I couldn't decide how I felt. A mix between apprehension and elation had caused a strange blockage within me, leaving an odd feeling of calmness throughout. Random spikes of anxiety would shoot through me every so often but the overall feeling of calmness had settled in and I was beyond thankful for it. Today of all days was the time to remain composed under the pressure but the more I thought about it, the harder it became.

I was worried about her in all honesty. The nightmares has faded off and therapy was no longer needed but if something like that was to happen again because of the announcement today, I would never forgive myself. After all I had pushed this decision, it was up to me to make things go smoothly. It was the least I could do. I know she's on board but agreeing with something and being happy about it are two very different things.

Our interview confirming our relationship was a live stream. Only a handful of people got to watch it as it was live because the show only shows it once. It then appears on their official show that was happening tonight. This time the whole world was going to be able to see it, no matter what the timing. Our announcement could be re-watched, recorded, paused and analysed. This was the true make or break however at this stage there was nothing we could do about it now.

My arm remained firm against Alex's waist as I drew her body closer to mine. She was never close enough. The strong bond between us drew us closer and closer but we were never physically close enough. Still the sight of her in my arms with her head on my chest created a protective love which eased the urge to pull her closer because she was close enough. For now.

The sunlight shone through with light, feathery whispers of another hot day. Summer was hitting New York hard but with the months drawing into a close I was determined to appreciate every golden moment before the frosty darkness caved in around us and turned the city from picturesque to damp and dull.

A murmur came out of Alex's mouth as she stretched. Covering her mouth with her hand she lets out a yawn before smiling sleepily at me.

"Good morning." I smile, appreciating being the first one up for once.

"Good morning, why are you up so early?" She asks, kissing my bicep before resuming her previous position with her head on my chest.

"Just thinking," I hum before she looks at me to explain. "About how we're going public. How everything's going to change."

"Which doesn't have to be a bad thing." Alex points out.

"No. It doesn't. Nearly everything that's happening is amazing."

"Nearly everything?"

"Yeah. I'm up this early, this is going to be catastrophic later on."

Alex lets out a laugh and I sigh in contentedness. Drawing her closer, I place a kiss on her forehead as the last giggles erupt from her mouth.

Before she can say anything further on it, I let my true intentions come out, "I don't ever want to leave you or this bed."

Instead of her automatic, sassy reply that I'm used to, silence consumes the room in a haze of confusion. Did I say something wrong? I'm pretty sure I didn't but then maybe I did. Her silence is confusing but when she finally looks up at me with a glint in her eye moments later I know something is going to happen.

"Then don't."

"What?" I ask, wracking my brain.

Alex jumps up from her position on my chest and sits cross legged in front of me. Raising myself so I'm leaning on my elbows watching her, I assess her excited, animated actions with curious eyes. She claps her hands before composing herself, as if remembering something. She takes one of my hands in hers and strokes her thumb back and forth it, a jolt runs through my body.

"Move in with me."

"This is random." I begin slowly, looking at her with furrowed eyebrows.

"No it's not," She insists, her words tumbling out of her mouth quickly. "You're here most of the time - anyway, a lot of your stuff is here. Work is in New York - not Brooklyn. Plus we're going public today, Theo. It makes so much sense."

"So I'm moving for work? Not for us?" I tease, a smile stretching across my face as excitement sets in.

I've always imagined living with her. Coming home together. Arriving together. Going home and knowing that you're not going to be alone for the rest of the night. Getting to wake up and go to sleep beside Alex. Having a place that I can call home with the woman I love inside of it. Plus, she's very true, nearly half of my stuff is already here. The concept sounds completely heavenly, I just wasn't sure when she was going to be ready for it.

"No. For us, Theo. Imagine it." Alex smiles excitedly, as if she can sense the elation that's setting in across my body,

Sitting up so my back is against the headboard, I drag Alex into my lap so she's straddling me. Placing my hands on her face, I whisper, "Let's do it."

"Really?" She squeals, moving her face back in disbelief.

I take both of her hands in mine and draw her closer, leaving a slow, passionate kiss on her lips that I know affects her nearly as much as me. "Really. Let's do it. Let's live together."

Alex wraps her arms around me as we both laugh, basking in the happiness of our new plans. Plans that didn't feel stressful, for once. Instead they felt like the building bricks of our new life. Bricks that I wanted to make into a mansion as I explored the future with her.

~~~~~

Tearing open the bag and emptying it into the bowl, I carry the bowl of potato chips though to the living room and place it on the coffee table, standing back to admire our hard work.

Noah, Isadora and Clara were all coming around for a celebratory party of Alex and I's relationship going public. We had the TV on and snacks across the table. Drinks were chilling in the fridge and we had already ordered pizza for later on. A serene feeling had settled over the apartment like a fuzzy blanket, soothing any cold, negative feelings.

My body was relaxed for the first time in two weeks as I felt the cameras being clicked off. Sure, there were always eyes on us, but as I stood in the safety of the apartment I felt like I was out of the public eye for the first time in a while.

Feeling accomplished I turn to see Alex leaning against the doorway. She stands in a skinny jeans and a cropped t-shirt, showing off a small line of her midriff in a teasing way. Her hair was up in a bun, but golden streaks of it hung loose around her ears, although the perfect waves they are in makes me imagine she did it deliberately. I wonder if looking so edible was intentional too.

Trying to erase my masculine, brash plans that my brain collated, I cock my head to one side in confusion. She merely smiles and shrugs, staying exactly where she is.

"You okay over there?" I ask, playfulness in my tone.

Alex nods. "Yep. I'm pretty happy, actually."

"You would be happier over here. With me. In my arms." I shrug, but hold out my arms in invitation nonetheless.

Alex grins and complies. Taking agonizingly slow steps towards me, she eventually reaches me with delight dazzling in her eyes. Letting out a laugh under my breath, I catch her arm on the last few steps and pull her into me, quickening her slow, drawn out process. She lets out a sigh as she wraps her arms around my waist, burying her head against my chest. I wrap my arms around her in reaction, her body slotting against mine perfectly.

Placing a kiss on my chest, Alex sighs as she shuffles in close to me. "I can't wait to live with you."

A grin makes its way onto my face at the prospects. "Me too. It's going to be epic."

"As long as you sort out your morning moods." Alex laughs, looking up in a playful dare.

I connect our foreheads and playfully glare back down but the twitching in my lips stops me from having the desired facade. "And your time management."

Alex rolls her eyes before kissing me expectantly, urgently. Taken aback but complying nevertheless, I squeeze her closer to me and move my mouth with hers, desire burning through me like a glowing match - capable of sparking at any moment. She grips my t-shirt in her hands my self control unravels with every passing moment.

"Please don't make me watch this."

Breaking apart abruptly, Alex and I pant heavily as we stand shocked looking at our three 'friends'. With taunting playful glares that accuse us of stuff we're guilty of, Isadora stands with her hands on her hips at the front of the pack. I swallow with guilt before taking Alex's hand in mine, preparing for the blow of teasing that's coming our way.

"Well, this is something I could sell to the paps." Noah smirks, holding out his phone, taking a photo.

"You two need to get a room." Clara shudders, taking a seat on one of the arm chairs.

"My mind has been poisoned. Do you have any holy water?" Isadora asks, looking around mockingly as Alex pushes her hand with one shoulder.

Taking a step back in to be by my side, I change our positions so that my arm is around her waist. "Nice to see you all, too."

Noah winks and laughs. "Yeah, yeah. We all know you would rather be alone."

"They're always alone. Remember that time in Tokyo and they had the whole day off and they spent it with each other? No care for us. We should just leave." Isadora rants but the signature mischief in her eyes makes me breath a sigh of relief when I realise that she's not being genuinely serious.

"I just remember when Alex said that she was dating Theo. I've never seen somebody so excited in my life. Didn't talk to me for about ten minutes as she texted him." Clara adds in, sending Alex a smile when she glares at her.

I let out a muffled laugh against Alex's head and squeeze her tighter to me. Taking a seat down on the sofa, I relax into the welcoming atmosphere as I acknowledged that we're going to be here for a while. Memories upon memories bundle together, each one spoken with reminiscent voices of past experiences. Times that have defined Alex and I's relationship.

Sitting laughing with your friends about memories that will live with me forever, the glowing atmosphere feels fitting with the lightness surrounding my chest. No dead weights linger, only exciting prospects and rejuvenating plans lay ahead, now there's nothing to dread. Apart from the media's official response.

Our attention turns to the TV as the introductions to the episode begin. Marlene announces our names but I know we've got another ten minutes to wait before our interview is on - a clever tactic for more viewers. The time passes slowly but the soothing blanket that's laid across this apartment for the past week isn't lifting, leaving me wondering if it's now a permanent thing.

Our interview flickers onto screen and I squeeze Alex's hand in my own, taking in her nervous appearance that would be invisible to anyone who didn't know her well enough. Her left foot bobs up and down when she's nervous and as I watch it flicker on screen, I know our feelings have never been more symmetrical than they were in that interview.

Isadora, Noah and Clara all watch the interview with interest. Gasping and reacting at all the correct points, clapping when I say that our relationship was worth the fight. Alex and I sit side by side for the entirety of it. Our phones are on silent, but I know that they're going mental as we watch this interview - every second passing leading to another notification.

Our lives aren't going to go back to normal for a while, but I've come to terms with this fact. In fact normality wasn't a word in our relationship because everything that we have been, everything that we are and everything that we're going to be has always been extra ordinary. She's extraordinary. These past months with her have been an adventure from day one and I know that it'll only continue. The pink sparks of spontaneity that live inside Alex keep my on my toes and I know that our honeymoon phase will never end - public or not.

Watching myself on screen is always weird but this isn't a performance and seeing people react with delight makes it even more satisfying and gratifying than any emotions an award could give me. Alex seems to feel the same and when the interview ends and I turn to kiss her, my exuberance making me smile against her addictive mouth.

She smiles back and we end up breaking apart but I keep our foreheads touching as I whisper, "I love you."

"I love you, too, boyfriend." She exaggerates, the sound is foreign coming out of her mouth after denying ourselves from saying in it public for so long.

Isadora's body crashes into Alex's from a sideways hug and I hold Alex steady, preventing her from falling over. A muffled "I'm so fucking proud of you." is heard but I focus my attention on Noah who's grinning at me.

Both standing up, he grins at me and claps me on the shoulder, murmuring a congratulations. Taking a drink of my beer, I look to the side to see Clara joined in on the hug and a smile stretches its way across my face.

A generic ringtone echoes across the apartment and I look around in confusion. Alex's head eventually pops up in suspicion and she answers her phone, smiling.

"Hey, Mom." She murmurs, leaving the room with a signal of hold on.

I sigh and watch her go, her retreating figure making me wish I was holding it. Noah's eyes follow my infatuated gaze and he laughs, shoving my shoulder with his hand.

"She really loves you, you know that, right?" He nods, smiling at me.

I turn and smile back. "Yeah, I know. I love her, too."

"We all know that." Isadora rolls her eyes but smiles at the same time.

Laughter fills the room and eventually Alex comes back, adding to the celebratory atmosphere of tonight. I lace my hand in hers and I don't let go.

This was our night.

There has been so many nights. Nights of restriction where we've had to stay cooped up inside instead of going out for dates. Nights of longing where we've cried on the phone about the unjust of our situation. Nights of romance where no matter how forbidden, attraction to each other ruled the night. Days, weeks, months of our relationship was spent wishing for more. More to happen, more to be accepted, more time to pass. But finally, we've gotten to the place where nothing ever has to happen again and I would be happy because Alex is officially mine and I am officially hers. Not only do we know it, but the whole world knows it, too.

I want to stay right here. In a time where everything is possible. Free. Unrestricted. A white flag has been held up by our controllers and now, we could celebrate our relationship in pride and delight.

~~~~~
Author's Note:

I can't believe they've done it!! Officially public and happy and ugh...I love them.

What did we think of this chapter? Let me know your favorite moment here :)

I had the end scene with Noah and Theo planned out for so long! Plus, I know this chapter may not have drama in it but it was to emphasize their happiness, so I hope you enjoyed it!

Only a two-part epilogue to go guys! We're going to have to support each other whilst saying goodbye, I don't think I can do it ;)

If you would like to read part one of the epilogue right now, you can! You will see where Theo and Alex end up in TWO YEARS TIME! All you have to do is follow the instructions in my bio and click on the link, it's that simple!

Plus it's completely FREE and would help me a lot. If you do it, thank you so much :)

See you next week, everyone!

Much love,

Jade x