Author's note: It has been awhile since I've updated and I do sincerely apologize for that. Thing have been crazy… So I guess this is it. I've reached a point where I feel kind of comfortable ending this story. At least for now. Don't worry there will be several mini stories filling in several gaps from Castles in the Sand. I guess you could say I'm making a Castles in the Sand series. This story was supposed a one-shot because I wasn't satisfied with the Cold Case series finale. One chapter turned into two, two turned into five and so on. Somehow this "one shot" ended up being a thirty seven chapter story that I have fallen in love with. I have mixed feelings about ending this story. I feel sad but at the same time, I'm excited to start the series of mini stories for Castles in the Sand. Anyways enjoy this chapter and please, please, please review! Oh and thank you to all the new follows, favorites, and reviews Thanks everyone!
Epilogue
A high pitched shriek followed by pearls of laughter emits from the living room, just before Alexia and Erick run through the kitchen, and outside, onto the patio.
"Alexia Elizabeth, no running in the house," Lilly calls out as she places a bowl of salad in the refrigerator. She pauses for a second by the kitchen sink, watching Alexia and Erick run around the backyard, laughing and shrieking loudly. She cringes a bit as she watches Alexia take a hard fall, scrapping her knee. She fights the urge to run outside and hug Alexia as she contuse to watching from the window. Brushing herself off, Alexia gets up almost instantly and continues to chase Erick around the backyard. Standing there, watching the kids run and play, she is filled with an overwhelming sense of something she can't quiet seem to describe. Happiness. Love. Family. Fulfillment. A combination of all four, perhaps. It feels like it was only yesterday when she found Christina, badly beaten, lying in that cot, in that house. In the process of clearing the house, she found Alexia, wrapped in a blanket, laying in a laundry basket, alone, her wails incessant. As she picked up the baby girl and held her in her arms, she had no idea that this baby, a tiny, defenseless baby, her niece, Alexia, would change her life forever. Alexia. She is where it all began. It feels like yesterday, she was pacing around her townhouse for hours, desperately trying to get Alexia to sleep, that first night after Christina checked into rehab. It feels like yesterday, a week after Christina checked into rehab when Scotty showed up on her doorstep, Chinese takeout in one hand, baby supplies in the other. It feels like yesterday when she came home to find Alexia bathed and fast asleep, and Scotty, waiting with a candlelight dinner. It feels like yesterday when they sat outside, on the back patio, side by side, wordlessly watching the crisp spring night sky. It feels like yesterday, when he took her hand in his and confessed that he couldn't stop thinking about her. It feels like yesterday when they were in the elevator at the courthouse and he told her he loved her for the first time. It feels like yesterday when he kissed her in the pouring rain, just outside of Headquarters. It feels like yesterday when they packed up his things from his apartment. It feels like yesterday when he moved into her townhouse. It feels like yesterday when the smell of the takeout he brought home made her nauseous. It feels like yesterday when they found out she was pregnant with Erick. It feels like yesterday when she was in labor, when she saw Scotty get shot. It feels like yesterday when she woke up in the hospital room, with Scotty asleep in a wheelchair beside her bed, holding her hand. It feels like yesterday….
A pair of arms encircle her waist from behind and Scotty kisses the side of her cheek softly as he asks, "You okay?"
She turns around to face him, giving him a quick kiss on the lips before she responds, "I was just thinking."
"About?" He says, his hand caressing her waist.
"A little of everything."
"Care to be more specific?"
"I was watching the kids and I started thinking…. About how small Alexia was when she was a baby, when we found her. How things were then and how everything is now."
His eyes meet hers and for a second he looks at her like he does when he's trying to determine if there's deeper meaning to what she's saying, something she's implying. Finally, he says, without taking his eyes off hers, "I much rather prefer things the way they are now. Because now I can do this." His lips meet hers, kissing her deeply. She moans a bit, quietly, but audibly enough for him to hear her as they take a couple of steps backwards. With his back pressed up against the refrigerator, her hand toys with the hem of his shirt as his hand begins to caress the skin at the small of her back. Just as his fingers slip into the waistband of her jeans, they are interrupted by a sharp knock.
"Knock, knock,' Will says stepping into the kitchen.
"Are we interrupting something? Nick says stepping in beside will.
"You two are ridiculous" Kat says walking into the kitchen. "Grown adults, making out like a couple of teenagers. You've been married for two years, haven't you gotten sick of doing that?"
They both smile as Lilly steps away from the refrigerator, giving Scotty a bit more room.
"Never," Scotty responds with a smile as he wraps his arm around Lilly's waist pulling her close. The adults are interrupted by the sound of thundering feet as Alexia and Erick run into the kitchen, followed by Stillman. Before anyone can say anything, Erick runs to Scotty, clutching his leg tightly, as he exclaims, "Daddy, I'm hungry…."
"Yeah, me too. Weren't you supposed to have the best medium rare steaks ready?" Nick says. Erick lets go of Scotty, rushing over to 'Uncle' Nick, his arms outstretched to be carried. Nick tosses Erick up into the air before holding the giggling toddler in his arms.
"Hey, you said you were the best grill master in Philly. I thought I'd give you a chance to showcase your imaginary skills," Scotty scoffs.
"You're on Valens," Nick says placing Erick down, just as Alexia runs by, and both kids run outside again. Nick and Scotty both seem to have caught the kids' competitiveness as they race out to see who can reach the grill first. Stillman grabs the cooler of beverages from next to the refrigerator as Kat grabs the bowl of hamburgers and hotdogs and a bowl of steaks off the kitchen counter, as they both headed outside. Lilly stays behind in the kitchen for a second, reminiscing. She's so caught up in her thoughts, she doesn't realize she's been stoking her stomach affectionately. Loud laughter and chatter from the backyard startle her out of her thoughts and she quickly removes her hand from her stomach, making a mental reminder not to do that in front of the team or Scotty. Not yet anyways. Someone might guess her surprise and today, that was the last thing she wanted. Walking over the refrigerator, she pulls out the salad bowl and joins everyone outside. Stillman and Kat are sitting in a pair of wicker chairs, on one end of the patio, while Will, Nick, and Scotty are gathered around the grill on the other side of the patio, bickering about the best grilling methods. She sets the salad bowl on the table of food, near the wicker chairs before sitting in a chair next to Kat. The boss and Kat carry on a conversation as Lilly watches Alexia and Erick run Veronica around endlessly. Veronica, though, doesn't seem to mind the overactive toddler and preschooler, engaging them in a game of hide and seek. Before long, she finds herself listening to the Boss's stories about policing in the olden days, along with Kat. Eventually, Nick, Scotty, and Will finally finish grilling and everyone settles down to eat. As the sun slowly begins to sink beneath the horizon, she watches Alexia and Erick run around the yard, chasing fireflies. Pearls of laughter and conversation fill the air as she feels Scotty's arms around her waist. She settles back into the comfort and familiarity of his embrace for a few minutes, before deciding that now is the perfect time to make the announcement. She swirls the apple juice around her glass before taking a long sip. Stepping away from his embrace, as she reaches for a spoon, lying on a nearby table, she can't understand why she feels so nervous. Taking a quiet breath, she taps the spoon against her glass to get everyone's attention. All eyes turn to her as she says, "Sorry to interrupt but… I have an announcement to make. I could have said something sooner but I wanted to wait until we were all together…. I am three months pregnant. "
A split second of silence, followed by a series of smiles and kisses and a round of congratulations. She is swept into embrace after embrace, and before long, Scotty is at her side, his arm once again around her waist. His lips soon capture hers, kissing her with so much ardor, it nearly takes her breath away. As they break apart, hugs and congratulations ensue again. After she has received numerous hugs from everyone, Scotty stands by her side, once again. For a minute, they drown out the incessant excited chatter around them. No one else exists, but the two of them, alone, in this moment. His hand tenderly strokes and grips hers before their fingers become entwined. Pulling her towards him, he caresses her face before giving her a long loving kiss. As they break apart, he pulls her into a warm, comforting embrace. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees a girl on the far left side of the backyard. Fair blond hair pulled into two low ponytails, vibrant blue eyes, about eight years old. Lilly's eyes meet the girl's as Lilly notices an overwhelming haunting sadness in the girl's eyes. For a second, the two simple look at each other. Suddenly, Lilly realizes she knows the girl. It's her, as a child. The girl look at her for another second before a small smile begins to spread across her face, the haunting look in her blue eyes fading. She gives Lilly a brilliant smile, not a trace of sadness on her face before turning around, walking away slowly, disappearing. And Lilly understands. She's finally at peace. She's finally home.
THE END