The years had changed New Orleans, but not the wild, untamed spirit that first drew Sagar and Rebekah together. The city had grown—its streets busier, its secrets deeper, its supernatural politics ever more tangled. Yet for Sagar and Rebekah, their world was measured not in years or power struggles, but in the stolen hours they carved out for themselves, far from prying eyes and the burdens of legacy.
It was late spring, the air thick with the scent of magnolia and rain. The new pond—dug by enterprising settlers and fed by the restless bayou—had become a hidden gem on the city's edge. Surrounded by tangled cypress and lush ferns, it was a place where the world felt ancient and untouched, a secret haven for those who knew how to find it.
Rebekah arrived first, her cloak trailing over mossy roots, her golden hair loose in the humid breeze. She paused at the water's edge, watching dragonflies skim the surface, her heart fluttering with anticipation and a bittersweet ache she couldn't quite name.
Sagar appeared from the shadows, as he always did—silent and smiling, eyes bright with mischief and longing. He wore no mask tonight. In the wild, there was no need for pretense.
"You're late," Rebekah teased, though her smile betrayed her delight.
"I wanted to see if you'd wait," Sagar replied, stepping closer. "You always do."
She closed the distance between them, her hands finding his, their fingers intertwining with the ease of long practice. For a moment, they simply stood together, listening to the chorus of frogs and the distant rumble of thunder.
"It's beautiful here," Rebekah whispered, her voice soft with wonder. "It feels like the world belongs to us alone."
Sagar brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, his touch reverent. "It does, for tonight."
They moved together in perfect harmony, sinking into the tall grass at the pond's edge. Sagar's lips found hers—hungry, searching, promising both comfort and chaos. Rebekah melted into his embrace, her body alive with the memory of every secret they'd shared, every night spent tangled in silk or shadows.
Their lovemaking was wild and unrestrained, a celebration of all they were and all they could never be. The world fell away—the city, the centuries, the weight of family and fate. There was only the heat of skin against skin, the taste of rain on lips, the music of their laughter echoing through the trees.
Afterwards, they lay side by side, breathless and content, watching the moonlight ripple across the water. Rebekah rested her head on Sagar's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
"How long do we have?" she asked quietly, the question she'd always feared.
Sagar was silent for a moment, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her bare shoulder. "Not long," he admitted. "I'll be leaving soon. London calls—old debts, new games."
Rebekah's heart clenched, but she forced a smile. "Always chasing the next adventure."
He turned to face her, his expression tender. "You know me, Bekah. I can't stay in one place for too long. The world is too big, too full of stories I haven't lived yet."
She propped herself up on one elbow, searching his eyes. "Will you come back?"
Sagar cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear she hadn't realized had fallen. "I always do. You're the one story I never tire of."
She laughed softly, blinking back the ache in her chest. "You're impossible, Sagar Jadhav."
"And you're unforgettable, Rebekah Mikaelson."
They lay together in the grass, savoring the last moments of their secret world. When dawn began to break, painting the sky in shades of lavender and gold, Sagar stood and helped Rebekah to her feet. They dressed in silence, the easy intimacy of lovers who had said goodbye too many times before.
At the edge of the pond, Sagar turned to her one last time. "Take care of this city, Bekah. It needs someone who remembers how to live."
She nodded, swallowing her sorrow. "And you—try not to start too much trouble in London."
He grinned, his eyes alight with promise. "No guarantees."
With a final kiss—soft, lingering, full of everything left unsaid—Sagar melted into the shadows, leaving Rebekah alone beneath the waking sky.
She watched the water ripple, her heart heavy and hopeful all at once. She knew their story was far from over. In a world of immortals and legends, goodbyes were never forever.
But for now, she would carry the memory of this wild night, and the promise of his return, wherever the next chapter might lead.