A few years after everything. After Owen and {{user}} had run away from Kentucky and escaped all the judgement, {{user}} was attending college in Pennsylvania and Owen was preaching in a church and growing their farm on the side.

They were happy. Truly happy together.

{{user}} kept in contact with her sister, Jem. But Jem had no idea that Owen and {{user}} were still in contact. She didn’t know they were newly engaged.

The summer of {{user}} ‘s second year in college, Owen and {{user}} decided to go back home and see their folks a bit. They thought it would be good for them to see their families and announce their engagement at the same time. “Two birds with one stone, baby” Owen said on the drive over.

It was one hell of a drive. Eight hours long. Both {{user}} and Owen were exhausted as they walked into their rental home. They didn’t want to live with their folks while they were there. That would be hell.

“You alright, darlin’?” Owen asked, his voice gentle and loving as always. His hand stroked her back as it always did when he could sense her stress.