Damien and Christabel took a vacation.
Not to a beach.
To a mountain.
To a cabin with no phones and no guards and no world.
Just them.
And for the first time in years, they breathed.
---
The idea came from Lena.
Not directly. She was three. She didn't know what a vacation was.
But she had been asking questions.
"Mama, why is Papa always on the phone?"
"Because he's working."
"Why is he always working?"
"Because he has to."
"Why?"
Christabel didn't have an answer.
That night, she talked to Damien.
"We need to get away."
"From what?"
"From everything."
He was quiet for a moment.
"Where?"
"Somewhere with no phones. No guards. No world."
"Just us?"
"Just us."
---
The cabin was in the mountains.
Three hours from the city. No cell service. No internet. No neighbors.
Damien had bought it years ago. Had never used it.
Now it was exactly what they needed.
Christabel stood on the porch.
Looked out at the trees.
"It's beautiful."
"It's quiet."
"Same thing."
"Different intention."
---
They spent the first day doing nothing.
No meetings. No calls. No emergencies.
Just silence.
Damien didn't know what to do with his hands.
Christabel laughed.
"You're like a caged animal."
"I'm not used to this."
"Used to what?"
"Not working."
She took his hand.
"Then learn."
---
They walked through the woods.
No path. No destination. Just trees and sky and each other.
"I forgot what this felt like," Christabel said.
"What?"
"Not being afraid."
"You're always afraid."
"I'm not afraid now."
He looked at her.
"Then what are you?"
She was quiet for a moment.
"Free."
---
They found a stream.
Cold water. Clear. Moving.
Christabel took off her shoes.
Waded in.
Damien watched her.
"You're going to freeze."
"I'm going to feel."
"Same thing."
"Different intention."
She splashed him.
He stared at the water on his shirt.
"Did you just—"
"I did."
He stepped into the stream.
Grabbed her.
Pulled her close.
"You're going to pay for that."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
"How?"
He kissed her.
Not softly.
The way he kissed her when he was playful.
She laughed against his mouth.
"I love you."
"I know."
"I love you in ways I didn't know I was capable of."
He touched her face.
"I know. Because I love you the same way."
---
They stayed in the stream until their lips turned blue.
Then they went inside.
Built a fire.
Sat in front of it.
No words. Just warmth.
"I could stay here forever," Christabel said.
"Then stay."
"We have responsibilities."
"They can wait."
"The world won't wait."
"The world can burn."
She looked at him.
"You don't mean that."
"I mean every word."
---
That night, they made love in front of the fire.
Not the desperate kind.
Not the hungry kind.
The kind that came from peace.
From safety.
From knowing that nothing outside mattered.
Afterward, they lay tangled together.
The fire crackled.
The wind blew.
"I love you," she said.
"I know."
"I love you in ways I didn't know I was capable of."
He kissed her forehead.
"I know. Because I love you the same way."
---
The next day, they hiked to the top of the mountain.
Not a trail. A climb.
Christabel was faster.
Damien was stronger.
They reached the summit together.
The world spread out below them.
Forests. Rivers. Clouds.
"This is what we're fighting for," Christabel said.
"This is what we're protecting."
"Same thing."
"Different intention."
---
They stayed on the mountain until the sun set.
Then they climbed down.
Built another fire.
Ate simple food.
Drank simple wine.
Talked about nothing.
"I want to do this more often," Christabel said.
"Then we will."
"Promise?"
He took her hand.
"Promise."
---
That night, Christabel called Lena.
Not on a phone. There was no service.
She talked to the stars.
"Good night, little one. Mama misses you. Papa misses you. We'll be home soon."
The stars didn't answer.
But she felt heard.
---
Damien watched her.
"You're talking to the sky."
"She's listening."
"The sky?"
"Lena."
He walked to her.
Put his arm around her.
"She's fine."
"I know."
"The nanny is taking good care of her."
"I know."
"Then why are you worried?"
She was quiet for a moment.
"Because I'm her mother."
---
They stayed in the cabin for a week.
No phones. No guards. No world.
Just them.
And for the first time in years, they breathed.
When they returned to the city, the world was still there.
The problems were still there.
The cartels. The lawsuits. The chaos.
But they were different.
Lighter. Stronger. Together.
Christabel looked at the skyline.
"Ready?"
"No."
"Then let's go anyway."
First Line of Chapter 177 (Teaser):
"The one hundred thirty-second week, the world caught up with them. Not with violence. With opportunity. The President called. He wanted Damien's help. And Damien had to decide whether to say yes."