Chapter 9 - Reunion

Two days had passed since Riley had last seen Damon. The weight of those days had felt endless - each second stretching into eternity as she waited for news. The police had kept him in custody, and with every minute that ticked by, her hope had dwindled just a little more. It had been hard to stay strong, to not let the fear and uncertainty take over. But she had to. For him.

The issue turned out to be far more complicated than she had initially thought. The man who had called the ambulance on the day of the accident had told the police a lie - saying that Damon had tried to kill her. That was why they had arrested him, why they had been searching for him. The lie had spread like wildfire, causing confusion, anger, and fear. Riley couldn't understand how someone could distort the truth so horribly.

But now, after two long days, Damon was finally being released.

Riley sat outside the police station, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap. She had been waiting for what felt like an eternity, staring at the doors as if willing them to open. She had been told that Damon was being released, that the misunderstanding was finally cleared up. But a small part of her still worried. What if things didn't go as planned? What if they didn't let him go after all?

Just as those thoughts started to cloud her mind, the doors of the police station swung open. Riley's heart skipped a beat as she stood up, her eyes searching through the crowd.

And then, there he was. Damon.

He stepped out, his body still carrying the exhaustion and strain from the last few days. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, everything around them seemed to fade. All the confusion, all the pain, all the doubts - it all disappeared the second their gazes locked.

Damon didn't wait another second. His long strides brought him closer to her, and before she could even react, he was there. Their bodies collided, and the world seemed to pause as they embraced. The warmth of his arms wrapped around her, pulling her in so tightly, as if he were afraid to let go. Riley melted into him, feeling the weight of the past two days lift off her shoulders, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt safe.

Damon buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply, as if he couldn't get enough of her scent. "I thought I was going to lose you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. He tightened his grip around her, as though trying to make sure this moment was real, that she was truly there in his arms.

Riley closed her eyes, pressing herself into him, feeling his warmth, his heartbeat beneath her fingertips. She had missed him more than words could express. "I was so scared, Damon. I didn't know what was going to happen," she whispered, her voice trembling with relief.

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his expression raw and vulnerable. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, his voice full of regret. "I never should've let you go through that. I never should've let them take me."

Riley shook her head gently, placing a hand on his chest to steady herself. "It wasn't your fault," she whispered, her voice soft but firm. "It was a misunderstanding. And it's over now."

Damon's eyes softened, and he gave a small nod. But instead of speaking again, he leaned down, pressing his lips against hers in a kiss that felt like an answer to all the unspoken words. It was slow and tender at first, a careful reconnection after everything that had happened. But as their kiss deepened, it was as if the floodgates opened, and all the feelings they had both been holding back rushed to the surface.

When they finally pulled away, Damon smiled softly, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "I never want to go through that again. Never want to be apart from you like that," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Riley smiled back, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "We won't be," she replied, her hand gently resting on his. "I'm not letting you go."

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other's embrace, savoring the reunion. The world around them may have been chaotic, but in this moment, it was just them - together, stronger than ever.

And as Damon held her close, he promised himself that he would never let go, no matter what.