stairway to heaven
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And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter

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POV: Audrey Carter.

Archer's hand landed on my head, breaking through my gloomy and worried thoughts. I looked up at him, a smirk playing on my lips. "You look happy," I said, noticing the dimples forming on his cheeks.

"I am. Dad gave Mum the divorce papers." He paused for a moment, studying my expression. "Was it you?"

"Ew, don't ask about my relationship with your father." I acted disgusted and playfully pushed him away. I couldn't help but give him a genuine smile. It felt good. Happiness felt good.

"Wait 'til I start calling you 'Mum'!"

"Disgusting. Jail." I pointed to the corner of the room, and as I turned, I saw Hector entering the building. He glanced in my direction but got distracted by a colleague calling his name for a work-related matter.

"Say, Archer." I turned back to him, my tone more serious. "Are you sure you're okay with this?" I met his glacial eyes. He didn't look bitter or sad, just detached. Despite his smile and bubbly demeanor, I was sure he was hurting.

"I really want him to be happy. My dad knew about everything but still treated me as his son." Archer sighed. "Now that I know you're not just any woman to him, I won't lie, it is quite weird... but I feel like I need to reciprocate and keep treating him as my dad."

"I just want to make sure it's not so weird that you'd be hurt or embarrassed." I scanned the crowd of staff members for Mr. White.

"Don't be silly." Archer ruffled my hair. "You're not some embarrassing midlife crisis girlfriend. Dad isn't like that."

I mulled over his words multiple times that day. After losing sight of Hector at the reception, I headed upstairs for a meeting and went through the motions of my morning as if nothing had changed in the past few weeks.

But I couldn't shake off the worry. I worried for Hector a lot. My life had changed, yes, but his? His had just ended, and he had to start anew after all those years. I often wondered what would happen if our relationship failed or couldn't continue for some reason.

"You look worried."

His voice startled me as I put away documents. The setting sun cast a golden hue over us. I looked up and sighed, feeling uneasy. He looked so good—tall, tanned, dressed in a suit, leaning against the door with his arm raised.

"And you look tempting." I smiled, and he reciprocated. "I am quite worried, actually."

"What's bothering you, my darling?"

"Us, mostly." I searched for his eyes, tracing his features like it was the first time I'd seen him. "I just feel like I need everything sorted out before I can finally sigh with relief."

"Don't worry so much about foolish matters, Audrey." As he spoke, I stepped back and leaned against the window frame. The sunset behind me cast me in silhouette. "Let me worry for once. Let me take care of this."

"How? Your wife, she will..."

"Like I said, let me take care of it. Of you. Of us."

"And then what?"

"Then we move somewhere nice, close to Hyde Park. I'll write about you whenever I can, and you'll be the successful woman that I love." My expression softened, and I closed my eyes to picture everything he was saying more clearly.

"I'm not your midlife crisis girlfriend, am I?"

"My what?" I opened my eyes to a very confused Hector. But I could see amusement behind those playful eyes. "Is that actually a thing?"

He approached me, slowly, his eyes glued on me, scanning my emotions. Despite the uncertainty, my feelings for him were strong, so strong that I would melt just by looking at him. "I want that future with you so badly."

"I'll conquer it as fast as I can."

For the first time, he gave me a tender kiss. He took his time, touching my waist and feeling the fabric of my shirt. It felt warm, welcoming, and... right. I held onto him, my hands disappearing into his grizzled hair.

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Hector taking the lead was the right choice. Since my parents had died, I had given myself no rest before diving into big emotions again. Now I could breathe and focus on the mess my life had become. He dealt with his wife, retired from his job so his son could shine, and never published the novel he was writing when I became his muse. "There's too much of me in it," he'd say when I asked about it.

Three years later, we were living together. I could see Hyde Park from our balcony, and on that particular day, the sun was rising beautifully. He was lying in our bed, watching me from afar while I gazed into the horizon, finally at peace. Nothing could bother me now. I had a promising career, the man I loved, the quiet I craved. Even though people couldn't understand my relationship with Hector, I couldn't picture my future without him at that point.

I stood and walked towards the bed, leaning down to give him a good morning kiss. My satin nightgown moved with me, graciously. "You should get up, honey."

"Five more minutes..." he mumbled.

"No, my darling. We have to get ready. Can't be late for Tina's wedding."

He sat up and smiled at me. Was he at peace too?

"I love you."

I couldn't help but smile back at him as I went in for a hug. He rested his head on my chest, probably able to hear my heart pounding for him since the day we met.

"I love you more."