The morning after the wedding was wonderfully ordinary.
Sunlight streamed through the bedroom windows as Atlas scratched softly at the door, determined that sleeping in was no longer an option.
Emily opened one eye and smiled.
"I think someone wants breakfast."
Victoria laughed, pulling the blanket over her head.
"Five more minutes."
Atlas barked in protest.
Emily looked at her wife.
"Did you just say five minutes?"
Victoria peeked out from beneath the blanket, smiling.
"I'm officially on my honeymoon."
Emily leaned over and kissed her gently.
"So am I."
After breakfast, they packed a few bags into the car.
There was no luxury resort.
No private island.
No extravagant plans.
Instead, they drove north to a quiet lakeside cabin surrounded by pine forests.
It was exactly what they both wanted.
Peace.
Fresh air.
And time together.
That evening they sat on the wooden dock, watching the lake shimmer beneath the setting sun.
Emily skipped a small stone across the water.
"I used to think happiness had to be something extraordinary."
Victoria rested her head against Emily's shoulder.
"And now?"
Emily smiled.
"I think it's this."
"You."
"Our home."
"Our family."
Victoria intertwined their fingers.
"I spent so many years planning for tomorrow that I forgot to live today."
Emily looked at her.
"We have today now."
"And tomorrow."
"And every day after that."
The following morning, Gabriel called.
Emily answered on speaker.
"So," Gabriel said with a grin in his voice, "how's married life?"
Victoria laughed.
"We've survived twenty-four hours."
"So far, so good."
Walker interrupted from the background.
"Tell them the real reason you called."
Gabriel sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
"The housewarming party is next Saturday."
Emily smiled.
"We'll be there."
"And Gabriel..."
"Yes?"
"Don't burn the food."
"No promises."
Everyone laughed before the call ended.
On their final evening at the cabin, Emily and Victoria stood beneath a sky filled with stars.
The silence between them was comfortable.
Emily slipped an arm around Victoria's waist.
"Do you remember the first time we met?"
Victoria smiled.
"You pointed a gun at me."
Emily laughed.
"You pointed one back."
"I thought you were impossible."
"And I thought you were arrogant."
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"Was I wrong?"
Victoria turned to face her.
"About the arrogant part?"
Emily nodded.
"No."
They both burst into laughter.
When it faded, Victoria's expression softened.
"But I was wrong about one thing."
"What was that?"
"I thought loving someone would make me lose myself."
She gently rested her hand over Emily's heart.
"Instead..."
"...it helped me find who I really was."
Emily's eyes filled with emotion.
"I'll spend the rest of my life reminding you of that."
They shared a quiet kiss beneath the stars.
No sirens.
No gunfire.
No fear.
Only the sound of the wind through the trees and the promise of a lifetime together.
As they stood hand in hand, Emily looked toward the horizon.
"We've finally reached the life we were fighting for."
Victoria smiled.
"No."
She squeezed Emily's hand.
"We're only just beginning."
Far away, the Hudson River continued its steady journey toward the sea.
Just like theirs.
Not ending.
Simply flowing into a new chapter.