Ok I promised a detailed epilogue and here it is. I hope it gives you guys some closure. Remember that I will probably do the occasional scene when it comes to me. But this is for those of you who want some closure before I finish with those.
The day after Noemi and Tommy and friends go to the club, Tommy slips in the shower and gives everyone a scare. He gives himself a concussion and puts himself out for a few days. Scares the sh*t out of everyone. While he recovers, Noemi must back him out of his small fights or offer a replacement. So with Colt Boyd's agreement, she asks Fenroy to fill the slot. He does well enough and gets a taste for the competition. He asks about her maybe managing him, as long as Tommy's cool with it. She tells him that if they go to Sparta, she will consider managing Fenroy after that but she has to focus on Tommy first. Fenroy agrees and they part on good terms.
Tommy shows signs of recovery, but the docs tell him he needs to take it easy. During that time, Tommy reconciles with Paddy (to a point). They are civil and decide that in the grand scheme of things, it all hasn't changed that much. Paddy was still the one who 'raised' him (he uses the term lightly). Noemi and Paddy reconcile too. Paddy comes back for training once Tommy is better.
Tommy decides to get a car with his sponsor money. Spends it on one that he has lusted over for decades. Since he was a kid he had a picture of it on his wall, promising himself that if he ever had money, he would buy one. He gets it and immediately takes Noemi for a ride. Plenty of squealing tires, driving too fast and drifting. Noemi reluctantly enjoys herself and sees a rare side of Tommy. One that is happy and playful and silly. She starts to feel the same way for the first time in her life.
During his recovery, Tommy decides to find Eddy Buchannon. Finds that he lives alone in the Burgh. Calls him up and they agree to gets him talking about Ma. Eddy didn't know she had passed. Tommy tells him all about everything. Then Eddy fesses up to what he knew. Ma and Eddy were friends first, bonding over taking care of Paddy. It then turned into a love affair. They truly cared for each other and didn't mean for Tommy to happen, but neither regretted it. Eddy hands over the letters that Ma gave him and how they communicated. Tommy reads them and sees how much they cared for each other and him. Eddy tells him that he has followed everything he's done since all the hoopla during Sparta 1. Tells him how proud he is of him, even the desertion. He understands. Ended up an officer and made a career of the military. Even earned some medals before retiring. Tommy sees how much of himself he got from Eddy, even if somethings he got learning from Paddy. They stay in contact but things are odd.
Things are going well otherwise, but as a side effect of having a concussion, he gets some mood swings. Docs finally clear him for exercise (and other more enjoyable activities). To celebrate his all clear (docs would rather he didn't fight but he does anyways), Tommy and Noemi go out of dinner and a drive-in movie for fun. First true date. They get talking and Noemi opens up to him a little and find they have many more things in common than just the industry.
He professes his love for Noemi finally (after a few weeks), but she doesn't say it back yet. Explaining that she feels it but isn't quite ready to say it aloud. She doesn't say that the reason she doesn't say it is because she was close to losing him once (the concussion was a close thing) and she couldn't bear it if he leaves (through actions or in bad health). Tommy's ok with it for a bit. Then has a bad day.
Tommy bails after losing his first fight back after the accident. Leaves a letter, spouting nonsense about not being good enough and being a failure. Says he's leaving the Burgh and takes all his stuff. Noemi breaks down but wants to find him. Calls Brendan and asks him if he's seen Tommy. He says that he showed up out of nowhere and acting weird. Talking about going somewhere. Noemi is relieved and sets off for Philly. When she gets there, Tommy and her have it out. Yelling, arguing, crying. But in the end they make up. Brendan and Tess eavesdrop and finally learn they are an official couple but still keep the knowledge quiet.
Things get good again. Tommy accepts his place by Noemi's side. Noemi is finally happy and doesn't really know what to do with it. Paddy is doing well and Brendan's family is a constant addition. Kevin and Sarah make it exclusive and do really well. Kevin becomes buddies with Tommy. Mad Dog Grimes ends up dating Mallory (the bitch who bullied Noemi and then turned into a MMA groupie). They are sickeningly well suited and happy.
Things are good with Noemi and Tommy, but not perfect. They have their issues that crop up. One of Tommy's hang ups causes a tiny bit of strife until Tommy asks Brendan for advice. Brendan advises he be a little more open minded and Tommy follows his suggestions. Noemi is much happier with the results and all is back to good for a bit.
Tommy's contentment starts to take some of his fighting drive away. Noemi advises that he start working on not just K.O.'s but tapouts. That if everyone starts to predict him, he will start having problems. Word on Sparta comes out that Koba won't be fighting, but he is training a protege that will be.
Tommy has the occasional flashback and nightmare, but with Noemi sleeping next to him, it's easier. Tommy has another bad week, but they are visiting Brendan and Tess. Noemi doesn't know how to snap him out of it, decides to smack him a few until he comes back. Bren gets worried but Tess knows Noemi has it handled (eavesdropping again). Tommy and Noemi talk it out and are fine. She pours her heart out to him and he truly sees how much she hides from him. He knows then that neither of them could love someone as much as they love each other. Wholly and passionately. Tommy decides soon after to buy a ring after talking to Bren about he knew Tess was the one.
Noemi decides that Tommy's training is plateauing under Paddy. She decides for them to give Frank a try since Frank was the trainer of Brendan, who won against Koba. Rumor has it that Koba is training up his protege to be just like him. That has Noemi worried. But once they get back to Philly, Frank turns him down. Says that he won't train another Conlon and definitely not him. Brendan says he will do it but is offended that Frank turned Tommy down. Noemi hears and is reluctantly in agreeance. Would be showing trade secrets. Tommy and Bren train in his backyard and normal training at Frank's.
Frank starts to suspect something, but confronts Tommy about it, not Noemi. Noemi hears about it and decides Frank should know. They close the gym for the day and Bren comes for the show down as referee. Noemi and Frank have it out, bringing up lots of old stuff that had been bugging them. They have a bit of a falling out and Tommy isn't sure how he feels about it. Noemi sided with Tommy and defended him, but now Noemi and Frank aren't talking. Noemi assures him that Frank will apologize when he has gotten over it.
Tommy starts his qualifying fights. He does really well, wins them all. But only one K.O. showing that his technique has changed. Noemi has a strategy. Paddy goes with them and stands in as trainer. Tommy gets sponsorship with Spalding. RevGear and Spalding want Tommy to have a Fight jacket. Tommy decides to design his own. Has elements that harken back to Ma and his Marine unit.
Tommy gets to visit Pilar while in Texas for a fight. Noemi gets to meet Pilar and they have an understanding. They both agree that she is good for Tommy. Tommy and Pilar have a little moment of reminiscing and her telling him that she is glad to see him so happy. Assures him that she is doing well, they want for nothing. She has a good job now and the kids are doing better and better. She will always miss Manny but it's getting easier.
Things get more serious as Sparta comes around. Brendan stays in Philly because Tess is about to pop (its a boy!). Paddy goes to Atlantic City with them and has a sneaking suspicion that Tommy and Noemi are not just manager and client. He catches them kissing and chastises them, but is forgiving because Tommy's happy. Remindes him to keep his head in the game and not forget the reason that they are here.
Tommy has some moments of panic while at press conferences and stuff like that. Kevin and Sarah come to watch the fight. They all do their best to keep him stable and sane. Paddy makes Tommy stave off sex until after the last fight. To give him something to work towards. Drives Tommy and Noemi nuts.
Tommy follows the strategy to punch people out, making it look like he is back to his old habits. Faking the Koba Protege out. Tommy makes it to the final round. He decides that if he wins this, he will let nothing stop him from marrying and keeping Noemi.
He wins. It's bad and rough and close, but he wins.
Brendan and Tess have a healthy baby boy the same night. Paddy survives Sparta sober. Noemi is thrilled that Tommy did it. Noemi and Tommy's relationship gets outed on national television. Frank later decides to forgive them. Kevin and Sarah stay together.
And everyone lives happily ever after.
Noemi and Tommy get a house in Philly and get married. Noemi becomes a manager for Fenroy and many others. Frank decides he has had enough of gym life and offers for Tommy to run the training for him (as an olive branch). Frank and Jessa go traveling and eventually get pregnant again (she keeps it until term and they have a girl). So Tommy runs the gym and asks Paddy to retire. Paddy agrees, moves to Philly, and finally sells that dreaded house. Tommy has him help with some coaching, because Paddy was good at it and he was starting to get bored with retired life. Tommy and Noemi become a renowned manager/trainer combo. Tommy stays in contact with Eddy and they visit on occasion. Even gets to meet some of the distant family.
Oh and Grimes doesn't get married but does stay with Mallory well into pervy old age.
I hope that helps you guys. I have intentionally left some stuff out or was purposefully vague because I know those are scenes I will want to write. The stuff I post from now on will basically be chronological one shots. It won't be quite as full of a story here on out. Not to say that the chapters will be short. I think we all know how wordy I can get. And I will keep up the tone and quality the best I can.
I want you all to know how difficult of a decision this was, to give up on this story. But I thought it was better for you guys to have closure and the occasional scene/chapter than waiting for me to fill in all the other stuff this story would need to finish it. And to be honest, I don't have the ambition to finish it anymore. I can't turn it into something original. It's not my best work and has flaws abound. I prefer writing Time Period pieces and I know next to nothing about the topic of MMA.
Thank you for all the kind reviews. Thank you for sticking with it this whole time. Thank you for the support. I really didn't think I would get quite that much feedback from this but it has inspired me to continue with my dream of getting something published some day.
And rest easy guys, this isn't the last of me. There will be chapters to come for those of you who wish to read them. It just may be a bit of a wait.
Oh and a Bane/OC one shot will be coming soon too. It's mostly written so just some finishing touches and I can post it.