AN well here it is the long awaited end to the saga.

Epilogue 11th June 2013

Trixie sat on the porch of her home enjoying the warm summer shine. Loving this aspect, she could see the valley below. In the distance lay the Hudson River. It reminded her of the past, a past she'd long come to terms with. There had been so many ups and downs in the last eight years as she came to terms with her new life. The downs started when she woke in an English hospital.

'You got a week, Belden,' Tim told her, quirking one eyebrow. Johansson allowed the visit in the hope he'd be able to pull the young ex-agent out of her despondency. He'd decided to give her one night of despair before starting on a tough approach.

'A week?' she'd requested more information, only to have Tim throw down a return ticket to the US. Before she could ask, he'd walked out of the room. Trixie Belden's depression didn't have time to spiral out of control as the physiotherapists descended five minutes later. He'd timed his visit allowing the professionals to work with a shocked, compliant individual.

They had her sitting on the edge of the bed the following day. Nothing much occurred on the weekend so the doctors decided to keep her in the ICU to continue treatment. Expected to sit out for all her meals, she attempted her first slide transfer into a wheelchair Sunday afternoon. Exhausted by all the activity, Trixie found sleep coming without effort each night. It kept the night terrors and memories at bay, giving her mind a rest from recriminations and the loss of her real life.

'You're doing well,' Tanya remarked. Transferred to the rehabilitation unit first thing Monday morning, it didn't take the physiotherapist long to assess the woman's needs. 'It's because you are so fit and toned, you're able to handle the increase in upper body strength needed for your transfers. Of course, youth and the fact you learn easily helps. All we have to work on now is your determination to get out of here.'

Trixie just turned an icy blue glare on the woman. Taking the expression as a positive, Tanya began to outline her plan. 'You'll be up for physio two hours every morning and occupational therapy in the afternoon. I'll expect you to shower yourself after breakfast and before your day starts. Any questions?'

One week after waking up, after her life turned upside down, Trixie prepared to stand up for the first time. The doctors wanted to see if her recovery might include aided walking. Placing her hands in the correct position, she tried to stand at the bar. Only her arms held her up. Neither leg supported any weight. It felt strange without sensation in her feet and altered her sense of balance. To Trixie at least, it became obvious she'd never walk again.

The day she'd finally get out of hospital approached at the speed of light. Before she knew it, Trixie found herself on a flight to New York. Heidi, the nurse accompanying her exclaimed at their luxurious first class surroundings. The flight attendants knew about her disability, explaining the controls so she could lie down and rest on her journey. Looking back it had been a high, surrounded by such lows and hard work it passed without a real thought.

'You must have had an important job,' Heidi exclaimed, trying to get some conversation from her patient. It would be a long flight if Jane Doe continued this silent treatment. 'I've never travelled first before. I'm afraid I'm going to be spoilt for ever.'

It's the least they can do, Trixie didn't offer the sarcastic thought. Nor did she consider an alternative patron behind her mode of transport. That surprise occurred after she'd watched the other passengers walk off the plane. Sliding onto an isle wheelchair, she'd been transferred to an ambulance stretcher after exiting immigration. Loaded into the vehicle, a tall redhead appeared in her field of vision. Tears streaming down her face, Trixie Belden couldn't believe the apparition. Finally she'd gone completely mad, wanting and needing Jim so much she imagined him waiting for her return when he believed her dead.

'Shamus,' his face displayed equal parts of worry and glee. He's wanted to touch her but knew if he did, he'd never let go. Ecstatic to just see his beloved, to ensure she lived, he forced himself to wait yet another hour. 'I'm not allowed to travel with you. I'll see you at the rehabilitation centre.'

'Jim,' she wailed as the EMT closed the door.

True to his word, James Frayne-Wheeler stood and watched while various doctors, nurses and administrators admitted his fiancée to the exclusive centre. Finally alone, he came to her bedside. Unable to help himself, he'd taken Trixie in his arms and joined her on the narrow bed. Lips locked, silent promises made, they didn't utter a word for almost half an hour.

'I'm taking as much time off as you need,' Jim finally announced. 'I'll have to go into the office, but I've warned Dad, it'll be between your therapy sessions.'

'Jim,' still unable to believe he'd been waiting, she pointed at her useless legs.

'Nothing's changed, Trix,' Jim told her earnestly, 'at least not in my heart.' So many ideas ran through his mind. Until today when James Wheeler talked to his father, he'd kept his plans a closely guarded secret. Now he had to get them all out in a rush, to prove to Trixie he understood what they were in for and that he'd be at her side forever. 'I've done a lot of research about paraplegia. We can have an almost normal life. I've contacted an architect that specialises in building homes for people with disabilities. We're lucky to get him at such short notice. We'll need to have Manor house converted for you by the middle of June. You're going to have to work hard because that's when we're getting married and I want you out of here by the end of May.'

Finding it hard to take everything in, to accept the easy understanding and compassion, Trixie gave a slightly hysterical laugh. 'You've got it all figured out, Mr Frayne,' she teased, getting her emotions under control. How could Jim forgive her, Trixie wondered with astonishment, when I find it so hard to forgive myself?

Stopping dead, Jim looked into cerulean eyes and saw the dejection, the recriminations there. 'Are you saying you don't want to marry me,' he asked, uncertainty lacing his tone.

'You're going too fast, Jim,' Trixie sighed and threw her body back into her pillows. A maelstrom of emotions fought for space in her mind. Wanting to laugh and cry and shout for joy at the same time, Agent Belden attempted to turn on her logical mind. It didn't work. 'I thought…' finally tears of frustration cascaded down her cheeks.

'I never believed their lies, Trix,' Jim tapped his heart with one hand while the other wiped her cheeks clean. 'In here, I knew it couldn't be true. I know you. You had a mystery to solve, no matter the cost to yourself. Then Tim contacted me I knew all our problems had been solved. With this injury, you don't need to go back to the CIA. You're free to be with me, to live the life you want.'

'I,' swallowing hard she had to tell him, 'I can't have children, Jim. I know how much you've always wanted a big family. It's not just the paraplegia, the initial pregnancy forced the removal of one fallopian tube and Sabina's bullet destroyed the other.'

'You've still got your ovaries,' he grinned, understanding he'd won this round, 'there's always IVF and a surrogate but that's for later, Trix. Let's concentrate of getting you well enough to graduate this place and come home, to me. We've waited long enough to be together, don't put more obstacles in our path.'

Taking her back into his arms, Jim sighted with contentment. 'I've got so much to tell you,' he whispered into her ear. 'Did anyone let you know I've openly acknowledged Matthew as my biological father? You're going to be Mrs Frayne-Wheeler. Dad convinced me not to drop my mother's name altogether.'

They'd never stopped talking to each other since. The months flew by as they planned a life together, finally happy. They'd been married on Saturday 11th June 2005, four days after she'd been discharged. With Jim researching every honeymoon destination for disability friendly accommodation and taking Matthew Wheelers name, keeping the ceremony small and simple became impossible. The media attention might have blown over until Trixie's previous career became exposed. Then their architect decided to showcase his abilities in designing the home for the woman who should have been a national hero. Johansson managed to squash that story to Trixie's relief. Still the day proved to be the highlight of her life.

Then along came four boys at the same time they'd moved in to their new home at Ten Acres and celebrated their first wedding anniversary. Peter, Matthew, Mark and Luke needed emergency foster care. One look at Jim's face and Trixie agreed. They'd been left to the care of a mentally abusive stepmother. The story, so like her husbands started with the death of their mother at Matt's birth. Marrying in a hurry to provide his son's with a stable home, the father died from cancer a year later. Eighteen months in the care of the woman, eight year old Peter finally told the school councillor about their home life. He'd been missing days to look after his younger siblings in the attempt to keep them safe.

It hadn't been roses, that first year. Peter didn't trust Trixie and Jim. Mark had constant nightmares. Luke wet the bed most nights and needed pull ups as an almost five year old. Only Matt bonded to Jim without issue but took longer to become completely comfortable with Trixie. The constant demand on their time and emotions almost broke the family still learning to come to terms with Trixie's disability.

'Don't you want us?' Mark finally asked when they'd been together a year.

'What makes you say that?' surprised, Trixie couldn't understand where the question came from after yet another nightmare. The query breaking her heart, she'd hoped the boys finally settled enough to consider her as their mother. They'd come through so much and she couldn't love them anymore if they'd been her own.

'Mr Wheeler said he adopted Jim straight away,' Mark looked hopefully up into eyes the same colour as his. At eight he understood more than he should. 'You still haven't adopted me or my brothers. Don't you want us?'

'I see,' and Trixie finally did. Matthew Wheeler or Jim must have told them the story of how James Frayne now Wheeler came to live at Manor House. 'Well, in the morning, Jim and I will talk to all of you. If Peter, Luke and Matt want to become Frayne-Wheeler's too, we'll make it happen.'

'Trixie,' Mark looked encouraged and fearful at the same time, 'can I call you Mom after we're adopted.'

Blushing to the roots of her hair, she leant over to kiss the little boy good night, no easy task from a low wheelchair. 'You can call me Moms now if you'd like. It's all I've ever wanted.'

'Moms,' Peter interrupted her solitude. Her eldest son turned fifteen last month. He'd grown as tall as Jim with sandy curls and green eyes. No one believed her boys adopted with their colouring. Matt and Luke had the same red hair and emerald eyes as their father. Only Mark resembled Trixie with is piercing blue gaze and mop of golden hair.

'I heard Jim's car,' she turned to smile up at her son. 'I guess we'll all know soon enough.'

'I'll get the others and wait in the kitchen,' he suggested. 'This is your moment with dad.'

'Thank you,' Trixie requested her eldest lean down to give her a comforting hug. Life might be about to change for their close knit family. Every year on their anniversary, Jim brought home some device to make her life easier. Usually at the cutting edge of technology, this year, their eighth together as husband and wife, he'd had to tell her about his plans. Trixie almost couldn't stand the anticipation.

Coming around the corner of the house, he stood three feet below her position. A strange mixture of emotion on his face as he opened his mouth, so many words crowed into Jim's mind. Not wanting to disappoint his wife, he knew they had a long road ahead of them.

'Yes,' he finally decided on the simple word.

'Really,' Trixie's face lit into a thousand watt smile. Taking her breaks off the wheelchair she rolled down the ramp. Stopping inches from his legs, she raised her arms for a hug. As always, Jim scooped her out of the chair and into his warm embrace. 'Boys,' she yelled to the four waiting for this news in the kitchen, 'we're going to Israel for the summer holidays.'

'You got Moms in,' Luke hooted.

'No more standing frame,' Matt jumped up and down with his excitement.

'No,' Jim agreed, looking at his wonderful wife before taking in the rest of his family. 'If these new robotic legs do what their designed to do, your mother will be walking by the end of summer. Although I'm not sure they'll be able to cope with stairs, at least you'll only need the wheelchair when we go out.'

'Come on Moms,' Luke, their little chef called, 'we have to get ready for the party tonight.'

'What party?' Trixie eyed Jim, not really surprised at the revelation.

'The one where we celebrate with the rest of our family and the Bob-Whites and their kids before jetting off tomorrow,' he gave her that lopsided grin which always made her heart beat just a little harder and faster. Abandoning the wheelchair, he carried Trixie up the stairs. 'Matt, bring your mom's chair,' Jim called to his son. 'Then you and Peter can help your mother pack. Mark, tell your brother Grandma has taken care of the catering. The entire family is meeting at Manor House for dinner at seven.'

'That's almost a hundred people,' Trixie cried. Each of the Bob Whites had at least three children, Brian and Sally topping the list with six. All the in laws would attend, swelling the number. Only Manor House had enough room to cope with their extended family and her wheelchair. 'I can't believe they all know about this.'

'They're all waiting to see if you're going to walk again,' Jim continued to grin. 'It's going to be a very busy twenty four hours.'

AN – Yes there is such a device currently available in Germany, the US and Israel at a cost of $USD75,000. I know because my father has become paraplegic post a surgical complication (thus one of the reasons I haven't been writing). It just tied in so well with this story and I had to finish this on a high note for Trixie and Jim. For those of you interested, the product is called Re-Walk®.