3 Years Later

“How does that sound?” Nathan asked, lowering the paper.

John shrugged. “How does it sound to you?”

“True.”

“Then that’s all that matters,” he said.

He had just finished reading his reflection on his last eight years in therapy. Today was his last day. They had mostly spent the session talking about music, the government, the latest movie, and anything else that came to their minds. Even though he knew he was ready to leave, Nathan felt weird. . . he had spent the last eight years working so hard in here. . . pushing himself to limits he didn’t think he had.

“We got five minutes,” John said, “What do you want to say?”

Nathan shook his head. “I don’t know. I guess. . . thanks.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Well, you helped me figure out how to do stuff by myself then.”

“Noelle coming to pick you up?”

Nathan nodded. “I don’t like her driving this far along, but. . .”

“She gave birth in the woods. She can handle it,” John smiled.

Nathan laughed and folded up his piece of paper into little squares. “She says there’s no way that’s happening this time around. We’re talking hospital, anesthetic, meals on a tray, the whole thing. No matter what.”

“Probably best,” John nodded.

“My dad sent Nevaeh a birthday card.”

“Really?”

“I guess I’m starting to not mind. It’s kinda nice, to have someone send your kid birthday cards. I know she thinks she’s missing out ‘cause she’s got no grandparents.”

“It sounds like you’re finally letting go of your anger,” John said.

Nathan shrugged. “I am. It’s kinda scary, to not be angry. I don’t feel. . . safe. Does that make sense?”

John nodded. “A lot of sense. But you have to decide how you want to live your life. Safe? Guarded? Or free.”

Nathan’s eyes automatically darted up to the clock on the wall. One minute. The spring sunlight was warm as it filtered through the window, crawling up his leg.

“Okay,” he said, “I’m ready.”

John stood up and shook his hand, then pulled him into a hug. “It’s been a pleasure working with you,” he said.

Nathan smiled as they pulled away from each other. “You’ll keep in touch?”

“Definitely. I want a picture of that baby. You decided on a name yet?”

“Benjamin. Benjamin Jameson.”

John nodded. “Good name.”

“Daddy!”

“Sounds like they’re here already,” John said, glancing past him at the door.

Nathan nodded, looking over his shoulder, then back at John one last time. “Thanks for everything. I mean it. Even if you think you didn’t do anything, you did.”

John smiled. “You’re welcome.”

With that, Nathan turned and walked out the door, and immediately a small blurry figure jumped into his arms, throwing him backwards against the wall.

“Woah!” Nathan laughed, backing up. Nevaeh was wearing a pale purple sundress, her dark hair curly and wild and held in place by a white ribbon, which was slipping out. Nathan adjusted it and kissed her cheek.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“We went to the park and guess what?!”

“What?”

“The splash pad was alive!” she squealed.

“It’s alive again? Already? Well that means it’s almost summer!”

“Can I go get my bathing suit? Please, please, PLEASE?!” she begged.

Nathan looked beyond her at a very-pregnant Noelle, who was waddling over to them, holding her stomach, out of breath.

“Tell her no!” she gasped, “I do not feel like cleaning her up later.”

Nathan grinned. “I can take her.”

“PLEASE!! Please, Daddy! Pretty please!” she begged.

Noelle rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “Fine.”

“YAY!” Nevaeh shouted.

Nathan hoisted her up and reached out a hand to touch Noelle’s round stomach. “How’s our son?”

“Our son is kicking the crap out of me,” Noelle winced.

“Uh oh. Remember the last time that happened?”

“Please don’t say that,” she shuddered, “We are not in the woods. I’m five minutes from the hospital. Everything will be fine.”

Nathan laughed and took her hand as they walked out of the building into the warm sunlight. He did not look back as they drove away. He sensed that part of his life was over. For the first time, the future was more important to him than anything that had happened in the past. But what really mattered the most was this second, Nevaeh and Noelle and his unborn son, Benjamin Jameson, with him as he drove forward, no traffic on the road, just them, just clear.

A/N: I questioned even putting in an epilogue, but I'm a huge epilogue/prologue junkie, so the story seemed incomplete without it. You'll be happy to know I didn't blow away last night, though things did get scary. :) Thanks SO much to everyone who read and reviewed! I know this story needs a lot of work, and I plan to revise it many times, just like I've had to do with Equinox, but I'm happy with it as a first draft. It felt so incredibly satisfying to wrap up Nathan's life; he's probably my favorite character I've ever written, so I just had to write this for him. Now I feel good about where I'm leaving him; at the end of Equinox I just felt sad for him. Yes, I get WAY too attached to my characters. Sorry. Can't help it. lol.

As promised, I have the soundtrack ready. There are about 20 songs on it, so I don't feel comfortable posting them all here in this author's note. If you want the list, just say so in your review and leave me some way to contact you (if you don't sign in, leave your email address).

Okay, I'm done now, thanks again and keep your eyes open for Ghosts Underwater; I plan to start working on it hard-core as soon as I can. . . Until later!