Hey everyone, you might think that it was over with the wedding, but I decided to write this chapter to answer some of the requests I have received. I had wanted to publish this sooner, but things happened and... well, better late than never, right?

Without further ado, enjoy

Raelyn brought her nose closer to the strawberry bush. This one would be ripe the day after tomorrow. She walked through the field, checking each plot, carefully examining their condition as she watered them. When she reached the end of the line, she looked up and saw two young children playing gleefully among the grazing animals. They chased each other, zig-zagging across the grass field; they fell down a few times, stumbling at each other, but they just laughed it off, ensuring that each was okay, then continued like nothing happened. It was times like these that brought a smile to Raelyn's face these days.

She looked at the sky; she should start preparing for dinner. She beckoned the children over, and they were excited at the prospect of helping her in the kitchen. She knew it would mean more mess to be cleaned up, but she didn't really mind that. Sometimes, at her request, they would fetch things for her—other times, they would be content just fooling around with each other in the kitchen while waiting for the stew simmering and the rice steaming.

After the food was finished, Raelyn entrusted them to carry the rice. For them, it was a sacred duty and they behaved accordingly. She carried the stew pot, and together they marched towards the neighboring farm. Her usually chatty children were so focused on their task that she didn't hear any conversation. The boy, born a few minutes ahead of his sister, took over the commander role; giving instructions like a 'heave-ho' and making sure that their steps were synchronized; the girl, an adorable and playful girl was looking in turns to the pot, then her feet, the pot, then her feet again.

A blonde woman greeted them when they reached the house; she was surprised when she learned that Raelyn had cooked enough food for everyone. "My, you didn't need to…"

"I insist," Raelyn interjected calmly, while glancing at the obvious bump on the other woman's belly. "I know how troublesome it can be at this stage."

"Lynn!" a voice called over from the farm. Raelyn turned to see her brother jumping over the fence separating the grazing field from the rest of the farm, and then running towards them. "What are we having today?"

"Tofu stew."

Rex scrunched his face as if he just ate an unbearably sour lemon, but Raelyn only responded with a shrug. "It's for Iris."

"Yeah, yeah, fine…" it was then he looked at the children. "Oh, who do we have here? Mommy's good kids? Will you let me help?"

"It's okay, we can do this," the boy replied staunchly. "Mamma says we can."

The girl seconded the answer with a firm nod.

"So adorable…" Iris gushed.

They went into the house and head directly to the dining area. Iris clearly had done a great job in transforming Ibuki's old house to the point that Raelyn could barely remember how it looked like before. The wallpapers had turned soft lavender, and the wooden flooring had been renewed. At the corner of the house, Raelyn could see an unfinished wooden bassinet—Rex being sweet in his own way, she supposed.

After dinner, they let the kids play in the house while the three of them moved to a more comfortable space to have a chat. She couldn't help but watch when her brother pulled helped Iris to sit down, ensuring that she was comfortable, before he took his own seat; she couldn't help but watch Iris subconsciously caressing her protruded belly, and the ring she wore on her finger.

Last year, Ibuki married Angela and decided to work full-time in the guild. Somehow, Rex got the news of a farm sale in Oak Tree Town and decided to move in and within a season, Iris Delacroix was transformed into Mrs. Rex Forrester, to the surprise of almost everyone—including Raelyn.

"I still can't believe the two of you got together," she blurted out. "I mean… how?"

"Unlike someone, I'm not in the business of standing up my lady for too long. I see, I know, I ask."

"To be fair," Iris added. "We have been writing letters to each other ever since he visited you for the first time. It was mostly about you and Klaus—so I guess, we have to thank the both of you for it."

"So… are you the one who told Rex of the farm sale?"

Iris smiled affirmatively.

Raelyn gazed at a book on the coffee table in front of her. It was a novel titled Letters To and Fro. Iris had given her a complimentary copy; she remembered that somehow the lead characters sounded rather familiar to her. Maybe this was why.

"Frankly speaking, I am also surprised. At times, I wake up and still can't believe that this is my life now."

"Like living out a story, right?" While Rex's words were an attempt to sound light-hearted, the slight tremble in his voice told Raelyn that her brother was—at least slightly—worried that Iris' words didn't mean good.

Iris seemed to notice the same thing; she smiled and put her hand over Rex's. "Even better than the stories I wrote."

It was enough to allay Rex's worries. He shrugged—and somewhat reminding Raelyn of her uncle back in Echo Town—he said: "Of course, that's because I'm so amazing."

Iris chuckled. "Whatever you say, Rex." She turned towards Raelyn, "So… Klaus staying out late?"

Raelyn nodded. "He has a deadline coming up, so he said he's going to stay at the workshop a bit late."

Klaus walked uphill alone, with a certain bottle inside his breast pocket. It seemed that he lost track of the time when he crafted this particular scent. When he reached the farm, the light was still on, but nobody was in the living room, or the dining room. Klaus looked at the time; he was even later than he thought.

First, he went into his bedroom. Raelyn was not there. He made his way to the vanity and put the bottle in his breast pocket next to the old bottle—the first one he gave her. The new bottle carried the same scent—a combination of chamomile, cherry blossom, and red wine. Years of making the same scent—and the care put into each—gave Klaus the confidence that he could replicate it each and every time, but still Raelyn refused to finish the first one he gave her years ago. He even asked whether she wanted the same atomizer—but that was not the case. It was the memory of it, she said. She still used the first one on special occasion—their anniversary, for example—so Klaus let it be and only refilled the second bottle when it ran out.

Afterwards, he made his way to the kids' bedroom—the door was slightly ajar—and peeked in. His family was in there, sleeping soundly. He paused at the thought of his family. His family. He never thought that it was his reality now. He walked inside and carefully caressed his children. They were his; these little creatures were of his blood and carried his name, and—most importantly—they were happy and safe.

And then there she was at the center of it. It was apt, he thought, for her to be at the center, because in many ways, she was. All the good things that were now his came from her. As he reveled in watching them, she opened her eyes and sleepily smiled at him. "Welcome home…" she greeted drowsily. Her voice was small, but it brought great warmth to his heart. Ever since they were married, Raelyn had never forgotten to greet him when he came home and it became one of the greatest joys in his life: the knowledge that he has someone who would come and greet him after a long day of work.

What had he done right in his life to deserve this? Were those dark and somber years to prepare him for this, so that he would never be ungrateful? Would this last?

He might not know the answers to these questions. Not tonight, perhaps not ever. That's okay for him. He had learned that ignorance could be a bliss. However, he knew one thing to be true, and this, he would always hold close to his heart:

"I am home."

Fin

Home.

With our characters found their forever home, this story has come to a close.

Thank you to everyone who has given support to this story, you know who you are! You are awesome!

I hope to see you in my other stories :)