Disclaimer:

I hereby incorporate all standard disclaimers as set forth in previous chapters to this story.

Epilogue:

Five Years Later:

Tuesday, September 3, 2020:

"Come on Joey, get the lead out, you don't want to be late for your first day of school." Erin called out to her five year old son.

"Ok Mommy!" He excitedly replied as he ran to her.

She smiled as she recalled Nicky's first day of kindergarten eighteen years earlier and thought it ironic that here was Joey getting ready to take the same path while his older sister would be simultaneously beginning her second year of Law School forty five miles away at the University of Michigan.

Now where was Sloan? Like father, like son, she thought. "Come on Sloan, we have to get going." She yelled, wondering if he could even hear her in his office.

"Ok Mommy!" He joked drawing a laugh from his son.

"Daddy's funny." Their son laughed.

"Yes he is sweetheart but we'll let Daddy entertain you later." Erin said as she picked him up, something she wouldn't be able to do for too many more years as he was already showing signs that he was going to be another Frank or Sloan or at the least, the size of his namesake uncle.

They piled into Sloan's Jaguar sedan and headed out to tender their son to his new teacher whom they both wished to meet. Once inside the school, Sloan giggled as he informed both wife and son that he had first walked these same halls almost 50 years earlier as a fifth grader.

Entering Joey's classroom, Erin was amazed at just how open and spacious it was, certainly nothing like what she saw on Nicky's first day. There were laptop computers and a plasma television for use as a visual aid.

"This is nothing like what kindergarten was like for me." He recalled.

"And what was it like back in the stone age?" Erin teased.

He glanced over and gave her a smirk. "We had blocks and wooden toys, and we colored a lot and were told stories and we took naps. That was the best part. The only other two events I can recall was getting a birthday spanking from one kindergarten teacher and then when we moved mid-year and I changed schools, watching a really hot Casey type teacher of mine spank another kid for hitting me in the head with a block of wood."

"Is that where your fetish originates from?" Erin grinned.

"Maybe." He shrugged.

Joey's teacher came over and introduced herself and gave them a brief rundown on the day's schedule and upcoming events such as parent teacher conferences, what supplies Joey would need, and what her objectives were.

Sloan zoned out as he watched Joey already talking to another boy his own age and smiled as his son offered his hand.

Erin pinched him to get his attention and he apologized. "A.D.D." He confessed. "Had it when I attended here back in 1972 and it's never quite gone away." He nonchalantly confessed.

After they were furnished with the necessary information, they waved goodbye to their son and left.

Standing in the parking lot on a beautiful fall day in Michigan, Erin put her arms around her husband.

"What are you thinking?" She asked.

"That I have to find my copy of Van Halen's album '1984'."

"Why is that?" She inquired.

"So that I can play Joey 'Hot for Teacher'." He grinned.

"Oh, you think she's hot do you?" Erin asked. "Maybe I can arrange for her to spank you after class."

"Nah, I'd rather you dress up in a nun's habit and do it yourself." He teased.

"Noted. Your birthday is 30 days away." She stated.

"Motion to strike that last request." He chuckled.

"Motion denied." She grinned.

"Merde." He exclaimed knowing that he was now really in for it.

"So what are your thoughts as our son makes his grand entrance into the academic world?" He asked in order to change the subject.

"Do you remember the commencement speech you gave five years ago?" She asked.

"Very much so and I was thinking the same thing as you, that while one of our children is starting his academic career, our other one is beginning her second to last year thereof."

"When Joey completes first grade, Nicky will be graduating law school." She gently smiled.

"The cycle of life my love." He said as he held her.

He dropped her off back home and headed downtown to his office.

Erin's phone rang. She answered the call and smiled. "I'll be right over to pick it up." She stated before disconnecting.

An hour later she returned home. For Joey's fifth birthday, she had taken him to a local photography studio and had a series of photographs taken but she also had a particular pose shot in black and white which she asked the studio to rush for her.

She walked over to the triple photo frame Lynne had given her five years ago for her birthday which contained black and white photos of Nathan, Sloan and Sebastian who very strongly resembled one another at the same age. She gently removed the photo of her favorite nephew and placed it in their family photo album. Then she lovingly inserted the photograph of her son into the third window of the triple frame and placed it back on the hearth over the fireplace.

There was no mistake that Sloan was his father's son, and that Joey was Sloan's. The resemblance was uncanny and she had to admit, there was no trace of Erin or the Reagan line in him. He was a Silver through and through down to his father's quiet and analytical personality.

She would watch Joey and Sebastian play together and it was like observing mirror images of one another even though they were six years in age apart. Lynne couldn't help but make the same observation. These two cousins would be best friends as they were two peas from the same pod, that being Nathan Silver.

She looked at her watch and noticed that she had to get moving if she were going to make her noon appointment downtown.

Erin hopped into her Jaguar and began the drive that her husband had taken earlier that morning.

Normally she would put on music and let the tunes invigorate her but today she was in a reflective mood as to the past six years of her life.

Her thoughts as always began with the arraignment of Mark Delmont and moved forward.

So many wonderful things had happened since.

Due to Sloan's generosity and planning, her entire family had been assured of a glowing future.

As promised, he funded REAGAN which opened for business six months after her father walked out of his 14th Floor office for the final time taking Danny and Jamie with him. Frank, Sloan and their contacts had raised Twenty Five Million dollars on top of the Five Million that Sloan had seeded it with. Danny was flourishing as its top investigator and Carlo Freghetti and Mike Cornell, along with Tony Renzulli were happily escorting and protecting persons of various persuasions of power, wealth and influence through the streets of New York City. Abigail Baker and Dino Aborghast ran the daily operations which freed up Frank to recruit new business in new markets and he had been so successful that REAGAN would be opening its Detroit office on January 2, 2020.

Sloan had already reserved space on the 28th and 29th floors of the Guardian Building.

Jamie and Casey were married and had a beautiful two year old daughter they named Mary Elizabeth for his mother and paternal grandmother which made both Frank and Henry happy. Erin could swear that her little niece was the spitting image of her at the same age and from Jamie's observations, certainly had his big sister's temperament.

Jamie was flourishing as a father, a husband and a civil litigator. At the rate he was going, she had no doubt he'd make partner within a year. He had become very adept at cultivating business and forging lasting relationships which brought her a great sense of pride. She had raised him right.

Frank and Henry were both in committed relationships, though neither one planned on remarrying, but they enjoyed the companionship that went along with having a special person beside them in life.

Sloan had nearly upset the family apple cart when he sent Frank notice that he was selling his shares in Reagan as it was never his intent to make money off his family. Now that the business was doing so well, he wanted to recoup his initial Five Million plus reasonable interest and get out letting Frank and Danny run their own show.

Frank was flabbergasted as to why his son-in-law would want out when everything was going so well, even with his explanation, was still astonished. He called Erin and asked her to talk some sense into her husband.

"Dad, for six years, I have tried talking, pleading, seducing and even beating some sense into him on a variety of matters but when he makes up his mind, there's no changing it." She responded. "I'll talk to him."

The next day Erin and Sloan connected with Frank on Skype.

"Frank, I never intended to make money off my family. I just want to recover what I put in and the corresponding interest I would have made at the bank. The rest belongs to you and your people, it's your work. All I did was seed it." He said.

"I understand Sloan, but this was an investment and you should benefit from your trust in me." Frank countered.

"I can see this is going nowhere." Erin said, throwing her arms up in frustration.

"Ok, I have an idea." Sloan said and he began to sing the Twelve Days of Christmas working backwards.

"Five strapping nephews, three gorgeous nieces, two fabulous children and a wife who's always noodging me." He grinned just before her hand caught the side of his arm.

"Ouch." He exclaimed as even Frank winced.

"I did warn you." He informed his son-in-law.

Rubbing his arm, he continued: "Color me stupid. The point to the song is as follows. I'll take back my initial investment and interest and the profit from that investment I will divide into ten equal parts, one for each of my children, nieces and nephews. I'll transfer my interest in those shares to them. That way, you are working for your family as well as Erin's." Sloan announced.

Frank pursed his lips and stared at the screen. "That's acceptable." He responded.

"Good, draw up the paperwork and send it over to me. I'll have Lynne review it and if all is in order, I'll make the assignments of transfer. You can wire my account for the principal and interest which Lynne will update and email you."

Erin smiled at the thought of Sloan once again boxing her father into a corner and in the end he got what he wanted which was what was best for his family rather than himself.

Speaking of Sloan's family;

Nathan Silver finally retired last December, sixty years to the very day his license to practice law in the State of Michigan had been issued. His son and three daughters threw him the celebration of celebrations, closing the London Chop House to the public so that his family and closest friends could honor a man who pioneered a legal empire and sired an incredible family. These days Sloan's parents spent their time with their grandchildren, and traveling the world.

On his last day at work, Nathan and Sloan shared a final Maurice salad at the Caucus Club, ending a fifty year tradition between father and son.

Karen and David had repaired their marriage and with grown children long out of the house, were beginning to take some time to themselves and travel, occasionally as a foursome with her parents.

Lynne was still the firm's pit bull having been elevated to President as well as remaining its Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer while still managing her brother's financial empire.

Paige had replaced her father as one if the firm's premier litigators, something that surprised everyone as she was so reserved and quiet, but in a courtroom, she was prepared and tenacious and Erin enjoyed the few cases they had tried together.

Erin smiled at the thought of her many nieces and nephews who all adored her and many of whom came to Aunt Erin when they needed advice, particularly Jason as to women, and Samantha as to men.

Jason had graduated from the University of Michigan's School of Medicine and was now a practicing neurologist. His mother's earlier health crisis had shifted his studies from cardiology to how the human brain functioned.

Samantha had graduated from U of M's School of Law and was an associate attorney in Silver & Silver's New York office where she had elected to relocate in the hopes of building a career in civil litigation and in meeting the man of her dreams. She was one of the junior associates working under Jamie who had promised to keep her safe.

Jack was now a sophomore at Columbia having elected to remain in New York while Sean was a junior in high school. Danny's nest would soon be empty.

Matthew had turned 16 and was also a junior in high school who had a lead food like Erin. On more than one occasion she had seen him speeding down the main roads near their house. One afternoon she followed him home and as he got out of the car, she took away his keys and gave him a choice. Either learn to be a responsible driver or she could call his mother for permission to deal with this herself. Nobody wanted to face Erin's wrath for it was well known what would happen. He apologized and had smartened up.

Lynne had commented one day as to how out of the blue Matthew went from being an incorrigible brat to a mature young man. Erin smiled as she told the story and Lynne said that she regretted not turning him over to Erin three years ago when he began to behave that way.

As to Sebastian, he was still her favorite although she would never admit it to anyone but Sloan. He was the opposite of his brother and very much like his uncle. He was now in fifth grade at the same school as Joey and promised to keep watch on his younger cousin. Erin wanted to gobble him up he was so cute.

And finally there was Allison who was in second grade. She had become Joey's big sister and was constantly bossing him around which Erin found amusing, but they had a special bond and Erin had to wonder if underneath her quiet reserved persona, Paige was as bossy to Alan when they were alone because the kid had to have gotten it from somewhere.

Then there were her two children.

Nicky was beginning her second year of law school and had a steady boyfriend whom Danny had checked out, Lynne, Karen and Paige had vetted, who Erin had cross examined and who in the end, Sloan had protected because he was a nice Jewish boy. Whether or not this would mature into something more serious remained to be seen but she was happy. Just last year Nicky had received her Bachelor's degree summa cum laude with a 4.0 cumulative average for her first four years at Michigan and Erin swelled with pride as her precious daughter once again proved what a wonderful job she had done raising her as an almost single mother.

And then there was her son. Ah, Joseph, how alike your father you are. While Nicky was her pride and joy, Erin's son was the apple of her eye for he was a constant reminder of the love of her life. This Thanksgiving weekend mark six years from when Erin took Sloan to bed with the desire to bear his child and he couldn't have given her a finer gift than their wonderful son. Patient, quiet, analytic and sweet, always trying to please her, just like his daddy. He also had the worst possible way to diminish Erin's willpower, a vicious one two combination with Jamie's puppy dog look and Sloan's beautiful blue eyes and infectious smile.

And then there was Sloan himself.

Sure, he was getting grayer as he aged, but he still had his fabulous physique, his charming personality and could still manage to push every button on her console, but deep down she loved it and she adored him.

When his father retired, Sloan became the firm's Chairman in addition to already being its CEO. His life had been interesting in the past five years for in addition to adopting Nicky and raising Joey, he had gone back to school and had obtained three more Master's degrees, one each in Public Policy, Economics and Theology as well as recently obtaining his third doctorate, a PhD in Law. Sloan recognized the new global order of economics and the legal application thereto and pioneered a program in his firm that would permit it to globally expand. He was presently in negotiations to partner up with one firm in London and another in Berlin.

He had recently gifted a Twenty Five Million dollar endowment to the University of Michigan's School of Law in honor of his father's sixty year career. The Nathan S. Silver Lawyer's Club student residence building would be reopening next year after a long overdue renovation.

In 2016 he had been inducted into both the Hockey and Baseball Halls of Fame in recognition of his storied career in both sports. He gave a brief news conference and then moved on with his life. He would always love the game, and he missed the comradery of his teammates, but he also realized that he wasn't the type of man to ride the coattails of his past successes. He constantly looked towards new challenges and wonders to capture and explore, always taking Erin along for the ride.

Their marriage was everything she had dreamed of and she still had to occasionally pinch herself every August 11th which was the anniversary of the night she asked for someone to love who would love her. Every August 12th she gave thanks for the remarkable man who shared her life, her bed and her passions and who had adopted one of her children as his own while fathering the one they shared.

When Nathan retired, Sloan's sisters wanted him to move into his father's old office, but he refused as it would be too painful for him have to be reminded daily that his father was no longer a part of his professional life. When none of them wanted it, he asked Erin to take it. She had recently made partner in her own right, building the firm's criminal defense business to exceptional proportions in New York, Detroit and Chicago and was now evaluating their existing offices in Phoenix, Los Angeles and their new locations in Dallas and Seattle.

She felt honored sitting at the desk of the man who founded the firm and strove each day to earn that privilege.

Erin arrived downtown and parked in her reserved space next to her husband's car. She walked across Griswold Street and entered Wirt C. Rowland's Cathedral of Finance, taking the elevator up to the 31st floor. She smiled as she entered the original offices of Silver & Silver, P.C. and calmly made her way over to the northwest corner office where 50 over years ago Nathan Silver had begun his firm.

She sat down behind the ancient desk and gazed at the large portrait hanging on the opposite wall of she and Sloan with Joey and Nicky taken outside of their Bloomfield Hills home. One shelf of her credenza held a few framed photographs including the formal portrait of New York City Police Detective Joseph Conor Reagan.

Eleven years later and she still cried when she thought about her little brother and she wondered what he would think of his namesake, his niece and his brother-in-law, but most importantly, would he feel proud of the person his big sister had become?

She stood up and walked over to the shelf and picked up the precious photograph and as she looked at it she began to cry. Erin never heard or noticed as the large man walked into her office and gently put his arms around her and held her as she wept. "I miss him so much."

"I know you do sweetheart, but somewhere upstairs he's looking down with a lot of joy and satisfaction at what a wonderful mother you are, how phenomenally Nicky has turned out to be because of you and what a great namesake he has in his nephew. He's proud of who you are Erin, and all that you have accomplished and how you have always been there for your family but most important, Joe is smiling because you bucked tradition and became your own person and you've called your own tune and just like Jamie and Danny, he's happy that you did because you gave your family just the kick in the tuchas that it needed to move on so that you could all begin living again."

She gently replaced the photograph back on the shelf and turned around. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you." She asked before pulling him into a tight embrace.

"Every day and night for the past six years and twenty two days." He smiled as he handed Erin an envelope which she opened.

"This is an itinerary for the Queen Mary 2." She noted.

"You and I are taking a 30 day cruise in January, no if's, and's or but's."

"Well, maybe your butt." She grinned.

He grimaced at her implication before continuing. "Jamie and Casey will take care of Joey. He will already be enrolled in his Brooklyn school so he'll be fine. You and I are overdue for some serious alone time."

"Yes we are, starting with tonight." She smiled. "Now go back to your office, I'll deal with you at home." She teased as she returned to her desk and began preparing for her noon meeting.

After he left, Erin reflected on his comments. It was true, she had definitely come out of her shell and had transformed from an unfulfilled, cloistered, sexually repressed woman in a family dominated by the concepts of service, tradition and church into a free spirited woman who had not only freed herself from the chains of her past, but had forged a new identity as the woman in control of her family, her career and her future, while at the same time, having unshackled the Reagans from their own bondage to enjoy and explore life as it was intended to be. Sure, she had a lot of help from her husband, but in the end she had also brought him purpose in life that went beyond his fame and wealth. In the end, he had just wanted to be a loving husband and father, as well as a beloved son and brother. Erin smiled as she realized that she had helped him fulfill his dreams as well.

Later that night as they lay in bed, Erin snuggled Sloan to her chest with her arms tightly wrapped around him, never wanting to let him go. She smiled as she thought about his comments earlier that morning and that he would be turning 58 this time next month, and how she would eagerly grant him his offhanded birthday wish.

"I was thinking of dressing as the Mother Superior." She excitedly announced.

"Oy veh!" He muttered, much to her exuberant laughter...

-30-