To Jaiden's dismay, he was forced back into the hospital again.  His head injuries were cause for alarm, so he had to be monitored and stuck on machines.  He had to take numerous tests to make sure that there was no lasting damage. Considering the circumstance, he didn't suffer too much physical damage besides a couple of bruised ribs, a fractured arm paired with his dislocated shoulder, and several lacerations on his face.  He was scuffed up, but he was alive.

Everyone commented on how lucky Jaiden was.  Perhaps all the bullshit he experienced before built enough karma or good luck to keep him relatively safe.

While he was in the hospital, Toni and Nate took the initiative to move Jaiden into Toni's home fully.  He didn't have much to call his own because Billy and Sierra destroyed the little he did own. However, Toni purchased enough to fill Jaiden's side of the closet and personalize a few items in the house. He even worked with Valeria to bring some old pictures of Jaiden and the Jaramillo family to decorate his home. 

The boxes that were collecting dust in the corners of Toni's rooms were officially unpacked as well.  He was pleased to see that his house was filled with him and Jaiden, which completed his home.

When Jaiden was finally released from the hospital, Toni was worried that he would be upset that they moved him in without his opinion.  When Jaiden stepped into the house and looked around, Toni panicked a little and tried to stammer out an explanation, but Jaiden stopped him with a kiss. 

"It's good to be home." He said with a smile, showing that he was happy with the arrangement.

Jaiden took an extended leave of absence from work. He still needed to heal, and Toni stayed with him to help him through physical therapy to ensure his arm healed properly. 

Unfortunately, the nightmares got worse before they got better.  They had become a distorted mix between Carlos' death, Toni getting shot, and his torturous time with Christopher. Most nights, he would wake up calling out to Carlos or Toni. Other nights he would just sob in Toni's arms.

The healing process for his mind would take longer than for his body.  But as the weeks passed, he was starting to find a way through the trauma with Toni by his side.

As always, Toni never pushed him to open up.  He supported and comforted him but let Jaiden take his own time telling his story.

When he finally did tell Toni the events of what happened, Toni wept.  He feared the worse, but it was more painful than he could imagine when he heard the truth of what happened.  He hated how Jaiden had suffered. But he felt a pull in his heart, knowing that Jaiden survived that ordeal with the faith that Toni would find him despite all the pain he endured.

The was once a time when Jaiden just thought that he was a simple one-night stand.  But that was the furthest thing from the truth.

While he had gone away from work, Jaiden worked on building his social connections again, starting with Valeria and her family.  They traveled between Las Cruces and Albuquerque to spend the day together. He was opening up again and bore the smile he used to have years ago.

Also, for the first time in two years, Jaiden visited Carlos' grave with Toni. He spent far too long running away, and he finally found the strength for closure.

Six weeks after the event with Christopher, Jaiden was finding normalcy again, and with his physical therapy, he was stronger and healthier.

Jaiden was working on healing his old emotional wounds while navigating through the new trauma.  He was healing physically. His forehead and temple were decorated with some new scars, but Toni had assured him that he looked even better than before.

After working long his recovery and rehabilitation, Jaiden was out of his sling permanently and moving well besides some occasional stiffness. However, with the temperatures dropping in the winter months, he found that he would experience a dull ache in his shoulder.  

Toni was more concerned about it than Jaiden and would constantly find remedies to help.  Jaiden had found these small things to be endearing, and he was falling harder for Toni than before.  He had fought for this future, and he never wanted to let it go.

Valeria knew how Jaiden felt about Toni. He had stopped pushing her away a while ago and revealed everything to her, letting her celebrate his newfound happiness with him. But there were still important people in his life who were clueless about the piece of heaven he grasped, old friends who still cared for him despite the distance he forced on them. His mind continued to linger on the group of men who were like brothers to him from high school. They were still trying to be a part of his life, but how long had it been since he had been open to them?

He never provided updates to his friends because he was always worried that his darkness would become toxic.  For the last two years, he stopped sharing what was happening in his life altogether.  He had turned himself into a stranger.  

However, he felt stronger now, emotionally and mentally. The confidence he lost had resurfaced. He felt complete knowing he had found his fated path and partner. He had let fear of his shortcomings stunt him and, in turn, isolated himself, but he wanted to break that rotting characteristic off. He wanted to let people in again, let them know the darkness he endured, understand his healing wounds, and also celebrate the happiness he carved out for himself.

Toni and Jaiden made their way to the Alvarez ranch on a late Saturday afternoon, finally agreeing to go on their long-awaited first date. Nothing was accompanying them except for a pair of horses, tequila, and the sunset.

Jaiden sat on the rail fencing that overlooked the pasture with a beautiful Appaloosa horse saddled up next to him.  He was captivated by Toni under the bright colors of the New Mexico skies. Behind him were the Sandias, stained in their trademark pink with snow decorating the peaks. The frost on the ground reflected the low-hanging sun, making the world practically glitter. Their breath lingered in front of them like smoke in the crisp air. This moment was ethereal.

Yet, Toni wasn't paying attention to the magic around him as he calmed down and firey black Thoroughbred.

Jaiden admired the man he was hopelessly in love with, the one who waited for him, calmed him, and chased after him.  This man saved his life in so many ways and couldn't feel more complete than he did now.

He smiled and held up his phone to film Toni while the color-stained skies haloed him. Toni was speaking to the horse in Spanish, seemingly distracted.  However, he was hyperaware of Jaiden and noticed him almost immediately.  He turned towards Jaiden, flashing a warm smile.

"Mi sol, what are you doing there?" He called out, hiding a laugh beneath his words.

"Admiring the view." Jaiden smirked and gave him a wink.

A velvety chuckle escaped Toni's lips. "We still have about an hour before it gets too dark. Did you still want to go riding?"

"Absolutely. Just needed to send an important update." Jaiden said happily.

He ended the video and sent it in the chat to his old friends and followed up with a quick message:

Jaiden: I met someone.

Toni was the best introduction to his new life.

Although he was finally ready to open up to his friends, he wanted to avoid them interrupting their first official date with notifications. He turned off his phone and hoped they would forgive him after dropping something big like that on them.

He climbed onto the horse's back.  Toni followed his movements, and they trotted through the field and entered the bosque. They made their way to the Rio Grande and watched how the sunset played off the water in silence. They didn't need to say anything to each other because every silent breath said enough.

Jaiden's hand reached into his pocket, and his hand touched the silver ring with a turquoise gem resting in the center.  It was a little worn but was resized and polished recently for this moment.

"Toni," Jaiden said quietly as he turned his attention to the enchanting man next to him. "I love you."

Toni smiled. "Te amo, mi sol."

"I never thought that this would happen to me, you know.  You can say that my life has been nothing but the unexpected.  I never expected to stay in New Mexico.  I never expected a family or the badge.  And I never expected you.  I am happy despite the bad I have seen and the loss I have encountered... That happiness is because of you."

Toni brought his horse closer, so their knees were touching.  He reached out his hand and cupped Jaiden's cheek with his palm. "I'm happy too."

Jaiden nuzzled Toni's hand. "Te amo sin saber cómo, ni cuándo, ni de dónde, te amo directamente sin problemas ni orgullo: así te amo porque no sé amar de otra manera."**

Toni smiled, recognizing the sonnet, and repeated the last line in English. "I love you because I know no other way."

Jaiden turned his head slightly and kissed Toni's palm.  "I wanted to be with you every day, but that want has evolved into need.  Now, I need to wake up every morning and watch the sunrise with you.  I need to kiss you under the sunset every evening.  I need to slow dance with you when the stars and moon blanket the heavens.  I need you, Toni. Te necesito tanto como te amo."

I need you as much as I love you.

Toni's eyes misted, and he smiled. "You're my only source of light in the world, mi sol."

Jaiden shifted, pulled the ring out of his pocket, and held it to Toni.  "Then marry me."

Toni stopped moving as he looked at the ring. He had long thought that he would be the one proposing. Yet the man who ran away from him before, resisted him, and made excuses to avoid him, had just asked him the question that would make him forever happy. 

Toni suddenly laughed brightly, a tear finally escaping his flooding eyes.  "Mierda... I wanted to marry you the moment I saw you in that elevator."

Jaiden flushed and broke into laughter as well.  He hastily wiped away his own tears and took Toni's hand in his and slipped the ring on his finger.

Toni admired the silver ring. 

Jaiden placed his hand over his own mouth and released a shuddering breath.  "Valeria knew that you were my fate, so she gave it to me when she was last here... so, I hope you don't mind wearing Carlos' wedding ring."

Toni snapped his head up.  "Mi sol, are you sure you're okay with me wearing this? I'll marry you with or without a ring."

Jaiden laughed.  "There is no other place where this ring belongs; it's perfect on you."  He reached out and caressed the silver on Toni's finger.

"Thank you." He whispered and leaned into Jaiden, kissing him under the setting sun.

*****

A/N

If you came from Kings of Hawkings, then part of this chapter may seem familiar. 

I had started writing D&T before completing the epilogue for KoH and searched for the perfect introduction for my readers. Jaiden's text message just seemed right to me.  

So, I have been holding on to this moment and proposal for quite a while. I have been looking forward to publishing this chapter and tying it all together. I hope it was worth it for you too!

** The part that Jaiden says in Spanish is translated blow. It is snippet of another sonnet by Pablo Neruda (Soneto XVII)

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you straightforwardly without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way.

(Story time)
This passage is everything to me. My husband picked it out when we were writing our wedding vows. Years later, he still leaves me notes saying "I love you because I know no other way".

This one sentence is our love story defined, and it felt right to share it with you through Toni and Jaiden.

Thank you so much for continuing to be a part of this! ❤️