#cuir | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

laursdomain · 1 day ago

Text

i'm addicted to the 'if only'

pairing: bodhi durran & cuir

genre: angst

synopsis: Bodhi Durran has always been second to everything and everyone–except for his dragon. Bodhi can’t help but brood and allow malicious thoughts to plague his mind as he watches his cousin have Bodhi be a second choice again. These thoughts spiral out of control, creating tensions and confessions between the two relatives. It might just ruin their relationship.

warnings: angst, takes place during OS, xaden is a terrible cousin, garrick is blind to bodhi’s feelings, cuir is mvp, cursing, self-doubt, bodhi actually stands up for himself (kinda)

w/c: 2.3k

a/n: song ➳ i look in people's windows by taylor swift; day 5: window for bodhi week! @empyreanevents | not the biggest fan of how i wrote this but oh well

ྀིb.d week masterlist

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

Bodhi Durran has always been the second choice. He’s Xaden’s second right-hand man, after Garrick. He’s the second closest thing to a brother Xaden has, after Liam. The only time he hasn’t been second is when it comes to his dragon. Cuir always takes great pride in boasting how he didn’t hesitate to bond Bodhi within the first ten minutes of Threshing.

Bodhi watches as Xaden and Garrick walk away, whispering to one another about their game plan for a mission. Bodhi clenches his jaw, trying not to be upset–he was still in school, after all. But they’ve been doing this since they were children.

Cuir’s voice slithers into his mind, “keep your chin up, Kind One.”

“I’m trying,” vulnerability laces Bodhi’s tone, though he doesn’t mind. He only allows himself to be vulnerable with his dragon, they are bonded after all.

Bodhi hates how he feels he should also be included in Xaden and Garrick’s conversation. Being still in school is not an excuse. Last year, when they were all in school together, they still did it.

Being older than him isn’t an excuse either. He did it with Liam too.

i look in people's windows

Bodhi trails after them, like a lost puppy. They know he’s following, he’s done that since they were children. Xaden and Garrick always believed it was Bodhi’s way of making sure they were safe, even though they could handle themselves. Little did they know.

For a moment, Bodhi wonders if his Uncle Fen did this with either of his parents. He highly doubted it, but he was best friends with Garrick’s father. He acknowledged the fact that his mother may have had a different relationship to her brother simply because he wanted to keep her safe. His father was more involved in the rebellion.

“You should go back to your room,” Cuir advises, despising how his rider is digging himself a deeper hole by following.

“Why am I not there?” He questions, ignoring Cuir’s warning. He knows Cuir doesn’t have the answer, but he can’t help but ask.

“I don’t know.” Cuir confesses, the dragon clearly upset he can’t provide grounding for his rider. “You would think Sgaeyl’s rider would want input from the rider of a green dragon. We are exceptional, I’m not sure if you’ve heard.”

Bodhi chuckles, his dragon finding a way to make him laugh. “Why don’t you tell Sgaeyl that?”

Cuir huffs, “she doesn’t listen to anyone. Not even her mate.”

“Sounds awfully familiar,” Bodhi grumbles through the bond, clenching his jaw again. At this rate, he would break a tooth from how hard he was grinding them.

they have their friends over to drink nice wine

Bodhi leans against the neary tree, watching Xaden and Garrick with a stare that goes unnoticed by them. It’s always unnoticed, as if he’s invisible. Somedays, he wished he manifested an invisibility signet just to get closer. Though, he secretly believed that he could get incredibly close to them and they still wouldn’t notice him.

Bodhi thought back to when they were children, to when his father would teach him how to properly be Xaden’s right hand man. What a joke that was. Xaden never really used him for anything, unless it made more sense for Bodhi to do it rather than Garrick or Liam. He was constantly in Xaden’s shadows, the shadow wielder making him invisible to everyone without even needing to use his signet.

And don’t forget when he first crossed the parapet. He knew first-years weren’t important until they bonded, but the moment people started referring to him and calling him Riorson’s Cousin, he nearly wanted to meet Malek. It took everything in him to not snap at any second or third years who used the nickname, knowing it’d get him in trouble.

Bodhi doesn’t realize recalling these thoughts have him balling his fists, fingertips biting his skin, definitely leaving marks.

Bodhi’s anger and annoyance slowly dissipates, turning into sadness. He won’t cry, not out in the open. He’ll wait until he’s in the solace of his room to allow tears to fall, as he usually does on these types of nights. He’s grateful the walls at Riorson House are much thicker, at least nobody would know. Except Cuir.

“Am I not enough?” Bodhi whispers into his bond, hearing his dragon sigh sadly.

“You are, Kind One. They are just blind to it.” Cuir firmly responds, his attempt at getting his rider to believe him.

“Xaden isn’t that blind, not when it comes to this war.” Bodhi responds, exasperated. He knows his cousin just as well as Garrick. There’s many things Xaden is blind to, but it’s not to the skill of riders. Especially with this impending war.

“Stop it with these thoughts. You are a rider, my rider for that matter. I chose you for a reason.” Cuir snaps, scolding Bodhi through their bond.

“What was that reason?” Bodhi inquires, though he already knows what Cuir will say. He’s asked before, multiple times, and Cuir never gives him an answer.

“You will know when it is time. I urge you to believe my words.” Cuir responds, just as Bodhi had predicted–not an actual answer.

like i'm some deranged weirdo

“Durran,” Garrick’s voice booms over to the tree Bodhi leans against. When Bodhi meets his gaze, Garrick beckons him with two large fingers.

Bodhi straightens his posture, a hardened expression overtaking his features. Features he shared with Xaden, except Bodhi’s were more softer. He closes the distance between him and Garrick, noticing how Xaden was gone. He was too absorbed in his thoughts to realize his cousin had left.

“Yes?” Bodhi questions, meeting Garrick’s hazel eyes. He never holds Xaden’s actions with Garrick against him, he’s simply following orders. No, he and Garrick had their own friendship, almost as strong as the one Garrick had with Xaden.

“Think you can handle speaking on Xaden’s behalf while we’re gone?” Garrick questions, posing it as a question rather than a statement. Bodhi knows he can handle it, he’s been doing it for the past two months while Xaden has been in and out of Aretia because of his slip-ups. Bodhi also knows this is not a yes or no answer, it’s an order.

“Of course,” Bodhi curtly nods his head. “Can I ask how long you guys will be gone?”

transfixed by rose golden glows

A grave expression overtakes Garrick’s expression. He, too, didn’t know the answer to that. It always depends on what happens. If Xaden slips up, they’ll be gone for an extra week or two just to get rid of the red rings.

“I’m not sure,” he confessed. “If it’s longer than the four days we’re supposed to be gone for, I’ll send a missive.”

“Okay,” Bodhi responds, not following up. He knows Xaden is a need-to-know basis when it comes to these things. Unless your name is Garrick Tavis or Liam Mairi, of course.

“Bodhi?” Garrick gets his attention again, continuing once Bodhi cocks a brow in his direction. “You don’t have to follow us around anymore, we can handle whatever comes our way.”

Bodhi clenches his jaw, hating the blindness that not only infected Xaden but also Garrick. He wondered what it would take for it to get through their thick skulls that he doesn’t follow them around to make sure they are safe. He never did. He does it because he wants to be in the know, except his only living relative won’t allow it unless he’s necessary to an order.

“What?” Bodhi finds himself saying, speechless Garrick would actually say something.

“You’ve always followed us around, since we were kids. You always like making sure we’re okay, but we can handle ourselves. You know that, right?” Garrick sheepishly smiles, a smile that reminded Bodhi of when they were kids. Garrick didn’t intend for his words to be malicious, but gods, they were like a dagger to a heart.

“Bold of you to assume I have ever followed you around to make sure you guys were safe,” Bodhi snaps, spinning on his heel as he walks away.

i look in people's windows, in case you're at their table

He hears Garrick yell after him, and he hears him walk after him, not done with their conversation. Bodhi was done. He makes his way to the field, where Cuir lays alongside other dragons. He had a reasonable amount of distance between himself and Garrick, but he knew that if the older boy wanted to–he could eat that distance up with his signet.

“Cuir,” Bodhi’s voice comes out shaky, feeling tears pooling in his eyes.

“I’m here,” Cuir’s voice is soft, yet firm. He lands in front of his rider just in time, instantly wrapping his tail around Bodhi.

Garrick attempts to approach the two, but one glare from Cuir has him skidding to a stop.

Cuir doesn’t tell Bodhi this, but he instantly opens his communication to Chradh, Garrick’s brown dragon. Being older than him has its advantages, and is able to pull superiority on him to get Garrick to submit. Realizing he won’t be able to use his dragon to get to Bodhi, he resorts to pleading.

“Bodhi, talk to me. What do you mean?” Garrick questions, pleading with his friend.

“Leave,” Bodhi's words come out strong and firm, a stark contrast to the emotions swirling in his chest.

Garrick sighs out, knowing he can’t win this battle. He hesitantly leaves, using his distance wielding to get far out of there.

Bodhi isn’t sure how long he stays there with Cuir. Once Garrick is gone, Cuir relaxes, hiding his rider with his body as he allows him to be vulnerable. Tears fall from Bodhi’s eyes, silently crying in the safety of Cuir’s body. He’d take Cuir’s protection over a hug when it came to crying any day. He always sought out his dragon for comfort, the green oddly being the most comforting thing in this world. Maybe it was because they were bonded, but he was unsure if other riders felt this way with their dragons. Cuir lowers his head, rubbing the side of it against Bodhi’s face, his own way of comforting his rider.

Their solace is ruined shortly after Bodhi stops crying. Cuir senses Xaden before Bodhi, noticing how he clings to the shadows. He also notices Sgaeyl keeping her golden eyes on Cuir as he approaches, laying with Tairn not too far from him.

“Your cousin is approaching,” Cuir warns his rider, lifting his head slightly to glare his golden eyes at Xaden.

Cuir’s glare doesn’t do much, Xaden knows that Cuir won’t do anything, not with Sgaeyl watching from afar. He notices Bodhi hiding within Cuir, knowing something was wrong once Garrick had told him of their conversation.

does it feel alright to not know me?

“Bodhi, let’s talk.” Xaden speaks aloud, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he stares at the back of his younger cousin’s head.

Bodhi doesn’t speak, not because he doesn’t want to. But because he doesn’t trust his voice if he does. If possible, he presses himself closer to Cuir, needing grounding at this moment. He doesn’t have to worry about crying infront of his cousin, he was all out of tears.

“Bodhi, come on.” Xaden scoffs, becoming impatient with his antics. “Stop cowering behind Cuir and talk to me like a man.”

That angers Bodhi. Treating him terribly is one thing. But to make an assertion that he is cowering behind Cuir? Xaden acts as if he didn’t do the same during his first year. Bodhi turns, anger swirling in his eyes as he glares at Xaden. Cuir doesn’t move, not retreating from his protective stance. Bodhi gestures with his head for Xaden to speak, not wanting to be the first one to talk.

“Explain what you said to Garrick,” Xaden orders, taking on his wingleader tone.

“What part?” Bodhi bites out, clenching his jaw. He’d rather feel pain than cry.

Xaden rolls his eyes, “you know fucking well what part. The part where you told him it was bold for him to assume you watch us to make sure we’re safe?”

Bodhi looks at his cousin, really looks at him. It's laughable how similar they look to one another, yet they are so very different. “I did say that.”

Bodhi takes satisfaction in the way Xaden clenches his jaw, annoyed with Bodhi’s answers. If they look so much alike, why not act just like him? Giving him a taste of his own medicine, as Quinn says.

“This is the part where you tell me what you meant by that.” Xaden grits out, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Be careful, he is a venin.” Cuir warns, still glaring at Xaden. He backs off the slightest, allowing his rider to fight his own battle.

“An initiate,” Bodhi reminds him, but notes Cuir’s warning.

“It means I’ve never followed you two around to make sure you’re safe,” Bodhi answers.

Xaden groans, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index. “No fucking shit. Then why do you follow?”

Bodhi widens his eyes, appalled at Xaden’s stupidity. Surely he wasn’t that blind, right? Anger bubbles inside of Bodhi’s chest, begging for an outlet. “Because, Xaden. I’m supposed to be your right hand, or did you forget what your father told us as children? Because I haven’t. But, I know you like Garrick and Liam more than me, so I wait for you to come to me. I wait for when you need me.”

Xaden takes a step back, “I never said I liked them more than you.”

“You didn’t fucking have to. It’s written on your goddamn face.”

Xaden opens his mouth to retort, but it dies on the tip of his tongue. There’s nothing he can do or say, and Bodhi hates that. A part of him wanted Xaden to assure him that his thoughts were wrong, but nothing ever goes the way Bodhi wants them to go. Promptly, he mounts Cuir, grateful the green dragon shoots up into the sky the moment he slides into his seat.

a feather taken by the wind blowing

“I’m proud of you, Kind One.”

“Thank you,” the anger dissipates from Bodhi’s body, a weight lifted off his shoulders. He was grateful to have told the truth, but it won’t change anything.

He’ll always be Xaden’s shadow, looking through a window just to have some feeling of being included.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

#bodhi durran #bodhi fourth wing #bodhi durran angst #garrick tavis #xaden riorson #cuir #fourth wing #the empyrean #iron flame #onyx storm #rebecca yarros #bodhiweek2025

25 notes · View notes

lowytavis · 2 months ago

Text

Bodhi Durran x Reader - Wait? We have a child

Warnings: unknown pregnancy, fear of loss, angst

Short: Bodhi and his troup were sent away on a mission outside of the wards after graduation. None of them returned for 1,5 years. And you thought your boyfriend hat died. And so did your almost 1 year old son.

____

"I don't want you to go," I murmured against Bodhi's chest, holding him tighter as if I could keep him here just a little longer.

He sighed softly, resting his chin on the top of my head.

"My love, I promise, in just four weeks, I'll be back with you," he whispered, his voice gentle like a warm breeze.

Then, he pressed a long, loving kiss to my lips, as if sealing his vow with that touch.

But he did not keep his promise.

No one came back.

Day after day, week after week, I waited.

Watching the horizon, hoping—praying—to see the familiar silhouettes of dragons soaring through the sky.

But neither the dragons nor their riders ever returned from the mission.

"You promised," I whispered, my voice trembling as I looked up at the vast, empty sky.

Tears welled in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks, each drop carrying the weight of my broken heart.

____

Fast forward a couple months

"You’re pregnant," Violet murmured, gently holding my hair back as I leaned over the toilet, retching—for the fifth time in the last five days.

"There’s no other explanation," she added firmly. Rhiannon, who was sitting beside me, ran a soothing hand over my back.

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as the realization hit me like a wave.

I was carrying a child—a child I could never share with him.

My love, my Bodhi.

He would have been the most wonderful father.

The kindest, the most loving, the most devoted. He would have held me close, whispered words of reassurance, dreamed with me about our future together.

But he was gone.

I exhaled shakily, sinking into the depths of my thoughts.

What if things had been different?

What if Bodhi had come back from the mission?

What if Panschek had never called his name alongside the others?

What if, instead of Violet and Rhiannon, it was him sitting beside me right now?

Holding me.

Comforting me.

What if Bodhi were here?

But he wasn't.

So I let Rhiannon and Violet take care of me.

They cared for my pregnant body, which grew weaker with each passing day.

For my broken heart—one that friendship could not heal, but at least made the pain more bearable.

And for the tiny new heart growing within me, a fragile spark of life in the midst of my grief.

____

Fast forward a couple months

"I don’t know what to call him," I murmured happily, though exhaustion clung to my voice.

Violet and Xaden sat beside me on the bed, their eyes fixed on the tiny baby boy in my arms—the son I had just brought into the world.

Violet’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and so did Xaden’s.

"Bodhi would have loved him," Xaden said quietly, his voice laced with sorrow.

There was no doubt where his thoughts had wandered—to his cousin, to the man who should have been here to meet his son, but never would.

"Finding the right name is hard," Violet murmured, gently running her fingers over the baby's soft, delicate face.

"He looks like Bodhi," she whispered. And she was right.

Up until now, I had been too focused on surviving the birth to truly see him.

The overwhelming joy of holding my son filled me with warmth, but the moment I really looked at him, the crushing grief of Bodhi’s absence washed over me like a tidal wave.

His hair was already dark, thick, and curling at the edges—just like Bodhi’s.

A striking contrast to my own.

He was a Durran through and through.

"What about Malachi?" I suggested, testing the name on my tongue. But the moment I said it, I shook my head. "No... that doesn’t feel right."

"I think Koa is fitting," I suggest softly.

Xaden perks up, a small smile breaking through the lingering sorrow on his face.

"That’s the perfect name for the little guy. Koa. Durran?"

"Yes, Durran," I confirm, my voice thick with emotion. "After his father."

Tears well up in my eyes as I speak, the weight of Bodhi’s absence pressing against my chest.

"Welcome to the world, little Koa," Violet whispers, her voice warm and full of love as she gently strokes his tiny head.

____

The months flew by in a blur. With all the chaos happening at Basgiath, it was no surprise.

Things had become far too dangerous for all of us.

So, Xaden made the decision—we, Violet, the other marked ones, and I, along with Koa, his last blood relative, would relocate to Riorson House.

It was the safest option, especially for Koa. And for Violet. Violet Riorson - his now pregnant wife.

Koa was growing fast, too fast.

He was quick, agile, and far too clever for his age.

Violet often helped me care for him, especially on the days when grief took hold of me and refused to let go.

I thought, with time, the grief would become more bearable.

But the older Koa grew, the more he resembled his father. And I could swear, his mannerisms were just like Bodhi's.

"Uncle Xaden," Koa gurgled, reaching his tiny arms out toward him. He couldn't say much yet—after all, he was only 11 months old. "Mom, Uncle Gar, Uncle Xaden, Aunt Vi," he babbled, his words a mix of innocence and heartache.

And then, when he saw the framed picture of Bodhi hanging in the throne room—a memorial that Xaden had placed there on the first anniversary of Bodhi's death—he said, "Papa."

It was a bittersweet reminder that Bodhi was gone, but not forgotten.

And now, Koa carried pieces of him with every smile, every word, and every gesture.

____

Rain lashed against Riorson House, its rhythmic thrum echoing through the stone walls.

Xaden had been pacing restlessly all day, his unease palpable. "Violet, please go to YN and Koa—something's wrong," he murmured urgently, gently guiding his very pregnant wife toward my chambers. "Go now."

(...)

I patted the empty space next to me on the bed, offering a smile.

"Come," I said.

She returned the smile and collapsed onto the bed, her large belly making her look almost too small for the weight she carried.

"If that’s not a pair of them," I grinned, tapping her stomach.

Violet shot me an exaggerated look of mock horror, her eyes wide.

"Oh, please—don’t even joke about it. Two? We’ll have a whole little army soon enough."

I chuckled and pulled the blanket up to my chin, my thoughts heavy with the storm outside.

The last thing I remembered was the warmth of Violet beside me... then sleep slowly pulling me under.

I woke up to the soft patter of little feet as a tiny human—named Koa—tried to climb into bed with me and his aunt.

He squirmed, his chubby hands reaching up as if determined to join us.

I gently lifted Koa into my arms, pulling him close and holding him as he nestled against me.

The warmth of his small body, so innocent and full of love, soothed me. Mere seconds later, I drifted back into a peaceful sleep, the sound of rain outside creating the perfect lullaby.

The rain—it had always been my favorite sound to fall asleep to.

A gentle, constant rhythm that washed away the worries of the world, if only for a little while.

____

The door flung open with a loud crash, snapping me awake. Xaden stood in the doorway, his face pale with shock, eyes wide with urgency.

Without a word, he commanded, "Violet, YN, come with me—now."

Koa, still asleep in my arms, barely stirred, so I gently eased him back into the bed, tucking the blankets around him before rushing to Xaden.

We moved swiftly, following his tense figure down the hall, our hearts racing with the unknown.

As we reached the yard, my breath caught in my throat. Three dragons stood in the landing field, their massive forms looming against the stormy sky.

One of them stood out immediately—Cuir.

My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the sleek, dark green scales, the sharp, intelligent eyes.

Bodhi’s dragon.

The one who had once carried my late boyfriend through the skies, but who had disappeared along with him, never to return.

Xaden froze for a moment, the shock on his face swelling with something I couldn’t quite place.

Violet's hand grasped mine, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of Cuir, standing as if nothing had changed.

Her gaze flickered from dragon to dragon. The other two dragons... Lutic and Maghraxs.

My mind raced, the pieces clicking together. These were the same two dragons that had been with Cuir and Bodhi the night they vanished, the night everything went wrong.

The night they disappeared from our lives forever.

My breath caught in my chest, a cold feeling settling deep in my stomach.

Violet stood frozen beside me, her eyes locked on the three dragons, shock and disbelief written across her face.

Xaden, on the other hand, was a trembling mess.

His body shook as he stepped forward, inching closer to Cuir, as if drawn by an invisible force.

"Is it really...?" Violet whispered, her voice barely audible in the still air.

Xaden nodded, though his eyes were filled with doubt.

It was as though he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing, and yet... he couldn’t pull away.

Cuir’s eyes locked with Xaden’s, a moment of recognition passing between them. The air around us felt charged, thick with emotions neither of us could name.

And then... The world seemed to hold its breath.

Bodhi.

Sitting atop Cuir.

My heart stopped.

It felt like the world was spinning, and I was about to faint.

There, before me, was Bodhi—alive.

His presence seemed impossible, yet undeniable.

Xaden, beside me, stood frozen, staring at his cousin—who was supposed to be dead.

His face was a mix of disbelief, confusion.

Bodhi slid down from Cuir with a fluid grace, closing the distance between him and Xaden.

The two of them stood for a brief moment, eyes locking. And then, without hesitation, they embraced.

Their arms wrapped around each other in a powerful, heartwarming hug—one that held so much emotion, so much love, there wasn’t an inch between them.

They held on tight, as though their bond was something that had never been broken, despite all that had happened.

Violet and I stood in stunned silence, our eyes wide, our minds struggling to comprehend the scene unfolding before us.

And then, Bodhi’s eyes found mine.

"Bodhi?" My voice cracked, barely a whisper.

My knees gave out beneath me, and I collapsed to the ground, my body wracked with sobs.

The relief, the joy, the overwhelming emotions flooded over me all at once.

Before I knew it, Bodhi was there, stumbling toward me—fast, but limping, his movements pained.

His eyes were filled with concern as he dropped to his knees on the muddy, wet ground beside me.

He gathered me into his arms, holding me tight as the tears flowed uncontrollably.

I clung to him, my chest heaving with every sob. He kissed my head, again and again, as though he couldn’t stop himself, as if he were trying to make up for all the time lost.

Violet, too, was pulled into the embrace, tears streaming down her face as she pressed against us.

The three of us, wrapped together in a reunion so raw, so filled with love and grief, we all cried.

Bodhi looked at Violet, his eyes widening with shock. "You’re... pregnant?"

His voice was a mix of wonder and disbelief.

A small, exhausted grin tugged at his lips, though his face betrayed the toll the journey had taken on him.

He looked different—worn, tired—but alive.

And in that moment, the exhaustion seemed secondary to the joy of being home.

"You’re alive," I whispered through my tears.

"I thought I’d lost you forever."

Bodhi kissed my forehead gently again, holding me even tighter.

"I’m here, love. I’m here."

____

Minutes felt like hours.

We were still standing in the rain, right in the middle of the landing field.

Bodhi and the two other riders, Tomba and Kevis, were telling us about the intrigue, the other fallen comrades, their desperate attempts to escape captivity—a struggle that had lasted a whole 1.5 years until they finally succeeded.

36 hours ago, they had managed to escape.

They’d flown for 36 hours straight—from Basgiath, where they found nothing but death, to Aretia.

To us.

“Papa,” I heard Koa’s small voice as he entered the landing field, pointing at Bodhi.

I hadn’t even noticed that he had come outside.

Bodhi stared at Koa with wide eyes.

“Mama, that’s Papa!” Koa said, looking up at me.

Bodhi’s gaze shifted to me—his eyes, wide and beautiful, locked onto mine.

I smiled shyly and walked toward Bodhi.

“I think I need to introduce you to someone,” I said, lifting Koa into my arms.

“Bodhi, this is Koa Durran,” I said softly. “Your son.”

Bodhi was at a loss for words as he stared at Koa, who happily turned to Xaden.

"Uncle Xaden, that’s Papa!" he giggled, and with a joyful rush, he flung himself into Bodhi's arms.

Bodhi stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock, as Koa wrapped his small arms around him.

He glanced at me, still in disbelief.

"Wait… we have a child? I have a son? What else did I miss?" His voice cracked, and tears welled up in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, love... Wait? Koa Durran? You kept my last name alive?" he whispered, his gaze fixed on me with overwhelming emotion.

I sniffled, my own tears beginning to spill.

"Well, I never got to have your last name, so I thought Koa might want to at least..." I trailed off, my voice faltering.

Bodhi let out a soft, teary laugh. "Oh, we are so going to fucking change your last name, love," he moaned, his voice filled with emotion as he pulled me close.

He wrapped his arms around me, Koa still nestled in his embrace.

I could feel the warmth of our little family finally coming together after so long.

Violet, her face streaked with tears, scooted closer, desperate for a hug.

She reached out, pulling Xaden along with her, and we all gathered together.

The weight of everything that had happened seemed to melt away as we embraced, the sense of being whole, of finally being reunited, flooding over us.

For the first time in a year and a half, we were whole.

No grief.

No pain.

Just love.

The first night in 1.5 years as a family.

The first night filled with peace, warmth, and a sense of completion we had longed for.

Reunited. Finally. Forever.