The dawn over Lake Mead painted the sky in soft, hopeful hues of pink and gold, a reflection of the cautious optimism unfurling in Remy's heart. She woke curled against Theo, his arm a warm, solid weight around her waist, his steady heartbeat a comforting rhythm against her ear. The world felt different. Lighter. Every breath was a conscious miracle.
No aneurysm. The words echoed in her mind, a mantra of disbelief and ecstatic relief. Her "ticking clock" was gone. Her death sentence, that silent, ever-present shadow that had governed her every impulsive decision, her every fervent "things to eat before I die" list item, had been a colossal, absurd, infuriating lie.
She shifted, pulling back slightly to look at Theo's sleeping face. His dark hair was a little rumpled, his jaw relaxed. He had done this for her. He, the formidable, intimidating mafia boss, had used his dark world to bring light into hers. He had given her back her future. And last night, he had told her he loved her. The words, so raw and unexpected, still made her chest ache with a sweetness she hadn't thought possible.
"You really are something else, Theo Moretti," she whispered, her fingers tracing the sharp line of his jaw, feeling the slight stubble. "My very own knight in slightly blood-stained, bespoke armor."
Theo stirred, a low groan rumbling in his chest as his eyes slowly opened. He blinked at her, his gaze soft, indulgent. "Morning, trouble," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. He tightened his arm around her, pulling her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "How are you feeling? After… everything."
Remy snorted, a laugh bubbling up. "Confused. Relieved. Like I want to throttle a very specific doctor for ruining my perfectly morbid philosophical outlook on life. And also, like I could run a marathon and then eat a hundred hot dogs without a single existential regret." She paused, then, her voice softening, "Mostly, Theo? Mostly, I feel free. Like I just shed about a thousand pounds of invisible baggage."
Theo's eyes gleamed with warmth. He looked at her, truly seeing the unburdened joy now radiating from her, a joy that had always been present but now felt boundless. "Good," he said, the single word brimming with genuine emotion. "That's how it should be."
The morning passed in a slow, contented haze. They cooked breakfast together, Remy humming along to a cheesy pop song, Theo watching her with a possessive, adoring gaze. Their bodies brushed frequently as they navigated the RV's kitchen, each touch lingering, a silent acknowledgment of the new physical intimacy that now crackled between them. Remy found herself less guarded, more open to Theo's touch, to his lingering kisses. The urgency she had felt to "experience everything" had subtly shifted from a desperate race against time to a joyful anticipation of future moments.
"My list," Remy mused aloud, as she poured Theo another coffee. "It's all changed now. I mean, I still want to do everything on it. But now… now I can add things. Things that take a long time. Like, learn to play the ukulele. Or grow a really big, prize-winning pumpkin myself. That's probably years of commitment right there. No more 'hit it and quit it' list items."
Theo chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that made Remy's heart flutter. "You can grow a pumpkin, Remy. I'll even buy you a tractor."
She grinned at him, her eyes shining. "You would, wouldn't you? You're actually absurdly supportive for a man who seemed to despise my very existence a few weeks ago."
"I never despised your existence," Theo corrected, his voice serious, his gaze unwavering. "I simply didn't understand it." He reached across the table, taking her hand, his thumb stroking her palm. "Now... I think I'm beginning to."
His sincerity, rare and potent, sent a warmth through Remy that had nothing to do with the desert sun. She squeezed his hand. "Me too. About you. The whole 'mafia boss' thing makes a lot more sense now that I know you use your powers for good. Like, giving people their lives back."
Theo's lips curved into a genuine smile, a rare sight that still made Remy's breath hitch. He spent the rest of the day simply observing her, a profound contentment radiating from him. He watched her pull out her phone, and begin to research new, long-term hobbies. He saw the joy, but also a faint, almost imperceptible tremor in her hands when she paused, as if her body still needed to catch up with her mind, to truly believe the truth. He would make sure she believed it. Every single day.
As dusk settled, painting the vast desert sky in hues of deep violet, Theo led Remy back outside. He pulled out two camping chairs, setting them up on the RV's small patio. The air was cool, carrying the scent of dry earth and distant creosote bushes. They sat in a comfortable silence, side by side, their hands finding each other naturally.
Theo looked at Remy, her profile outlined against the darkening sky. The fierce, defiant light in her eyes had softened into one of profound peace. His heart swelled. He knew what he had to do. He had given her back her life. Now, he would ask her to share it with him. He thought of the ring, ordered discreetly, making its way to them. Soon. Very soon. He wanted to give her the world. And the first step was to formalize this beautiful, chaotic, accidental love they had found. He squeezed her hand, a silent promise under the vast, unburdened sky. The stars above them glimmered, witnesses to a future that, until yesterday, neither of them had dared to truly imagine.