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Returning Home (Bjorn Ironside )

Years had passed since Bjorn Ironside had left Kattegat, following his mother, Lagertha, to build a life far from his father, Ragnar. You had watched him go, your heart heavy as the boy you had known since childhood disappeared over the horizon. Back then, you had been inseparable—running through the forests together, practicing swordplay, dreaming of the day you would both grow up to become fierce warriors.

But that day had never come for the two of you together. Bjorn had gone, leaving behind only memories, while you had stayed, watching Kattegat change and grow around you. Even as the years passed, you couldn't help but think of him often. You had grown older, stronger, and taken your place among the people of Kattegat, but part of you always wondered if Bjorn ever thought of you.

Now, word had spread like wildfire through the village: Bjorn Ironside had returned.

You heard the whispers, the excited chatter from those who had known him as a boy and now saw him as a legendary warrior, the son of Ragnar, and a man in his own right. But all you could think about was the boy you once knew, and whether he had changed as much as they said.

You stood near the docks, watching as the ships came in, your heart pounding in your chest. And then you saw him.

Bjorn stood tall, broader and more powerful than you remembered. His presence commanded attention, a warrior through and through, with a cold intensity in his eyes that hadn't been there before. Yet beneath all the armor and the years of battle, you saw something familiar—a glimpse of the boy you used to know.

Your breath caught in your throat as his gaze swept over the crowd and landed on you. For a moment, time seemed to stop, the noise of the village fading into the background as Bjorn's piercing blue eyes locked onto yours.

He strode forward, his movements sure and confident, until he stood before you, towering over you like a figure from one of the old stories.

"Y/N," he said, his voice low, rougher than you remembered but filled with something unspoken.

"Bjorn," you breathed, your heart racing. You hadn't expected to feel so much all at once. The memories of your shared childhood came flooding back—those days of laughter, the stolen glances, the way you had felt something for him even then but had never had the courage to say.

Years had changed both of you, but as you stood there, staring into each other's eyes, it felt as though no time had passed at all.

"You've changed," he said, his eyes roaming over your face as if trying to reconcile the person before him with the memories of the past.

"So have you," you replied, a small smile tugging at your lips. "But I think I'd still recognize you anywhere."

Bjorn's lips quirked into a faint smile, but there was something deeper in his gaze now, something that made your stomach flip. The boy you once knew was gone, replaced by a man—a man who had seen things, done things, that you couldn't begin to imagine.

And yet, standing here now, you felt the same pull toward him that you had always felt. Stronger, even. The years hadn't dulled the connection between you. If anything, they had made it sharper.

"You stayed in Kattegat," Bjorn said after a moment, his voice quieter now, as if the weight of the years was pressing down on him.

"I did," you nodded. "I never left. It's been... different without you here."

Bjorn's eyes softened, and for a moment, you saw the boy he had been. "I thought about you," he admitted, his voice rough with emotion. "More times than I can count. I should've come back sooner."

Your heart ached at his words. You wanted to tell him how often you had thought of him, how many nights you had stared at the stars, wondering where he was, if he was safe, if he ever remembered the life you had shared as children.

"You're here now," you said softly, meeting his gaze. "That's all that matters."

Bjorn stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, and for a moment you felt like you were the only two people in the world. His hand reached out, brushing lightly against your arm, and the simple touch sent a shiver down your spine.

"I regret leaving you," Bjorn whispered, his voice so low it was almost a growl. "I didn't know it back then, but now... I know what I left behind."

Your breath hitched at his words, and you looked up at him, your heart racing. The intensity in his eyes was almost too much to bear, but you couldn't look away.

"I was a boy when I left," Bjorn continued, his hand lingering on your arm, his touch burning through you. "But I'm not that boy anymore. I know what I want now."

You swallowed hard, feeling your own emotions bubbling to the surface. You had spent years wondering if Bjorn ever cared for you the way you had cared for him, and now, here he was, standing before you, baring his heart in a way you never expected.

"What do you want?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Bjorn's eyes darkened, and without another word, he closed the distance between you, his hand moving to cup the back of your neck as he pulled you into a kiss. It was fierce, passionate, filled with all the years of longing and words left unspoken. You kissed him back just as fiercely, your hands gripping the fabric of his tunic as if afraid he might disappear again.

When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against yours, both of you breathing heavily.

"You," he rasped, his voice raw. "I want you, Y/N. I always have."

Tears pricked at your eyes, but you refused to let them fall. You had waited so long to hear those words, and now that you had, you felt like you could finally breathe again.

"I love you, Bjorn," you whispered, the words tumbling out before you could stop them. "I always have."

Bjorn let out a shaky breath, his grip on you tightening as if he couldn't bear to let you go. "I love you too," he murmured, his voice full of emotion. "I should've told you years ago. I should've stayed."

You smiled, your heart full. "We can't change the past. But we have now."

Bjorn nodded, his eyes searching yours as if trying to memorize every detail of your face. "And I won't leave you again. I swear it."

You believed him. In that moment, with his arms around you and the years of longing finally behind you, you knew that this time, Bjorn Ironside was home. And he was yours.