"I missed you," Regina finally whispered, her voice broken with emotion. Tears were streaming down her face now—happy tears, relieved tears. "I missed you so much it hurt."
Julian lifted his head to look at her, his own eyes suspiciously bright. He kissed her gently, tenderly, so different from the passion of moments before. "I'm here now," he promised. "And I'm never leaving you again."
"Promise me," Regina demanded, her hands cupping his face. "Promise me this isn't a dream. Promise me you're really back."
"I promise," Julian said solemnly, planting kisses on her forehead, her cheeks, and her lips. "I'm real. I'm here. And we have all the time in the world now."
Regina smiled through her tears, pulling him down for another kiss—this one slow and sweet and full of love that had endured through death itself.
