𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

the ones who made it

The stars had started to return.

It was strange, after everything, to have nights where the sky wasn't filled with fire or smoke. The Iron Lion base stood quiet for once, its old stone walls bathed in lanternlight. Nico leaned against the ledge of the outer courtyard, a piece of bread half-eaten in one hand.

Bea came up beside him quietly, arms crossed, amber eyes catching the light.

"You hiding?" she asked.

"Always," he smirked. "You?"

"Taking a breath. Everything's a bit loud inside."

"Yeah. Pregnant women and cake do that."

Bea chuckled. They both looked back toward the main hall where Vicky and Matt had just been celebrated again. The cheers. The hugs. The soft music. Bea could still hear Nancy scream-laughing about someone's name suggestion ("Stormblade Rosewood-Jameson, I'm serious...").

She leaned her elbows next to Nico's.

"They made it," she said quietly.

"They did."

Bea paused. "Do you think it's always that hard? Choosing to stay. Choosing... someone. In all this?"

Nico glanced at her. "I think it's harder to believe it can last. But they do. They believe in it. In each other."

She looked down at her hands. "Vicky used to talk about Matt like she'd been struck by lightning. Like he reminded her of everything she could survive."

Nico was quiet a moment. "She reminds him of who he is. That's what gets you through this kind of world. Not just love. But remembering."

Bea blinked, slow and thoughtful. "Do you think we'll ever have something like that?"

Nico's voice was lower now. "You mean the cake and baby booties part or the world-shattering devotion part?"

Bea smiled softly. "Maybe both."

Nico turned to her. "I don't know what the future looks like. Not anymore. But... if someone's still here when it gets hard — when you're a mess, or bleeding, or too tired to smile and they stay anyway... maybe that's the closest we get."

Bea looked at him then, really looked.

"You'd stay, wouldn't you?"

"For you?" Nico said, voice steady. "Always."

The night wrapped around them like a blanket.

Neither of them said anything for a long time. The sounds from the hall faded, replaced by quiet breaths, soft stars, and the hum of something unspoken — but understood.