As they held onto each other, the weight of the past months slowly began to lift. The pain, the loneliness, and the fear that had haunted them both started to fade in the warmth of their reunion. Becky could feel Freen’s tears soaking into her shoulder, and she tightened her grip, never wanting to let go again.
Jisoo stirred between them, her tiny body nestled safely against Becky’s chest. Freen pulled back slightly, her gaze dropping to their daughter, and a soft smile broke through her tears. She gently stroked Jisoo’s cheek, her fingers trembling with emotion.
“She’s missed you so much,” Freen whispered, her voice still shaky. “Every day, I’d show her your picture, and I’d tell her about you. How brave and strong you are. How much you love her.”
Becky’s heart ached at Freen’s words. She couldn’t believe how much she had missed, how many moments she had lost with the two people who meant everything to her. But she was here now, and she wasn’t going to waste another second.
“Freen, I know it won’t be easy, but I’m going to do everything I can to make things right,” Becky said, her voice firm despite the tears still streaming down her face. “I want to be here for Jisoo. I'm sorry for forcing you to take responsibility on her, but I'm back now. I know you didn't want this, but I just had no other choice. I'm sorry for burdening you, and I appreciate it so much. Thank you for taking care of our Jisoo. I'll take it from here.”
Freen's eyebrows creased with what she heard, her eyes full of confusion and sadness. “Oh, Becky. Don't think that way, please. You and our daughter are not a burden for me. I never thought of Jisoo as a mere responsibility, from the time I found out she's ours. I love her, as much as I love you, bb. I know we didn't have a good talk the last time we saw each other, and I may have made you feel neglected and unloved, but upon losing you, I realized a lot of things. Becky, I know that I have no right to ask this of you, after everything I made you go through. I was a jerk. I hate myself for the way I made you feel before, but can you give me a chance. Can I make it right this time. I want to make it work. We’ll make it work. I don’t care how hard it is, as long as we’re together.”
Becky smiled through her tears, the fear and uncertainty that had plagued her for so long finally starting to fade. She looked down at Jisoo, who was now peacefully asleep in her arms, and she knew that she had made the right choice in coming back.
Freen was crying hard at this point, already on her knees, are ready to ask forgiveness from the girl she hurt so much. “I'm so sorry, Becky. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. You have every right to be angry and scared that I may not be telling the truth because of my former actios. That's why I want to sincerely apologize. I didn’t know how to handle everything before, and I pushed you away. I was so afraid to lose the best thing that happened to me, if I accepted your affection. I was so frightened of how I might just end up hurting you, if I admitted that I love you. I was a coward. I thought I was protecting you, but how wrong was I? But this time, I'm no longer running away. I want to make things right. I want to be a family with you and Jisoo. I want you to know, I want to make you feel how much you really mean to me.”
Silence enveloped them.
Freen was still kneeling in front of the younger, holding one of her hands, heart racing, scared that she will lose the two people who holds her heart.
Becky nodded, her own tears flowing freely. “Freen, please stand up. I don't know how we can start again. What you said haven't even sank in my mind yet, but one thing is for sure. I want to make this work to. Not for me or us, but for Jisoo. I want her to have a complete family. Let's do this, Freen. We’ll face whatever comes our way together.”
Freen stood up, wrapped her arms around Becky and Jisoo, holding them close. “Thank you! Thank you so much, bb. I swear you are not going to regret this. I'm going to take care of both of you until the day I die. I will love you more that myself, as much as you deserve, my princess. I’m so glad you’re back. I missed you more than I can say. We’ll work through this, and we’ll make sure Jisoo knows how much we love her. And let's start it by giving her a secure and complete home.”
With that, Freen knelt once more, but this time, only on one knee. She pulled a red velvet box from her jean's pocket like she had it inside all along. Like she intended to give it to Becky for a long time now.
"Rebecca Patricia Armstrong, I know this might feel sudden to you, but I had this ring ready, bringing it with me everywhere, since I found out about Jisoo. I was hoping that I'll find you someday and ask you to spend the rest of your life with me. Because I realized I can no longer live without you. I don't know if I deserve you, but I love you with all of my heart. I want to start over again to make you feel how special you are to me. I want to do it right this time. Please, give me the opportunity to make it up to you. I promise to love and serve you for as long as we both shall live. Will you make me the happiest person alive and let me love you and our child for as long as we both shall live?"
Becky's emotions are already overboard, but without second thought, she just saw herself pulling the older girl up and nodding, yes. "Yes, babe. I will marry you."
Freen smiled from ear to ear, with trembling hands, she put the ring on Becky, before reaching for her face to kiss her with all the emotions she felt inside.
There may be a lot of uncertainties between them and a lot of unresolved conflicts, but one thing is for sure, they are meant to be together.
As the sun set and the stars began to twinkle outside, the house was filled with the warmth of their reconciliation. They lay together on the couch, Jisoo cradled between them, and for the first time in months, Becky felt a profound sense of peace.
They knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, as a family. And as they embraced, they silently promised each other that they would never let go again.
