"I'm okay," I assure him. "Just a little shaken."
"Claudia …" He drifts off and meets my gaze, one of his hands cupping my neck while the other is clutched between my two hands. "I swear to you. I'll never let anything happen to you again." The sincerity and gravity of his expression is humbling.
"I know," I say and squeeze his hand. "Petr, thank you. I can't … can't begin to tell you how you've changed my whole world. And Todd's. You gave us hope and … and happiness and … as if those weren't incredible enough … you confronted The Monster." The tears are starting again. This time, I don't try to stop them. "I never thought … or hoped … or dreamed …" I can't talk anymore. The emotions choking me are too intense. I make an attempt to swallow them.
"It's over, Claudia," he whispers fiercely. Petr is watching me with warmth in his gorgeous eyes. Light and shadows from the lit hearth dance across his features. I've never met anyone so beautiful in body or spirit. I spread kisses over his face, no longer able to tell him what I need to say. Petr wraps his arms around me and hauls me against his muscular frame.
"I love you, Petr."
"Enough to bring me hot coffee next time I visit you at the diner?"
I give a half laugh, half sob that hurts my throat. "Yes!"
"Then we definitely have something good going on here." He lifts me and carries me to the bed. Petr climbs in with me and cuddles close, my chest pressed to his and his arms holding me tightly. "Get some rest, Claudia," he murmurs. "We've got our own story to tell Baba in the morning."
His embrace, scent and body calm me. My crying subsides quickly, and exhaustion sweeps through me, replacing the adrenaline. "About how you proposed during a hostage situation?" I ask and close my eyes.
"Yep. It's called upholding the family tradition." He laughs once more.
I'm not sure whether or not he's joking, but I really hope he's not. I may not know what I want to be when I grow up, but I know I want to be with him.
Nightmare. Fairytale. Nightmare. Fairytale.
This time, the fairytale never has to end.