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As she finishes with the offices, I refill our coffee cups, clean up the broken dish, put things away in the bedroom, and listen as Cozy explains to the officer how she has this infor and it makes me want to work even harder to be the safe haven she deserves

When the cops leave, we both exhale, ined How is it possible to fall so hard, so damn fast?

“I can’t believe I did that, stood up for myself”

I pull her to me “I’m so proud of you”

“I’m proud of me too”

I lift her chin, kissing her softly Later, I know the police will be here for an official stateht be ht now, I a next to the Christmas tree with the only woman I’ve ever loved

“You know, you gave ive you yours”

She smiles “You don’t have a present for me… we just met”

“We did justfor your finger”

“Finger?” she asks, her eyes widening as I pull a ring from my pocket It had been stoay in the dresser in the bedroom

“It wasit onto her ring finger, “it fits you perfectly”

“Are you really doing this?” she asks, tears in her eyes

“We are really doing this” I lift her up inher to the couch “CoueCozetteOne year later…Our first Christun, police officers, a proposal — it was a lot

This year it isn’t dangerous, but it is still dramatic

How could it not be e have three-month-old tith us?

Yes, that is correct We had twins! I guess we did le in front of the fire… we made a baby Well, two of them

And God, are they adorable

And loud

So very loud