Epilogue: Three Years Later

Ophelia smiled as she watched the kids playing. She looked to the others. Wade was helping Alex at the grill. Randy and John were playing with the kids. Evan and Justin were playing as well and Phil and Mike were too.

"Enjoying the show," Bella said as she sat down by her sister.

"Yes," Ophelia replied. "All those kids are a handful."

"Yes, they are." Bella laughed. "Six kids is a lot."

Ophelia laughed. "Yes, they are." She had to smile as John and Randy's three-month-old son, Noah, slept in the pack n play nearby. Bella had again been their surrogate but only by donating an egg. Ophelia decided to be the surrogate and carry Noah. So, Emily and Noah had a biological connection with Bella being the mother of both. Ophelia knew how much her sister wanted to help John and Randy again. But they were all worried about the complications she'd had. So, Ophelia and Wade talked and agreed that Ophelia would carry the baby.

"You know, I'm thankful that you agreed to be the surrogate for John and Randy," Bella said to her. "I wished I could have done it again."

"Bella," Ophelia replied. "You had a lot of complications. Everyone was worried about you."

"I know," Bella replied.

"And you are the mother of Noah. I just carried him for you guys."

"And I'm so thankful you did."

Ophelia smiled. "You're my sister. I would gladly carry any baby for you."

"I know." Bella smiled.

"Everything worked out for everyone. We all have our children." Ophelia smiled. "And Wade and I are going to try for another baby in a few months."

Bella smiled. "That's great."

"Yeah," Ophelia replied. "We're excited about another one."

"I can imagine." Bella smiled. "I think Alex and I are done having children. With the complications, he doesn't want anymore. He says Cason is enough especially with me being Emily and Noah's mother as well."

"I can understand that."

"Yeah, I can too." She replied. She looked at everyone having fun. "I think we have plenty of children in our group."

Ophelia laughed. "Yeah, we do."

"You girls seemed deep in conversation," John said as he and Phil came over.

"We were just talking about the kids." Bella smiled.

"They are a great group," Phil replied. He and Mike had adopted a little boy, Tyler, not long after Noah was born.

"Yes, they are," Ophelia replied. "So, are you and Mike thinking about adopting anymore?"

"We want to but we want to wait a little before we do," Phil replied. "What about you guys?"

"Well, Wade and I are thinking about another one eventually," Ophelia replied. She looked to Justin and Evan. "I think Justin and Evan are going to adopt before long." She smiled.

"I think Alex and I are done," Bella replied. "Even though I would love to more. With the complications and how much my husband objects, I don't think another baby is what we need."

Phil nodded. He hated it for Bella but he understood too. He would have reacted the same way as Alex if he was in that position. "It's probably for the best."

"Yeah, I think so too," Bella replied. She didn't want to risk her life and leave behind the kids. John had insisted that she stay involved in Noah's life as his mother. And Randy decided the same about Emily. She never overstepped where they were concerned. Randy and John were Emily and Noah's, parents. She just was happy that she was involved.

Everyone had worked out all their differences and issues and each couple was happy. Everything had worked out for them all. And they had all survived this crazy little thing called love.