She hummed gently, washing dishes in the large washbasin in the kitchen. She had been at peace since Pacha's departure from their lives. Of course, Tipo wasn't himself, none of his letters being replied to, but slowly they were starting to accept the change. She had been angry, then sad, then bitter. She had failed, and this break was her fault. She couldn't push down the guilt at first and had to resist the urge to write Pacha and apologize and ask him to come home. She knew that it was her job to make her marriage work- and she had failed, miserably, as a wife and a person.

No, she was never truly married to Pacha, just in a title. She didn't have to feel like this was her fault, because it wasn't. There was equal blame in all of it. She had finally accepted that it wasn't much different from her split from her mother- it hurt, and it always would hurt, but it was what's best. And as long as she kept hoping, Jack could return... and she could finally live the life that she had wanted for all those years.

She paused for a moment, feeling the cool breeze come through the window and caress her skin. She took a deep breath, letting the air fill her lungs until she thought she'd pop.

There's something different about the wind today.

She walked outside, something deep inside her stirring. She didn't know what, or why, but she knew something was coming. Her eyes scanned the skyline, her gaze landing on the path from Cuzco and the east. She squinted, looking closer.
There was someone coming.
And that someone was having a rather difficult time walking properly.

"Jack," she whispered, starting to run down the hill, "Jack!" She ran down the path, all the way to him without stopping, yelling his name the whole way. She thought she'd explode right there, seeing him after almost two years apart. She flew into his arms, kissing him hard as they fell to the ground, her tears wetting his face.

"I assume you missed me, eh, luv?" he asked gently, brushing her hair back from her face.
"Only a little," she whispered, resting her head on his chest, both of them laying in the middle of the dirt path, "I thought you were dead."
"On the contrary luv," he said, grinning, "Death won't conquer me just yet. You need me too much." She nodded in agreement, her tears wetting his jacket. She was so happy, she couldn't stop crying. He was alive, he was here, and he had come back for her.
"I left him," she said quietly, kissing his cheek, "I left him because I couldn't give myself to any other man but you...I couldn't do it anymore."
"Really? You actually did it?" he asked, his expression looking overjoyed, "I dunno wot to say...I'm so 'appy for you, luv." She rolled off him and he stood, scooping her up with him in his arms, kissing her.
"A man couldn't ask for better news," he said softly, before engulfing her in a passionate kiss.