A/N: Daaang, this thing's gotten more reviews in the last 24 hours asking for an epilogue that it did in the week of posting actual chapters! So, I gave in and whipped this thing up for you guys - AthenaMonaLisa, Tanzaniteblue, Artemis Raven Courtney, and everyone else, thanks for all your kind words.
(But, ARC, did you really have to show me the word sequel? Because now I'm coming up with ideas for one... I'll let y'all know if they turn into anything!)
The Epilogue
Tula was chewing on her bottom lip nervously as she stood before the nondescript condo door. It had taken her a couple of days to learn from the neighbors in the old apartment building where her former boyfriend had moved to, though why she bothered she couldn't have said. Taking a deep breath, she finally lifted a hand and knocked.
A few moments later, the door opened. Instead of the tall man she was expecting, though, there was a boy looking up at her who looked to be around ten years old. "Oh! I'm sorry, I thought this was Kaldur Ahm's residence..."
"It is - he's my stepdad." The boy answered her, head tilting a little to one side. "Do you want to see him?" Tula was too shocked to do anything other than nod, prompting the kid to retreat into the apartment, calling out Dad! There's someone here to see you! As he left the door open, the woman cautiously stepped inside.
It... Was a family home, for certain. Bright shades of blue and green decorated the walls, while well-loved secondhand furniture was in abundance. A few small children's toys were scattered on the living room floor, where the boy had returned to doing homework on the coffee table in front of the small television set. Off to one side was a staircase to the second level, opposite of an open doorway to the kitchen.
She was only standing there in silence for a minute before Tula heard heavy footsteps descending the stairs. "I hope you at least showed them in, Amistad." Kaldur was saying even before he entered the room, a toddler resting on his hip. The little girl saw Tula first, squealing as she pointed to the woman's short red hair. Eyes swinging around, Kaldur spotted her as well and froze.
"...Hi, Kaldur."
"Tula." His voice was strained as he called his step-son over. "Take Tabitha upstairs and stay there until I or your mother come home, alright? I'm going out for a little while." Confused, Amistad nonetheless did as he was told. Once the children were gone, Kaldur moved towards the door, ushering Tula out of his home and asking why she'd come.
"I just... Wanted to see you. Apologize for, for how I left." The two of them walked down to the sidewalk at the street's edge. "Garth and I... We thought it would be a kindness to leave quickly, rather than draw the pain out for you."
"Yes, that worked so well." Kaldur wasn't often one much for sarcasm, so hearing it from him now had her flinching. Immediately, his tone softened. "I was in pain for a long time, Tula. Surprisingly enough, I no longer bear you or Garth any ill will, if for no other reason than I now have an amazing wife and wonderful children. I would ask you not to do anything to interfere with that." And with that, he turned and went back inside, leaving her on the sidewalk in shock. Tula was still there ten minutes later when a cheerful looking woman came up to her.
"Nice looking place, isn't it?" She jerked in surprise, glancing at the newcomer.
"Er, yes, it is. Very lovely."
"Is there any reason in particular you're staring at my house, lady?"
Tula blinked as she realized who the woman must be. "Oh, um, I was-" She broke off with a sigh. "It, it doesn't matter any more. Tell Kaldur I'm sorry, for what it's worth." So saying, she quickly hurried off.
Raquel's gaze narrowed at the woman's abrupt departure, deciding she needed to head in and see if Kaldur had already spoken to her. Amistad and Tabitha were playing together on the living room floor when she came in the front door, the toddler giggling as her half-brother made funny faces.
"Mom!" He scrambled to his feet as she approached. "There was a lady here before, and she made Dad act really weird, and now he's up in your bedroom and told us not to bother him for a while. Is he okay?" The ten year old looked very anxious about his stepfather. Amistad had only been able to call Kaldur 'Dad' for the three years that he and Raquel had been married, but even before then the man had been the biggest and most important father figure in his life.
"I'm sure he will be, squirt. Keep your sister entertained for me, okay? And maybe save your homework before she eats it." Whirling around, Amistad let out an undignified squawk as his baby sister's drool covered hand reached for his math assignment.
"Tabby! Don't do that! Look, um, fishie!" Leaving her kids to their own devices with a smile, Raquel headed upstairs to the bedrooms. When she found Kaldur, though, the cheerful expression was wiped away.
The man had sat himself on the floor, leaning back against the bed, as he contemplated a bottle of wine in his hands.
Raquel didn't say a word. She just walked in and took a seat beside him. Eventually, Kaldur silently handed her the bottle, which Raquel tucked under the bed behind her. "She actually thought coming to apologize would help at this point." He mumbled a little while later.
"Guess so." Leaning over, the woman slipped an arm around her husband's waist. "What did you say to her?" Briefly, Kaldur explained, moving his own arms to hold Raquel close. Sometimes he still had trouble accepting that this beautiful woman was truly his to love, but the earlier encounter with his old flame had made Kaldur extremely grateful to be as lucky as he was.
"So, you came up here to mourn and potentially drink yourself away? Haven't you been giving relationship advice to people long enough to have a better idea than that?" She said with a teasing tone.
Kaldur arched an eyebrow at her, lips twitching into his familiar grin. "And what would you suggest, considering how long you've been listening to said advice, Mrs. Ahm?" Raquel tapped her chin in thought.
"I would recommend hiring a babysitter for the night for those wonderful kids of yours, then heading out to enjoy an evening with your amazing wife and awesome friends at the Secret Cave bar."
"That sounds like a good plan to me." With his then-finance's help, Kaldur had been able to move his full time job as a bartender to only working weekends, returning to school to finish earning his degree. Now, with Raquel's job at Ferris Space and Air and his own at the local fish hatcheries, the two had a decent income to furnish their household - but he still enjoying working at the Cave a few times a week, for old time's sake. As a plus, whenever he and the odd group of friends he'd gained (thanks to Raquel's arrival five years ago) came by as customers, his standing with the management got them a nice discount. "You call the Kents and Wests, I'll call the Harpers and Graysons."
"Have them drop the various munchkins off here, and we'll split the cost to get two or three babysitters." Kaldur smiled, pulled her into a kiss, then allowed his wife to go get her handbag and phone.
He was indeed a lucky man, all thanks to his hard-earned skills when it came to tending to a crowd.
