Epilogue
I had given birth to a set of twins, Sofia Parker and Michael Hardison. They were born on Christmas day. Today they were two years old. Eliot and I had been taking everything in shifts from helping with the con, protecting the team, to changing diapers and babysitting. Both of us were thrilled and absolutely terrified to be parents. His father had abused him and mine me. Neither of us had good role models for parents, which was the part that scared us, we didn't want to be like our parents.
Nate and Sophie were the god parents and Hardison and Parker were the Aunt and Uncle. Both were excited to have the kids named after them, though Parker didn't get it at first. Sophie was absolutely thrilled. She and Nate were also expecting. I couldn't believe I had reached this point in my life where I had a real family where there was love instead of pain, where I was happy, and free. I couldn't believe that I was married with kids. I realized even more now that this is the life I had always wanted, no matter how unconventional. As the kids ran around the Christmas tree with Parker chasing them I sighed and leaned into Eliot, "Thank you."
"For what?" Eliot asked.
"Everything," I sighed snuggling him into him as Hardison joined in the chase of the toddlers. "For a family, for helping me get my freedom, for helping me find happiness, for always being there when I need you," I said as Eliot wrapped his arm around me, also watching the kids.
"You're welcome, and I should also thank you for giving me the same. I pulled him into a deep kiss only to be interrupted Parker yelling that, 'mommy and daddy were being gross' and telling our kids to get us. Sofia and Michael jumped on us, breaking us up.
"Stop!" they said laughing. Eliot and I turned to them, pinning them in our laps laying kisses all over them. They squealed laughing. This was home.