* A few months later *

It was midnight. Everyone was fast asleep in their rooms. The moon looked beautiful today with stars twinkling across the sky.

Maverick came out of the shower rubbing his hair with a towel. He spotted Jessica standing on the balcony. She was in a white nightgown that was fluttering in the breeze.

Maverick wore a pair of sweatpants and went towards Jessica. He leaned against the railing and looked at her.

Mark: I hope everyone enjoyed the party today

It was Kai's birthday party that day.

Mark: It's been six years

Jessica had her eyes closed. She was feeling the cool breeze sweeping past her hair and adding coolness to her face.

Jessica: Right. Kai's already six now. Time flies pretty fast.

She opened her eyes and looked at the object that was in her hand. Maverick looked at it. It was a photo. A girl of around five years, dressed in a frock, with two pigtails, standing in between two adults. Her mother and father probably were beside her. She was encircled with a red mark.

It was the same photo Jessica had discovered when she found out about Pamela.

Mark: What are you doing with that photo?

Jessica: I always wanted to know about the photo. But it skipped my mind due to gang stuff and all. Today, not only did we celebrate the sixth birthday of Kai, but we also made Born Titans legal. A hundred percent legal agency. And I recalled this photo. I think it's time you tell me everything.

Jessica trailed her fingers over the girl.

Jessica: The girl... She reminds me of many things.

Maverick took a step closer to her. The two stared at the little girl.

Jessica: What were your feelings when you had this photo for the first time?

Mark:  The girl, she's beautiful indeed. I liked her for a long time. But I didn't like her parents. My parents had given me this photo to recognize them. I was seven years old when I heard that she died. I didn't want to believe that. My heart told me that she was alive, that she was with me. I had a panic attack when I had heard that she died. I was heartbroken. I kept the photo to myself. No one knew about it except Grandpa. The girl was my first love.

Maverick took the photo and looked at Jessica. Jessica had her eyes fixed on the girl.

Mark: I had lost all hopes of ever finding her. I had never met her in person. Our family rejoiced on learning that she was dead. But I had always felt a connection to her. It felt like, I knew her for a long time. It felt like we belonged to each other, we completed each other.

Maverick took a deep breath and looked at the bright full moon that radiated its lights all around it.

Mark: But now I know. She never died. She disappeared from my life for a short time but she came back again like the moon disappears on a new moon night but comes back again. She was always with me, always around me. She always knew about me.

Jessica kept her palm on Maverick's. Maverick looked into her eyes.

Mark: Her death was fake. Her identity was fake when we first met. But our love for each other was never fake. It was true, right from the beginning. And now, she's right beside me and I'm looking right into her eyes.

Jessica smiled. Her grip tightened. She never wanted to let go of Maverick.

The girl in the photo was Jessica Kennedy. The two knew each other since they were kids but they never had the chance to meet each other. It was in the restaurant when they had their first meeting.
The first glance.

Jessica: When I found the photo, it was quite surprising to me. I always had this question, why did you keep the photo with you? I was dead to the world. But now I know.
She took a deep breath.
Jessica: Grandpa had always believed in us. It's like he knew we would end up together. I miss him.

Mark: Yeah. Grandpa did so much for us. I'm glad that he had a peaceful death. And I'm sure he's happy to see us together.

Jessica kept her head on Maverick's shoulder. He wrapped his hand around her shoulder.

Jessica: Loving you was always a war. A war against you, a war against me.

Mark: You won the war, Love.
They stayed quiet for a minute.

Jessica: Do you know what my favorite color is?

Mark: It's Blue

Jessica: And do you know why?

Mark: No. Why?

Jessica: The color blue reminds me of coldness yet it's soothing. It calms me down. It inspires loyalty, confidence, peace, serenity, and trust. It makes me feel independent. The color is so rare yet you find it everywhere if you try to look for it. The color blue reminds me of the ocean and the peacocks. It reminds me of so many things. It reminds me of the sky above us that witnessed so many love stories for ages. And lastly, blue reminds me of...

Jessica lifted her head and looked at Maverick. She looked deeply into his icy blue eyes.

Jessica: Blue reminds me of those beautiful eyes. Those beautiful eyes are as deep as the ocean. Those icy blue eyes look cold but have the warmth equivalent to that of fire. I want to drown myself every time I look at those icy blue eyes.

Maverick didn't know what to say. The love that they felt for each other was eternal. It was written in the stars. No matter how forbidden it was, no matter how much their families hated each other, they were destined to be together.

Always and Forever.

Maverick cupped her face and gently brushed his thumbs on her cheeks.

Mark: You were my first love. You are my Love. And you will always be my last love, Jessica Williams.

Jessica was stunned. It wasn't the first time she heard these two words from Maverick's lips, yet it sounded special that day, that moment. Maybe it sounded special because she came to know that she was Maverick's first love, that they were destined to be together since they were children.

Jessica: Say it again

Mark: I love you, Mrs. Jessica Williams.

Jessica wrapped her hands around his neck.

Mark: You're my Queen, my everything, Love. You're the Queen of Born Titans. You're powerful, mysterious, dangerous yet merciful. You look heartless but you have a heart of gold. And that makes you different from everyone in this world. That makes you special to me, to everyone.

Jessica: You should stop now. I'm getting way too emotional, Mark.

Happy tears were starting to accumulate in her eyes. They had travelled a long way and another long way is waiting for them. And they knew, with them together, nothing could stop them from clearing every obstacle.

Jessica: My heart will always be yours, Mark. Keep it safe.

Maverick took the photo from her hands and went inside their room. He kept it on the table and placed a crystal paperweight over it. He walked over to her and took her hands and placed them on his chest.
Mark: Can you feel it?

Jessica looked at his chest. She could feel his heartbeat.

Mark: From the day I've seen you, my heart beats only for you, Love.

Jessica hugged him and placed her head on his chest and inhaled the comforting scent of sandalwood.
She felt safe on his chest.
Maverick hugged her back and caressed her hair.

Jessica: I Love You.
She tightened the grip and buried her face in his chest. Maverick placed a kiss on her head and rested his head on her shoulder, inhaling the sweet smell of Chrysanthemum.

Mark: You're mine. Always and Forever.

They finally pulled apart after a few minutes. Maverick placed his right hand on her cheek and the two looked into each other's eyes.

Mark: When I saw you for the first time, I didn't just see a woman. I saw an angel. You're the stars in my darkness. You ignite my entire body every time I look at you, I touch you, I think of you. You ignite me, Love.

Jessica: Thank you for everything, Mark.
She took a step towards him and took a deep breath.
Jessica: My eyes never deceived me. My heart told me that it was you. It has always been you, Maverick Williams.

Maverick grabbed her waist with his right hand and pulled her closer, their chests bumping into each other.

Mark: Remember, no matter what, you've always got my back. I will always be there for you.

Jessica leaned closer and placed a kiss on his lips. Maverick touched her neck with his left hand and entangled his fingers in her hair. Jessica wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him closer. The two closed their eyes and kissed each other under the sky, under the bright full moon, under the twinkling stars.

The photo that started the love story, the characters of the story, and the beautiful moon that radiated its moonlight added romance to the air.
And them kissing right under the sky filled with stars. Those Starry nights that they both adored.

The sky witnessed the beginning. The sky is witnessing the present. And it will witness the future.

They had cleared a lot of hurdles in their lives and countless adventures are waiting for them. They are ready to face every adventure; for the thrill, the action, and the lessons yet to learn.

Maverick and Jessica know that with them being together, there's nothing they couldn't achieve.

They are inseparable.
They are unstoppable.
Their bond is unbreakable.
They're untouchable.

They will always be Together, Forever...

| THE END |

~ Thank you