I want to say thank you to all the readers that have followed me along on this wonderful journey. I first want to apologise for the delay, I lost internet connection for awhile and when I got it back I was so disgusted with General Hospital and what they were doing with our beloved couple that I had to step away for a bit. Yet I knew I wanted to finish Future in a Kiss. I'd dreamed of making this a large story full of twists and turns but after watching GH I just wanted it to showcase the true love that is so very evident between our beautiful couple here. I'm debating on whether or not to make a sequeal but first I feel I have to finish up the other stories I've started as well. I want to thank all of the reviewers that have graciously left their mark on my story, I may not know you but I love you all. Thank you guys so much for your constant support in my first story.

Future in a Kiss
Chapter 17
Epilogue

Elizabeth stirred slowly, her eyes heavy and her breathing slightly labored yet a smile grew upon those sweetly curved lips as she heard the beautiful sound of her baby's cry. Tears welled in her eyes and her lips trembled as she gazed up with adoration at the man who held her baby so carefully as if it were made of the most precious glass. As she watched him sooth their child she thought of all the ways that this could have gone. How many different paths she might have taken that could have lead her away from this moment and it was heartbreaking to know she'd almost done it, she'd almost walked away from him. She watched as he brought the blanketed little form up to his lips to press an adoring kiss to its soft brow and a soft sigh left her. She might have thought about walking away from this man, and she might have even done so in the past, but the little peice of heaven he craddled in his arms wouldn't allow either one of them to run this time.

"I've never seen anything more beautiful." she heard his hushed words and she gave a watery laugh. He'd said the same thing when he'd seen the ultra sound pictures. She'd never seen a father more in love with their child and it warmed her heart to know that after all they had been through, she was the one to give him this gift. And it was in watching him that she finally realized that love wasn't a happening that one decided on, to indulge or not, to partake or not. To feel or not. When it came, when it struck, the only decision left to make was how to respond, whether you embraced it, took it in, and made it apart of you, or whether you turned your back and let it die. Love was something that people expirenced, not made happen. It wasn't in anyone's controle. All those years she'd spent running, turning her back on the love she'd felt for this man had been wasted. She'd fooled herself into believing that she loved Lucky, and he'd fooled himself in believing that he could be happy with Sam. When the truth was easy, Love had struck them all those years ago and no matter how hard they struggled against it, it wouldn't let them go.

A pair of ice blue eyes fell to hers and her breath caught at the tears she saw lurking in the jeweled depths. She watched as he came forward and captured her smaller hand in his, her body shivering when he brushed his thumb back and forth over the top of her hand. And when he knealt down next to her hospital bed she let out a soft sob of joy, of love. In that precious moment, with their child watching on with its fathers beautiful soulful eyes, he asked, and was granted his request. For being her champion, for freeing her to live, and for being her best friend, all he asked for was her heart, and she pledged it gladly. Joyously.