The rest of the day passed by in a sort of dreamy haze for Ruby, but she was determined to stay awake. Somehow, David and Archie managed to exchange their horses and get her trunk back from the middle of nowhere. They also managed to eat some sort of dinner, though Ruby wasn't very hungry. She couldn't help but stare at Archie and August in wonder, transfixed by the sight so ordinary and yet so magical—the simple act of them eating around the table. Archie apologized that it was only biscuits and gravy, but Ruby couldn't care in the least—and, she suspected from the expressions on Archie's and August's faces, neither did they.

"Pa, tell me how you raced after the wagon train," August said, his mouth half full.

Archie chuckled, his eyes bright and landing on Ruby. She raised her brows as she returned his gaze, eager to hear his side of events.

"Well, I rushed over to Uncle David's house so I could borrow one of their horses," Archie explained as he mopped up the gravy on his plate with his biscuit. "Cleo is a good horse, but there's no way she could catch up to the wagons in time."

"Which horse did you take?" August asked, his eyes wide as he listened to every detail.

"Oh, um—I think it was Happy."

"Happy is a fast horse," August replied with a satisfied nod, and Ruby chuckled and scrunched her nose at Archie.

"So Uncle David brought Happy out for me while Auntie Mary Margaret took care of Cleo. My heart was racing and I rode off as fast as I could to catch up with Miss Ruby."

Ruby bit her lip, replaying the image in her mind of the moment she spotted Archie on the horizon. "I'd never seen him ride so fast," she added, leaning closer to August like she was sharing a secret. August beamed back at them both, and Ruby could see how proud Archie was to be the hero in his son's eyes—and her own.

With very little clean up needed, the rest of the evening was a drawn-out celebration. Ruby brought out the tin of cookies and Archie brought out his fiddle, playing every sort of cheery song that matched the delight in Ruby's heart.

August refused to go to bed, even as he was clearly fading, and Archie couldn't help but let him stay up until he passed out in his chair beside Ruby, who had her arm around him and ruffled his hair with her hand. She threw a look to Archie, who took his cue with a nod and came over to carry the boy to his bed. As they'd done before, they worked together to change him into his night shirt and tuck him under his covers—and Ruby loved every moment of it.

"My wish came true," the boy murmured, half asleep, as Archie laid his head on the pillow and Ruby pulled the covers up to his chin. Ruby's heart leapt in her chest and she nodded before whispering, "Mine, too." She met Archie's gaze, able to make out his smile in the light coming from the main room.

They both pressed a good night kiss to the boy's forehead before they crept out of the bedroom and shut the door.

Ruby grew uncharacteristically shy when she realized she was alone with Archie—Peter having already fallen asleep—and she tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and glanced up at him through her lashes. The warmth from the fire and her slight drowsiness created an intoxicating mix—not least of all helped with the addition of Archie looking at her like he couldn't quite believe she was real.

"Do you—would you like to sit down?" he asked softly, reaching out his hand.

She smiled and took it, sparks shooting from the contact of skin, and she followed him to the chairs by the fire. She shook her head when he gestured towards the empty rocking chair and pressed him down gently into his chair before taking a seat on his lap.

Perhaps she wasn't feeling quite so shy.

He smiled, though she could sense he was a little tense. It made her relax slightly, to know that he was a bit nervous, too, and she wanted to make him relax in turn.

She clasped her hands around his neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Hello," she breathed.
"Hi," he replied, his gaze lingering on her lips before meeting her eyes, and she thought she saw a hint of colour on his cheeks and ears.

She shuffled down slightly and rested her head on his shoulder, still unsure of how to proceed. Everything had changed between them, and yet, she was thrilled that they had their evening together, the same as it had always been.

Well, not quite the same.

For a little while, they were silent, both watching the fire. Ruby revelled in the warmth of him, the feel of his heartbeat under his shirt, and heat bloomed in her chest as he began to stroke her arm.

"I was thi—"

"You're re—"

They both began at once and stopped, laughing together, and Ruby felt the vibrations of his chest. She tilted her head back slightly to meet his gaze.

"Go ahead," he murmured, his eyes searching hers.

"I was only going to say, I can't believe this is real," she replied, feeling a blush of her own creep across her cheeks. "I know that sounds silly, but for weeks I'd been dreading this day, never dreaming that it could end up… well, like this."

Archie gave her a squeeze. "Me, too."

After another pause, Ruby spoke. "Were you going to say something?" she asked, gazing into the fire.

Archie cleared his throat. "I was only going to say that, with all of this—I mean, this is a big change, and—we can, well—take things slowly."

Ruby smiled to herself, touched by his thoughtfulness.

When she didn't say anything he gave her another squeeze. "What are you thinking?" he murmured into her hair, hitting a deep tone that made his voice raspy, touching something in her core.

Ruby licked her lips and sat up so she could see him better. She wove her fingers into his hair, a playful urge washing over her. "I'm thinking… I love that you're concerned, but… let's not take things too slowly." She leaned forward, her breath fanning over his lips before she pressed her mouth to his. His grip tightened on the small of her back and she grinned against his lips, delighted to see the effect she had on him as he kissed her back. She'd been pretty sure, of course, but now she was certain.

She sat up slightly and stroked the nape of his neck, playing with curls at his collar.

"If you've been in love with me, why were you so distant these last weeks?" Ruby asked, frowning slightly as she ran one hand across his forehead and along his hairline.

He held her close. "I didn't want to force anything on you," he admitted. "It was because I felt so much for you that I had to be careful—especially after… well, when we planted the garden and, um, got a little carried away, I thought—I thought you regretted it. So I didn't want you to be in that position again. Though, goodness, it was absolute torture."

Ruby bit her lip and raised her brows. "Torture?" she asked with a smirk. "You're playing to my vanity, Archie Hopper."

He slowly pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss before pulling back. "It's the truth," he replied. "Besides, I can't believe I was anything but obvious in my attraction." She could just barely feel his thumb stroking the small of her back, and she wish she could remove some of her layers. And yet—slow was the operative word.

"I might have picked up on something," she replied. "But I guess I was too self-centred to notice much. All I could see was that you'd changed your mind—or that I'd read you wrong in the first place."

"You… didn't read me wrong," he assured her, his voice alone sending a shiver through her. He held her gaze for a moment before dropping his eyes lower and pressing his lips to her chin. Ruby tilted her head back by instinct as he trailed hot kisses down her neck, agonizingly slow. His touch awakened something in her that had been buried for so long, an animalistic desire that stirred from its slumber.

"Mmmm," she murmured, her eyes closed until the kisses stopped. She opened them to see he was grinning at her. "Are you sure you've never done this before?"

A hint of a blush coloured his cheeks. "Been married?" he said, a twinkle of mischief in his eye. "No." He turned more serious before adding, "I've been with a woman before in my youth but, uh, a lot has changed since then."

Ruby's expression softened and she ran one hand through his hair. She could sense that his experience was tied to a part of his past that he was not proud of, and though she certainly didn't hold it against him, she thought better of asking more, knowing he didn't want to talk about it—not in this moment.

She changed the subject to something more agreeable—and something she was dying to know.

"So, Archie," she said placing both hands on his shoulders and twisting her torso slightly to face him. "There is something I have to ask."

"Oh?" he asked, his brow furrowed with his lips quirked in a smile, his hands around her waist.

"I still don't know how old you are."

Archie let out a laugh before Ruby clapped one hand over his mouth.

"Sh-h-h! Don't wake the boys."

Archie mumbled an apology against her palm, and, satisfied, she removed it.

"I'm thirty-seven," he said quietly before chuckling at her reaction. "I… can't tell if that's good or bad."

"I just—you do not look that old."

"Oh, I'm old, huh?"

"You know what I mean," Ruby replied and silenced him with a kiss before he could say anything more. Each touch sent a thrill through her, though hidden underneath was a bittersweet memory, a haze of a ghost that she wanted to ignore. He let out a happy sigh and relaxed under her touch, her hands wandering up his neck before returning to his shoulders, and she gently pulled back.

Then, another question popped into her head. "Archie, when is your birthday?" He gave her a sheepish smile, and she groaned. "It's already passed, isn't it?"

He nodded. "February twenty-first," he said quietly.

"Archie," she groaned again, burying her face in his chest before he guided her upright.

"It's okay," he assured her with a chuckle. "You were too busy getting ready for the baby, and I never make a fuss about my birthday, anyway."

Ruby smiled softly. "Well, that will have to change," she murmured, her lips a breath away from his. One hand trailed up to his cheek, and she could see emotion well up in his eyes, flickering in the firelight, as she relaxed in his arms.

"You'll be here for my next birthday," he murmured back, as if their reality had only just dawned on him.

"I'll be here for all your birthdays," Ruby assured him, stroking his cheek with her thumb as emotion swelled in her chest, her own eyes tearing up as they flitted back and forth to study his.

He closed the distance and pressed his lips to hers, hugging her close. His hands travelled up her back and held her to him while she cupped his face and straightened, sitting up on his lap. She dared to press her tongue to his lips and he parted them slightly, allowing her to deepen the kiss. Her head swam as he kissed her back, both hungry as hands wandered, and Ruby felt her pulse quicken. She'd been wanting this for so long, this closeness, and the weight of him, the heat of him pressed up against her, his lips on her skin, was intoxicating

He was the first to pull back, and Ruby was slightly disappointed to break the contact—though she noted he was panting slightly along with her. His hands shifted to her waist and she slid her palms down to his chest, his toned muscles from days spent doing manual labour evident through his shirt.

"So, I have to ask you—when is your birthday?" he asked, his gaze lazily taking in her features.

"August eighth," Ruby replied with a slow smile. "I'll be twenty-two."

"Ah—so you're twenty-one."

"That's generally how birthdays work, yes."

Archie grinned at her teasing as she traced the deep dimples that framed his mouth, her touch feather-light. "Yes, I suppose it is."

"Does that… surprise you? My age, I mean?" With their difference in ages confirmed, she realized she cared even less, though perhaps it should have mattered more, now that they were to be fully husband-and-wife. And yet, many couples had larger gaps between their ages.

"I think we have enough in common," he replied, and Ruby murmured her agreement.

She couldn't help but add with a chuckle, "Though it may still seem odd sometimes to remember that I'm a mother to a ten-year-old."

"It's definitely not the usual way to form a family," he agreed with a laugh before turning more serious, "but I think you've been his mother for awhile now."

Ruby's features softened at that. She realized the truth in his words, and it made warmth bloom in her chest. "Yeah."

They looked at each other in silence for a few moments—entranced with each other, the physical reality under their fingertips. Ruby's breath hitched in her throat as Archie brought one hand up from her back to trace her cheek, trailing down her jaw and neck, the light touch sending shivers to her core.

His eyes locked with hers, dark with longing in the golden light, and Ruby all but held her breath as his fingers tipped her chin up and drew a kiss from her lips, slow and tender. She closed her eyes, breathing him in as she returned his kiss, her heart swollen in her chest in a mess of emotions. She pressed her hands flat against his chest between their bodies, inching them lower down his stomach, a thirst growing within her while her heart beat out a warning. His hands slid around her, and she delighted in the feel of his arms around her, enveloping her before one hand slid lower, down her side to the small of her back. His kisses grew more eager, and Ruby's head began to spin as her body and her heart clanged against each other.

She gripped his shirt as their kisses grew in fervour, and her heart raced as his hands wandered down her back. Yes! One hand dipped lower, and he pressed his tongue to her lips in a request to deepen the kiss as she felt his hand on her rear. No! Ruby's heart lurched in her throat and she pulled back, breaking their kiss with a soft smack as a shudder ran through her. I don't know!

She opened her eyes, her breathing heavy as she furrowed her brows, pained at the idea that she'd misled him. His hands flew up to the middle of her back and his features creased in concern.

"I'm s-sorry," he stammered. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to push."

The fact that he was apologizing, along with the worry on his face, made her heart melt. She felt the urge to kiss his forehead—to smooth away the wrinkle between his brows—rise in her chest, confusing her even more.

"No, I'm sorry," she breathed before licking her lips, suddenly feeling very small. "I—I want this. It's just, I—I haven't… no one's touched me like this since—since Peter." The realization struck her with more force than she anticipated, and her voice grew faint as she said the name. Why couldn't she just enjoy this?

She should have known she needn't have worried, however. Archie's features relaxed in a warm smile, and the butterflies in Ruby's chest instinctively set to fluttering in the midst of the chill that was determined to settle under her skin.

"Of course," he murmured. His voice was enough to warm her through, but it was his smile, full of understanding, that chased away any sadness that might threaten to haunt her. "We have all the time in the world." He gave her a slight squeeze before he continued, his eyes fixed on her. "You have to know, I don't—I don't want to replace Peter. Your time with him will always be important."

Ruby smiled softly. "I know," she whispered. "And you have no idea how much that means to me." She opened her mouth to say more but realized that no words came. She relaxed in his arms and Archie pressed a kiss to her forehead. She felt herself opening up, the bud of new life that had been sprouting for months beginning to show its petals.

Archie gave her another squeeze. "I'm just going to put another log on the fire," he whispered before shifting out from under Ruby. She watched him reach out towards the pile of logs before he crouched down and placed them on top of the embers, leaning one on top the other. He blew on the red-hot remnants, causing the new logs to burst into small flames that licked up the sides, the dim light quickly growing yellow-bright.

Her gaze wandered to Archie—her husband—and his deliberate movements, and how she could discern the muscles of his back through his shirt. As the cabin grew brighter, warmth flooded Ruby, slouched in the chair with her arms hugging her middle. She grinned at him when he stood up and turned around, flashing her his signature smile that lit up his face, even when it was hidden in the shadows.

She stood up to let him return to his chair, his hands settling around her waist to guide her back to his lap. She nestled back against his chest into the crook of his arm and shoulder, his chin resting on her head and one hand tracing her arm while the other rested on her knee as if they'd been sitting together all their lives. The butterflies sprung to life in Ruby's chest, a familiar bubbling warmth at how natural this intimacy came.

This was the first time in a long time that she had ever felt so safe.

They sat like that for awhile, watching the fire in its dance, the flames leaping higher until they began to fade to glowing embers for the countless time that night. Archie's hand wandered from Ruby's knee to find her hand, and she smiled when his fingers cautiously intertwined with hers. After a few moments, he slowly brought her hand up and brushed his lips against her fingers, as if absentmindedly, and Ruby's pulse quickened, every sense completely aware of his touch. She hummed in pleasure, and he pressed his lips to her knuckles more deliberately, kissing each finger one by one.

A surge of affection flooded Ruby, and she turned slightly, tilting her head up to press her lips to his jaw. He froze, waiting for her lead as she pressed one kiss, then another, to his chin. Then, he turned his head, meeting her kisses to guide her lips to his, and she smiled into the kiss with another hum.

The kiss was chaste, though lingering, and eventually they pulled apart, as if they were both reluctant to break contact. Ruby nestled into him, returning her gaze to the fire without seeing it, her whole body warm and her head a little fuzzy. She couldn't deny the heaviness in her limbs—and her eyelids, which annoyingly fluttered closed once or twice—not wanting to break whatever spell surrounded them in this moment.

Archie was silent before he took a deep breath. "It's getting late," he murmured against her ear, sending shivers through her as his lips brushed the sensitive skin. "And in the spirit of taking things slow, I thought—I'll leave you to the bedroom, and I'll take my cot."

Ruby shifted in his arms, realizing she had slipped lower on his lap. "Nuh-uh," she murmured in protest at the thought of moving anywhere, much less to a cold bed.

Archie gave a low chuckle. "It's fine—everything's still set up. We can figure everything out soon enough," he explained, as if that was the reason she objected.

A pang of disappointment hit Ruby, followed by a glimmer of appreciation. She buried her face in his chest and nodded reluctantly, and Archie brushed his hand across her temple and kissed her head.

Ruby groaned as Archie stood up, his arm around her waist as the action forced her to find her footing. She couldn't help but feel a little bit like August, wishing they didn't have to call an end to the night, but the thought of the pillow and quilts that awaited her did hold a certain appeal…

She slipped her hand in Archie's and led him to the bedroom, turning around in front of the door to bid him goodnight. He took her other hand in his while they both looked at each other, swaying, neither one speaking as if they could delay another goodbye—however temporary.

"Goodnight," Ruby finally murmured as she took in every detail of the man in front of her, "…husband." The word, meant to hold a teasing tone, hung between them, a sincere declaration waiting for its other half.

Archie licked his lips and smiled, taking a step closer to limit any space between them until Ruby could feel his breath fanning her face. He dropped one of her hands and brought it up to cup her cheek, and she held her breath as warmth bloomed from his touch.

"Goodnight, my love," he murmured, his voice so raspy and full with adoration that Ruby thought her heart might burst. The declaration was sealed with a kiss, soft and tender, and Ruby instinctively relaxed into him, pressing herself to him to submit to the kiss completely.

They broke apart, both frozen as they searched each other's eyes. It took everything in Ruby to take a step back and release his hand, stumbling into the bedroom as the door gave way behind her. She kept her eyes on his as she stepped behind the door, closing it slowly so she could see him for as long as possible, committing every curve of him to memory for the sweet dreams that awaited her.