Mia stared at Ashley, letting out a scoff as she rubbed her temple, shaking her head in disbelief. There's no way we're doing this again, Ash, she thought, frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, her eyes narrowing slightly as she regarded Ashley. "Age doesn't matter to me, Ash. What matters is whether you're serious about me... about us." Her voice was steady, but the hint of vulnerability in her gaze didn't go unnoticed.

Ashley opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, running a hand through her hair. "Mia, it's not about being serious about us. Of course, I am! It's just..." She glanced at Alysse, who quickly raised her hands in a defensive gesture.

"Don't look at me," Alysse interjected, stepping back. "This is all on you now."

Ashley sighed and turned her attention back to Mia, her hand dropping to her side. "It's complicated. My family has expectations—ones that come with strings attached. Marriage isn't just about love for them. It's about appearances, alliances, control. I don't want you caught up in that mess."

Mia stepped closer, her arms falling to her sides. "Ashley, I'm not afraid of your family or their expectations. What I'm afraid of is you pushing me away because you think you're protecting me."

Ashley swallowed hard, her throat tightening. "I'm not pushing you away. I just don't want them to ruin what we have. You deserve better than—"

"What I deserve," Mia cut in, her voice firm but gentle, "is to make my own decisions about who I want to be with and how I want to live my life. And right now, I'm choosing you. Whether your family approves or not."

Ashley blinked, her heart racing at Mia's resolve. "Mia," she began, her voice softening. "You don't know what you're signing up for. My life isn't easy. My family—"

"Your family doesn't scare me," Mia said, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're the one I'm scared of."

"Me?" Ashley's brows furrowed. "Why?"

"Because you overthink everything," Mia teased, poking Ashley's chest gently. "And you're so damn stubborn. But despite all that, I love you."

Ashley froze, her eyes wide. "You... love me?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, Ash. I do and you do know it," Mia said without hesitation, her gaze steady and unwavering. "So, stop trying to figure out what's best for me, and just be with me."

Ashley's chest tightened, her usual cool composure crumbling. For a moment, all the words she wanted to say tangled in her throat. Finally, she let out a shaky breath, her lips curling into a small, genuine smile.

"I love you too," she admitted softly, the weight of the confession lifting something inside her. "And if you're serious about this... about us..." She took a step closer, her hand brushing against Mia's. "Then maybe... marriage doesn't sound so bad."

Mia's eyes widened slightly, a surprised laugh escaping her. "Wait, was that a proposal or—?"

"I—uh..." Ashley stammered, scratching the back of her neck as her cheeks flushed. "It's not an official one! I mean, I need to plan it properly and—"

"Relax," Mia interrupted, grinning as she wrapped her arms around Ashley's waist. "You can figure that out later. For now, I'll take that as a yes."

Ashley let out a small laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing as she hugged Mia tightly. "It's a yes. Definitely a yes."

Behind them, Alysse cleared her throat loudly, clapping her hands once. "Well, this is sweet and all, but I think you two should probably have this conversation without an audience."

Mia laughed, pulling back slightly to look at Alysse. "Oh, don't worry. You're part of the family now, so you're stuck hearing all of this."

Alysse shook her head with an amused smile. "Great. Just what I needed—front-row seats to my sister's love life."

Ashley rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the grin tugging at her lips. For the first time in a long time, things felt right. Complicated, yes—but worth every bit of it.



Mia lifted the book she was holding slightly as Ashley crawled toward her, resting her head on Mia's stomach and wrapping her arms around her with a playful grin. Mia glanced down at her, rolling her eyes at how childlike Ashley appeared.

"You know, for someone so tall, you really act like a kid," Mia chuckled, running her fingers through Ashley's hair.

Ashley scoffed. "How can someone six-foot-four be a kid?" she teased, tightening her embrace around Mia.

"Wow, flexing your height now, huh? Really, Ash? Right in front of me?" Mia clicked her tongue and closed her book, setting it aside.

Ashley laughed and sat up slightly. "But seriously, about what you said earlier..." she began, tilting her head to look at Mia.

"About marriage?" Mia asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ashley nodded softly. "I mean... we have a ten-year age gap, you're young, and our relationship just started. Doesn't all of this feel overwhelming? And you're still figuring yourself out, your preferences and all that. Isn't this too much?"

Mia frowned. "Haven't we already talked about this?" she replied. "I may be young, but twenty-seven is a perfectly fine age to get married." She shrugged. "And no, I'm not overwhelmed. Being in a relationship means working toward something meaningful—marriage, a life together. That's the goal, isn't it? As for my preferences, haven't I explained it before? I've always been open to either. If I couldn't see myself with a boyfriend, then a girlfriend would be just as wonderful. It's not about gender for me—it's about connection. I've had crushes on both guys and girls before, so what's the big deal?"

Ashley sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose and shutting her eyes briefly. "My life's a little messy, sugarplum," she murmured, burying her face back against Mia's stomach. "I've been running away from my problems for so long. I feel like... like a stray."

"You're not a stray anymore," Mia said, laughing as she stroked Ashley's hair. "You've got a home here—with me."

Ashley gulped, her face flushing as she bit her bottom lip. "Gosh," she muttered. "Good thing your ex-husband was an idiot and cheated on you. Otherwise, I'd have never had the chance to call you mine. His loss, really."

Mia laughed softly, continuing to play with Ashley's hair. "Can I be selfish?" she murmured, her voice quieter now as she gazed down at Ashley.

Ashley turned her head, looking up at Mia while still lying against her. "What do you mean?"

Mia shrugged slightly. "People always say love isn't selfish, but... can I be selfish when it comes to you?" Her voice softened further. "I've always been the one to let go. Especially when cheating was involved, I'd just... walk away. No drama, no fuss. But this time... I don't want to let go. I want to keep you all to myself, Ash." Her faint smile held a hint of vulnerability. "I don't want anyone else near you. I don't want anyone else to have you."

Ashley sat up, cupping Mia's face gently in her hands. "I'm all yours, sugarplum," she said, her voice tender. "So go ahead—be selfish. Do whatever you want. I don't mind at all."

Mia chuckled, pulling Ashley into a hug. Ashley rested her head against Mia's chest as Mia wrapped her arms securely around her. "Won't you get tired of this?" Mia whispered. "I mean, it's early to ask, I know. We haven't even hit an anniversary yet, but... won't you ever get tired of me?"

Ashley took Mia's hands in hers, squeezing them softly. "I'm in this for the long haul, Mia," she said. "I've got stability, a job, my own place, my own business. I don't need anything else. So don't worry—I'm not the type to get tired of someone I love. I could never get tired of you."

"You're spoiling me with your words," Mia laughed, her cheeks flushing. "You're treating me like I'm someone special, Detective."

"You are special," Ashley said, her tone firm but affectionate. "You deserve to be treated right, to be treated like the best, because you are the best. That's why I'm doing everything I can to show you that."

Mia puffed out her cheeks, her face growing warmer. "Gosh! I could marry you right now," she said, laughing.

"Then let's do it," Ashley teased, laughing along with her.

"I love you," they said in unison, their gazes locking before they burst out laughing, shaking their heads in disbelief at their synchronicity.