The following week brought a rhythm to their lives that Crystal hadn't expected; comfortable, steady, and warm.
She and Justin fell into a routine of late night calls, spontaneous lunch meetups, and sweet texts that made her smile at her desk. It was the kind of happiness that made her forget to overthink.
Until the unexpected happened.
It was Friday evening, and Crystal had just stepped out of the shower when her phone rang. She wrapped a towel around herself and glanced at the caller ID.
Unknown number.
Frowning, she hesitated before answering. "Hello?"
A male voice answered. Gruff. Calm. Too familiar.
"Crystal."
She froze.
Her fingers tightened on the phone. The world tilted slightly beneath her feet.
"Dad?"
A silence stretched across the line like a chasm.
"I heard you were doing well," he said, as if that alone justified the sudden reappearance. "Thought I'd call."
Crystal couldn't speak at first. Her chest tightened. A hundred memories rushed forward shouted words, slammed doors, the sound of her mother crying quietly in the kitchen while she pretended not to hear.
"What do you want?" she finally asked, her voice low and cold.
"I'm in town," he said. "Would like to see you."
She said nothing.
"Just once. To talk."
Crystal's jaw clenched. "You don't get to just show up after all these years and pretend nothing happened."
"I'm not pretending," he said. "I'm trying."
She didn't respond.
"I'll be at the Hillview Café tomorrow at noon. If you want to come, you can. If not… I understand."
The line clicked dead.
Crystal stared at the screen, her heart pounding.
He was here.
After more than a decade.
She hadn't heard from him since she was sixteen. No birthday calls. No apologies. Nothing.
Now, suddenly, he wanted to talk?
She sat down on the edge of her bed, the towel damp against her skin, her mind spinning. She thought about ignoring the call. About pretending it hadn't happened.
But she couldn't.
The next morning, Crystal sat across from Justin at a quiet brunch café. She picked at her croissant while he sipped his espresso and watched her closely.
"You're not eating," he said gently.
She set the pastry down, meeting his gaze. "My father called."
Justin paused mid sip. "What?"
"Yesterday. Out of the blue. Said he's in town and wants to meet me today."
His expression darkened slightly, concern flashing in his eyes. "And do you want to meet him?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "Part of me wants to scream at him. The other part… just wants closure."
Justin reached across the table and took her hand. "Then go. On your terms. But remember you have the power now. You don't owe him anything."
She nodded slowly, gripping his hand tightly. "Will you wait for me after?"
"Always."
Crystal arrived at Hillview Café right at noon, her pulse erratic. It was a small place with rustic décor and too many memories. Her eyes swept across the room until she spotted him older, grayer, but unmistakably the same man.
He stood when he saw her. "You came."
She sat without a word.
He cleared his throat. "You look like your mother."
Crystal stared at him. "Why now?"
"I've made a lot of mistakes," he said, folding his hands. "I know I don't deserve forgiveness. I just wanted a chance to talk. To… apologize."
"Apologize?" she said sharply. "You walked out on us. You made my mother feel like she was worthless. You crushed everything good in that house."
He looked down, shame flooding his features. "I know. I was angry, controlling, and—"
"You were abusive," she interrupted.
He winced.
She leaned forward. "You don't get to rewrite the past. You want to say sorry? Say it. But don't expect me to let you back in."
His eyes met hers tired, but filled with something that looked like regret. "I'm sorry, Crystal. For everything."
She exhaled slowly.
"Thank you," she said. "I needed to hear that. But I'm not ready to forgive you. Maybe I never will."
He nodded. "I understand."
She stood. "Goodbye, Dad."
And with that, she walked out into the sunlight, tears stinging her eyes but her spine straight.
Justin was waiting for her in the parking lot, leaning against his car, arms folded. When he saw her, he walked forward wordlessly and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Crystal buried her face into his chest, breathing in the scent of his cologne, the steadiness of his heartbeat grounding her.
"I'm proud of you," he whispered.
She closed her eyes. "It hurt more than I expected."
He kissed the top of her head. "That's because you have a heart that still believes in people."
Crystal looked up at him. "Will you stay the night?"
Justin cupped her face. "I'll stay as long as you need."
And that night, wrapped in his arms, Crystal slept deeply for the first time in a long time knowing that the ghosts of her past might still linger, but they no longer controlled her.
She had love now.
She had healing.
And she had Justin.
The weeks following her father's visit passed quietly, like the gentle calm after a storm. Crystal was different now lighter somehow. Not because everything had healed overnight, but because she had chosen to face her pain rather than let it rule her.
And Justin had been by her side through it all.
One Thursday evening, after another long day at Dawson & Hart, Crystal stepped out of the office to find Justin leaning against his car, arms crossed, wearing his usual mischievous smile.
She stopped short. "What are you doing here?"
"Kidnapping you," he said simply. "Well, figuratively."
Crystal raised a brow. "Explain."
He held up a manila envelope. "Inside: a two night reservation at a private cabin, a full tank of gas, and a weekend with zero tech distractions. I cleared your schedule with Tasha."
"You what?!"
"She said, and I quote, 'Get her out of here before she turns into a zombie.'"
Crystal laughed despite herself. "Are you serious?"
He stepped forward, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Dead serious. You've been carrying too much lately. It's time you let someone else carry you for a while."
Crystal bit her lip, her eyes softening. "You're dangerous, Justin Miller."
He grinned. "Only to stress and overwork."
By nightfall, they were winding through mountain roads, the city shrinking behind them. Trees lined the horizon, and the moon hung low like a silent companion.
The cabin was nestled on the edge of a lake, secluded and serene, with wraparound windows, a wooden deck, and the gentle sound of water lapping against the shore.
Crystal stepped inside and let out a soft gasp. "Justin… this is beautiful."
"You haven't even seen the best part," he said, taking her hand and leading her to the back deck.
There, two steaming mugs of cider sat on a small table beside a fire pit already crackling to life. Overhead, the stars blinked into view, unbothered by city smog or traffic.
"This is unreal," Crystal whispered.
"Real enough," Justin said, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders. "Just for us."
Later that night, wrapped in layers of warmth and surrounded by stars, Crystal lay on a large lounge chair with her head resting in Justin's lap. His fingers traced idle patterns on her arm, their breath forming little clouds in the cold air.
"I can't remember the last time I felt this… peaceful," she said.
"I wanted to give you space to breathe," he said. "You've spent so much time holding the world together. You deserve to be held too."
Crystal turned to face him, her eyes glistening. "You always know the right thing to say."
"I'm just saying what I feel," he replied softly. "I meant what I said weeks ago, Crystal. I love you. And I'm not going anywhere."
Her throat tightened with emotion. "You're the only one who's ever made me feel safe and seen."
He leaned down and kissed her gently. "You don't have to be strong all the time. Not with me."
They stayed there for a long time—no need for words, no pressure to perform. Just presence. Just warmth.
The next morning, sunlight poured into the cabin, waking Crystal before her alarm. She stretched and slipped out from under the covers, tugging on one of Justin's sweaters that draped past her thighs.
She stepped out onto the deck and gasped.
The lake shimmered like glass, and a gentle mist floated above it. The mountains beyond stood tall and quiet, wrapped in golden morning light. It looked like something out of a dream.
And then she heard it footsteps behind her. Justin, still tousled with sleep, wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Morning, beautiful," he murmured into her hair.
"Did you see this view?"
"I see it now," he said, kissing the top of her head.
They stood in silence, wrapped in each other, letting the morning soak into their bones.
"I could stay here forever," Crystal whispered.
"Then let's come back," Justin said. "Whenever you need it. This can be our place."
She turned to him. "Ours?"
He nodded. "I want to keep building something with you, Crystal. Not just moments. A life."
Tears filled her eyes but this time, they were good tears. Healing tears.
"I want that too," she said.
That weekend was a turning point.
They cooked meals together, hiked hand in hand, and fell asleep beside the fire with a stack of books between them. They danced barefoot in the living room, slow and close. They talked about dreams and what scared them. And they shared secrets small, silly ones and big, meaningful ones.
By the time they returned to the city, their bond had deepened.
It wasn't just love now.
It was commitment.
The kind that didn't fade with distance or time.
The kind that promised without needing to say it that no matter what came next, they would face it together.