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Her head snapped up and her eyes went wide. She looked up at the Creator at her side, and he beamed, nodding at her. Then she was running too, screaming his name and sprinting towards him. Reth ran so quickly the air pulled tears from his eyes, but there were no tears for pain or sorrow, or for everything they\'d endured.

Elia\'s face was alight with love, and when they met, throwing themselves into each other and tumbling to the grass in a tangle of limbs, she was laughing, singing his name.

Reth rolled, pulling her into his chest, then lifted her face so he could see her, touch her, make sure she was real.

"Reth! Reth! Thank the Creator! We\'re safe! We\'re safe! And we never have to be apart again!"

Reth was speechless. His mate. His wife. The mother of his children. She sprawled on his chest like she was young again, her blue eyes alight and sparkling, her cheeks stretched into the widest smile he\'d ever seen.

And for a moment, everything around them went silent.

Reth remembered.

He remembered when they were mere children, frightened by the world, but trying so hard not to be. The way he\'d put himself between her and danger. And the way she\'d put herself between him and hate.

He remembered the overflowing joy in his heart that first night she was in Anima, when he\'d realized she wouldn\'t die—she would be his. And it felt like the key to the lock of his heart had suddenly turned and his door had been opened wide.

He remembered the Smoke and Flames, the desperation he\'d felt—the sheer yearning to make sure she was his and no one else\'s. How he would have fought to the death if it was needed to make sure she came home with him.

He remembered the first time they made love—the absolute abandon with which she\'d given herself—the trust she\'d shown in him. It had been humbling.

He remembered that cloudy day—the day that should have been horrific—yet they\'d made love on a high meadow and conceived Elreth, finding love and joy even in the midst of darkness.

He remembered a quiet evening in front of the fire, when both kids were small and had been outside all day, and both fell asleep—Elreth on the couch, curled almost into a ball, despite her human form, nestled up against Reth\'s thigh like a cat. And Gar, barely more than a baby, snuggled into Elia\'s chest, her hand cupping his bottom to keep his chin on her shoulder.

They\'d sat there that evening, never taking their eyes off each other, talking about the day, and the children, and their love. And neither of them had been able to stop smiling.

And he remembered that last night, in her arms, on the riverbed under those trees. The love. The joy. The rightness of it all that made his heart sing, even as he faced the greatest darkness and grief of his life.

And he remembered knowing that he had loved her every second of their lives together.

He rolled Elia to the ground, leaned over her, took her face in his hand, and kissed her.

"Oh, Reth," she sighed a moment later.

"We made it," he whispered, smiling, brushing her lower lip with his thumb. "We made it, Love."

"Yes, you did. You all did," The Creator said quietly from behind them. They both looked up quickly, then jumped to their feet, Reth pulling Elia into his side as they turned together to face their Maker.

"All of us?" Reth asked quietly.

The Creator smiled and nodded, his eyes crinkling. "All of you—and the rest to come, as well."

"Those to come," Reth asked hesitantly. "They\'re… still there?"

The Creator nodded again. "Aaryn made it back. Elreth is still in power. She misses you both desperately, but with him at her side, she is thriving. They… and their offspring."

Elia gasped, and Reth\'s mouth dropped open. "So soon?!"

The Creator laughed. "Time doesn\'t pass here in the same way, Son, you\'ll see. But trust me… you\'re going to be grandparents. And you are not forgotten. By anyone—your friends keep your love alive. I\'ll show you, but just be certain: Lerrin and Suhle have returned to the WildWood, and though they keep to themselves a great deal, they are safe and happy. Their daughter is going to take a mate soon."

He paused, and Elia\'s hands tightened on Reth.

She swallowed. "Gahrye and Kalle? And Reece?"

The Creator leaned down, took her hand from Reth with quiet apology, then held it as he spoke. "Reece struggles being the only one of his family in Anima. But he is finding a new family to keep him loved until he joins us."

"Us? Here? Me and Reth? And You?" Elia asked quickly.

The Creator nodded. "But not just us." He turned then and pointed off to the distant trees. Reth and Elia both turned, then cried out with joy to see Gahrye and Kalle walking arm in arm with each other, and with the Creator.

Behind them all, there were more shadows under the trees, bodies moving as if they were walking to join them too.

Elia\'s looked at the Creator in the distance, then back to Him in front of her and her head jerked back. "How—?"

Reth snorted and she turned to look at him. "What?"

"I just love the way you think," he chuckled warmly.

She smiled. "Same here." Then she turned to the Creator.

"I can\'t tell you how much joy it gives me to have you both here," he said, staring down at them, love shining from him like sunlight. "This was always the goal. That life is… it is what was needed to bring you here. But now that you\'re here, you\'re home. With Me. No more pain. No more struggle. This is the life you were created for, my children. Both of you. Thank you… thank you for not giving up. The love you shared with me and the others… Thank you."

"Why would you thank us?" Elia cried.

"Because I love you. And being loved is… precious, don\'t you think?"

"But you\'re the one who made us this way. So surely it\'s all your work?"

The Creator\'s face dimmed for the first time that Reth had seen, but He didn\'t stop smiling down at Elia. "You all have a choice, my dear. I love you, but as you know, loving someone doesn\'t guarantee they will return your regard. My heart is filled when you do. So thank you. Thank you for loving me. And for coming home. I am so proud of you. Both of you."

Reth felt like he wanted to explode with joy as the Creator gathered them in together. Then, when they all stepped back, He grinned.

"They\'ve been waiting," He laughed. "Come see your family."

Reth turned, and his mouth dropped open as he saw not only Gahrye and Kalle, both beaming and holding each other\'s hands, running towards them, but behind them…

"Aymora!" Elia shrieked and started to run to meet them all.

Aymora, Brant, Candace, Charyn and Delarys, and so many more. Then Reth\'s jaw dropped as he saw his own father, running and laughing, in the wake of the others. And his mother skipping effortlessly alongside him as she threatened to race him. They both saw Reth at the same time and their faces lighted up with joy.

Reth\'s breath rushed out of him and he turned to look at the Creator quickly, almost afraid to believe what he was seeing.

But the Creator just winked. "I told you, Reth. This is the life you were always made to have son. Come with me. Let\'s enjoy every moment of it. Forever."

Then he took Reth\'s hand and they ran forward to greet the others, together.

THE END  (Almost)

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