Love and Marriage
Epilogue

Three Years Later- About two weeks before Christmas

"C'mon!" Sam impatiently called out to Martin. "I'm not sure how much longer these kids can wait."

Martin peaked around the camera and grinned at Sam, taking another moment to appreciate his family. Claire was sitting on the couch next to Sam, looking very bored but still with a smile on her face. Sam was sitting with their youngest, Rachel, on her lap. Rachel, being only four months old, was oblivious to most of the events happening around her and was content to just be held in her mother's arms. Sean, their two year old, was sitting on the other side of Sam and was playing around with the ribbon in Rachel's hair.

"Sean, stop it please." Sam lightly swatted Sean's hand away from Rachel's head. "I don't think she likes it that you're doing that."

"Maybe she does." Sean objected.

"Well it doesn't matter because I don't like it." Sam told her son. "So stop it, please."

"Ok." Sean sighed, looking around for something else to occupy his time while they waited for dad to take the family picture.

"Thank you." Sam reached over and kissed her son's cheek. "Martin, if you don't hurry up Christmas will be over with." Sam complained lightheartedly.

"I'm working on it!" Martin laughed. Their digital camera was mounted on a tripod, aimed at the right position so that they could take a picture of their family with the Christmas tree displayed in the background. It would be a beautiful picture if only he could figure out how to set up the camera timer.

"Do you want some help dad?" Claire offered, getting up from the couch. She was standing right in front of the camera when a flash assaulted her. "Dad! Thanks a lot! Now I see tons of spots everywhere!"

"Sorry sweetie." Martin apologized. "I didn't mean to take a picture when you were right there."

Sam couldn't contain her laughter anymore. "This is kinda pathetic honey. You're a senior agent in charge of a team but you can't even take a picture with a digital camera."

"I'm working on it!" Martin stepped away from the camera and laughed with his wife. "This camera is just…complicated."

"I figured it out dad." Claire exclaimed happily, pressing one last button. "We have thirty seconds before the camera takes the picture."

"Ok now I feel stupid." Martin frowned as he walked to the couch. "My eight year old is smarter than I am."

"Don't feel bad sweetie." Sam reached over and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You're still smarter than Rachel."

He laughed. "Yeah, but for how long?"

"Time's ticking!" Claire exclaimed. "Ten seconds left!"

Martin picked Sean up and placed him on his lap, motioning for Claire to sit in between himself and Sam. "Don't forget to smile!"

The flash signified the picture being taken and afterwards, Claire immediately got up to take a look at it. So of course Sean had to go with her because he didn't want to be left out of anything.

"Is it a good picture?" Sam asked.

"Yeah mom. It's one of the best." Claire smiled brightly.

"Great." Sam smiled, looking down at Sarah and making a funny face so that her daughter would smile.

Martin scooted closer to them and kissed Sam's temple while placing a hand on Rachel's head. "We have a beautiful family."

"Yeah, we do." Sam looked over at him. Being pregnant with Sean was difficult because she wasn't entirely sure she could do it, but with Jackie's therapy and Martin's support, she gave birth to a healthy and happy baby boy.

Then last year, in true Martin and Samantha fashion, they were surprised when she became pregnant again. This time though, Sam was more confident about being pregnant. Although she still had doubts and anxieties, she was able to actually enjoy being pregnant with Rachel. But as soon as they had Rachel, she made Martin promise that they wouldn't actively try for more children. He of course agreed, realizing that three was more than enough for them.

Sam chuckled softly. "I can't believe the ways our lives have changed in the past few years."

He couldn't believe it either. Everything was so different now. They had three children instead of two and his relationship with Sam was the best that it's probably ever been. She continued going to therapy with Jackie for almost two years and they had couples therapy for almost a year before deciding that they were in a good place and didn't need to go anymore.

Everything was finally the way that he had dreamed it would be. Both he and Sam had great jobs that they loved, wonderful friends and co-workers, a beautiful house, and most importantly, a wonderful family. Three beautiful kids that they absolutely adored. This was the way life should be. "I love you Sam."

"I love you too Martin." She leaned in for a kiss and saw a flash going off. They both looked over and saw Claire behind the camera with a sly grin. "Claire?" They both called out at the same time.

"Sorry." Claire shrugged. She had taken a picture of them kissing. "Couldn't help it."

Sam and Martin looked at each other with amused smiles before going in for another kiss. This time though, Claire let them kiss without taking a picture of it.

In New York, Leslie entered her house and closed the door behind her before going through the mail. She noticed a large envelope and was curious about what was inside. Then she saw that it was from Martin and Sam. They had kept in touch after moving to Houston, mailing letters back and forth every year. It wasn't necessary, but it was nice that they kept in contact. She always loved hearing about how they were doing.

After carefully opening up the envelope, she pulled out a photo and a short note. She smiled when she saw the photo of their family sitting in front of the Christmas tree. It always made her feel good when she saw happy families, and the Fitzgeralds definitely looked happy. Putting the photo down on her table, she opened the letter that came with it.

Leslie,

We hope that the holidays find you and your family in good health and full of happiness. We just wanted to mail you a picture of our family. As you can see, we have had a new addition, Rachel.

Whether you want to take credit for it or not, you have helped Martin and myself more than you will ever know. You were the first one to show us that we needed to communicate better and you taught us a lot about how to do that. You helped us open up the lines of communication and we will forever be grateful to you.

Thanks again and happy holidays!

Samantha, Martin, Claire, Sean and Rachel

Leslie smiled as she folded up the letter. Samantha was right. She wasn't going to take the credit for Martin and Samantha's success or progress. They did it on their own. She was only there to steer them in the right direction. But still, she appreciated their kind comments. This photo was going to go on her wall of success, a wall in her home office that she dedicated to the pictures of families she counseled who managed to find a path back to each other and reaffirmed their love.

Also in New York, Bethany flipped through her mail, not seeing anything other than bills and junk mail. She didn't see one single Christmas card, not even from her family. But she stopped in her tracks when she saw a large envelope. It was addressed to her and came from Houston. She only knew of one person from Houston and immediately smiled. Without hesitation she ripped open the envelope to find two pictures and a short note.

The first picture was of Martin and Samantha, and their kids. Frustrated, Bethany ripped it in half only to find that the second picture angered her even more. It was a picture of Samantha and Martin kissing. Throwing them angrily on the table, she opened the note.

Bethany,

I told you karma was a bitch.

Happy Holidays!

Samantha Fitzgerald

Bethany growled as she wadded up the note into a ball and threw it across the room.

The End...or is it?

The Fitzgeralds will be back in the sequel to this story, entitled'Marriage and Family'. Coming soon!