JACOB PORTMAN HURRIED AS HE RUSHED TO GET IN A SUBWAY. He was currently in Japan, jumping from loop to loop, looking for the peculiars he had considered as his family. His grandfather was alive-- after Clara killed Barron, he could have never reached his grandfather, therefore making him alive. Abe gave him permission and helped him to look for them.
Jacob sat by the seat near the door. He has never gave up. He wanted to see everyone again, especially the love of his life, Emma. While thinking of her, he remembered Clara. Clara Prescott.
He wasn't even sure if she was alive. The last time he ever saw her, she looked as if every inch of life was taken away from her. Jacob hoped she is alive. He wanted to tell his apologies to her personally, and he wanted to hear her side, even after all these years. While he was lost in thought, he didn't realize he was staring at someone.
"Do you need anything?" The woman said. She was foreign from this place, just like him. He blinked again. She looked familiar. Then it got to him; he knew who this was.
Clara Prescott was standing up in front of him. Her long, brown curly hair was gone; her hair was shorter than ever. It made her look older, but she was still as young as he first saw her. She did not wear her usual knee-length, puff-sleeved dress, instead, she wore a red button down with the sleeves folded and the buttons unbuttoned, a white shirt tucked in a high-waist denim jeans. She was taller than she ever was.
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Jacob couldn't believe his eyes. He stood up and wrapped his arms around her, "Clara!" He said in glee, pulling out of the hug, "Look at you! You look great." He complimented her.
Clara smiled, "You look older." She said. It was true, Jacob was older. He was no longer the seventeen-year old boy she once knew.
"I am older," He told her, "I'm twenty-one now." His hair was longer, but other than that, nothing has changed, he was still as tall and has lanky as he was. "I'm glad to see you again, Portman."
"Clara Prescott. Who knew I'd see you here?" Jacob said, still in shock.
"Clara O'Connor, actually." She corrected him, his jaw dropped. She flashed her right hand, showing him a beautiful pearl ring. It must be their wedding ring, Jacob thought.
"What?" He asked again in disbelief, "Since when?"
Clara went closer to him and touched his temples. Suddenly, he was in her memory, a specific one. They were still in the cruise ship. There, he saw both Clara and Enoch, hands entwined with each others, approaching Miss Peregrine. The memory faded and was replaced with a new one; They were in Italy and it focused on Clara and Enoch. It turns out, it was Miss Peregrine who had wedded them.
Clara removed her hand, and Jacob went back to his senses. "Wow," He breathed, "So much has happened, I missed it." Clara laughed.
"I'm here to take you home, actually." Clara said, "Emma wanted to do it, but Miss Peregrine knew she can't stay here too long. I'm Miss Peregrine's apprentice now, so she's made me do it."
Jacob was amazed of how things happened quite fast in a very long time. She was a different person now, and he liked this new version of her. When the train stopped, the both of them left. Clara has pulled him by his wrist until they were in front of an abandoned Japanese store. "Clara, what is this?"
She ignored him and pulled him through it. He closed his eyes in fear. When he thought she was done pulling him, he felt Clara's grip slipping, then he felt the ambiance change. He heard the waves crashing and the birds tweeting. Jacob opened his eyes. They were already at the top of the cruise ship. Jacob couldn't help but smile in glee with a mixture of surprise. "It was the loophole. Welcome home, Jake."
He looked below and saw Emma, pacing. She was nervous, he could tell. When Emma finally noticed him, Jacob rushed to her and gave her a hug. He has waited so long for this, Finally, he was home.
✧✧✧
CLARA IMMEDIATELY CHANGED BACK TO HER FAVORITE DRESS; The ankle-length, red dress that fitted her so perfectly. "O'Connor, are you sure you're not someone else?" She told herself while looking at the mirror.
"We've been married for years, my love. You still call me that?" She turned around, seeing Enoch. He was as handsome as ever. His dark, curly hair longer but he manage to make it look clean. He was wearing a long-sleeved buttoned-down tucked inside his brown, denim-like trousers. Clara smiled, "I was talking to myself."
Enoch smiled and gave her a kiss, "Did you bring Portman back with you?" He asked, Clara nodded. "He was shocked to know we're married now, but he's happy for us."
"I'm still in shock too, you know. All these years," He wrapped his arms around her waist, "You're mine, and mine only." He kissed her again. Clara can't help but giggle. She placed her arms around his shoulder, "Of course I'm yours."
"I remember this dress." Enoch said, "This was what your replica was wearing, do you remember?" Of course she did. This was the look Barron used to trick Enoch. Clara huffed, "I do. Don't remember that now." She leaned to kiss him, "I love you so much, Enoch O'Connor."
"Clara O'Connor, I love you as much." Clara could have never been happier. Her life was filled with ups and downs, she had never even imagined herself marrying someone, not until she had met Enoch. Enoch colored her life so gracefully, even more so without knowing it. Love is beautiful, with that she very much believed in.
The both of them changed each other, and she was happy they improved themselves. Enoch was kinder, and much loving-- thanks to her. Clara was less mischievous and more cautious of her actions, thanks to Enoch. This was the love she has been craving all her life; that sweet, sweet love with the both of you helping each other grow. This is one of the reasons she loves Enoch; he was open for good change.
Loving Enoch was the best thing she has ever done. Clara didn't need to manipulate him after all, because before she could even try, love has already been manipulating them since the beginning. Clara considered herself the luckiest, despite all the misery she was in, she was very grateful it lead up to this; to a dashing man loving her for all of their years.
THE END
author's note
if you made it this far, thank you so much for sticking with me and clara <33 i appreciate all of you who read, commented and voted on this fanfiction! love you all, stay safe!
