Epilogue: 10 Years Later

"Anna, could you get the door?" Brittany called out from the kitchen.

"Sure thing, babe. I'm on it," Anna replied, getting up from the couch and walking to the front of the house to answer the door.

Brittany then turned to the kitchen table, where her four year-old daughter was sitting. "Hadley, sweetheart, go wash your hands so you can have dinner," she said, leaning down and kissing her forehead before the little girl got up and ran off.

Anna went to the door and opened it, seeing Skylar, Dale, their seven year-old boy Titan, and their three year-old girl Harlow standing there. "Hey, you guys!" Anna said, welcoming them each with a hug. "Come on it. Josh, Gemma, Tyler, Joanna, and Peter should be here any minute now. Ester, Frederick, and Meleike Jr. are already here. Dinner's almost ready too."

"How's the baby?" Dale asked as they walked inside the house

"He's great," Anna replied, smiling. "He should be waking up from his nap pretty soon, so I'll go get him," she said before walking upstairs to her son's bedroom. The woman smiled when she saw her son fidgeting around in his crib. "Hey, Bear! Did you have a good nap, darling?"

Bear cooed when he saw his mother, which made Anna's heart melt. The baby then giggled and clapped his hands together when Anna walked over to his crib and picked him up.

Anna picked up her five month-old son and held him close, rocking him back and forth. "You look like you had a good nap, mister," she said, smiling. "Did you have a good nap, Bear?" Bear cooed again and reached out for Anna's face with his tiny little hands. "Well, now that you're awake, we're gonna go downstairs and have some dinner. Does that sound good?"

Bear clung to his mother as they went downstairs to see Josh, Gemma, Tyler, Joanna, and Peter. "Hey, you guys. You're just in time for dinner," Anna said, smiling.

"Awesome," Josh said, smiling back at his sister. He then walked over so he could see Bear. "Hey, Bear. It's your uncle Josh. Do you remember me?"

"Of course he does," Brittany said as she walked out from the kitchen and gave her brother-in-law a hug. "How was the drive?"

"It wasn't too bad. I still can't get over how nice of a place you guys have. You guys did a good job," Josh replied, hugging Brittany back.

Anna and Brittany had moved up to Maine, close to where Anna's childhood house had been. It was right on the beach and had beautiful view of the sunsets. "Thank you, Josh. We really do love it here, but yours and Gemma's place in Virginia is beautiful."

Josh smiled at these words. "Thanks. We love it down there. We definitely made the right decision by moving there," he said.

Ever since Heinrick was defeated ten years ago, the United States of America had returned to its former glory. Most buildings had been rebuilt, and countries around the world had provided aid to help make it a happy, safe place for people to live again. Joan Kendrick had served as President for the last eight years and was just about to retire from the job. She had brought peace and stability to the U.S., and, Gemma's father was going to serve as the next President after winning the election.

"I'm going to serve dinner in a few minutes, so why don't you guys go to the dining room and make yourselves comfortable?" Brittany told them.

Everyone went to the kitchen and sat at the dining table, and Anna helped Hadley into her high chair before doing the same with Bear. She then sat in her seat at the end of the table as Brittany and Ester brought out the food. "It smells great, Britt," Gemma said. "Sam and Gina should be here any minute."

Moments after Gemma said that, the doorbell rang. "I'll go get it," Anna said, getting up from the table to go answer the door. She smiled when she opened it and saw Sam and Gina standing there. "Hey, guys! You're just in time for dinner."

"Sorry we're cutting it so close. Jackson's lacrosse practice went late," Sam said with a chuckle before she, Gina, and their eight year/old son came inside.

In order for Anna and Brittany to have kids, they used Josh's sperm and Brittany carried Hadley. Then a few years later, they used Skylar's sperm and Anna carried Bear. Sam and Gina used Anna's cousin Carter's sperm for their child, Jackson, who was now eight years old. Gina was now carrying their second child, which was going to be another boy, who they decided to name Mateo after Gina's late brother.

Soon, everyone was at the table and talking about their lives and how everything was going. Today was the ten year anniversary of the day Heinrick was defeated, so they got together to both celebrate and try forget the pain that would never go away. The pain that they had gone through during Heinrick's rule, and the pain of losing their loved ones.

"I can't believe it's already the ten year anniversary of when we took down Heinrick once and for all," Josh said as they started eating dinner. "So much has happened since that day."

"Yeah, no kidding," Gina said after finishing a bite of chicken. "That was definitely a day to remember," she said, looking over at Brittany and then raising her glass of water. "Here's to freedom."

Brittany smiled back at Gina and then raised her glass of wine. "To freedom," she said.

"To freedom," said everyone in unison before they clinked glasses and sipped their drinks, continuing to eat afterwards.

Once they had finished their meals, Anna helped Brittany do the dishes while everyone else was chatting in the living room. "So, Gina, how far along are you?" Dale asked.

"Four months as of last week. It's another boy," Gina said, smiling as she looked down at her now visible baby bump. "We're going to name him Mateo."

"Awe, that's so sweet of you guys," Anna said with a smile. "I'm sure that Mateo would be proud to have his nephew named after him," she added.

"I've always loved that name, and it will be nice to name my son after Mateo," Gina said. "He planned on naming one of his own kids Mateo Jr."

"That's understandable. Mateo is an awesome name," Sam said with a smile.

After dinner everyone was in the living room hanging out. Anna looked around the room, and a smile tugged at her lips. She couldn't help but think about how lucky they were that things had turned out the way they did on that fateful day ten years ago. Anna wrapped her arm around her wife, thinking about how Brittany had changed the course of the future for everyone.

Brittany leaned her head on Anna's shoulder and sighed with content. "Having everyone here is so nice, isn't it?" She murmured softly.

"It really is," Anna said with a smile, turning to kiss the top of Brittany's head. "I wish my father could see us now," she said softly as she traced shapes on Brittany's arm.

"I know he's looking down on us from Heaven, and I know he's proud of us," Brittany replied, turning her head and giving Anna a kiss on the cheek.

Anna smiled softly at this and turned to kiss Brittany's lips. "You always brighten my day," she said once their lips parted. "And I love you for that."

Brittany smiled and blushed a little. "Thanks, babe. I can say the same thing about you."

Anna looked out towards the deck and saw Josh standing there, looking up at the night sky. She got up and went to join him, closing the door quietly. "Hey," she said, smiling as she walked up beside him.

"You know, while today is a day of celebration, I still can't help but think of it as the day we lost our father," Josh said, taking a sip of his beer.

Anna nodded her head. "Yeah, I know the feeling. I miss him a lot all the time, but I miss him even more this time of year."

"I'm very grateful for what Brittany did that day. I just wished he had lived to meet his grandchildren. I mean, Tyler, Joanna, Peter, Hadley, and Bear? They would've loved him," Josh said, smiling up at the stars.

"They definitely would've loved him. And he would've loved them too," Anna said, putting a hand on Josh's shoulder and looking up at the stars as well.

"So much has changed since that day," Josh said, chuckling for a moment. "I mean, we all have kids now. Gemma and I own a bakery down in Virginia, you've gotten into the music business, and Brittany is a successful veterinarian. Dale became a doctor like Mom, Skylar is the biggest architect in the country, and Ester's gone the political route. And we can't forget Sam and Gina, who run their own Venezuelan restaurant. Things have turned out pretty well for us."

Anna nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, they have. A lot of bad things may have happened in the past, but I wouldn't change the way things have turned out for anything in the world." She looked back inside and saw Brittany holding Bear in her lap, and she couldn't help but smile.

"We married two great girls," Josh said, noticing that Anna was looking at her wife through the window. "We're also lucky that they agreed to marry us."

Anna chuckled at these words. "Yeah, we're pretty lucky alright. I don't know anyone else who would agree to marry either of us," she said, chuckling some more.

"Life is good," Josh said simply. He then finished his drink and leaned over to hug his sister. "I love you, sis," he said.

"I love you too, big brother. Thank you for everything that you've done for me," Anna said, smiling and hugging Josh back.

Later that night after everyone had left, Brittany and Anna were sitting on their back porch which overlooked the ocean. "I still can't believe it's been ten years," Anna said with a smile.

"Me neither. It honestly doesn't feel like it's been that long," Brittany replied, smiling and then leaning her head on Anna's shoulder.

Anna put her arm around Brittany and kissed the top of her head. "It's also been eleven and a half years since we met," she said, smiling.

"Again, it honestly doesn't feel like it's been that long," Brittany said with a chuckle, blushing a little after Anna kissed her head.

"I love you, Brittany," Anna said, smiling and pulling her wife closer. "I wouldn't trade this life I've been given for anything in the entire universe," she whispered before pulling Brittany onto her lap.

"I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the entire universe either. I have a beautiful wife and a beautiful family. It can't get better than this," Brittany murmured softly, smiling and gazing into Anna's eyes.

Anna leaned up and kissed Brittany's lips, smiling as she did so. When she pulled back, she tucked the blonde's hair behind her ear. "Would you like to slow dance with me?" She asked.

"Of course I would," Brittany replied, smiling and standing up. Anna stood up as well and then took the blonde's hand, pulling her close.

Anna then put on the song "Big Black Car" by Gregory Alan Isakov and placed one hand on Brittany's waist. The other one stayed linked with her wife's hand as they danced slowly. "I remember the first time I sang this to you."

Brittany nodded. "I remember too. That was the first time you ever sang to me, actually. And if it's even possible, I think that your voice has gotten more angelic," she said.

Anna smiled and then kissed Brittany's forehead before she started to sing for her wife, her voice soft and sweet.

"You were a phonograph, I was a kid.

I sat with an ear close just listening.

I was there when the rain tapped her way down you face.

You were a miracle I was just holding your space.

Well, time has a way of throwing it all in your face.

The past, she is haunted, the future is laced.
Heartbreak, you know, drives a big black car.
Swear I was in the back seat just minding my own."

Brittany smiled and listened to Anna sang, her heart beating contently. She let the girl continue on, breathing in and out slowly.

"And through the glass, the corn crows come like rain.

They won't stay, they won't stay
For too long now.

This could be all that we know
Of love and all.

Well, you were a dancer and I was a rag.

The song in my head, well was all that I had.
Hope was a letter I never could send.
Well, love was a country we couldn't defend."

When she finished the verse, Anna twirled Brittany around a few times and then pulled her close. Their lips were merely centimeters apart, and the brunette leaned her forehead against the blonde's as she sang the last part of the song.

"And through the carnival we watch them go round and round.

All we knew of home was just a sunset and some clowns.

Well you were a magazine, I was a plain jane
Just walking the sidewalks all covered in rain.
Love to just get into some of your stories,
Me and all of my plain jane glory.

Just me and all of my plain jane glory."

Anna smiled and pressed a kiss to her wife's lips, holding her close. They continued to dance as the song faded away, and Anna leaned her forehead to Brittany's. "Thank you for attacking me in those woods all those years ago," she muttered softly as the song ended.

Brittany chuckled a little at Anna's words. "You're welcome, babe," she replied, leaning in and kissing her wife's lips again. "I'm all in for life," she whispered.

Anna smiled as she heard those words. She was unable to get sick of hearing them, even after eleven years. She knew that she would always love Brittany and that they would stick together whatever came their way. So, she repeated Brittany's words back to her, smiling widely and looking into her wife's eyes as she did so. "I'm all in for life."

Well, that's the end of this story! Stay tuned for all my other stories that I'm working on right now such as: "Always," "That's Life," "Chloe," and "You're the Reason!"