“Stefan,” she smiled. “I love you.”
“Got it,” he nodded, then whispered as his eyes closed. “Love you, Jen.”
He loved her. He’d always loved her. She could feel it all the way to her bones. And it was so bright and sweet it almost hurt. She kissed his forehead again, and pulled the blanket up over him. Then she pressed a kiss to the beautiful little girl in his arms. Their daughter. Their family. And that aching hollow place that she had lived with for so long was suddenly so full she almost couldn’t contain it.
“Lizzie,” she said suddenly.
“What?” Lizzie asked, startled because she’d almost fallen asleep.
“Look,” Jen nodded at the pair as she memorized every single detail of watching Stefan sleep with their baby in his arms. “Stefan finally got his princess.”
Lizzie laughed. “See, he is Prince Charming.”
“Not charming,” he grumbled, surfacing again. “I’m the other one.”
“The other what?” Lizzie asked.
“With the sword and the horse. He kills the dragon,” Stefan insisted, still half asleep.
“Prince Philip?” Jen asked, surprised. “You’re absolutely right. I should have thought of that.”
He nodded. Jen leaned down to kiss him again, then pressed her mouth to his ear. “Go back to sleep. If you dream, I’ll make it come true.”
“Jen,” he smiled, as he finally gave in to the exhaustion. “You already did.”