A/N this time at the end!

/

Kissing in the Cold - Julia Michael & JP Saxe

Lacey woke up the next morning freezing, and promptly went to Kristy's guest bathroom to take a hot bath, texting:

"I stayed here tonight. Hope that's okay. It was really late. And I'm still here. In the bathtub. Can you bring me a cup of coffee?"

She smirked, setting the phone on the edge of the tub, leaning back and closing her eyes. Some things you could only ask your best friend.

Lacey still saw Adam so vividly in her mind as he had been last night: dapper as usual in his jeans and slim-fit navy sweater over a white button-up shirt. Where did he get his stylish clothes from? How often did he go shopping for them? Were they tailored?

What was his life like? Did he make his own dinner? Did he still love classic movies? Lacey wondered if he had a glass of wine while watching them–the kind of classy behavior she could see out of the sophisticated man he'd always been. Did he still use that amour-inducing Irish Spring soap? Okay, maybe don't go that far–

"Lacey!" She jumped as she heard a knock on the bathroom door. "Close the curtain, I'm coming in with your coffee."

Quickly, Lacey reached to close Kristy's blue and green watercolor inspired shower curtain. "Okay!"

She heard Kristy approach and could smell the coffee before it was set at the corner of the tub right next to her head. "Thank you for crashing at my house last night. It wasn't at all jarring to get a text this morning telling me you were downstairs in my bathroom." Kristy plopped down on the rug outside the bathtub, resting her back against it.

"Hey, it was late. I didn't want to drive. I texted Halen so she knew I was here."

"And you didn't spend the night with Adam, which I'm proud of you for," Kristy added.

Lacey sighed. "Kristy, you ought to know I'm not the same person I was back then. Of course I'm not going to sleep with Adam. I do have a little something called control."

"I know, I know," Kristy answered, "but I'm telling you now: you guys still have it. All. I'm not talking about sexual things here, but I am talking about everything else. There were stars all over this place every time you talked to one another, and don't think I didn't see you holding hands for a little while. I know you're in love with him all over again, and to be honest, it terrifies me as much as it makes me feel giddy."

As frustrated as Lacey felt that Kristy was not a hundred percent on board with her revived feelings for Adam, she understood her friend's perspective, and frankly felt it necessary. It was good to have a sensible backup voice just in case.

She had frankly supposed Adam to be dating someone else in Albany since he and Sarah hadn't worked out, but what he said last night in response to Larson's prying was proof he was still single. And for this, Lacey felt simultaneously relieved and light-headed.

"I think maybe friends first?" Kristy continued. "Although, who am I kidding? You guys seem ready to literally pick up where you left off. In a way it's like you emerged from the bedroom that horrible morning, hand in hand and ready to keep going."

Lacey mulled over what Kristy said for awhile. "Wow. I guess it does seem like that, doesn't it? Gosh, if only we could have." She held the steaming contents of her mug close to her as she allowed her head to fall back against the wall, eyes closed. "It's a lot of years we missed, Kristy."

"But you could make up for it, Lacey. If he loves you and you love him…" then Lacey heard her friend slap her own face. "What am I saying? I'm trying to talk you into having sense, not pulling myself into this too. How is it you always do that?!"

"It's a gift," Lacey giggled. "Anyway, we did talk a bit about it, and I think he's ready to commit to a relationship again, at least a tentative one. But I really just don't know about me. I mean, I don't think I could ever, ever break this man's heart again. Yet, isn't it easy to do sometimes? I mean I'm only human. It feels like an impossible standard to say you're not going to hurt someone again."

"Then don't," Kristy replied immediately, in a serious tone. "If you make a commitment again, promise to just do your best. People hurt people. It isn't an excuse for bad behavior, and it's true, we all should have used more foresight with the Albany thing. But in your defense, you were incredibly worried about him, and not only were everyone's emotions running a little high in the wake of what just happened, we were still just kids. So just commit to trying to make better decisions where you can. If he really loves you, Lacey, then he'll choose to let the past go and not revisit it. And it honestly sounds like, after getting all that off his chest, that's what he's trying to do."

Lacey shifted in the bathtub, closing her eyes once again and visualizing his smile–calm and easy. "I do love him," she spoke in a quiet voice. I'll always love him. And in a way I feel like if I don't take this chance…"

"...Then you'll always regret it. I know," Kristy finished for her, standing up. "Just make sure your head is screwed on straight and you don't make any decision out of high emotion, okay? The last thing you need is to have something else to be sorry for."

"Yeah…"

As Kristy left the bathroom, Lacey grabbed her phone again, pausing and saying a prayer for wisdom before doing so.

"I was so happy to see you last night."

After a few minutes, her heart quickened when she saw his return text. "It was the best time I've had in awhile."

"It was fun. All the snacks, all the craziness, all the hockey videos. Really took us back, huh?"

"I wasn't talking about the activities."

Lacey bit her lip. "I know."

"When can I see you?"

Taking a deep breath, Lacey proceeded. "After Christmas. But Adam, please don't push me. I'm trying to make a level decision for once in my life."

"I'm sorry. I've just been thinking nonstop about it, about you."

"We were mad at each other just two weeks ago."

"But were we really? Or were we just mad that it didn't work out and we've lost so much time?"

Lacey blinked back tears. "Probaby."

"I'll let you have some space. I really do apologize for being a little pushy. Have a Merry Christmas, Lacey."

Closing her eyes, Lacey allowed herself to be swept up in memory. Thoughts of that first Christmas after they connected and had grown so close as friends. Romance, looking back now, was inevitable, but she could still practically feel that crushing heartache when he'd been the one to rebuff her after giving her his Christmas present the night before Christmas Eve. Now it was her turn, and she realized she was finally able to feel a little of what he had that night: hesitation, reticence. Borne of fear. For Adam back then, it was fear of first-time love, of ruining a perfectly good friendship. For Lacey now, it was fear of hurting them both again, fear of facing yet another disappointment in her adult life.

But how far did you take fear? At what point did it cause you to miss opportunities? Adam had pushed past being afraid. Would she, now? How much was she willing to risk?

"Please come by the shelter before you leave, okay? To see all the changes and visit the cats. I know you like them, no matter what yousay."

"Haha. I'll try to get by there, but If for some reason I don't, I'll talk to you when I get back to Albany."

"Promise you won't forget."

"What a thing to say. You know I won't."

"Have a good day. Enjoy watching the movie tonight. And have a very Merry Christmas."

Lacey sighed and set her phone back down, realizing the bath water was growing cold. She'd allowed herself this holiday season to get caught up in a dream that may or may not come true. But no matter what might happen with her and Adam, today she had things to do. And if she was wise, she'd leave this behind her and press forward.

This was going to be a really good Christmas.

She soon got out of the bath, instead of draining the tub and running more hot water as she desperately wanted to, dried off and put back on her clothes from last night. She would take an actual shower when she got home.

"Kristy?" she called upstairs, where she could hear the giggles and sounds of rambunctious kids playing. She couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah?"

"Going home. Thanks for letting me crash. And for having us over last night."

"Okay. But hey, on your way out, be sure to look on the coffee table. I left something there for you."

Lacey furrowed her brow. What gift would Kristy have left her? They had their ritual. Every year they took a three-day girls' trip somewhere different. No present-buying allowed. But when she turned the corner to the living room, she found out.

There on the coffee table sat the snowglobe she had given to Kristy right after she'd married Jeff. She went over to pick it up, slowly turning it around in her hands.

"You always have to shake a snowglobe when you pick it up. It's a rule somewhere."

So Lacey shook it, and watched the swirl of white snowflakes and silver glitter surround the skater who danced across the ice. How she'd missed this snowglobe. Every year, even after she and Adam had broken up, she would take it out at Christmas, set it up somewhere, and shake it almost every day.

She thought about taking her phone out then and snapping a picture to send to Adam with the exclamation, "Look what I found!"

But no. She'd just told him she needed space, and now she, herself, needed to stick to that.

Kristy obviously knew what she was doing by digging this out and setting it where Lacey could see it. And her friend would mean for her to take it. So she was going to. It would go on the living room windowsill close to the tree. And she would give Halen about two days to recognize it, which she almost certainly would.

But a pang in her heart marred her happiness as she gazed into the snowglobe.

Would she take too long to figure this out? How long might she have before Adam decided to close the door on her forever? Was it cruel of her to make him wait?

"Don't give up on me. Please," she whispered, holding the snowglobe to her chest and closing her eyes. "I just need a little longer."

/

The next day went by, and Adam's family gathered in front of the TV for their annual tradition. It was always good – he enjoyed looking around each year and taking note of how their family was growing. What was once him, his parents, brother, and sometimes Grandpa Greg, had turned into something different: the addition of Candace, plus children, and the subtraction of his grandfather.

Christmas Eve was also great fun as Travis's kids–like they did every year–begged to open just one present. That meant they actually ended up getting one from Adam, and one from his parents. They were sated then until the next morning when they came sprinting through the snow toward the front door, opening it and dragging snow into the foyer. But of course his mother never mind the messes the grandchildren made, and she greeted them with hugs, kisses, and promises of cinnamon sticks later. Adam's dad likewise came down to greet the family warmly, even taking little Juniper, who wore a pair of her own tiny wellies, to him.

After exchanging gifts, his mom came to find him. "Come help me get ready for dinner," she smiled.

Having a feeling he knew what this was all about, because never once had his mom asked him to help in the kitchen, Adam complied.

"Can you help me with the pie crusts? You remember how I do it, right?" She began setting out the ingredients.

"I do remember, Mom. Thanks." He gently took the canister of flour from her hands, giving her a look. "You never thought I was paying attention, did you?"

"Well, you were just a little boy when you helped me press them out last," she laughed. "So I wanted to be sure. But now that you can cook yourself, I need to have a little faith don't I?"

They worked silently awhile, Adam deftly mixing together the flour, Crisco, salt, and water, remembering to run the water ice cold. It had never been hard, but he found himself wondering, as he worked, "Why, though?" One could easily go to the grocery store and purchase ready-made pie crust. At least that's what he would do if he made pies.

"Your dad told me about Lacey."

Here we go.

"Yeah?" Adam prompted simply as he greased the pie pans.

"I just want to make sure you've thought about this very carefully."

The comment stung Adam slightly. He already felt his mom wasn't happy with the way his romantic life had gone so far. She understandably wanted him settled with a "nice girl" and, she'd never said but he knew, children. But did she think he was a complete imbecile when it came to relationships?

Okay. To be fair, maybe he was.

"Mom, I need you to trust me." He began to press out the dough. "And besides, this might turn out to be nothing whatsoever. She isn't sure yet." The very reminder that Lacey was balking at his offer to rekindle their romance sent a pang through his chest. But he reminded himself that it was good for them both to be pragmatic.

"But you are?" His mom worked on her homemade stuffing from the other end of the kitchen, but he could feel her concerned eyes on his back.

He took a deep breath. "Yes. I am. I love her, Mom. You know I always have. And if there's a chance we can make this work, I'm going to take it."

"Just take care of your heart, Babe," she finally spoke after a moment. "You know how much I like Lacey. I hope you know it isn't that I don't want you to be with her. I just want you both to be in a healthy space before you commit to one another again. You've faced enough crap in your adulthood, Adam, and I know you're ready to find a happy, safe place. I believe you can find that with Lacey, but only if you're both ready for it."

Adam pressed his newly formed pie crusts into the pans. "Thanks, Mom. I know."

Just then, Maple skipped into the kitchen, peering up onto the counter to see what Adam was doing. "What kind of pie are you making?"

"A gingerbread cream and a cranberry," Yvette answered cheerfully.

Pie wasn't Adam's thing, so he didn't comment much. But he was sure that, given his mom's penchant for baking, the pies would be a hit with whomever did eat them.

'Can I cut up cranberries?" Maple asked excitedly.

"No way," Adam cut in before his mom could reply, though he was sure she would agree with him. "Do you actually want to spend another Christmas day in the hospital?"

A few years ago, when Adam was last home, Maple had gotten ahold of a kitchen knife when no one was looking, bent on slicing bread from the perfect-looking sprouted whole-grain loaf sitting on the counter her mom had made. What resulted was a chorus of shouting, a lot of blood, three stitches, and a ruined loaf of bread.

"We've got things in here, Honey," his mom chimed in. "Why don't you go help Alder figure out his Leapfrog pad?"

"Good idea," Adam tousled her uncombed morning hair, reminding himself to wash his hands before playing with dough again. "And in a little while, we'll go skating."

Maple, appeased, left the kitchen and Adam turned back to his mother. "By the way…thanks. For looking out for me, even though you don't need to anymore," he smiled.

She winked. "You're very welcome, but I'm just being a mom. Looking after both you guys is as natural to me as breathing."

With that, Adam interrupted her with a quick hug, knowing how much she craved them, and Christmas continued on. It was better than ever.

Because, for the second time in his life, he was in love, and Lacey's face was ever at the forefront of his brain with every present he opened, every glass of wine he consumed, every time he interacted with one of the kids. Now, it seemed, he embraced them with fresh ideas in his mind about children.

There was no going back now.

/

No, there certainly wasn't.

It was Christmas night, and Lacey couldn't sleep a wink. They had had a wonderful day, everyone heading over to Ariel's to open presents and have dinner – Stuart, as usual, taking the lead in the kitchen. Lots of fussing went on about Ariel's impending little one and how different Christmas would be for her next year. Davy and Kristy came by for awhile, toting David, Carlin and Jayla, and Stuart took great pleasure in showing the girls the dollhouse he had made for them himself, and the model airplane kit he had crafted for David. It amazed Lacey how beautifully Stuart had mastered the craft of woodworking. It was something that, twenty years ago, he never would have even considered. But after the short period of mourning his leg after the forklift accident, he turned right around and explored his personal Plan B. Lacey was proud of his tenacity, and hoped to emulate it in her own life.

Kristy and Davy's children were largely just like they were–loving of the simple pleasures, sweet and content. Jayla had a more tempestuous personality than the other two, which had taken her parents time to get used to, but on the whole, Lacey's best friend and "brother" had a pretty good home life.

If she made the decision to go back to Adam, could they have such a life…? Would they?

It's what was keeping her awake as she rolled over and over in her bed. Finally she sat up, her eyes drifting to the wooden chest at the end of her bed that bore momentos from her past, such as her old Homecoming crown, childhood books she had loved, pictures of her father, and things from her marriage she wanted to keep, such as her wedding shower flatware, silverware, and linens.

Also, buried deep in the trunk, was the little box of things she had kept from her years with Adam.

It was this that she was looking for when she got out of bed and padded over, kneeling to lift the lid and reach down, way down, into the right hand corner of the deep chest. She pulled out the box and carried it back over to her bed, climbing in and propping up with her pillows so she could explore its contents.

Taking each item out, Lacey allowed memories to wash over her. She held, for the first time in years, the photograph taken by Connie on the day she and Adam officially became a couple. The slightly yellowish, 90's color cast reminded her how old it was, as well as the way in which she and Adam shyly smiled, leaning in toward one another. She recalled how excited she had been to be able to call him her boyfriend after what felt like an age–but was really only a couple of months–of romantic tension.

Next she pulled out a note he'd written to her after they had lost their virginity to one another in San Francisco. "Thank you for the best night of my life. I hope to never make you regret it." He'd scrawled it on a napkin from the Mexican restaurant they had visited on date night, adding a little sentence in Spanish at the bottom that had made her blush when he translated it for her after she found it tucked in her purse.

She also had shells from the beach, ticket stubs from the movies they'd watched together, a couple of pressed flowers from parks they'd visited, and then, her beautiful promise ring.

It glinted in the light just as it had the night he'd given it to her. How much care had gone into him picking it out? If she knew Adam for anything, it was for his thoughtful consideration about everything he did. He acted very intentionally.

Lacey couldn't help but slip it back on her finger, just to look at it and relive the memories of that trip to Switzerland. How she had wanted to show anyone and everyone who would pay attention what this ring was and what it meant.

Gingerly, she placed it back in its velvet box and set it in the chest once more. At last, she pulled out the thing she'd been thinking about the very most for a long time: his scarf.

It had never been washed. Which would sound gross on most occasions, but in this case, the scarf had only been worn once since the day he had given it to her. And she was terrified to wash it now in case it fell apart, even though the stitching looked secure. She lay it aside and put all the other things away.

No matter what became of her and Adam–what decision she would ultimately make–she was going to wear this scarf and be proud of it. A sweet, good-hearted boy gave it to her to stop her bleeding once, and now it might serve the same purpose when they parted ways for him to go back to Albany.

That's when her phone dinged. Who could it be this late?

Lacey picked up her phone and saw it was Ariel.

"Can't sleep. Heartburn so bad I'm burping up last week's fajitas."

"Gross, Ariel."

"Just sayin'."

Lacey rolled her eyes and chuckled. Ariel had to be as gross as she could possibly be, often just for effect. But before she could think of what to say back, her sister sent another message:

"Go after him, Lacey."

"Not you too…"

"I'm telling you. Go after that man, or you will always regret it. He's maybe the only good guy left, and he's always been yours. Do you know how many women want to experience something like that? He's been crazy about you since you were kids, and he's been waiting for you. Whether he realized it or not."

Lacey sighed. This was not helping.

"Ariel, there are issues. Number one, there's physical distance. Number two, I just don't trust that we'll hold up under pressure again. We didn't last time."

"You were young. And wasn't that pretty much just about hockey anyway? That's gone now. Think how you guys rose to the occasion. You were with him during his RA diagnosis and all those flares, he was with you during some of the worst of your anxiety. You guys aced the long distance thing which answers your first point…"

"I jdon't know, Ariel, okay? Don't push me. Just pray."

"Already prayed, and know this is what you've got to do."

Lacey couldn't help but laugh out loud. Good old Ariel.

After bidding her sister goodnight and reminding her to take Zantac and drink a glass of milk for her heartburn, Lacey decided to scroll social media a bit, hoping it would make her tired. She checked Instagram first, enjoying seeing the various pictures her friends were posting of Christmas lights and delighted kids. That's when she ran across something she had to do a doubletake up to study.

It was a picture of her at the Christmas gala, posted by Adam. She was sitting down, watching the dance with a pensive look on her face, oblivious to the fact that he was capturing her on camera. She smiled, reading the caption at the bottom: "A breathtakingly beautiful woman I encountered at a Christmas Gala in Minneapolis I attended with my folks. #minnesotagirls #truebeauty #iseethemoon.

Lacey's breath caught as she stared at the last hashtag. Adam knew she would see this, and even though he was trying his best to give her her space, it was as though he couldn't contain what he was feeling. And it simultaneously made her dizzy with anticipation and broke her heart.

How she wanted to throw all her caution to the wind right now and drive over to the Bankses, banging on the door to the guest apartment. When he would open it, she would push her way in and throw her arms around him, holding him close again, declaring to him she was never letting go. That they could make this work, whatever it took.

As she lay there in bed, Lacey could have easily let the wistful, romantic notions about the matter overtake her and convince her to reconcile with Adam. But she was at least old enough now to realize that fluffy emotions were a poor foundation for a future. She would definitely need to go on more than this.

So she lay in her bed and prayed, drifting in and out of consciousness for the next few hours as she interspersed her prayers with a lot of reasoning. Because wisdom and reason usually were the means by which God answered prayers of divine guidance.

It was sometime after six in the morning when she opened her eyes and knew immediately what she was going to do.

Sitting up quickly, she took her phone off the charger and, opening her Instagram app, added her own comment beneath the countless others Adam had already garnered from his well-rendered photograph of her. It might not make sense to other people, but there was only one person who would really pay attention, and that was the only one who needed to.

#andthemoonseesme

The snow fell like sprinkled powdered sugar, drifting down only to swirl back up.

It had snowed just as hard on Christmas a couple of nights ago, and Adam admittedly enjoyed it. Of course it snowed in Albany just as hard this time of year, but there had always been something magical about Minnesota snow. Probably because it was home.

Adam parked Travis's car a few blocks away and strolled through a small business district he had fond memories of. When he was a kid, his mom always preferred to take him shopping for toys here rather than at the mall.

"You can get things here that are different from the other kid stuff! Let's go look!" She had always spurred him into excitement as they entered the toy store owned by an older couple, many of their items handmade. He recalled many of the wooden puzzles his parents had bought him when he was five or so.

But tonight he wasn't interested in shops. He wanted to find one specific place–Cat's Cradle. He'd been issued the shelter's new address by Google, and it shouldn't be much farther down the strip he was walking now. Even though Adam would have liked to have the chance to go back to the old location where he'd spent so much time with Lacey when they were high school seniors, he was proud of her for the improvements she had apparently made in the newer building with more space.

He smiled to himself as he walked, hands in his trench coat pockets, as he recalled one of his fondest Christmas memories–bringing Stella home to his mom. She had adored that cat from the very start, and every Christmas thereafter sent him a picture of the tiny yellow cat with a plaid bow tied around her neck. She'd been his mother's pride and joy until she had to be put sleep at a ripe old age. Since then, his mother had mourned endlessly, every week or so spamming Adam's phone with pictures she'd taken of Stella over the years. He'd been toying with the idea of finding another rescue cat for her. Would this be a good night to shop for a little furball to take home? Or should he just keep his mind on what he came here to do, which was to visit Lacey as he'd promised?

Not that he needed a promise to prompt him to come see her. Ever since scrolling down through all of his Instagram comments and finding the one from her, in which she'd replied to his subtle and gentle prompt in kind, Adam felt he was walking on air. Of course that had just been this morning, so he hoped he wasn't jumping too quickly at the chance to talk to her. Though frankly, no matter what she'd put on Instagram, he still knew to let the matter rest with her. She would need to be the one to start the conversation with him again about their future, and he wanted her to wait until she was ready. Preferably before he went back to Albany, sure. But it didn't have to be. For now, he was just grateful for the direction things were headed, no matter how long it may take to get there. He had already waited for her this long. What was a little while more?

Adam wandered down the festively lit streets, looking in and out shop windows until he finally reached Cat's Cradle, peering in the storefront-style window at the cozy decor. So this was what Lacey had been up to over the past couple of years. She'd certainly made the place beautiful and had added upgrades over the years. On one side of the front room was a coffee bar, and colorful couches and rugs brightened the place up. Adam's eyes also landed on a large painting above the main counter. It was a whimsical piece featuring a cluster of tuxedo cats, with one calico in the middle. And sure enough, around its neck, the calico wore a maroon scarf. He chuckled fondly. This was Lacey's work, obviously done before the metaphorical scarf had been set free. But it was nice to know she'd saved at least this one.

As though summoned, Lacey appeared through the window. She stood at the counter holding two gray kittens, smiling at the man and woman who had been waiting there. The woman was visibly pregnant, and clearly thrilled at the prospect of having two additional babies. Adam watched as Lacey talked with the couple, her chestnut hair resting across her shoulder in a low ponytail, her striped sweater lending her a comfortable, sweet look.

He smirked a little at the idea that Lacey would wear a sweater to a cat shelter. That was, after all, his Lacey. Doing what no one else would dare do simply because she wanted to. He imagined that she'd taken the sweater out of her closet that morning with pride, determined to wear it because she loved it, cat claws be damned.

After the couple left with the two meowing cats in a carrier, she went over to clean the counters. Adam wondered for a moment if he should continue on, choosing to gift his mother with a cat on another day, or if he might hesitantly enter. He wasn't sure why he was suddenly so shy.

It was then that Lacey looked up, catching his eye. They stared at one another for a moment before the corners of his mouth turned up into a smile, and she returned it, rushing over to open the door.

"Come in! Gosh, look how hard it's snowing. I'm surprised you came out in this." The words tumbled out of her. She seemed excited, and he fervently hoped it was because he had come. "Please have some coffee."

Adam wouldn't refuse it for sure. He only now realized just how cold he had gotten while browsing shop windows. "Thank you. I can get it." He gestured toward the self-serve coffee bar.

"No way, let me do it. You like it black?"

"With just a little cream. Not much." He took off his coat, searching with his eyes and finding a coat rack with cats' tails serving as hooks. He chuckled at the cleverness. "So you let the cats roam now?" Adam busied himself next with taking off his scarf.

"I do!" She looked back at him, smiling as she pressed down on the air pot. "They're not allowed in the lobby now because of the coffee, but the whole area back there…see?"

Adam indeed saw a cluster of curious felines gather at a little gate with bars on it, too difficult for most to climb. It was painted a cheerful color of green, the same as the accent wall on the far side of the shelter, probably to make it look much less like jail.

One long-haired tabby in particular stared at him and simply would not stop trilling. Adam peered back at the creature as Lacey came over and handed him his coffee. "Oh, that's Smog," she announced. "Isn't she beautiful?"

"She is," Adam shrugged. "But she keeps talking to me. What's she saying?"

"Oh, it's a greeting," Lacey mused, watching the cat. "She doesn't do it to everybody though. She obviously likes you. Want to take a cat to Albany?"

"Thank you, no. Sydney's enough for now." He shook his head. "They're work."

Lacey looked back to the gray cat. "She's actually about fifteen years old. No one wants her because of her age, which is really sad. She had to come here when her mom was taken to a nursing home, and she cried for days."

"Don't do this," Adam replied quickly.

"Do what?"

"Don't pull at my heart strings the way you always do when it comes to cats. You know, I used to do a lot of my work in New York at a cat cafe."

"You did?" Lacey turned to him, surprised.

"Yup. The one I took you to," he smiled. "I even got a little too attached to one before it got adopted out from under me."

"That's what I'm kind of after now, is an informal cat cafe. Of course, my coffee is complementary because if I sold it I'd have to be licensed, and that's too much paperwork and health inspection issues," she winced.

"Plus, let me guess. You're selling Folger's from Trader Joe's," he smirked. "Hardly a 'house blend.'

"I'll have you know," Lacey put a hand on her hip, "I order Grounds & Hounds. Part of their proceeds go to animal shelters. And it's good coffee. Isn't it?"

Remembering suddenly that he did have a cup of coffee in his hand, Adam took a sip, and was at once treated to a full, robust flavor. "Actually, yeah."

But he chuckled again, hearing the incessant moews of the cats clustered at the gate. "Am I going to have to worry about you when we're old? Coming to visit and finding you've moved in here, hoarding up cat trees and litter boxes, so overrun with cats I won't be able to find you?"

Lacey gave him a pointed look. "Thank you, there are old cat ladies, and there are crazy old cat ladies. I intend to only be of the first variety. What about you? Will I find you sitting in your favorite chair wearing hockey skates and pads you haven't taken off to shower in six months?"

"You might," he grinned. "What a great way to live out my winter years. And if I'm alone, hey. No one will have to smell me."

She went over to a closet door, gingerly pulling off a Christmas wreath. "I guess this stuff can go for now. See you in twelve months," she addressed the wreath, sighing.

Adam watched her for a moment, then pushed himself into action. "What can I do? Would you like these lights taken down?" He gestured toward the blinking colored lights framing the window.

"Sure, if you want to," Lacey called back. "Let me pull the boxes out from the back for us to put all this stuff in."

So for the next hour, Adam worked quietly alongside Lacey, taking down Christmas decorations and storing them away. When they both began work on the tree ornaments, the big gray cat came back over and rested there in front of the gate, staring at him.

"She's making it hard for me to focus," he chuckled.

"She wants you to pet her," Lacey answered, carefully wrapping up a ceramic angel and placing it in the ornament box. "I think she believes you're her person. They pick us, you know."

He looked back at the elderly cat. Never would he want to get a cat for his mom that might die within a couple years. "Sorry, old girl. I don't think I'm the one you're looking for," he spoke quietly as he approached her. "But I can at least pet you." He reached over the gate and she immediately began purring very loudly.

"Just come visit when you're in town. I'll take good care of her here. She's got a good home," Lacey responded to his lament. "Since I assume you'll be coming back soon. Right?"

Adam twisted his mouth a little as he went back over to the tree and worked to disentangle a yarn Santa Claus with a frizzy beard that had gotten caught in the branches. "Well," he answered carefully. "I'm not sure yet." He continued to focus on his task, having to watch himself not to bait her into giving him a more direct answer to what he longed to know. "I guess it depends. But if I do…then sure. I'll be here."

Lacey seemed to take great care in wrapping up the next ornament, as if in deep thought. "What will you do once you get back to Albany? I mean…what's your life like? Do you have goals, dreams for the next few years?"

"Well," he began slowly, reaching up to take off the angel atop the tree. "I live kind of a quiet life I guess. I mean, I enjoy it though, for the most part. I work late a lot, but I like my job. Most of the time," he chuckled. "I like taking my photographs, developing them, putting them up in my house. I play hockey, of course…you know, nothing very exciting, but I like it."

"And the future?"

Adam paused. What about his future? He'd become content in recent years. But now, suddenly, the idea of going home and continuing on the way he had been, felt…hollow. Devoid of real meaning. Yet, if Lacey was asking these questions to give herself an idea of who he was now, and of where she might have a place…

"Well, I'd like to travel more. Capture the world through a lens. Maybe Iceland, Morocco…? It would be nice to travel farther out."

Lacey looked up, her eyes betraying interest. "I would like to travel, too. Those trips I took with you and your parents were so eye opening and…and some of the best times of my life."

Adam smiled at her and she returned it before shyly ducking her head to place the lid on the box of ornaments. She seemed to be having great trouble tackling this subject head on, which was very unlike the Lacey he knew. But hadn't he essentially made it happen from browbeating her before? Even though he had told her he was sorry for his harsh behavior during their first couple of encounters, the fact was he couldn't undo his words and the way he had emphasized the fact that she had hurt him desperately. And maybe, even though he was ready to let it all go, she balked at the idea of an opportunity to hurt him all over again. If there was one thing he did remember about Lacey, it was her mistrust of herself.

He turned his attention back to the now empty tree, again reminding himself not to come on too strong. "Do you have a box for this? I can take it apart."

It didn't take much longer to get everything boxed up and moved into the storage closet in the back of the building. Afterward, buying time just to be with her for a little while, Adam helped Lacey place the cats in their kennels for the night. Something felt a little soothing to his heart about handling the warm, furry bodies, most of them relatively docile as they were put to bed. He placed the fat, purring Smog back into her kennel, apologizing to her once again for not being able to take her. A few cats were already in kennels, and Lacey explained that these were the cats who liked to keep to themselves.

"Like you," she playfully bumped him. "At night with your wine and Jimmy Stewart movies."

He forced a chuckle. "Hey, I welcome company sometimes. And anyway, what's wrong with Jimmy Stewart? Or are you more of a Gregory Peck kind of girl? I'm sure you've made a really educated decision where that's concerned because of how extensively you watch classic movies."

"I'll have you know," she put a hand on her hip after putting the last cat to bed for the night, "I watch Casablanca every summer. And sometimes, I even watch The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance because I remember it being the only Western you liked. I've grown a little fond of it, too."

He couldn't stop himself now. "You do that?"

She nodded, giving him a little smirk.

"Wow. One of my healthy habits stuck with you then, didn't it?" Adam grinned.

"Oh and I also still run every day." Lacey raised her eyebrows cockily. "So I gave you cats, you gave me running and classic movies. Or, well, some classic movies. Not all. You can't have all the credit."

Adam felt warm from the inside out as he smiled. He couldn't help that his eyes were trying so hard to drift down to study her lips. Years ago, they had felt and tasted so soft, so fresh and young. What would they be like now? But he forced himself back to the matter at hand. "So, is that all you have to do to close up?"

Lacey took a step closer, and Adam felt his breath quicken. "Yeah, um…it won't take me but just a minute more. And I was wondering if maybe y-you…wanted to go somewhere. To hang out." Her eyes almost pleaded with him, though they didn't at all need to.

Adam faced her directly, trying to keep his posture open and relaxed. "Sure. Where would you like to go?"

Lacey watched him, quiet a moment.

She waited so long to speak, in fact, that he was becoming a bit uncomfortable, and shifted. "We could go for coffee somewhere new? Minneapolis is a big place. We need to find a fresh spot."

"Okay," she finally smiled.

Adam turned to the coat rack, taking her coat and holding it out for her. He had heard somewhere recently that a lot of ladies were beginning to regard the act, and some of the other habits Grandpa Greg had taught him, as chauvinistic. But he truly hoped Lacey wasn't one of them. It's not that she couldn't put on her own coat, it's that he respected her and wanted to show her that. And to show her he cared for her, more fully than ever. That if she would let him, he would do just about anything to make her life a happy one. But that if all she would ever allow him to do was help her put on her coat, he would willingly do it. Next he took up her scarf and was about to hand it to her, but saw that she made no move to take it. Did she want him to place it around her neck himself? That he could do, too.

He noticed the way her eyes followed the scarf itself, and he briefly wondered why until her eyes made contact with his as he draped it behind her shoulders, drawing it to cross in front of her. He watched her for a minute, the way her eyes searched his, her lips parted slightly. It was as though she was trying to say something. Adam swallowed hard, having a feeling that whatever she might say now would dash him to pieces. Either into shards of light, or bits of dust. All that was left was to wait until she said it. Gently, he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Actually, we don't need to go anywhere. I think I'd like to just…stay right here." She took one of his hands, brushing his fingertips lightly across the yarn of the scarf. That's when he glanced down at it again, and paused.

It was his scarf. The scarf he had given to her long ago, when he barely even realized he was tying her to him in a way she would never forget. The scarf she had worn the night in Switzerland that he had told her he loved her enough to spend his life with her if she would wait for him.

She wore it now, and it wasn't by coincidence.

Lacey stepped closer to him, and he noticed how her lips trembled. Before thinking, he reached up and gently traced his thumb across them, willing her to be calm.

"Adam," she whispered. "I love you. I've never stopped. And if you'll give me a chance, I want to spend forever showing you just how much. Please forgive me for messing up and jerking you around as a–"

"Lacey, listen to me." He wrapped his arms around her then. "There's nothing to forgive. You weren't trying to hurt me, and I wasn't trying to hurt you. What is love if not something we choose even when we're disappointed? Because we know who someone really is. And I always knew the person you were. I was trying to protect myself by blaming you, but I know the truth, and that is that you were just human. I am too and I say to you now, let me love you, too. Not because I've got this all figured out, but because I want to figure it out with you. Nobody else has ever, will ever, do it for me." He leaned in close, feeling her breath on his lips as he had so many times before. "Be with me."

Next, he saw a cascade of tears fall from Lacey's breathtaking brown eyes. "Yes. Yes, I want to." It was her turn to study his lips, and she did so longingly before looking back up at him.

He bridged the gap between them, placing his lips softly against hers. The kiss was tender and quick, followed by another as they became reacquainted with the feel of one another. Finally he tilted his head and took her in a passionate, lengthy embrace. They held onto every ounce of it–the gentleness, the passion. The sense of home.

They kissed one another breathless before hugging tightly. Lacey nuzzle into his neck, and he closed his eyes.

All was as it should be. And for now, and for as long as they both lived, it was more than enough.

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Epilogue

Adam and Lacey spent the better part of the next year getting to know one another all over again and deepening their relationship in ways they never had before, despite having to navigate the long distance. All of that promised to change, however, the next fall on a memory lane trip to NYC when Adam got down on one knee and formally asked Lacey the question everyone had been waiting on for so long. Needless to say, she issued a tearful, fervent "Yes!"

The two of them were married in an intimate ceremony at the Banks's lake house on March 4th, 2017 – exactly nineteen years after Adam and Lacey had first declared their couplehood at the same place. They left the next morning on a honeymoon to Morocco. A reception was scheduled for later in the month for the rest of their friends.

Something else good came of Adam and Lacey's nuptials: Halen finally found her own match in none other than – Morrigan. Lacey's sister had sworn off men for the foreseeable future and tried to keep the affable guy's affections at bay, but that could only last for so long. They married and eventually settled down in New York City.

As for Adam and Lacey, they opted to keep Grandpa Greg's home in the family, and Lacey moved to Albany after entrusting Cat's Cradle with a former volunteer who was more than ready and capable of spreading her wings and taking on the role of director. In Albany, Lacey took a job directing another nonprofit pet shelter before following her dream and opening a cat cafe and art gallery in the downtown district.

It was quite a surprise when, during the couple's second wedding anniversary trip to Mellorca in 2019, Lacey found out she was pregnant. Several months later, she and Adam welcomed little Adalyn Rose. Close on her heels came their second and final child – and Covid baby – Philip "Parker" Banks. Lacey soon couldn't even remember the days when she'd balked at being a mother. Her children became her world.

Since rheumatoid arthritis doesn't go away, Adam still had flares. And Lacey never completely stopped pulling in her battle with anxiety. But just as the two of them always had, they handled it together – as a family.

And… need I say it? Yup… always.

As much as is ever realistically possible in this life… Adam Banks, and Lacey, and all our other Ducks and OC's lived

HAPPILY…

EVER…

AFTER.

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Thank you so much for reading my story. Please leave me one final review and tell me which book, or which part, was your absolute favorite! I appreciate you all again. Take care now!