Epilogue-4 years later
"Smackle are you touching my butt?" Lucas asked as the group stop and look at him. "Lucas as much as I would love to partake in the old tradition of touching your derrière. Alas it is not I." The group look at each other with wide eyes as Riley giggles holding up her hand.
"Riley!" Lucas says turning red and making her giggle more. "I didn't do it intentionally I almost fell and your butt was the closest thing I could grab." She continues laughing as everyone joins in as they walk towards their tree.
"Okay I think our resident mother of the group should speak." Zay says shining his flashlight on Riley. "Seriously?" She ask as they all say yes making her smile. "Fine." She says clearing her throat.
"Today marks a new beginning for this little family I love so dearly." She says smiling at everyone. "In the beginning there was three. Farkle and his ladies." They all laugh as Farkle does his trademark ladies to them. "Then we became four with the addition of Lucas. Maya if you will."
Maya smiles at her as she walks up to Lucas and ha hurrs in his face making everyone laugh. "Then we went from four and became six with Smackle and Zay adding that final piece to our little family. Or so we thought." She says gesturing at Josh and Gabby.
"So we start a new tradition..." Riley starts as Zay interrupts standing next to her. "We leave something behind but instead of for ourselves it will be for our kids every year." Riley gasps as she hits zay. "Um kids?" She asked as Zay puts his arm around her.
"Yeah cotton candy face. Honey nugget and your uncle I'm sure hump like rabbits since they're married and the geniuses will want to add to their gene pool and Gabby and I already been discussing kids for our future. Also I know you and Luke will pop out a whole bus full."
"I have a couple of questions for you Zay." Riley says looking at him weirdly. "One. Why are you so creepy that you know everyone's future plans? Two. Lucas and I aren't even together so how could we pop out a bus full as you so eloquently put it?"
Zay looks at her and then at everyone else practically having a private conversation without words. "Please cotton candy face it's only a matter of time before you two stop this dance and get back together. It's written on the tree."
Riley and Lucas share a look both blushing uncontrollably thankful they were covered by darkness and nobody could see it. "Let's just dig up the box huh." Lucas says as everyone agrees.
20 years later after
Lily and Penelope tossed the covers off themselves looking at the clock. They silently giggle as they put on their jackets heading for the bay window. They were on their way to meet the guys at the park at the stroke of midnight. Which was in twenty minutes. They linked arms walking with Penelope slightly skipping as they see Wayne waiting for them.
Saying a quick hello he hands them the shovel as they make their way to the tree. "Pen will you stop circling." Lily sighs watching her best friend from birth as she circled around the tree. "I can't help it the guys are late and I'm sure my parents will know I left."
Lily stopped picking at the grass and stood putting her hands on Penny's shoulders. "Pen you worry way to much." She says pulling her into a hug. "Besides they did this when they were our age. It's tradition." Penny laughed as they both jump when someone jumps from behind the tree scaring them.
"Ernie you jerk! I'm telling your mother!" Penny yelled out while punching his arm. "Damn Penny remind me to tell uncle Luke to quit showing you how to hit." He says rubbing his arm as Lily laughs at him. "What was that?" Ernie asked as the girls give him a look.
"Ladies!" They hear behind them making them both laugh. "Ginsburg!" They say together hugging him. "Where's Albert?" Lily asked as Ginsburg pointed towards the other side of the tree. "Greetings ladies shall we commence with our ritual?" He asked pushing his glasses up his nose.
"Yo Al could you not make it sound like we're about to sacrifice an animal please." Ernie says holding his stomach. They all shake their heads as Lily digs out the box. "Okay Pen go ahead." She says opening the box towards her. "Go ahead what?" She ask looking at her.
"I think perhaps Lilian would like for you to address us with your eloquent words." Ginsburg says winking at Penny making her shake her head. "But why...Fine." She says taking out the notecard taped to the top of the lid.
She knew they all saw her as the mom of the group just like her mom was to her friends. Plus she was going to be a writer and they always made her be the one to give speeches. For every occasion even when one wasn't called for.
"To our children as they fill this box with their own memories." She reads as Lily closes the box. "The day after our high school graduation we decided we would leave behind little pieces of ourselves as we went and conquered the world. With our memories buried here we would come back and fill it every five years."
Penny looks at the notecard and then at her friends pausing for dramatic effect. "The first time we did it we were different well some of us were." She continues reading her mom's words. "But we came together to fill the box with our new memories. I hope you can do the same now. Riley Matthews."
The group look at each other as she tapes the notecard back up. "Ready?" She asked as everyone agrees except Ernie. "No I'm not ready it's to real. Don't make me you guys!" He dramatically throws himself against the tree as they all look at each other before laughing at him.
"I'm gonna be the next Pacino." Ernie says turning around as Lily jumps on his back. "Okay Scarface." She giggles as they begin to quote the movie to each other. "Come on then Ernest you go first." Penny laughed holding the box towards him.
They all had to admit they were all excited to see what their parents left for them and to see what they would put in the box.
Ernie rubs his hands together as he pulls out the item left there for him by his parents. "To our little star." He read on the card attached at the top. Everyone awed as Ernie rolled his eyes waving them off. He chuckles as he shakes his head looking at it before showing his friends.
He ran his fingers over the tiny scrap book that held memories from his childhood and all the adventures he had with his parents on the road. They traveled everywhere around the world with their ballet company. A company they helped fund and started after Juilliard.
They also opened a ballet studio where Ernie along with Penny and Lily took ballet classes. That was until they realized they were never going to be ballerinas.
"Isaiah and Gabriella Babineaux ballet royalty make it a family affair as their son joins them on stage in the nutcracker." He says looking at the newspaper clipping remembering the fun he had before he unfortunately had to go to school.
"Aw Ernie you were so cute." Penny says as he shows them. "Yeah what happened?" Lily asked as he playfully nudges her. "So what cha putting in?" Lily asked as Ernie pulls something out his pocket before putting it back. "You can't see it. Remember tradition." He says as Lily rolls her eyes mimicking him.
Waiting until they each took out the item their parents left for them Penny stands in front of the twins as she smiles at them. "Now it's your turn." Ginsburg and Albert look at each other before Albert grabs what their parents left them. The twins smile looking at it as the rest of them look at it with a confused expression.
"I don't get it." Ernie says as the girls agree looking at the single piece of paper. "It's just a bunch of numbers." The twins gasps as Ginsburg snatches the paper back. "This is not just a bunch of numbers!" He says smiling at it as he hands it to Albert who smiles at it too. "This is our future." Albert adds pushing his glasses up as they explain.
"Astrophysicist Farkle Minkus and his wife Isadora smackle Minkus professor and world renown Physicist are one step closer to making their dreams of living on Mars a reality." Ginsburg begins.
Farkle who always wanted to see if it was at all possible to live in another planet and study the stars got the chance when nasa called offering him that chance. Smackle on the other hand was offered a teaching job at Harvard.
A job she maintained until the twins were born and then she joined Farkle at nasa sending robotic versions of themselves to mars to see if it was possible to live.
"So you see friends this holds the coordinates to our future home." Albert says showing them on his phone. "Mom and dad already have our spot picked out with enough room for any other Minkus to join."
"Minki." Lily says smiling at the twins who shake their head at her. "Well this is amazing. What about Pluto? Mom is still waiting on that one." Penny says looking at the possible future sight for the Minkus clan.
"Thank you Penny and rest assured dad has not given up that task. Besides your father won't let him." Penny smiles knowing her dad always wanted to help bring that dream of her mom's to life.
"I for one would be over the moon if you would join me for dinner there though Penny." Ginsburg says with a wink making her laugh. "Forever a flirt Ginsburg. But we're practically family." He shrugs sending her another wink as she smiles shaking her head. "Okay lil your next."
Lily takes a deep breath as she closes her eyes putting her hand inside the box. "Dork you can't pick up what's yours if you have your eyes closed." Ernie jokes nudging her. "Babineaux Don't make me hurt you." She says through gritted teeth making him move towards the twins.
"Okay here it goes." She whispers smiling as Penny holds her hand. She pulls out the tiny box opening and shows Penny who begins to laugh with her. "What?" Ernie ask as Lily shows the guys what was left for her. "What a minute. It's Pluto."
"Yes it is." Lily says holding the tiny orange Pluto in her hand. "I always thought Pluto had more significance with your mother Penny?" Albert asked as Lily pulls out the picture of her and her dad as she was giving him a check up a photo Lily cherished since that was her dream to become.
A doctor just like her dad.
Josh and Maya after their wedded bliss decided to take a trip. Which turned into Josh helping Doctors Without Borders and Maya helping the locals discover talents they kept hidden. She called it the Riles project named after her best friend who wouldn't let keep her talent from the world.
Helping people find their talents and finding hope inspired Maya to realize hope wasn't for suckers anymore. She even opened up a small Riles project in New York helping people and not let them give up hope.
"Mom gave Pluto to aunt Maya when she finally believed in hope." Penny says as Lily looked at her with a smile. "Well that leaves just you Pen. Ready to see what was left by your parents?" Lily asked as Penny squeezed her hand with a smile.
Secretly she had a feeling she knew what was inside the box. She knew the story of her parents love story numerous times. "Your parents wish for you to partake in s rather disgusting habit?" Ginsburg asked as Penny pulled out the silver compact from the box.
"No this is much bigger than that." Penny tells him opening the case a smiling at the ring inside. The ring her mom was going to use to ask her dad to marry her with.
"Tell is the story again Pen." Lily asked as Penny shakes her head at her best friend who just like her knew it by heart. "Okay."
Riley and Lucas having made up decided to be just friends. Riley even moved in with him. Although everyone assumed they would get together since they lived together that wasn't the case. Lucas still needed to earn Riley's trust.
Which he slowly did although she still would hit him whenever she felt like it confusing their friends.
"Yeah uncle Cory put a stop to that." Lily laughs as Penny shakes her head. "Yeah mom accidentally or intentionally as aunt Maya likes to say. Pushed dad into grandpa who ended up in the Minkus swimming pool." Penny adds laughing herself.
No they didn't get together until that night they all met to put something in for their kids. Lucas and Riley took the subway back and Lucas said it was faith when they sat in their seats. Where Lucas hid a promise ring for Riley promising to always trust in her and their relationship.
"I love that that story." They turn around seeing their parents smiling at them. "Hey you said you wouldn't follow?" Ernie shouts pointing at all of them. "Ernest Babineaux do not raise your voice." Gabby tells him as Lily pokes him in the side.
"Sorry mama but you guys said you were going to meet us at the bakery." Gabby smiles shaking her head as she walks towards him. "Oh I think my little Ernie needs a snack." Everyone laughs as Ernie frowns but accepts the snack his mom pulls from her purse.
"So have you put your own item in the box yet?" Riley asked looking at them as they all shake their heads. "We got caught up in the stories of our you guys." Lily tells them as they all look around. "Wait what are you guys doing here? I thought we weren't leaving for uncle Farkle beach house until later?" Penny ask.
"Well we still have unfinished business here." Lucas tells her putting his arm around Riley. "Are you guys about to make out or do something dirty here? Because you might be to old for that now." Lily says as Maya and Riley gasps.
"Lilian Matthews!" Maya says as Josh kisses their daughter head. "Yup she definitely is a Maya clone." Zay chuckles as Maya glares at him. "Okay go ahead put your items in the box and then you guys can go hang at the bakery." Riley tells them as Penny smiles hugging her and taking the keys.
The gang watch as their oldest put their item in the box covering it up before heading towards the bakery with Lily and Penny walking arm in arm and the boys watching a video on Ernie's phone.
"So are you guys ready for this?" Riley asked looking at her friends as Lucas hands her the knife. "Are you absolutely sure we need to partake in this?" Smackle asked looking at Farkle. "Yes Smackle it's absolutely necessary." Maya tells her taking the knife from Riley.
She walks towards the tree and begins to carve her initials. She hands it Josh who kisses her head before adding his own before they all do it. "So we're all certain..." Smackle starts to say as she looks at her friends. "Yes!" They all say together making her smile.
"Okay there I have defaced public property and therefore I am now a fugitive." Smackle says as everyone laughs. "Smackle this tree is mine and Luke's so you technically didn't defaced public property." Riley tells her as she hands Lucas back the knife.
"What was the point of all this?" Zay asked as they stand back to admire their work. "Well I just thought the kids and future grandchildren would like to know that we will be here with them everytime they visit and add to the box." Riley says as everyone smiles at each other.
"That's sweet Riles." Maya says giving her a hug. "All bring it in gang." Zay shouts as they all laugh hugging. "Okay I'm gonna cry let's go." Gabby says wiping her eyes as they pull apart. "We should go before Ernie eats all the cookies." Lucas says as Zay looks at him weirdly.
"Hold on are you trying to say my kid is a sugar freak?" Lucas chuckles as he stands next to him. "Well if he is anything like his dad then yes I am." Zay glares at him before he begins to laugh. "Yeah you're probably right."
They all walk towards the bakery laughing as they reminisce about the good old days and all the memories they had made.
The end. Sorry for the long wait I wanted to try something different with the last chapter. Let me know what you think. I may delete it and write an entirely different one. Let me know.