𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 ⇉ 𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸

𝘴 𝘵 𝘢 𝘬 𝘦 𝘴

AS THE SUN dipped below the horizon, painting the Moroccan desert in fiery hues, the crackling fire became the heart of their small circle. The distant echo of the ocean served as a surreal soundtrack to their weary laughter.

They were an unlikely band, Pogues and Rafe, bound by a shared quest and a desperate need for rest. One more night, they'd decided, before venturing into the unknown to confront Groff and claim the crown.

"I think next time we take a trip, we should maybe plan ahead." John B says, his voice cutting through the comfortable silence.

A wave of smiles ripple through the group as he pulls Sarah closer.

"Maybe we can stay in a hotel next time." Sarah chimes in, her eyes sparkling with the promise of comfort.

"And a shower." Kiara adds, eliciting a chorus of chuckles.

"Yeah, have you smelled John B? I think he's the worst out of all of us." Ariella quips, playfully tossing a pebble at him.

The laughter grew louder, a rare and precious melody after the trials they had faced.

She leans back into JJ's embrace, his arms tightening around her. He had meant every word when he vowed never to let her go again, and she felt the same.

Their bond, forged in fire and tested by fate, was unbreakable.

"I smelled myself today and—." John B starts, only to be cut off by Sarah's teasing.

"You weren't the only one who smelled you."

The laughter erupted once more, filling the desert air. It was a sound of normalcy, a brief respite from the weight of their mission.

As their laughter echoes through the desert, Ariella's head tilts upward, her gaze meeting JJ's. His eyes, already fixed on her, held a depth of emotion that mirrored her own.

Their light eyes clash, a silent conversation passing between them, bringing a sense of profound comfort. In his arms, in his presence, she was home.

And vice versa.

She was his world.

She, Cora Lynn and their unborn child.

Ariella had always been his reason to keep fighting, to keep living. But now, with Cora Lynn and their baby on the way, he had even more to cherish.

He had never known a true home, but Ariella had given him that, along with the chance to be a father—a better one than his own.

And surrounded by the Pogues, he knew their bond was another kind of home, a family forged in loyalty and love.

Ariella leans deeper into JJ's chest, finding solace in his warmth. The Maybank kisses his wife's head a few times, a tender gesture that spoke volumes. When they looked back at the others, their eyes sparkled with an unspoken joy.

They all savored the moment, each feeling the weight of their journey lifting, if only for a little while.

Even Rafe, sitting next to Ariella in the circle, felt a sense of relief wash over him.

He could see so clearly now why Ariella had chosen them over him. They had been there for her in ways he never could, offering a love and support that he had failed to provide.

After all this time, he was finally beginning to understand.

"Hey, uh, you know what's a good name for a baby?" JJ pipes up, grinning mischievously at John B and Sarah, who grins back just as wide. Ariella's eyes sparkled with amusement. "JJ. Goes both ways, actually. If it's a girl, if it's a boy."