Declan sat at the edge of the pier, his back to the busy boardwalk as the water below him rippled slightly in the breeze that the evening had brought. He felt as though so much had changed in the last five years on the run, hiding from the men that had ruined his career and send his sister on a rampage to hunt down O'Shaughnessy's men. 

He flexed his hand slowly, the muscles still stiff and painful, a reminder that he'd never box professionally again. Sure, he'd find something to do, there was always business going on in the busy city he now called home, but nothing was as satisfying as being in the ring. He'd had such a promising start before Bill had ruined it all, leaving him defenseless and on the run from a never ending onslaught of men on his case for killing O'Shaughnessy. Even his sister had gotten wrapped up into a world he'd never wanted for her but he was damned if it didn't suit her. 

He chuckled softly, thinking about the girls, Kittie and Star. Whatever they had dreamed up as little girls out in the middle of the lavender patch in between their houses, he couldn't ever remember either of them entertaining the thought of being high powered criminals. Their conversations had always been lofty, both of them dreaming up fanciful titles and careers for themselves. They were like two of the sisters from that book Star was always reading, Little Women she said. Jo March was her inspiration, a headstrong young woman who fancied doing things just like the boys and never giving a thought to propriety. They had changed so much in such a small time and Declan couldn't help the feeling of wistfulness at having missed so much. 

Declan patted his jacket, feeling the weight of the small box inside. He swallowed hard, thinking of how long he'd saved to buy the ring that sat inside it. Before he'd left the first time, Star had promised she would wait for him. He knew she had her ambitions at the time, already thinking about college and what to do after that, but he'd believed her when she said that nobody else held a candle to him. He wasn't sure if she remembered that promise as clearly as he had and part of him even wondered if it was worth it to bring it up. What had he done to deserve someone like her?  Would she even feel the same after all this time or was it a lost cause to hold on to the past? 

He didn't hear Star as she approached him, coming from her observatory with a picnic basket stuffed full of food and alcohol from the bar. She'd watched him for several minutes prior, his ragged blond hair ruffling in the breeze. Like a boy, he'd taken his socks and shoes off and was dangling his feet off the side of the pier. Despite the hardships he'd faced, he looked like a boy again for a moment, like the 19 year old kid who'd kissed her just as the bus had pulled up, destined for all the big city had in store for him. She'd promised to wait for him, and five years later that promise still stood. 

Star carefully pulled her own shoes off, stripping off her stockings and rolling them up into her shoes as she set the basket down on the ground just behind Declan. He jumped slightly, realizing he hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings. A smile broke across his face that, for a moment, erased all the hardships he'd faced as Star sat down next to him, pulling the basket over between them to open it up. 

"Are you hungry? I brought sandwiches from the bar, and a bottle of whisky." Star rummaged through the basket, pulling out a dark brown bottle from the bottom. With him, all her Americanized traits evaporated and she spoke with a thick Irish accent. She poured a healthy measure of whisky into a cup, and handed it to Declan before serving herself and capping the bottle. They sat together for a few moments, commenting on the way the water rippled and joking about the seagulls that were seemingly eyeing their picnic. As he opened his mouth to ask her a question, she spoke first. Her voice quiet, tinged with something unsaid. 

"Dec...I missed you. There were days I thought we'd never find you and after Kittie heard you'd died, I wondered what it'd all been for. We haven't seen each other since we were teenagers and so much has changed since then." She paused, biting her lip as Declan put his cup down and turned to face her. 

"Star, we were kids back then but you made a promise. It's one I've often thought about since I got on that bus and left, one I'd hope you'd still want to keep after all this time. After wh...after Bill and havin' to go on the run, I didn't think I would be good enough for you. A dumb country kid with a busted hand would be nothing to a girl who'd made her way in the city but I tried. I wanted to be everything for you and then you and Kittie came in like the knights in all those fantasy stories and I was the damsel in distress."

He burst out laughing and Star couldn't help but follow suit, their peals of laughter echoing across the pier amid the screams of the seagulls fighting over a dropped crumb. Declan's hand reached for his pocket again but he pulled up short, running his hand through his hair instead. 

"Ah Star, I just, wanted to be the best that I could be. Bill took my dream from me but it didn't stop me from wanting to try to make good on your promise. I know that sounds silly but, I wanted to be worth it you know? I gotta admit I lost a of of hope on the run. Up in Canada, it was cold and lonely and I worried I'd never see your face again and then you an' my sister nearly blew me sky high in Los Angeles, for a moment I wondered if the universe wasn't trying to tell me something."

His expression was unsure, a half smile couldn't hide the doubtful look in his eyes. Star's lip quivered for a moment before she squared her shoulders and placed her hands on Declan's arms. 

"Dec, maybe the universe was trying to tell you that after five years, I wasn't gonna give up looking for you. I'll be the first to tell you the last few years have changed the both of us but maybe it's for the better. We're not kids anymore, we grew up and there's nothing stopping us from making those big decisions we weren't ready for then. If...if you have to hear it to believe it though, I love you and I never stopped. I made that promise then that I'd wait for you and the proof is in the pudding, or in this case the whisky."

She giggled as she brushed a stray lock of hair away from his eyes, leaning in to place a kiss on his cheek. Declan smiled and pulled her close, resting his chin on her shoulder. The ring could wait a bit longer but he had his answer to go along with his high hopes. 

"Love you too Star."