Chapter 10 – Epilogue

I stood in the doorway of the nursery watching my husband play with our new born son. He was small and adorable. My husband cradled him and sang to him as he drifted off to sleep. I stepped behind my husband in the rocking chair we had received from his mother a few months back. My husband's eyes met mine as I stood by him watching our tiny bundle of joy.

Our son had been born a month ago, when his father was on tour. He almost missed the birth of our son. He had been gone about a month when my water broke. His mother was in the delivery room with me. She tried to help the best she could but it wasn't working. I squeezed her hand and screamed at her. Nothing seemed to help. I just wanted my husband. Two minutes before our son was born, he showed up. He stood with me as I gave birth to our beautiful baby boy. My husband cried in front of everybody who was there. I never expected him to cry, but was speechless when he did. The first second that he got to hold our son, tears came to my eyes. It was like a Kodak moment that even a picture couldn't completely capture the emotions. It was one of those moments where you had to be there to see it and understand what it meant for it to have a special place in your heart.

The grandfather, grandmother and godfather of the baby were allowed in first. My father, of course couldn't help but laugh at all the little blonde hairs on the top of my son's head. "He looks just like his daddy," my father had whispered. "He'll be just like his daddy, a famous rock star."

The godfather gushed over him. Harry held him so close and so dear, the way he held me when I was scared and needed someone. Now, he could do that when my son was angry or upset with me or my husband in the future. My son always had someone to run too just like I did, and it just happened to be the same person.

Things were settling into place nicely for the Fletcher family. We had recently moved into a nice cozy little house two blocks away from Tom's parents. It made it easier on me in case I needed Debbie in five seconds. The house was small but nice for a family just starting out. It had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a basement, living room and kitchen.

Things were calm with the press since Claire had been sent back home. I'm sure she was happy to read about how successful our little group was doing. I'm sure she was quite ecstatic to read about Tom's son in the gossip columns. I had heard a story from someone who knew her, that she went delusional and her parents put her into a mental facility but kept that on the down low.

Jody was one of the first ones at the hospital when I gave birth to my son. She was crying the whole time and could barely hold my son when she got the chance. Dougie and Jody were almost never apart now. She tired not to be more than one hour away from him doing publicity. Most of the places she visited lately didn't have waves.

My mom never got over her disappointment in me and to this day disowns me. I tried calling her the day after my son was born to let her know, but she ignored my call. Lily called my father and asked if she would bring her to the England to see me and my new family soon.

My family was by my side, although my mother wasn't. I didn't need her; I had Debbie and Jody, who did act like my mother sometimes, to watch over me. My husband was my rock…he was there no matter what. When he came for the birth, he told the managers that he was taking a few months off to spend with his wife and child. He didn't care what they had to say. He knew where he was needed most, and he knew he wanted to be with us more than on tour.

Tom placed our son back into his crib and watched him sleep for a few seconds. Tom never seemed to be happier than after our son was born. I walked over to one of the blue walls and wiped my hand across the tiny plaque that was made for our son. Tabor Elliot Fletcher was born on January 24 at 4:44 p.m. to Thomas Michael Fletcher and Kayleigh Stefanie Adams-Fletcher.

Tom stood beside me slowly wrapping his arms around my slimmer body. I turned in his arms to face him. He kissed me tenderly before speaking. "I've made a decision. Hear me out before you say anything okay?"

He took a deep breath as if he was still sorting out what he wanted to say. "I've decided to quit the group. I belong here with you and Tabor. I could be a music teacher in primary or secondary school. Maybe even a professor at a college. I could still do little nightly gigs at clubs in London and get money that way. I'll make it work, but I want to be around if you need me. I don't want to be in another country when something bad might happen and then I have no way to get back to you in time. I'm here to stay, I promise."

"Are you sure you want to give up all you've accomplished?"

He pecked my head with his lips, "I've accomplished everything that I've wanted to accomplish in my career. Now, I want to accomplish being a good dad and a good husband. I don't need fame and fortune. I need my family and my friends and if I die a poor man because I want to be with you, than I've lived my life to the fullest."

I stood up on my toes slightly to reach his lips. "I'm not going to fight you about that. If you want to be here with me, you're more than welcome too. I love you."

"I love you too." He held my right hand in his as he started swaying us back and forth. He had his head close to mine and started to sing quietly. "I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky, I'll be there, I swear like the shadow that's by your side, I'll be there, for better or worse, 'till death do us part, I'll love you with every beat of my heart."

Everything happens for a reason, I don't doubt that. My son was the best blessing in disguise, as are most blessings.

The End