My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

Valerie was packing clothes into the suitcases, though she kept drifting off, thinking about the reason they'd come here in the first place.

At first, everything had seemed simple-quick even. Within a few months, they'd be back in Hesperia. But it had already been over a year.

Things hadn't gone as planned. The enemies they'd set out to face weren't the real ones. The people truly pulling the strings weren't who they thought they were.

No doubt, the past weighed heavily-but the present weighed even more.

One of those things was the peace she'd finally made with Maximus, or the forgiveness she'd found. Nothing could justify the violence he'd inflicted, nothing could excuse the beatings, the neglect, the lies, and everything that had happened.

She had come to a foreign country years ago, believing in love at first sight. Even if that wasn't exactly what happened, it had taught her a lot.

"My love?" Marcus's voice broke through her thoughts.

"Oh! What is it, sweetheart?" Valerie asked, turning toward the man calling her.

"I was asking if you want to go out to eat. Almost everything's packed, so we can't cook. And I think I speak for everyone when I say we're starving," Marcus said, rubbing his stomach.

"Oh, wow-I'm terrible," Valerie said, feeling guilty.

The whole family was helping with the move. Even Serenity, Alden, and Isabelle were there.

"Come on! Let's go eat. The kids already picked the place."

"Let me guess-pizza?"

"Yep! Is there even another option?" Marcus said, grinning, knowing he was craving it too.

"Nope, not in their vast culinary universe," Valerie said, smiling.

"You know you look beautiful when you smile?" Marcus said as he walked over and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"I didn't... but you always say I look beautiful," Valerie said, blushing a little.

"Because it's true. I'll never forget the woman I met on that bench in the park- remember?"

"Of course. How could I forget?" Valerie said, thinking back to that moment in her youth, when she was just 19-a scared young girl.

"Who would've thought, right?"

"Thought what?" Valerie asked, curious.

"Who would've thought that... after more than 20 years, you and I would be here, packing up to move house again?"noveldrama

"Well, to be exact, it's been 24 years since we met on that park bench."

"I know! I know!"

"You know I love you, right? You know that everything we've lived through this

past year has made me fall even more in love with you?"

"I know. And I love you too. I'm so grateful you gave me the chance to make up for my mistakes."

"We both made mistakes. I'm just grateful we're here now, together. I can't imagine life without you. I love our life, tove each one of our kids, I love what we've built as a family. And now we've got a son-in-law and a beautiful granddaughter."

"It just shows we're moving into the next chapter, you know? Serenity is stepping into a new stage in life, and our family's growing. Can you imagine what it'll be like when John, Albert, and Caroline grow up and start their own families?"

"I just hope I live to see it."

"Oh, come on, love-you're not that old! We're gonna be around to see everything our kids do."

"I hope so! I really do. In the meantime, let's enjoy life just like this-together, peaceful, with no big problems."

"I love you, Mr. Bartz," Valerie said, looking into her husband's eyes.

"And I love you, my Valerie Bartz," Marcus replied, hugging his beloved wife.

A few minutes later, the couple

stood by the window, lost in

memories so many moments lived

in that house. The good, the bad.. memories that shaped them, memories that made them proud of their marriage.

Their story had started in Valeria, Valentia-but it wouldn't end there. They were returning to where they'd always been happiest. Back to where their family life had always felt most peaceful.

"Mom? Dad?" Serenity's voice called out as she walked in, sounding flustered. Valerie quickly wiped her tears and turned around-but her daughter noticed.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, curious.

"No, sweetie. Nothing... It's just that the move is making me a little nostalgic."

"Mom... don't worry. Everything's going to be fine. We're leaving tomorrow, we're just finishing up the packing now..."

"Sweetheart, you shouldn't be on your feet like this. It's only been a month and a half since the baby was born..."

"Mami, I wasn't about to stay home while my hubby came here all alone..."

"That's what every good son-in-law should do," Marcus chimed in, squinting playfully at his daughter.

"Yeah, Dad, but knowing you... I doubt my hubby is totally safe around you..."

"Oh, come on! I'm not making him do anything too crazy, am I?"

"No, no, to be fair-you've actually been a model father-in-law."

"That's me! What can I say?"

"Alright, alright. Let's go eat. John and Ethan are getting impatient." "Okay, let's go, let's go..."