Pursuit of Your Deepest Urge©
Chapter Twenty-one: Epilogue
By Genevieve Lee

POV: Christine
Ten Years Later…

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Epilogue (noun)
A concluding part added to a literary work, as a novel.

Christine looked at herself in the mirror as she observed her sickly looking face. Her eyes seemed to have sunk into her skull. She sighed as she pushed her hair away and grabbed it, pulling it into a modest bun. She had no idea she was going to tell Erik. She laughed at herself.

"It's the third time, for heavens sakes! You'd think I would not be worried!" She said to herself as she stepped over to her wardrobe. She picked out a pretty dress and then went to stand behind her dressing screen to change. She tugged on the dress, having some trouble putting it on, as she had decided to abandon the corset. After a few minutes she emerged and stepped outside her room.

She knew Erik was probably hard at work in his music room, as he usually was until around midday. She did not mind though, she had other things to busy herself. She made her way down the hallway and opened one of the other bedroom doors silently, hoping the slumbering form on the other side would not wake. She stepped into the dark room and shut the door quietly behind her. She walked over to the bed in the center and sat on the edge.

She rubbed her back gently, which was hidden beneath the large blanket. She bent down and kissed her cheek, softly whispering that it was time to wake up. She moved around a little and looked up at Christine. Adele had Christine's curls, but her fathers dark hair. Since both Erik and Christine had fair skin, their daughter did as well. Her eyes were brown and big, just like her mothers.

"Come on little one, it is time to wake up."

"Mother, can't I have a few more minutes?"

"No, you have slept long enough." Christine told her daughter as she stood and opened the curtains, light flooding into the room. Her daughter attempted to hide beneath the covers and Christine laughed. She sat back down on the bed and pulled the covers off of her head.

"Adele!" She laughed. "If I tell you a secret, will you get out of bed?"

The nine-year-old girl sat up suddenly and nodded excitedly. "Yes! I will get out of bed! What is it mother, a new dress?"

Christine shook her head, hoping Adele would keep her secret. "Adele, I am going to have another baby!"

Adele's face exploded into a smile. "Another baby? Oh, Mama, that's wonderful! But do you think you can have a girl this time! I want a little sister so dreadfully!"

Christine laughed. "I cannot control what I have, but you have to promise me something. Don't tell Papa yet. I am not too sure how I will break the news to him."

Adele giggled. "I won't tell Mama!"

Christine smiled. "Good! Now, do as you promised! Get out of bed!" Christine stayed in her room until she crawled out of bed, before leaving her to get ready.

She took a few steps before coming to another door. She opened it carefully and walked in; using the same method she did for Adele.

"Come on, my darling boy. It is time to get up!" She whispered in his ear.

She watched her son sit up and rub his eyes before looking fondly at his mother. Rey had his mother's chocolate colored hair that was straight, like Erik's. He also inherited his father's golden eyes.

"Mama, are we still going to the beach today?"

"Yes, as soon as our Papa is done with his music we will all go down to the beach and eat lunch there. How does that sound?"

"Good!" The four-year-old replied.

"But get up so I can get you and your sister breakfast!"

The young boy, named Rey, got out of bed, and Christine helped him dress. As they emerged from his room, Adele did as well. The children immediately went to one another and began discussing their plans at the beach today. Adele looked back at her mother, a look of question in her eyes. Christine put a finger to her lips, telling her daughter to remain silent about the baby around her brother. She knew Rey would promise to keep quiet, but would most likely tell his father on accident, and Christine wanted to tell him.

She ushered her children downstairs and told them to go play for a while, but to not disturb their father. She knew Erik became rather moody when the children burst into the room, begging him to hide them from the others.

Christine then began making breakfast, as her and Erik had decided against servants, They did have one maid, who did the cleaning and laundry, but Christine preferred to take care of her own children and cook.

It did not take long to have a small breakfast ready for their family. Almost as soon as she set the food down on the table, her children came running in, Adele in the lead.

"I win!" Adele yelled, clutching Christine's skirt. "I touched Mama's dress first!"

Rey's face broke into a small pout. "No you didn't…"

"Yes I did!" She held the hem up triumphantly. "See?"

"But, you started before I did…" Rey said, a pitiful look on his face.

"I did not, you--"

"Adele! Rey! That is quiet enough!"

Both children heard the booming authority in their father's voice and kept silent. Christine turned to face her husband and smiled. "Good morning, Erik."

"Good morning, my love." He returned the smile and walked forward, giving her a chaste kiss, which earned groans from their children.

"Why do you always kiss her?" Rey asked, utterly disgusted.

"Because we love each other." Christine explained patiently. "One day, you will fall in love with someone too, and you will want to kiss them all the time."

Rey looked horrified. "No, I will never fall in love!"

Adele giggled. "He doesn't understand much, does he Mama?" She asked, trying to be included with the adults. Adele was quite mature for her age.

The family sat down for breakfast and ate in silence for a few moments, except for Adele and Rey who continued talking about what they were going to do at the beach.

Erik turned to his wife. "My dear, you look quite pale. Are you alright?"

Christine smiled. "Yes, I am fine Erik. But there is something I would like to tell you."

Adele abandoned her conversation with Rey and looked at her mother. "Oh, Mama, are you telling him now?"

"Telling me what?" Erik looker perplexed.

"Adele…" Christine warned.

"Mama is having another baby!"

Christine put her face in he hands and shook her head.

So much for a surprise.

She could not help but laugh at her daughter's eagerness.

Erik looked over at Christine. "Christine, are you really pregnant again?"

Christine emerged from behind her hands with a big smile on her face. "Yes Erik. We are now expecting our third."

Erik stood from the table and Christine met him halfway for an embrace.

"That is wonderful! But are you feeling okay? We don't have to go to the beach today if--"

"What?" Adele asked, horrified.

"But we have to go!" Rey said.

Christine giggled. "I am fine Erik. We promised the children we would take them." Erik always worried over her too much when she was pregnant.

She remembered when she was expecting Adele, how terrified Erik was.

"But Christine, what if our child looks like me?" He motioned to the mask.

"Erik! It will not matter! He or she will have something you did not, a loving and doting family. We will just have to take whatever we have as a blessing."

Luckily though, Adele was a normal baby who took to both her parents immediately.

For Adele, when she was about three, Christine had made Erik take off his mask and Christine explained to her what was wrong with her father, but then Erik showed her he was still the same person. It was a bit frightful to her at first, but she learned to accept it. They had repeated the same thing with Rey, and although Erik usually wore his mask, if he ever needed to take it off, there was no shock.

"Fine, if you kids like, we may go earlier. I need a break today anyways."

The children celebrated their being able to spend a few more days at the beach by helping their mother make the lunches. Within the next hour, Erik and Christine were seated on a blanket in the sand while their children ran around in the water with one another. The beach was directly behind their house, which they had bought as soon as they could leave Nadir's home for their house in Sweden, where Christine had always wished to return.

Their house was secluded, their nearest neighbors were about a mile away each, but Christine had made friends with them, and then eventually Erik had too. Christine knew Adele had taken to one of their neighbor's sons, Jules who was only a few years older than she was. She smiled, thinking that one day, they may just get married.

Christine knew she had the perfect life, and she sighed contently as she laid her head on her husband's shoulder.

"What do you want the baby to be?"

Erik kissed the top of her head before responding. "I do not care. As long as he or she is healthy."

Christine smiled. "Adele wants a little sister, and I am sure Rey wants a little brother. I guess we will see though."

"What would you like?"

Christine sighed. "Honestly? Probably another little girl. They are a lot easier to raise than boys."

"For you, at least."

Christine hit his shoulder playfully. "Stop it! You know you love Adele!"

Both of their gazes were drawn to their children who were now trying to make a sand castle.

"I do. I love our family."

"I do too." She paused. "Do you think we will have any more children after this one?"

Erik grinned. "I do not know. Three is a pretty satisfactory number, don't you think?"

"Yes." Christine sighed in agreement as she snuggled closer to her husband who wrapped his arm around her.

Three was not nearly a large enough number, for Erik and Christine Destler ended up bringing five children into the world.

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Erik and Christine Destler Family Tree

Adele Ava Destler

Rey Christopher Destler

Emma Gabrielle Destler

Sophia Caitlin Destler

William Tanner Destler

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Genny's Note: Weird that this is the last chapter I will be writing for the story. I had to write it a day earlier because I am going to Disneyland on last minute plans tomorrow. Yay! Then I have other things to do this weekend, and then school starts. I had to make sure I got around to this! I did not reply to reviews in this one, because most were just their vote and there was nothing to reply to.

Thank you so much for reading this far! It is all over and I hope you like how their lives together turned out.

I will now be working on "Dreams" and I plan on posting a chapter tomorrow morning before I leave so be on the lookout (;

I love you all for reading and reviewing!!