Then she went back down, hungrier.
And Mira knew—she had no escape.
She didn't want one.
Jerry came up, breath warm against her cheek, her voice low and teasing. She pressed her lips to Mira's temple, then to her lips, lingering like a whisper that stayed long after.
"I love you, wifey," Jerry murmured.
Mira's chest tightened. Her fingers reached up to cradle Jerry's jaw. "I love you too… even if you drive me crazy," she said, blushing, smiling like a girl in love for the first time.
They stayed like that for a moment longer—forehead to forehead, breathing the same air—before eventually, with the world calling again, they slipped back into their clothes. Jerry adjusted her pants lazily while Mira pulled on a simple dress, cheeks still pink from everything they'd shared.
"You coming, wifey?" Jerry grinned, offering her hand.
"Only if you stop calling me that in front of Grandpa," Mira muttered, but took her hand anyway.
Jerry laughed and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "No promises."
Back at the Kingston estate, evening shadows painted the floor in warm tones. Grandpa Kingston sat in the sunroom, engaged in a slow chess match with himself, a steaming cup of tea at his side. When he saw them approaching, he raised his head with that ever-observant gaze.
"Took you long enough," he said, but a slight curl of a smile touched his lips.
Jerry saluted playfully. "Had to give Mira a proper tour."
"I'm sure you did," Grandpa muttered dryly, then gestured toward a folder on the table. "Go read through the latest office reports. And fix the typo in page seven, it's embarrassing."
"Yes, sir." Jerry walked over and picked up the folder, giving Mira's hand a squeeze before stepping away.
Mira, left beside Grandpa, sat a little nervously, unsure what he might say. But he remained silent for a while, watching the chessboard with a thoughtful look. Then, without looking at her, he said in a quiet voice:
"You know… Jerry wasn't always like this. Confident. Bold."
Mira turned to him, eyes softening.
"She was just five when her parents died. I remember how small she looked that day. So quiet, like her voice had been buried with them." He exhaled slowly. "She didn't eat for two days. Locked herself in her room. When she finally came out, she didn't cry. Not once."
Mira's throat tightened.
"I didn't coddle her. I didn't show her love. I made sure she knew how to survive. That she didn't need anyone's kindness to be strong." He finally turned to look at Mira. "But I also knew, deep down, that girl… she still needed someone."
Mira blinked back the sting in her eyes.
"She needed someone who would look at her the way you do. Someone who wouldn't run from her fire… but warm themselves in it."
Mira reached out and gently placed her hand over the old man's.
"I will never run from her," she said softly. "I'll be the one who stays."
Just then, Jerry walked back over, dropping the folder on the table with a proud grin. "Fixed the typo."
"Good," Grandpa muttered. "Now stop wasting time and get engaged before I die of suspense."
Jerry laughed. "Alright, alright."
She reached for Mira's hand again and looked at her with all the heat, care, and certainty in the world.
"Let's do this, wifey."
Jerry held Mira's hand tightly, like it was the one thing grounding her in this world. Mira looked up at her, lips parted, caught between a laugh and tears. The sunlight from the tall windows brushed against Jerry's cheekbones, casting golden highlights over her pale skin and the silver chain around her neck.
"You really want to?" Mira whispered.
"I always have," Jerry said, her voice rough but sure. "I just didn't know if you'd ever want me back."
Mira's eyes flicked down, cheeks blushing as she squeezed Jerry's fingers. "You idiot," she whispered, eyes stinging with warmth. "You were already mine before I even realized."
Grandpa gave a fake cough. "If you two are done whispering like teenagers, can someone pour me another cup of tea before this ancient heart gives out?"
Mira laughed and rushed to grab the pot. Jerry gave Grandpa a dry look. "You're going to live to a hundred just to annoy me, aren't you?"
"That's the plan."
Once things calmed, Grandpa cleared his throat and pulled a small velvet box from his coat pocket.
"I was saving this for when you two stopped dancing around each other."
Jerry blinked, opening the box slowly to reveal a beautiful engagement ring—elegant yet bold, just like them.
"I had it made when Jerry turned twenty-one. Thought it'd take her another ten years to use it."
Mira's hand trembled as Jerry slowly took the ring out. She turned to her, going down on one knee right in front of the fireplace.
"Mira Langford," Jerry began, voice soft and cracking just slightly, "you've driven me crazy since the day we met. You've teased me, challenged me, made me feel things I never thought I deserved. And now… I can't imagine my world without you in it."
Mira bit her lip hard to stop the tears.
"So will you—finally—be my wife, my partner, my annoying little storm of chaos for life?"
Mira jumped on her, knocking Jerry to the carpeted floor. "Yes, you idiot!" she whispered, laughing and crying at once. "Yes, yes, yes!"
From the armchair, Grandpa muttered, "I suppose now's a good time to pop the champagne."
Later that evening, back in Jerry's estate, the house buzzed with soft jazz playing in the background as the two of them walked through the halls hand-in-hand. Mira stopped at a large window, looking out into the garden where the moonlight shimmered against the petals.
Jerry pulled her close from behind, arms wrapping around her waist.
"You ready for all this?" she murmured into Mira's hair.
"I am… as long as it's with you."
Jerry grinned, brushing her lips against Mira's neck. "You're stuck with me now, Mrs. Kingston."
Mira turned and poked her chest playfully. "I'm still Langford till the papers are signed."
"Oh?" Jerry grinned wickedly. "Then maybe I need to convince you harder."
She leaned in—Mira squealed, bolting down the hall. "Catch me if you can, Kingston!"
"You're playing with fire, babe!"
Their laughter echoed through the grand house, the sound of two souls who had finally, finally found home.