Epilogue

Nico POV:

I smiled, observing the room, making sure the last touches were added. Tonight was a big night, a very important night. On this day twenty-five years ago, my parents got married. For the past three months we had been organizing a big party to celebrate; Dad funding it at his insistence and Julie and I heading the effort.

I heard footsteps approaching from behind. I turned and looked over my shoulder; Julie was approaching. She smiled softly at me. "How's it going, little brother?"

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. We're just about finished."

"Good. The party is in two hours, and I still need to get dressed."

"And wrestle your husband into a suit." I snickered as she rolled her eyes.

"He looks damn good in one. And even better out of it." She smirked.

I felt my nose scrunch up in disgust. "I don't need to know that."

She laughed. "See you in a few hours."

"Yeah," I muttered as she walked away. Guests were due to start arriving in the next hour and a half. Lucas and Arya were supposed to be picking up our grandparents, uncles, and aunts from the airport. I left RC to handle Mom and Dad, making sure they got here on time. They had a habit of getting 'distracted', I thought with a shiver. I looked around one more time at the staff sorting out the ballroom before deciding to go upstairs to get into my suit.

I came back down thirty minutes later, fresh from the shower wearing a charcoal gray suit. I checked my hair in the reflective metal inside the elevator. There was only an hour before Mom and Dad were supposed to be here.

Downstairs I was greeted by Abuela, Abuelo, and scores of aunts and uncles. They were all dad's family; none of Mom's after Grandma Mazur passed away. Us kids had only met Grandma and Grandpa Plum one time before we had all decided we didn't want to be around them. Julie had met her biological mother not long ago and decided to distance herself from her. I didn't know what had happened during the meeting, but I knew she had said some things about our family. After telling her off, Julie left and hasn't talked to her since.

After exchanging hugs, the siblings minus RC gathered in a circle. "They'll be here in thirty," Arya informed us as she texted a quick message out on her phone.

"Who's going to stay with RC at the house while Mom and Dad go on their trip?" Julie asked.

"I will," I told them. "I didn't think you and BJ would want to be saddled with him, and the twins are too busy partying."

There were nods all around. Then Julie looked up with a smile. "Uncle Tank!" she squealed. I chuckled as she threw herself into his arms. The old man grinned and hugged her. "Julie, how've you been? How's the husband?"

"I've been fine," she told him. "BJ's fine, I'm pretty sure he's plotting how to get out of the suit he's wearing."

"You would think that military man would be used to collared shirts." Tank chuckled.

"He's a country boy," she shrugged, earning a chuckle from Tank. "Where's Aunt Lena and the rest of the kids?"

"Lyla is with her in the bathroom; TJ and Ryan are running around here somewhere. Getting into trouble no doubt," he said. "I should probably find them before one of them gets into something."

He left to go find his wife and kids. He was right, those two got into all kinds of trouble, even at their age. I found myself glancing at the doors, waiting for my parents to walk through, knowing Dad they would be right on time. Not a second before, not a second late.

I was right. When I was told thirty minutes, they walk in thirty minutes. Mom was on Dad's arm; she looked beautiful wearing a long blue dress, hair pinned back, and very little makeup. RC walked in behind them shaking his head. I walked over and Mom smiled; she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me.

"Thank you, Nico." She smiled, kissing my cheek. Dad pulled me into a hug and clapped me on the back. He wasn't the touchy-feely kind of guy, but he has always made sure we knew he loved us. I smiled as I watched him escort Mom to the table and pull her chair out for her. I observed everyone at the table, my parents and siblings. I was lucky to have a such a good family

Steph POV:

I woke up and stretched, finding my husband missing from our bed. I rolled over and found him standing at the glass patio doors, leaning against it drinking a cup of coffee. I smiled and propped myself up on one arm. He was just as good looking as the day I had met him; trim waist, molten eyes, and silky hair that had a lot more gray in it now these days. He turned slight and smiled softly at me.

"Enjoying the view, Babe?"

"You already know I am." I smiled at him. He set the cup down and walked back over to the bed. He slipped in under the blankets, pulling me close. He nuzzled into my neck and took a deep breath. "Mornin' Carlos." I purred.

"Babe." He chuckled, kissing me softly. "Is it bad that I never want to go home?"

"No, but we have one more kid to finish raising. Then we can run off and live in the Caribbean," I told him. He chuckled.

Carlos pulled me close, kissing me softly. "I don't think they would let us."

"You're probably right. To them, we're old and need their help."

He chuckled. "At fifty-three my parents were running around with grandkids."

"I need a few more years before I'm changing diapers again," I informed him. He laughed and kissed me, long and hard. I let my hand roam over his chest and abs, letting it rest against his lower stomach. He grinned into our kiss.

He sighed as I rolled him onto his back, smiling up at me as I straddled him.

"Twenty-five years." He smiled, gripping my hip and running his thumb along my hip bone.

"Tired of me yet?" I asked him.

"Never," he said, letting his eyes roam over me. "You've given me so much, Babe."

I tucked my head into his neck. "Yeah, like what?"

"Four beautiful kids, raised five great kids, a wonderful marriage, a good life, more than most men like me can say they got," he said, leaning down to kiss me softly.

"These last 25 years have been extraordinary," I told him.

"I love you, too, Babe." He grinned.

I laughed softly and straddled him. Finding his lips, he leaned up to press his fully against mine, rolling me onto my back. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him down against me.

"Even after all these years this has only gotten better." He moaned softly against my lips as he began to move to my neck. "You're still wearing clothes, Carlos," I informed him as I arched up into his touch.

"Now that just won't do." He grinned.

XXXXXX

Sitting on the couch, I swirled my glass of wine. RC sat on the couch next to me, watching the movie that was on. The front door opened, and Carlos walked in a few seconds later. He smiled at the two of us.

He dropped a kiss on the top of my head and squeezed RC's shoulder as he walked into the kitchen. He came back with his own glass of wine and sat on the couch next to me pulling me close. RC rolled his eyes.

"I'm going to finish writing my paper for English," he said, standing. I laughed softly and Carlos shook his head.

"What's on your mind, Babe?" Carlos asked against my neck.

"Nothing," I muttered.

He lifted my chin, making me look at him. "Just thinking."

"About?"

"I got an offer today, to sell Sin & Lace," I told him before taking another sip from my wine.

"Oh."

"Yeah." I sighed.

"What do you want to do?"

"I'm not sure."

"I didn't know you wanted to sell."

"It's not that I do, I just… I don't know. I don't know if I could sell it," I told him.

"It would be like you selling Rangeman; I've owned and ran it for almost thirty years."

"You were talking about retiring a little while ago," he reminded me.

"I couldn't survive a day without working." I smiled at him. "It would kill me."

He chuckled and kissed my temple. "I can't tell you what to do, Babe, but I think you would be miserable if you sold it."

I nodded and he leaned down to kiss me. "Sleep on it. It's not like you have to make up your mind tonight," he reminded me.

"I know." I agreed, he was always my voice of reason. I wouldn't sell, not after working all these years to build it.

He kissed me again, pulling me further into his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck. "This is why our son leaves when you start cuddling up to me." I laughed softly.

"He's pretty much grown. I think he knows how he got here." Carlos grinned, leaning in to kiss me.

"And as soon as he turns eighteen, he's going to move out so quick!" RC called from upstairs.

Carlos and I laughed, "RC, weren't you writing an essay?"

"It's finished and I would like to watch TV, but my parents are being disgusting on the couch!"

"Come on, Babe. Let's get dinner made."

I smiled as I stood, heading into the kitchen. I loved my life, I really did. Even if most of my kids were grown and out of the house, I didn't have to worry about being alone. I always had Carlos. As I set my glass on the counter, he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"One day it will just be us in this big ol house," Carlos said softly in my ear, "And then we can cuddle and neck anywhere in the house without getting walked in on."

I laughed softly, "That is until we get some grandkids running around here."

He chuckled, "I can't complain about grandkids," he said.

I nodded. "Our big family is going to keep growing."

He kissed me softly on the lips. "I love you Babe."

"I love you too Carlos." I said softly against his lips.

Well, It's been a long journey. A story that started as a one-shot that became my longest story, and one of my favorite. All of the twist and turns, angst and fluff. I hate to see it end... Thank you to everyone who has read, followed, favorited, and reviewed. A special thanks to my favorite Beta Heather (Txbabefan) she's been my soundboard during this whole story, and I bounced many aspects off of her. It definitely wouldn't be as good if she wasn't my beta.

And for once I have a completely finished story! It's eight chapters and I will start publishing it next week (maybe) depending on my schedule, but it's done and ready to go. Watch out for it!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!