Heath

What I had done for Nick, going against the family, had been hard. There had been moments in which I couldn't help feeling they would have rather, what had happened to him, would rather have happened to me instead. That was a dark thought that I quickly sent away. Anything I had done, anything I had gone through was nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to the happiness of seeing him alive and in good health like he actually was, aside from the immense pain of losing his wife.

Nick's smile at my display of affection was short lived. I watched it rapidly disappear as he turned his eyes back to Tommy. The boy was playing on the swing, but I knew Nick was not really seeing him. He was thinking about Julia.

For a long moment, I helplessly watched Nick struggle to keep himself together, as he sighed and spoke his next words.

Words that shocked me.

"I've been thinking about this for a while, Heath. I want both our bodies to be buried on Barkley land", he said, his voice just above a whisper, his eyes still fixed on the boy. "Now that you're here, we can discuss the details…"

As he had just realized something he couldn't explain, Nick suddenly stopped talking and stared at me in sincere curiosity "Now that I think about it, what are you doing here Heath?" he asked, frowning at his own question.

Those had been the two longest months in my whole life. I had marked every single day in my notebook, worried to death over my brother's sad destiny. I had kept our secret hidden from the rest of the family, fighting against each one of them and my own fears every single day, and Nick was still thinking he would die for the bite of the rabid wolf. He wanted to discuss his burial with me!

"What am I doing? Haven't you been counting? Boy Howdy, it's been sixty-five days, Nick!"

"You're sure?"

"I've sweated every one of them!" He was staring at me still trying to understand the exact meaning of my words when I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed fondly. "Nick, you won't be buried anywhere, you'll be alright, and it's time to go home. Everyone is waiting for you." I said softly.

I hadn't had the chance, so far, to tell him about Jeannie, I would do that on our way home. Nick didn't need to hear about that right now. He had just suffered a tragic loss and was painfully mourning. There wasn't room for anything else, at the moment, in his heart.

Audra

It wasn't like in my dream. Nick wasn't riding Coco, he was on a buggy with Heath and between them there was the cutest smiling face of a little boy I had ever seen. But, like in my dream, I flew to him and as soon as he jumped down the buggy, I fell into his arms. We held each other tight for a long time. My big brother was finally home. He was safe and I finally felt safe in turn, everything was going to be back to normal, back to the life I used to know.

I stepped aside to let Mother, Jarrod, and Eugene, who was home for the happiest of the coincidences, greet Nick as well. It was then that I remembered my brothers hadn't come alone.

Tommy was standing beside Nick, holding a fistful of his black leather vest, never letting it go, even trying to hide behind my brother while he was hugging, in turn, every member of our family. I could see how the boy was growing increasingly uncomfortable among the tears of joy and laughter, loud spoken greetings and exclamations of welcome back to this so much missed son and brother.

The boy was about six years old and I saw it at first sight what a curious and intelligent boy he was. But now, in the confusion of the reunion moment, he seemed to be just very lost, looking younger and smaller than he actually was. A warm feeling filled my heart like I had never felt before. Without even knowing that boy was my new nephew, I fell in love with him with all my heart. That was a deep love and a steel bond that would last our whole lives.

I took Tommy by the hand and he reluctantly followed me, his eyes still on Nick, as I led him toward the house. Once inside, the boy was all eyes full of surprise for everything. I showed him to the kitchen, where Silas promptly offered him some of his famous chocolate cookies, just baked, according to the flavor still sweetly lingering in the air. Tommy sure didn't play hard to get and soon his mouth was full. I exchanged a look with Silas and we both chuckled in amusement and satisfaction. That was a joyous feeling, to have a young boy in our kitchen, in our house.

Later, I learned the poor boy had recently lost his mother. But I was now Aunt Audra, and I would make sure Tommy would never feel lost and alone again. Ever.

Jeannie

Nick Barkley. The awkward teenager had turned into a tall, handsome strong man. I couldn't have pictured him any differently in my imagination. It was like in my dreams, like all the times I had dreamed of seeing him again. Our old selves had gone away forever, our lives had changed. We were no longer the young couple we used to be. He was a man, clearly carrying a great amount of pain in his heart. I was a woman, and my heart belonged to his brother.

Conflicting emotions were fighting in my heart. I was unmistakably touched, the commotion of seeing him again after all those years had brought tears to my eyes, but I was also afraid of what he would think about Heath and me. I lowered my eyes and watched my hands, they were slightly shaking.

But I was going to find that all my fears were unfounded.

Nick hugged me briefly, then quickly put my hand in Heath's with the broad, sincere smile I remembered. Heath just smiled at him and brought my hand to his lips, brushing it with a light kiss.

With the rest of the family, the same family I was becoming to consider as my own, my heart full of joy, I walked inside the house.