*EPILOUGE*
Warmth surrounds my body as I open my eyes. I don't want to get up out of bed, I'm too comfortable. Rolling over, I can see that Velvet is sound asleep. Now thirty-one, she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I was one lucky husband. Scooting over, I turn on my side and wrap my arms around her, taking in the scent of her hair. At this, she stirs and opens her eyes. Smil...ing, she turns around to face me, allowing me to envelope her in my arms. We lay there for a few moments before I break the silence. "Good morning." I whispered. "Morning." Velvet replied as she kissed my bare chest above my heart. Today was Sunday, so we had nothing we had to do. We could just lay in bed all day and talk. Yes, that would be nice. Just when I'm about to suggest that, I hear a scream. Neither Velvet nor I flinch, though. We've heard that sound multiple times. "Emerson! Go away!" I sigh and regrettably roll away from Velvet. "I'll go check it out." I grumble as I get up and walk towards our bedroom door. I could picture the scene without even having to step outside of the room. Chasity, our ten year old daughter, was probably sitting on the couch trying to read. Emerson and Glory, our eight year old twins, were probably being annoying and throwing things at her. This happened often. Sure enough, when I open the door and walk down the hallway, I'm greeted with fighting. "Dad!" Chasity calls from the couch. "Make Emerson stop! I'm trying to read!" Of course. Emerson, being my mini me, was hopping on the couch cushion next to his older sister, purposefully being annoying. His black curls were bouncing with him and his dark blue eyes shown with playfulness. It was all I could do not to laugh. "Emerson, come on now, quit annoying your sister." I said, crossing the room. Levi Emerson was an interesting child. The youngest of our three children, he was definitely the one with the most energy. He was loud and could be really obnoxious, but he loved his sisters very much and would stick up for them in a heartbeat. Emerson flashed a mischievous smile as he stopped bouncing and ran outside. Chasity Paige was the opposite of her brother. She was very quiet and liked to keep to herself. With blonde hair and light skin, she was the image of Velvet, simply beautiful. "Thank you." Chasity whispered as she rolled her navy eyes and went back to her book. Walking into the kitchen, I decide I should probably start on breakfast. I had become quite the cook since the twins were born. I mean, with twins and a toddler, Velvet couldn't do all of the cooking. So she had taught me how to not burn the house down. Right after I had gotten eggs out of the fridge and set them on the counter, Glory came sliding into the kitchen in her socks. It would have been a perfect slide, had she not slid straight into the kitchen chair. With a crash she fell on her back. "Are you alright?" I ask, walking over to her. Glory was laughing and picking herself up. "Yepp!" She looked up at me with piercing gray eyes and flashed me a big smile. Gloriana Bryn, one of the twins, was a happy tomboy. She loved getting into trouble with her brother, but also loved playing dress-up with Chasity. Laughing, I ruffle her brown hair as she runs off. Probably to find Emerson. Turning my attention back to the stove, I don't hear Velvet as she walks in the room. Feeling her arms wrap around me, I smile as she kisses my bare back. Pushing the eggs off the stove top so they don't burn, I turn around and take in the sight of my wife, having just woken up. She still looked wonderful. As I wrap my arms around her, she leans into me and lays her head on my chest. "Thanks for cooking." She says softly. "My pleasure." I reply. Just as Velvet starts to turn away, I grab her tight and pick her up, spinning away from the stove. "Gale!" She laughs. After a few seconds of her protests, I finally set her down, smirking. "What was that for?" She asks. "I just love you so much." I smile. "I love y-" Before she can finish, I clasp her face in both of my hands and kiss her for a long time. I can feel her smiling and I can't help but smile, but I don't let go. There was so much warmth I felt in that single moment, that I smile even bigger as I start to think. I have a gorgeous wife, three beautiful kids and a new life, all my own. My family is safe. I am safe. I can now say that I, Jonathan Gale Hawthorne, am finally happy with my life.
THE END.