Epilogue

"Amelia was my mother's helper, she'll take care of her, I assure you," He said earnestly. "She'll be here the whole time"

Stella passed her on, cast down and Amelia nodded holding her as gently as possible.

Max adjusted when she climbed on "You are stalling"

She fastened her arms around him when he started riding on short notice, it romped around the field.

"Have you ever ridden a horse before?" He teased her.

Stella gulped. "You already know the answer. Just at Middle school, at a school party, I was the only one scared of it"

"Touché" He grinned with a look of mischief.

Over time, she would peek at Amelia by the shade on a chair until the pace increased and she held on to him tighter in hopes that she would not fall. She gasped as it went into a gallop around the field.

"Max, you're going too far!" She clutched his shirt gritting her teeth.

Having ridden a distance of two or three metres, Max slackened his pace and put the horse to a slow walk.

"Is this what you prefer?" He asked turning his head close to her face and she looked down.

"Yes and thank you for not trying to kill me," She said recalling his injured shoulder and dismounted.

He replaced Starlight's saddle. "I met with the police, today and_"

He stopped, alarmed by Mia's scream and she glanced at Amelia cradling her, her cries heightened into giggles jabbing up her hands.

He walked closer to her until she could get his scent. Her eyes searched his face and he swallowed. Max looked thoughtful.

She couldn't help sounding uneasy.

"Are they pressing charges? Tell me,"

Her heart fluttered groaning at the news, "What did they say?"

He shook his head "Angelica's been nabbed," There was little meaning in his tone.

She exhaled and he gently fastened her to himself.

"You scared the dickens outta me," Her arms were in between his chest and hers.

His lips spread into a genuine smile looking down at her and reading into her expressions.

"She didn't go that far. When the police in the outskirts heard she skipped town. All hell broke loose. She's going to jail and she's going away for a very long time,"

Stella's eyes watered. "Oh Max, for a moment there, I thought...," She shook her head and he brushed her tear.

"What? I'm going to prison? God, Stella, then who will take care of you and Mia?" He grinned and saw she was starting to withdraw under his grasp.i His fingertips brushed her chin and her eyes lowered. "I've really missed you, Stella, there's no doubt about that," He admitted.

She swallowed hard when he brushed her hair aside. "I don't know, Max," Her hands clenched.

His hands eased from her waist "Then I can't ratify to that, I saw the way you looked at me, honey. You love me, just as much_" He stopped himself "I love you,"

Her chest heaved when he spoke.

"I think hard and long about it. I still do, there's no stopping that,"

"Max,"

"What's stopping us?" He implored and gently, he inclined to her face then he was met halfway, with a hard, searing kiss and he pulled her closer.

Their lips smothered and Stella held him with all her strength and she hoped this wouldn't be the end. She felt solace rather than bitterness, affection instead of hatred and hope instead of sadness.

He had been the only missing piece in her life and Mia's.

Max hoped this was the real Sirena he'd been aching to have. "Nena..." He murmured with longing. "I'm gonna have to ask you one more question,"

He let her down and caught her hand to his own and drew it to his chest.

"Will you take me in and hit me as hard as you can for the rest of your life?"

She felt the metal object in his hand and he grinned taking out his fist to slide down the ring on his finger.

"Maxwell Santiago Martinez?..."

She smirked "I'll hold you to that,"