"I thought I'd never find real love or a real family.I always thought I was too damaged, too fucked up from Emma and Liam and all of it.My club brothers were all that I thought I needed, until you and Warren.”
"You're not damaged."
"I am, but you are too, and somehow we fit.We work."
"Yeah.We do."
"I'm glad I found you.Glad Warren called me Daddy.Glad for all of it.Even the hard parts.Because it led me here to you."
Tears slip down my cheeks."I'm glad too.Because this, right here, this is what I was fighting for.This is what safety feels like."
He kisses me again, soft and tender."We're going to be okay.All three of us."
"I know."
"I'm going to be the best father I can be.For Warren, and someday for our other kids too."
"I know you will."
"And I'm going to love you.Every day for the rest of my life, however long that is."
"I'm going to love you too.Forever."
We fall asleep like that, wrapped around each other.
And for the first time in years, I don't dream of fear.I don’t worry about anything at all.
I just sleep.
Because I'm safe.
Because Warren's safe.
Because we have Devin.
And that's everything we could ever need.
24
TANK
ONE YEAR LATER
Iwake to the sound of Warren's feet padding down the hallway.Not running, not scared, just moving through the home like he owns it.
Because he does.This is his home; safe, stable and filled with love.
Enya's still asleep beside me, her face peaceful, her hair spread across the pillow, one hand resting on my chest.
It's been a year since Declan died, since everything changed, since we became a family.It’s been a year of healing, of growing, and of learning what normal feels like.
Warren's nightmares have faded.Not gone completely, but less frequent and less intense.He sleeps through most nights now.When he wakes up, he’s smiling instead of scared.
Enya's different too.She’s still careful, still checks the locks sometimes, but the constant fear in her eyes is gone, replaced by the look of peace.
And me...I’m whole.For the first time in my life, I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.
We moved into our new home last week.I needed something bigger than that flat Enya had.I wanted a home for Warren, Enya, and I, someplace we could call home without any bad memories, and that’s exactly what we have.A home we can make our own and grow into as the years pass.
