One Man, Two Lives Destroyed
Summary: AU She can think of many reasons to explain to her daughter why her fathers not around – just none of them are the truth. MCxMJ MMxRD JJxOC ADSxTC
Authors Note: OH MY GOD! This story is finally over! Can you guys believe it? I mean it's been going on forever and now it's finally over! I want to thank everybody for all the reviews and this whole story is dedicated to all of you for supporting me and taking the time to review and read this story! Also for this chapter, it's ten pages! (GO ME AND xx Screaming Infidelities!) And it kinda drags on so if you're confused… Sorry!
The meaning behind this really long chapter is that I wanted to finally make one of my stories 100 pages so I had to keep writing this chapter until the story went to 100 pages! And I succeeded! Okay I admit this chapter took me about two hours or a little more? But I'm still really proud of it!
The ending is a little story and the reason for this whole chapter is that I wanted to make sure there was closure to this story and that you learned everything about their lives from five years after the wedding or two years or one. So you catch my drift? So this chapter is basically some family humor and important days in their lives. That's why it's so long!
If you hated this chapter, I can re-do it so please enjoy! This isn't my favorite chapter and I'm not very proud of it because sometimes it doesn't make sense, but I want your opinion on it! SO PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks and enjoy!
IF IT'S CONFUSING! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEE TELL ME!
Co-writer and editor: xx Screaming Infidelities
Disclaimer: WE DO NOT OWN RENT!
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Epilogue
Normal POV – One Year Later
"Mom? Are you alright?"
Maureen stood in front of the mirror and looked around. She couldn't believe that this was happening. It had been a year since Mark woke up from his coma and they were getting married. It was a small wedding, nothing too big nothing too small. She looked around at Natasha who was smiling so big that it almost over-took her whole face. She was dressed in a long dress that was pink and her sister Grace was dressed in the same thing.
"Yes Natasha, I'm fine." She said and twirled around in her dress. It was knee-length and a v-cut. She smiled at her daughters before placing a veil on her head and then pulling it down over her face, "And I'm read also."
"Does this mean that we'll finally be a family?" Natasha questioned and Maureen nodded again.
"Yes Nati, we'll finally be a family."
--
She was an angel and today they were finally going to be united forever. Their lives wouldn't be simple, but he'd rather be with Maureen then somebody else. Their souls would be forever intertwined as would their lives. They would be the happiest family on the face of the Earth and he couldn't wait to start his new life. After living many years on the road, he couldn't wait to finally start a life that would last him forever. Until the end of his life. Until the day he died. He watched as she walked down the aisle with her arm attached to her fathers arm and her smile bright and beautiful. He looked down at his two daughters who were both smiling and standing on the side that Maureen would soon occupy. He looked at her eyes and noticed how they never ever left Marks'. She was going to be finally his and they were both finally going to be together.
--
"And do you… Mark Cohen take Maureen Johnson to have and too hold-"
Mark cut in, "I do."
He replied and Maureen rolled in her lips in attempt to not cry.
"And do you Maureen Johnson take…"
"I do." Maureen slipped a finger on his ring finger and then returned to looking at the one that Mark had given her so many years ago. She looked back up at him and smiled. She couldn't believe that this was happening.
"Are there any objections to this marriage?" The man asked and everybody stood silent. They all looked at Maureen and Mark and they knew that they were meant to be from the start. "Then I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Mark leaned forward meeting his wife halfway as their lips crashed together, they fit together like a puzzle piece and they stayed like that for a couple of seconds before they parted and everybody cheered. There were only thirteen people there to witness the happiest day of their lives, but that was enough for them. They were their closest friends and that's what made it count.
--
"I propose a toast to our wonderful friends Mark and Maureen Cohen on the happiest day of their lives!" Collins said as he stood up. Maureen and Mark looked up at him and they nodded.
"Cheers!" Everybody said and Collins raised his glass as everybody repeated what they did, except for Natasha, Grace, and Mark Jr.
"I just want to wish them a very happy life together and a great future. To Mark and Maureen Cohen!" He said and everybody cheered again.
"To Mark and Maureen!" They echoed and everybody took a sip from their drinks. Collins smiled and nodded at Mark and Maureen who could only smile back. Mark and Maureen's hands were locked together under the table, their hands intertwined tightly as if they were both afraid that the other person was going to disappear at any second. Mimi stood up and smiled at everybody else.
She cleared her throat and looked at Roger who had his hand slung carefully around the chair's back, "I just wanted to say that I love you guys both so much. You have been through so much and I wish you best of your lives. Maureen you are my best friend-"
"Excuse me." Roger coughed and everybody laughed.
"… Besides Roger and we have been through so much together and I'm so happy to be here and celebrate this beautiful day with you." She smiled and sat back down as everybody clapped.
"I love you Mimi!" Maureen mouthed, "You are my best friend."
Mimi nodded as she wiped at her eyes, she was so happy for both of them. Natasha smiled and leaned against the wall where her and Grace were sitting. She closed her eyes for she was exhausted with the events of today. She was happy that they were finally going to be a family.
--
Future
Natasha entered her house and walked into the kitchen where her mother was working on one of her protests. She banged on the key-board of the computer loudly and looked up when her sixteen year old daughter entered the room. It had been five years since her mother and father had been married. Maureen smiled at Natasha who smiled back at her.
"Good-day at school I hope?" Maureen questioned and Natasha nodded. She had had a decent day, but it wasn't anything to brag about.
"Fine, Scott was being an idiot but that's about it."
Maureen looked up from the computer again, "Scott?"
"Yes, my boyfriend? Ring a bell mother?" Natasha questioned and Maureen laughed, she didn't remember. "I've been going out with him for two months now." She commented and Maureen nodded.
"Sorry Nati, I don't really remember."
"It's alright, you're busy with… Your protest… Am I going to be allowed to come this time?" Maureen stood up and stretched her legs.
"I need you to baby-sit though!" Maureen whined like a little child even though she was the mother in the situation. "Nati, I need you to baby-sit Graham that night."
"But mom!" She protested and Maureen sent her a warning look. "Alright, fine but can't Grace look after him?"
"Well that's another problem… But alright, you can come to this one. But you'll have to ask your father."
Mark walked into the room, "Ask me what?"
"Daddy!" Natasha exclaimed and threw her arms around her father, "Will you let me go to mom's protest just this once? Please please?"
"But what about Graham?" He questioned as Natasha let go of him.
"I can get Jen to take care of her!" Natasha said and whipped out her cell-phone. She pressed speed-dial and quickly chatted with her friend. Maureen just rolled her eyes and picked up Graham from his stroller. He was almost five years old, Maureen had gotten pregnant with him when Mark and her were on their honeymoon. She sighed and remembered how nice it was without kids. But then again she was grateful for them.
"Has anybody seen Grace?" Maureen questioned as she let Graham play with her curly shoulder-length hair. Natasha shook her head as she continued to talk on the phone. She was sure that this would work. Grace was thirteen years old and she walked in the door just as her mother asked where she was.
"Here!" Grace said and flipped her straight brown hair over her shoulder. It was tied down in a low pony-tail. She then flipped her bangs out of her face and smiled at her mother and father and then at her old sister. "I can baby-sit Graham if you want me too mom." Natasha hung up the phone and smiled at her sister.
"Really?" Natasha and Maureen asked at the same time and Grace nodded.
"No problem, its Saturday night right?" She said and flipped open her planner. She scanned for any plans that had been made. She shook her head and looked back up. "Yep, I can!"
"Oh my god!" Natasha exclaimed and threw her arms around her sister. "Thank god that you're alive! I love you!"
"It's really okay Nat, I have no plans and I love Graham. He's just the cutest little brother I've ever had." She said and everybody knew she was talking about her family that she barely knew before they were killed when she was five. She released herself from Natasha and went over to Graham. She picked him up from Maureen's arms and nodded to her mother. "I've also been to a lot of your protests mom so I think that it's Natasha's turn to go."
"Alright Grace." Maureen said and smiled, "I'm glad that you're happy about doing this."
"Psh!" Natasha commented knowing that her mother was hinting to her to stop complaining about baby-sitting her brother and sister.
"Okay well I might as well just get his protest over with. Markie, will you do the lighting and system thingy that you always do?" Maureen questioned and sat down at the computer once more. Mark walked over to her and sat down next to her.
"Who else would do it for me?"
"We could always get Joanne to do it." She teased and he groaned. Grace smiled and walked up the stairs with Graham in her arms to his room. His eyes were half close from shopping with his father for so long. Natasha smiled as her mother and father bickered lightly back and forth. She was glad that they were back together and she was happy that she was going to go to the protest that her mother was doing. She turned around and grabbed her bag as her the door burst open.
"Happy holidays bitches!" Collins yelled and Grace walked to the balcony with a wide-awake Graham. He was laughing as Grace put him down and he carefully walked down the stairs. Collins caught him at the bottom and hugged him tightly.
"Hello there buddy! Did I wake you up?"
"Unclie! Unclie!" He said and Collins kissed his forehead as Angels, Mimi, Roger, Joanne, Sara, and their two kids Mark Jr. and Robert walked in. Sara held Robert close to her chest while Joanne held Mark Jr.'s hand. Maureen stood up from her computer and walked over to where everybody was. She closed the door behind them and urged them into the living room.
"What a surprise! What a surprise!" She kept saying and smiled as Collins played with Graham. Grace came running down the stairs and hugged Roger and then Mimi and then Joanne and then Sara (being careful of Robert), then Angel and then Collins (being careful of Graham.
"I am so happy that you're all here!" She said as she watched Natasha hug all of them in a different order then she had done, "What brings you all here?"
"We just thought that we should visit since we haven't talked in awhile." Mimi said and sat down on the couch next to Collins and Roger sat down next to her. "Besides it's almost Christmas and I think that our whole family should be together!"
"Alright, alright!" Grace said and laughed. She sat down next to Angel and Joanne on another couch. She laughed as they all told her stories of what they had been up too. Natasha watched from the doorway as her mother seated herself in a chair and laughed along with her daughter. She was glad that they had decided to come.
"Nat? Are you alright?" Mark questioned and Natasha turned around.
"Yeah dad, I'm great… Why?"
"I don't know, you just look sad."
"I'm glad that we're all together and sharing this time together."
"Aha, I see." Mark said and crossed his arms across his chest. "Is that really it?"
"Well not really…" She said softly, "I was just thinking that if you had never gotten married to mom, what would of happened. I mean she was going to get married to that James guy."
Mark laughed, "Yeah I know what you mean. But why dwell on things that never happened? You'll never enjoy life and the people in it if you always are thinking 'what if this happened?' or 'what if I didn't do that thing?' You know what I mean Nat?"
Natasha nodded as Mark placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Don't worry so much, you're only sixteen."
"I know, I love you dad."
"I love you too Nat." He said and walked into the living room where he sat on the arm-rest of the chair that Maureen was seated in. Natasha still stood where she was. She was content with her life and he dad was right. She shouldn't dwell on such silly things.
"Nati! Get in here!" Maureen yelled as she eyed her daughter and Natasha smiled and giggled a little bit. She walked into the room where was greeted with the warmth and happiness of her family.
--
Present Day
Natasha smiled as she realized what this dream had meant. Her future was finally the way that it was suppose to be and it wasn't going to change for awhile. Her dreams were satisfied as she was too. She looked at Grace who was giggling at her. "What?"
"I don't know, you just looked funny."
"You always say that." Natasha said and Grace burst into another fit of giggles. She realized what Natasha had said and then stopped laughing.
"I do not!"
"You do too!"
"Do not!" Grace argued and looked at her sister who couldn't control her laughter. Grace crossed her arms across her chest and then she couldn't help it anymore. She laughed with Natasha.
"What has gotten into you two?" Maureen questioned as she walked over to them. She was still in her wedding gown even though the guest had left over a half-hour ago. The family was together in a hotel room and Natasha fell onto the red carpet.
"Nothing, we're just happy."
Maureen sat down next to them, "I'm happy too."
--
A Couple of Months Later
"Okay! Okay you can't open your eyes until I say you can!" Mark said as he watched Maureen, Natasha, and Grace all cover their eyes with their hands. He looked down at Maureen's swollen stomach and smiled, he knew this was the right thing to do. Natasha's breathing was un-even with excitement.
"Dad, what are we doing?"
"Wait and you'll see! Don't worry it's worth it!" Mark stopped the car and got out. He opened the doors for Grace and Natasha and then Maureen's, "Keep your eyes closed!"
He led them a couple of feet and then made them stop. He stood in front of them and then spoke.
"Okay you can open your eyes now!" They all let their hands fall to their sides. Natasha gasped as she looked at the beautiful house in front of her. She couldn't believe that this was happening. She knew this house, it looked familiar. It was the one from her dream.
"Oh my god! Mark, is this for us?" Maureen questioned and Mark nodded.
"I thought that since we have another on the way that we should actually live in a house instead of an apartment. You wanna go inside?"
"Are you kidding me? Of course I do!" Maureen said and grabbed Mark's hand as he led them inside the house. He pushed open the door and smiled. It was all furnished the way that Maureen had wanted it. It looked amazing and Natasha and Grace loved it from the moment that they entered it.
"It's beautiful Mark, how did you do it?"
"After making one of my most favorite movies, I got a lot of money from it… I never told you because I don't think that the film hit here, it was only in the western states. I was saving up for this house."
"It's amazing." Maureen breathed and she let Natasha and Grace explore the upstairs where their rooms would be. She wrapped her arms tightly around Mark and smiled. "You are one amazing man Mark."
"Thanks, I try my best." He said and kissed her lightly.
"I can't believe that you got us this house, it's just too amazing for words. And how did you know that I liked that kind of furniture?"
Mark laughed, "Lucky guess, I guess." Maureen's laughter joined his as they stood under a huge chandelier.
"I love that, it makes a really nice touch to this whole house."
"I thought you might, would you like the see the outside?"
"There's more?"
"Of course." Mark said and smiled. He led her out to the back porch and watched as she gaped in awe. The backyard was lined with flower-beds that she was in love with and it had a swing-set that Natasha and Grace were already playing with. She reached for Mark for support.
"My god, I love you so much Mark Cohen."
"I love you more Maureen. Welcome home." He said softly and she smiled.
"Welcome home." She repeated just as soft.
--
Seven Months Later
Maureen smiled as she placed the one-week old Graham in a crib. It had been seven months since they had moved into the house that she loved so much. The day was quiet; it had been only two days she had brought Graham home. Natasha sat in the rocking chair, not saying a word. Maureen placed a kiss on Graham's forehead and then walked out the door with Natasha trailing behind her. Once in the kitchen, she knew it was safe to talk again.
"Where's dad?"
"He's working Nati, he'll be home tonight."
"Then where's Grace?" Natasha questioned and Maureen laughed.
"I think she's over at the loft with Mimi. Mimi wanted you to come but I asked you and you said no and you didn't want to do whatever Mimi was doing."
"I really said that?"
"Yep, I asked you last week."
"Oh, I don't remember."
Maureen smiled as she placed the groceries down on the counter, "I didn't expect you too Nati."
"Well… Now what am I suppose to do?" Natasha questioned and Maureen shrugged.
"What do you feel like doing?"
"Well it's cold outside, so I don't really feel like going and playing outside… Graham is asleep and you're busy with the groceries." Natasha paused, "So I don't really know what to do."
"You could help me un-load the groceries?" Maureen suggested as she placed two cans of peas in the cabinet. Natasha scrunched up her face and Maureen laughed.
"Why would I want to do that?"
"To be helpful of course Natasha."
"Helpful…" Natasha repeated and shook her head. "I don't know what that means." She teased her mother and walked out of the room. Maureen only shook her head and laughed as she threw away the grocery bag and sat down at the computer. She wanted to start working on her protests again.
--
One Year Later
"Mark! Hurry!" Maureen called and ran down the streets of New York towards the loft. Natasha trailed behind her with Grace by her side and Mark came last, carrying Graham in his arms. Maureen bounced up the stairs to the loft and un-locked the door.
"We're here! We're here! Now what's the big surprise?" Maureen questioned as she leaned against the door once her whole family was inside.
Mimi looked up from her magazine and then looked over Roger, "There was a surprise? We just asked you guys over for dinner."
"But Roger and then… Oh you guys suck." Maureen said as Roger and Collins burst into laughter. She hated when they did that to her. "You had me scared to death! I thought something bad had happened!"
"Well sorr-ayy mommy!" Collins said as Roger punched his arm and they burst into laughter again. Maureen shook her head and sat down in one of the chairs as Mark sat down next to Mimi who played with Graham for a little bit.
"So what are we really doing here?" Maureen questioned once she had caught her breath once more. Mark shook his head and laughed softly. "Quit it Mark!"
"Well Maureen, I can't believe that you would forget."
"Forget?" She looked at Mimi and Mark curiously, "Forget what? I remember everything usually…"
"Well…" Mark spoke up, "This is our one-year anniversary."
Maureen gasped, "I knew it! I totally forgot though, but I knew it! I'm so sorry Mark I've just been really busy with Graham and my protests." She stood up and walked over to Mark, sitting carefully next to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her neck. "I love you Markie… You got everybody together for me?"
"Yeah, I thought it would be nice." He said and looked at everybody who was smiling brightly. Even Roger and Collins had stopped laughing and were smiling at him. They were just glad that he wasn't upset about her forgetting. He couldn't be mad at her; he loved her too much to ever be mad at her. Maureen smiled also.
Just another day with her crazy family. Just another day.
--
Two Years Later
Maureen walked outside and placed down plates and everything that they needed. Graham was three years old, Grace was twelve years old, Natasha was fourteen years old, and Mark and here, well that was another story that wasn't going to be told. It was a beautiful day and she was determined to enjoy it with her family. She looked over at Natasha and Grace who were playing with Graham in the sand-box. Mark wrapped his arms around his wife from behind and kissed her neck and then her cheek once. She smiled and they stood there for awhile.
"Enjoying life?"
"Naturally, this is best part of my life." She said and he leaned his head on her shoulder as they watched their children together. "Are they all coming over?"
"Well Joanne has to work, but Sara can come over and Roger and Mimi and Angel and Collins are all on their way."
"Great, I made up just the right amount of places." Maureen said and smiled, she was proud that she had actually done something herself. She looked at her watch. "Oh god! My cake! It's probably burning!"
--
That Same Night
Natasha watched from a distance as everybody dined and were laughing and talking. It was like her vision but it was different because it was a different year and a different time. She wasn't sixteen, but that was alright. She was glad that she had this wonderful family and she was very thankful for them.
"Nat!" Grace called and ran over to her. She sat herself down next to her on one of the swings, "What are you doing out here?"
"Just thinking Gracie."
"Thinking…? About what?"
"I don't know really, life I guess." Natasha said and Grace shrugged.
"Alright."
"You know Grace, I think about how it's been years since our first adventure together and how if that had never happened we would of never met and how that would have been horrible. Also if that didn't happen that probably mom and dad would have never gotten together."
"You mean that you're glad that you got kidnapped?"
"I guess that's basically what I'm saying. I wouldn't want to be kidnapped again, but I'm glad that it happened because otherwise I would of never met you and you wouldn't be my sister."
"That's right! We would of never been as close as we are now!"
"Yeah, we would of never been sisters." She said and Grace pouted. Natasha sighed and smiled slightly.
"But don't worry so much about it or think about it so much because there is not point on dwelling on 'what if this happened?' or 'what if I had done that?'" She said and Grace nodded.
"I guess you're right."
"I know I'm right." She said and Grace laughed.
"So I guess you're really happy that mom and dad are so happy that they're together?"
"Of course I'm happy, why wouldn't I?"
"I don't know, I think that you seemed content both ways."
"Hmm?"
"Well, wouldn't you be happy both way? If mom married nobody or if mom married dad?" Grace questioned and Natasha pondered that for a second."
"I guess I would… But why do you ask that?"
"Because I think that it's an important question." Grace said and Natasha laughed.
"I know you have a reason."
"I know, but it's kinda weird." Grace said and tried to put all the words together in her head before she said anything to Natasha.
"I mean if mommy hadn't married dad then we still would have been a family right?"
"Yes of course, but isn't it better that they are married?"
"Yeah, but we still would have been together." Grace pointed out and Natasha nodded.
"You're right, I get what you mean Grace."
"I mean look at our family, we have a huge family that loves us so much and even with or without dad we still would have had them."
"I get it." Natasha said and grasped onto the chains of the swing, "You're right, we would have had a loving family either way. I'm just glad that we decided to have a bigger family with more love and daddy."
"Yeah me too." Grace said and looked at the stars. "Maybe we should go back? Mom will be looking for us."
"Not yet, not yet." Natasha said and looked at the stars that Grace was looking at. She saw at the corner of her eyes a falling star and pointed up to it so that Grace could see it. "Make a wish Grace!"
I wish that my whole family will stay together forever and that we will all live happily ever after. Grace thought to herself and looked over at Natasha who had her eyes closed. She didn't say anything for awhile. She finally opened her eyes.
"What did you wish for Nat?"
Natasha only smiled, "If I tell you, then it won't come true."
"Fine! Then I won't tell you what I wished for!" Grace teased and Natasha nodded.
"Fine by me!"
"Hmph!"
Maureen looked out at the lawn and saw her two daughters laughing and shouting something that she couldn't hear, they looked so happy and she was glad that they were. It had been awhile since they had been that happy before. She knew that she had been neglecting them lately with Graham and all the things that he needed, but she made a vow that she would work harder on being a great mother to all three of them. She smiled and looked at Mark who just smiled back at her.
"Natasha, Grace! C'mon in loves! We're going to go get some desert!" Maureen called as she watched her huge family walk into the house, Mark trailing behind a little bit.
Natasha looked up at her mother and waved, "Maybe we should go back."
"Yeah, maybe we should." Grace agreed and they stood up from the swings and made their way back to their family. Maureen greeted them with a huge and kissed their foreheads before releasing them.
"Are you two alright?"
"We're fine mom." Natasha said and Maureen stood up and grabbed both of their hands. Mark stood in the doorway and smiled at them brightly. Natasha looked at the ring that her mother had never taken off in the past three years. She was glad, that meant that the whole family was happy with the way that life was going. There were five of them. Five Cohen's, five hearts, five different people, five different worlds. Each a little different, each separate but always stayed close. They were different people in different places in their lives, but they all came together as one, one family.
The End
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Ending Note: So did you guys like my ending and this chapter? I am so thankful for all of you and I am so glad that you enjoyed this story so much! I had no idea where this story was going, but it just happened that way! So I hope that you guys liked it very much and I hope that you will come back when I write more stories! LOL! So anyways thanks again!
I love you all!
Please review! (FOR THE LAST TIME! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!)
Have a great new-year! I promise that I will be back for more stories if you want me too!
Thanks again!
Also… Tell me honestly if you hated this chapter and I promise that I will re-write it for you!
Ahh! I can't believe that I'm leaving this story for good! It's so sad… Okay, okay I know that you're bored of hearing me talk, so I'll leave! Thanks again so much!
