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“Logan.” I sigh, relief flooding through me.

His voice is low, rough with exhaustion. “I love you,” he murmurs against my hair, his grip tightening around my waist like he’s trying to ground himself in the moment.

I pull back just enough to meet his gaze, his slate-colored eyes are dark with the gravity of everything that’s happened.

“We made it,” I say softly, my fingers tracing the lines of his jaw.

He nods. “I missed you,” he says, his voice rough with emotion.

I smile, my eyes welling up with the tears. “I missed you too, Logan. So much.”

He leans in, his lips finding mine in a kiss that’s soft and full of everything we’ve both been waiting for. I can feel all the time apart and the distance between us evaporating.

He’s home and now I am, too.

Langley AFB

November 24, 2024

1206

Logan

I can barely breathe as I close the distance between Lila and me. I see the way she’s standing there, waiting for me, the cold air brushing against her skin, like she belongs.

Her eyes meet mine, and the whole damn world pauses for a second. It feels like all the air has been sucked away from the flight line. It’s not the jets roaring in my ears or the weight of the mission anymore. It’s just Lila.

I step toward her faster, breaking into a run, and when I’m close enough, I don’t wait. I reach for her, pulling her into my arms like I’m scared if I don’t hold on, she’ll disappear.

“Logan...” She says my name like it’s sacred, throwing her arms around my neck. She doesn’t even seem to care that I’m covered in sweat, probably looking like hell.

“I love you,” I rasp, burying my face in her hair, taking in the familiar scent of her. I inhale deeply, trying to push away the exhaustion, the heaviness that’s been hanging over me since Ryan’s death. It’s all still there. But in this moment, with Lila in my arms, that weight is giving way to relief.

When I pull back, my hands rest on her hips, and I look at her. She’s wearing my fight jacket, her long braided hair is windblown, and her cheeks and nose are pink from the cold. I swear, she’s never looked more beautiful.

Her fingers brush against my jaw, and I feel the weight of everything. Of Reaper. Of Ryan. And that damn hole inside me.

I try to swallow all the emotions I’m feeling. “I missed you,” I say, though it doesn’t begin to cover it.

“I missed you, Logan. So much,” she replies softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I let myself feel it. The solace. The homecoming.

The reality of the mission is also there, pressing in, too loud to ignore.

“I should check in with my flight,” I say, stepping back reluctantly, though every part of me wants to keep holding onto her. “You want to come with me?”

She looks up at me, her eyes soft, but I can see the hesitation there. She must feel it. The silence left by Ryan’s death that still lingers in the corners.

“Yes,” she says.

I roll the stiff ache out of my left shoulder and lead her toward the group, my hand finding hers like it always has. Dalton and Wells are already gathered, checking in with Townsend as he runs through his final inspection beside his jet.

The sound of voices and the low hum of engines fill the air. It’s a familiar soundtrack.

I stop a few paces away from Townsend, releasing Lila’s hand only long enough to raise my own in a quick salute. He returns it, his eyes sharp but carry a hint of relief. I thread my fingers with Lila’s and pull us closer to my flight.

“James,” he greets me, standing tall. His signature smirk tugging at his lips, though it's not as carefree as it used to be. “Hey, Lila.”