A/N: First off, thank you guys for following Iris's and Stellan's story! I truly hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Please be sure to let me know what you thought of it in the comments, it would surely be appreciated! Love you all! xx

"I need the choker now," I demand, holding out my hand expectantly. The six-foot-three model in front of me is dressed head to toe in leather. In the usual panic that sets in the night of a show, I barely notice who hands me the choker.

"Alright." I wrap it around her neck, careful not to get it stuck in her hair and practically push her out so she doesn't miss her cue.

"Iris! This mans looking for Stellan!" Oli shouts above the noise, gesturing to a man in a suit. I recognize him immediately- Stellan's lawyer and friend.

"Cameron! Hi! He's behind that curtain- in the tech room."

"Thanks," he murmurs, looking rather awed by the chaos surrounding him. I don't watch him go back to see him.

"Iris!" Oli says again, this time bringing forth Marley who has a rather large tear down the lace material over her breast. "The ring got stuck."

"Shit. Get me needle and thread, quick!"

Oli scrambles to the long table full of accessories and searches for one. I look back at the runway, seeing she's up next. Jesus Christ.

"Oli!"

"Got it. Got it."

She hands me black thread, thankfully already attached to a needle. I'm sloppy in fixing the tear but within seconds it's patched up and I'm tying the knot.

"You're good to go. Hurry."

As she runs forward in stilettos, I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. I watch the entire ensemble of girls line up against the wall as Marley completes the walk alone.

As they file back out, in time to a rhythmic song fit for a rave, I straighten my dress and make my way out behind them, smiling wide.

...

"You've outdone yourself this time, Iris. The pieces were simply stunning!" Arnald exclaims, raising his glass of champagne in the air. I smile widely as Stellan's arm comes around my waist, pulling me in close.

I feel calmer as he presses his lips to my forehead.

"Thank you, Arnald. That's a huge compliment for me, considering how much I loved your show last month."

"We must partner together soon! Imagine it! My shoes- your ensembles. Ugh, we'd be unstoppable!"

I laugh, glancing up at Stellan. "I'll think about it. We're actually taking a break from things for a while, focusing on Sophie."

Elizabeth, the woman who never fails to show up to these events even though she's never invited, smiles. "How old is your daughter now?"

"A little over a year," Stellan answers, proudly.

"Already? Wow. How the time flies."

I nod, glancing down at my watch and then to Stellan. "We should actually be getting going. Dari told me she's meeting someone tonight."

He nods, smirking knowingly and begins to excuse us from the surrounding people. Truth is, Dari isn't meeting her date for another two hours but I'm just desperate to get out of here.

"Not even at the after party thirty minutes and you're desperate to get back," he states softly in my ear as we file out hand in hand. I roll my eyes, glancing back as we shrug into our coats.

"Don't pretend like you're any less desperate."

He laughs, pulling me into his front as we walk out into the frigid, December, New York weather. Flashes go off from both sides of the carpet but I'm too happy to get annoyed by them.

Eric holds open the limousine door for us, smiling. "Congratulations, Iris."

"Thanks, Eric."

"How was your first show, Stellan?"

I get into the car but I hear him say, "Great. Went perfectly."

He climbs in beside me as Eric shuts the door, blocking out the deafening shouts. I sigh, setting my head back against the rest.

"Thank god that's over. I swear, I haven't stopped shaking since I woke up."

"You've done this so much... you still shake?"

I nod, humming. "Oh yeah, the chaos, the sudden problems, the pressure... Jesus, I'm just glad people liked it."

Stellan grabs my hand, comfortingly. "Everyone liked it."

"You did really well, Stellan... I have a feeling you're actually a chameleon. You can do anything you set your mind too."

Raising my hand to his lips, he smiles, pleased. "Cameron came to see me."

"Yeah, I saw him come in... What about?"

"Constantine's new trial date has been set for two weeks from now."

Not so pleasant news. "I don't get why they didn't just convict them together? I mean, it was regarding the same case."

"Her sentence will be much shorter than the life sentence Vance got. It's taking time to decipher the evidence."

"So... how long do you think she'll get?"

He shrugs. "We really can't tell."

"Do... you have to go to this one too?"

He was present at both Vance's and Marcus's hearings, it tore me apart that he insisted on going alone. But Constantine's—it makes me sick to think of him sitting there again while they bring up horrific details of his past.

"No, I'm not going."

That surprises me. "Really?"

"Yes, they've got their confession and my statement. I don't need to be there. I went once already- It will only give her more pleasure."

My eyes widen slightly at his bluntness but I nod, leaning my head against his arm. "I wonder how Dari's doing with Soph. I'm nervous."

"Don't be. She's great with her."

"I worry, you know."

"I know," he replies, resting his chin onto my hair.

"I invited her for Christmas dinner," I murmur, warily. We've already got Olivia, her new boyfriend Jake, Eric and his family and Patrick coming to the meal.

"Yeah? Good."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, the more, the merrier," he says, cheerfully, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I curve into him, exhaling, feeling the nerves of the night finally begin to wear off. He gasps suddenly and reaches into his pocket, removing his wallet.

I watch as he opens it, flicking his hands through the business cards and credit cards. "I met a man, who owns a furniture company. He said he could get you the piece-"

His words die out as I reach into his wallet, pulling out a piece of paper. A cream-colored tint I recognize. My stationary.

The edges are broken. The page creased enough that there is discoloration along the fold. I unfold it slowly, feeling his gaze upon my face.

Stellan,

I'm writing this while you pack in the room. I hope I can get this and the money hidden into your pack before you get out- because I know you won't take it otherwise... And I need you to. I need you to be alright.

I wish I could give you more. I wish I could have helped you, so I'm sorry for getting your hopes up. It kills me to think of you alone, out there. I've just met you, only a week ago, and I feel inconsolable at the thought of saying goodbye to you. You've shown me possibilities I didn't think were real- could happen to me and I know there will never be anyone or anything else to compare to you- to what I feel right now.

But I do feel and that is worth everything to me because I haven't truly felt in a really long time. So, I guess, what I'm trying to say, very poorly, is thank you.

No amount of money could ever amount to this week.

I pray it does help though- I pray you can find a way to live in peace. Find a way to open up to someone and love them, have a family, a home someday because you deserve all that and more.

I don't pretend to know the struggles you've been though, but I've also known my share of loneliness. A life alone isn't a life so please know, you have a friend in me. I will always be here for you.

Your friend always, Iris

The air in the back of the vehicle is thick with tension, thick with remembrance.

"You-you kept this?" I utter, struck by emotion. He nods, looking down in what seems like embarrassment.

"... It kept me going."

"Oh, Stellan," I whisper passionately, setting the paper onto my lap, clutching the back of his neck. He rests his forehead against mine, breathing deeply.

"I've never been without it."

With a smile, I tilt my face upwards and am taken by his mouth, sure but desperate. We push and pull but in the end, come together, holding onto each other with grips so strong- they indicate an eternity together.

...

"Mommy's so tired," I gasp, running on the treadmill as if my life depended on it, glancing over at the gorgeous, blonde one-year-old bouncing up and down in her bouncy chair, playing with the toys attached to it. "You destroyed my body."

I glance down at my stomach, wishing the pounds would just fall off my body and I could slim back down to my original size, without the stretch marks or access skin.

"You're lucky I love you enough not to resent you for it." I smile wildly at her, sticking out my tongue and she laughs, hitting her hand against the plastic tray in front of her, holding cheerio's.

"Shell!" she exclaims, bouncing.

I chuckle to myself, breathing in and out as she points to one of the objects dangling over her head- a cream-colored shell.

"Yes, shell. Good girl, Soph," I hear Stellan gasp, entering the room, dressed in workout clothes. I'm stuck ogling ridiculously as he walks up to her, setting down his water bottle by her chair. He lifts her up into the air and she kicks her legs, smiling at him.

I slow to a jog, smiling as he presses an overwhelming amount of kisses to her cheek, to which she giggles, as she always does when he's near.

"Now, say daddy. Da-ddy."

"You've been upstaged by pea, shell and mommy... how does it feel?" I say wryly, smirking. He glares at me, with no malice.

"Mommy," she utters, smiling and I exclaim happily.

"Ha!"

"Traitor," Stellan mutters affectionately, kissing her cheek once more, setting her onto his arm. He looks at me, pursing his lips. "You're looking rather beautiful today, Mrs. Reid."

I glow at the compliment. "So are you, Mr. Reid... Workout clothes do something to me, you know that right?"

"I do," he answers, setting her back down into her seat. "I know it well."

I blush, biting my lip, looking out at the vast backyard. We've taken up exercising together as of late- watching him lift weights and run with such a graceful stride- I've attacked him more than once in this room.

"You know, I can't hel-" Straightening, he suddenly reaches onto the back of his shirt and pulls it over his head, stunning me into silence. I gape, unashamedly, slowing.

His constant attention to his physique over the last couple of months has paid off- he's toned, muscular-- mouth watering.

"You stay over there," he announces, pointing at me. "I didn't work out yesterday because of you."

"You actually did work-out, considerably," I say, biting my lip. Getting onto the treadmill beside mine, he shakes his head, amused. "Anyways, it's not fair. You're torturing me right now."

"Torturing how?"

"You're shirtless and when you run, your muscles- they tighten and- move- and-"

Starting the machine, he stares at me, expectantly. "Is that so?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm going to stop talking now."

"No, keep going," he says, chuckling. I stick out my tongue at him defensively and he laughs harder. "I'll give you a workout later, baby. Don't worry."

"No way, now I feel like a sex addict or something."

"I like it, Iris," he whispers, heatedly, reaching over to grasp my hand. My eyes slant as he presses his mouth to my palm, biting softly. My eyes roll back into my skull, and I know- he knows- I'm always completely at his mercy.

...

Stellan groans, shutting the door. Taking off my emerald earrings at the vanity, I smile, watching as he removes his shirt. "Alright, Dari just left."

"... You sound nervous."

"I am," he says bluntly.

"She's only taking her down the street to the park."

"It's cold."

I smile, knowing he's barely concealing his panic. We've never let her go anywhere with anyone before. Even though she's with Eric and staying with us in the house, it's still nerve-racking. Standing up, I come up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist.

"You're cute when you worry."

"I'm glad you think so."

I kiss his back, clutching him tighter. "I... have something that I want to give you now."

"But it's not Christmas yet."

"I know but I just got the confirmation. I can't wait until tomorrow."

I practically skip over to the desk, opening the drawer and pull out the spreadsheet. I lay it onto the desk and it curls together rapidly. He walks up next to me, raising a curious brow.

"Work? Gee, thanks, baby."

I roll my eyes as he grins, grabbing it. "Just open it."

He unrolls it and holds it against the light, looking over it. Suddenly, his eyes widen as I expected them to.

"Iris..."

Taking a deep breath uncertainly, I hold out my hand in defense. "I hope I haven't overstepped anything. I know I did assume and did it on my own but I wanted it to be ours. I wanted to make it ours-"

I'm cut off as he drops the paper onto the desk and clutches my waist, pulling me into him with force, taking my lips with violent passion. I gasp, going languid in his arms and bring my hands up to his neck, feeling his long locks beneath my fingers.

"I love you," he says, emotionally, clasping my face as well. "... You shouldn't have... I mean, you really didn't need to do this."

"I wanted to. I really wanted to," I reply, smiling wide. He shakes his head slowly in wonder and pushes a strand of my hair back from my eyes.

"You continue to surprise me- at every turn."

My eyes flicker over to the document containing the name transfer of my company to Reid Franchises. I inhale, proudly. "I hope you always say that."

"But are you sure- this is what you want? You started this company yourself... It's your legacy. I don't want to-"

I shake my head. "No, it's our legacy. I want you by my side in this- I want to be able to share this with you. And if she wants it, Sophie too. I want us to thrive together, side by side."

His pink mouth curves in admiration as he caresses my cheek softly. "Till death... Forever."

I nod, sighing in relief as he leans down to press his lips to mine. "Exactly.... Exactly."

...

The moon is up and high, lighting the night sky gloriously. The stars twinkle and dance in place, guiding our way through the forest. The owls howl, the crickets chirp, our boots crackle against fallen leaves and branches.

Both of us wrapped up to keep out the chill, we walk along the pathway, silently. Our only light source other than the sky, a lantern.

I find myself gazing up into his face, remembering a night much like this. We were strangers then, but everything I felt in those moments are still present- except now, they're electrified, multiplied into something unspeakable.

The evidence of our warm breaths conjoin in the air as we make our way to the creek. There are patches of remnant snow still coating certain areas of the ground. I can hear it- the water trickling, gliding down rocks and dirt, towards a larger body of water.

The river.

And suddenly, I'm imagining us as those small, desperate currents, unsure to where they're being lead. I think of how every rock or fallen branch that blocks it's way forward is only an obstacle that they have to get around... and eventually they do.

Just like us.

On a rushing path towards that large body of water- the place of serenity and sense of home, where the currents become one. Where you can choose which way you'd like to go.

We stop slowly by the edge and I smile, remembering. Remembering his assessments- who he thought I was and what I wanted. He was right. He usually always is.

"Do you remember when I begged you to kiss me here?"

He nods, letting go of my hand suddenly. He sets his hands onto my arms and scoots me over just a smidge, smiling warmly, his nose reddened by the chill. "You were standing right there... You were wearing a white coat... God, I remember I was completely awed by you in that moment. Your strength, your beauty, your selflessness... I had never met anyone like you."

"I wanted you to let me in so badly."

"And I did. In that moment. I've been yours since that day- since that moment you offered yourself to me, wanting to know what love felt like."

He steps closer, closing his eyes tightly when I press my hand to his chest. "And you showed me."

He grasps my hand, running his cold fingers along my wedding band. "Every kiss, every touch, every look, Iris, has edged you further into my heart. You've taken up all the space... I'm yours, completely."

Struck by the intensity of his gaze, I move forward and press my face into his chest, wrapping my arms around him with a champions grip. He smooth's his hand over my hair and hums, contentedly. "My love, my everything."

My eyes close against his warmth, exquisitely tormented by the love I feel for him. The love that doesn't dissipate but grows stronger with every sunset-- every sunrise.

We have made it to that large body of water. We have endured the obstacles, the seemingly endless hardships and now... we are home.