The sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air as Newt sat on the porch of your small cottage. The Safe Haven lived up to its name, with endless stretches of blue water and green hills untouched by the chaos of the outside world. But for Newt, the true haven wasn’t the location—it was you.

He turned his head as you stepped out of the cottage, carrying two steaming mugs of tea. Your wedding ring glinted in the sunlight, a simple silver band that mirrored his own.

“Morning,” you said, handing him one of the mugs and settling into the seat beside him.

“Morning, love,” he replied, leaning over to press a kiss to your temple. The warmth of the gesture made your heart flutter, just as it had the first time he’d kissed you.

The two of you sat in companionable silence, watching the sun rise over the sparkling ocean. Birds chirped in the distance, and the occasional laugh from the children playing on the beach drifted up to you. It felt unreal, this peace, after everything you’d endured.

“You ever think about how far we’ve come?” Newt asked, his voice quiet but tinged with wonder.

You smiled, turning toward him. “Every single day. Sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago that we were running for our lives in the Maze.”

Newt chuckled, the sound low and warm. “And now here we are. Married, of all bloody things.”

You tilted your head, teasing him with a playful smirk. “What’s that supposed to mean? Regretting it already?”

He turned to you fully, his expression soft but serious. “Not for a second,” he said, reaching out to take your hand. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, love. I mean that.”

Your breath caught, and tears pricked the corners of your eyes. “You’re not too bad yourself,” you replied with a watery smile, squeezing his hand.

As the sun climbed higher, casting a golden glow over the Safe Haven, Newt wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you close. For the first time in years, life felt right.