The weeks that followed Rhys's departure settled into a familiar rhythm for Heather.
The early mornings at Black Star Cafe, the comforting scent of brewing coffee, the friendly banter with regulars – it was a world away from the flashing lights and roaring crowds of Rhys's tour, yet it provided a grounding stability.
Rhys remained a constant presence in her day, his messages and calls a lifeline across the miles.
He'd share snippets of his adventures – the vibrant energy of a concert in Opal City, the breathtaking view from their hotel in Sapphire City, the hilarious mishaps during soundcheck in Emerald City.
Each update, whether a silly selfie with Emmett or a heartfelt voice message before a show, kept the distance from feeling too vast.
The anticipation of their move to the house just outside Garnet City grew with each passing week.
Heather found herself spending her evenings browsing online furniture stores, creating mood boards on her tablet, and imagining how they would decorate each room.
She envisioned cozy reading nooks, a spacious kitchen where they could cook together, and of course, their master suite with the incredible view of the woods.
She even started a shared online document where they could both add ideas for the house, a virtual space where their future home was slowly taking shape.
"I found the perfect rug for the living room," she texted Rhys one evening, attaching a picture of a plush, cream-colored rug with a subtle geometric pattern. "What do you think?"
Rhys replied almost instantly from Amethyst City. "Love it. It'll tie the whole room together. Just make sure it's big enough for Dave to crawl around on when he visits."
Heather chuckled, typing back, "Deal. I'm already picturing him playing with his blocks in front of the fireplace."
Rhys, too, would occasionally chime in with suggestions during their calls – a particular style of bookshelf he liked, the kind of coffee maker he couldn't live without, his preference for dark, luxurious bedding.
"We need blackout curtains in the bedroom," he'd insist during one late-night call from Ruby City. "For when we want to sleep in, even if the sun's blazing."
"Noted, Mr. Sleepyhead," Heather would tease back, adding it to their shared document.
The Music Vault performances provided welcome interludes. Every few weeks, Lux would return to Garnet City for their scheduled gigs, offering precious days for Rhys and Heather to reconnect in person.
Those reunions were filled with a familiar joy, a comfortable ease that reaffirmed the strength of their bond.
They would spend their limited time together exploring Garnet City, catching up with Marjorie and Tony, and often driving out to the empty house, walking through the echoing rooms, their voices filled with plans and dreams.
During one of these brief returns to Garnet City, Rhys brought Heather a small, intricately carved wooden birdhouse he'd found at a market in Peridot City.
"For our garden," he'd said, his eyes soft as he handed it to her. "A little something to make the place feel more like home."
Heather had carefully placed it on the empty kitchen windowsill, a tiny symbol of the life they were building together.
"It's perfect, Rhys," she'd whispered, tracing the delicate carvings with her fingertips. "Thank you."
As the two-month mark approached, the final leg of Rhys's tour was underway, with their last shows scheduled in Topaz City. The messages became tinged with a shared anticipation, the countdown to his return growing more urgent.
"Just three more shows, baby," Rhys texted one morning, a picture of him looking tired but happy backstage in Topaz City. "Then I'm coming home."
"I can't wait," Heather replied, adding a string of heart emojis. "The house just outside Garnet City is waiting for us."
Heather found herself packing a box of essentials in their condo, little things she wanted to have ready at the new house for their first night. A soft throw blanket, their favorite mugs, a scented candle – small touches to make the unfamiliar feel a little more like 'ours.'
The keys to their new home, delivered personally by a beaming Mr. Evans during one of Rhys's brief returns to Garnet City, now sat on the mantelpiece in their condo, a tangible promise of the new chapter waiting just beyond the horizon.
The two months had indeed flown by, carried on the wings of technology and the unwavering anticipation of finally being together in their very own space.
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The day Rhys finally returned to Garnet City felt surreal to Heather. She finished her shift at Black Star Cafe, her hands moving on autopilot as her mind raced ahead to the evening.
Marjorie offered to cover the rest of her shift, sensing her barely contained excitement.
As she drove towards the condo, her heart pounded with a mixture of joy and nervousness, the same feeling she got before a big exam or a particularly important date.
When she opened the door to their condo, the familiar space felt different, charged with anticipation. The box of essentials sat by the door, a silent promise of the move to come.
She changed into a comfortable dress, a soft blue that Rhys loved, and lit the scented candle, filling the air with a warm, inviting fragrance.
A few hours later, the sound of a key turning in the lock sent a jolt of electricity through her. She took a deep breath as the door swung open, and Rhys stood there, a tired but radiant smile on his face, his duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
"I'm home," he said, his voice a low rumble.
Heather rushed into his arms, burying her face in his chest, the familiar scent of his cologne filling her senses. "Welcome home," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
The embrace lasted a long moment, a silent exchange of all the unspoken words of the past two months. Then, Rhys pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, a slow, lingering kiss that spoke of longing and reunion.
"Let's go," he said, his voice husky. "Let's finally go home."
They grabbed the box and their overnight bags, leaving the rest of their belongings for another day. The drive out of Garnet City, towards the house nestled in the woods, felt like a journey into a dream.
As they turned onto the long driveway, the house, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, looked even more beautiful than Heather had imagined.
Rhys parked the car, and they stood for a moment, hand in hand, gazing at their new home. The air was filled with the scent of pine and the sound of crickets chirping. It was a world away from the city's hustle, a peaceful sanctuary waiting to embrace them.
"Well," Rhys said, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Shall we?"
He took the keys from his pocket, the same keys Mr. Evans had handed over with such pride, and with a shared breath, they stepped across the threshold, finally home.
The air inside the house was cool and still, carrying the faint scent of fresh paint and new wood. Sunlight streamed through the expansive windows, illuminating the space.
Rhys dropped their bags just inside the entrance and turned to Heather, his eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and tenderness.
"What do you think?" he asked, his arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her close.
Heather gazed around, a slow smile spreading across her face. The reality of finally being here, in their own space, was even more wonderful than she had imagined.
"It's perfect," she breathed, leaning her head against his chest. "Absolutely perfect."
They wandered through the downstairs rooms. The open-plan living area was no longer echoing emptiness. A plush, cream-colored rug with a subtle geometric pattern anchored the space, just like the picture she'd sent Rhys.
A sleek, modern bookshelf lined one wall, not yet filled, but promising future stories and memories. A comfortable, L-shaped sofa in a soft grey beckoned from the center of the room, with throw pillows in shades of blue and green adding pops of color.
Heather gasped softly, turning to Rhys with wide eyes. "You... you furnished it already?"
Rhys grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Consider it a welcome home surprise."
The kitchen was equally welcoming. The state-of-the-art appliances gleamed, and sitting on the expansive countertop was the exact stainless steel coffee maker Rhys had insisted on during one of their calls. A set of their favorite mugs hung neatly from a rack.
Upstairs, the guest bedrooms were still bare, waiting for their personal touches. But when they reached the master suite, Heather's breath caught in her throat again.
The king-sized bed was draped in luxurious, dark grey bedding, exactly as Rhys had described. And yes, the blackout curtains were already installed, promising lazy mornings.
The wide, circular jacuzzi tub in the bathroom beckoned invitingly before the picture window, the view of the woods now softened by the late afternoon light.
"Rhys..." Heather whispered, her heart swelling with emotion.
He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. "I wanted our first night here to feel like home," he murmured, his voice a low rumble against her ear.
The walk-in closet, while not fully organized, had a few essential clothing racks installed, a promise of shared space to come.
They spent the rest of the evening exploring their furnished spaces, sinking into the soft sofa, imagining cozy evenings by a future fireplace, and marveling at the view from their bedroom window. The birdhouse sat on the kitchen windowsill, a small, perfect touch.
As night fell, they found themselves in their furnished master bedroom, the comfortable mattress a welcome change from the temporary one. They lay side-by-side in the darkness, the sounds of the forest their only companions.
"This is more than I ever imagined," Heather whispered, her hand finding Rhys's in the darkness.
"Me too, baby," he replied, squeezing her hand. "This is truly home."
And as they drifted off to sleep in the quiet embrace of their new sanctuary, nestled amongst the trees just outside Garnet City, the surprise of their furnished haven made their homecoming even more magical, a tangible symbol of their love and their shared future.