The short pause of silence that fell between them felt like an eternity to Crow. He held his breath, heart pounding as he waited for her to tell him her answer. This was the moment he had been anticipating for three days. He was finally going to find out if she was going to choose to keep her current life or give it all up to be with him.

His stomach churned anxiously as she stepped forward to take his hand in hers. He couldn’t tell if she was trying to reassure him that everything would be fine or ease the blow when she let him down. Either way, the gesture did nothing to calm the nervousness he felt as he waited for her to speak.

After another moment, she finally went on to tell him her decision, and he held her gaze, listening intently. He was a bit confused by her apologetic expression, until she brought up her initial rejection of him. The reminder sent a dull wave of pain through the thief, as he recalled how hurt he had felt when she had told him she didn’t want to be with him anymore. However, the negative emotion faded quickly as she explained that she had never really wanted to leave him.

When she finally announced that she wanted to be with him after the war, Crow was able to breathe again. “Oh, thank gods,” he sighed in relief, closing the distance between them by wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. “I know I said I would be fine with whatever you chose, but this is so much better than losing you again.” Pulling back slightly, he met her gaze and smiled. “I love you, Penelope, and I’ll do everything I can to give you the life you deserve. You have my word.”

With that, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss, relishing the feeling of being able to be so close to her again. He ran his hands over her body, tracing the curve of her back and trailing his fingers through her hair. It felt like dream to hold her in his arms again. For two years, he had never thought it was even possible, yet here she was, kissing him once again, alone with him in the house of his youth.

“I can’t believe this is really happening,” he breathed, shifting lower to press a few kisses to her neck. “I’ve missed you so much.”