EPILOGUE

By Android Eleven
Seven months later (A/N: Roughly the same amount of time it has taken me to update):

"Good tidings to you and all of your kin! Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

Clapping and laughter rang out among the gathered Digidestined and their friends and families as Sora, Mimi, Kari and little Yui finished singing their rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" while Matt played along on guitar. TK grinned as both Kari and Yui came over and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, Kari on the left and Yui on the right.

It was the night of Christmas Eve and everybody was having a party at Izzy's house in the country to celebrate. A lot of changes had occurred in the group in the past seven months.

Yui had turned seven. Matt and his waitress girlfriend had gotten married and had only recently returned from their honeymoon on a cruise in the Mediterranean. Ken had been promoted to a Police Captain and Yolei had actually gotten her newborn baby to say "Mama" before he said "Dada"-a first for her as she had failed to do so with her older two children. Joe and Mimi had moved to Kyoto and their son had gotten glasses, making him looking even more like his father. Izzy had met a sweet young woman in America and the two had now been dating since September. And, after almost a year of trying, Davis and his wife had found out in August that she was pregnant.

But that Christmas Eve, everyone was just trying to have fun. There was music, food and good company. And on top of that, it was time for the kids to open presents. Their parents had decided to let the kids open only three presents each because they wanted them to save most of them for the next morning.

Ken was the one stupid enough to look at his watch and announce that it was eight o'clock. Seven children who wanted to know which gifts were theirs immediately surrounded him. Sweat dropping, he replied, "Ask your mother," before fleeing into the kitchen.

It took a while for seven excited children and one screaming baby to calm down long enough to pass around presents in a slightly less than chaotic manner, but they did manage it eventually. Ripped wrapping paper rained around the room as the kids tore open their gifts and it was quickly followed by loud exclamations of happiness, surprise and, in Koji's case of new socks, disappointment.

Yui smiled happily as she unwrapped a teddy bear and the DVD she had wanted, but a puzzled look crossed her face as she looked around for her third present. The other kids were all occupied with their own gifts, laughing and yelling. The young blonde girl stood and went back under the tree, but there were no more wrapped presents. She clutched her teddy bear and went searching for her dad.

TK was talking to Matt in the kitchen when Yui approached him, a confused, but indignant look on her face. "Dad," she said, letting a tiny frown fall on her mouth. "I don't mean to be selfish or anything, but where's my present? Everybody else got three. I only have two. I mean, even Koji got three." Yui pointed across the room at her favourite scapegoat, who promptly stuck his tongue out at her.

Kari, who had overheard, walked over and answered Yui's question. "Well kiddo," she said as she pulled herself up to sit on the counter. "I was the one who got you your third gift. I didn't have enough time to wrap it, so I had to put it in the guest bedroom down the hall. I'll bet it'll still be there if you go looking for it."

Kari hadn't finished her sentence before Yui disappeared down the hall. TK turned and gave Kari a look that was half questioning and half accusing. "What did you do now?"

Kari just shrugged, but the small, smug smile on her face gave her away. And all of a sudden a shriek of pure and utter joy sounded from Izzy's guestroom.

** So, uh, your dad told me you like dogs. Is that true? **

Yui came running back into the kitchen and in her arms she carried a black and rust coloured Yorkshire terrier puppy. He shivered shyly when the blonde rushed into the room full of people. Yui ran over the Kari and hugged her as tightly as she dared with the tiny puppy in her arms.

"Kari, you are the best Father's Girlfriend a kid could have! Thank you, thank you, thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!"

Kari laughed. "I get the point, Sweet-pea! I'm glad you like him."

Yui released the older girl from the embrace and gave her a huge grin before retreating into the living room to show off her pet to the other children. After she left Takeru turned to Kari and pouted.

"Why didn't you tell me you got us a dog?" Kari shrugged again, the smug smile back on her face.

"Where's the surprise in that?"

Takeru shook his head and glanced into the living room and the kids. "Well, you've made her day." He turned back to Kari and gave her a hug. "And she had a point: You ARE the best girlfriend a guy could have."

Kari gave him a small kiss. "That's not exactly what she said, you know."

Takeru shrugged and smiled at her. He slipped his hand into his back pocket and pulled out a small box, which her handed to Kari as he kissed her again. "I love you."

"I love you too, TK," she replied as she looked at the box in her hand. A jewelry box. Kari's heart began to feel as though it was beating in her throat. She gave TK a questioning look, trying to hide the hope from her eyes. "What is this?"

TK gave her a shy smile. "Your Christmas present. Go on, open it."

So she did. And inside, nestled in the velvety blue lining, was a diamond ring. Kari looked up again, eyes shining. TK was still smiling shyly. "I'm betting that you know what it means," he said as he gently took the ring from the box. He bent down on one knee and reached for her hand. "So...What do you say? Will you marry me, Kari?"

Kari let out a small laugh. "What do you think? Of course I will!" Kari pulled the blonde back on his feet as he put the ring on her finger and kissed him again.

This was the scene Matt walked in on when he came to get more some more eggnog. The pair sensed his presence and broke apart, smiling shyly at each other. Matt gave them a grin as he grabbed his eggnog. "How appropriate. Kissing under the mistletoe on Christmas Eve."

He left the room and TK and Kari looked up at the ceiling. Sure enough, right over their heads, unnoticed until now, was a sprig of mistletoe.
~~~ LA FIN! ~~~

Author's Sappy Sentimental Ending Notes: Nothing much to say except that I hope you all enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it! I hope the ending is to your satisfaction. Oh and the epilogue is dedicated to JOHN SURBER, for leaving the review that encouraged me to get off my lazy arse and finish the story.

Toodles! ^_^