Epilogue

Saturday August 22nd, 2015
8:30 p.m.
Venetian Ballroom
Venetian Hotel and Casino

Sighing softly Sara shifted in her chair. In three days time, it would be the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Harrison-Sidle Foundation. And as such, they were having an Anniversary Gala, which was being held the Saturday before seeing as the actual anniversary fell on a Tuesday this year.

When news of the Gala had started circulating, however little there was in the rumors, The Venetian had contacted her and Jim, offering them the services of their Ballroom for the event. And after a brief discussion with their behind the scenes woman, Jessica, it was agreed that they would use it.

That had to be one of the biggest changes in the last eight years…she and Jim were now the people in charge of the Foundation, Jim having retired from the job and accepting the offer from her and Jessica only hours later to join the Foundation. They needed someone with knowledge of how to take care of the bad guys who would come after their significant others that sought refuge at the Foundation after all. It had only taken a few months for Jim to become completely engrossed in the work, and now he was really the day-to-day man. She was the face and voice of the foundation, there while the children were at school, and Jessica had long since become the silent support behind the Foundation, having retired from life as a CSI after little Sebastian was born, and moving the horse breeding from Heaven's Paradise down to Vegas.

Hearing a shriek of laughter, Sara shook her head once more. She would know that shriek anywhere; then again she could recognize any of the children from their laughter. Came from having them with her and Gil every night while parents worked. This particular shriek of laughter belonged to her own daughter.

Sometimes it was hard to believe all the changes eight years had made. Seven-and-a-half years earlier they had been at Jessica and Nick's wedding, when Laura predicted that she would have five grandchildren and Jessica would be having one very soon. Nine months to the day it turned out, as on November 14th, 2008 Sebastian William Gilbert Stokes was born. He was the spitting image of his father, every step of the way in his six-and-a-half years, but with Jessica's eyes. Charlotte couldn't get over how much Seb's picture looked just like Nick's, except for the eyes. He was in first grade now, while Vicki was in third grade. Vicki's hair had indeed darkened as she grew older, and was now as dark as her parents, and she wore it long, about mid-back. Just like Jessica's had been at her age.

After Sebastian was born, things at the lab had been rearranged when Jessica retired, then Nick moved to Days after the current supervisor retired, giving him a much-deserved promotion and the ability to spend more time with his children. Two-years-later, Gil had retired from life as a CSI, leaving Catherine to take his place as Night Supervisor, and they had moved to Henderson. Even though Gil technically hadn't reached retirement age, they agreed that they could survive without him working, though he still did consultation on certain cases, and this way he could spend more time with the children.

Damn her mother and her ability to predict children….

When she had started gaining weight like mad, a complete different occurrence than the pregnancies Catherine and Jessica had had, and the majority of the women she'd worked with during her time in school for her Midwife certificate, it had only taken her a few days to put two and two together and to curse her husband's fertility. And instead of having a birthday party in August, they ended up having the group 4th of July rescheduled when she went into labor…just as Greg brought out watermelon, of all the ironies in life. And some thirty-six hours later, Briseis Eleanor and Lára Lai Lynn Grissom were finally a part of the world, and she had collapsed into the sleep of the dead.

Lára and Briseis were identical, down to the dusting of freckles on their noses that she had as a child, with their father's bright eyes and her dark hair, and curls were a given considering both she and Gil had them…luckily they took after their father though as their curls were manageable. Hers were not, hence the reason she had straightened her hair the majority of her adult life. They were in second-grade now, and were driving their poor teacher insane as she tried to keep them interested in school. The principal was talking about having them skip a grade, but neither Gil nor she was sure about denying them a childhood by having them finish school sooner.

And, another time to curse her mother, just in time for the girls' second birthday she had discovered that she was pregnant…again. And Scor had jumped with delight claiming he was free of providing Sidle grandchildren. Then proceeded to get his nieces and nephew on the biggest sugar highs of their life and had to run out of town when Gil and Nick decided to castrate him. Needless to say Scor had survived his near loss of body parts, and was still single. They had long given up on him ever marrying, and let him enjoy life with his animals. And, as fate would have it, on their anniversary no less, Aodhán Jackson Grissom was born. Aodhán looked exactly like his father, blue eyes and all, with those runaway curls that she loved. He was in preschool now and raising havoc with finding bugs on the playground and sharing them with everyone…he was his father's son by far.

And of course, the children loved spending time with their 'cousins'. Most often or not, they could be found in Henderson at their house. After they learned Aodhán was coming, they realized they couldn't stay at the townhouse anymore, they were cramped enough as it was, so they went house shopping, and found the perfect place in Henderson. A bedroom for the twins, one for Aodhán, and an extra that was for Abby and Mari on the nights both their parents worked, Bertie would share with Aodhán. And when Vicki and Sebastian were over…sleepovers in the twins' room were a must, while they had a simultaneous sleepover in the boys' room.

Abby was in fifth grade now, and a real beauty from what she was told and what she imagined. Her blonde hair was waist-length, and her eyes had stayed blue, much to Catherine's annoyance, as she wanted the children to have Warrick's eyes… Bertie was the spitting image of his father though, but with the same skin tone as his big sister. He was in fourth grade now, and was in little league, while his sisters along with their female 'cousins' took riding at Aunt Jessica's stables. And then there was little Mari, who was in third grade with the twins. Mari was the only one that was a lighter skin-tone than her siblings, but other than that, she and Abby looked very similar. Except her hair was shorter, shoulder-length.

Then there was little Greggy, Gregory Hojem Sanders II was five, and he looked exactly like his father. His hair was even spiky when he woke up in the morning…which unto itself was a scary thought, but Mia adored his hair so…who were they to question. Instead they would just laugh over it. Mia was still working in the DNA lab, her passion after all, and Greg was now a Level 3 with Warrick and Catherine. It was amazing how much their 'little boy' had grown up, but then again he'd go and do something absolutely insane and they'd be having flashbacks to events like when he wore Portia Richmond's headpiece, or various other classic Greg moments in the lab.

The only other 'kid' in the group was Lindsey…who was definitely not a kid anymore. Linds was 22, and had just finished her studies at WLVU. She worked for Jess at the stables, and had actually decided to get her degree in management; she was the stable manager for Jessica. Much to her mother's chagrin, she had a serious boyfriend, and Sara wouldn't be surprised if in the next year there would be a proposal there… They just kept that theory from Catherine of course. Lindsey was tall, 5'10" and she kept her hair short in a bob now, but was still gorgeous.

"Hey sis," Jessica spoke gathering her attention.

"Hey," Sara smiled up at her.

"You about ready to start the festivities?"

"Do we have a choice?" Sara countered with a laugh. "Someone's going to have to come get Benjamin though," she continued as she looked down towards her companion.

Sahidi had retired from the life of a companion dog almost four-years-earlier. Given the average lifespan of a Saint was eight to ten years, they had wanted him to have some time off, and as luck would have it, since Scor had known Sahidi was getting up there in age, he'd been on the lookout for another pup that had that special something, and sent one for training. Benjamin was actually Sahidi's brother, a much younger brother, but one just the same. Sahidi was still alive, not nearly as fast as he once was, but he loved being with the kids, though both she and Gil secretly believed that his favorite time of day was after the kids were in bed when she and Gil would sit and read, and both dogs would be with them downstairs.

She truly didn't want to think about the day they did loose him…but at least they'd have the memories and silly pictures of her first 'kid'. The greatest trip with him had been their fifth anniversary when Gil took her to Venice. Their 'honeymoon' at last. Of course they had Jack and Laura come as they couldn't leave the children at home; it was Christmas after all, and Aodhán's first birthday… But they'd still had plenty of time just the two of them…well them and Sahidi…that had been the cause of the most laughter. Getting the poor dog into a gondola in order to get around town, when all he wanted to do was go for a swim at times. And the poor gondola operators…they kept getting the same guy, he was young, new at the job…and he couldn't get over this large dog having to get into his gondola.

"Chris is on his way now," Jessica spoke breaking through her thoughts once more and Sara shook her head.

"Well then, let's get Benjamin to him, and get this party started." Sara smiled.

An hour or so later, the Gala was in full swing, and Thomas, along with his co-workers of late, were finishing up their evening's entertainment. Slipping her arm into Jessica's, the two women made their way over to the center of the area deemed, 'the stage' both having a microphone. Sharing a secret smile with each other, and a wink towards Thomas and his group, which included the band over in the corner; they turned to face the gathered guests.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Sara began with a smile. "First, how about another round of applause for these great singers? Aren't they fantastic?" she asked with a smile as she and Jessica turned to clap with the audience as Thomas and his group took another bow. Turning back, Sara took a step back from Jessica. "You know Jyn, I've been thinking. Hearing Thomas and them singing music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, it just brings back memories, doesn't it?"

"Don't even think about it, Sara. You did it to me once nine-years-ago and I am not doing it again," argued Jessica shaking her head and walking away from where Sara was standing.

"Oh come on, Jyn? I can bet you that everyone here would love to hear you sing one song. Especially the munchkins," Sara countered.

"If you're so desperate to have them hear someone sing then you do it," snapped Jessica spinning to face Sara across the stage.

"I'm not the one who everyone has heard sing at one of these before though? I mean why would they want to hear me sing when they all have heard and loved you," Sara pointed out with a smile.

"And I seem to recall it was not my choice to sing that night, that you, of all people, tricked me into it. It's not going to happen Sara."

"Jyn... it's been nearly a decade..." Sara sighed rolling her eyes.

"That doesn't change what happened Sara and you know that," argued Jessica. "What is this feeling so sudden and new?" she asked as she walked across the front of the 'stage' as the band began playing.

"I felt it the moment I laid eyes on you," Sara countered as she rolled her eyes once more.

"My pulse is rushing…" commented Jessica, stopping at the corner of the 'stage', her hand over her heart.

"My head is reeling," Sara continued raising a hand to her head.

"My face is flushing..." countered Jessica, raising her hand from her heart to her cheek before turning and slowly making her way back over to where Sara was standing as they both began to sing What Is This Feeling from Wicked.

Soon Thomas and his group were getting in on the song, telling Jessica how great she was. The only difference between this song and the version from stage was they used their real names in it.

"Oh for the love of..." Sara threw her hands up in the air when they were finished. "If that's the way you feel, you can continue on your own," she added before turning, pivoting and starting away from Jessica as everyone in the audience looked on in shock. Especially their family, well that is the adults... They were all exchanging looks that said 'oh crap!'

"Daddy, mommy isn't really mad at Aunty Sara is she?" asked Sebastian worriedly as he tugged on Nick's sleeve.

"Mommy and Aunt Sara aren't really fighting Seb, they're just pretending," reassured Nick as he picked his son up before throwing a look at Gil wondering the same thing as his son.

"Sara - why couldn't you have stayed calm for once, instead of flying off the handle!" snapped Jessica getting her friend's attention before beginning to sing once more, this time the opening to Defying Gravity.

Sara wheeled around to glare towards her as she countered in song. After throwing her attacks about Jessica's ambition, Jessica joined her.

"Sara, listen to me. Just say you're sorry," pleaded Jessica, as she sung the next lines. Telling her she could still have what she worked for with the Wizard.

"I know," Sara agreed before shaking her head and beginning to sing. Realizing that she didn't, can't, want it anymore. She continued to sing as she spoke to herself, of what she had to do. That she wasn't going to let people tell her what to do anymore.

"Can't I make you understand? You're having delusions of grandeur," argued Jessica.

Sara shook her head and countered in song. She was through accepting limits placed by someone else; she had to try on her own. Defy gravity...before looking over at Jessica. "Jess – come with me. Think of what we could do: Together." She spoke before starting to sing once more. Offering Jessica the chance to join her.

"If we work in tandem," sung Jessica as she held her hand out towards Sara although they were still too far apart to actually touch.

They continued together before Sara finished on the section of song on her own. Smiling she tilted her head as she regarded Jessica. "Well? Are you coming?"

"I hope you're happy, now that you're choosing this," sang Jessica quietly as she stepped back away from Sara, towards where Thomas and his group were standing.

"You too," Sara agreed. "I hope it brings you bliss," she continued until Jessica joined her once more. Shaking her head Sara turned and began walking away as she sang, Jessica staying with Thomas and the others. Talking about where she'd go and what she'd do. That no one would ever bring her down once more.

Jessica stood there worrying her lip as she watched as Sara started walking off the 'stage' after she was finished singing. "Sara wait!" she cried out running out to the middle of the stage.

Sara stopped and looked back at her, raising an eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest. "What?" she asked after a moment.

"Is this it? Is this end of our friendship? A friendship that's lasted over thirty years?" asked Jessica nervously.

Sara shook her head once, before looking down at the ground as she chewed on her own lip, then shrugged slightly.

"Sara...I..." Jessica's words trailed off before she sighed and stepped a little closer to where Sara was before starting to sing quietly, this time she was singing For Good. Sara sighed softly before looking up at Jessica. Glancing away she started to sing the next verse just as softly.

After some time Sara looked over at Jessica and sung softly, asking for forgiveness for the things Jessica blamed her for.

"But then, I guess we know. There's blame to share," continued Jessica in acceptance of the unspoken apology as she made her way over to stand next to Sara, taking her hand as they both sang "And none of it seems to matter anymore" before they both repeated their verses from earlier in unison. Before both sang as one once more…

"I have been changed for good," they finished as Jessica pulled Sara into a hug.

"Did we really just do that?" asked Jessica in a whisper in Sara's ear.

"Did we actually pull it off," Sara countered with a whisper. "What do the guys look like?"

"I don't think I want to know. I haven't looked yet," replied Jessica quietly as Thomas and his group started clapping, which set off everyone else in attendance.

"Well I can't exactly look," Sara giggled as they were still in their hug. "Just sneak a glance. What's the worst that could happen? They kill us? They'd never kill us. They can't live without us," she continued with a wink.

"Jess?" called Nick tapping her lightly on the shoulder.

"We're dead women," Sara whispered in her ear before stepping back.

"Hi," Jessica greeted as she let Sara go and turned around coming face to face with her concerned husband. "Nick what is it?" she asked worriedly before seeing the panic stricken look on her son's face. "Oh Seb honey, what's wrong?"

"He's afraid that you and Aunt Sara are mad at each other and he thinks it's because of something he did," Nick told Jessica as she knelt down next to son.

"Oh Bastian," Sara sighed softly.

"Oh Seb honey. Aunt Sara and I aren't mad at each other or at you. You didn't do anything, Sweetie. I promise you it's not your fault and we're not angry with each other and we're still the best of friends," Jessica reassured her son as she pulled him into a hug. "Oh Sweetie, I didn't mean to upset you."

"Nick, I'm sorry, we didn't mean to worry anyone. We didn't think that...that it would have this kind of effect on people," Jessica said looking up at Nick.

"What do you say we go see your Uncle Gil, June bug, Katie-did and Doodle bug, and get some ice cream while your mom and dad talk?" Sara suggested as she took Sebastian from them.

"It's alright Jess but next time give Seb and I a little heads up when you're planning something like this please?" asked Nick as he watched Sebastian leave with his godmother.

"Technically Seb knew Uncle Nick." Briseis spoke as she walked by. "I think he just forgot..." she continued with a shrug before taking off after her mother and 'cousin', her twin on her heels to help since she was companion-less.

"Nick, I really am sorry," repeated Jessica getting back to her feet. "I knew this was a bad idea from the minute Thomas suggested it..."

"This was Thomas' idea?" questioned Nick as he started past Jessica on a path straight towards where Thomas was standing with Scor.

"Run for it Tommy Boy," Chris warned seeing them coming, and Thomas wisely took Benjamin and headed towards the only other woman in the place who could protect him.

"Nick wait, please don't do anything in front of the children, especially Seb," pleaded Jessica grabbing Nick's arm stopping him in his tracks halfway towards Thomas. "I didn't have to agree to do it Nick and right now I'm really sorry that I did. I never meant to upset you or Seb like this. Please, if you're going to be angry at someone be angry with me. I'm the one that agreed to it in the first place."

Nick did not answer simply walked away from Jessica, leaving her standing in the middle of the room alone. After a few minutes of standing there, Jessica slowly made her way out of the ballroom.

Meanwhile not far away, Sara, Sebastian, Briseis, and Lára, along with Thomas and Benjamin who had joined them, met up with Gil; where he stood with Aodhán and Catherine.

"Interesting show…" Catherine began as she took Sebastian so Sara could take Ben's lead. "It was just a 'show' right?" she continued concerned.

"Of course it was Aunt Cat, we all knew about it," Lára answered with a grin.

"My daughters, the all knowing, have the perfect timing children," Sara sighed softly. "Katie-did let Nick know the same information before she and June joined me."

"Which must have led to him finding out I was behind this…" Thomas continued.

"You were behind this?" Gil and Catherine chorused.

"Not entirely. He suggested that we do some singing, I had Defying Gravity on the brain and realized how much it fit the people who come to the foundation, and it grew from there. But he did figure out the interesting line-up of songs," Sara quickly pointed out.

"Mom…where is Aunt Jessica going?" Aodhán asked suddenly and Sara looked towards him before up at the other adults in question.

"She's walking out of the ballroom. You better go after her," Thomas sighed softly. "I really didn't mean for all this to happen you know."

"None of us did," Sara agreed softly.

"I'll go with you. Gil gets the kids," Catherine suggested.

"Okay with you?" Sara asked looking back at her husband before he slipped his arm around her waist and gave her a light hug.

"Okay. I'm not upset, just scared the crap out of me there…now go check on her," he continued with a kiss to her temple before letting her go and she linked arms with Catherine.

A few minutes later, thanks to people noticing the woman dressed in the pale blue gown, they found Jessica on the Rialto Bridge.

"Jyn?" Sara called softly as Catherine dropped her off only a few feet from Jessica and stepped back to wait a few feet further off.

"Go away Sara," replied Jessica quietly as she wiped away a few tears.

"Oh honey..." Sara sighed. "What happened?"

"He won't talk to me and he won't accept my apology."

"Oh Jyn... he's just still surprised that we were fighting...give him a little while."

"It's more than that Sara. You didn't see the look in his eyes. I hurt him deeply and I don't know if he'll ever be able to forgive me for that," explained Jessica turning to face Sara.

"Chica...Nick can never not forgive you for something. He loves you," Sara countered softly.

"Sara..." Jessica's argument trailed off when she suddenly found a red rose in front of her.

"She's right Jess," Nick said from behind Jessica causing her to turn around to face him.

"Nick I…"

"Shh," Nick instructed putting a finger to Jessica's lips. "I'm sorry I made you think that I could never forgive you and for that I'm sorry."

"Oh Nick," replied Jessica. "I…" she never got to finish what she was going to say because Nick leant down and kissed her, stopping her words in her throat.

"I think that is our cue to leave," Catherine whispered as she joined Sara once more.

"Me too." Sara agreed as they linked arms and turned to go back the way they'd come. "Hey, I just thought of something... why can I foresee the three of us, that is Nick, Jessica and I, in our eighties at some retirement home and those two will get into an argument over who's dentures are who's and I'll get to sit and play peacemaker until they decide it doesn't matter and start making out?"

"Okay that's not an image I want of two people making out at eighty. I don't even want to imagine myself making out at eighty," Catherine shuddered lightly. "But you're right...aynd hey, where are the rest of us?"

"Well," Sara began as she thought... "You and Warrick, along with Gil, Jim, Al and a few others are up in heaven making room for the rest of us. Mia and Greg are further down the hall driving the nurses nuts because the food is made in mass production, and we're about to get bombarded by the entire group of children, their children, and you're great-grandchildren," Sara grinned.

"Why am I dead?" Catherine asked looking at her.

"If we're in our eighties, how old are you going to be?"

"In my nineties," she answered with a shrug. "So what? I'll live to my hundreds, just to outlive Gil."

"Fair enough, then Warrick won't die of a broken heart anytime soon," Sara laughed as they entered the ballroom.

"Why am I going to die of a broken heart?" Warrick asked next to them and Sara jumped.

"Don't sneak up on the blind woman who's discussing your death with your wife," Sara scolded as the other adults joined them.

"Why are you discussing his death in the first place?" Gil asked as he took her arm from Catherine.

"Because we were just figuring how everyone's lives are going to be when Sara, Nick, and Jessica are in their eighties. Sadly you, Jim, and Al are going to be dead," Catherine answered.

"Does she know something I don't?" Gil asked with a frown.

"No, just remember you have to live to be a hundred and five so she can reach a hundred then die, having not outlived you," Sara laughed.

"Okay," Gil just nodded. He wasn't sure he wanted to find out.

"If he lives to a hundred and five, I'm going to live to a hundred and nine to outlive all of you," Jim spoke up causing everyone to laugh.

Shaking her head Sara looked up at Gil and beckoned him to bend his head down with her finger. Whispering in his ear he nodded before linking hands with her. "We shall return," Sara announced before they made their way over to the make-shift stage area once more and he found her a microphone as Jessica and Nick returned and joined the others.

"Hello again ladies and gentlemen," Sara began with a smile as everyone turned their attention to her. "Thank you for putting up with our little...thing there," she continued. "Just to let you all know, no, we weren't fighting. It was all part of the show. If we were really ending our friendship…well, I think everyone would notice the others signs of the end of the world first," she paused as laughter filtered through the crowd. "As you can imagine, this evening is pretty much drawing to a close, although you are welcome to stay and enjoy the music and other hospitalities to your leisure. But some of us do have children we have to get home, so I at least am going to be going soon," she paused as a collective groan went through the crowd this time. "Thank you, it's good to know you're loved," she laughed.

"But really now, before I go I have a few last words to say. Ten-years-ago, the Harrison-Sidle Foundation first opened its doors. Less than a year later the second branch opened their doors here in Vegas. And today there are eight other locations around the nation. It's amazing what one small thought can become, isn't it?" she asked with another smile. "But I think the real thing we are here to celebrate tonight isn't that the foundation has grown as it has, or that it's continued all these years. But to instead celebrate the people who have been changed because of the dream of one person to help others. The song we sung earlier, Defying Gravity…when I heard it a few weeks ago, after having listened to it hundreds of times since the musical first came out in the early years after the Millennium, I finally heard it in a new way. Elphaba defied not just gravity by being able to fly, she defied those who would hold her down, keep her from becoming the person she was meant to be. Over the last ten-years, many people have found the strength and courage to defy those in their lives who would hold them down, keep them from shining bright. And there are many others who are still being 'held down'... So to the next decade, to the people who will find the strength to defy gravity, and to those who already have because everyone does deserve the chance to fly," Sara finished as everyone began to clap. Smiling she gave the microphone back to Thomas as he appeared to lead his companions in song once more before taking Gil's arm as they walked off stage.

"You did wonderful Acushla," Gil whispered as they made their way back across the ballroom.

"Only because of all of you," Sara countered with a smile. "You know, I think I finally figured out just who I am," she mused.

"Oh? And who's that?"

"The woman you love, the mother of our children... but more than that. I'm just me. I'm not controlled by the past, or John…" Sara explained as she briefly thought about her uncle who had been executed four-years-earlier. "I'm happy," she continued with a bright smile.

"Good to hear," Gil smiled as he kissed her temple once more, before the sound of the three 'bugs' drew their attention and Sara opened her arms to get a three way hug from the children, her laughter mixing with the music.