Hello beautiful people! No that's not flattery, and yes I know I've been gone for ages! I am so sorry! Aside from life being weird, this was really freaking hard to write. I literally wrote and rewrote this so many times since I posted the last chapter because I half ass nothing and I wasn't happy with it until now. So here we go, I'm kind of sad to see this end but y'all I'm not done with fanfiction yet. I don't think I ever will be honestly lol. Check out Amor Prohibido if you haven't yet, and I'll be getting back to In The Rain or trying to get back to it because writer's block is so ugh. Anyway, get caught up if you need to I know it's been a while. If you don't need to get caught up on ITR, I've got a one-shot you should read if you haven't yet that may or may not involve smut.

I don't own VA, if I did I wouldn't be such a suckish author…I mean come on we've all seen what Richelle can do, right? XD pay no attention to me, guys! I'm a dork, a very thankful dork for all of your reviews but still a dork. Anyway, I'm gonna shut up so you can read now.

Epilogue.

The truth, such as it was, always had a way of coming out in my family. In this case, the truth in question was the story of Christian's parentage. Never mind that he and I already knew it, our parents didn't know this and so they decided that they were finally going to tell us.

It happened a few days before we were all going off to college. And, of course, because it was them, they had to make a huge deal about it. Not that anyone was complaining, certainly not when their idea of letting us into the loop included a huge ass dinner. It was fun to watch mom and dad bustle around, however, mom in the kitchen and dad working the grill out back.

While mom made pasta salad, French fries, mint chocolate chip ice-cream and chocolate fudge brownies in the kitchen, dad was grilling chicken and sausages and his famous chicken patties and stake out back. Us kids just kind of wandered around the house and lounged on the couch watching TV because they kept shooing us out of the kitchen and yard. Part of me was tempted to call Dimitri up and ask him to come over, but not only had my parents taken the day off work, they'd also given Olena the day off and insisted that this dinner be a family affair. Some family bonding before the going away party at the Belikov house, they claimed.

We ate outside that night, like we use to when Chris and I were just kids and could finally be around each other without fighting and the Dragomirs and Belikovs would come over. I swear it was like the whole universe had conspired to make the night absolutely perfect, because the view of the sky was beautiful, incredible even. The sun was going down by the time we were setting up the tables, filling the sky with soft, cottony clouds that looked pink in the soft glow of the setting sun and made me think of cotton candy, and by the time we'd all sat down with our plates, the moon was hanging in the sky, fat and pale, millions of stars glittering around it like someone had taken a shotgun and shot diamonds into the sky. We didn't usually get views like those, or if we did, we obviously didn't appreciate them. We most definitely did in that moment.

"So, kids," Dad said when we'd all finished eating. "There is something we need to tell you."

"What's wrong?" I asked eyes narrowing in concern, Christian kicking me under the table. "Everything ok?"

"Well," Dad said. He looked between us and stopped talking.

"Guys?" Christian asked now playing along.

"Oh my god you're not getting a divorce are you?" I blurted, false panic filling my eyes now. Oh, I knew they weren't getting divorced.

My parents' relationship had always been one that I admired. It was obvious even now, all these years later, even after raising 2 kids that they were still in love with each other. Dimitri and I were like that now too, but I hoped we would stay that way even when we were their age.

Sometimes, when they thought we weren't around, or not looking, my dad would pull her in close while she was doing the dishes or something, and plant a kiss right on her lips. Then they would dance around locked in each other's arms completely oblivious to the rest of the world. Christian, Lissa, Andre and I teased them relentlessly whenever we walked into that sight, but I thought it was adorable and I knew Liss did too. Mentioning a divorce was just my attempt of getting them out of their heads and, it totally worked.

"Divorced?" Dad asked looking at me as if I'd completely lost it. "Of course not!"

"Ibrahim," Mom said her eyes going soft as they settled on him. "Just tell them." Her hand shot out to wrap around his and he smiled at her. A smile I knew, was one of gratitude.

"We're not getting a divorce." Dad said just for extra measure. "But we do have to tell you something."

"Ok," Christian said slowly. "What's going on?" Lissa and Andre shot us looks that pretty much said that we should stop teasing them, let them know that we already knew, but we ignored them. Because seriously, where was the fun in that?

"Ok so you know how we adopted Christian?" Mom said. "Well he isn't just some random kid that we just took in."

"You guys are actually related," Dad added. Christian and I locked gazes, both desperately trying not to roll our eyes or do something equally as stupid like grin. "You guys are actually-"

"Cousins," We said together, cutting him off.

"Yes you guys are-wait, what?" The looks on mom and Dad's face was completely priceless. Now Christian and I did grin and high-fived like a couple of damn 5 year olds.

"You knew?" Mom asked.

"How?" Dad added.

"You guys seriously underestimate us, you know." I said. "We found a letter from his mom in your study,"

"And my birth certificate," Christian added.

"And I don't care that he's not really some kid that you guys adopted." I admitted. "I don't care if legally he and I are cousins. He's my brother as far as I'm concerned."

"Awe Rosie," Christian said and ruffled my hair. I swatted his hand away glaring daggers.

"Do not mess with my hair or I am going to take back everything I just said." They all had the audacity to laugh and roll their eyes. I shot them a death glare and Christian flipped me off.

"Anyway," He said. "I agree with Rosie here. I don't care about the papers. You guys took me in. You gave me a home and are the best family I've ever had." Mom looked like she was going to start crying in a second. "Plus hey I do have the best girlfriend in the world so thanks for that too I guess having to deal with Rose is just the universe's way of making things a little more even. Wouldn't want me to be too happy now, might start losing its appeal." Lissa blushed and Andre rolled his eyes as my parents chuckled and I couldn't help but grin at Christian. I knew that last part wasn't true but rather it was an attempt to prevent mom from crying.

"What we do want to know though is were you guys ever going to tell us the truth?" I asked my parents. "And actually, why didn't you just tell us?"

"We were going to tell you," Dad said. "We wanted to see how you guys were going to react to each other first."

"Obviously," Mom said. "That didn't go very well at first and then you guys were actually getting along so well and we didn't know how or if this would undo all the progress you guys had made."

"We're sorry we didn't tell you," Dad said. "But we're telling you now." Christian and I rolled our eyes.

"Like we said," We said together. "It doesn't matter."

"Good," Andre said suddenly. "Could we have dessert now?" The table erupted in a chorus of agreements and just like that, the tension faded. Mom got up to get the treats, and our evening really did turn into an evening of family bonding, conversation and lots of laughter which didn't end until pretty late. By the time I dragged myself up the stairs to my room, I only had time to text Dimitri before sleep claimed me.

The next couple days passed quickly, most of it I spent with Dimitri and the girls, and before we knew it; it was time for school. It seemed like these were going to be the longest four years of our lives, but truth be told after the first couple of weeks, we were pretty much settled into our new lives at UCLA and the time just seemed to fly by. Liss and I ended up being roommates, something I was almost certain had something, if not everything, to do with my parents. I wasn't about to start complaining, however, because I'd be lying if I said I wasn't completely thrilled. I mean come on, how many people could say that they shared a room with their best friend all through college?

I'm not going to lie and say that it was easy, because it wasn't. Academically, it wasn't too bad, maybe because Liss and I were majoring in the same thing. It was co-incidental however, because I had always been certain that I would major in business so I could work with my dad, but somehow I ended up leaning more toward my mother's field. So, Liss and I were majoring in medical science then it was off to med school.

The worse part without a doubt was the fact that I was away from Dimitri. Seeing as how I was use to just driving over to his house or having him drive to mine, texts and skype conversations sometimes just did not cut it. And of course, I did have those moments when my schedule became so intense that I barely had the time for even that, so, even though I knew it was probably stupid, I convinced myself that he was cheating on me or that he would eventually. Why wouldn't he? He was gorgeous, he was older and he could have any girl so why would he put up with me?

It was ridiculous and irrational as Lissa kept pointing out every time I brought it up. I knew this, but the thing was, not talking to him left me feeling miserable and depressed. I pretty much drowned my sorrows in doughnuts and ice-cream while I worked, and sometimes when even that did nothing, Lissa would pull out the vodka or whatever we had lying around. The alcohol didn't make an appearance very often though because she and Christian were pretty good at getting me out of my moods.

And of course, Dimitri. He always seemed to know just when I needed him the most. I have no idea how he did it even to this day, but just when I felt like I could take no more, just when I felt like shutting everyone out and sulking, just when the inner bitch was about to come out with a major ax to grind, he would show up. Most times he did it without me knowing that he was coming. I'd just walk into my room, more often than not slamming the door and throwing my text books on the desk without paying much attention to anything else because everything else had completely gone to shit and, he'd be there.

He didn't ask what was wrong, he'd just walk up behind me and wrap me up in his arms. That was pretty much all it took to drag me out of the pit of depression I'd created for myself. Because when he was holding me like that, when his familiar, intoxicating scent would wrap around me and he looked at me like no one else in the world mattered before claiming my lips with his, I realized that I was a damn fool for thinking he would ever cheat. He loved me I saw it in his eyes every time he looked at me, felt it every time he held, kissed or touched me.

We did go to lots of parties, after all who could resist becoming friends with Liss and me? Especially when we were friends with Adrian who surprise, surprise, had enrolled at UCLA as an art student. He claimed he'd grown tired of working for his dad and of his dad in general. He wanted to do his own thing, something I believed was true, but I was pretty sure that wasn't the only reason. Nope, his reasons seemed to have something to do with the pretty blond from Utah, Sydney Sage. I hadn't been very sure she'd fit very well into our group, what with the studious air she projected, but beneath it was a feisty little spitfire who grounded Adrian in a way I admired. I had to admit they were great for each other and, Sydney Sage most certainly did have an everlasting place in our group.

Christian always grumbled about us girls dragging him along to parties, but I knew he had fun. If he didn't, I knew there was no way in hell he would ever let Lissa go without him. They somehow managed to stay sugary sweet and cuddly which, I had to admit even if it was just to myself was beautiful to watch. I still gave them hell for it, however, especially on those days when I wanted to be cuddly and sweet too but I couldn't because my boyfriend was busy.

Between a tight academic schedule which only seemed to get more intense as the years went by, a string of parties or weekends spent with Dimitri, I had no idea where the time had gone. Before we knew it, those 4 years which had once seemed so unbelievably daunting were over. Graduation day had come at last, and we'd all done amazingly well.

As I stood with my brother and friends who'd somehow become family, my parents, boyfriend who in only a few hours would become my fiancé, his family and the parents of the friends I'd made at UCLA, those who I would probably never hear from again and those like Sydney who I knew were going to be around forever, I couldn't help but be proud. I'd done it. Lissa and I were now medical science college graduates, my brother a business degree holder, Adrian had his art degree, and Sydney a Greek philosophy one.

We'd done it together, and, as we stood there, toasting to the rest of our lives, I couldn't help but be excited for our future. I couldn't wait to see where life was going to take us. I knew that no matter what, whether that journey was a good or bad one, I would never have to navigate it alone. Because I knew that those who truly mattered, no matter at which point of my life I knew them from would always be by my side. We would navigate it all together, and every moment of it would be amazing.

There we go guys, how are we feeling? Did I do this justice? Do you guys want another epilogue? I'd totally write it if you want it! So, let me know you guys know how to reach me! But just in case you've been living under a rock somewhere and are completely clueless XD, drop me a review or shoot me a PM if you want to!

And of course, thank you my dear readers, thank you for being so very super amazing. Thank you for being the best readers and reviewers in the world. Thank you for sticking with me when my updates have been shitty. Thank you for all the love you've sent my way on this story whether I deserved it or not. I love you all to the moon and back! And now I'm going to stop being so very majorly sappy.

Until next time my lovelies, which obviously depends on your reviews ;)

XXX

Roza