Kaz was hardly able to make it through that first week when Inej was gone. He was hardly able to get to his room before he broke down and cried as he received her first letter. So gently, he had opened her letter, unwilling to rip the precious note.

Dearest Kaz,

I miss you so much. More than I thought I would. Before you get worried, I'm alright. We hit a storm and had to rest for a few days, but everyone is okay. My mom and dad are safe and back in Ravka, though I miss them already.

It's truly amazing at sea. One day, maybe I can bring you and the rest of the crows out with me. The sunsets and sunrises are gorgeous. The sky seems to bleed into the water and turn the whole world to fire.

Anyway, I want to see you soon and I thought of a way to spend time together. There's a celebration that my circus used to go to. It's a ball, a dance of sorts. I know you don't like to take part in those frivolous activities, but I would love for you to come with me. Maybe like a date.

I want you to tell me about Ketterdam without me. How are Jesper and Wylan? How are you? Are the Dregs doing well? I'm sure you've found a way to help them with your kruge. Tell everybody I miss them.

Yours truly,

Inej Ghafa

Kaz wiped tears from his face as he stared at her signature, the delicate curve of her letters. I miss you so much. Kaz traced her name, stared at the smudged ink at the end of her last name.

He hadn't expected to be so... broken. He had wanted everything to return to normal with no distractions, no gorgeous girls to capture his attention.

But he felt so empty, felt like half of him had been ripped away.

He reached for a piece of parchment and an inkwell, scrawling out a letter.

Kaz's hands shook as he folded the letter that was way too short. But he meant every single word on that crumpled paper.

A date. Kaz was about to fall on the floor from excitement or horror, he didn't know. But he was not stable in that second.

After delivering the letter to their messenger, Kaz rushed to Wylan's mansion.

He knocked twice and a young girl opened the door, bowing slightly.

"Mr. Brekker, right this way, sir."

He followed her to the living room on the second floor, waiting patiently until Jesper and Wylan emerged from a hallway.

"Kaz!" Wylan said happily. "Do you need something?"

"Inej asked me to go with her to a ball."

Jesper let out a loud laugh. "I never would have expected that."

"What do I wear? What do I say? How do I dance?"

"Wear what you normally wear."

Wylan slapped Jesper's arm and said, "Be yourself."

"Don't be yourself!" Jesper laughed. "Be a Kaz that is still Kaz-ish but not a murderer Kaz."

"That made no sense," Wylan argued, glaring at Jesper.

Kaz groaned, dragging his hands through his hair. "She's gonna hate me. I'm going to be an embarrassment to her entire family."

Jesper was laughing, making fun of the fact that Kaz was so worried about what Inej thought while Wylan placed a gentle hand on Kaz's shoulder. "Inej loves you for being you, not for being a sappy, romantic fool. Stop stressing and calm down before Jesper dies."

****

Two weeks later, Kaz was finally ready and the Wraith was docking in Fifth Harbor.

Jesper and Wylan waited with him, preparing to help him carry his luggage onto Inej's boat.

Crew members emerged and Kaz balanced on his toes, searching for his girl.

There. There was Inej, dressed in a long purple coat embroidered with gold thread. Beneath it, she wore tight leather pants and a checkered vest. Her hair was pulled back into a tight coil and tucked under her purple hat that perched on her head.

"Kaz!" She called and broke into a run. Her caramel skin glowed in the afternoon sun, so beautiful that Kaz's breath caught in his throat.

He was still admiring her as she came to a halt in front of him. "Kaz."

"Inej."

He was vaguely aware of Jesper and Wylan carrying his bags onto the ship, but he didn't break her gaze. He just kept staring into her beautiful onyx eyes that reflected everything he had felt in those long weeks she had been gone.

"Well," she said softly, "let's get you settled on the boat, shall we?"

"Yeah," He murmured, following her onto the deck.

Wylan and Jesper stepped in front of him and Inej.

"Be careful," Wylan said softly, his blue eyes glimmering. "I'm gonna miss you two."

Inej embraced the boy, smiling as she ruffled his ginger curls. "We'll be back soon."

Jesper extended a hand to Kaz. "No mourners, no funerals."

Kaz shook Jesper's hand and nodded.

Wylan gave Kaz a cheery smile, though his eyes were laced with a sadness that Kaz couldn't place. "Goodbye, Kaz."

Kaz reached out and patted the boy's shoulder. "I'm coming back, Wy."

"I know."

Wylan gave him one last sorrowful smile before him and Jesper walked off the boat and waited on the docks as they slowly made their way out to sea.

****

"Hey."

Kaz glanced over at Inej as she leaned against the railing beside him, staring out at sea. Her hair was braided and resting on her shoulder and she was wearing a simple tank top and trousers.

"Hi."

"It's been a long day," she commented, shifting closer to him. "We didn't get a chance to catch up."

Kaz's heart fluttered as she rested her head on his shoulder. He fought to contain his breathing.

"I've really missed you," he whispered, letting his head rest on hers.

Inej's cheek brushed against his and nausea threatened to overwhelm him, but he fought it. Fought the memories with every inch of his shattered soul.

She pulled back and he missed her warmth. "Do you want to go back to our room?"

He didn't want to question that they were sharing a room. He just wanted to follow her, as a dog would chase after a cat.

So he did. He sat down on the bed in their cabin and examined the room. When he turned back to Inej, she had stripped down to her underclothes.

His face turned red as shame washed over him. He wanted Inej and he felt cruel for wanting her. For wanting her to be his, after all she had gone through at the Menagerie. She tugged her braid loose, her hair falling down her back.

"It looks nice when it's down," Kaz blurted, watching as she combed her fingers through her beautiful locks of hair.

She tilted her head towards him. "Thanks."

He gulped as she faced him fully. She was beautiful and so much more than Kaz deserved.

"It's like old times," she said quietly. She was acting as if she wasn't almost completely naked in front of him.

"Yeah." Kaz didn't know what to say, what to do. So he stood up.

Inej glanced up and met his gaze as he kicked off his shoes, peeled off his coat, unbuttoned his vest.

He didn't know what to do at that moment. He didn't know if he should kiss her or walk the other way.

Inej took a deep breath as he reached out and brushed his thumb over her lips. She kept her gaze steady as she stepped even closer.

"The sunset was... nice," Kaz whispered and Inej laughed.

It was that laugh that sent him reeling, the laugh that made his hand fall from her lips and rest on her back.

Inej reached for his hand and pulled off his glove, doing the same with his other hand. She smiled and placed her hand on Kaz's cheek, tracing his jaw.

Kaz wrapped his arms around her slowly. They both needed this. They both needed each other.

Inej stretched up on her toes and rested her forehead against his. He closed his eyes, let her tangle her gentle hands in his hair.

Her breath washed over his cheeks as she leaned in, pressing her lips to his.

It was glorious and yet terrifying, but Kaz enjoyed every perfect second where it was just them.

Inej pulled back, a smile on her thin lips. "That was... nice."

Kaz nodded, pulling her close. She rested her head over his heart, sighing contentedly.

"Should we go to sleep?" He whispered, brushing his fingers over her corded muscles.

"Sure."

Then it was over and Inej was curled up on her side of the bed and Kaz was trying not to watch the gentle rise and fall of her chest but he was failing miserably.

When he went to sleep, he felt Inej's warmth, her gentle hands.

It was in that moment that Kaz Brekker realized he would give anything to hold Inej in his arms again, to have her kiss him again.

****

Kaz didn't know what to expect as he got ready for the ball. He tugged on a suit, styled his hair, laced his shoes.

He definitely did not expect Inej to emerge from her room dressed in a gorgeous purple gown, her dark brown hair falling down over her shoulder beautifully.

"Ready?" She asked, crimson creeping onto her cheeks. Kaz wondered if he looked similar.

"Yeah."

They linked elbows and walked down the steps and into the large ballroom. As they reached the dance floor, Inej took Kaz's hands and placed them on her hips, then she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I don't know how to dance," he whispered.

Inej pulled him into motion, a slow waltz that ended much too soon. When it ended, they didn't break apart. Instead, Inej tugged him to one of the couches and Kaz sat down, horribly surprised when Inej sat in his lap.

"Is this normal?" He asked quietly, his hands shaking.

She glanced over her shoulder at him. "Would you like it to be normal?"

"Yes," he whispered. "I would very much like this to be normal."

****

A year and a half later, Kaz and Inej get married on a cheery spring morning, mist in the air, birds chirping and singing, flowers starting to unfold their protective shells and turn into something more. The grass was still layered with dew and the air had the faint scent of rain and pollen, causing Wylan to sneeze quite a few times.

Inej was wearing a dress that was anything from boring. Whorls of bird wings -crow wings- dappled the lavender silk in a beautiful array across her skirt. Her corset was knitted with black string that faded into patterns on her chest.

Her dark brown hair was down, curling at the ends. A large lily was tucked behind her ear.

The wedding was beautiful and the Dregs rejoiced. Rejoiced because Kaz was finally able to just be happy.

The years after were absolutely glorious for everyone, as Kaz and Inej announced the births of their two children. They eventually moved to a beautiful house in the country and left their pasts behind, content to just be with each other for the rest of their days.