Epilogue

I woke up hearing voices downstairs; could they not let me sleep in just once? It was only eight am and the summer holidays. Groaning, I knew I wouldn't be falling back asleep so I grabbed my dressing gown and made my way downstairs to where the offensive noise was coming from. Seriously, what were my parent's talking about now? Opening the closed kitchen door, I walked in and the room fell silent as three faces looked at me before two spoke, well shouted.

"HAPPY SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY!" Dad was the first one to hug me before Mum came over, her one hand full.

"I can't believe you're sixteen. I feel so old!" I laughed as she pulled back and I took the light-ish weight from her one arm. "I still remember my sixteenth."

Dad wrapped his arm around her and pulled her back against his chest; my head dropped before I saw him kissing her shoulder, something that was a bit of a habit for him.

"Warning, they're being icky again." I was met by a slap on the face. "Ow, you can't smack the birthday girl." This time I was met by a wet kiss on my cheek and an adorable grin. "Thanks for that."

The familiar laugh melted my heart as I looked into the same brown eyes as my own. Yes, meet my eighteen month old baby brother, Alessandro. Just as I was, Alessandro was unplanned but this time it was a happy unexpected surprise. Mum had told me about her pregnancy, well was sort of forced to, before Dad after I caught her waiting for the test results; she'd thought I'd gone to bed and with Dad at work, she would have time alone.

After we saw the positive result, Mum broke down on me, admitting she was scared at the thought of having another child after how badly they screwed up my childhood, how she struggled when pregnant with me and the fact she was then thirty two and Dad nearly thirty nine. I told her to stop worrying about her age as she was still young and Dad would be over the moon. I also reassured her she hadn't messed me up too much based on how close we were now; she'd done everything to help salvage our fragmented relationship when she came back into my life. She eventually learned to trust in what Dad and I said, believing that we, as a family, would do this the correct way this time. I doted on my brother but at times I did find myself having to escape for a while with jealousy; I struggled to see my brother being with his family from birth. I knew it would always be a slight issue for me but I refused to let it consume me because I wouldn't be who and where I am today without having lived the life I had.

"You know, you guys didn't have to go to all this fuss." I'd placed my brother in his high chair and took a seat at the table next to him as my parents made me a special breakfast.

"It's not every day you turn sixteen so if I want to fuss over my baby girl, I will. I'm going to spoil you today and I don't want to hear another word about it. If I do, you won't get your presents in a bit." I rolled my eyes; my Dad was such a lovable idiot at times. Knowing I wouldn't win the argument, Mum passed me the pile of birthday cards that had arrived during the week by post to open while I waited and kept my brother entertained.

Thinking back, my life had changed so much in the last five years. After losing my adopted parents, I now knew the risk I took trying to track my Dad down had definitely been worth it. When my parents got back together, it took us all a while to readjust to the situation; Mum had even kept her own flat for a few months before moving back in with Dad and I permanently. My first proper Branning Christmas had been interesting. Firstly, just after Christmas dinner, Mum's ex fiancé, Paul, had turned up at my Grandparents. I had tried to drag Dad personally out the room, as too Grandad, as they both had murderous looks on their faces seeing Paul for the first time since Mum returned but unfortunately, they wouldn't budge and I wasn't strong enough to pull. He'd begged Mum to take him back but she decided then was a good time to reveal to the rest of the family and Paul, except me and Auntie Alice obviously, that she and Dad were back together. Whilst the family wasn't really that surprised, Paul was hurt and told Mum she was sick for shagging her cousin again and I was a double headed freak. I'd just scoffed and Dad ended up having to restrain Mum after she punched him. We didn't see him again after that. A few people in the square had been a bit funny and stared at Mum and Dad when they first revealed their relationship again, which triggered unhappy memories for Mum especially. Eventually, people got over it and treated them almost the same as any other adults in a relationship. Plus, it helped I could wrap people around my little finger fairly easy when I used my Branning charm; Mum said I got it from my Dad.

It had personally been tough for me too when their relationship went public as some kids at school found out my parents were cousins and started teasing me, calling me a freak and stuff. My best friend Ruby stayed by my side the whole time and I even ended up making a new friend with this lad in my year, Jake, who had been one of the most popular kid's in our year thanks to his athletic talents; up to that point I hadn't had much to do with him being probably at the bottom of the social ladder aka a nerd. However, our friendship was soon established when some of his friends started verbally abusing me and he stood up for me; he ended up ditching his so called 'friends' for me and Ruby. Not wanting Dad to get angry, I had confided in Auntie Alice and she'd taught me a few self-defence moves, just in case I needed them, behind Mum's and Dad's backs obviously. The teasing soon died down but every day since, Jake had insisted on walking me home from school so he didn't have to worry about me getting home safely. Eventually, someone let slip to Mum and Dad, Dad taking an instant liking to Jake for protecting me.

Another big thing I had to face was the first anniversary of Will and Amanda's deaths. Dad took me to their graves so that I could lay some flowers, Mum coming too this time knowing I needed her support. I missed them and still do to this day; I always found myself remembering bits of advice they had given me when I was young. We then headed over to Nick, Kate and Isabelle's place for our own little private remembrance; Kate pulling out a photo album she'd made me for Christmas containing photo's from my time with them. Despite my tough shell, I did cry for a few minutes as I remembered the fateful day that spiralled the chain of events which led me to end up where we were a year later. I vowed that day to do well at school and in my life to not only make myself and my parents proud but also Will, Amanda, Nick and Kate.

Things continued to get even better for us as a family as the years passed; I was doing well at school; Jake, after being friends for three years, finally asked me to be his girlfriend - I'd left Mum to be the one to reveal that to Dad and he wasn't impressed his little girl was growing up as he 'knew how a guy's mind worked at fourteen years old', but eventually gave Jake his blessing to date me because 'if anyone was to date his daughter, it might as well be someone he knows will look after and do the right thing by her'; I think Mum breaking the news of her pregnancy straight after helped focus his mind on something else. Dad had also opened up a new club in Essex, near where he grew up whilst Mum's interior designs business portfolio was growing by the day. When Mum told Dad about the baby, they'd agreed we needed a bigger place but didn't want to uproot me from my school, nor be too far away from our family, so we moved about half an hour away from Albert Square. The area was a bit more expensive but with Mum's savings and dealings with wealthy customers, and Dad doing well with the two clubs, it wasn't too difficult for them. I didn't mind either because it was a fraction closer to where Ruby and Jake lived. Within the few months before my brother was born, we moved house and my parents decided on a whim to just get married in a small ceremony with immediate friends and family only.

A few weeks ago, I'd finally finished school having sat my GCSE's and had been accepted onto a local college photography course. As much as I loved drawing, I'd discovered I loved photography even more, so I decided to focus on that, but I would still do a couple of other A Levels to fall back on; Art and Maths. But I wasn't thinking about it too much yet as I had the whole summer to enjoy first, starting with my birthday.

"So what do you want to do today?" Mum asked, as she placed a few cereals in front of my brother in his Thomas the Tank Engine bowl.

"Not sure. I was gonna check what time Jake and Rubes are coming over. I was thinking we could all go grab some lunch?" I didn't need fancy things in life; I was happy with the simple things such as just being with my family and best friends. I think being without my family for so long made me want to spend as much time with them as I could, although even I had limits on how long I could cope around them.

"You really want to spend time with your old folks?" Mum and I looked at Dad amazed at his naivety sometimes.

"Speak for yourself, babe; you may feel old being over forty but I'm not that old just yet, Branning." Mum pointed out, hands on her hips while frowning at him.

"Mrs Branning," He was creeping; he always called her Mrs Branning when he was creeping. "Forgive me? You know I don't think you're old; you're still as young as the day I met you, haven't aged a day." He then lowered his voice but not enough for my liking, "You bring out the boy in me with that body; I could ravish you all day, every day." His arms were around her, his lips hovering just a breath from hers.

"Er, hello? Kid's in the room. Go get a room." I pointed at my brother and me; Dad ignoring us and continuing to kiss her. "Dad, really, you ban me kissing Jake in front of you so why do you get to do it in front of me? It's just wrong."

"Because no Dad wants to see a guy with his tongue down his daughter's throat."

"And I want to see your tongue down Mum's? Definitely understanding how my brother happened unplanned." I gave him a smug grin.

"Oh shush." I knew I had him; it was something only me and Mum were able to do so expertly. "Would you like your presents now?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Dad lifted Alessandro from his seat, my brother taking to throwing his dried cereal rather than eating it, whilst Mum led me down to the living room.

"Close your eyes." I followed her instructions as she guided me to the sofa and sat me down. I heard Dad put my brother down as he squealed his usual squeal.

"Ok, you can open your eyes now." On the footstall in front of me was a big pile of presents.

"Are you kidding me?" I sat looking at them in shock.

"You deserve them, Babe. You've worked so hard this year so we thought you deserved a few extras. You need to open this one first." I took the present from Dad as he sat on the sofa opposite with Mum.

Carefully unwrapping the present, my jaw dropped, "You two are freaking awesome." In my lap sat a top of the range SLR camera with various lenses; these things cost a bomb!

"Well we thought if you're serious, you need the best to get you started." Dad explained. Standing up, I stepped over my brother who'd decided to sit right in front of me, and hugged my parents.

"I love you both so, so much. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Dad kissed my cheek before I moved back.

As I sat down, my brother shuffled to his feet and tried to pull himself onto the chair next to me. Helping him up, I moved to grab another present but paused and looked at Dad. "Any particular one to open now?"

"No, whatever order you feel like now."

We carried on opening the presents for a while longer, even letting my brother help, although he was more interested in just ripping the paper off than what was inside.

No matter how annoying families could be, I knew I wouldn't want any other. I loved these daft people more than anything.

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I climbed into bed over eighteen hours after I first got out of it. Today had simply been, by far, one of the best fays of my life. I'd spent the whole day with the people I love.

Just as I was about to turn my bedside lamp off, there was a knock on my door.

"Yeah?" Dad popped his head around the door, a small smile on his tired face.

"Can I come in?" I nodded and shuffled to one side in my double bed to make room for him. He sat down and moved back against the headboard, half lying down with his legs crossed at the ankle while he raised his arm so I could snuggle into his chest. I may be sixteen now but I'd never tire of these hugs or moments like this.

"Thanks for today, Dad." I felt his fingers gently running up and down my arm.

"You're welcome. You do now, even though you're growing up, you'll never stop being my little girl." He told me, kissing the top of my head.

I sighed and relaxed further into his embrace, "I know. I can't believe how happy I am; ten years ago, I sat on my own in bed and would have never of believed anyone if they had of told me this was how my life would pan out. I couldn't wait to turn sixteen, to leave school and get a job to save up ready for when I turned eighteen to finally leave the home or wherever I was."

"I remember the day I first found out about you and the day Auntie Alice told me you'd been born; a small but healthy baby girl. I never wanted you to grow up; I wanted to protect you from everything and after growing up with a sister, I'd discovered it would be easier to protect you as a baby, before you could argue back but I never got the chance. Up to the day you walked back into my life, despite knowing it would be physically impossible, I always thought of you as that tiny baby in the picture Auntie Alice gave me. But now, I wouldn't want you any other way; you're my beautiful girl, growing into an even more beautiful young woman, with your own thoughts and opinions and I know I can't protect you from everything, no matter how hard I try." I smiled knowing I would always need him but I'd learned that when I do get hurt, I could deal with things but at the same time, I knew my Dad would always be there to pick up the pieces and put me back on my path again, if needed.

"Yeah but I'm only able to do everything and be who I am because I know I have your love and support, even if I make stupid mistakes sometimes, like drinking at a house party because everyone else one." After that incident a few months ago, Mum and Dad had grounded me for the first time ever for a whole week. I also realised I really didn't like the taste of alcohol and didn't get the point of it because I didn't get a buzz from it; I just got sick. Mum had opened up after about her previous troubles with alcohol after that night. I promised them both I wouldn't touch it again; not because of them but because I didn't want to. I wouldn't give in to peer pressure and conform to the stereotype of being a young teen.

"Do you have any regrets about finding us?" He asked, breaking the silence.

"Honestly? None. They told me there was no way of contacting you, that I should give up but I'm glad my Branning stubbornness stopped me from doing so. I don't even regret not trying sooner because I believe it happened because it was the right time at that moment for all of us." It was true. I believed I was meant to experience a family set up with Will and Amanda, give them some happiness before they died, which then ignited my need to be with my family; to find them and get to know them to find out who I really was.

"Good because I have no regrets taking you in unplanned either. I love you, Violet Branning." In five years, I really had become a proper Daddy's girl.

"I love you too, Dad." I don't know how long we stayed like that because I soon found myself falling asleep in his secure arms knowing I was finally at peace and content with my life and who I am. I'm Violet Branning, daughter of Joey and Lauren Branning and now big sister to Alessandro Branning. I had my family back and I could stop searching because I'd found me.

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A/N: And it's over! :( Thank you so much for all your reviews and support on this story! I set myself a challenge when I first wrote this to not do any flashbacks because if you know my writing, you know I'm a flashback sort of person, but I like to challenge myself so hopefully you've still been able to enjoy the story.

I am busy writing new material but it will be a few days, maybe a week or two at the most, before I post my next story. If you're a writer yourself, you'll know you can't rush these things; they come out when they're ready. Plus with limited time with life, it's hard to find time.

Anyway, please leave a review and let me know your final thoughts! Thanks again! See you all soon! :)