After the poll I asked you on Insta, you got it: Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift is Peneone's song! And it fits perfectly for this chapter 😍🤩✨❤ Though Willow still fits them perfectly, and I still advise you to go listen to it after (that's what I'm gonna do while crying and missing them 😭)

*1 year and a week later*

"Happy New Year!" Kyle's voice booms through my phone before I can even get a clear image of his wide smile, and the video finally focuses when Amy swats him.

"It's not New Year yet! They still have a few minutes!"

"A few minutes more or less, it's the same!" Kyle rolls his eyes; well, I can guess it through his voice as the camera is turned away, and I only hear them arguing in the background.

Instead, I'm met by two warm cinnamon eyes.

"Hey!" Aden leans away, going back to his seat and letting me see the cup of – I don't even want to pronounce this evil mixture's name, as it brings back too many buried memories – on his desk, and the red and white holidays sweater he's wearing. I think I've created a monster...

"Hi." Their screen tilts lightly again, and I smile at the blond-haired woman waving at me.

"Hi, Rachel."

Rachel is the new intern, the one who has replaced Kyle after he's taken over my post – and yes, Kyle is doing an amazing job. He's the only one I would trust to succeed me, and I'm sure he'll soon take off to bigger articles. 

But that's not the point. Rachel has not only taken Kyle's place; she's also taken an important place in Aden's newly-open heart. It's clear in the way they're holding hands. 

According to Kyle, it's been love at first sight the moment they've met. Amy says it's because they have so much in common, blah blah... Yet I'm well-placed to know that it isn't about similarities. 

Anyway, Aden has made the first move, which makes me feel like a proud mamma, and now they've been dating for a few months. The Aden so oblivious and his strong carapace are long gone, and it's at least a part of my Christmas romance plan that has worked.

"So how are the Maldives?" Aden asks, about to reach for his cup, but he decides against it, and from the embarrassed look in his eyes, I know he hasn't forgotten either.

"It's beautiful! The landscapes, the culture, and history... I don't know if you can see much?" I lift my phone to show them a glimpse of the paradisiacal landscape behind me. "But I'll try to send you some pics tomorrow."

"Don't worry, we already saw some photos on the blog. They're amazing!" Rachel replies as they're both squinting their eyes at the screen.

"Already?" My question remains unanswered as two figures reappear on the screen, Amy and Kyle trying to squeeze up so I can see everyone. 

"Finally?" I lift an eyebrow playfully.

"Look who is complaining! You've been supposed to video call us already 10 minutes ago." Amy imitates my expression, knowing she has a point.

"Yeah, what have you been doing for all this time?" Kyle smirks, and to my dismay, they're already teaming against me again.

"I told you I had a last-minute hitch." I avoid all their inquisitive gazes, and I'm tempted to pretend the video is being cut off as the heat rushes to my cheeks.

"Yeah, yeah... a hitch with the bed and–"

"Amy! So how does it feel to know it's your last day at work here?" I cut Kyle off. 

It's this or ending the call, and seeing the 'Congrats!' on the mug Amy is holding and that we've offered her for her departure party last week has inspired me.

"I still don't realize!" she replies with a wide smile. "But almost all the boxes are ready."

Apparently, I've 'inspired' her, so a few months ago, she's sent her application to the Deloitte firm, and now, she's moving to New York, of course, with Chris because when you truly love someone, you could follow them to the moon.

"I don't realize either! I already miss you too much! Penny, and now, Amy is leaving too!" Kyle pouts, grabbing a chocolate from the box I've left him.

"We've seen each other last week!" I shake my head, though I still have this little twinge in my heart, especially in front of his puppy eyes. "And we'll keep the video calls as often! I wanna see Amy's desk in New York!"

"Of course! But it's not the same. I'll be left alone to third wheel these two." Kyle points to Rachel and Aden, still keeping his pout.

"We're always serious when we're at work," Aden protests, the cute blush appearing on his cheeks not making him look really convincing.

"You never know, maybe Amy's successor will be a hot accountant with glasses and abs..." I smirk, knowing how to cheer Kyle up.

"It's a girl." He narrows his eyes at me, making my smile fall down. "And not everyone has a thing with glasses."

I don't have a thing with glasses; I've never found them hot until...

As if summoned by my thoughts, an arm sneaks around my waist, and I don't even need to look up as I feel myself leaning in against the strong and warm chest.

"Hey!" Theone greets everyone, resting his chin on my shoulder as they all wave at him on the other side of the screen, and I can't help the wide, content smile stretching my lips as I'm wrapped in his arms, his scent, him and his unique coziness.

"Guys, you know I love you." Kyle turns to Rachel and Aden, to Amy, and then, back to Theone and me. "But you make me feel so lonely!" He dramatically sighs, making us all laugh.

"Trust me, great things come to those who wait."

"Am I the great thing?" Theone asks in my ear, and I regret my words as I hear easily his cocky smirk. 

"Shut up!" I poke his left dimple, but of course, he never listens, grabbing the phone starting to drop in my hand.

"Okay, guys, I'm sorry, but I think I've waited enough for my great thing, so we gotta leave you!" Theone tightens his arm around my waist, and I try to be mad, but I can only giggle in his tight embrace.

"You better call us next year!" Of course, it's Amy who says this proudly. Who else would make a joke like that? Well, I may have told the same to my parents when I've called them earlier...

"Good luck!" Aden winks, and I don't even have time to say anything that Theone ends the call.

"Hey!" I grab my phone, pulling away from his strong arm to show him my murderous glare. "I didn't even get to say bye!"

"Next year." He shrugs, wrapping his arms around me again.

"And why did Aden say 'good luck'?" I ask, but Theone is already too busy creating goosebumps along my neck with his famous fireflies kisses.

"Have I told you how hot you look in that dress?"

"Yes, when you've taken it off instead of helping me pull the zipper up," I try to sound unaffected when he's reviving all the tingles that have been barely vanishing inside my nerves, and I can feel his devious smirk tickle my skin as he knows exactly the effect he has on me and my nerves. 

"Don't try to change the subject..." My voice slightly wavers as his fingers trail along the outlines of my navy dress from the tiny straps on my shoulders to the side slit on my upper thigh.

"Do you know why Aden said 'good luck'?"

"I don't know. He's weird, and you should know him better than I do." He offers me another shrug before grabbing my left hand and leaving a kiss on my knuckles.

It's crazy, and I still don't understand how his touch can make me stand on edge and soothe me, and all of this in a matter of seconds. Yet I don't relax totally as I don't see the green of his eyes, which have been avoiding my gaze since we've left our room.

"Speaking of weird, what was Jason's 'of the utmost importance' problem earlier?"

His phone call is the reason why we've been late for the video call with everyone; well, that, and our dressing 'hitch'.

"Is there a problem with Emily?" I rush, my stomach knotting as my creative mind is already picturing the worst scenarios.

"No." Theone finally dives his gaze into mine, the unique dark shade of green seriousness untangling any knot in my whole body. "She and the baby are perfectly fine, don't worry." He smiles, kissing softly my knuckles again. "You know how weird and crazy your brother is– Fuck! I forgot my camera!"

"You?! You forgot your camera?!" I gasp. 

This is something that never happens. He always takes it with him; I'm sometimes even surprised he doesn't sleep with it. 

"What's up with you today?"

My question is left unanswered as he's already running back to our little hut, like my other question actually. But if Emily and the baby are safe, that's the most important. 

Oh, I forgot to tell you: Jason and Emily are expecting a baby, and in three months, Theone and I will be officially godparents. I'm so excited to welcome this little angel, even if speaking of little angels, we're also Lilly and Alexis's godparents now.

My hand automatically reaches for my pendant as my mind floats back to them, and before I know it, I'm staring with a smile at the two photos trapped inside the heart pendant. They've given it to me last week, and I'm so happy to now have their contagious smiles always near my heart. 

They remind me to always follow my heart, and so far, it has always turned pretty well. They're the first with whom I've started letting my heart lead me, when I've helped them find a family, and seeing the family they're forming with Hilary and Charles, I'll never regret it. 

It will soon mark one year that they're officially a family, and they all look happier than ever. Alexis likes to help her parents in the kitchen, and Lilly... well, Lilly is still Lilly, the adorable princess, but with now a fuller grin that keeps melting hearts. As for Hilary and Charles, they're beaming with happiness; I've never seen Charles smile so much, and he keeps spoiling Lilly and Alexis with cakes and sweets. 

They also volunteer a lot at the orphanage, while Aden, Theone, and I have created a fundraising from afar. It's working pretty well. More children are getting adopted, and of all ages, and we're developing it; we're about to extend it to the whole country. 

By the way, the Christmas Eve party also have grown with more success, and we've doubled last year's donation. Of course, it's still Theone and I who have organized it. We don't change a winning team, a winning team who keeps arguing half of the time, but that's how we are, and that's together that we create magic: with my lists and my plans, and Theone's spontaneity and his dimples that always mess them.

I swear I write less lists and let my heart guide me though. I only use them for organization, especially for work. But Theone likes to contradict me, even if I know that deep inside, he loves my plans, and they're useful to organize my work now that my articles and my blog have grown bigger. 

Yes, I'm still working for ID Decor Magazine, and what has started as a small section of the magazine now has two pages each month and a daily blog. Besides, I've liked so much organizing the Christmas Eve Party that I now also organize the decoration for big events from time to time.

All of this while still traveling the world with Theone and discovering new cultures, new landscapes, new people... who are now appearing on Theone's photos. 

He's even won a Sony World Photography Award. I can't even express how proud I am of him, and my heart swells every time I hear the click of his camera near people. 

When I think of the photo he's shown me one year ago, I'm glad he's for once listened to me, and I'm honored to have helped him reveal his talents to the world. Well, apparently, I've done more than that because he's introduced me as his 'muse' in his acceptance speech. I would never call myself this, but I gotta admit that I love to hear him say that.

He has a way to make me feel so beautiful, and I still don't understand how good and beaming I always look in his photos, and with no retouching; he insists on this point, and that's one of the reasons why his photo has won. And yes, his awarded picture is a photo of me, like actually, most of his pictures of people. He's always snapping his camera at me, and like everything with Theone, it's as heart-melting as annoying. 

However, what really makes me feel the most beautiful is when he looks at me with no camera, nothing, just the intense jade shades of his eyes. He has a way to make me feel so special, and through his eyes, everything appears magical.

We've been traveling the world together. We've visited so many places I can't even count – who am I kidding? I've listed them of course! – and we've seen so many wonders. Yet I always find myself even more in awe in front of his eyes, discovering as many new shades and lights every day.

I wouldn't want to travel the world with anyone else. He opens my eyes to the beauty of the world, and he makes sure that the only tears I shed are out of happiness. 

Even in moments where I miss my family and my friends, he makes it cozy; he makes it home. He's my home. 

Actually, it doesn't matter where we are – even if this beach is really paradisiacal – I wouldn't want anyone else to share my life. Every day I have my best parts when I wake up in his warm arms, when I hear his laugh, when I feel his kisses... Everything is better than I could have ever wished or planned for, and it keeps getting better.

I realize I'm now smiling foolishly. Here, standing alone on this jetty with a wide grin, anyone who would see me and has never been madly in love wouldn't understand; well, the hopeless romantics and cheesy romance addicts must know too. But I don't care, and the only other person here makes my smile grow larger as I glimpse his casual gait walking eagerly to me.

My heart rate speeds up with each step he takes along the jetty. The scenery makes it look enchanting, yet it's more than this, and it's like the scenery has been made to highlight Theone's presence. 

The dark starry sky above is contrasting with the simple white shirt he's wearing because it's still really hot here, even at this late hour. The dark green of the vegetation around is reminding me of the shade I've seen in his eyes a little earlier, and finally, the most extraordinary are the glowing blue lights coming from the water's edge; as surreal as it seems, it is a natural phenomenon produced by the local planktons, and we're some of the few people lucky to witness this natural magic. 

Yet as breath-taking as the scenery is, my eyes are still fixed on Theone and the way those tiny lights and a few lanterns here and there are illuminating his tall figure, dancing in a play of lights and shadows from his dark blond curls to his white shirt, his dark pants, and his luminous eyes. It could trick anyone who doesn't see his devilish smirk that he's an angel.

"You got it?" I ask, raking my gaze down his body to take in his camera hanging around his neck and everything that comes with the package. 

Have I told you how hot the air is? My skin is already burning as he grabs my hand to pull me closer.

"Yeah, let's go, we don't wanna miss the fireworks!"

"But..." I tug on his hand to make him look at me as he's already walking back in the direction he's just come from. "I'd planned to watch the fireworks from here."

"Planned?" He cocks an eyebrow, his eyes under holding the same glint they always wear before he wrecks my plans.

"Not 'planned'," I correct myself with a sigh. "But Didi and Hameed told me it was the best spot with the glowing water."

Didi and Hameed are the owners of the local shop, and it's crazy how we've only been there for barely two days, yet we've already made new friends. The people are definitely the best part of traveling around the world, and now, we have a lot of people to wish tomorrow; well, I've already sent the cards we've made during the holidays, Lilly, Alexis, Theone and me.

"Um, yes, but I think it's better just a little down there, near the little palm trees for the photos." He already pulls on my hand again, yet I stand firmly where I am, at the best spot.

"No, look, here, we're the closest to the water lights." I point to the deep magical blue lights that no fairy lights could imitate, but Theone doesn't even throw a glance, keeping his as-striking green eyes on me.

"Come one, baby, we don't have time to argue." He lets out a sigh, stepping closer and leaning his head down to try to hypnotize me with his green eyes. "Just trust me."

The tingles he creates in my nerve-endings are only irking me more. "There's still a few minutes before the countdown. Why are you in a hurry?"

"Penny," he starts with a warning tone that makes me glance around at the water surrounding me; this tone only means trouble. "Don't make me carry you there by force."

"Why do you always want to contradict me and my plans?" I narrow my eyes at him, still recklessly standing my ground like everytime, even if right now the ground is only a few wooden planks above the sea.

What I don't expect though, is for Theone to let out another sigh, glancing around and running his fingers through his hair in a defeated way. He never backs down usually, and the frown creasing his eyebrows is wiping out quickly my annoyance. 

It's New Year's Eve, and he's been really kind to me earlier...

"Penny..."

"Okay." I let out a sigh. "We can go take a look, we still have time... and if it's not better, we come back here." I lift my chin to throw him a playful yet challenging glance.

"You'll find it better there, trust me." He flashes me his left dimple before kissing the top of my hand and leading me along the jetty.

The tickles in my nerves are back as the more eagerly he pulls me to follow him, the more the glimpse of his dimple replay in my head like a warning. There is something fishy beside the sea, and even after all this time together, I still don't know what to expect from his devious smirk.

I don't have time to wonder though. He's already stopping abruptly and grabbing my hips to turn me to face the sea again, as if placing me in the best angle to observe how 'better' it looks here.

I blink my eyes at the view in front of me. Of course, it's magnificent. We're still on the wooden jetty, yet closer to our hut and above the concrete ground of the sandy beach instead of the glowing water. There are the palm trees around, along with a few hibiscuses, which are in the holidays spirit with their bright red color. We still see the stars above and the same starry lights in the sea, but...

"It was better there."

Here, the water is farther, a few feet away, when it's been under our feet before, and a part of the sky is hidden by the trees around.

"You're annoying, Penny!" Theone shakes his head, letting me see his smile and his dimples.

"You are annoying and I love you." I mirror his smile, wrapping my arms around his torso and pulling him closer, while it's my words that draw his gaze back to me.

He takes a deep breath, passing his hand through his hair once more. "Can we stay here though?" he whispers, and my heart skips a beat as his clear gaze dives into mine. It has this unique, transparent shade that resembles a precious snowflake, as fragile, yet I'm always the one melting in front of his eyes.

"If you insist..." I let out a faint sight through my smile, sliding my fingers through his curls just when he's about to do it again.

My heart swells with flashes of one year ago. Nothing much has changed, yet so much...

His hair is almost the same length; he's cut it in the spring, and now the messy curls have grown as long and as wild again. But right now, he relaxes under my touch, the exact opposite way he's been tense with my distance on that Christmas Eve.

"I have something to tell you." He puts a soft kiss on my forehead as I nod lightly, and before I know it, he's snapping a pic. 

"I don't know if it's the right time..." He squints at the camera screen as if it was a scanner reading my thoughts and emotions, though he quickly decides to focus on my eyes. "But for me, it's been enough time."

My heart freezes for a second upon his words. The air around is hot and I'm in the warmth of his arms, where I never feel cold, yet a freezing dread is rising from the back of my mind, and now, I'm the one running my fingers nervously through his hair. 

It's New Year's Eve, he wouldn't... Not after how passionate and loving he's been less than one hour ago.

It's Theone; he probably just wants to suggest me some weird food to try or a crazy thing such as skinny dipping or something like that. Yes, he's already suggested me skinny dipping when we've been in Greece, and I've firmly declined, but being the devil he is, he's managed to sneakily take off my bikini once we've been in the sea. Luckily, there has been no one around, and let's say, I may have tried to drown him.

However, the happy memories warming my cheeks quickly vanish with my suppositions when he adds,

"This year with you has been..." he breathes out, while I'm not breathing anymore.

Why 'has been'? It's not the past. He can't be thinking about... I can't even fathom it. He and I, together, I can never picture an end; it's forever, and for me, it appears natural.

"... The best of my life. I've never thought discovering the world could be even more amazing, but with you, it is. You make the world even more beautiful." He offers me a sincere smile, and it's more dazzling than all the stars and lights around.

I'm still not breathing, but it's in the sweetest way, a warm suffocation in the coziness of his arms.

"I've never felt so happy."

"Me neither. I love you so much." I pull him closer, the anticipation growing in every nerve-ending with his lips so close. 

I still have his intoxicating taste and the deep tingles permeated in me all the time, yet I always need more, his kisses invading new inches of my body, my heart, and my soul each time.

"Let me finish, please." He pecks my lips, shutting me up easily, although not my heart, which is becoming louder and louder. "Being with you is the best journey."

His words just above my lips and the nervous shade in his shining eyes are making me confused, but I trust him wherever he leads me.

"Definitely the most dangerous!" He smirks, and I feel the tickles of his chuckle from my parted lips to my chest. "But also the most thrilling and the most beautiful," he breathes, his eyes gazing at me like he's seeing me for the first time.

If I've been frozen seconds ago, now I'm burning, and each fast thump of my heart is fueling the flames Theone is creating.

"And I never want it to end," he murmurs, and before I can open my mouth to tell him that I don't plan for an end either, he makes me turn in his arms.

We now have our back facing the sea, and I don't really care if we risk to miss the fireworks. I'm only focused on his next words tingling all my skin.

"Look down the rail please."

We're standing near the few steps at the end, or more exactly the beginning of the jetty, which then leads to the pathway to our hut, and I should be questioning why he makes me look down to the plain, dark ground, when we should be waiting with our heads to the sky. Yet his soft voice leads my body, and I lean above the railing, finding something more breath-taking than any firework and starry sea.

'MARRY ME, PENNY?'

The words are written with little multicolor dots of chocolates, a sweet colorful love that couldn't be better for our love. All the tinglings he's created on my skin with his words are now bursting in colorful fireworks deep inside my nerves, and my heart is just exploding like a grande finale.

My hand is over my wide-open mouth, even if I'm still not breathing. Who cares about oxygen? I'm just blinking my eyes at the three little words that look like a dream. The happiness running through my veins feels too good to be true, yet I'm now familiar with those tingles which are my reality.

How haven't I even seen it coming?! I'm supposed to be the romantic, dreamer one in our couple. I should have guessed it from Jason's 'of the utmost importance' call to Aden's 'good luck' and Theone's nervous hair styling. Well, I'm so used to be surrounded by weird people that their strange behaviors almost feel normal for me. 

Though with Theone's declaration, the thought should have crossed my mind at least one second, even if he doesn't need special occasions to tell me sweet words and surprise me. He's turned out to be more romantic than I've expected, and that's surely why today's romantic gesture hasn't made me think one second about a proposal. 

Besides, with Theone, I don't plan anything anymore. I don't need to dream about 'best parts' because it's always even better. Like I've said, it's obvious for me that we're forever, so I haven't been waiting hopelessly for a wedding or anything. 

But now that I have this perfect proposal in front of me, I'm even more hopelessly in love with Theone.

A proposal?! I still can't believe it! And on New Year's Eve?! He knows it's what I've been dreaming of. Once again, he's surprised me and made it better than all my dreams.

If someone had told me this one year and two weeks ago, I would have never believed it... my nickname, the colorful sweets, and the dimples that I know have appeared with my gasp...

I turn around to see those dimples, and my heart soars higher than ever, coming back down in sparks until the green eyes shining for me and Theone on one knee.

"Penny Jensen, would you make me the happiest man on earth and start this journey with me?" He's holding a ring in his fingers, yet I barely catch sight of it. 

I'm dazzled by the shine of his eyes; it even outshines the mesmerizing glowing blue lights of the water.

"I know we will fight for everything about this wedding, and I still don't know the difference between lightweight felt and felt, so you'll organize most of it with your lists to make it the most beautiful wedding ever." He smiles, his jade eyes still sparkling with this special glint that makes me feel like flying. Actually, I must be floating because I've never felt so light, and my heart is lost somewhere on cloud nine.

"But I promise that I'll be there to support you through it all, I'll have my eyes only on you that day and every day until they close forever. I'll make sure you only shed tears of happiness."

I realize the tears are flowing out of my eyes with his words, yet I'm too paralyzed to even wipe them away, and I'm thankful for Hilary gifting me this waterproof mascara for Christmas; she must have known.

"I'll try to make every moment a 'best part' from the moment I wake up with you in my arms to our kisses goodnight... And I promise to do everything to make you happy, and of course, drive you crazy sometimes." The hint of his devious smirk reappears, yet his eyes still look so pure that it's overwhelming. 

Well, I'm already overwhelmed by everything he's just said and done anyway, and let's not even talk about his eyes. They're hypnotizing, so clear with light and love, yet dark with seriousness. I'm already crazy for him.

"Penny... Will you marry me?" he sings out, and his left dimple makes me realize I haven't answered yet.

There are so many explosions inside that I haven't realized that outside I've been paralyzed. I mean, I'm sure he can hear the loud bangs of my heart screaming YES YES YES and see the ecstatic jumps of all my nerves. But I'm gonna make it clear.

So I put my index finger up, signaling him to wait a little bit more, and I can see he's still nervous because he doesn't protest like he would usually do. He's so cute like this, on one knee, his piercing gaze following all my movements as I search for something in my purse. Luckily, I find it pretty quickly with my shaky fingers, ripping the brown packet and forming messily on the ground the three letters coming directly from my heart. YES

I don't even have time to get up that Theone is jumping on my lips. I almost fall backward on the sand, but he catches me once again just in time. 

The kiss is messy, yet it's the most passionate we've ever shared. It's our promise of forever, and just like us, it's unique, passionate, ardent, and crazy. 

Now, with this kiss, he makes sure to permeate more than just his intoxicating taste and the burning tingles he always creates; he also seals his promises, and I return the same passion to show him mine.

"Happy New Year, Mrs. Penny Homer!" He grins, his devious lips still brushing mine.

"Happy New Year, Mr. Theone Homer!" I smile as widely, and it's even painful, but I can't put it down.

"The ring?" He pulls away, remembering a detail we've both forgotten.

"Oh, yes! The ring?" I glance down at his hand, looking for the first time at the precious item he's holding firmly between two fingers. "Oh my god! It's..." I'm once again speechless. "A snowflake?!"

My heart is now a lost cause, and after all those bursts of happiness, I don't even mind the strong beats threatening to break out of my ribcage. 

All my attention is on the delicate silver snowflake adorning the ring. Each of its tips is holding a small gem, each of a different color, while the one in the center is sea green. It reminds me of the rangoli we've made together, not the bigger version that is still at my parents' house, but a smaller framed one we've designed in a snowflake-shape and that is one of the few objects we carry everywhere we go to make it home.

No one could have offered me a better ring. It represents us, and that's why it's perfect.

"Theone... I love it! I love you!" I whisper as his fingers are trembling as much as mine, and it takes us a few seconds to put the ring that fits perfectly on my finger.

"I love you." He kisses my now-covered knuckle, and my gaze quickly finds its way to the most precious gem: his green eyes. They're now sparkling with pure happiness and love, and...

"Oh my god! The fireworks!" I exclaim, lifting my gaze to the sky where the fireworks are bursting and illuminating the whole sky.

My heart is thumping so loudly that I haven't even noticed the loud bangs, nor the lights flashing around, too dazzled by Theone's shining eyes. 

I lower my gaze to find him already staring at me, and I prefer to watch the fireworks reflecting in his eyes than anywhere else.

"You were right... this spot is better." I grin, inching closer to him, if that's possible as we're already sitting on the wooden jetty in a mess of tangled legs, colorful chocolates, and...

"What is this?" I grab a piece of paper near his knee.

"Um..." He glances around before boring his mischievously sparkling eyes in mine. "I may have made a list to not forget anything."

"For the first time in your life?!" I gasp, putting a hand over my still-hammering heart.

"Yes, I guess you're a bad influence." He chuckles, and it turns into a pure laugh of happiness as I join him.

"I can't wait for you to wreck my plans for the rest of my life!" I tell him before crashing my lips on his again, and I savor his unique minty taste that I keep loving more each time. 

I trace the softness of his lips with my tongue, knowing I won't ever kiss any other, and I would never want to. I let him pull me closer in his cozy embrace that turns into a wildfire with the caresses of his hands on my bare skin. I take in each sensation he creates as each of his kisses is different, and I can't wait to discover more.

I hear vaguely the loud bursting of the grande finale, though maybe it's just my heart, and I see and feel more colors and sparks as we keep kissing each other like there's no tomorrow, even if we know we have forever.

THE END

I can't believe it's already the end!! 😭 I've grown so attached to those characters in so little time, and I'm so happy to have challenged myself to write this story in so little time. It's thanks to all of you my little elves 🥰❤🎄😘

So I wanna thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I wish you all the happiness and love in the world, health, and success! May all your dreams come true and may you find your the one 😉✨

For the first time, I'm not writing my resolutions this year, and this may be in part thanks to Theone! See how these characters have affected me; they've helped me grow as a writer, but maybe also as a person ❤🎄

I don't know what else to say before I cry, so just thank you! I LOVE YOU MY LITTLE ELVES!!! 

PS: Here's a pic of the glowing water

This is a real place in the Maldives, and it's crazy because first, it took me some time to decide which country I wanted them to be in, and then, I just searched beach at night in the Maldives and I found this 🤩 I didn't even know it existed!! I think it's a sign, and another proof that sometimes the stories and characters are almost writing themselves out the way they should be (I don't know if you get what I mean, but let's just say 🤩😍)