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“No,” Jeremy frowned. “No, it’s not. When I got the assignment… when she broke us apart, I was livid at first. I hated her for it. And I was crushed too, Kara. I want you to know I was miserable without you.”

But not so miserable as to call, she thought silently.

“We were gone for months. Off the grid. Nothing we could do. And when we finished, I tried to get back,” he explained. “I wanted to—”

“Jeremy stop.”

Kara squeezed his hand. She’d decided long ago that if it ever came to this reunion, there were two ways it could go. Up until today she would’ve chosen the wrong one. But not now.

“Listen, it’s okay,” Kara told him. “Really.”

A silence settled between them as they read each other with their eyes. She loved Jeremy, totally and completely. He even loved her back. Kara was sure of it, as much as she was sure of anything. But ultimately, when it came down to it?

His first love would always be the Order.

At least for now.

“I love you,” she smiled up at him. “You know I do. And I’m glad we… reconnected.”

The concern, the worry, even most of the weariness left his face. He smiled back at her — that young, innocent, Jeremy smile. The one from their lost summer… the one from the Estate gardens. The one she’d held locked away in her heart.

He crushed her against him, and there was nothing else between them. No distance at all. No complications.

It felt wonderful.

“I love you too,” he said.

They held on for a long while before finally stepping back from each other. Just as they did, Logan walked up behind them. It made Kara wonder how long he’d been there.

“You ready?” he asked. “Car’s here.”

She nodded. Sniffed a little. Smiled.

“Be careful,” Jeremy warned as they parted ways. He looked at them both. “This one can be a little crazy.”

“I will,” Kara promised.

“I was talking to him,” Jeremy smirked. He extended his arm. Logan took his hand and shook it firmly. The two men laughed as Kara cleared the beginnings of a tear from the corner of one eye.

“Piss off, Jeremy.”

Kara let out a long sigh as the car pulled away from the Averoigne. It was a big car, with deep, heated seats. Plenty comfortable. She could thank Xiomara for that at least. Glancing back, she took one last look back at the hotel’s snow-covered gables, then turned her attention back to where it really belonged: finding her way into a much-deserved nap.

“So it looks like you’re stuck with me,” she told Logan with a yawn.

“In the land down under,” he laughed. “Yup.”

“That okay with you?”

Logan stretched out on his back in the big leather seat. Without asking, he pulled Kara on top of him. “What do you think?”

A day or two ago, she would’ve resisted. But not now. Not after what they’d been through. Besides, she was too tired. And also…

And also you don’t want to.

Kara snuggled in on top of him, resting her face against his big chest. His body was warm and comfortable — the absolute perfect place to fall asleep. He kissed her forehead.

“So what happens now?” she asked dreamily.