EPILOGUE

"That would be a dollar and fifteen cents, Hank", Loren took his pencil from the table. In next moment an old store keeper stared at his pencil which had a funny purple fluffy thing attached on the top of it and yelped his famous line "What the tarnation?!", Hank raised his eyebrow smiling like he just pulled a rug under Preston's feet and commented "Going fancy in ol' days, ain't ya, Loren?" and before the silver haired man could reply, they heard giggles from behind the counter.

"You two!", Loren exclaimed "Wait till I get ya!", he started to leave the counter and Hank laughed as two little ones rushed out from the mercantile. Grabbing his old broom on the way, Loren followed the kids out from the store and yelled, trying very hard not to laugh "I'll catch ya!", as they ran down the stairs and onto a dusty streets of Colorado Springs, giggling and not watching where are they going.

"Whoa!", Matthew stopped the little ones who practically crashed into him as Loren huffed and puffed his way toward them "What are you two up to again?", Matthew couldn't help but smile at the slightly pink colour of kids' cheeks.

"Daddy, don't let Mr. Bray catch us!", little Charlotte hid behind her Father's left leg, while Jimmy took cover behind the right one, both of them peeking at Loren.

"Oh, you think that your Daddy will save you? I knew him when he was even smaller than you two and he could never escape from me!", chuckled Loren causing Matthew to laugh as Charlotte and Jimmy screamed their way down the streets.

"We both know that isn't true, Loren", chuckled Matthew.

"Oh, just play around, I have to keep an authority on those two at least for a moment", replied Loren, his whole face sparkling with the smile.

"What did they do today?", Matthew turned around to see his three – years – old twins running away, laughing all the time.

"Replaced my pencil with…this thing", Loren handed Matthew a silly pink pen with a purple fluffy thing on top of it and younger man couldn't help but laugh "I gotta catch them", Loren grinned, his eyes set on Charlotte and Jimmy who reached the livery now.

"And I thought that you got tired of this game", Matthew shook his head, trying to hide his smile.

"Me? Never!", Loren grinned, his eyes twinkling as he placed a broom in his other hand and quickly went toward the livery, pulling on his best serious face. Matthew watch him go with a smile on his face; Loren Bray was somebody who they adopted as a Grandpa long time ago and generation after generation simply adored the old storekeeper. First him, Colleen and Brian, than little Matthew and Katie, and now Charlotte and Jimmy. And all of them played pranks on the good ol' Mr. Bray – and Loren loved every second of it.

Glancing one last time after them, Matthew went toward the wagon and taking out a pile of books, he turned on his left to see Atlantis coming toward him with Katie and little Matthew practically pulling her on her hands, trying to make her hurry. Her face was glowing with a smile as she listened to Katie's chattering.

"I already asked Mrs. Slicker, she said that Matthew and me can sit together", grinned Katie.

"Yeah, she just warned us not to cheat on the test", little Matthew smiled.

"Hmmm, I wonder what will she do with the fact that you two will probably babble all the time during the class?", Atlantis winked at her husband and Matthew enjoyed this scene. Little Matthew and Katie started to solemnly promise that they will be quite as two little bugs and than they started to chatter about the things they heard from older kids that were learned at school.

"Let's see how long will that silence last", Matthew winked back at his wife and Atlantis chuckled. Matthew looked down at now seven – years – old Katie and little Matthew and said with a warm smile "All right, you two, promise me that you will be good for Mrs. Slicker."

"PROMISE!", both Katie and little Matthew exclaimed, eager to already get to school house.

"And promise me that you will listen as she teaches you", Matthew continued. The kids nodded and Atlantis bit her lower lip so she wouldn't burst into laughter. Katie and little Matthew were both practically burning from impatience and excitement about their first day at school and Matthew surely prolonged the torture for them.

"Okay. And promise me…", Matthew started, but Katie interrupted him, practically whining "Matthew, hurry up! We'll be late!"

Both Atlantis and Matthew chuckled and quickly escorted the little ones toward the school house where Teresa Slicker greeted them with a big smile. As a teacher rang with a bell to give all children a sign to enter the school house, Atlantis and Matthew waved at the two kids one last time before they turned around and started their way back to the town. On their road they heard Loren's voice "A – ha! Gotcha!" and saw Jimmy and Charlotte jumping behind the fence of the livery and yelping in a surprise as their old friend finally caught them in his arms, all three of them laughing and Loren took each of their little palms starting a story about brand new gumdrops he just got in his shop, saying that he needed to hear opinions of the gumdrops experts. Charlotte and Jimmy squealed in delight and followed their beloved Mr. Bray back to his mercantile.

"What a team!", chuckled Atlantis.

"Yeah", Matthew smiled widely as he watched the three of them leaving toward the general store. In next moment he glanced down at his wife with adoration twinkling in his eyes. Atlantis recognized that look and smiled "What?", she asked.

"You do realize that this is the first time in weeks that we are actually alone?", Matthew whispered closely to her ear as his arms pulled her in his loving embrace. Atlantis felt her heart skipped a beat as she looked in those eyes that carried the colour of the bluest sky she has ever seen.

"Mhm", she confirmed, a gentle smile played on her rosy lips.

"I have a plan", he continued in his silent voice and Atlantis felt warmth filling her veins, causing her blood to boil "Ah, you do?", she played along as her palms sneaked on his back.

"I got us some food and drinks from Grace's…What do you think that we go on a picnic?", Matthew's breath came so close to her lips that Atlantis felt herself going into a sweet frenzy. She inched a bit closer toward his lips, sharing the air with him, but still not kissing him "How can I say no when you're asking me like that?", she whispered back and silently sighed as his lips finally touched her lips. Just as her mind started to spin, Matthew broke the kiss. Almost breathless, Atlantis whispered "You better have an ace in your sleeve that is worth of breaking this kiss", she smiled mischievously.

"Oh, I am sure that my magic will work on you", he smiled, lazily hugging her around her waist with one hand as they started to walk.

"Just so you know, I can still play some tricks and surprise you", she silently said with a smile never leaving her lips as she snuggled closer to him, causing him heart palpitation.

"No need for that. You got me under your spell long time ago", he whispered back, his face slightly hoarse.

Atlantis looked up at her husband, her heart practically jumping out of her chest. He looked down at her and she smiled, whispering "I love you, Matthew."

He kissed the top of her head as they walked and whispered "I love you too, Atlantis."

The sun smiled from the sky as its golden sun-tracks followed enamored, happy couple. The sun was the one who witnessed all their pains, sorrows, loss, nightmares and obstacles that life put on their way. But, Atlantis and Matthew managed to beat them all. Life is never easy, on anybody. Even the sun doesn't always shine warmly, sometimes the grey clouds bring rain that stays for a long time. But, Atlantis and Matthew's love was a sunshine for them even in the darkest moments of their lives. They never gave up on crossing that high wire that life pushed them on years ago when they met again. It was high, it was dangerous, yes…but, it was worth it. They crossed it together and showed to everybody that real love can beat all the dangerous high wires of this world.

THE END

xxxxxx

What can I say at the end of this story? I started it few years ago, dealt with writer's blocks and real life problems, but thanks to you, my lovely readers, thanks to you and your lovely reviews and constant encouragement, I managed to cross that high, dangerous wire and keep on writing it! This was the story I always wanted to write as I truly adore Atlantis and Matthew together, but, I never thought that people will react good on that kind of plot. Thanks for letting this story in your hearts! I am bit sad it's finished, but I promise you that this isn't the end of Atlantis and Matthew in my fanfiction world. You can already check out my brand new story about two of them called "Taking The Long Way Around".

I promise that I will update it soon, I practically have the most of it planned in my head and I can tell you that there will be lots of surprises and love in it! :)

Thanks for walking the wire with me, my dear readers.

Lots of love from me :)