"I know. And as much as I hate when people say it– it's made the both of you and your bond together that much stronger. It was difficult but you both went through like all of the ultimate tests that only confirm your relationship is solid," Vera pointed out. "There is no doubt in the universe that the two of you were made for one another. I think it was going to be you guys in the end no matter what. It's some soulmates level shit," she insisted with a soft laugh but she truly meant it. She found it hard to imagine anyone being more perfect for her best friend than the man she was with now. Damien felt like the accumulation of all the things Freya had either said she wanted in a man or had loved the most about past partners. At least from her perspective and what she'd heard.
"I wouldn't say very beginning. We started off as friends that flirted an unhealthy amount," she chuckled, thinking back on all their past shenanigans. "And I will be the first to admit that I found it hard to imagine a world where I'd see Frederick Hayes settle down. Let alone with me," she pointed out with a fond laugh, clearly happier than ever that she'd been proven wrong in the end. "I love that you can plan and expect and make your mind up about things but there is always that chance of everything turning on its head and completely surprising you. That's this for me. And while it was unexpected at first, now nothing makes more sense than making this next step with him."
Freya felt as though she’d lived through a lifetime of heartbreak in such a short time. Her childhood hadn’t been kind, and maybe that had set the bar too low, making her believe love had to be difficult to be real. That belief had drawn her, at first, to the wrong kind of man. The kind who put her in danger. The kind who’d forced her to lie to her siblings about her sudden disappearance, pretending she was off travelling, when in truth she’d had to go into hiding because of him.
And then came Damien.
Godric, he was the love of her life. That much she knew with a certainty she couldn’t quite explain. Even if their beginning had been hesitant due to her past trauma, he had proven time and time again that he was exactly who she needed, exactly when she needed him. But the universe hadn’t made it easy. Just when things had started to feel steady, she'd found out she was pregnant, only to lose the baby not long after. The grief hadn’t left her since.
She let out a breath before continuing, her voice quieter now, more reflective, soft in its appreciation for the people she'd kept in her life. The value she gave them was nothing short of a fortune. “You’re right,” she said gently, looking at Vera with unrivalled warmth in her swirling blue eyes. “Though I think of you as my soulmate… he’s my life mate.” Then came the question, soft, almost pleading for a positive response from whatver deity deemed her worth listening to. “And honestly, haven’t we been through enough to earn a little sunshine now?”
Vera’s shift into humour was a welcome relief, and Freya met it easily with a smile tugging at her lips. “Yes, there was definitely a lot of flirting,” she laughed. “But I still can’t believe you didn’t notice just how hard he was trying. He was practically sending smoke signals. Get out the Quidditch team and have them pull the banner to broadcast it and you still would have completely missed it.” She cheekily teased her friend before continuing. “And plenty of men don’t seem like the settling type until the right woman comes along. You were that woman, V. He’d have been a idiot not to.”
