So. Series finale, huh? I don't know how I feel about that yet. I bet I'm not alone. I'll keep reading and probably writing fics, I think it's a great way to cope. And I hope people will stick around, at least for a little while.
Anyway. A million thanks to Ethiercn for being my beta again, and for what you said.
Enjoy! :)
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Epilogue
This is you, hours only after you were born.
Come closer, come here and look at that face. Now tell me, how could anyone see you and not fall in love with you, you gorgeous little creature?
Babies are always beautiful to their parents, you know, but there's no doubt you could win any contest in front of an objective jury.
You've got the round blue eyes only infants have, that shocking bright color that makes everyone wonder who the hell you got it from, until a few years later they either turn gray, a deeper blue, or green. There's no way of telling which one it'll be right now.
There are a few strands of dark hair on your skull, and you already show long matching eyelashes – the kind that all the girls at school will envy you before they discover make up.
A part of your mom is disappointed, for she hoped her baby's head would be covered in her husband's gold shade, and feeling that way makes her sob in shame instantly. But your dad knows what the fuss is about, he just smiles reassuringly at her and holds her as best as he can while she's still lying on the hospital bed. He tells her you're the most beautiful being in the world and that he's happy your hair is like hers, a dark and hypnotizing, chocolate-like color.
Soon she falls asleep with a smile on her lips, her baby in her arms, and her husband's arms around you both.
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You'll be loved as much as it's humanly possible, and even more.
Dad is going to spoil you, everybody knows it.
Mom will try and stop it from happening of course, but one look at the faces of her over-charming husband and her wonderful baby will change her mind.
You'll learn soon enough how to pout exactly the right way and make it almost impossible for her to resist you. After all, Dad got her wrapped around his little finger the first time he pulled one of his schemes on her, on the day they met. And since you're Mom's new and best reason to live, it's only logical that you'll have that power over her, too.
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At some point, there will be whispers in the night.
But there won't be any love words in this conversation, no: Mom and Dad will be fighting. As quietly as they can, in the kitchen because it's the room that's most far away from the bedrooms and they don't want to wake you.
But you'll know something is wrong, and you'll be so incorrigibly curious you'll get up to eavesdrop and find out what they're arguing about. And as often lately, it will be you.
You, their smart, cute, irresistible child, who is in that phase. The phase where no matter what adults tell you to do you'll smile gently and pretend to obey, and as soon as they turn their back on you, you'll go and pick someone else's pockets. Only to grin in that angelic way of yours when your parents catch you red-handed.
They'll find a way to fix it with your "mark" and after making you say you're sorry, they'll use your age as an excuse for that attitude; but that's not the problem, is it?
Mom will say it's Dad's fault because he taught you tricks instead of how to behave.
He won't agree; he'll say it's both their fault because they're both raising you, but he'll admit he could have been firmer with you. He'll apologize and promise to talk to you, and Mom will cry and apologize too, for the outburst.
They'll hug tightly as Dad looks your way – of course he'll know you got out of bed, silly – and he'll frown a little to let you know you're not forgiven yet. Then he'll do that disgusting thing where he puts his mouth on Mom's, not only because he loves her but also because he knows you'll go right back to your room not to witness it.
You never see Mom crying, so you'll worry about it that night.
You shouldn't, as they let you know shortly after the incident when they explain what the word pregnancy means, and that it's the reason for Mom's moods.
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They'll choose one of these quiet days when you're all at home since Mom's belly is too big for her to keep working, to finally explain the pictures you've always seen on one of the library's shelves in the living room, but never asked about.
They're photos of a splendid, tall, blond woman with straight hair and happy, light blue eyes; and of a gorgeous small girl with identical irises and curly hair – like yours, only hers are as golden as your father's.
Why didn't you ask? Well, it's true what your Uncle Dennis often says; you have a sixth sense as sharp as your dad's but, thank God, you also have a heart as big as your mom's.
That's how you always knew something about the pictures was off, in the way both your parents, Dad mostly, always seems a bit sad when he glances at them. And that's why, even if you like nothing more than play Clue and solve mysteries, you kept your interrogations to yourself all this time.
But that day, you'll voice your concerns that Mom could not love you anymore after the baby's born. She'll immediately say of course not, that you're her first child and she'll never stop loving you. That's when Dad will throw a glance at the pictures, then look at Mom, and there will be an awkward silence. And they'll decide to tell you everything.
Holding both your hands in his and taking comfort in your mom stroking his shoulders lightly, Dad will tell you all about Angela and Charlotte, about the wife he married long before he met your mother, the daughter she gave him – your sister – and he'll even mention the evil man who took them both away from him.
He'll cry like you've never seen him cry before, and after your mother nods in your direction, you'll hug him for a while before he calms down and allows you to ask him any question you might have about his other family.
He'll insist on how he doesn't love them more than he loves you and Mom, and he'll promise to take you to see their graves if you want to.
Mom will finally be able to fill in some of the blanks about how and why she and Dad ended up meeting, working together and slowly falling in love with each other.
It'll be the greatest story you ever hear.
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One day the baby will arrive, and you'll see it right after it's born.
You'll worry about how incredibly small and fragile it looks, but your parents will assert that as long as you're cautious when carrying it, nothing bad will happen.
You'll ask questions about how exactly the baby appeared in Mom's belly, and went from there to the little plastic crib it's in now, and you'll get a few smiles and chuckles as answers, along with a "you'll understand when you're older".
You'll be as stubborn as usual and won't let it go that easily, will you? Because you almost never get that answer from your dad, who likes to talk about everything with you – as long as your mom is around to make sure he's not teaching you another forbidden trick in the meantime.
But you'll soon forget that anyway, and instead focus on the adorable baby now living with the three of you at home, who as Mom and Dad said is now also yours to love and protect.
And you'll do just that.
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All of this could have been nothing but a dream, you know.
It could have been – it really has been – one or both of your parents' fantasy, at night when each was alone, before they went back to their normal lives in the morning. Back to pretending they didn't feel anything more than the loyalty and affection of friendship for each other.
You'll hear jokes from Uncle Wayne, about how it took your parents long enough to finally get their act together, and he'll be right. They could have avoided all the heartache they gave each other throughout the years.
Back at the CBI, your father should have forgotten about his crazy revenge wishes and decided to let go of the past to be happy again, with your mother. He should have eased her pain instead of adding to it. He should have stayed by her side no matter what, and not run away from her – twice.
Your mother should have gambled for once, she should have risked their friendship and work relationship for something else, something better. She should have told him that even if she knew and understood his fears, he still was the man she was waiting for all along.
Meh. Shoulda, coulda, woulda…
The end
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Thanks for reading
I didn't want to choose genders for the kids, or names, mainly because I really hate making up character names, you have no idea how much I hate it. Also, I wanted to leave that open for that fic, like they did in canon. Hope that's alright.
Please, leave a review on your way out! ^^