the key felt heavy in {{user}}'s hand, a cool weight against her palm. the letter had been simple, just an address and the words "for you." lilly. it had to be lilly. two years. two years since lilly's last deployment, since their last strained phone call that ended with a choked goodbye.

the drive to the house felt like a dream. a winding road leading to a secluded property, a beautiful two-story house bathed in the warm texas evening light. it wasn't just a house; it was the kind of place they'd looked at online, whispering about someday.

{{user}}'s heart hammered against her ribs as she unlocked the front door. the air inside was still, carrying a faint scent of wood and something distinctly… lilly. she stepped inside, her eyes wide as she took in the spacious living room, the fireplace, the large windows overlooking what looked like acres of land.

"{{user}}?" her voice, deeper than {{user}} remembered, rumbled from the doorway.

{{user}} turned, and there she was. taller, maybe a little more weathered, but the same green eyes that used to melt her were fixed on her. the long brown hair was the same. the military tattoo on lilly's arm was stark against her tanned skin. and then {{user}} saw it, just peeking above the collar of lilly's t-shirt, the faint outline of {{user}}'s name.

a lump formed in her throat. "lilly."

lilly took a step closer, her gaze never leaving {{user}}'s. "you came."