When they arrived back in Lily corner Gabriel handed Jack a stack of messages.

He seemed more capable of running the business without losing his sanity. Jack could see that he was doing well managing the place on his own.

“This Demi does not want to leave you alone. She keeps calling, she even staked out here in town for a couple of weeks while you were gone.” Gabriel updated him, and Jack sighed wearily. He did not want anything to do with his old life, not even Demi.

“Let's go away, Jack” Sarah implored. “Let's just go somewhere where no one can find us.”

Jack nodded.

“We’ll drive north,” he told her. “I hear the mountains are beautiful this time of year.”

Sarah smiled and he could see the relief in her eyes.

They packed up a few things and left Lily corner behind them.

Driving north they left the desert behind them for cooler weather and lush forests.

The drive was peaceful as they traversed the winding roads.

A heavy silence hung in the air. The kind that settles like a blanket over two people who have nothing left to say to each other but so much to leave unsaid.

Sarah slept most of the way, her head resting on his shoulder, her breath warm against his neck.

The rain began to fall softly, pattering against the windshield, like tiny fingers drumming out a melody.

Jack turned on the wipers and continued down the road toward their future together, whatever that might be.

They debated along the way on where to go, they settled on a cabin that they could rent for cash just outside a town that was even smaller than Lilly corner.

As they settled into cabin life, on a daily basis Jack tried not to notice the bones she was becoming. He lay by her and held her all night, filling her ears with praises fit for the queen she was.

They had so much fun talking and laughing, even on weak days when she could not leave her bed. She spoke in a croaky whisper and laughed gently. In long pauses in between, they sometimes stared at each other and let their eyes communicate.

Jack liked it best when he was feeding her—when she just sat propped up and let him serve her. Sometimes, she teared up at all the stress she was putting everyone through, but he kissed them away. He teased her and made her laugh.

Deep down he wished for something, just one thing, that could turn out successful. Jack had searched for answers, anything that would ease her pain.

There was a doctor from the city who came by once a week just to check on her offered pain killers, she did not want them, they only made her groggy and did not work on this. He studied everything he could get his hands on, the magical world couldn't heal her because she was a Creature herself. She was resistant to spells that could be cast on mere humans. And the medicine of the human world had not found a permanent cure for the disease at the stage that it had gotten to.

Jack had searched for months. Now, she had stopped it all, all the searches.

"No more cures!" she had declared vehemently, looking at him with those serious eyes that meant she wouldn't take "no" for an answer. "All that time you used going up and down could have been spent more meaningfully. I just want to spend the remainder of my life with you... In love with you. Loving you. Making love to you..." And so the searches stopped then.

Now, any day she woke up was a miracle. She woke up extra strong, and it was a party.

On those nights Jack danced with her, slowly, holding her body gently, no matter what the song was.

One night, when Sarah felt strong and full of life, Jack scooped her up and carried her to the bed, expecting her to settle in for sleep. But that night was different—he could see it in her eyes, the way they shimmered with a playful, unspoken desire.

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“Sarah…” Jack protested gently, shaking his head even as he leaned in, drawn by the warmth radiating from her. “Are you sure?”

She laughed, a low, throaty sound, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “I’m more than sure,” she whispered, her fingers trailing over his chest. “You’ve always been so careful, so gentle with me. I promise you… I want this.”

He hesitated, caught between his fears and the intensity of the love he felt for her. But then she looked at him with those eyes—soft, inviting—and every bit of resolve melted away.

“You know you can’t deny me, Jack. Why keep trying?” she teased, lips brushing against his jaw.

And she was right. He could never say no to her. Not when he loved her like this.

Slowly, Jack leaned down, capturing her lips in a tender, lingering kiss. Her response was immediate, her arms wrapping around his neck, drawing him closer. He moved carefully, reverently, his touch worshipful as his hands skimmed over her body, memorizing every curve and contour.

They shifted, their movements a seamless dance of anticipation and restraint. Jack took his time, savoring the feel of her, the way she arched beneath him, completely alive and vibrant. He slid his hands along her thighs, coaxing her closer, until every inch of her was pressed against him. The tension between them was electric, and when they finally came together, it was like the world around them ceased to exist.

“Take it easy,” he murmured, his voice a breathless whisper as they moved slowly, savoring every shared heartbeat.

But Sarah only smiled up at him, her gaze soft and unguarded, and met his rhythm, determined to give as much as she received. Her hands caressed his back, her touch light but insistent, as if anchoring him to this perfect, fleeting moment.

Time seemed to stretch as they moved in unison, each touch, each kiss steeped in a love that felt limitless. Jack leaned down, capturing her lips in another slow, consuming kiss as they found their release together, the world blurring around them.

When it was over, Sarah lay curled against him, her skin warm and flushed, her breathing steady and calm. Jack stroked her hair, feeling the rise and fall of her chest against his, his own heart still racing.

She rested her cheek against his chest, her fingers tracing gentle patterns over his skin. “Marry me, Jack,” she whispered suddenly.

His heart skipped a beat. He shifted slightly, looking down at her, surprised by the gravity in her eyes.

She nodded, her expression earnest. “I know I won’t let you complete the Entwining,” she murmured softly, “but I want us to be one, in every way we can. Legally. In every way that matters.”

For a moment, Jack was speechless. The thought of being her husband, of making her his in every way possible, filled him with an overwhelming sense of love and purpose.

“Yes,” he breathed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Yes, Sarah. I want that more than anything.”

And as they lay together, wrapped in the warmth of each other’s arms, it felt like, for once, the future was theirs to claim.

They chose a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The sun shone brightly, and Sarah’s white gown caught the light perfectly, making her glow in every photo. It was a small ceremony in the town’s church, filled to the brim with the people of Lily Corner. Everyone who wanted to be there came, packing the tiny space with warmth and excitement. Andrew stood proudly as Jack’s best man, while Mira served as Sarah’s maid of honor. Gabriel and the rest of the staff had transformed the lounge into a reception area, clearing tables and setting up extra seating. They had stayed up all night preparing the food—each dish made with care and love.

The local minister, a familiar face to everyone, officiated the ceremony.

Sarah was too weak to stand for long, but Jack didn’t let it show. When it was time for the vows, he and Andrew stood on either side of her, supporting her gently. She didn’t waver, not once. She beamed up at Jack, her eyes shining brighter than any gown could. Seeing her like that, so radiant and full of life, made his heart swell with pride and love. This was their day—no fear, no sadness. Just the two of them, choosing each other.

The preacher kept the sermon brief, his words direct and heartfelt. But when it came time to exchange vows, the emotions swelled. Jack slid the ring onto her finger, his hands steady, his gaze unwavering. There were no tears in his eyes—just a fierce, overwhelming joy that filled every corner of his being. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Sarah grinned up at him, her own eyes misty but strong. This was their moment, and she wasn’t going to let it slip away.

When they finally kissed, enveloped in the joyful shouts of their friends and neighbors, Sarah leaned in close, her lips brushing his. “You know what this means, right?” she whispered, her smile lighting up her entire face. “This union before God and man?”

Jack looked into her eyes, seeing all the love and determination there. “What does it mean, Mrs. Harper?” he teased softly.

“It means we’ve forsaken all other ties before this. Not some, Jack. All of them.”

Her smile widened, and the weight of those words sank in. Jack felt something shift deep within him—something powerful and freeing. It was as if every burden, every expectation, had melted away, leaving only the pure, simple truth of this moment: she was his, and he was hers.

Grinning, he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her as if he’d never let go. This wasn’t about grand gestures or media attention. There were no fake smiles or cameras flashing—just a simple, genuine joining of two hearts.

And that was everything. Absolutely everything.