Here's the final chapter. I have really loved writing this fic and exploring this storyline possibility over the past months, and anyone who is still along for the ride, I'm glad you enjoyed it, too. i appreciate every follow, favorite, and review. It was kinda hard to end this fic as I got pretty emotionally attached it it (but if I could say goodbye to Serendipity, I suppose I can say goodbye to anything), but the story I wanted to tell here has been told. Here's to Waige, in our fics and in canon. They're pretty incredible, no matter where they are.
Paige looked behind her, seeing another plane overhead, landing gear down. She knew Walter's flight was due in soon, but she had no idea if it was the plane that was just coming in or the one that had landed fifteen minutes ago. Walter hadn't texted her yet – which surprised her if his plane was the first, but his plane was already supposed to be here. She looked over at the board that listed the flights and their status. Yep. His flight was supposed to have already landed, and it still said ON TIME. She tapped her foot, telling herself not to get worried.
Her phone buzzed. Paige almost dropped it, fumbling and getting a grip on it just before it tumbled. It was Walter. Paige swiped her finger across the notification, suddenly paranoid. What if he was telling her they got delayed? That he wasn't actually on either of these planes? That wasn't logical. His flight took off seven hours ago – he would have told her by now if he wasn't on it. Taking in a deep breath, she swiped again, opening the message.
Taxing to the gate now. Sorry didn't text earlier. Was Facetiming Ralph once we landed.
Feeling a rush of relief, Paige texted back, her fingers shaking. Good to hear. And yeah, he's sad he isn't here.
He's doing a good thing, though. I told him I was proud of him.
Paige smiled. I am, too.
Her phone buzzed again almost immediately. I should be to you in less than ten.
Less than ten. Less than ten. Paige didn't think her heart could race any more.
She shifted her weight. She didn't understand why she was so nervous, but there was no other reason for her stomach to be doing flips and for her to have run to the airport restroom to throw up twice in the past half hour. This was how she got when she was nervous and didn't have anyone to distract her. Maybe she should have asked Linda to come.
No. She didn't want to share this moment with anyone on the outside. But sharing the waiting…Paige shook her head. It's not like you could ask someone to meet you here, wait with you, then leave when Walter shows up.
She shifted in place again, watching the hallway ahead of her. Her eyes shifted to the board even though she already had confirmation that Walter had landed.
She supposed she was so worried because she had never done this before. She'd left on a plane with Ralph, waving goodbye to Drew, and she'd never met him at the airport because he never followed them as planned. She'd stood in this very airport saying goodbye to Walter five months before – also the same airport where she had bid farewell to Tim Armstrong. But this time it was different.
She was finally here to welcome someone home.
Maybe worried wasn't the right word. Maybe this also was what this kind of excited felt like.
People were starting to file out into the greeting area. Paige was surrounded by people with iPads, holding them up with the names of the people they were waiting for on it. She fondly remembered Walter holding up a hand – written piece of paper to direct his parents.
Walter was coming home. And knowing that Ralph wasn't going to be there, he had talked to him first.
She'd expected Ralph's father to come home to her a dozen years ago. And today, he finally was.
And then she saw him. In person, in real time, for the first time in over five months. It took him just a moment longer to see her, but when their eyes met, and he broke out into that grin of his, she almost felt weak in the knees. He didn't look exactly the same; he had lost some weight, and his hair was shorter than she preferred it, but it was him. They were the closest they'd been in a long time, the distance shrinking with each step he took, but it felt just as unbearable as the time apart.
Paige started walking toward him, everything in her power needed to prevent her from running. She wasn't going to be like that. That's what they did in the movies. That was dramatic. That was over the top.
But Hell. Her soul mate was home, he was here, he had come back, and he was here to stay. Nothing about their relationship was storybook – why not have this moment?
She picked up her pace, jogging the last few steps, and then she was in his arms, feeling him solid against her for the first time in what felt like forever, crying like she had when she'd let him go…but somehow also not at all like that.
She leaned back just far enough, then captured his lips with her own, placing a hand on the back of his head, wondering at how different the short hair felt against her fingers. She decided she liked it after all.
Their lips separated, and they fell back into the tight embrace. Paige wondered if anyone was looking at them. I hope you're all looking at me. There's billions of men in the world and I have the best one.
She felt his hand slid up into her hair, and then he was cradling her head, rocking them gently side to side. "This goes without saying," he whispered, "but I missed you."