I know I said there was supposed to be a one-shot sequel, but this works better as an epilogue so I guess this is the real ending. Oh, and just to avoid any confusion about the time jump, it's supposed to be like a year and a half. Enjoy!


"That is exactly why you should be a Redsox fan and not a Yankees fan," John said one evening following a baseball game he was watching with Anthony. He looked over to his right side and saw the little boy fast asleep right next to him on the couch. John wasn't surprised to see him sleeping because he noticed Anthony looked to be struggling to stay away, but he refused to leave and go to his room like his father planned on doing. "And you probably still don't care. It's okay, I will convert you one day. Let's get you to bed."

John turned off the TV before carefully picking up Anthony and heading up the stairs. He walked into the little boys room, carefully mannuvering around the dark room. He didn't turn on the light in the room because he didn't want to wake Anthony, but was making use of the light that was on outside of the room. It wasn't much help, but it did help him get the job done.

John carefully laid Anthony down on the bed. He paused when it looked like the little redhead was about to get up, but he just stirred a bit in his sleep. The man was about to leave the room, but that's when the little boy sat up and that's when John heard him speak and stopped in place.

"Daddy," Anthony said which made John turn around to see his son now sitting up, rubbing his hands over his closed eyes. "Who won?" Before John had a chance to say anything, Anthony laid back down and it wasn't long after that did he fall asleep once again.

John shook his head, turning around so he could actually leave the room this time. "Weird kid," he muttered to himself as he closed the door half way. "Definitley takes after his mother."

John walked to a nearby room and opened the slightly opened door fully. He turned the light on and saw that his daughter was now sleeping as well. She must have fell asleep while he and Anthony were watching the game down stairs. Once he turned the light on, he saw Mikayla shifting a bit like she was about to wake up due to the light so he quickly turned it off. He closed the door, leaving it open slightly and walked away before he could accidentally wake her up which was the last thing he wanted. If she woke up, there was no getting her back to sleep for another couple of hours and no one wanted that.

The man couldn't believe his little girl was turning two years old in a matter of weeks just like he couldn't believe his son just turned five a week ago. Not only that, Anthony recently began going to school, he was in kindergarten. John felt like he would blink and Mikayla would also be in school. Those two were definitley growing up too fast. He was just glad he was there to see them grow even though he wasn't at home as much as he would like. He was just glad nothing or no one was trying to control how and when he got to be in his children's lives.

After tucking Anthony into bed and checking up on Mikayla, John went back to his own room. He looked up when he heard someone laugh. John smiled as he walked further into the room and saw Lita was talking to someone on the phone. There was a book right beside her on the bed so it became obvious to him she had been doing some reading. The last he saw her, her and Mikayla were painting each other's nail. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say Mikayla was painting Lita's skin as well as her nails. The little girl was really messy with it, but it wasn't like she cared and neither did the redhead.

John sat down on the bed besides Lita who only noticed then that someone had joined her in the room. She looked up at John and smiled as she continued her phone conversation.

Sometimes John couldn't believe Lita was there with him because of all the two went through the last year or so. After Lita said she needed some time before she could see herself giving John another a chance, it took a couple of months for her to actually do so. Just like John said, he didn't pressure her into the relationship when she wasn't ready, he waited for her. He even went to two or three of her counseling sessions with her. Her therapist thought it could do the two some good because during one of Lita's session with the therapist, she reveled just about everything to the other woman concerning her and John. Then came one day when Lita told him she wanted to be with him and she just didn't care about anything else. She told him eventhough she was still scared, she didn't care anymore because she wouldn't be able to get over her fear just by waiting for that to happen, she had to actually do something about it and that something was to give him another chance.

It was far from smooth sailing after that. Sometimes the brunette felt like the redhead was purposely sabotaging their relationship because she was still scared of getting hurt by John. She used to pick a fight with him over every little thing which became very exhausting after a while. Eventually one day she just broke up with him without giving a real reason other than saying it was going to happen one day so why prolong it. Just like John previously promised, he didn't let her go easily and he fought for her. While doing that, he made Lita realize how foolish she was behaving and breaking up with him again for no reason was a mistake. She was just glad he was patient with her and didn't laugh in her face or reject her when she told him she was in for real this time and she was going to stop fighting about nothing and she was ready to be all in and serious about it.

John let out a sigh as he listened to Lita talk about... well, he didn't know what she was talking about because he wasn't really listening to her, but he was able to make out she was talking to Trish. Or maybe it was Dawn. He knew it had to be one of those two. It wouldn't surprise him if it was the two of them. He turned his attention to the book besides him and picked it up.

"Don't do that," he heard Lita say and he knew that was directed towards him. He looked up at her and saw her lookimg right at him. "I had my spot saved."

John shrugged. "Oops?"

Lita rolled her eyes as she extended her hand out so John could give her the book back. He didn't do such a thing as he flipped through the pages. "What? No Dawn, I'm not talking to you. I can't even see what you're doing so why would I tell you to stop?... Oh right, yea, that makes a lot of sense." She looked over at John who closed the book and put it away. "Why do you think I have my hand out like this?" She asked him. "Oh my God. Dawn, Trish is supposed to be the dumb blonde, not you. No offense Trish." She paused when the blonde said something about how was she not supposed to take offense to that, then continued after Trish was done. "Okay whatever. Again Dawn, I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to my second son. I have to go. Good night."

Lita hung up the phone and turned her full attention to John. "I wasn't done reading the book, so if you would kindly give it back to me," she said extending her hand once again.

John was about to say something, but forgot what it was that was on the tip of his tongue when he saw Lita's hand. He began laughing at the different colors of nail polish all over her fingers. "Was it dark in here when Mikayla did your nails?"

"Don't be jealous because you can't have an awesome manicure like this. I think she did a great job. Except for the fact that some of it got on my skin, but good job nonetheless."

"Some of it?" John questioned, looking at her hand. "Try all of it."

Lita rolled her eyes as she looked back up at John. "I want my book back."

John looked over at the book he put on the night stand not long ago before looking back at Lita. "It's too far."

"Are you kidding me right now? Stop being lazy and reach over to get the book like you did to put it there."

John shook his head. "I can do that, but you won't be getting it so there won't be a point. There are better things to do than read a book."

"Like spending time with you? Talking to you? I'll pass." Lita couldn't help but laugh when she saw the look on John's face. She rolled her eyes. "I was kidding you big baby. I wish I could spend every moment of my life with you."

John smirked. "I knew you loved me."

"Just sometimes."

John pouted. "Sometimes?"

Lita nodded. "Half the time you make me want to strangle you. Like now when you won't give me my book back."

"Wow. You're really mean."

The redhead rolled her eyes. "Grow up. I'm kidding."

"You better be. You know you can't live without me."

"You know me so well."

"Duh," John said as it fell silent between the two for a while before something that happened earlier that day that came to mind. "Oh if Mickie calls you, just ignore it. She's kinda angry."

"Why?" Lita questioned after waiting for John to elaborate, but he didn't. Her and Mickie were actually getting along now. They still wouldn't go as far as calling the other a friend, but they got along pretty well for the sake of their children and it wasn't as difficult as they thought it would be.

"Because she's projecting her anger all wrong."

"I know you know that's not what I meant. Why is she angry?"

John hesitated before he told Lita the truth. He just knew what she was going to say because they already had a similar conversation a few weeks ago. "Well, when she was talking to Mikayla today, she told her she was having fun with 'other mommy'."

"Oh boy."

"And then Mickie told me that's not the first time Mikayla has referred to you as that and I told her I know because she's always calling you that so now she thinks someone brainwashed Mikayla into calling you that."

"Someone as in me. I don't understand why she even thinks I would do that. Mikayla just hears Anthony calling me 'mommy' so she copies him. She's only two, so she doesn't know any better and that's okay And the fact that she says 'other mommy' proves that she knows Mickie is her mother and not me. Like I get it, Mickie is upset and she has a right to be. I mean, I would do. But Mikayla will grow out of saying that when she actually understands."

"I tried explaining that to her, but-"

"She's still upset," Lita finished for him and he nodded. "I understand. I would be too if the shoe was on the other foot. I'll talk to her," she said as she grabbed her phone, but once she was about to begin dialing, John grabbed it from her.

"Later, not now," John said when he saw the look on Lita's face. "Come on. You're going to leave tomorrow. Do you really want to spend some of that time arguing- and I say that word because it can easily turn into that would surprise no one- with my ex-wife?"

The redhead shook her head. "No, but-"

"But nothing. You can talk to her another time. She'll be fine. And then you'll probably end up getting pissed off at me for no reason. Let's try and avoid that."

"Fine."

"Just in case, I'll keep this right here," John said as he places her phone in the night table next to his side of the bed which made Lita roll her eyes. "So I was thinking-"

"That's never a good thing," Lita cut him off. "Let's not hurt that pretty little head of yours."

John rolled his eyes. "I'm trying to he serious." Lita didn't say anything in response so he continued. "So like I was saying, I was thinking that, you know, maybe you can just stay. You don't have to go home." He was about to say more, but Lita cut him off when she thought he was done.

"You're leaving tomorrow too, it's not like you're going to be here. Plus, Anthony has school on Monday so that's not gonna work out. I told you many times before that we can't come down here a lot now because he has school now so obviously that means-"

"That's not what I'm saying," John interrupted her. "I mean, why don't you just stay here. Like not for a couple of days, but move in. For real."

"John-"

"Listen, it's like we already live with each other, when I'm there I stay with you and when you come down here, you stay here so why not make it official."

"We already talked about this," she said referring to a similar conversation they had a couple of months ago. The topic of marriage was also discussed, but both weren't too fond of that idea. John wasn't sure he ever wanted to get married again after what happened with Mickie but he knew Lita would be the one if that were to happen again. Lita didn't care whether or not they were married. She didn't know what the big deal with marriage was. All it was was a piece of paper legally binding them together. They were still happily together and didn't need marriage to stay together.

"Yea, two months ago. You said you needed time and like I said, it's already like we live together so why not just make it real?"

"Because," was all the redhead said.

"Because what?"

Lita shrugged. "I don't know."

"If you move in with me then we can be together more and not like every other week, sometimes having to wait more than just a week or two. I hate having to wait to just be with you. I hate how limited our time is together. I hate not being able to see you more. Not being able to be with you more."

"I know. I... you want me to move down here with you so that we can be together when you're off which is not that much in the first place?"

He nodded. "It's so much more than now."

"What am I supposed to do in Tampa? I have a life in Atlanta. Anthony has... Oh God. Anthony. It would be good for him, but... It's just... I just... I don't know."

"I would move to Atlanta in a heartbeat, but you know I can't do that because Mikayla is here and I can't just leave her."

Lita nodded. "I know and I'm not asking you to, I would never. She deserves you in her life as much as Anthony does. They both do. And..." she trailed off as she began thinking about how the pros of moving in outweighed the cons by a lot. Not only would it be great for Anthony to have his father in his life more, but it would be easier on John too because than he wouldn't have to flip back and forth between Tampa and Atlanta. She knew he hated doing that and it was tough on him at times. Plus, she was on the same page with John about hating how limited their time was together when he had to flip back and forth and it wasn't like she could visit him on the road much either because Anthony was in school. She really did love him. She felt like moving in together was inevitable, it was going to happen one day so why not now? She couldn't think of one good reason.

She was about to say something, but John beat her to it. "Are you still scared? Because I could have sworn you were past that. I thought I-"

"I'm not scared," Lita interrupted before he could get any further. "Maybe a little. I don't know. But that doesn't matter. Let's... let's do this. We can do this. I'm ready. It's time."

"Really?" The woman nodded. "If I'm forcing you-"

Lita shook her head. "You're not forcing me. You have been far too patient with me and I love you for that. It's going to happen one day, so why prolong it?" She said which brought back a certain horrible memory for the two, but this time, her words were used for the better. "You're right, it sucks having to wait just to be with you. I hate waiting. I hate having to say goodbye to you. I know all of that is still going to happen because you're still going to be on the road a lot, but at least we'll be together more and you won't have to flip back and forth between here and Atlanta. And we have Anthony to think about too. This will be good for him. This just makes more sense."

"You sure?"

"A thousand percent."

John smiled as he leaned in and placed a quick kiss on her lips. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"So when are you and Anthony going to move in then?"

Lita shrugged. "I don't know. We have to find Anthony a school first."

"Already did." He continued just when Lita was about to question him. "I knew you would say yes this time, and like you said, it was going to happen one day so even if you didn't say yes now, he would need a school here later."

"Of course. I need to check it out too."

"You don't think I would find a great school for my kid?"

"Didn't say that." John didn't say anything in response and it became quiet between the two before Lita spoke up again. "Can I have my book back now?"

John shook his head. "Nope. Reading is boring."

"It was getting good. Give me my book back."

John wasn't budging. "No can do. If you read, then I'm going to be bored."

"And? What am I supposed to do about that?"

"Entertain me. It's only ten. Don't make me go to sleep."

"Go watch TV and let me read. Isn't the game still on?"

"Na, the Redsox already kicked the Yankees ass."

"What was the score?"

"Six to five."

Lita rolled her eyes. "I would hardly call that..." She trailed off as she shook her head. "Nope no, I don't care. I'm sure you can find something else to watch."

"But I don't want too. All alone. By myself. It's scary down there in the dark when no one else is there with you."

"Then turn on a light," Lita suggested. "If I go downstairs with you and keep you company, will you give me my book?"

John thought about it for a moment before nodding. "That could be arranged."

Lita sighed as she got up from the bed with John doing the same, making sure to grab the book off the night stand. "Just promise me you that you won't be this annoying when we move in."

"I cannot tell a lie."

Lita didn't say anything in response as the two headed down the stairs. Once they were situated in the living room and John turned on some random movie, he finally handed the book to Lita who didn't begin heading up the stairs like he thought she would after he returned her book to her. She opened the book, trying to find where she left off and continued reading when she found the page. John couldn't help but smile. He was really happy. He was glad he and Lita were able to get past and talk and resolve any problems about their previous situation. He was glad they were taking another step into moving forward. Right now, everything was as perfect as it could be and he hoped it would always stay that way.

*The End*


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