A/N: Hey everyone! Ages to finish this but I finally did it. Crossed the t's and dotted the i's. This is the final chapter of this and, personally, not a moment too soon. I'd like to thank all of you who've been reading this story right from the beginning and to the friends I've made from this fandom. It's been a trip. And as just a throwback to my roots, our lovely couple moved to my home island. Couldn't resist. And I changed the icon pic thingy so you guys can see Violet's wedding dress.

NOTE: DO NOT read the Epilogue unless you have read Safe & Sound. I did a thing and it's connected to that. ^_^

Chapter Eleven: Island in the Sun

March, 1964

San Juan, Puerto Rico

"I found the strangest paradise on Earth. It's where your secrets come to dance and the voodoo works its magic. And if the drinking doesn't get you into trouble…the women definitely will. Now all this might sound like a crazed hallucination, but it's all true…I think."

They were on an island all by themselves, away from everyone that they knew. They had chosen this spot for many reasons. The wet, hot air was pleasing and there was a closeness to the sea which reminded them of the place they had once called home. It took them only a small while to find a house; throwing money and Violet's name around made sure to find them a home fast in a beautiful part of old San Juan. They even had a view of the ocean.

They found the island enchanting and would often spend lazy afternoons walking down the cobblestone streets hand in hand, taking each step in stride and they were happy to be free. They spent their nights exploring restaurants that were hidden in corners of streets and making love in their roomy new home.

Their house had such character that they were right at home the moment the realtor showed it to them. It had many balconies and windows that provided a warm sea breeze. The architectural style was strictly 17th century. Violet laughed when Tate told her that he could see her standing in the second floor balcony with a Spanish fan in her hand, looking dramatically at the landscape. "As if I'd ever be that melodramatic."

They didn't wait long to arrange for the wedding. There was no point in waiting. They had waited for long enough to post-pone it. Violet got a seamstress to make her a short ivory dress, Tate went to a travel agent and booked a flight for Nora and Moira. They both hired a photographer and arranged for a small ceremony to take place in front of the famous old fort near their house. There was a huge open, well-trimmed lawn in front of the fort and, considering that the ceremony would only take some minutes, it would be no harm to have it take place there.

The day in which they were to be married arrived. Neither of them was superstitious so they, along Moira and Nora, walked to the ceremony spot together where the justice of the peace waited for them. Short, sweet and to the point, the ceremony took place on a sunny, breezy day in late March. And, with the approval of the two adults that mattered to them, Violet Harmon became Violet Langdon.

After the ceremony, the group returned to Tate and Violet's home where some spectacular catering and wine made the small lunch feel much more homey and accommodating than the large party that had taken place mere months ago.

"Tate, darling, I can't believe you've finally married a good woman. I thought I'd never live to see the day. I mean look at me, I'm practically ancient."-Nora said at dusk, while she and Tate had some alone time.

He laughed. "You're not ancient. I made you proud?"

"Oh, yes. You're a good man. I made sure of it. I know you'll treat your lovely wife the way she deserves for the rest of your lives."

"Of course, I will."

"And she's such a doll. Title or no, she's still one of the nicest young women I've met in some time. Certainly better than that…Cathy or whatever her name was." Nora said waving her hand to show her disinterest in his ex.

"Chloe."-Tate said after a chuckle.

"Yes, that was the one."-She said flatly.

"Violet's my everything."

"I know."-She grabbed one of Tate's hands and caressed his cheek. "What I like most about that girl is that she makes you incredibly happy."

Tate just smiled brightly.

"Now…when are you two going to make me a grandmother?"-Nora said with a smile. She, of course, only meant to jest about it.

Violet and Moira had entered the room as Nora had finished her question.

"I'm sure they'll get to it soon. Isn't that right, Vi?"-Moira said cheekily.

Violet gave Moira a look. If there was something Moira knew about Violet, it was that she would not tread lightly on the childbearing issue. Sure, she wanted to have a child but there was still a niggling fear tugging at her insides. She wanted to be a good mother and she didn't know if she would be.

"We haven't talked about it yet."-Violet said dismissively.

Nora gave a gentle smile. "There's no rush. You're very young Violet. You have years left before you even have to worry."

"Yeah, could we not talk about this now?"-Violet said.

With that, they dropped the topic. Commonplace civility and joviality followed. A type of happiness emerged that came from the lack of dramatic excitement that would plague any life. There was nothing more than contentment. And for a long while, after Moira and Nora returned to California, contentment is what followed. Violet focused on her art and on exploring the many beautiful sights of her new surroundings while Tate got a job at the English-language newspaper. Everything was perfect.

Weeks later, when Violet went to the doctor and discovered that she was pregnant, the doubts that she had prior to that moment vanished. She told Tate immediately and the man could not have been more excited if he tried.

The pregnancy went by with ridiculous ease and a few days before Christmas, their son Alex was born. Truth be told, they became excellent parents immediately.

When Jack finally achieved political power, he lifted the exile on his sister but by then it was too late. Tate and Violet had gotten accustomed to living in San Juan. Tate not only worked for the English-language paper but had published a succesful book of short stories. Violet owned an art gallery and Alex was going to a private school and had made friends. They visited their families often and their loved ones visited them, but for the rest of their lives, the Langdons lived on their very own island with no one to bother their peace and happiness.

Note: Again I repeat that if you have not read Safe and Sound to the end you will not get this. It's a crossover.

Epilogue

January 2027

Sometime after their wedding, Violet and Tate were spending time together under the gazebo for another one of their picnics. For some inane reason, Tate dared Violet to play hide and seek with him. She agreed. After all, there was nothing else to do. After a few rounds of playing the game, it was Violet's turn to hide and she ran to find shelter among the trees and bushes in the backyard. She came across something a bit strange on one of the trees that made her stop in her tracks. It had appeared suddenly, for she'd never seen it before and, with the time she had on her hands, she had examined every bit of vegetation around the house. There, on the tree, was a carving.

TL + VH had been carved inside a heart and the date 1964 was carved underneath the heart. She walked up to the tree and touched the carving…after all, the house had driven her crazy before and it wouldn't be a surprise if it were trying again by making her hallucinate. The carving felt real but she hadn't seen it before. She was so entranced by what she was seeing that Tate caught her by surprise.

"Caught you!" He said, putting his hands on her waist.

When she didn't react, Tate looked at her with concern: "What's wrong, Vi?"

Violet pointed to the tree. "Did you carve our initials here?"

Tate looked inquisitively at the carvings. "No. Besides, why would I carve 1964? That's thirteen years before I was born."

"Good question..why did you carve it?"

"It wasn't me, I told you."- He said craning his head to look at her.

She turned and gave him a stern look. "Fess up asshole, who did you get to do it?"

"No one. I didn't do this. Or manipulate anyone to do it. I swear." He said seriously.

They made it their mission to figure out who had carved the heart with their initials and more importantly to find out why 1964 was carved along with it. No one in the house knew. Not a single one of the broken souls. Then again, Violet and Tate knew that not everyone was to be trusted with what they said. Nevertheless, the mystery of the carving on the tree would stay festering inside their brains for years.

Little did they know that those carvings were not meant for them but for two others similar to them, in another time, in another place, perchance in another universe, but bound by the same kind of connection…by the same love. It seems that for once, Murder House donned its residents with a small present that was pleasant.