"You know what's ironic?" Raffo asked as he and Ruth walked down a Christmas lit street in Manhattan for their last night in New York City.

Having been caught off guard by the faint kisses of snow flurries, Rayne blinked at his question and looked up at him. The cool air stung at her flushed cheeks and she squeezed closer to Raffo's warmth. Though her arm was already looped through his, it wasn't enough to take the crisp wind of New York City away.

"What?" she wondered, curious.

"You finally got me to New York," he said, grinning. His teeth sparkled in the night beneath the glow of floating snow, and it was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.

With his long hair tucked into a braid under a beanie, and his medallion resting over his thick jacket, she was glad she brought him to New York with her. She once considered the city home, so getting to share it with him for one more night meant everything. 

So she smiled back and squeezed his arm. "Only took a few years."

"Better late than never. Are you sure you want to leave this place behind for Oklahoma?"

She nodded. She'd given it a lot of thought, and she knew Oklahoma was the best place for her. There she had her family, friends, and Raffo. Her future was always Oklahoma, and she was tired of fighting it. 

"I'm more than sure," she promised. 

Ruth laid her head on Raffo's shoulder as they stood below Manhattan's Christmas tree, patiently waiting with the onlookers for the lights to shimmer beneath the dark blue sky. It was the first tree lighting of the season, and she thought it would be the perfect start to the holiday season. A perfect end to a chapter, and the wonderful start of a beginning.

"We've come a long way together," she murmured. 

His warm lips were welcoming against her forehead. "We have," he agreed, his voice soft. "But I'm happy to be here with you. Even if we had to do it all over again."

"Well, there's no one else I'd rather begin again with than you."

Ruth tilted her head back completely, her smile wide. He leaned down the rest of the way to capture her lips with his. The lights illuminated behind her closed eyelids and the cheers around them was magical with the increase of snow. 

His nose brushed against the side of hers when he pulled back jut a little. The snow catching on the tips of his lashes fell to the tops of her cheeks and something about the sight made his gaze soften when staring down at her.

"I love you, Ruth," he whispered.

Her throat swelled. "I love you, Raff."

And she really, truly did. 

*****

Friends! I'm so sorry this chapter is so short, but that's because I didn't really have anything in mind for this one. There are, however, two chapters and an epilogue left! I hope to get those out soon (: And then it's the end of Raffo and Ruth! Thank you guys for sticking around for as long as you have, I appreciate every single one of you. Much love to you all!