Chapter 21: Epilogue

A/N: Hi everyone just a quick note to say thank you to everyone who has read this story, favourited, followed or commented on it :) Thanks for reading!

Storm Hawks Fan

*One Year Later*

"Simon c'mon, we're gunna be late."

I grinned and quickly caught up with the impatient Sergeant. "What's with the rush? Your family won't be here for another half hour yet and Soap's not arrived from wherever the hell he went."

In the end, I decided to stay with the military, even if my time was nearing its end I couldn't leave Gary on his own just yet. It was holiday time again and Gary was dragging me back to his hometown to see his family. Hell we hadn't even told them we'd gotten married yet. The whole thing was a small affair with only Soap and a few member of the TF there.

"Why did he even come?" Gary appraised me and I shrugged.

"Not my place to say."

"So you know why?"

I glanced down at his curious face and shook my head with a sigh. "Sorry Gary, I swore not to tell you. It's gotta come from him."

He pouted and folded his arms, pointedly not looking at me. "Fine."

"Hey don't start that." I flicked his nose and he growled, rubbing it slowly. "It aint my fault he hasn't told you."

"But you could tell me."

"Oh no. That entails you ripping my balls off then Soap ripping my head off. I like all my appendages being attached thanks."

"Coward."

"That's me."

Gary rolled his eyes, but couldn't help but smile before sighing impatiently. "Where the hell is Soap?"

"I'm here." Gary jumped and I couldn't help but grin as he turned around. "What? I needed to go get something."

"At the airport?"

Soap shrugged. "It caught my eye."

Gary just sighed and stomped ahead of us, leading the way for us both to follow at a slower pace. "So what you get?" I asked curiously, whatever it was, he didn't want to tell Gary.

He wordlessly handed me a small box and I raised my eyebrow at it, knowing what it was. "You seriously gunna ask her?"

"Yes."

I sighed and handed it back with a shake of my head. "You're mad."

"Why? I love her and she loves me. Besides we've been together for three years now."

"Not that." I jerked my head at Gary's back. "You haven't told him yet and he's gunna be pissed if he finds out when you announce it to his family."

"I'll tell him later then. Besides, you still have to tell his family you got married."

I glanced down at my ring and shrugged. "Yeah I know, but at least they know we're together."

"Gary!" I turned to look at Amber squealing his name excitedly and saw her launch herself into his arms.

"Hey Amber." We caught up with them as Gary greeted her with a smile before she saw me and jumped into my arms.

"Simon!"

"Amber." I hesitantly gave her a hug before stepping away; close contact was definitely never going to be my strong suit. I glanced down when Gary caught my hand and smiled, squeezing his in thanks. He frowned when Amber hugged Soap and they started talking in low murmurs.

"What's that about?"

I shrugged and pulled him to my side. "Who cares?"

"Yeah…"

He kept a close eye on Soap throughout the rest of the day and I noted it was making Soap uncomfortable. Later that day, when his parents had left the room I nudged his arm. "Gary?"

"Yeah?"

"You keep staring at Soap."

"Huh?" He looked at me with a frown before smiling reassuringly. "Don't worry about it, I'm just trying to figure out what he's hiding."

Amber, who heard him, sighed and moved to sit on the other side of the table and Soap followed her. "Hey Gary?"

"Yeah?" He looked up at Amber who quickly glanced at Soap and I almost choked on my drink. Shit was about to go down.

"Don't get mad ok?"

"Why?" He glanced at me and saw the smirk on my face. "What?"

"Not my place to say, I'll let them deal with that?" My eyes flickered to Soap's and I winked.

Gary caught the action and looked at him, then Amber, then between them. "Oh no…"

Amber frowned and reached out to grab his hands. "Me and John are together."

He gaped between them for several minutes as I covered my mouth to stifle my laughter. "You fucking bastard!" He yelled the words, launching himself across the table at Soap. "What the hell?! My sister?!"

"Ghost!"

At Soap's yell, I glanced at Amber who was watching the two horrified and sighed. Standing up, I walked towards them both and calmly dragged Gary away. "Let me go, I wasn't finished!"

"Yeah, that's enough from you."

He turned to glare at me and I gulped; now he was mad and gunna take it out on me. "You knew."

"Gary…"

"Why the hell didn't you tell me?!"

"I swore not to!"

"How long have you known?!"

I paused to think about it. "Since the day we rescued you from Makarov." Gary didn't respond as he yanked his arms free and left, slamming the door behind him. I turned to look at Soap and frowned. "I hope you're happy, now he's mad at me."

"Sorry."

I sighed and shook my head. "I'm gunna go find him."

With that, I left the room and went outside, thinking of where Gary would go. With a small smile, I remembered the park I found him at when I first saw him again after leaving for a year and headed there. Nearing the park, I saw a figure on the swings and jogged towards them, sighing in relief when I saw it was Gary.

"Hey."

He glanced up at me and smiled softly as I sat down on the other swing. "Hey."

"You gunna get mad again?"

He shook his head and sighed, looking down at the ground. "No, sorry for getting mad at you."

"It's fine, you're pissed I get it."

Gary chuckled and reached out to take my hand in his own. "I'm not mad at you though."

"Well aint that a relief, I thought I would be sleeping in the spare room tonight." He laughed and stood up, pulling me with him before kissing me quickly. "Let's go back yeah? Soap and Amber will want to talk to you and we've gotta tell everyone we're married yet."

He sighed and rolled his yes. "Can't wait for that conversation. Also, is there anything else I should know about Amber and Soap? Before they surprise me again and I get pissed."

I hesitated before shrugging, what did I have to lose? "Soap's planning to propose."

Gary froze and glared in front of us for a moment before walking again. "I'm gunna kill him."

"Yeah because that will make your sister happy. Besides, of all people, Soap's not that bad for a brother-in-law right? And he'll take care of Amber, he's honourable like that, or whatever he calls it."

"I suppose…" He rolled his eyes and chuckled. "We're going to make one hell of a family aren't we?"

"Well… Yeah, pretty much. But when do we do anything by the book?" I grinned down at him before pulling him into a kiss. "We aint exactly normal are we?"

"No. but I wouldn't change it for anything."

"Neither would I."