Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Happy (Keefe POV)

Sophie smiled at him. "Not once I had all the facts," she continued, those warm brown eyes steadily holding his gaze. "I just came from Everglen. I told Fitz I can't see him anymore, at least not beyond friends and Cognates."

Keefe's heart was thundering in his chest as he stared at her, eyes widening in disbelief. Did she really just say that? Did it mean what he thought it meant? He leaned in closer. "You did?"

"I did." She reached for his hand. "I've come to realize a lot of things, but mostly they sum up to one important fact that I'm done trying to ignore: this right here, you and me?...this is what I want. If you'll still have me."

Of course I'll still have you. I'll want you forever.

Had she really chosen him? Had her heart finally won out over her head? He felt tears burn his eyes but refused to let himself cry. "Really?" He asked. "You...you picked me? This is really what you want?"

She didn't answer, she just laced their fingers together and nodded slowly, leaning in closer to him, the look on her face answering all his questions and making him bold.

"Sophie..." he whispered, bringing his free hand up to her face, gently cupping her cheek, dizzy with relief. "Sophie..."

And there was no mistaking it now.

Her nervousness was gone, but she felt very fluttery--more than he'd ever felt from her before--and he couldn't help his euphoric smile as he leaned in and did what he'd dreamed of doing from the day they'd met.

He kissed her.

Their fingers were still laced together, but he let go of her hand and brought it to her waist, sliding it slowly to the small of her back and drawing her in closer. Kissing Sophie was the pinnacle of perfection, everything he'd always hope it would be and So. Much. More.

He lost track of time as he held her, sharing this moment, drinking in the knowledge that for once, his dreams were coming true.

But finally, he decided to pull away before the combined force of their happiness overtook him. Smiling at her, still feeling completely in awe, he tucked her hair behind her ear before taking both her hands in his own. "I can't believe this is happening." His voice was barely above a whisper.

Sophie leaned in for another quick kiss. "Believe it," she whispered, looking up at him like...

Like she was completely enamored with him.

Finally.

It took him a second to get control of himself--the last thing he needed to do was freak her out by starting to cry, or by randomly shouting, "I LOVE YOU, SOPHIE!!!!" mere seconds into their relationship. So he cleared his throat, pulled himself together and smirked at her. "Well, I sure hope this was better than your first kiss was."

As if he couldn't already tell it had been pure magic for her too.

Sophie giggled. "It definitely was. But that wasn't Dex's fault."

"No, it wasn't. Next time he kisses someone it'll be better for him too. And I, for one, am glad that this time I kissed someone on purpose and not because of a dare gone wrong."

"Poor Biana," Sophie told him, shaking her head. "She'd be humiliated if she knew you told me about that."

"Well then, we won't tell her. But speaking of the Vackers..." Keefe squeezed her hands. "Why don't you tell me about this emotional journey you've been on the past couple of days?"

Now that he knew the outcome, he wasn't afraid of hearing the process.

He listened as she shared the whole story. "I knew it from the moment you confessed, really," she admitted as she finished. "It was like...it just felt right. This little piece of the puzzle that was missing finally fell into place."