Epilogue - Royal Flush
"You're the very best thing in my life, and I'll love you as only I can." - Honk
-------
"Wave to daddy!"
I look up from my cards to see Sango waving Kicho's little arm at me. He's only a few days over one year now, but he's already got a full head of fuzzy black hair, and the moment it's long enough he'll get a matching ponytail like mine. But until then, I'm content to see him wearing the tiny "Bellagio" visor that we bought him. I'm wearing one, and so is Sango. We're a matching family, so adorable it's nauseating.
Were tag-teaming the Third Annual Festa al Lago Poker Tournament, Sango and I, and we've made it into a kind of celebration of sorts - it's the first tournament we've had time to play in since Kicho was born, and Kagome and InuYasha are here to see it, and Kagome is much happier with me this time around. Kouga and Ayame are on their honeymoon, so they couldn't make it, but Kohaku is standing next to his sister, his arms wrapped around Kagura's waist. She's sporting a nice big diamond now - we helped him out with that one a little, but the rest he did all by himself, including getting himself hired as a full-time writer for Card Player. He got his hands on a several copies of the issue with our Spiderwebs kiss on the cover - thats now framed next to the King and Queen, just to remember.
And Sango, my Sango. She's in a sexy little top that she surprised me with the other day - strapless, baggy towards the bottom with a sash that hangs down over her thigh, the folds in the fabric hiding the belly she's just starting to get from being three months along in another sort-of accidental pregnancy.
We're going to make a new McHoushi poker legacy if I have anything to say about it, as long as they stay out of Spiderwebs.
And when we arrived here, we drove past it, and I took Sango's hand in my right, kissing it. They say you never know how much something is worth until it's gone, but that's bullshit. I knew the cost of everyone and everything I lost to be alive today. It was by the grace of the poker gods and my poker goddess that there was one price I didn't have to pay, because $1.5 million would not have ever come close to covering it.
But right now, I have a brilliant hand in two whole palms, and the pot is mine without question. I stand up and walk over to the side, taking Kicho from Sango.
"Your turn, baby. Take 'em down." She grins at me, and Kicho reaches out to bap her visor. "And Kicho wishes mommy good luck. Isn't that right, Ace?"
My wife laughs and reaches up to kiss me, before stepping out from behind the rail.
Sometimes we do get what we want, and the King of Diamonds watches the Queen of Hearts take the throne.
I love you, Sango McHoushi.
End.
