Epilogue
"When will I be able to take those blindfolds off?" I asked my boyfriend as I sat on the passenger seat of his car.
"When I say it." He responded, laughing. He knew how impatient I was in situations like that and he loved to tease me. He said he had a surprise for me and that he'd bring me somewhere special today.
"Does it have anything to do with the fact that today is our sixth-year anniversary?" I asked him, raising an eyebrow, even he can't see it because of the blindfolds.
"Maybe." He said secretively.
"Ugh." I complained. "Can't you just tell me?"
"Nope." He responded. He enjoyed this way too much.
It was true, Austin and I had been together for six years now. I can't believe how fast time passes. We are still living in Montreal, but we were able to buy our own condo, which is fantastic. We live in the old port of Montreal and we have a beautiful view of the river. I started university three years ago and I am studying to become a music teacher while Austin just finished his degree to become a social worker. I'm gonna finish my degree at the end of spring. He's been working full time for a year now and he really loves what he's doing. I never expected him to turn a new leaf like that. He's changed so much ever since I met him. He's not that bitter and angry teenager anymore.
Today is our sixth-year anniversary and he said he had a special day planned. He insisted to blindfold me because he didn't want me to know where we were going. We've been in the car for about two hours now. Well, it feels like it. My guess is that he's bringing me to Quebec City, but I don't know why. Well, it's probably because we met here.
Finally, he stopped and we both got out of the car. He untied the blindfold and finally let me look around.
"We're in Quebec." I stated, looking around me.
"True." He answered as he smiled nervously.
"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned.
"I just thought you'd be happier than that." He answered.
"I am happy to be here with you, but when you said you had a surprise for me, I didn't expect you to take me to Quebec City, that's all."
"I thought we could go for a walk along the river." He said. "I know it's kinda cold, but we haven't done that in ages."
"I would love to." I answered as I hold onto Austin's arm and we started to walk. I forgot how beautiful it was this time of the year. The broken ice flowed slowly on the river which was very special to watch. After about fifteen minutes, we reached a very familiar place. It was the place where Austin used to hide when he didn't want to be bothered; the place where it started for us.
"This brings back so many memories." I said as I watched Austin's reaction.
"I first let my walls down around you here." Austin said. "And I am glad I did."
"Me too." I answered with a wide smile.
"This is where it all started for us." Austin said. "This is where I decided to I wasn't going to fight my feelings for you anymore. You've helped me so much ever since that very first moment we shared. I couldn't be more grateful."
"Stop it, you're making me blush." I answered as I felt the blood rush to my cheeks.
"What's new?" He asked, teasing. "But seriously, you literally saved me and I fell in love with you in this city. That's why I wanted to be here on our sixth anniversary."
And then, he did something I never expected him to do. He got down on one knee and looked me in the eyes, waiting for my reaction. I stared at him utterly shocked. Was this really happening? Was he really proposing? Yet, he was there, on his knee, with a small jewelry box in his hands.
"Ally Marie Dawson, would you make me the happiest man on Earth, and marry me?" He asked as he opened a red velvet box he was hiding in his jacket's pocket.
The ring was beautiful; it was very simple, but very elegant. It was made of silver and small diamonds.
I stared at the ring and them at him. I didn't realize I was crying until I felt the tears flow on my cheeks. They were obviously tears of joy.
I nodded with a warm smile.
"Yes." I shouted. "I will marry you."
He got up, put the ring on my finger, and then I tackled him. It was a good thing he was strong, because we would have fallen otherwise.
I crashed my lips on his and we shared one of the most emotional kissed we've ever shared.
"I love you." I said.
"And I love you." He answered and I swear I saw tears in his eyes.
"So, that's why you wanted to bring me here." I reasoned, smiling like an idiot and with tears still rolling on my cheeks.
"Yes. I've been planning this for quite some time now." He responded. "You know the weekend I was supposedly going to a convention about two months ago?"
"Yeah?" I answered.
"Well, I actually came here to talk to my parents and then to your parents about this." Austin said.
"Really?" I asked. "I can't wait to tell them the good news."
"Me neither." He answered.
"I was so scared you would see right through me." Austin said shyly. "Did I surprise you?"
"Did you surprise me?" I asked. "Of course you did. As much as we love each other, I didn't think you were ready for an engagement like that."
Somehow, he didn't exactly look please with my answer.
"Austin, that means you're happy and if you're happy, I am ecstatically happy too." I answered. "I know how big this feels and how nervous it probably made you. After everything's that's happened to you, that means you're ready to have a life of your own and let go of the past. It means you're risking feeling feelings with me for the rest of your life. It means you're happy and nothing could make me happier. I love you and I can't wait to walk down the aisle and tell you, 'I do.'"
He smiled at my answer and pulled me into another long, awaited kiss.
"You're so amazing." He told me.
"I know." I answered.
After a couple of minutes of kissing, we realized it was actually cold outside and that maybe we should get back to the car to drive to our parents' houses. We needed to tell them the good news.
I've always dreamed of the moment I would announce my engagement to my parents.
When we got there, we immediately walked into my parents' house and they were waiting for us.
"Ally, Austin." My mother exclaimed as she opened the door excitedly.
"Mom!" I said as I hugged her.
Since we live more than two hours away, I don't see my parents that often, we try to come to Quebec about once a month, but I can't do that during finals or midterms.
"Dad!" I shouted as I spotted my father.
My parents both greeted my fiancé and then I couldn't keep a straight face anymore.
"We come with great news." I said right after I put my jacket on a hook and took off my gloves. I extended my hand in front of their faces to how them the ring.
"You guys are engaged?" My mom said enthusiastically. "My baby is getting married."
"We are so happy for you." My dad added and it surprised me a bit. Even if it's been six years since Austin and I started dating, he still had trouble accepting the fact that I wasn't a little girl anymore.
"Thank you, dad." I said to my father.
"We need to go tell Mimi and Mike." I said as I turned to face Austin.
"No need." My mom said and I furrowed my eyebrows at her response.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because they are in the living room." My mom said.
"Great, let's go see them." I said as I walked towards the living room.
I did not expect to find what I found there. Mimi and Mike were indeed there, but they weren't alone. Sitting beside them were Trish, her newest boyfriend, Lea, Elliot, Dez, his girlfriend Carrie, Olivia, Sebastien and their daughter, Amelia. What I really did not expect to see was Gavin and Piper, my best friend.
Suddenly, all of them stood up and hugged me and Austin one by one to congratulate us on our engagement.
I heard all sorts of things like:
"We're so happy for you."
"It's about time."
"You two are so perfect for each other."
"I can't wait for the wedding."
I thanked all of them and I was so glad to see all of my friends, but I gotta say, I was extremely happy to see Piper. I hadn't seen her in two years. It's not like I can just drive to her place on the weekend. It would take more than the weekend to just drive to Miami.
Eventually, all the boys went to the kitchen to sit at the table to play card games while the women stayed in the living room to talk.
"I can't believe you all came here for me." I said to my best friends.
"When Austin sent us the message about the proposal, we couldn't miss it." Piper answered.
"I can't believe how serious you guys are now." Trish added.
"I know. I sometimes can't believe it either." I responded. "He's really turned a new leaf, and so have I."
"We can see that." Olivia said as Amelia tried to comb her mother's hair.
"I told you that you were gonna marry Austin." The ten-year-old told me.
"I guess you were right, Amelia." I said and Trish and Piper raised an eyebrow. "The first time I met Olivia, Sebastien and Amelia, Amelia was four and she literally demanded that I marry Austin so I could be her aunt."
"Aww, that's so cute." Mimi stated.
"I guess you got your wish." I said to Amelia.
"But I still think of you as my aunt even if you're not married." Amelia said and I smiled.
"And you my niece." I told Amelia.
The conversation went on like that all night long. Eventually, the boys joined us and we just talked and talked about how our lives were going, how work was, university, etc. it was really nice to catch up with everyone.
My parents also cooked dinner, but somehow, I wasn't really hungry. I ate a bit, but I felt a bit nauseous. I had been feeling like that in the last couple of days and I'm not sure why. Maybe I caught a stomach bug or something. Everyone was too excited or distracted to notice though. I've got to admit that the excitement of the day also made me forget.
When everyone left for their houses or their hotel, Austin and I had to decide what to do. Well, I thought so.
He told me he rented a room in a hotel and specifically said that he would not spend the night of our engagement in my parents or his parents' house.
He was right. I wouldn't want our parents to suffer that.
"Alright, are you ready to go?" Austin asked me excitedly.
"And spend the night with my new fiancé?" I asked, teasing the blond. "I definitely am."
"I like your thinking." He told me and then we left for the hotel.
That night was definitely a night to remember and a night full of passion. I am glad we chose to go to a hotel instead of staying at one of our parents' houses like we usually do.
Although, I woke up the next morning feeling like I've been feeling in the last couple of days, nauseous. I started to stir in the bed and it woke up Austin.
"Morning wife-to-be." He greeted me with a sleepy smile.
"Morning hubby-to-be." I mimicked as I straightened and then proceeded to get out of bed.
"Already getting up?" He asked in a disappointed tone.
"I'm not feeling too well. I need to go to the bathroom." I said.
"Alright." He said as he let me go.
As soon as I entered our room's bathroom, I walked to the toilet and threw up.
That's a nice way to start the day.
I brushed my teeth as soon as I was done and decided to go to the drugstore. I had my doubts on what was going on with me and I needed confirmation.
"I'm gonna go to the drugstore." I told my fiancé as I grabbed my boots and my jacket.
"At nine in the morning?" He asked. "Can't we eat breakfast first?"
"I just threw up. I'm not really hungry." I answered. "I want to go to the store to get some medication."
"How about you stay here and I go to the store?" He suggested, but I wanted to go to the store myself, and alone.
"No, I wanna go." I pleaded. "I think some fresh cold air will do me good."
"I'll come with you, then." He suggested. How am I going to get out of this?
"I wanna leave now and you're not ready." I said.
"Ally, are you okay?" Austin asked. "You're acting strange."
"I'm fine." I said a little too quickly.
"If you say so." He answered and then I left for the drugstore.
I was now sitting on the edge of the bath in our hotel room staring at the stick in my hand.
I needed confirmation and it was right under my eyes.
I heard him knock on the door.
"Minou, are you okay?" He asked me. I've been in the bathroom not moving for the past fifteen minutes. I couldn't believe it. Well, I could. Austin and I weren't trying to have a child, but we weren't careful either. It was bound to happen. "Can I come in?"
"Sure." I answered.
As shocked as I was with this revelation, I couldn't really hide that from Austin. I don't want to hide something like that from him. This is going to change our lives and I want him to learn about it first. I am happy, but I am surprised too.
He gently opened the door and scanned the room to find me. As soon as he saw me, he sat beside me and looked at what was in my hand with a mix of confusion and shock.
"Is that what I think it is?" He asked me carefully.
"Yes." I answered simply.
"Are we?" He asked without finishing his sentence, but I knew exactly what he meant.
"Yes." I answered.
"We're gonna have a baby?" He asked and I could see joy spread all over his face. His beautiful genuine smile appeared and he looked way more than content.
I nodded as an answer and he immediately hugged me, excited.
"We're gonna have our own family." He said and I could feel the excitement in his voice.
Once he let go of me, he noticed I didn't share the same expression as him.
"Are you not happy?" He asked, concerned.
"Terrified would be the term." I answered honestly.
"You didn't want to have a baby?" He asked, almost shocked.
"It's not that. I just—I don't know how to explain. I guess I didn't expect to get pregnant so soon. I'm not even done with university yet." I answered. "I'm thrilled that we're gonna have our own family, but I can't help wonder if I'm ready for that."
He took one of my hands between his and looked me in the eyes.
"Ally, you're the one who taught me to accept changes and to make the most of them. I think you should take your own advice." He said. "Besides, if I remember correctly, you've once told Olivia that you wanted to have a family with me."
"I never told you that." I defended. "Oh, she told you."
He laughed.
"She's my sister, she can't hide anything from me." Austin stated and I laughed.
"Aren't you a bit scared?" I asked the blond.
"Petrified." He answered honestly. "But we are going to live this together and this is going to be the best experience of our lives."
"You're right. This is the most frightening thing ever, but this is going to be the best experience ever." I repeated and my fiancé smiled.
"I love you." He told me.
"And I, you." I responded.
We both smiled at each other and excitement was slowly making its way to my face.
"We're gonna have a baby." I repeated as if I needed to make myself believe it.
Austin looked at me and pulled me in for a kiss.
"When are we telling our parents?" Austin asked.
"I want to go to the doctor first, to make sure everything is all right and then we'll tell them." I answered. "I just need to find a doctor."
"To the internet." Austin said in a very dramatic voice.
"What are you doing?" I asked the boy as he walked away only to come back with his phone.
"Searching for a doctor." He answered.
Austin searched for doctors all around Quebec City and he found quite a few. The only problem was that I don't have any family doctor In Canada, so I can't show up to just any doctors. After a while, Austin decided to bring me to a clinic where they would be able to do a serious pregnancy test and then they would try to find me a family doctor and a gynecologist. We scheduled an appointment and I will go to the nearest clinic tomorrow to get tested.
This was still so surreal for me. I mean, the same weekend we get engaged, we also learned that I am pregnant with our first child. This is overwhelming.
When we went to the doctor, I think Austin was more nervous than I was. He was sitting on the chair with his leg bouncing up and down nervously waiting for my turn. Everyone around us looked at us annoyed or smiling, probably realizing why we were here.
"Ally Dawson?" A nurse called from across the room.
"That would be me." I answered and she indicated to follow her. Austin also followed behind me.
I sat on the table in the doctor's office and waited for him to arrive.
"This is it." I told Austin.
"I know." He answered, "I really hope everything is fine."
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine." I assured him.
"Mrs. Dawson." A lady in her fifties greeted me.
"One day, it'll be Mrs. Moon." I whispered to Austin right after I greeted the doctor.
"The nurse told me you thought you were pregnant?" She said.
"That's true. I used a pregnancy test and it indicated so. I just wanted to make sure it was true." I answered simply and she smiled.
"Well, I'm going to need you to urinate in that bottle." The doctor said showing me the bottle. "And then give it to me so we can analyze it."
"That sounds good." I answered as I took the bottle from her hand.
I left to do as ask and came back a couple of minutes later with the bottle while Austin looked disgusted. I laughed silently at his reaction and then the doctor told us to go back to the waiting room and that we should get the results in about half an hour.
"It's as simple as that?" Austin asked oblivious.
"What did you think they would do?" I asked chuckling.
"I don't know, but not analyze your 'urine.'" He answered and I laughed.
"You can be such a guy sometimes." I told him.
"Is that a way of telling me I'm stupid?" He asked laughing.
"Nope, that you're oblivious to girls' things." I answered.
What the couple didn't notice was that a woman in her seventies was listening to them and smiling to herself, it was only when she spoke that they realized.
"You two remind me so much of my late husband and I." She said.
"Really?" Austin asked.
"I'm sorry about your husband." I told the woman.
"It's okay. That's what happens at some point in life." She answered simply.
"How do we resemble yourself and your husband?" I asked curiously.
"You just reek the same happiness we did when we got married." She answered. "Are you two married?"
"Not yet." I answered.
"But I did propose two days ago." Austin said proudly to the woman as he took my hand and showed her the ring.
"That's a very nice ring, my dear." The woman said as she examined it. "And now you're having a baby too?"
"Yeah, that's why we're here, to make sure I really am pregnant." I answered and she smiled.
"This is going to be the most amazing time of your life, so enjoy it." The woman said. "This is going to be a whole new world and it will bring you closer than ever."
"You really think so?" I asked.
"Yes." She answered seriously. "Having a baby is the most wonderful thing that can ever happen to a couple."
"Ally Dawson?" The nurse called once again.
"Good luck." The woman told us with a warm smile.
We both walked into the doctor's office as she told us about the results. Austin and I smiled widely the entire time. It turns out that I really am pregnant and that I've been pregnant for the last three weeks. So, I should give birth in a bit more than eight months, which will lead us to October. She said that from what she analyzed, everything seemed in order, but that I needed to find myself a family doctor and a gynecologist to follow my pregnancy and to make sure everything is in order. When we left the clinic, Austin turned to me and put his hand on my stomach with a wide smile.
"I can't believe there's a baby slowly growing in there." He said. "You have no idea how happy this makes me feel."
"Well, I can tell from the width of your smile. I think you're as happy as when I told you I would marry you." I answered and his smile grew even wider. I didn't think that was possible.
"How about you?" He asked me.
"I am as happy as I was when I realized you were proposing to me." I answered. "We're going to have a baby."
Austin then pulled me in for a kiss and I could see from the corner of my eyes the woman smiling at us from behind the windows of the clinic.
"Time to tell our parents." I said after we broke the kiss for air.
We entered Austin's car and we drove straight to our parents' houses. I was a really good thing that they were still neighbours. We didn't have to drive too far to see them both. We decided to tell my parents first. We arrived about fifteen minutes later and then stress took over me. What were my parents going to think?
My father opened the door and looked a bit surprised to see us.
"Ally, Austin." My dad greeted.
"Hi." I said and I think Austin could see how nervous I was now because he squeezed one of my hands between his and smiled warmly at me.
"Is mom here?" I asked.
"Yes, she is in the living room." My dad answered.
"Great, we come with great news." Austin told my father.
The three of us walked to the living room and sat on the couch. We all stared at each other silently for a couple of seconds before I spoke up.
"We have great news for you guys." I said.
"You've decided of the date of the wedding?" My mom asked eagerly.
"No." I answered. "It's not about the wedding."
"Oh." My mom reacted.
I could feel Austin take my hand between his and squeezing it once more to reassure me and to tell me there is nothing to worry about.
I took a deep breath and then spoke. "I'm pregnant."
"Really?" My mom asked excitedly as her smile grew wider. "You're having a baby?"
"We are." Austin answered.
"Wow." My dad said.
"So, you got engaged and learned you were pregnant on the same weekend?" My mom said. "This is a bit overwhelming."
"I know." I answered. "But the important part is that we are happy about it."
Austin seemed pleased with my answer and just smiled a bit more.
"When are you going to give birth?" My mom asked.
"In October, I believe." I answered.
"This gives me a couple of months to plan the best baby shower ever." My mom exclaimed excitedly and Austin facepalmed.
"Wow." He said, laughing.
After the big revelation, we talked with my parents for about two hours about the future baby and our future as a family. My dad grew very concerned with my studies and I am a bit too. I don't know how I am going to manage being pregnant and studying at the same time, but that's just something Austin and I will work out eventually. We left a bit after that to meet with Austin's parents. They also needed to know about my pregnancy and I was certain that Mimi would be ecstatic.
It only took us a couple of minutes to end up in Austin's old living room with Mimi and Mike sitting on the sofa in front of us. Mimi was smiling like she knew something and Mike was just happy to see us.
"We have great news." Austin said for the second time today.
"You're pregnant." Mimi said, looking at me.
"Yes." I answered, shocked. "How did you know? My parents told you, didn't they?"
"No, no one told me." Mimi answered and we all looked at her confused. "What could be a greater news than your engagement?"
"Right." Austin said. "Way to ruin the surprise."
"Come on. Ally was complaining how she always felt sick in the morning in the last couple of days, so I did the math." Mimi said. "I was expecting this to happen sooner or later. Besides, Ally's not very good at hiding stuff."
"Hey." I intervened. "I didn't even know I was pregnant the last time I saw you."
"You were glowing. It was obvious." Mimi said.
"For you." Austin retorted.
The conversation went on and on like that and, like with my parents, we discussed a lot about the future of Austin and I's family. Mimi already said she would call my mom to organize the best baby shower ever. We also talked a lot about the changes we lived in the last couple of years and how our lives are going to keep changing like that when the baby is born.
"Aren't you glad you moved here?" Mimi asked and it reminded so much of the fight Austin and I had about Miami and now, I don't ever want to leave Canada.
"I'm very glad I left a sunny city for a freaking cold and snowy one." I teased and the all laughed.
"But your sun is right here." Austin said referring to himself.
"Feeling cheesy today?" I asked, chuckling.
"I think I have the right to be overly happy and cheesy today; you're going to become my wife soon AND we're having a baby." He answered and both his parents laughed.
"Fair enough." I answered. "I can be pretty cheesy too, you know."
"Really?" He challenged me.
"Yes." I answered. "If I was really cheesy, I would tell you that I am so glad I broke your barriers and discovered who the boy behind the mask really was."
"Okay, you win." He answered as he pulled me in for a soft and chaste kiss.
And that is it for The Boy Behind the Mask. I can't believe I finally finished writing this story. I want to thank you all so much for all the support you've been giving me. I couldn't have done it without you. I mean, I loved writing this story, but seeing all your comments/favorites/follows just motivated me even more. Even if you were a silent reader, you still took time to read this story and I am really glad you did. I want to thank everyone who gave this story a chance even if it wasn't your taste and stopped reading. I thought publishing the epilogue on January 3rd would be a great idea since I published the first chapter of this story exactly a year ago.
Also, I've been re-reading the chapters and I've started editing them and adding a bit of text to make it more complete. I'm also trying to correct the grammar. I don't know how long it will take me to edit all the chapters, but I've already done the first two chapters.
I love you all.
Peace out :)