed.
“Years?”
“Four thousand imaginary conversations.”
I stared at them.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You said four thousand.”
“I was nervous.”
“That is deeply concerning.”
“I have a very active imagination.”
I shook my head.
Then I leaned closer.
“So what now?”
Axel smiled.
“Now?”
“Yeah.”
They looked at me.
“No running.”
I nodded.
“No secrets.”
“Definitely.”
“No sacrificing ourselves without permission.”
I laughed.
“That's a weird relationship rule.”
“It's an important one.”
I squeezed their hand.
“Deal.”
They leaned closer.
I met them halfway.
The kiss was gentle.
Not desperate.
Not frightened.
Not stolen between disasters.
Just ours.
When we pulled apart, Axel rested their forehead against mine.
“You know,” they whispered, “I was really worried you'd forget me.”
I smiled.
“I could never forget you.”
They smiled.
And for once, there was no voice behind mine.
No whisper.
No warning.
Nothing waiting in the darkness.
Just silence.
Warm, peaceful silence.
I looked at Axel.
They looked at me.
And I finally understood something I'd spent three long, long books trying to figure out.
Love wasn't about being fearless.
It wasn't about never losing someone.
It wasn't about knowing what came next.
It was choosing someone anyway.
Again.
And again.
And again.
For once, it wasn't anyone's fault.
We had simply chosen each other.
And this time, we were choosing to stay.