"So... this is it," Lyla said, turning on the hallway lights of her apartment.

"Wow," Louis responded, placing Lyla's cello against the wall. "It's... fancy."

Lyla laughed. "I guess it kind of is."

"It's good."

Lyla smiled while silence filled the space between them. She shuffled awkwardly before turning abruptly and making her way to the living room. Louis followed.

"I- I'm just going to change. Make yourself... at home," Lyla said before going down another hall to her bedroom.

Louis took of his jacket and draped it over the sofa. He took in the décor and tried to learn as much as he could about the girl he loved beyond all reason. She liked art; the only images and pictures around the apartment were painted pieces. There weren't any photographs. In one corner, Lyla had a music stand and stool. There was a large bookcase against one wall filled primarily with sheet music. He liked that music was such a big part of her life as it was in his. And his son's.

The kitchen was spotless, as was the rest of the apartment. She liked to keep things clean. He wondered if she had a cleaning service. Down at the end of the hall that Lyla has disappeared into was the bathroom. On the left, was a closed door – probably Lyla's room. On the left was a spare bedroom. Inside the room was a single bed with blue covers. The walls were decorated with more paintings that were playful or featured something musical. On the dresser was a framed picture of August – or Evan – in a red sweater. He knew the bed was there as a wish. A hope that Lyla would find her son.

Louis sat on the bed in the dark and took the room in. He wondered how their family would work. If it could.

He heard Lyla's door open and, after a minute, heard her call his name.

"I'm here," he called back.

She turned slowly around the corner, smiling her beautiful smile. She had changed into pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. Louis marvelled at how good she looked in anything.

"I wanted to create a place for him. I knew I'd find him." She sat down next to him. "You know, even when I thought he died as a baby, I still felt him. I thought I could hear him sometimes." Lyla let out a laugh, "this all feels like a dream. Like I'm going to wake up and all the joy I feel will disappear. Like before."

Louis grasped her hand. "You'll never have to feel that way again. He's here now. Once we've jumped t'rough all their hoops, signed all the papers, he can be here. He'll sleep in this bed in no time." He laid himself down with one arm under his head. "And I'll be here too. If you'll have me."

Lyla laid herself down next to Louis, "of course I'll have you." She took his free hand in one of hers and held it softly. "For nearly twelve years, I've only had my mind on two things – my son... and his father."

Louis didn't hide his surprise. She had talked so much of finding her long lost son, that he never really considered the idea that she could have thought about him as much as he thought about her during their absence from one another.

Lyla noticed and smiled the smile that drove him crazy. "Lizzy tried setting me up with her fiancé's friends – I guess he's her husband now – but they always had the same flaw. They weren't you."

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly.

"I was only nineteen and you ruined me for other men," Lyla said playfully.

Louis laughed, "t' same goes for you."

"Are we crazy?"

"Yes."

"Normal people don't fall in love after one night, let alone at first sight."

Louis propped himself up on his side, "if more people met their soul mates, there would be a lot more of that happening." He smiled and leaned in for a kiss.

She eagerly met him part way and wrapped her arms around his neck. In an instant, she was thrown back to that night on the roof top under the moon where they first met, first kissed, and first made love.

Lyla pulled back and looked intently into Louis' blue eyes. His eyes seemed able to find every part of her soul just by looking into hers; at the same time, she felt she could see into his soul and understand exactly who he was.

Wordlessly, Lyla rose from the bed and lead Louis across the hall into her own bedroom.

Louis watched her intently, interested in every movement that she made. She was not of this world. Lyla was all grace, beauty, and love. He couldn't get enough of just being in her presence. He used to think that if he were to ever find Lyla again that the spell she had cast upon him all those years ago, bewitching him body and soul, would be broken. He thought that his fixation over her might have been based solely on his youth and the romance of that night. But now he found that wasn't the case. Lyla was enchanting on all levels and he found that he would love her forever and always, no matter the circumstance.

He let her lead him to her bed. Louis could see she was nervous, almost shy. She had changed in many ways, but stayed the same in others. She sat on the side of her bed. As he did their first night, he leaned in and kissed her softly, his touch sweet and passionate.


Lyla awoke the next morning, ecstatic. Before she could even comprehend why, she was happy. Quickly, the events from the night before came flooding back. Louis was holding her in his arms, his breath even and deep. She smiled and laced her fingers with his. Lyla thought of her son and wondered how much like his father he was. He had his eyes, that was certain. She wondered what else he had inherited. Would he grow to be in a band? Or did he prefer classical like her? She wondered how much could be passed down and what else she could teach him. She wondered a million other things too, each right after the other.

Louis sensed that she was awake, her voice silent but her mind shouting. He awoke and kissed the back of her head. "Good morning," he whispered.

"It is," she responded happily. She turned around and faced him. Lyla could feel his heart beating as fast as hers, which was very comforting.

He smiled, "what's on your mind?"

She let out a laugh. "Everything."

Louis kissed her, "where should we start?"

Lyla sighed. "We should... get dressed. Pick August up for breakfast?" It felt weird calling him August when she knew him as Evan. Somehow, 'August' seemed right.

Louis nodded and stretched. Lyla slipped out of bed, a sheet wrapped around her figure. He watched her walk quickly to her bathroom, and admired her a little longer as he listened to the sound of the shower begin. Then he sat up and walked down to the hall to shower himself.