It had only been three days since their talk, but something had shifted between Justin and Crystal.
They were trying.
Not just falling back into comfort, but really trying choosing to communicate, even when the words were clumsy. Choosing to be vulnerable, even when pride said stay quiet. And sometimes, choosing silence together, instead of filling it with assumptions.
Still, emotional wounds didn't heal in an instant. And Crystal felt herself walking a tightrope between trust and self-preservation.
Then came the moment the first real fight.
It started on a Thursday evening.
Crystal had just finished prepping slides for an investor pitch at work when Justin called.
"I might not make it tonight," he said. "Something came up at the office. Dean dropped the ball on some backend code."
Her voice was careful. "We haven't had dinner together in over a week."
"I know, baby. I'm sorry. Just this launch is eating me alive."
She hesitated. "You said we'd make space for each other. That we'd stop pretending we're fine when we're not."
"I'm not pretending. I just have work to do."
Crystal closed her laptop slowly. "It's always work, Justin."
There was a pause.
Then his voice hardened, just slightly. "This is how I build the future I want. For us. Isn't that what we're fighting for?"
"Yes," she replied. "But if we keep sacrificing 'us' for the future, what will be left when we finally get there?"
Another long silence.
"I have to go," he said. "I'll call you later."
The line went dead.
And for the first time in their relationship, he had ended the call first.
Crystal didn't sleep that night.
She tossed and turned, his words looping in her head.
The next morning, she showed up at Dawson & Hart wearing a bold red lipstick and a calm expression that masked the ache in her chest.
Mid-afternoon, she received a text:
Justin:
I'm sorry. Can I see you tonight?
She stared at it for a long time.
Then, simply replied:
Okay.
When he showed up at her door that evening, he wasn't holding flowers or gifts. Just his hands in his pockets, his eyes tired, and his heart clearly in his throat.
"I messed up," he said.
Crystal stepped aside, letting him in. "Yeah. You did."
He stood in her living room, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I've been so afraid of losing everything I've built that I didn't realize I was pushing away the one thing I can't afford to lose."
Her throat tightened.
"I'm sorry I dismissed you," he continued. "Sorry I didn't show up. And I'm sorry for putting work above you when you've always been right here cheering me on, believing in me."
He took a step forward.
"I love you, Crystal. That hasn't changed. But I can't keep expecting you to carry the emotional weight while I chase my ambitions. That's not fair to you."
Her eyes shimmered. "I don't want to compete with your dreams, Justin. I want to be part of them."
He reached for her hand. "You are. From now on, I promise to show it. Not with words, but with action."
Crystal studied him. The way his voice cracked. The rawness in his eyes.
And finally, she let her shoulders fall and whispered, "Thank you. That's all I needed to hear."
He pulled her into his arms, resting his forehead against hers.
"Let's build something that doesn't just look perfect from the outside," he said. "Let's build something that feels real, even when it's messy."
She smiled softly. "The real things always are."
And just like that, the air between them cleared.
The first "I'm sorry" wasn't the end it was the beginning of something deeper. A kind of love that made room for mistakes, for growing pains, and for second chances.
That night, they stayed up late not making love, but making peace. Talking. Laughing. Holding each other through the quiet moments.
Because love isn't always about grand gestures.
Sometimes, it's just about showing up again and again with a humble heart and an open hand.
Two weeks passed, and things between Crystal and Justin began to feel... right again.
Not perfect. But real. And warm. And safe.
They found a new rhythm more phone free dinners, random mid day check-ins, and nights curled up together where the world felt like it existed only for them. For the first time since everything with the work scandal and Isabelle's sudden appearance, the space between them wasn't filled with silence or tension.
It was filled with possibility.
Then came the invitation that changed everything.
Justin picked Crystal up on a Friday evening with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Pack a bag," he said, stepping into her apartment.
Crystal blinked. "Another surprise trip?"
"Nope. Just one night. We're going somewhere special."
She crossed her arms, pretending to frown. "Every time you say that, I end up in love with a cabin or a mountain or a new version of you."
He smirked. "Well… get ready to fall in love again."
An hour later, Justin pulled into a quiet suburban neighborhood just outside the city.
Rows of modern, minimalist houses stretched out like a peaceful dream. Wide lawns. Big porches. Flowerbeds blooming with summer color.
"Whose place is this?" Crystal asked as he parked in front of a cream colored home with dark wood trimming.
Justin stepped out and walked around to open her door. "Ours. If we want it."
Crystal paused. "What?"
He handed her a small brochure. Inside were pictures of the home interior and exterior. "I've been looking. Quietly. Not for something flashy, but… for something ours. Something we could grow into. I wanted you to see this one first."
She stepped up onto the porch in a daze.
When he unlocked the front door and led her inside, her breath caught.
The house was beautiful.
Warm hardwood floors. Tall ceilings. An open kitchen that looked out onto the living room. Floor to ceiling windows with natural light pouring in.
It wasn't massive. It wasn't overdone.
But it felt like home.
They walked slowly through the space, hand in hand. The bedroom had French doors that opened onto a small patio. The bathroom had a tub big enough for two. The third bedroom had bright white walls and soft lighting.
"A guest room?" she asked.
"Maybe," Justin said, squeezing her hand. "Or maybe a nursery, someday."
Crystal turned to face him, eyes wide.
"I'm not rushing you," he said gently. "I'm not asking for answers tonight. I just… I needed you to know that I see a life with you. That I'm not just in this for now. I'm in it for forever."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I thought I was too scared to imagine that," she said quietly. "But standing here with you... it doesn't feel scary. It feels right."
He cupped her face, brushing away a tear with his thumb. "I'm not perfect, Crystal. I'll screw up. We'll fight. Life will get messy. But I promise no matter what we'll keep choosing each other."
She smiled through her tears. "You already feel like home."
He leaned down and kissed her. Slow. Deep. Full of promises that didn't need words.
That night, they ordered pizza and ate it cross-legged on the hardwood floor of the empty living room, laughing about who would get to decorate what, and debating the color of their hypothetical couch.
And as the stars came out, Crystal rested her head on Justin's shoulder, her heart full.
It wasn't just a house.
It was a glimpse.
A taste of forever.
And for the first time, she wasn't afraid to reach for it.