Another Epilogue

Rose

Later that night…..

I stare out the window of my seaside apartment, the summer breeze floating through the window accompanied by the salty smell of the bay, reflecting on my choices. Choices that led me to here and now- spending my days basking in the suns rays on Alki Beach, my nights in various bars, clubs, and the occasional museum- when my best friend decides he wants to feed his inner artist.

Life hands us many things, some better than others, but of all the encounters I have faced, one thing has remained constant.

Love.

Such a complicated emotion. It can build you up and break you down with a simple look, word, or action. It is the founding emotion in all of our hearts. We are born with it. Over time, that feeling evolves and others begin to show their colors. Hate. Anger. Fear. Happiness. Sorrow. The list goes on and on and it all thrives off of one emotion- one powerful feeling. It drives us to become the people we were meant to be.

But with love comes loyalty.

Another word that carries a heavyweight. Be it to your family, friends, or yourself. Loyalty is based on trust and honor, but also the aforementioned love feeling. When you love someone, you remain loyal, well, most do, not all, but most. If you truly cared for someone you would remain loyal to them and do whatever you can to protect them.

When you mix those two together, you get one complicated mess. They thrive off of one another, but in the end, you have to choose one. Love or Loyalty. You have to choose between who you were born to be, and who you want to be. What the world tells you is right, and what you believe is best.

Love, I had decided, is what I wanted to pursue.

But what I didn't know, is just how hard that journey was going to be. How many trials and tribulations I would have to face in order to gain my happily ever after.

But it's all worth it in the end.

Right?

"Hey, Little Dhampir," Adrian leans against the door frame, hands tucked into the pockets of his dark jeans, "enjoying the view?"

"Yeah," I sigh, "where are we though?"

He moves to sit beside me on the wicker couch, "Remember when Robert showed you the different dreams?"

"How can I forget," I chuckle, "they all came true."

"Well, this is the one that would have happened had we not gone through the storm," he waves a hand toward the open bay, "me and you living right here."

"Huh," I click my tongue and tilt my head to look at him, "Why are we here?"

"Because you're not the only one who wonders what might have been should we have done something differently." He wraps his arm over my shoulders, pulling me into his side, "I constantly look back on our days in Seattle and wonder, what would life be like had we not gone through everything we did. Where would we be, who would we be."

"Fictitiously married, living off our trust funds," I laugh.

"You're probably right," his body shakes with a chuckle, "but I have to say, the fights, kidnapping, bonding, spirit work, a trip to Russia, moving to the Ranch, running all over the country, and falling in love was worth it."

I have to agree, it was more than worth it. Adrian and I both grew up surround by people, yet felt so alone. He had his parents and friends, but they didn't care about him or what he was capable of. And I had all the friends in the world, but no family.

We never had that sense of camaraderie, unconditional love, or anyone to walk through the storm with. We were single souls drifting along a rocky shore, catching the sharp corners at every turn, leaving us with scars to remind us of what we went through to get where we are now.

And if I could go back in time and do it all over again, make different choices as to not have to go through the pain, I wouldn't change a thing. It was one hell of a ride, but, to answer my question from earlier,

"So worth it," I whisper into the salty air, "We found our forever family, Adrian."

Author's Note:

Okay, now we can all cry that it is over.

On a bright note though, I am planning a Novella to go with this, 'Our Forever Family' which will be compiled of the 'lost' chapters of this story. Moments with each of our couples during everything, as well as, after this. I have no time frame on that right now, as 'Bases Loaded' is now my focus.

I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

All My Love,

Dream