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Rafe Cameron grimaced as the Twinkie parked on the side of the road near the boardwalk. His displeasure only grew as he noticed his suit pants were now covered in dust. Of course, Morocco had taught him to cope with it, but he still was a Cameron at the end of the day and he couldn’t help but yearn for the comfort of an air-conditioned sports car.
“Hey, they should be back in like five minutes, right? Has it been five minutes” John B asked nervously, jolting Rafe back to reality.
Rafe exhaled.
“Yeah, I mean shit, John B, I pity anyone that tries to mess with a pregnant Sarah Cameron.” He remarked wryly, hoping it would calm the brunette-haired man down.
It worked as John B let out a low laugh.
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”
Rafe nodded, before shifting his gaze elsewhere. While the two had tentatively been working together, along with the rest of the Pogues, there was still so much between them.
Rafe inhaled. It was a month after JJ’s death, and Rafe admittedly had come to respect the young group.
“Look, John B… I never- Jesus, all right. You know you have been a pain in my ass for God knows how long but… I’m sorry. For all of it, okay? And I know you have no reason to trust me, I know back in Morocco, we had… moments… but I wanna be here now, ok? I understand it all now. So can, we just like, I don’t fucking know, start over?” Rafe blurted,after too many minutes of strained silence.
John B raised his eyebrows.
“Are you serious?” He replied disbelievingly.
Rafe swallowed as that old flame of annoyance started to flicker inside him.
Yet, he knew the time for petty squabbles was over if they stood even half a chance of finding Groff and his merry band of dipshits. So, Rafe drew in a sharp inhale and focused his gaze back on the hazel-eyed Pogue.
“Yeah. See, we gotta work together to get Groff, right—but besides that shit, the fact is you are marrying my sister and she is pregnant with your child. As for Pope and Cleo, let’s just say it’s a debt I need to repay, and I guess at the end of the day, after everything that has happened, there is nothing for me here. Well..”
“Nothing— except for us.” John B finished, meeting Rafe’s gaze.
Rafe nodded, feeling his eyes start to water- and it wasn’t just because of the dusty Twinkie.
“All right then. Name’s John B? What about you, kind sir?” John B quipped and Rafe found himself grinning slightly.
“Rafe—Rafe Cameron.” He replied, leaning back against the chair.
The boys smiled, allowing themselves this brief moment of tranquility.
“So, Rafe—why did you come back? I mean, your sister, sure, but come on. There’s gotta be more to the story.” John B abruptly questioned, scooting his body closer to Rafe’s.
Rafe scoffed, trying to ignore his rising heartbeat.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Rafe replied as nonchalantly as possible.
John B pursed his lips and shook his head in response.
“Sure- so, a thousand percent it’s got nothing to do with a certain curly-haired turtle-saving girl?” John B pressed, much to the chagrin of Rafe who was suddenly semi wishing he had gotten killed back in Morocco.
Rafe pressed his hands on his pants nervously.
Yet, as he looked into John B’s eyes, he knew he could not run from the truth any longer.
“It doesn’t matter. Kie- Kiara - is grieving and besides, even if she wasn’t … she would never. So, my … affinity towards her is just that. It’s what it is.” Rafe said, his voice shaking.
John B smiled amusedly, and Rafe knew he was hiding something.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, bud. She saved your life- and then some. By the looks of it, I think you’ve got skin in the game. However, if you even THINK of hurting her again…” John B stated.
Rafe smiled wryly.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good.” John B replied and that classic John B puppy-dog grin quickly emerged.
Rafe chuckled and as he settled back into his seat, a newfound sense of calmness washed over him.
It was short-lived as the Twinkie door burst open with the force of a mosh pit at a rock concert.
“GO, GO!” Kie shouted and Rafe and John B remained silent as the rest of the Pogues climbed in behind her.
“You heard her! Go!” Cleo shouted and John B quickly snapped into action as the Twinkie’s engine sputtered and they were soon speeding down the highway.
Rafe only half heard Pope’s animated explanation as he found his gaze intuitively landing on her.
She was quiet, nodding in agreement as Pope continued his revelations with Cleo interjecting here and there.
Rafe swallowed as he found himself noticing the stray strands of hair that had come loose from her half-up-half-down braid. She was wearing a green crop top with a mushroom on it that read “Trippy,” and her piercing chestnut eyes were cast towards the ground, like she too , was only half-hearing Pope.
Besides her, Sarah had fallen asleep, the excitement of whatever had happened affecting her.
It was then that Rafe noticed even though Kiara seemed elsewhere, she still had a hand resting gently on Sarah’s stomach. Rafe smiled- even though it was Rafe who’d suggested the Pogues getting revenge in the first place, it was relieving to see that despite the changes that had occurred in Kiara Carrera over the past two months, there was still a remnant of that protective “Save the Earth” persona he had known his whole life.
It was almost funny , Rafe remembered that first day of school when he had first met her like it was yesterday.
She had been in kindergarten and he was in 1st when she plopped down next to him that fateful day in the cafeteria, and given that big Kiara Carrera grin, Rafe had no choice but to melt. Naturally, the duo grew closer in the coming months, and it grew even deeper as she befriended his sister. Slowly, the months turned into years, and all was well. Until one stormy night- Rafe had fallen asleep watching “ His Girl Friday.” It was Sarah’s choice until she ended up going out with Topper, leaving Rafe and Kiara alone together.
Though Rafe had noticed Kie had been growing distant a few weeks prior - she had met some Pogues , of all the things , Rafe had told himself it was just a phase - that it was just classic Kook exploring the other side's behavior.
So, they had put on the movie, and Rafe had felt vindication as Kie snuggled against his chest, his arms wrapping around the small of her back.
He had no way of knowing what she was planning, and to this day, he would never forget how he felt waking up to that empty couch, and realizing that nothing would ever be the same.
****
Now they were here, and so much and yet not enough had happened. Certainly, JJ’s death was something even Rafe never saw coming.
“We’re here,” Pope announced as John B haphazardly parked the Twinkie.
Kie snapped to attention at last, gently nudging Sarah awake, though her eyes fell briefly on Rafe’s and he prayed that she didn’t notice the warm flush that crept on his skin as John B’s words echoed in his mind.
“And you’re sure this is the place?” John B asked as the crew started to get ready to depart the abnormally large van.
Sarah nodded.
“Yeah, Van Hoff’s boardwalk ice cream. He used to go to school with Groff, and so if anyone knows…”
“Say no more, babe.”
Just like that, the Pogues and Rafe were on their way, with John B and Sarah leading, Pope and Cleo behind, and of course, Rafe in perfect tandem with Kie.
They walked in silence for a while, and then Rafe noticed that the warm scent of coconut mixed with summer sweat had faded.
“KIE!” He shouted, alerting the Pogues.
They immediately spun on their heels to face him, their eyes filled with panic.
Rafe swallowed as several scenarios whirled in his brain- none of which were promising.
The Pogues were just as frightened as they scanned the horizon desperately.
Then, they heard a sharp “WOOF!” from a few feet behind, and they exhaled.
Rafe shut his eyes as the Pogues sauntered to where the bark was.
Lo and behold, Kie was safe and sound as she gleefully petted a cream-colored Golden Retriever’s fur.
Rafe followed suit, instinctively placing himself at Kie’s side as he observed her with the creature.
Sarah, of course, wasted no time and began chatting up the owners - a millennial lady with a cup of iced coffee in her hands.
Kie, however, was utterly focused on the puppy- Lance was his name, and Rafe found himself smiling fondly as he took note of a spark that he had not seen in Kie’s eyes in quite some time.
Watching her, something came over him and he found himself embedding his fingers in Lance’s soft fur, and was immediately greeted by a plethora of slobbery Retriever kisses.
Wonder of wonders, Kie had seen it and subsequently let out a low giggle and it was the most enchanting thing Rafe had ever heard as he instantly turned his gaze on her.
The world seemed to still as the pair locked eyes, keenly aware of the fact that their hands were just inches away from each other on Lance’s soft body.
Kie was the first to pull her hand back, much to the chagrin of Lance who let out a disappointed series of barks.
The owner smiled.
“Sorry, he’s quite the attention hoarder. Nice meeting you- also you said you were looking for Van Hoff’s. He closed shop about a month ago, but you can find him at Fernando’s Grill- it’s just a few blocks past.”
“Thank you,” Pope replied, and the lady smiled and was soon on her merry way.
There was a silence before John B, ever too clever for his good, intervened.
“Not gonna lie, gang, I know we gotta go all “Prepare to die” on this friend of Groff’s but can we please eat first? I’m fucking starving.”
The Pogues looked at him questioningly for a brief moment before it clicked.
Rafe internally winced - the Pogues were many things, but subtle was not one of them.
“Kie, you coming?” Cleo asked, just to drive the ruse home.
Kie shook her head.
“I’m not hungry.”
Cleo nodded and she and the rest of the Pogues began to head to find food, leaving Kiara and Rafe completely alone.
Rafe rubbed the ring on his left finger, trying to find somewhere to look that wasn’t her.
Unfortunately, the pair decided to both face the same way, their gaze fixated on the horizon, and the few people that remained on the other side of the boardwalk.
After a moment, Kie let out a jagged sigh and Rafe instinctively turned towards her.
He bit his lip as emotions churned at the depths of his soul when he noticed a stray tear falling down her cheek.
“Kie?” He questioned as gently as possible, knowing all too well by now that Kie was more than often a ticking time bomb.
However, Kie just sniffled.
“God, I was so stupid. Seeing that dog, it just …. I don’t know. Do you ever wish we could just be normal? I think that’s why I tried so hard with … why I tried so hard with JJ. I thought, maybe after all this shit, we could just open up a little shop somewhere and just be two young adults, figuring out their way, like a fucking T.V. show. But honestly, I don’t think I ever loved him- I mean he’s family and we’re gonna fucking end Groff for what he did, but I thin k… I think I was trying so hard to prove everyone wrong. It’s just … that lady she’s gonna go home to a husband and a home and.. I know it’s stupid bc you know better than anyone I like to act like I’m fucking Wonder Woman, you know fuck the system, bu t… I just- I want it all I want the whole damn package and after everything we’ve been through … what if I never get it?” Kiara cried, and Rafe was silent for a moment as he tried to process her shocking revelation.
How could he tell her? That she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on, that even when his arms were around her throat, it hurt him as much as it hurt her? How could he tell her that he had nightmares about everything he had done to her and the Pogues until about two weeks ago? He had a million things he wanted to confess, yet only one sentence seemed apt.
“You’ll get it.” He murmured, stepping closer to the hazelnut-eyed girl. As he glanced at her eyes, her expression so imploring and sad, Rafe was powerless as he gently ran his thumb down her cheek, doing his best to wipe her steadily falling tears.
For once, she did not back away.
“How do you know?” Kie murmured, glancing at him with a look that pierced the depths of Rafe’s soul and he suddenly understood why men had gone to war and built the likes of the Taj Mahal all those years ago.
Rafe inhaled, and inched even closer to her, taking his free hand in hers.
“Because .. Kiara Carrera, you are the most unstoppable force on this damn planet. Your heart is as big as the fucking ocean and … you’re beautiful and kind and loyal and smart … and Jesus, Kie, you’re a goddamned catch. Kie, you’re everything.” Rafe confessed, his chest rising with passion.
Kie was quiet as her gaze lowered and Rafe’s breath hitched as she placed her palm right on his heart.
“Thank you.” She murmured.
“Nothing to it, Kie. It’s not like I’m innocent either- and I understand. Look, I was so mad at you when you left, I was in agony. You didn’t just leave me, you left me with him. I had to watch you with them, every day while I had to come home and… but I meant what I said. I’ve always tried to do right by you- until it all fell apart, and yes, by my design. I know that now, and I know that this doesn’t make up for all that I’ve done… but I was broken too. I guess, there’s a part of me that hopes… when you saved me on the ship, it made me wonder if you still could care for me. My heart has always been yours, even when we were at the biggest of odds, I could not help but gravitate to you, and if I’m being honest, I think I belong to you more than I did when we were kids. It’s stupid, I know you’re grieving and there’s….”
Rafe furrowed his brows as Kie cut him off by placing her fingers on his lips.
“I’m tired of running. I left you because I was scared. Scared that I’d become some trophy wife with no career or legacy and … the Pogues had become my family too, and I had a choice to make, and I left you with Ward, and I think about what would have happened if I didn’t every day. But Rafe, we made our choices then. This is now, and you have grown so much. You’re becoming the man I always knew you could be … and I don’t think I ever loved JJ in the way…”
She trailed off and Rafe eyed her incredulously, half-hoping she meant what he thought she was suggesting, and the other half not daring to believe in it.
“Kie,” Rafe murmured, his heart thundering like a June storm.
“Just keep watching.” She replied mischievously, her tears all but dried.
Rafe obeyed as his heartbeat continued to rise when Kie leaned on her tiptoes and that familiar scent of coconut grew ever closer.
Before he knew it, her lips were on his, the taste of Sprite and coconut and island sweat coating his lungs.
It was nothing short of intoxicating as Rafe responded to her embrace, instinctively wrapping his arms around the small of her back and deftly lifting her off the ground.
It only grew as he felt Kie softly smile against his mouth, and he felt himself smiling too .
Stil l…
“Kie..” He whispered raspily, as he gently put her back down.
“You sure?” He continued.
Kie was still for a moment, before looking him straight in the eyes, that classic Carrera determination etched on her face.
“This is the most certain I have been of anything in over a year. Fuck it- I- I love you, Rafe. I think I always have, and there’s no point in spending a second pretending otherwise.”
Now it was Rafe’s turn to fight back tears as Kie hugged him tightly, her face buried in the crook of his neck.
“God, we’re a bunch of sappy idiots.” She muttered.
Rafe let out a low chuckle.
“Yeah- but we’re each other’s idiots.” He quipped.
“Speak for yourself.” Kie teased in turn and Rafe grinned in a way he hadn’t since- since that day in 1st grade.
“Come here, you.” He murmured as he swiftly engaged the infamous Carrera in a kiss. It was a kiss that ended all kisses, a kiss that healed the depths of his soul, and Kie’s too. It was a kiss of peace, but above all, it was a kiss of love. The kind of love that he knew, Groff and anyone else who dared stand in their way of “getting the whole package” would have no choice but to bend to.
“Just keep watching, indeed.” He thought as their kiss was interrupted by the Pogues who erupted in a series of cheers, namely his sister who was smiling from ear to ear, and John B. who looked about as smug as a puppy that had caught a mouse.
There were tears too , this was a moment none of them had imagined possible.
Yet it was here, and it was unwavering as they headed towards the Grill, with Kiara’s hand embedded tightly in his- the Pogue and the Kook. Except there was a little bit of both in all of them and after all of this was over, perhaps something new would emerge- a paradise, full of growth and cycle- breaking, healing, and above all, a paradise of love. Rafe knew now that Ward was wrong- the community wasn’t a weakness, it was a strength. At that moment, he had the resounding sense that the love between him and Kie may very well save the world.