Previously, in "Oh, Baby!," Grayson and Elena have a talk and Tatia returns home unexpectedly, and everyone learns the reason behind it. John and Meredith then get engaged and after they are married, they adopt Elena, Katherine, and Tatia legally.
Chapter 21 - Epilogue: Family Matters Pt. 1
John & Meredith's House – Almost a Year Later...
Tatia was just easing herself onto the last step of the stairs after waddling down when she heard someone knock on the front door.
Tatia got to the front door and was surprised to see..."Mason? What are you doing here?"
Mason sighed. "Tatia, we need to talk."
"Oh, really?" said Tatia. "The last time I saw you, you said that you never wanted to see me again."
"That's what I want to talk to you about," said Mason. "I was an idiot and I never should've said what I said. Tatia, I love you and I want us to get back together."
"Well, you should have thought about that BEFORE I told you about the baby!" she yelled at him, crying out in pain and doubling over, clutching her pregnant stomach.
Mason caught her as she doubled over, hearing her cries. "You're going to be okay, Tatia. I'm going to get you to the hospital."
"ELENA, KATHERINE, MEREDITH!" Tatia cried out. From outside, the three women heard their names being cried out and ran into the house, finding Tatia pushing Mason away.
"Come on, Tatiana, we'll take you to the hospital," Meredith said as she got out her cell phone and dialed 9-1-1.
Elena looked at Mason. "What did you do to her?"
"Nothing," he replied. "I came to apologize to her and then she started yelling out in pain."
"Well, she's been going through a lot with the pregnancy. Perhaps you should come back later," Katherine told him as she and Elena helped Tatia out to the car, one of them on either side of their baby sister.
Mason sighed as he watched them take Tatia to the car. He was still watching when John approached him and said, "I may not approve of what went on with you and my daughter, but if you want, I can give you a ride to the hospital."
"Much obliged, Mr. Gilbert," Mason said as he moved over to climb into the passenger seat of John's SUV.
Mason bit his lip the whole drive to the hospital. He had come back to Mystic Falls with the sole purpose of making things right with Tatia. He especially wanted to make things right for their soon-to-be born son or daughter. He even wanted to ask her to marry him, having purchased an engagement ring shortly before leaving Florida.
John noticed how nervous he was. "I know you're worried about Tatia. Believe me, I am too, but she's a strong woman and she's going to get through this."
"Can I ask you a favor, sir? I would really like to have your blessing to marry Tatia, if she'll have me again," Mason said honestly.
John listened to what Mason was telling him. "I have one question before I give you my blessing. Actually, two questions. One, do you love my daughter? Two, are you going to be there for her, no matter what?"
Mason nodded. "Of course I love her. I've always loved her, and I was an idiot to break up with her. And I'll definitely be there for her. I'll even do what's right for my child."
"Then, you have my blessing," said John. "The only thing you need to do now is talk to Tatia and give her the ring you have in your pocket." He saw Mason's face. "Yes, I know that you have a ring in your pocket."
When they arrived at the hospital, Elena and Katherine stopped Mason from entering their sister's room. "If you break our sister's heart again, you'll have to deal with us, got it?" they said in unison.
"Elena Michelle, Katherine Mackenzie, he promised to be good," John said from behind him.
Tatia saw Mason enter her room. "Mason, I..."
"Let me talk, Tatia," he said. "Look, I was stupid for breaking up with you. The truth is, you're everything to me and so is our child. I want to make things right." He got down on one knee and took her hand. "I love you, more than a man has ever loved a woman and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, if you'll have me." He took out the box. "Tatiana Miranda Gilbert, will you marry me?" He opened the box to reveal the ring. "Make me the happiest man in the world."
"Yes! Yes, yes, a thousand times yes," Tatia said before Mason pushed the ring onto her finger gently then settled in behind her when she shifted forward to push.
Tatia squeezed Mason's hand as a contraction hit her and screamed out. The doctor in front of her said, "You're doing great, Tatia." She looked down and saw the baby's head crowning. "The baby's crowning. Keep pushing and you'll be meeting your baby in no time."
Tatia groaned and sat forward, pushing as hard as she could. She began to cry when she heard the sweet cries of her newborn baby, sitting back and laughing a little through her tears. "She's here, sweetheart. We have a daughter," Mason said with a beaming smile.
Tatia smiled. "She's beautiful." She looked at Mason. "What should we name this little angel of ours?"
"Tanya. Tanya Louise Lockwood."
"I love it," said Tatia. "A beautiful name for a beautiful baby girl."
Mason smiled. "Our beautiful baby girl."
The nurse gives Tanya to Mason, who sits down next to his fiancé as he eases their daughter into her mother's waiting arms. Once Tanya is settled, Mason wraps his arms around both of his girls, kissing the side of Tatia's head with soft affection.
John walked into the room then, followed by Elena and Katherine. Mason brought his index finger to his lips, telling them to be quiet, earning him a nod from them. John then said quietly, "I take it things went well?"
Mason smiled. "Yes. I asked Tatia to marry me and she said yes." He looked at Tanya. "This is your granddaughter. Tanya Louise Lockwood."
"Welcome to the world and to our family, Tanya Louise," Elena and Katherine both said in unison, keeping their voices to a whisper.
John smiled and gently patted Mason on his shoulder. "I believe a welcome is in order for you too, Mason. True love does prevail. I would know, since I finally got to marry the woman I loved last year."
"Thank you, John. I promise to take good care of my girls," Mason said as he looked at Tatia and Tanya both sleeping.
John nodded as he looked at them. He was glad things worked out and that Tatia was happy again.
A Few Days Later…
Mason helped Tatia out of the car after placing the carrier with Tanya inside on the gravel beside the SUV he drove.
Mason then linked arms with Tatia as he carried the car seat with Tanya sleeping inside.
They headed into the house, where they were immediately greeted with both sets of her parents, his brother and sister-in-law, his nephew and niece-in-law, both of her sisters and their husbands and children.
Meredith smiled when she saw Mason and Tatia coming in. "Here's the happy couple-to-be." She saw little Tanya. "And the little princess."
"A sleeping princess right now," Tatia said as she hugged her stepmother.
Meredith smiled and pulled away. "Well, now that everyone is here, we can get on with the engagement party John and I planned for you and Mason."
"Engagement party?" said Mason. "Meredith, you didn't have to do that."
"We want to," said Meredith. "You're family now, and you deserve a proper welcome."
Mason smiled. "Well, thank you very much," he said as he looked at Tatia, who smiled back.
Meredith smiled as well. "It's no problem. Besides, Tatia would've fought for it."
Tatia nodded. "It's true. I can be very persuasive."
"You're correct about that," Mason said as he leaned over and gave Tatia a brief kiss on the lips.
Tatia returned his kiss, earning them a smile from everyone in the room.
"I love you, Mason Garrett Lockwood," she said quietly after parting their lips a little bit.
Mason smiled. "I love you too, Tatiana Miranda Gilbert."
"Soon to be Lockwood," she said with another smile.
Mason nodded. "Yes, soon to be Lockwood."
Tatia smiled again and kissed him one more time before turning to her sisters. "Want to help me get into some fancy clothes?"
Katherine and Elena looked at each other and nodded before Elena looked at Tatia. "Of course. Come on, I got some that I think you'll like."
"And I got you some accessories to go with them," said Katherine. "Can't have fancy clothes without equally fancy accessories."
Tatia gave her sisters both a smile as she went up the stairs with Elena and Katherine, going up to Elena's room with Damon.
Tatia gasped when she got to the bedroom and saw the fancy clothes and accessories her sisters told her about, looking forward to wearing them.
She selected an emerald green spaghetti-strap dress with a lighter green pair of dangle earrings and a pair of silver heels. "There, that should do it," she said as she put them all on.
Elena smiled at how beautiful her sister looked. "Tatia, you do that dress justice. And those earrings are stunning."
"Thanks, Lena. I know that Mason likes it when I wear green, so I wanted to pick out a color that he likes," Tatia said as she picked up a perfume bottle and misted the air with it and walked through the mist of perfume.
Elena smiled. "Well, one thing's for sure, Mason won't know what to do with himself when he sees you. He's going to think he's marrying a super model."
Tatia laughed at her sister's remark. "Oh, Lena, you definitely know how to put a smile on my face!"
"Well, I think that Mason will put a grin on your face after he gives you a compliment on it!" Katherine said with a giggle.
The three sisters continued to converse and giggle on their way down the stairs, where they were greeted by Damon, Elijah and Mason.
Mason watched Damon and Elijah take their wives' hands and escort them to the living room. When he saw the Tatia, he smiled at her. "Tatia, darling, you look beautiful. And you're wearing my favorite color."
"I know how much you loved it when I wore green…before, so I wanted to give you a little enticement," she said with a smirk then moved closer. "Did it work?"
Mason smiled and pulled her into his arms. "How's this for an answer?" He leaned in and kissed her softly.
"Oh, I very much like that answer," she said after pulling back. She kissed him softly again then groaned when Tanya began to wail from the other room.
Mason heard his daughter's wails from the other room. "Sounds like someone wants her mommy."
Tatia nodded. "Yeah, duty calls." She sighed and looked at him. "To be continued?"
Mason nodded as well. "Yeah, to be continued."
They both headed toward the living room, where Meredith was just gently easing Tanya out of her baby carrier, smiling when Tatia took her from her stepmother's arms. "Thank you, Meredith," she said with a smile to the older woman.
Tatia sat down and grabbed a blanket, covering herself so that she could nurse Tanya.
Mason accepted a glass of water from his soon to be father in law and smiled over at John. "Thanks for throwing this little engagement party for us, John," he said as he took a drink of his water.
John smiled. "You're family now, Mason. Meredith and I wanted to welcome you properly. "
Before Mason could respond, Savannah came running up to John. "Daddy, Mommy had an accident and she can't get up!" she told him with tears in her eyes. John immediately handed Mason his glass and went to check on Meredith, whom he found in the kitchen.
"Meredith, what happened, baby?" he asked as he moved her slightly until he could cradle her in his arms.
Meredith moaned before she replied, "I...I don't know. One minute I'm fine, the next, I'm on the floor."
John nodded. "Are you going to be okay? I don't have to call the ambulance, do I?"
"No, John, that's not necessary," said Meredith. "I had a slight fainting spell, that's all." She sighed. "I think it might have something to do with the baby."
"Tanya?"
"John, I meant I'm pregnant. That's probably why I fainted. Though, I never had this problem when I was pregnant with Savannah or Christopher."
"I'm calling my brother, okay? I don't want you to be on your feet any more than you have to be," John said as he pulled out his cell phone to call Grayson.
After several rings, Grayson picked up on his end. "John, what is it?"
"Gray, it's Meredith," his brother replied. "She's pregnant again and she fainted in the kitchen."
John looked at Meredith as soon as he got off the phone. "Gray's on his way, love."
When Grayson got there, Mason answered the door and let him in, taking him to the kitchen, where John was still holding Meredith on the floor.
John saw his brother enter the kitchen and gave him a nod. Grayson nodded as well and knelt down in front of Meredith, who smiled at him and said, "Grayson, thank God you're here."
His brother nodded then smiled once again at Meredith before turning to John. "We should probably get her onto a flat surface, like a bed or something," Grayson suggested to his brother.
John nodded. "I think I know what to do. There's a futon in the rec room. It should be flat enough."
Grayson nodded again before looking up at Mason. "Mason, would you mind helping John carry Meredith?" he asked the man.
Mason nodded. "Sure thing."
He then helped lift Meredith off the kitchen floor and carry her to the rec room, where the futon in question was housed. Together, he and John placed Meredith gently down on the flat yet firm surface.
John settled in next to his wife, holding her hand as she smiled lovingly up at him. He brought their joined hands up to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
Meredith smiled as she felt John kissing her knuckles. "I love you, John."
"I love you too, my dear, sweet Merry-Go-Round," he said with a grin. She made a face at him for the nickname but then squeezed his hand tight as Grayson began to examine her.
Once the exam was done, John looked at Meredith and smiled. "Well, it's official, you're pregnant. Now, I'm going to recommend that you take it easy and stay off your feet."
Meredith nodded then wrapped her arms around John's neck as he stood up with her cradled in his arms. With her head nestled within a portion of his neck and shoulder, John carried her into their bedroom before heading back to the living room to tell his daughters about their stepmother's condition.
John cleared his throat and said, "Girls, Meredith is going to have another baby."
"That's so great!" Elena, Katherine and Tatia all said with beaming smiles.
John smiled. "I'm excited as well. We're really going to be one big happy family."
"Do you two have any names picked out?" Tatia asked as she smiled at her future husband when he eased their daughter out of her mother's arms.
John shook his head. "Not yet, but we have plenty of time to pick some out."
"In the meantime, we're going to spoil him or her as rotten as possible, right, sisters?" Katherine said as she brushed Savannah's hair so she could begin braiding it.
Elena and Tatia nodded and said in unison, "Right, Kitty Kat."
Damon and Mason smiled as they heard them speaking in unison, thinking it was adorable. Elijah smiled as well as he watched Katherine braiding Savannah's hair.
Once Katherine was done, she set Savannah down and smiled as she watched her half-sister wander over to John and lifted her arms to be picked up. Savannah's giggles soon filled the room as the sandy-haired man began twirling her around.
John laughed along with his daughter as he twirled her around. He was glad things were finally going well and didn't want anything to spoil it.
His smile turned into an even bigger one when he felt Savannah's small fingers framing his face between them. "I love you, Daddy," she said with a soft, sweet smile that reminded him so much of looking at Meredith.
"I love you too, sweetheart," he said softly back as he leaned over and blew a raspberry unto her cheek to keep the tears hidden from all four of his daughters.
Elena, Katherine, and Tatia watched their father playing with their half sister, smiling at the tender moment between them. However, Elena noticed that John was crying, but was hiding it from them. She wanted to say something, but decided against it, thinking that he'd just say that he had something in his eye, like most men would do.
Katherine nudged Elena. "Are you seeing…?"
Her sister nodded. "He'll only tell us that he's got something in his eye though," Elena replied.
Katherine nodded. "I guess so. Men tend to act like that to show that they're tough and that they're not having a moment where their emotions are showing."
Later…
Tatia raced in ahead of Mason at the apartment building she was going to call home, squealing as he caught her around the waist. She was happy to have this time alone with him, grateful for Katherine and Elijah for taking Tanya for the overnight.
Mason kissed her neck as he heard her giggles. "Did I ever tell you that you have the cutest giggle, Tatiana?"
Tatia smiled. "About a thousand times since we got engaged, but I thank you for the compliment."
Her fiancé turned her around until he was looking into her eyes, arms locked in a firm embrace around her somewhat trim waist. "I love you, Tatiana Miranda Gilbert," he whispered before claiming her lips with his.
Tatia smiled against his lips and returned his kiss. "I love you too, Mason Garrett Lockwood."
Mason smiled then picked her up bridal style and carrying her into the building where the apartment was, going all the way to the top floor with her still in his arms.
When they got to their destination, Mason carried her into the bedroom, following her onto the cool sheets as he laid her down onto the bed, kissing her passionately as he ran his hands up and down her body, hearing her moans as she returned his kiss.
She pushed him onto his back then straddled his hips before sitting up to slowly peel the soft cotton material of the medium green dress up and over her head. Mason groaned low in his chest at the sight of her in the strapless bra in a shimmering silver color. "Tatiana, beautiful, do you know how gorgeous you are right now?"
Tatia smiled. "I do." She kissed him. "You make me feel gorgeous, Mason."
Mason returned her kiss and reached up, unhooking the back of her bra, tossing it to the floor and gently caressing her breasts.
Tatia's olive-skinned fingers comb into his hair before she was guiding his lips where she wanted them. Mason followed her silent demand, his mouth closing around her sensitive, aching breast and suckling on it while his hands moved to her hips so he could hook his fingers into the waistband of her panties.
Tatia felt his fingers playing with the waistband of her panties, throwing her head back and letting out a scream of pleasure. How she missed these moments with him and she was looking forward to spending the rest of her life with him.
Mason shifted them until he could gently press his bride-to-be onto the covers before once again hooking his fingers into the waistband of her panties and gently pulling them down her legs before tossing them aside. He paused to look at her beauty then smiled when he glanced to see her toes nudging at his thigh. Gently and softly, Mason took her foot into both of his hands then tugged gently until she was sliding closer in his direction and at the edge of the bed.
Mason then pulled off his shirt and threw it to the floor. He also pulled down his pants and threw them onto the floor. Tatia smiled at this and then reached with her hands down to the waistband of his boxers, groaning her a groan from him. "Do you want me, Tatiana?"
"Always."
Two Years Later…
Elena, Katherine and Tatia were sitting in the downstairs part of their father's home. Katherine held Savannah while Christopher and 2-year-old Erika were sitting on the couch between the sisters. "Where is Mommy going to go now?" Savannah asked Katherine softly, tears running down her cheeks.
Her half-sister wiped them away gently with a soft tissue. "Mommy is going to Heaven, Savannah. Her heart wasn't doing very well and it needed some rest," she told the little girl.
Mason held 2-year-old Tanya in his arms while everyone else sat on the couch. Tanya looked at him. "Why is everyone so sad, Daddy?"
"They're sad because of Grandma, sweetie," he replied. "It's nearly time for her to go to Heaven, so that she can play with the angels."
Upstairs, John rests next to Meredith as her weak fingers stroke over his cheeks. Tears are running down them but she can't see them because the disease she was diagnosed with at the end of her pregnancy with Erika took away her eyesight.
John sobbed. "I love you so much, Meredith. You were the best thing that ever happened to me and I hate that you're not going to be with me much longer. I don't want to raise Savannah, Christopher and Erika alone."
With weak, shaking hands, John felt Meredith pull him closer until she could whisper hoarsely in his ear, "You are a good father, Jonathan Gilbert. You are going to raise our children the best you can. You are going to tell them all about me, and how much I loved them."
John sniffed. "I know, but it's going to be hard not having you here to guide me, like you did before."
"I'll still guide you, John," said Meredith. "But, it'll be from a different place."
She felt herself growing weaker by the second and found that she couldn't move. "I'll be smiling as you float away," John whispered, knowing her time to go was just seconds away.
Meredith gave him a weak smile and then closed her eyes for the final time. As she let out her final breath, John watched and, as he promised, smiled as he saw her spirit floating away.
Note: Here's Part 1 of the epilogue! Enjoy and come back again!