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The early afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of Skye and Ryder’s apartment, casting warm, golden light across the room. It was a quiet day, the kind that Skye had come to appreciate more and more in the weeks since they had left the chaos of the underground behind. There was a calmness now, a stillness in the air that felt like a gift after everything they had been through.
Skye stood in front of the full-length mirror in their bedroom, twisting her hair into a loose bun as she got ready for the day. Her eyes drifted across her reflection, lingering on the tattoo that covered her left shoulder—an intricate design of flowers and geometric shapes that she had done herself years ago. It had always been one of her favorite pieces, a reminder of her strength, but now it seemed to hold even more meaning. It symbolized the journey she had been on, not just with Ryder, but within herself.
She had always been strong, always been independent, but over the past few months, she had learned that strength didn’t have to mean pushing people away. She had learned that vulnerability wasn’t weakness, and that love didn’t make her any less capable of standing on her own. And now, as she stood there, looking at herself in the mirror, she felt a quiet sense of pride in the woman she had become.
A knock on the bedroom door pulled her from her thoughts, and Skye turned to see Ryder leaning against the doorframe, his dark eyes warm and soft as he watched her.
“Hey,” he said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You almost ready?”
“Just about,” Skye replied, turning back to the mirror to smooth down the front of her shirt. “What’s the plan for today?”
Ryder shrugged, stepping into the room and crossing to her side. “I thought we could take a walk. Maybe talk about a few things.”
Skye raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparking in her chest. Ryder had been doing that a lot lately—suggesting walks, asking to talk about their future. It was a new side of him, one she hadn’t seen before, but she loved it. There was a sense of hopefulness in him now, a quiet determination to make the most of the life they were building together. And every time he brought up the future, her heart swelled with the possibility of what lay ahead for them.
“Sure,” Skye said with a smile. “Let me grab my shoes.”
A few minutes later, they were walking down the quiet streets of their neighborhood, the late summer sun warming their skin as they strolled hand-in-hand. Skye loved this part of the city—far enough from the bustling downtown to feel peaceful, but close enough to still be part of the energy that pulsed through the city’s heart. It was the perfect balance, much like the life she and Ryder were trying to create together.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of their footsteps on the pavement mingling with the distant hum of traffic and the occasional chirp of birds from the trees lining the street. Skye could feel the warmth of Ryder’s hand in hers, steady and reassuring, and she couldn’t help but smile at how far they had come.
“So,” Ryder said after a while, his voice breaking the quiet. “I’ve been thinking.”
“About what?” Skye asked, glancing up at him with a curious smile.
Ryder hesitated for a moment, his eyes focused on the path ahead. “About what’s next for us. What we want our lives to look like now that... everything’s settled.”
Skye’s heart skipped a beat at his words. It was a conversation they had touched on before, but it still felt surreal to be talking about the future in such a calm, hopeful way. For so long, their focus had been on survival, on getting through the chaos of Marcus and the underground. But now, they had the freedom to dream, to build something real together.
“I’ve been thinking about that too,” Skye said softly, her thumb brushing over the back of his hand. “It feels strange, doesn’t it? To be able to actually make plans, to think about the future without... fear.”
Ryder nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah. It does. But it’s a good kind of strange, I think. I spent so many years just trying to survive, just... getting through each day. I never let myself think too far ahead because I didn’t think I had a future worth planning for. But now, with you... everything feels different.”
Skye’s chest tightened with emotion at his words, and she squeezed his hand, her heart swelling with love for the man beside her. Ryder had been through so much—more than anyone should ever have to endure—and yet here he was, standing beside her, ready to face whatever came next.
“What do you want, Ryder?” Skye asked quietly, her voice soft but steady. “What does your future look like now?”
Ryder was silent for a long moment, his eyes focused on the horizon as if he was trying to picture it in his mind. When he finally spoke, his voice was filled with quiet determination.
“I want peace,” Ryder said, his tone firm but calm. “I want to build a life that feels... steady. Something real, something that doesn’t feel like it could be taken away at any moment.”
Skye nodded, her heart aching with the understanding of what he meant. For so long, Ryder’s life had been filled with instability—fighting, running, always looking over his shoulder. But now, he had a chance to build something solid, something that wouldn’t crumble beneath the weight of his past.
“And what about you?” Ryder asked, turning to look at her, his dark eyes filled with warmth and curiosity. “What do you want, Skye?”
Skye smiled, her chest tightening with emotion. It was a question she had been asking herself more and more lately. For so long, she had focused on her art, on her career as a tattoo artist, and while that was still important to her, she had come to realize that there was more she wanted out of life. She wanted love, connection, and a sense of belonging. And with Ryder, she had found all of that and more.
“I want to keep building the life we’ve started,” Skye said, her voice soft but filled with conviction. “I want to keep growing in my art, keep building the shop, but I also want... more. I want us to have a home, a place that’s ours. I want a life where we can just be, without constantly worrying about what’s going to happen next.”
Ryder smiled, his hand tightening around hers. “We can have that. We’re already building it.”
Skye’s heart swelled with emotion at his words, and she nodded, her eyes bright with hope. “Yeah. We are.”
They continued walking, the conversation flowing easily between them as they talked about their dreams, their hopes for the future. They talked about expanding Inked Hearts, maybe even opening a second location one day. They talked about traveling, about seeing the world together now that they didn’t have to worry about the dangers of Ryder’s past catching up with them. But most of all, they talked about building a life that was filled with love, stability, and peace.
As they turned a corner, Skye spotted a small park up ahead, its green lawn dotted with families and couples enjoying the sunny afternoon. She smiled, squeezing Ryder’s hand as they made their way toward the park. It was the perfect place to sit and enjoy the sunshine, to continue dreaming about the future they were building together.
They found a quiet spot beneath a large oak tree, the shade offering a cool reprieve from the warmth of the sun. Ryder sat down first, leaning back against the trunk, and Skye settled beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. For a long moment, they just sat there in comfortable silence, watching the world go by, their hands still intertwined.
“Do you think it’ll always be like this?” Skye asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ryder glanced down at her, his expression thoughtful. “Like what?”
“Peaceful,” Skye said, her eyes drifting across the park, taking in the sight of children playing, couples laughing, the sound of birds chirping in the trees. “Do you think we’ll always have this?”
Ryder was quiet for a moment, his gaze following hers as he watched the scene before them. “I hope so,” he said finally, his voice filled with quiet conviction. “But even if it’s not always like this, even if there are challenges... we’ll get through them. Together.”
Skye smiled, her heart swelling with love for the man beside her. “Yeah. We will.”
They sat there for a long time, basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun, the quiet sounds of the park creating a sense of peace that felt almost surreal. Skye couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so content, so at ease. For the first time in a long time, the future felt bright, filled with endless possibilities.
As the afternoon wore on, Skye and Ryder eventually made their way back home, the walk quiet and comfortable, their hands still tightly clasped together. When they reached their apartment, Ryder paused at the door, his eyes meeting hers with a look of quiet determination.
“Skye,” he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. “I’ve been thinking about something.”
“What is it?” Skye asked, her heart skipping a beat at the intensity in his gaze.
Ryder hesitated for a moment, his hand tightening around hers. “I want to build a life with you. A real life. I know we’ve talked about the future, but... I want to make it official.”
Skye’s breath caught in her throat, her heart racing as she realized what he was saying. “Ryder...”
“I love you, Skye,” Ryder continued, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don’t need anything fancy, I don’t need a big ceremony or anything like that, but... I want to marry you. I want you to be my partner, my family.”
Tears filled Skye’s eyes as she stared up at him, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. She had never been the type to dream about weddings or marriage, but standing here in front of Ryder, hearing the sincerity in his voice, she realized that this was exactly what she wanted. Not the ceremony or the traditions, but the commitment, the promise to build a life together, no matter what challenges came their way.
“I want that too,” Skye whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I want to marry you, Ryder.”
A slow, relieved smile spread across Ryder’s face, and he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. For a long moment, they just stood there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, the world outside fading away.
When they finally pulled back, Ryder pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his hand resting against her cheek. “We’ll make this life together, Skye. Whatever it takes.”
Skye nodded, her eyes bright with tears of happiness. “Together.”
The days that followed were filled with quiet joy, a sense of peace that neither Skye nor Ryder had ever truly known. They didn’t rush into wedding plans or grand announcements. Instead, they spent their time talking, dreaming, and building the foundation of the life they wanted. It wasn’t about the ceremony or the legalities—it was about the commitment, the promise they had made to each other to face the future together, no matter what it held.
They spent more time at Inked Hearts, working side by side as Skye took on new clients and Ryder helped her expand the business. He had found a new sense of purpose in the shop, a way to contribute without resorting to the violence of his past. And while he was still figuring out what his next steps would be, there was no longer a sense of urgency or desperation. They had time now—time to build, time to grow, time to figure out who they wanted to be as individuals and as a couple.
One evening, as they sat together on the balcony of their apartment, watching the sun set over the city, Skye felt a deep sense of contentment settle over her. The future still held its uncertainties, and she knew that life would bring its share of challenges, but for the first time, she wasn’t afraid.
She looked over at Ryder, his profile bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, and smiled. “You know what?”
Ryder turned to her, his dark eyes soft and full of love. “What?”
“I think we’re going to be just fine.”
Ryder smiled, reaching over to take her hand in his. “I think you’re right.”
And as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in a warm, peaceful glow, Skye knew that whatever the future held, they would face it together. Because in the end, it wasn’t about the past or the challenges they had faced—it was about the life they were building, one day at a time.
