Chapter 32: The Light that Burns the Darkness

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Justin's POV:

"How did I get so damn lucky?"
I wondered to myself as I watched Hailey pick us out warm weather gear.
Even though I knew she wanted to be back home and close to Charlie, she leaped out in faith and followed me to Fairbanks, Alaska.
And as I watched her try on puffy coats and knitted hats, I couldn't help but smile.
Like really smile.
We left our fear of tomorrow back on the sandy beaches of Mexico, both of us praying that the tide would take it out to sea.
Watching her giggle as she forced beanie after beanie onto my head, undecided on just what color she liked best...I felt lighter than I've ever had.
I felt normal.
I was just a normal guy, taking his girl to see the Northern Lights.
I wasn't a fighter.
She wasn't in danger.
We were just a normal happy couple trying on hats.
It felt so fucking good.

I surprised her our first day there with a hike through Angel's Rock trailhead.
The beautiful fall tundra, just a backdrop to molding my lips to hers every chance I got.
We stayed in an authentic wooden cabin our first night at the Chena Hot Springs Resort.
Neither of us equipped to run a wood burning stove, we spent the night under a mountain of blankets.
A game of Uno under a flashlight, she even let me win a time or two.
Swimming in the Chena hot springs the next day, I had Hailey wrapped around my waist,  her hands entwined at the base of my neck.
The air was crisp and cold, but the natural hot spring was warm and summery.
Holding her against me in this contrasting hideaway, it felt like she was finally safe.
Nobody could reach us here, nobody could take her away from me here.
We were untouchable.

"Penny for your thoughts?" She murmured against my wet skin as I twirled her through the water.

"I'm just really happy."  My lazy grin spreading.

"Happy looks good on you, Justin."
Little did she know, she was my happiness.

"What about you, Hailey?
Are you happy?"
With everything in me, I wanted nothing more than to give her what she'd given me.
Everything.

"You are my happy place, Justin.
Swimming in this spring or huddled under blankets. When it's with you, I'm happy."

How she could melt my heart with her words, I'd never know.
But hearing them made me feel like I had finally done something right.

"Well, tonight I plan to make you extra, extra happy.
So happy that you'll give me back my bedroom control."

Hailey's unrestrained laughter and quirky eyebrow dared me to try.

"Giving back the bedroom control would require a magical spell.
And your no Harry Potter."

Dare accepted.
She had no idea how happy she'd be by dawn.

"I'm full of magic, baby.
Just you wait and see."

My heart had secrets to share.
And the Northern Lights were going to be my wild card.

We left later that day for the Borealis Basecamp where we'd be sleeping in a glass igloo, with a perfect view of the sky.
Ms.Opal had helped me arrange this part of the trip, and my surprise for later as well.
When we arrived at the Basecamp, I couldn't contain how excited and nervous I was.

"Why are you so fidgety? The whole ride here you've been practically bouncing off the walls. What's up?"
She eyed me suspiciously trying to read my mind.

"Can't a guy just be excited to take his girl to one of the most beautiful places on earth?"
I made sure to dramatically gasp and place a hand over my heart for added effect.

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