"True love stories never have endings." —Richard Bach

The end. 🥺

Edit : I went back and wrote two bonus chapters after this lmao. Hope you like them!
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Chapter 93
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Maggie

Slowly, my eyes began to part, but not by my own will. The drowsiness clouded my mind, but I quickly found my way through the fog to realize what had woken me up.

Curses. Loud curses.

Confused, I called out, "Luke?"

Nothing.

The light in our bedroom was dimmed, but I didn't feel that familiar fear crawling over me. Through Luke and I's practices, I was to the point where I could sleep in a dark room, as well as going into one by myself, now. It was something I congratulated myself on everyday.

I glanced over the bedroom, then the bed, not finding any problem except one. Luke wasn't here.

Another curse echoed through the house, followed by him hushing himself. Despite my grouchiness at being woken up, I chuckled. 

Sweet love swept through me at the sound of his voice. Seeing him would be even better, and I was curious about whatever had him up right now.

To my best ability, I got out of bed. The most addicting ache licked through my body, but mainly through my ass and my legs. Even though we'd been asleep for hours, I could still feel the print of his lips and his hands as if they were still there, in mine, in my skin, everywhere. My favorite thing.

The last thing I remembered was getting up to use the bathroom afterwards, Luke pulling me into his arms and wrapping the blankets around me, checking on me to make sure I was okay, something I surely was, and we were both falling asleep in between lazy kisses. That was at midnight, I think.

My hand swept over the nightstand, grabbing the first phone I could. I cursed the brightness of the screen. Shit.

It was Luke's, I knew by the picture of us as his lock screen. I had ours as mine too, but it was a different picture. The sight earned the flip of my heart, despite seeing it a million times.

I dove past the butterflies in my stomach to glance at the time. 2:58 A.M.

The curses from the kitchen had grown quiet. I threw on Luke's shirt and resisted the temptation from slipping right back into bed at the comfort and the scent of him from the shirt.

Comfort hugged me out as I walked through our apartment, our home. Just like the old one, with the size, it was more of a house than anything. There were four bedrooms, for Fang, us, and the other two for guest rooms just in case Ledger, Jax and Tony or the others wanted to stay over.

We hadn't finished furnishing all of the rooms yet, but it was already home to me. It was in close distance to my school and Luke's building too.

Anything with him for me was perfect, though. Sharing it only made it flawless.

I allowed my legs to determine how quickly I got to the kitchen, but they were more wobbly than I cared to admit. And sitting down without squirming wasn't even an option.

Despite the fulfillment in my blood, I was already plotting my plan of revenge against Luke for it. I already knew that cocky fucker was cracking up at his success, because I'd seen it firsthand. In bed, I'd made sure to fuck him until his eyes were rolling to the back of his head, but he knew and I knew, that he had won this one overall. Jerk.

I would get him back though.

When I passed by Fang's room, he was having the time of his life with this new toy I got him. Against Luke's complaints, I bought him a Lilo & Stitch costume for Halloween coming up, as well as adorable booties to match. It'd add to the costumes I planned on buying Luke and I, who I knew would be stubborn in wearing it, but I could handle him.

I stepped up to the kitchen, then.

"Hello?" I forced confusion into my voice as I grew closer, "Where am I?"

"Maggie?"

I stepped into the kitchen, humor ringing in my stomach. Luke was sitting at the kitchen table, my laptop sitting in front of him, and the food I made him to its side. I wasn't sure if he heated it up, but he was eating it straight out of the casserole dish I put the food in. 

Now he was still, the pinwheel halfway to his mouth, and his widened eyes up and on me.

My jumbled expression sat in place, my eyes widened, "Who...who are you?"

Luke peered back at me, puzzled. "Angel, what are you—"

"This has to be my place, right?" I glanced over the kitchen with an odd eye. "Why are you in here?" At the whirl of fear in his expression, my laughter nearly broke free. "You get five seconds before I scream, mister stranger with a very, very tempting six-pack..."

My words slurred a bit at the same very abs he had on display. Shit. Instead of giving in, I forced my glare back up, "Or whoever the hell you are. I don't know who that is, but—"

"What? You don't..." Shaking his head, he dropped his fork and stood up, already starting out for me. Each step made a rise in the panic of his voice, "Maggie, baby, what...what the fuck do you mean you don't know me?"

A few weeks ago, he'd told me how scared he was about me losing my memory during or after the coma, and now, I could see that same fear coming back for him. I'd give the poor thing a break.

Laughter stirred my throat until it spilled out my lips. I couldn't hold it in.

"What..." Luke, whose face had gone ghost white, shifted with realization. A scowl curled his lips, his glower on me. "That wasn't funny, Maggie."

I shrugged through my laughter, "Fuck, you should have seen your face."

He retook his seat, flicking his head at me as he said, "Do that shit again and we'll be seeing yours in a mirror while I fuck you against it."

The warning shut me up, my bones melting down to dust. I held myself still to stop from floating toward him so that he would act on it now. "You know, I really don't appreciate feeling threatened in my own home."

Grabbing the ends of my shirt, he tugged me over to him at the table. A grin found its way to my lips, my skin spreading with goosebumps as his fingers swept across my skin.

Just as I went to sit on his lap, he stopped me with another smack to my ass, his grin turning my insides to fire, "Did you feel that shit too, Norris?"

"Luke." My huff morphed into a groan, "Give me a minute. I'm sore."

I knew two things to be true, now. The first being that I talked way too much shit, earlier. The second was that my mouth had literally written a check my ass couldn't cash.

"You serious?" I nodded, causing his expression to melt to butter, but behind it, there was amusement. "I'm sorry, baby," he mumbled, kissing my palm. "Come here." By my hand, he pulled me closer, positioning me so that my back was to his frontside, his knees trapping me between him and the table. "I'll make it better, I promise."

Luke lifted his shirt from my body, one hand starting to massage and mold at my ass, while the other stroked at my stomach, pressing firmly to keep me to him but gently so not to hurt me, despite my wound healed. His lips brushed down my spine until he got to my ass, my world turning and flipping as he did.

Then he laid a tender kiss, then even more to either cheek, while keeping up with the massages. My eyes drifted shut at the soft, cotton like feeling of his lips and hands, all from the man who made my body electric.

It was helping, that was for sure. I should complain more often.

To my side, I grabbed one of his pinwheels, in time with him switching to one cheek, tracing over a hickey. Just as my blood started to hum with the hottest of energy, I looked forward.

The screen of my laptop was still on, with a website that Luke was halfway through. Since he was occupied right now, I scrolled back to the top of the page.

I scanned the writing over as I chewed on my food. It was basically giving the answer as to whether or not a husband could take his wife's surname.

"Luke," I called. "What is this?"

His lips grazed my skin as he spelled out his name with kisses. I had to grip the table to stop from sinking back into him for more. "Mhm?"

"Why were you looking this up?"

His kisses paused, but he continued on with his strokes. "I had a nightmare."

"Let me hear it, then."

"It started out as a dream, because we were married, but it ended up in a nightmare, because you wouldn't let me call you Norris anymore. I lost my shit because of it."

My mouth twitched. "Seriously?" I closed the tab on the browser and shut the laptop. "And why wouldn't I let you do that, completely sane boy of mine?"

"You took my last name, so you claimed you weren't technically Norris anymore." The sadness in his voice merged into a sigh that left me in smiles. He was so cute. "I can't have that, so I've been researching whether or not we can take your last name."

I laughed at him. "Luke." I turned until we were facing the other, his hands still attached to my waist as we met eyes. "We're not taking my last name; Jax is gonna do it. We're using yours."

"No." His brows furrowed in frustration as he considered it over. "Fuck no. Not if I won't be able to call you Norris anymore."

Slowly, I took my seat on top of him until I was straddling his lap, my laughter doubling up. It was three in the morning, and he had woken up just for this. "Luke, love—"

His stubborn walls remained up. "We either take my last name and I still get to call you by that, or we both take yours."

I wrapped my fingers into his nape and pulled him to me until his addicting lips sweetened mine. His frown morphed into a curse before he returned the kiss, his hand settled on my waist so that he could haul me as close as possible.

When I leaned back, my emotions were scattered all around the place. I placed his hands on my thighs, to which he squeezed, a lazy grin framing his face.

My mouth twitched at how serious he was about this. "No matter what you say, I'm not letting your mother's surname die out. No way." I stroked through his curls, giggling through, "So, I'm either taking Palce or Vaudest. No matter what though, it'll be yours."

"But—"

I pecked his lips again. "And, I swear that you'll always, always be able to call me Norris. Nothing ever stopped you from doing so before, so it won't stop now, either." I loved it even more than he did. It wasn't going anywhere. "That won't change, okay?"

Luke nibbled into his cheek, searching my eyes for any teasing or dishonesty. When I remained serious, his fear subsided and instead headed towards hope. "Promise?"

My smile kissed his perfectly until I did it to. His return was just as satisfying as I laughed against his lips, "I promise."

***

The florist smiled back at Luke and I as she handed the belladonna lilies over. After thanking her, Luke wrapped his arm around my waist and led us toward the exit. "Ready, beautiful?"

I nodded, my smile soft. "Let's go." He returned my smile, which only doubled the sight of heaven in front of me.

Today was busy. Luke had to attend a business meeting with Kade, so to keep ourselves busy, Kimberly and I went to go and pickup Raven. We went out for lunch, then we walked the town to shop for our classes, which were starting next week.

When Luke got home, I was attacked with hugs and kisses that I never wanted to end. Once we both grew the strength to tear away, we decided it was a nice day for a picnic.

After a bunch of offers that were really just me stroking the back of his head, he agreed to matching pajamas with me for a movie night later. We were going to order in a fuck ton of weird food we'd never even tried for dinner later, then watch Harry Potter until we fell asleep. We made a bet about which one of us would last longest which I was determined to win, but he was just as competitive.

Before we got to the park though, we were stopping by the cemetery to leave flowers on my grandmother's grave.

Luke held my hand in his lap while he drove. Everytime he kissed it, my heart threatened to leap from my chest. It was the same reaction he got out of me, even when the simplest actions were done.

Things had been blissful between us, both individually and together.

A week had passed ever since we finished fully moving into our apartment. My visits to the hospital had lessened, due to the progress my healing was making. The doctors reassured that I would make a full recovery, but the bullet fragments would remain unless I wanted another surgery.

I wasn't too sure on that, and I wasn't entirely healed yet, but it felt like I was, in a way. Or I was just so stuck on cloud nine, nothing could ever make me fall.

Luke's father had been convicted of his crimes, fucking finally. There were many, so he was paying the price for them, and Beatrice and Vance were the same. With their sentences, it would be a miracle if they came out as dust, honestly.

I didn't give a shit about morals, not when it came to them hurting my person. I hoped the dirty sons of bitches rotted in prison. The fact that they actually would only pleased Luke and I even further.

I'd finally given him an answer to the question he asked me in his building a few months back, too. After some consideration, I accepted the offer to be his business partner. Since school was coming up though, we decided to wait until the semester has ended to handle the legal part of it.

But I was ecstatic. We were building something else together that would be beautiful, as well as beneficial to the both of us in the end.

And as I'd guessed, the relationship between Luke and Ledge had only grown, as well. It was a bit awkward at first, but which I expected, so I made sure to plan out events and games for when Ledge stayed over to ease the tension, and it did. The two had started to have inside jokes, sayings, and things like that that I pretended to be annoyed at, but actually loved them for having.

Many times, I'd found Luke with a big grin about it. Once was because Ledge had started to ask if he could stay over at our house or if he could hang out with Luke a little longer, and others were as simple as his brother calling him first just to talk about his day at school, or to talk while he played video games or did his homework and things like that. It meant that Ledge was enjoying Luke as much as he was him, and I could tell it meant the world to him. It was sweet to watch his confidence build in himself as a brother. I was beyond happy for the both of them.

They weren't the only ones who'd gotten stronger, though. Luke and I did and talked about certain things for hours on end, even the subjects we hadn't had time to touch before. It was like a new learning experience every day, one in which we were always excited and anxious to follow up on. It helped build our trust, love, and connection even further, as well as our relationship. We showed, loved, and aided each other's strength, as well as our weaknesses in every single way while giving the other a comforting push to beat it ourselves, too.

Physically, we weren't able to stay off of one another, of course. Emotionally, everything was just as heavenly, too. More than that, really. We'd never lost each other in that way, but to have the chance and the promise to only grow it together made our lives whole in ways nothing ever could.

Individually, we weren't perfect, not at all. But I think that was what made our love and our connection stronger. We were each other's perfect.

The ride to the cemetery was quick, since it wasn't too far from the flower shop. Luke continued to help with his reassurances, something I appreciated, since it only built off of the one I already had about today.

Despite the scenery, I didn't feel sad or down. There was an ache, of course, but it was one that was different. It wasn't of guilt or pain. It was of happiness and appreciation that I was able to feel those things in the first place.

Luke kissed my head as we walked toward my grandmother's grave, his arm around me. It was in the first couple rows of the graveyard, so it didn't take long to get there.

"You've got this, angel," he mumbled against my head. I turned my head up to his, a warm smile already on. He returned it, his gaze building with belief in me. "My strong girl, Norris."

I kissed him, conveying my gratitude through it. "Thank you." Then I breathed in a round of air for strength. I knew I was okay, but it didn't take away the very wish I had to have my grandmother here with me again. But I would appreciate the moments when she was here and use those as my strengths. "I've got this."

"Always."

Smiling back, I stepped forward and released my death grip on the flowers to lay them down. Luke and I went to her grave to exchange them every single week, so these were fresh. They were beautiful. Just like her.

"Dixie Reeves," I breathed out. A lighthearted smile drifted over my lips. "I miss you everyday, pretty lady."

A hand stroked my backside, providing warmth. That simple notion held me up, right alongside my own strength.

I wasn't going to give a moping speech or any shit like that. I knew what I felt, and I knew that she did as well. Somehow, someway.

Instead, my thumb grazed the engraved writing on her stone until I had it memorized. "I did it, granny." My sniffle was soft as I smiled back at the stone. "I lived and I loved. Even kicked death in the ass a couple of times, too." Chuckling, I raised myself back up. "How cool is that shit?" The weight in my chest lifted with me as I sighed. "I know it's not over, though. I made it this far for a reason, and I've finally found it. I know that I can't, and that I won't give that or anything else up. And for the first time...I'm excited for it." I let my nod secure my honesty, "I'll keep living. I'll keep loving. For you, but for me, too. I promise you."

With the words out, I felt them lock into stone in a way they never had before. I wouldn't ever let them loosen or leave me, either. Ever.

Releasing another breath, I let it pass through my lips alongside, "Thank you for everything, granny."

The wind was getting strong, since we were in the middle of September now, but even through the cold, I felt it. A warm sweep over my body as a whole, both emotionally and physically. It was like sunshine. I knew where it was from.

My mind settled, as if the ray was going right in and planning to stay. I knew that it wouldn't always do so, but I could appreciate the cloudy days for the sunny ones all the same. They were both a sign that I was still here.

I glanced up to Luke, who was already watching me with fondness. At my nod to ensure I was okay, he returned it and took me by the hand.

While we walked, he swung our hands back and forth through the air. I knew why he was doing it.

I did the same, earning the both of our laughs until we stopped by the car. He turned us until my back was against the door, and he was against me.

Squeezing my hands, he brought one to his lips to kiss, his voice soft, "You okay, angel?"

"I am." More than anything. More than ever. There wasn't a better feeling than that, other than the anticipation that I, we, would be even better. "Are you okay?"

Luke nodded, his smile genuine. "I'm okay, baby." The love in his eyes blossomed until they threatened to spill. I didn't think he cared if they did, nor did I, because I was overflowing, too. "I'm perfect with you."

I raised myself to kiss his cheek. "And I'm perfect with you." My hand went to the back of his neck so that I could pull him closer. "Wanna know what else I am, right now?"

The corner of his lips lifted into a smirk. "Beautiful? Sarcastic? Mine, thank fuck?" The admiration tumbled through his cockiness as his eyes traced every inch of my face. "The list can go on and on for days, Norris. Help me out."

My blush was strong. "I was going to say hungry, you smart-ass..." I tipped my head up to him with a silly grin. "You know...you've been calling me that the entire time, but I think it's really been you all along."

"And that's why we work so well, but since you're so worried about someone beating your sarcastic streak..." Offering his middle finger, he nodded at it with a grin. "Truce?"

Laughing, I took his middle finger with my own until they looped. "Truce."

Our grins matched. Luke's broke just for a second before he was tightening his grip around that, as well as my waist to draw me into him.

When he craned his neck, I didn't waste a second more. His sweet lips touched mine, and I thought myself perfect, just like the kiss.

We told everything through it. The past. The present. The future. All of them were tied by the most cruelest string that we thought could never be cut. And, it wasn't.

Instead, it was looped around the both of us when we needed it most. It tied two bruised, bloodied, and beaten hearts, then gave them a reason to beat. And in between the lives we'd survived without the other for so long, we found the person who made that very same survival turn into something that neither of us had ever expected.

We walked the line carefully. We fell. We got back up, and held on for dear life until the universe, that stubborn son of a bitch, accepted that we weren't going anywhere. We found each other time and time again, on either side of that same string, or when we were hanging off the edges until one could pull the other back up.

Disguised as evil were the biggest miracles for the both of us. Him. Me. There was no letting that go.

And, now we were here.

Living. Loving. Together.

I would never stop living. The man who gave me life so many times was the very reason I would never stop loving, either.

I was here.

I survived.

Now, it was time to live.

We leaned back from the kiss at a slow, agonizing pace. When we caught eyes, the message was sent before we even had time to voice it.

"I love you," we both said, breathless.

When we caught up to what we'd done, Luke scowled, thumping me in the forehead, "I said it first." I flicked him back, arguing, "No, I said it first, and I'm gonna do it again—"

We both rushed out again, "I love you." Our voice merged so well, it was hard to tell which was which before we tried, again, "I love you more."

Hell, we did it, again. We glared back at one another, but I couldn't help myself.

Softly laughing, I raised myself to press a kiss to the scars on his neck, then his jaw, then lips. When I leaned back, I admired my person.

"I love you, Luke," I confessed the most honest thing in the world, as well as, "And...you know what? I'll admit it." My smile grew until it couldn't. It was the one he'd brought out of me when I thought it lost. "Breaking into your building was easily the best decision I ever made."

That was an understatement. Falling in love with my enemy was number one.

Luke chuckled, but the love remained over all else through our everything. It always would.

"I love you, Norris. Forever." A softened expression withered its way into mine as he stared into my eyes. "I'll admit it, too. You breaking into my building was the best thing that ever happened to me. If it, we, ended up here everytime, together..." His words was heavy, but so was his smile. The butterflies in my stomach went wild as he kissed my forehead, then mumbled, "Promise you'll do it, again."

The End

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I'm not ashamed to admit I cried like a bitch when both this & IASWAD ended.😂

No, but seriously, these characters are my babies & no matter how many chapters I write about them, leaving them HURTS. Especially these two. I just adore these two jerks so much. 😭

I grew to love Luke & Maggie more than I thought possible. I've spent so many long hours crying, sobbing, laughing & smiling at their moments. They deserved their happy ending more than anyone. I might even come back to write some bonus scenes one day for them, too!

Again, I want to thank all of you for literally everything. The reads, votes, comments, & PMs all touched my heart. Thank you so much for reading and supporting my work, and for loving my characters the way I do.

This book, it's characters, & its meaning to me genuinely changed me in all the best ways possible. Writing has always been my escape through life. It saved me in every single way possible, and it's genuinely my home. Thank you so much for being around to witness & support that. ❤️

Now. Back to Levi and Raven - Based on the responses, I will definitely be writing their story, as well as taking those couple of months to write it in full like I did IASWH. In fact, I've already finished the character outlines, as well as the first five chapters, and I'm already starting to fall for their characters more.

Also: I made a Google form for them. It's basically questions about certain things that you would like to see/not see in their story, so that I can meet up to your expectations with it. I've made it to where you don't have to answer all of them if you don't want, and I put a choice so that you can type in certain scenes you want to see, too! & if you want to add something to it, even after already sending in an answer, you can do that, too! If it runs smoothly with the plot, I swear I'll try to fit it in. 🤍

If you want to answer it, just go to my profile & click on the orange link, then 'google form.' You won't have to sign in or anything like that, so it's just one click to the questionnaire. No one else other than me can see your responses. I'm not able to tell who the sender is either, so it's completely anonymous.

As I said, it should take me around 3-4 months (with a little break for rest, because I'm drained after this book & need time to heal ngl lol.) & I'll make sure to keep you updated on my message board, too! During that time, I will also be editing IASWH, so if you reread and you see certain things being deleted or added, that's what it is.

Question time now that the book is over!

Did you like IASWAD or IASWH more? (My favorite to write was both but my favorite to reread is this one, but I have to remain unbiased lmao)
Kade and Kimberly or Luke and Maggie?
Favorite character?
Favorite moment? (Mine, personally, were the chapters when Maggie & Luke first became roommates)

I'm done rambling, now. 😂 Again, thank you so much for reading & thank you for experiencing Maggie & Luke with me. I will see you with Levi and Raven, next! 🤍