"I can't believe the time has gone by so fast," said Mei
"Tell me about it, where did a decade go?" asked Tyler.
The year is 2022, Mei and Tyler have been married for a decade now, they're now in their early 30s and Mei was working from home taking some of the temple duties and being a full-time mom as well as being a work-from-home accountant for a local retail chain and Tyler became the store manager at Omega who was soon due to become a district manager, Jade celebrated her tenth birthday and was being watched by Jin and Ming while Mei and Tyler go out and meet the gang.
"I mean my God, to think twenty years ago we were in junior high figuring out our lives," said Mei.
"I think we're still figuring a lot out" chuckled Tyler.
"Yeah, I'm still figuring out who Jade is more like" laughed Mei.
"Oh she's got your smarts" replied Tyler.
"Your good looks" smiled Mei.
"Oh no, she's got yours...she's just got my last name" laughed Tyler.
Soon Mei and Tyler arrived at the bar where they were meeting everyone, they looked over and saw Brendan and Miriam sitting in a booth, who noticed Mei and Tyler and waved them over. Brendan and Miriam had been married for nine years and had children themselves but to Brendan's chagrin had four girls and one child on the way. Miriam was a stay-at-home mom and Brendan was still at Omega but as a regional manager as he rose through the ranks throughout the years proving himself in that store.
Mei and Tyler joined them in the booth.
"Hey guys!" smiled Miriam.
"Hey Mir, Brendan" smiled Mei.
"Sup guys?" said Brendan kissing Mei on the cheek and Tyler a fist bump.
"So guys I wanted to first say congrats on being pregnant...again" chuckled Mei.
Miriam was a month pregnant with her child.
"So this is gonna be your what? Fifth kid? Why?" asked Tyler.
"Simple, we didn't want six" laughed Brendan.
"Yeah and my darling husband...and I use the term darling loosely wanted a boy and he kept trying...and failing, and I have to suffer the consequence," said Miriam crossing her arms and giving Brendan a dirty look.
"Hey, they say the fifth time is the charm! Besides, that kid will have their momma's looks, personality, beautiful smile, and my...well...last name and probably baldness" chuckled Brendan.
Brendan was a little distraught because he lost his hair but he adjusted.
"So enough about us, you guys planning on making Jade an older sister?" asked Brendan.
"Ehhh...maybe, I mean we were more so one and done but who knows?" chuckled Mei.
"I mean, I just don't want her to go through all those hormones again while pregnant...I mean you know why" chuckled Tyler.
"Oh was that fun ten years ago," Brendan remarked sarcastically.
"So Tyler, curious how are your folks enjoying the retired life?" asked Brendan.
"They love it, they retired to Florida and are taking trips like crazy...I think they're going to Turk's and Caicos next week" said Tyler.
"Oh lucky them" chuckled Brendan.
As the gang was hanging out Priya walked in and noticed the four hanging out at the booth.
"Yo," said Priya.
"Hey girl" smiled Mei.
Everyone said their hellos to Priya and scooched over to make some room for her at the booth.
"So Priya, how're things?" asked Miriam.
"Good" replied Priya.
"How's the new book coming?" asked Brendan.
"Good" replied Priya.
Priya was now a published author who wrote vampire and werewolf romance novels as well as other fictional creature romance novels since she enjoyed them in her younger days. One of her books even landed on the NY Times Best Seller's list which was a huge accomplishment for her.
"Oh, Priya I was meaning to ask, how did the visit go? Did you get approved to adopt?" asked Mei.
"Candace and I were approved" replied Priya.
"That's awesome!" exclaimed Mei.
"Totally!" exclaimed Tyler.
"Congrats," said Brendan.
"Great stuff" added Miriam.
Priya and her fiance Candace were waiting a while to be approved to adopt a child, since Priya didn't want to go the route of IVF or artificial insemination so she decided she wanted to help a child in need and adopt.
As they were all doing more catching up with each other, Abby happened to walk in and notice the group, she approached the gang sitting at the table.
"Hey guys!" exclaimed Abby.
"Abby!" the gang said in unison.
They all scooched over to make room for Abby who sat down next to Priya.
"So Abby what's new?" asked Mei.
"Oh not much, the salon is doing pretty good and Kelly is doing great as my apprentice" smiled Abby.
For Abby, the years weren't too good for her. She got married after getting knocked up after a one-nighter in 2013 but the marriage only lasted about a year and a half. After the divorce, Abby and her ex-husband remained co-parents to their daughter Kelly. Her ex saw her on the weekends while Abby got weekdays, Kelly would help Abby out in the beauty salon which Abby took it over after her mother retired.
"Well that's good...how's Chris doing?" asked Miriam.
"Still a bastard" chuckled Abby.
"That's fair" replied Miriam.
The gang sat there and ordered some drinks and ordered some food and drinks, as they waited for their orders they decided to reminisce.
"Man, I can't believe I've known you guys twenty years" chuckled Brendan.
"Yeah, where the hell did that time go?" asked Tyler.
"But it's been an amazing twenty years" smiled Mei.
"Yup, from the first time we all met to graduation to high school and college, our New York City trip and everything else...what a rollercoaster" chuckled Brendan.
"Tell me about it, but it's been a great rollercoaster" smiled Mei.
Soon their food and drinks came and the gang began to talk and eat, talking about their past adventures in school and NYC. They shared laughs and giggles about everything that led up to them being where they were in life. From every milestone to everything else in between, they discussed their children and their lives and whatnot.
"Man I still can't believe Jade is ten already, that decade went by" chuckled Brendan.
"Yeah man and to be honest...we have you to thank for her" smiled Tyler.
"Awwww 'twas nothing at all" chuckled Brendan.
"Shoot I still can't believe you guys have five kids" chuckled Mei.
"Yeah, they're all rambunctious but I love them all" laughed Brendan.
"Hey guys, what's say a little karaoke after this?" asked Abby.
"I mean the night is still young" chuckled Miriam.
"I'm down," said Brendan.
"Let's do it" replied Priya.
"Hell yeah!" exclaimed Mei and Tyler in unison.
The gang soon finished their food and headed out to Karaoke-Dokie to sing as they used to when they were kids. They rented out a booth and looked for songs to sing.
"How about we revisit a classic? Some 4*Town!" exclaimed Mei.
The girls all nodded in agreement and even Brendan and Tyler were down to sing.
"I've never met nobody like you, had friends, and I've had buddies, it's true but they don't turn my tummy the way you do" sang Mei as the song came on.
"I've never met nobody like you" sang Tyler looking at Mei.
Soon everyone else joined in the song and they all sang, feeling like kids again doing what they used to enjoy. For the gang, it was the small things in life like a karaoke session that made life sweet. The gang had come so far in life and they all knew they were all meant to be, they finished up their karaoke and soon said their goodbyes to each other heading to homes knowing tomorrow was going to be a new day, full of a new adventure for all of them and they couldn't ask for anything better.
(A/N) Hey guys, hope you don't think it's cheap the final story in the saga is a one-shot but I feel like that arc is now complete. Just know that this isn't my final TR fic by a longshot, I've got so so so so so many more I'm gonna do. Right now though I wanna say thank you to all who read all my stories, Big Tuna2002, Ppp, MFlexBlue, Chandler the Sailor, and everyone else who has reviewed. When I first started writing with Rock and a Hard Place I was going through depression but it was you guys that gave me purpose and made me keep going, I appreciate all of your reviews whether good, bad or indifferent you guys made such a big difference in my life and I appreciate all of you! Like I said more TR fics are on the way in the future! Until next time! LOVE YOU ALL!