Chapter 20: …Ever After

Four years later…

I want to tell you that we lived happily ever after, but then I be lying. Nothing is like that. I learned that a long time ago. But to say we weren't happy was wrong. Each happy ending is a brand new beginning. Whether a good or bad beginning.

We decided to wait to get married. We weren't in a rush. We just wanted to enjoy the time we had with each other. One big happy family. Which got even bigger when a new addition came. Even though me and Will said we wanted to wait a long time to have more kids, fate had other plans for us.

I got pregnant for a second time just after Sophie turned two. I told Beth, she was so happy she screamed, which Shiloh heard, and then he told Will. So yeah, Will was happy too. Everyone but me because I hated being pregnant. I only realized how much I hated it when I wasn't pregnant anymore.

I finally had my original body back and we were thinking about finally setting a date. Everything was perfect, until I got pregnant. It turned out Will did want more kids, sooner then I thought. He just went along with whatever made me happy.

I hated that he didn't speak his opinion on the matter. I loved him, and he was trying so hard to just make me happy. So I sucked it up, put on a happy face and did my best to enjoy the thought of having another baby.

The pregnancy was surprising easy. I didn't gain as much, I didn't get as big and wasn't miserable. Everything, except for the birth, was perfect. We found out I was having a boy because I just had to know. Will was ecstatic. Shiloh was incredibly supportive and Beth, was… well she was Beth. Perfectly happy. Sophie hadn't grasped the fact that I was having a baby till I was in the hospital. I remember when she was sitting in the hospital bed with me.

I was in labor, but it wasn't so bad. Not as bad as the first time. She poked my belly and said. "Mommy, is you okay?" she said in her cute baby voice.

I smoothed her red ringlets. "Its okay Zoë, Mommy's having the baby today."

She laid down with me, rubbing my stomach. I knew she was scared for me, but she didn't know why she was. "Mommy, does it hurt?"

I held her tighter and kissed her forehead. "Only a little."

I rocked her in my arms till she fell asleep. Will came over and tried to take her from me, but I wouldn't let him. "Sophie, I'll have Beth take her home. She doesn't need to see you like this." he said.

I breathed in her baby powder scent. "I want her just a little bit longer. She soothes me." I whispered against her hair.

He sat down in the chair next to the bed and took my hand. "Are you doing okay?" he asked.

I rubbed his hand back. "Yeah, not as bad as last time. Do you remember?" I asked.

He laughed. "Of course, you drove me crazy wanting to sacrifice yourself for Zoë. Though I do understand it better now." he smiled.

"Will?"

"Yes sweetheart."

"I think we should get married." I whispered.

"Yeah, we are aren't we?" he asked.

"Yeah, I just think. As soon as possible. I don't want to wait anymore."

He leaned forward to kiss my forehead. "Me either," he said as he leaned his forehead against mine.

Beth came and took Zoë before things got rough. It wasn't as scary as the first time because I knew what to expect. I didn't push long before our beautiful son laid before us. He was tiny, but healthy. We had the name Aiden picked before hand. We wanted to be prepared this time.

Everyone loved Aiden, just like Sophie. He didn't steal attention, he begged for it. From the time he was born to nine months, he cried. A lot. After he was about nine months old he became very active. He destroy everything he could get his hands on.

The name Aiden means 'little fire' and that's exactly what he was. He run around the house chasing Zoë, or steal away something and run away to hide it. And well Shiloh, was his partner in crime. They were inseparable. He was the one to teach Aiden to talk, and that's all he ever did. Screaming was his favorite activity and he do it out of pure enjoyment.

He had dark hair like Shiloh and sapphire eyes like me. He stayed small so it just added to his boundless energy. He didn't give me a moments break, but we loved him to death. He was our little fire.

About two months after Aiden was born, me and Will were married. We had a small ceremony, nothing too big, much to Beth's dismay. We spent a few days in New York City for our honeymoon and then we were home. We didn't want to spend too long away from our children.

So now, that we're up to speed, we come to the present. Will now works as a commercial realtor and I worked, well I worked taking care of our two small children, too small to be in school.

We moved into a much more comfortable country home, away from the city. That's where I always wanted to live and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can still go for my long runs and be back in time for dinner, which Will made because I lacked cooking skills.

I came into the house after a long run. I opened the door and I am assailed by my two children. "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!"

I patted each of their heads and tried to make it into the kitchen. "Is Daddy in the kitchen?" I asked.

"Yep, Mummy. Daddy making spaghetti." Zoë said.

"Mommy come play?" Aiden asked hanging onto my leg.

"Not right now Aiden. Mommy's going to see Daddy." I said as I unwound his arms from my legs.

They ran into the living room to their coloring books spread across the carpet. I went around them and into the kitchen. Will was at the stove making the noodles for the spaghetti.

I wrapped my arms around his torso and reached up on my toes to kiss the back of his neck. "Miss me?" I asked.

He turned around in my arms and bent down to kiss me. "Of course." he answered.

"How were the kids?" I asked.

"Same. Yelling, screaming, fighting. You know, the usual."

I laughed. "It smells good in here." I said.

" Not as good as you." he said bending down to kiss me again.

He moved down my neck as I said, "I should go take a shower before dinner."

"No, you should save the shower so we can take it together."

I pushed him back. "What has gotten into you?"

He laughed. "Nothing just reminiscing."

"Reminiscing what?"

The kids came running into the kitchen shoving each other. He kissed me quickly. "I'll tell you later."

Bath time was the hardest part of the day. Zoë was quick and easy, she wash herself and do it quickly. She was never any trouble. But Aiden put up a fight until he hit the water. Then he splash and soak everything in the bathroom. But when he was out, dry, and dressed he was ready for bed. They both hit their pillows and were out for the night.

I went into our room, soaked for the second time that evening. Will was just coming out of the shower, with a white towel around his waist. His hair dark from the water.

"Looking good," I said.

"Thanks, want a closer look?" he asked suggestively.

"Not tonight." I said laying on the bed exhausted.

He laid beside me and wrapped his arms around me. "What's wrong sweetheart?"

I sighed. "Nothing. I'm… just really tired."

He kissed my neck. "Do you still want to know what I was thinking about?" he asked.

"Only if you want to tell me." I muttered with my eyes closed.

"I… was thinking about you. And if you made the right choice."

I opened my eyes and turned in his arms. "What are you talking about?" I asked.

"I want to know… are you with me, because you want to be, or because you want to do what's best for Zoë."

"Will, I'm with you because I love you. More than anything. Zoë only intensified the love for you."

"Really?"

I laughed and kissed his nose. "Of course. I wouldn't marry just anyone. I love you. And I know this is where my life was always meant to go. Even if I left to stay with my mom I still be in this same spot. I would have came back Will. I loved you before I was pregnant. I just didn't realize it. I don't regret what was meant for me."

He kissed me, but not like he usually does. He kissed me like he did when he first kissed me. With so much passion, that he poured his soul into that kiss. I knew how much he loved me and how much he thought he never be enough for me.

"I love you so much Sophie." he said as a single tear escaped from my eye. He brushed it away. "There isn't a day that goes by, that I don't think how utterly lucky I am to have someone like you. To know that you gave me the most beautiful children any man could ever ask for. And the most beautiful wife on the face of the earth."

Tears streamed down my face, but he brushed them away. "You held my hand through everything, through all of these years. When I cried you wiped away all the tears, and that's all I can ask for. Because that is all I ever wanted Will. I wanted someone to love me for exactly who I am, and see me as a perfect person, even in my worst. Will, your perfect, maybe not to everyone else, but your perfect for me." I put his hand to my heart. "We're meant for each other. There's no fighting what's meant to be. Don't fight it Will, I love you more than life itself, so just embrace it."

He laid his head on my chest, and we breathed in sync. "I love you Sophie. More than you know. Its so wonderful to know that we were meant for each other. I have no doubts for our love. Our love is equal." he whispered as our hearts slowed to the same beat.

Its funny how life works. The plans we set for ourselves, can all come crashing down. The hopes and dreams that are an arm reach away can be suddenly taken.

Then sometimes it can work out perfectly. What was a horrible twist in fate can turn out to be the best thing that ever happened.

This is a story. My story. Some call it luck, some call it karma, some call it fate but I call serendipity.

_______________________________________________________________

Well this is the end… just kidding. I have some of the sequel written so if you want more you'll have to review!