Epilogue – Twenty Years Later

The living room was full of friends and family. We had eaten Christmas dinner at the Riddle Manor this year. We rotated from Riddle Manor, Malfoy Manor, the Burrow, and Hogwarts year to year. Dinner had been over for quite some time, we had all exchanged gifts and the adults were in the living room while the kids played elsewhere.

I heard the footsteps come down the stairs. I watched as all the children ran into the room. The oldest was Andromeda, Tonks and Remus' daughter, she was eighteen. Then Fleur and Bill's twin girls Melanie and Brie were next, they were almost seventeen. The other children ran to their parents.

Remus, Tonks, and Andromeda departed and Bill, Fleur, the twins, Percy, and Arthur and Molly left soon after. Albus, Minerva, Moody, and Severus had joined us for dinner but had left soon after. I smiled at Fred and George, and their dates, as they came up to say goodbye to Tom and I. Charlie was unable to make it this year due to an escaped pregnant dragon. That had been a good story this evening.

Ron had married Lavender three years ago, their two month old baby boy, Colton, was cradled in his mother's arms, sound asleep. I smiled at her and gave her a soft hug, trying not to wake up the baby. They said their goodbyes and thanked up for the stuffed bear and rocking chair we had given them for Christmas.

Harry and Ginny decided to leave about an hour later. They called for their two children, Sirius and Lily. Sirius was the oldest, at six and Lily was three. Lily looked like her mother while Sirius was the perfect mix between the two of them.

At eleven forty five Hermione and Draco stood up. Their son, it was a Malfoy tradition to never have a girl, Abraxas, had been named after his grandfather. He looked and acted just like him too. Abraxas was thirteen. The tradition continued with their next child, Alexander, or Alex. Alex was the mix between the two parents, he was ten.

We said goodbye and then Tom and I gathered up our own children. Aiden said goodnight and went to her own room. She was our oldest. I had her a year after Tom and I were married. She was sixteen, a Slytherin and in her fifth year at Hogwarts. She was also the blend between Tom and I.

Shane was eleven and in his first year at Hogwarts. He looked just like his father, but surprisingly was a Gryffindor like his mother. Shane said goodnight and went to his room also.

Tom helped me off of the couch were I had sat down after dinner and remained the rest of the evening. He laughed at me as I held me back and his hand.

"It's not funny Tom. This is your fault. I feel huge."I said rubbing my swollen belly.

"You are not huge, you are beautiful. You barely even show, you have only gained twenty-five pounds Sonoña. You are also seven and a half months pregnant and do not need to be on your feet. Julianna is making her mother worn out. You need to get some rest my dear."

"Tom, you do not have to carry me…." I could not finish my sentence as Tom lifted me up into his arms and carried me to our bedroom. "Why do you insist on carrying me everywhere? I do fine during the day when you are not home? I did fine with Aiden when you were not home. I did fine with Shane when you were not home. Why when you get home must you carry me?" I asked laughing as he laid me gently on the bed and began to find me something else to wear.

"Because when I am at Hogwarts I cannot help you but when I get home I can help you all you need. I want to be there for you." he said as he took off my shoes and pants and put on a pair of soft pants. I sat up and grabbed his shoulders.

"Tom, you have been at the birth of both of your children, you have taught your children at home and in school, you have helped your children, and you have been a lover to me and the best husband I could ever ask for. I am thirty eight years old… and pregnant again. Tom I could not ask for anything more. Everything worked out alright. You came back to me. Your love for me brought you back to me. Our love can never be separated Tom. It is that strong. Just like Hermione and Draco's their love for each other is like our love. It respells each other until it learns that they can love the other. Our love learned that, and so did Draco and Hermione's. Tom I could not ask for more from you."

"You have given me everything in the world. I love you Tom Riddle." I said as I placed my hands on his face.

He cupped his hands over mine and held them. "I love you too Sonoña Riddle. You are my everything. I can't wait until Julianna is born."

"Are you sure it's a girl Tom?" I asked as I removed my shirt and replaced it with one that matched my pants and was not as tight around my belly.

"Yes, Sonoña you are having a girl. We will have two girls and a boy. That sounds just right, three children. I think we can stop having children now don't you?" He said, getting in the bed on the other side and sliding close to me.

"Enough children yes, enough of you, never." I said as I leaned over and kissed him. I curled against him and kissed his chest. "I love you Tom, goodnight."

"Goodnight…"

I drifted off to sleep knowing I was safe, safe in the arms of the man that I had risked everything for. Safe with the man who made my life worthwhile and complete. He was my husband, after fifty years of fighting, he had been my husband for nineteen years, and I loved him the same as the day I met him, I always would. Because some love is unconditional and forever.