When they finally broke apart, both breathless, Annabelle could hear something from the library beyond. Music. Shaky, uncertain music.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
They pulled apart just enough to look toward the sound. Jamie was standing in the library doorway, Raven's guitar clutched in his small hands, concentrating fiercely as his fingers found the notes. Behind him, crowding the doorway, was half the village. Lily was trying not to smile. Daisy was openly crying. Gloria had one hand pressed dramatically to her chest.
Jamie finished the song, or at least, finished as much of it as he knew, and looked up with a grin that was pure mischief.
"It's the only other song I know," he announced. "Even if it's not romantic."
Annabelle felt laughter bubbling up in her chest, the kind that was half joy and half disbelief. She was about to say something but Raven squeezed her hand to stop her.
"It's absolutely perfect," Raven said, and her voice was warm in a way Annabelle had never heard before. Public. Open. For everyone to hear.
She turned to face the crowd properly, her hand still firmly in Annabelle's, and raised her voice. "I don't suppose any of you would mind having me in the village? Fair warning: I'm terrible with small talk, I play guitar at inappropriate hours, and I have a bad habit of running away from things."
"We know," Arty called from somewhere in the back. "We've met you."
The crowd laughed, and Raven's expression shifted into something that might have been embarrassment. Annabelle squeezed her hand.
"We'd be delighted," Daisy said, bouncing on her toes. "Oh, this is so exciting! We'll have our very own rockstar!"
"I suppose it'll be no worse than having an actress in the village," Gloria announced with the air of someone bestowing a great compliment.
There was another ripple of laughter, and Annabelle felt something in her chest finally, finally settle. This was it. This was the moment where everything clicked into place. Not perfect, maybe, no, definitely not perfect, but real and messy and wonderfully, beautifully theirs.
Raven turned back to her, and the smile on her face was the one Annabelle loved best. The small, private one that was just for her.
"Ready to go face the masses?" Raven asked. "Bet the press are already waiting, they’re never far behind."
"With you?" Annabelle laced their fingers together properly, palm to palm. "Always."
And hand in hand, they walked back into the library.
Together.
Epilogue
The guitar cases were blocking the hallway again.
Annabelle stood in the doorway of the cottage, arms full of marking books, and stared at the instrument cases that had taken up semi-permanent residence against the wall. Right next to the coat rack. Which meant she had to do an awkward sideways shuffle every time she wanted to hang up her jacket.
This was not the first time they'd had this conversation.
"Raven?" she called out, depositing her school bag on the kitchen table and pushing past the offending guitar cases. "Love? We've talked about this."
No answer.
Annabelle made her way through the cottage, their cottage, even if it was technically still hers and far too small for two people and an ever-expanding collection of musical equipment. She found Raven in what used to be the spare room and was now the "music room," though "organized chaos" would be a more accurate description.
Raven was hunched over her acoustic guitar, headphones on, completely absorbed in whatever she was playing. Her dark hairwas pulled back in a messy bun, and she was wearing the ancient band t-shirt she refused to throw away despite the holes.
Annabelle's heart did that stupid little flip it always did when she looked at her.
Even after two years.
Especially after two years.
She waited until Raven glanced up, then pointed meaningfully toward the hallway.
