Epilogue
Disclaimers: I do not own PLL or the characters. This includes the Lily and Grace. I do own Jonathan Dilaurentis-Fields and all other children.
Spoilers: None
Rating: T
Notes: Last chapter. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed, favorited, and waited patiently. I really do appreciate it!
Enjoy! :)
2 months – February 2002
*Rivers Residence*
"The Birthday"
"It's my birfday! It's my birfday! Iiiiiiittttssssss myyy biiiiirrrrfff….daaaaaaay!"
3-year-old George Michael soon-to-be Rivers dances around his living room while his Mommy and older sisters hang decorations – Batman themed, of course – and his daddy uses a special air tank to blow up blue and black balloons.
Ellie giggles as her brother runs around in his pullup and nothing else.
This is as close to his "Birthday Suit" as Hanna is allowing him to be, and he is taking advantage of every moment of it.
"It is your birthday, Georgie," Harri says. "How old are you?"
"I'm free years old, Sissy Harri! I am a big boy. Mommy, do I getta go school wif Finn now?" He asks because after learning how to write his name, and tracing letters and shapes and numbers while with Ezra and Aria during the week, the couple offered to homeschool Georgie, instead of Hanna and Caleb sending him to preschool in August.
"Yes, you do. Daddy and I have spoken with each other, and we decided that you can go to school with Finn. You will even get to learn about the same things he does."
Because Finn is not turning five until August, the two boys would only have about a 6-month difference between their knowledge, maybe less, since Georgie is learning things so quickly.
"Yay! I getta go school wif Finn!" Georgie runs around, cheering. He then asks to call Aria and Ezra. They let him speak to Finn and soon have two young boys squealing and cheering and yelling, "We getta go to school together!"
Later, after a snack and when Hanna and Caleb begin doing the outside decorations for their backyard, Georgie runs over them.
"Daddy, Mommy! Guess what day it is!"
Hanna and Caleb play along.
"Is it Tuesday?" Caleb asks knowing this will confuse the toddler because it is Tuesday but that is not the answer the little boy was wanting.
"No!" George says back immediately before pausing. "Um…wait, what?" and then "Daddy! Dat isn't the right answer!"
Caleb chuckles as he grabs him up and tickles him.
"Happy Birthday, George Michael Almost Rivers," Caleb says hugging him and making him giggle with his new name.
3 months later – May 2002
*Cavanaugh Residence*
"The Birth*
It's the middle of the night when it happens. Spencer is up in the bathroom because the baby just won't settle down. She does her business and begins to pull up her pajama pants when a gush of water stops her.
It takes several seconds for her sleep-riddled brain to figure it out.
But when she does, she jumps up and runs as quickly as she can to their bedroom.
"Tobias Phillip Cavanaugh, get your ass up and take me to the hospital!" Spencer yells at her husband as she feels the contractions begin.
Toby, bless him, jumps out of bed, and proceeds to fall face first onto the floor.
After a couple of seconds, – in which Spencer bursts out laughing despite the seriousness of the situation, – Toby jumps back up.
"Okay, okay, I'm up. You're up. We're up. Oh, god it's time. Everything is just fine! Don't yell at me!"
Raising an eyebrow, Spencer simply looks at the crazy man she married.
This calms him down slightly and he gets his head in the game.
He and Spencer load up in the car and head to the hospital.
*16 hours later*
After an intense labor, Spencer and Toby are finally finished. The outcome?
Twins.
A boy and a girl.
"Look at what we made," The new mommy whispers.
Toby, himself, is enamored with his baby daughter.
"Hi, sweetheart," He whispers. "I am your Daddy. And I love you so, so much."
The girls and guys and kids show up. And Spencer and Toby reveal the name, or names.
"This is Jacob," Toby motions to the baby boy in Spencer's arms. "Jacob Matthew Cavanaugh."
"And that is Mackenzie," Spencer says, picking one of the girl names she and Toby had chosen before finding out the gender would have been a boy. "Mackenzie Marion Cavanaugh."
And Toby looks at her at that name. His eyes feel with tears and he wonders how he got so damned lucky to have married to this woman.
"Thank you," He chokes out.
Jacob and Mackenzie are the perfect addition to the Cavanagh, Montgomery-Fitz, Dilaurentis-Fields, and Rivers families.
1 month later – June 2002
"The Adoption"
Three months later, and six months after officially filing the papers, Hanna and Caleb are in court, waiting for the Judge to sign their papers, which will officially make their children Harriet Madeleine Rivers, Eleanor Rosalie Rivers, and George Michael no-longer-almost-but-finally Rivers.
"All rise for Judge Michaels," The Judge enters and sits down, motioning for everyone else to do the same.
Everybody is here. The parents, kids, Harriet and Ellie's friends from school, Georgie's friends from his playdates, Jessica and Kenneth Dilaurentis, Pam and Wayne Fields, even Spencer's mom, dad, and sister are here.
Ashley and Tom Marin sit right behind where Hanna and Caleb are gathered with their kids.
The Judge goes through all the notes and necessary documents. He listens to Harriet and Eleanor's speeches about why they think Hanna and Caleb should be able to adopt them and their brother, and a few others who have something to as well.
Then, the moment they have all been waiting for…
"I, Judge Michaels, hereby grant legal guardianship of Harriet, Eleanor, and George Smith to Caleb and Hanna Rivers." He signs the papers and hands them over.
There isn't a dry eye in the room.
"Did he do it, Mommy?" Finley asks. "Are Uncle Caleb and Auntie Hanna really Harri and Ellie and Georgie's mommy and daddy now?"
"Yes, baby," Aria says as Ezra picks Harper up and spins the preteen around. "Yes, they are officially Harri and Ellie and Georgie's mommy and daddy."
"Yay! I'm so happy for them! Please I go give them a hug, Mommy?" After getting permission, Finley runs as fast as his legs will carry him over to his aunt, uncle, and official cousins.
"Uncle Caleb, Auntie Hanna!" Hanna catches him and lifts him. She gets a hug from both him and Georgie, who she is also holding.
Caleb has Ellie in his arms. Even at 13 years old, he is holding her and cherishing this moment, and promises to do everything in his power to make sure her and her sister and brother are never alone ever again.
"I love you, Papa," Ellie whispers to him, hugging tight around his neck.
"I love you, too, Babygirl," He returns softly, meeting his wife's eyes, giving her a smile, and knowing she is thinking the same thing she is.
We're finally a family.
2 weeks later
*Montgomery-Fitz Residence*
"The Reveal"
At noon on Wednesday, Aria and Ezra wait for Harper, now 13 years old, and Finley to get home from the sleepover and playdate they were both at.
They have a present for both kids.
Since Ezra has issues for fertility, he and Aria have used IVF treatments to have both Harper and Finley. At first, they were devastated, and still are sometimes. It took several years for Ezra to come to terms with the fact that, although he is married to Aria, and raises Finley and Harper, they are not biologically his.
It almost ruined their marriage, and it left him feeling down, sorry for himself, and it took Caleb and Toby both to practically kick him in the ass for him to realize that he has an amazing wife, who still loved him, even after finding out about the thing which they do not speak of.
So now, with IVF, they are able to get pregnant and have a family.
Harper and Finley do not know of this, although at some point, Aria and Ezra both know they will have to tell them. For now though, they are just content to have happy and healthy children.
They decided to do one more round, because Harper wants a sister, and Aria and Ezra would really like to have a baby in the house again. Jake and Kenzie are just too precious and they both agree they miss it.
So, they did so. But they only let a couple people know. Spencer, of course, because hello, Team Sparia, and Caleb, as he is close with Ezra.
Today they went and confirmed their pregnancy and got a big surprise.
They know that Alison and Emily had twins, most likely, because Ali's mom is a twin.
And they know that Spencer and Toby also had twins, because Spencer is a twin – well, a surviving twin, her sister didn't make it past infancy. She died of SIDs, unfortunately.
And they know that IVF treatments are famous for giving a mother a multiple pregnancy.
But, they, most certainly, were not expecting to be told…
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery-Fitz, it looks like you are having three babies!"
All girls, at least two being identical, maybe the third one, as well.
The first thing out of Ezra's mouth was…
"Well, Harper did want a sister."
Now, they are home, waiting for their children, wondering how the hell they have gone from a family of four, to have a family of seven.
They hear a door open, and Harper and Finley come running in.
"Mama, Daddy!" They both yell and Ezra does his daily routine of sweeping one child each into arms and spinning them around.
They thank god Harper is not the "normal" surly, grumpy, moody 13-year-old. At least, not yet.
"Sit down, you two," Ezra says. "Mama and I have something we would like to show you something."
Aria goes out and comes back in with a box.
She hands it to Harper.
"Oh, what's in the box, Mommy?" Finley asks giggling.
"Open it up with sissy, and see."
They do so. And begin pulling out different items:
A pacifier – 3, a pink one with a flower, a solid purple one, and a one with a ladybug.
A blanket – 3, one with a bear, pink and fuzzy, a purple one with frogs, and a pink and grey striped one.
A baby bottle – also 3, solid pink, solid purple, and one with flowers, a frog, and a ladybug.
A onesie – identical ones with "Thing 1," "Thing 2," and "Thing 3" on them.
"Woah, look at all da babies stuffs," Finley gasps. "Is these for Kenzie, Mommy?" Because Kenzie is a girl, and a baby, and the only one who would need all this stuff.
Right?
Harper gets it first.
And it is confirmed when she pulls out a strip of ultrasound photos, which are labeled "baby A," "baby B," and "baby C."
"Oh, my God, you're having triplets?!" She pauses, looks at all the girl baby items, and then, "And they're all girls?!"
Aria breathes a sigh of relief at her daughter's happiness and looks at Finley, who is not too sure of what to think.
"You ok, Mister Man?" She asks.
"Yeah," He pauses. "But three is a lot of girls. I wanted a brother!"
Ezra comes over and sits down, letting the 4-year-old climb into his lap. "I'm sorry, Bud. You know, I kinda of wanted a boy, too. That way it wouldn't be more girls, like Mommy and Sissy, than us guys."
"Yeah, exactly!" The younger boy throws his hands up, causing his sister and mom to laugh.
He really wanted a little brother, it's so fun to play with Georgie and Jon, and soon, Jacob, but he really wanted a brother.
At least, he thought so.
That is, before Harper leans over and says,
"You know, if you had a brother, then you would have to share your toys, and your Legos, and your trucks."
And that is when 4-year-old Finley Ezra Montgomery-Fitz realized he did not actually want a brother. Because as sweet and kind and polite and fun and loving as he is, there is one thing Finley does not like.
And that is, sharing his toys.
I mean, with Georgie its ok, because Georgie doesn't live here. But a brother? And having to do it 24/7?
No thank you.
Ezra and Aria sigh as they realize they should probably begin working with him on that. He needs to learn to share, with more than just his cousin who is a year younger, and soon, his baby cousin, Jacob.
But for now, they just begin planning how they are going to reveal their triplet girl pregnancy to everyone else.
3 months later – September 11th, 2002 aka 1 year later
*Dilaurentis-Fields Residence*
"The Anniversary"
It has been exactly 12 months since Alison was on Flight 175 and almost lost her life.
The Butterfly Effect some say.
It's what they are calling Ali getting off the plane because she left her wallet in the bathroom.
Had Alison not left it in there? Well, she would have had no reason whatsoever to get off that airplane.
She would have joined everyone else, in realizing their life was over, in calling 911 or her loved ones. She would have had to call Emily and her babies, and say goodbye.
So yes, leaving her wallet in the bathroom was a stupid mistake. But it was that stupid mistake that saved her life.
Had it not happened, these past 12 months would have been very different, and this would be a very different anniversary all together.
12 months and Jon is now sleeping in his own room. He has been doing so for about 4 months now.
Alison and Emily are so proud of him. They tuck him in, read him a story, tell him they are proud of him, their big boy, and then turn his nightlight on, close his door, and let him fall asleep.
He is even in fifth grade this year! He finished out fourth grade with Wesley in May, and then was enrolled back in school last month.
Wesley is proud of him, as well. Although he will miss looking after Jon during the week, the young boy who has become like a brother to him, he is still happy for Jon. He is happy that the boy is no longer having panic attacks at school, and having to come home.
He praises Jon, in being able to be in a different room than his mothers, in not needing a special heart every day, just a few times every couple of months.
Alison and Emily have kept in contact with Wesley, and made sure he knows how much they appreciate him. He is now a apart of the families, and like everyone's cooler, older brother.
"All right, J-bug," Alison calls out as she comes down the stairs with Grace. She and Lily are now 15 months old, what a difference a year makes, and they are into everything. They can talk now, are walking everywhere, and are learning a new skill, it seems, every week.
They are in Daycare. Which is where they are headed right now.
"Do you have your lunch, homework, and backpack?" Alison asks her son, because he sometimes thinks he has something only to get to school and realize I left it on the kitchen table.
The perks of having ADHD – not.
"Yes, Mama," He answers. "Mommy went through the list with me. I have my homework folder, my lunch box, my Show & Tell item, and everything is in my backpack."
"Ok, Bud. Take Gracie and you two go get in the car, alright?"
"Okay! Come on, Grace-Grace; let's go get in the car."
"Car!" Gracie cheers, reaching for her big brother. "Go bye-bye, Bubba!"
"Yeah, we're gonna go bye-bye. In the car, it goes vroom-vroom."
"'Oom-'oom!" The toddler parrots as she and Jon walk out of the door.
Emily comes up behind Alison with Lily in her arms. She sets Lily down and the little blonde toddles over to a toy.
"You ready, Babe?" She asks, knowing Alison will know she doesn't just mean "ready to go" but for what today is going to be like, with schools and workplaces and the TVs talking about the 1-year anniversary of that day.
Taking a deep breath, Ali chooses to think about what she does have. A wife, three beautiful children, a ton of nieces and nephews, a best friend who is having triplets.
She is here.
She thanks god every single day for her lapse in judgment and a lost wallet.
She thanks god that she is here, with her friends, her families, her babies. When so many other people are grieving the one-year anniversary of their loved ones.
And she nods.
"Yeah, I'm ready."
And that is it! 10 chapters. It's taken me longer than I wanted but that is ok. A lot of things happened here. Georgie turned 3, Spencer and Toby had their babies – twins! –, Hanna and Caleb officially became the parents of Harriet, Eleanor, and George.
And Ezria is having triplets! All three girls. I decided that last minute because I wanted them to have another baby. *shrugs*
Anyway, please review and let me know what you thought. And once again, thank you to everyone who has waited patiently, reviewed, followed, and favorited. This has been a fun journey. :)