Epilogue Part 2: Three Visitings

Nicodemus

The sun is setting as I walk through the Wavering Wood. I've made it a point to visit Ebb's grave every month for a long time now. I don't dare try more than that in fear of being caught. This is the closest I'm able to come to her, and even me being as reckless as I am, I wouldn't risk losing this, too.

Simon showed me the way to her gravesite the first time I came. There's an enchanted crown made up of the flowers I gave him so many years ago still sitting at the base of her stone. I kneel down and rub one of the petals between my fingers. It still feels fresh as if I picked it yesterday.

I walk around and sit on the other side of the marble stone, leaning my back against it. I talk to Ebb like she used to talk to me over the holidays. Just talking into the wind while I stayed in the shadows wordlessly.

Now Ebb's the one who's silent.

As I near the end of my monthly recap, a doe crosses the path up ahead. I eye it and consider using the knife in my pocket to drain it.

"You're seriously considering killing that innocent animal right over my sacred burial ground?" Ebb's voice says, full of mock disdain.

I jump up and turn around. Ebb's standing a few meters away from me. Or a shimmering version of her is.

"Ebb?" I whisper in disbelief.

She smiles. "It's been a long time Nicky."

I hesitate for a second and then run over and take her in my arms. She's not fully here. I don't feel her usual warmth, but I can feel the pressure of her arms on my back and her chin on my shoulder.

I'd hug her longer, but I know she doesn't have long, so I back away.

"The veil…" I start to say.

"Yeah. I wanted to see you one more time," she says, her eyes glistening with tears. "I wanted to make sure you were still good." She emphasizes this last word.

I can't help myself. "Depends on your definition of good," I chuckle.

"You saved that Agatha girl from the merwolves. And helped Simon's friends. He's a good kid," she says.

"He's almost 40, Ebb," I correct her, and she laughs.

Her figure is shimmering more now, as if it's about to fade away.

"Just keep doing good Nicky. Enough for the both of us." She places a hand on my shoulder. I feel my eyes sting with tears knowing I'm about to lose her again, and look at the ground.

She moves her hand under my chin and lifts it so she can see my face. "It's okay to be happy. I'm okay. I found my…" she pauses to gesture to her gravestone, "…peace among the hills?" She grimaces. "A bit cheesy, right?"

I try to smile at her, but she's almost completely transparent now. "I miss you every day," I whisper.

"There's more of me tucked away in your heart than you think. You'll always find me there." Her voice echoes on the wind, and then she's gone.

I stand still for a moment, letting her words sink in. Then I pick up the staff and make my way out of the Wavering Wood, petting the deer gently on its head on my way out.

Simon

I'm trying very hard to focus on my accounting coursework, but Baz is very distracting sitting across from me in his armchair, scribbling notes on the sides of a book he's using with his class this semester.

Baz is teaching a seminar at Watford this fall called Contemporary Magical History. The current headmaster wants him to teach full-time, but being one of the lead members of the Coven still keeps him pretty busy. I think he'll eventually become a permanent member of the teaching staff, though. He still loves Watford and academics as much as his mother did.

Baz brushes some of the hair out of his eyes and holds his pencil between his teeth as he flips through the pages. His hair is still dark, but it is sprinkled with silver here and there, too. It makes him look distinguished and mature. If you ask me, he just keeps getting more handsome with age. Figures.

He takes the pencil out of his mouth and starts writing again. "If you don't stop staring at me Snow, I'll never get my lesson plans ready for next week." He keeps his tone firm, but I can see a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips. "Besides, don't you have an exam tomorrow?"

"Ugh," I groan, looking down at my accounting textbook. I am finishing up my last two classes required to get my MBA with a focus in nonprofit management. I still love working at ReachOut. I'm their Program Director now, which requires long hours and a lot of commuting to check on the different offices. But ever since my grandmother passed away five years ago, I've wanted to start my own nonprofit benefitting children from the magical community.

Ruth left me nearly everything she had, which was quite a large sum. Baz and I make a decent amount of money between us, so I wanted the inheritance to go towards a greater cause. Penny has helped me plan out the organization's operational structure and Agatha connected me with potential board members and donors. I just need the practical education to see it through.

"Do you want me to help you study?" Baz asks, closing his book.

"I think you'll be more of a distraction," I say with a laugh.

There's a sudden gust of wind and my school papers scatter onto the floor. We both look around at the only window in the room, which is securely closed.

When we turn back, my mother's image is standing before us. She's so faint, like she'll blink out at any moment. I stand up quickly and take her hand, willing her to stay.

I'm surprised when it works. Baz isn't touching me, so I shouldn't be able to affect her in any way. Lucy's image is still a little translucent, but it's holding steady.

"I forgot how warm your magic feels," she says softly, looking into my eyes. I feel Baz hesitate behind me, unsure if he should give us privacy or stay. Without looking at him, I reach out for his hand. He takes it and stands up next to me.

My mother turns to him. "I heard what you said. In the cottage that day. Thank you for keeping your promise and loving my son." She reaches out her free hand to tuck some of Baz's hair behind his ear and her hand lingers on his cheek. He closes his eyes and leans into her palm for a moment before she drops her hand.

"I always knew you would be better than all of us," she says to me now. "My beautiful rosebud boy." She smiles and a tear falls down her cheek that mirrors my own.

I can't think of what to say, so I just squeeze her hand tighter.

"I'm so glad you found someone who loves you as much as I do. Maybe even more than I do," she adds, looking at Baz again.

"I'm sorry for-" I begin, but she puts her fingers up to my mouth.

"You have nothing to apologize for. You chose to live. To keep fighting for everything you love. You have the life now I always wanted for you." She moves her hand to my shoulder and pulls me toward her. I let go of Baz's hand to embrace her as tears flow freely from my face.

Even with my magic running through her, I can feel her fading in my arms. "I love you," she whispers.

"I love you, too," I whisper back, squeezing her tighter as if it will help her stay. But in seconds I'm left holding nothing.

Before my arms can drop to my sides, Baz is there to hold me, stroking my hair and letting me cry into his shoulder.

"I'm here," he says into my ear.

Baz

I'm working in my temporary office at Watford late one afternoon when a student interrupts me.

"Hey Baz?" she says to get my attention.

My youngest sister is leaning in the doorway, popping her gum and examining the chipped black nail polish on her fingernails.

"Do none of my sisters know how to knock?" I huff.

"The door was open!" she argues.

"Fine," I concede. "But I've talked to you about how to address me while I'm on campus."

She rolls her eyes and then plasters a fake smile across her face. The next words to come out of her mouth are dripping with sarcasm. "Excuse my manners. Professor Baz."

I ball up a scrap of paper and throw it at her. Who knew Mordelia would end up being my favorite sibling in the long run?

My sister laughs and walks over to my desk. "Simon's here." She points to his car outside in the parking lot. "He told me to come get you. Though I think you have a few extra minutes because he was walking towards the kitchen when we ran into each other."

I let out a small laugh. "If there is a shortage of scones at breakfast tomorrow, you'll know who to blame."

She turns to leave and ruffles the top of my hair (which she knows I hate). I pick up my wand to retaliate, but she's already run out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

I finish grading the last two papers for my class, and start gathering my things together to head home. I almost have everything neatly stuffed into my bag when the sound of my name makes me drop everything on the floor.

"Basilton," my mother says again. She's standing next to me at my desk.

"Mother," I say, frozen in place over the shock of seeing her. "I didn't think you'd visit again..."

She reaches out and takes my hands in hers and then leans over to kiss my temple. "I didn't get to visit you last time," she says quietly.

I fight the urge to blink away the tears in my eyes because I don't want to miss a second of my time with her. I've thought about what I'd say to her if given the chance for so many years now, but it still takes a moment for the words to come.

"Did you do something that day in the nursery? To save me from becoming a vampire?" I ask.

She nods sadly. "Yes. I wish I had more life to give, but it was enough." She runs her hand through my hair, admiring the silver mixed with the black. "I didn't want you to live an eternal life alone."

"Thank you," I say as I squeeze her hands. I want desperately to hug her, but I'm afraid she'll disappear in my arms like Lucy.

"You've done well Basil," my mother says smiling up at me. She always said I'd grow to be taller than her when I used to complain about being small for my age.

"I'm so proud of you and the life you've made for yourself. I don't think I could have carried on the way you have. You've always had the stronger heart." As she says this last part, she twists the wedding band around on my ring finger.

"Tell Simon thank you for me. For passing along my message twenty years ago. I'm glad…" she stops looking down at the ring and looks into my eyes again. "I'm glad it brought you together."

The pressure of her grasp is weakening on my hands. "Give my love to Fiona and your father. I'm glad he found someone, too," she says wistfully.

"I will. I promise. I love you mum. Thank you….for everything."

She lets go of one of my hands and brushes a tear off my cheek. "It's okay, little puff, you'll be alright," she whispers.

I can still feel her hand on my face for a few seconds even when I can't see her anymore. Then my mobile buzzes.

My hand is shaking when I pick it up off the floor. It's a text from Simon.

Did your sister tell you I'm outside?

I take a steadying breath and crouch down to put the rest of the fallen items back in my bag. I swing the strap over my shoulder, wipe the remaining tears off my face, and head outside to Simon.

Simon

As I sit on the hood of our car in the Watford parking lot, I remember the list I used to make of all the things I wouldn't allow myself to think about over the summer. I take one of the sour cherry scones from the bag the cook let me smuggle out of the kitchen this afternoon. She had just taken a fresh batch out of the oven and they are still warm. It practically melts in my mouth when I take a bite.

I don't have to make lists of things not to think about anymore. Everything I yearn for is right in front of me.

As if to prove my point, Baz comes striding over to the car. I smile up at him as best I can with my mouth still stuffed with the last bite of the scone. As he draws closer, I realize he's been crying. I quickly swallow and move to hop off the hood, but instead he sits down next to me, setting his bag on the gravel.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Nothing," he says. "My mother…"

My eyes grow wide. "She visited you?"

He nods instead of saying anything. I think he's afraid he might start crying again. I put my hand over his on the hood of the car and squeeze his fingers.

We sit there quietly for a few minutes.

"She told me to thank you," Baz says finally, looking over at me. "For giving me her message all those years ago."

"She remembers me?" I ask.

Baz lets go of my hand and shoves me. "Of course she remembers you." He stares out across the lawn at Mummers House. "She's happy we found each other."

I lean over to kiss his cheek, but he turns his head and kisses me on the lips instead. It's only for a few seconds, but it communicates so much love that I feel my heart warm in my chest.

Baz hops off the hood and grabs his bag before walking over to the driver's side of the car. He glances at the backseat. "Why are the car seats set up?' he asks.

I pick up the bag of scones and settle in to the passenger side as Baz gets in. "Penny and Shepard are dropping off the twins tomorrow morning before they take the train out to see Agatha and Sacha this weekend."

"Can't they just play with Wellbelove's girls?" Baz asks, starting the car.

"Penny didn't want the hassle of taking them on the train. I don't blame her. The trip to Paris takes a couple hours and they're not even two yet. Plus, Agatha's girls are nearly old enough to attend Watford. I don't think they'd be excited to entertain toddlers all weekend," I say before biting into another scone.

Baz smiles. "I suppose that's fair."

"Remember when Shepard was afraid his firstborn would be taken away because of that deal he made?" I say after I polish off the second scone.

Baz laughs. "I wonder if he really believed that or was just terrified of starting a family with Bunce. It's hard enough with one of them around. And now he's outnumbered, 3 to 1."

"Hah! I think it's Penny who's outnumbered. Those boys never stop talking. And again- not even two yet!" I start to take out a third scone when Baz reaches over and tosses the bag into the backseat.

"You're going to spoil your dinner," he says admonishingly.

"I know. I'm just stressed about this last paper I have to turn in. I should probably just stay up all night and finish editing it," I say, leaning against the window as I stare at the passing countryside.

"Or not," Baz says casually, his eyes focused on the road ahead of him.

"No really. I should get it done so-" but Baz cuts me off.

"Or," he says, stretching out the word for an extra second, "not." He looks over at me, raising his eyebrows and giving me a devilish grin.

I feel myself blush and grin back at him. Even after all this time, Baz still has the same effect on me that he did back when we were teenagers.

I put my hand over his on the gearshift. "Right then. Carry on Baz."

Author's Note: A huge thank you to anyone who made it to the end of this story! I started it back in October as a way to reunite Simon and Baz after Wayward Son, and then it ended up turning into everything I wanted to see for the final book of the trilogy. I hope I've kept it authentic enough to serve as a decent continuation of their adventures. You can bet I'll be one of the first to finish Any Way the Wind Blows once it's finally published, though. Hopefully Rainbow Rowell will give everyone the happy ever after they deserve.

Thank you again for reading, commenting, and favoriting. It has kept me motivated all the way to the end of this project. It's nice to know there are other people out there who love these characters as much as I do 3