A/N: Right, so this is it - the Epilogue. The final chapter. Whatever you'd like to call it. I'd like to take a moment to thank everybody who's taken the time to review over these past few months - at times those reviews were all that kept me committed to writing this story. I'm so very grateful that it's been received so well and so so flattered that you all supported me so. Thankyou all.

Now that i've gotten that out of the way, on with the show - I present to you the closing chapter of On The Way Down.

Leon laughed, trying vainly to pull his head away from the little fingers seeking out his sunglasses. The little girl on his hip was giggling, enjoying her daddy's attempts to elude her.

"Let go of the hair!" he said loudly, no hint of malice or anger in his tone whatsoever. Again the child laughed and tugged that little bit harder, pulling his head just near enough to steal the sunglasses off his face, bringing them up to her own clumsily. She beamed at her father once she was sure they were on properly, looking at him through the red tinted lenses.

"You're pink, Daddy!"

Leon snorted. "I am not pink," he argued, "-the world is a dinosaur and you are the queen of penguins!" He wasn't quite sure what he was on about, just randomly spitting out words here and there, but he did know for sure that he was amusing his daughter and that was all that mattered. It was his day with the kids, a Sunday, as he'd decided when Amelia was just a baby that it was to be her day to herself. Ruby day, he'd dubbed it. Every Sunday he would take the children out for the day and give her some time to herself, leaving her to go get pampered with Tala, go shopping or do whatever else she fancied without having to worry about watching the kids.

All the wriggling and squirming that had taken place moments before had taken its toll and even though she was still playing with his sunglasses, Leon found himself adjusting his grip on his little girl and hitching her higher on his hip as he walked down the beach. The sun was warm on his skin and not only himself, but the kids were slathered in suntan lotion as well to prevent burning. Ruby had made him promise.

Cade had grown to take after his mother in more ways then one, but the most noticeable was his skin tone – a deep rich caramel colour that betrayed his Latino roots. He was eight now and already he was tall for his age, dark hair messily spiked here and there from the ocean water, eyes sparkling mischievously as he snuck up behind his sister and dumped a bucket of water over her head.

Amelia, now five, squealed in outrage and took off up the almost deserted beach after her big brother, shouting abuse at him. It was definitely a case of like father like daughter there. She was more like him with each passing day, her pale brown hair hanging just past her shoulders, a slight curl to it, shamrock green eyes blazing. She would often come out with things that made even him stammer and splutter – her mouth was just that tad dirtier then Cade's was at that age.

Then there was Lucy.

Leon nuzzled his baby girl's cheek lovingly. She was three and a half now and much preferred curling up with her Daddy to playing with her brother and sister. She was his little miracle, Lucy was. Ruby had been near her due date whilst pregnant with Lucy and had been in a car accident. She'd been trapped in the car for almost three hours, her legs caught beneath the dash and had gone into labour. No sooner had the rescue workers gotten Ruby freed of the wreckage was their third child born, right there in the middle of the street in the shadow of what could have been her mother's demise – and her own. Mother was fine save for some lacerations and a broken ankle, and Lucy in a move that surprised them all had been born healthy as an ox and screaming like a trooper. There wasn't one thing wrong with her – out of all three of his children she was the only one he'd seen born. He'd left the kids with Vince when he got the call and had spent almost as long as Ruby was in the car on his side, laying on the road holding her hand through the broken window.

He'd wasted no time marrying her after that. Three months later to the day, he had made Ruby Jane Garrison his wife. Vince had been his best man, Cade one of his groomsmen and Tala had been Ruby's matron of honour, Rory a bridesmaid. He still carried the picture that had been taken of them all at the reception – himself, Ruby, Vince, Tala, Cade holding Lucy, Rory and Lia all in their formal wear and sitting on the hood of the newly restored Jetta – in his wallet.

"Daddy?"

Leon kissed Lucy's cheek loudly, pretending to eat her cheek as she squealed with delight.

"What's up, Sweetie?"

She grinned down at him, pale cheeks dimpling, bright red hair falling into her eyes.

"When's Mama having new baby?"

Cade and Amelia, running around in front of them like madmen both halted their antics and flew to his side.

"Yeah, Dad – when's Miss Ruby having the baby?" Despite trying over the years, Cade hadn't been able to shake calling her that and the entire family suspected he'd do it until the day he died. He had so much respect for her and loved her so much that calling her anything else felt wrong to him. He'd only ever called her Mama the one time when he'd broken his arm after falling from his bike and that had been amidst sobs and plenty of tears. It was never spoken of again, but Leon had decided that if that was how it was going to go, then so be it. Ruby had been his mother for pretty much his entire life and he wasn't going to deprive him of that.

"Well," he started, sliding his shades back on as they walked along the shore line, "- the scan she had the other day says she's thirteen weeks along. So in about six months."

Amelia frowned, kicking at the white water around her feet. "Six months? That's forever, Daddy!" she never once let go of Cade's hand as they walked along the shore. She was constantly paranoid about getting swept out to sea. "Can't we have her now?"

"Her?" Cade stopped, forcing her to as well. "Who says it's a her? It might be a boy this time – right Dad? It went me, then you, then Lucky, now its another boy!" Lucky had been Cade's nickname for Lucy since day one – it had caught on and almost everyone called her that now.

"Is not!"

Cade's eyes darkened and he let go of Amelia's hand, scowling down at her. "Is too!"

Leon watched with a quirked brow as Amelia bent down and scooped up a handful of wet sand, then hurled it at Cade's face and poked her tongue out. "It is too a girl!" She even stomped her foot for extra emphasis. She looked up at him, wide green eyes imploring him to take her side. "Tell him, Daddy!"

Leon smirked, trying not to look to amused by the goings on. "Hey now, I'm not getting involved in this one." He eyed Cade preparing to retaliate. "I'd run if I were you, Lia."

The little girl looked confused for a moment, then saw her brother tightly packing sand into his hands and took off running, yet again throwing abuse back at him. The dark haired sprite was off after her in an instant and screaming obscenities right back at her and Leon found himself grateful there was virtually nobody else around to hear his heathen children swearing like sailors.

He shook his head, shifting Lucy onto his other hip, watching her settle against his shoulder.

"You know what, Lucky?" He asked her quietly, " I don't care what people say - I'm glad you're quiet." He stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles, letting her take his left hand to play with the ring on his finger. She loved shiny things.

Her voice was soft and muffled but he still made out her words. "Why?"

"Because," he kissed the top of her head, "- I've already got two ferals. God knows I need one normal child."

She giggled quietly against his chest, little fingers abandoning his wedding ring to play with the beads on his nipple ring. "Love Daddy."

Leon smiled, resting his cheek against her soft hair, watching his two older children beat each other silly. "Love you too, Lucky."