Disclaimer: I don't own CSI: Miami. Oh well.
Epilogue:
A/N: Uber thanks to floofymiko for your help and advice!
The gavel hit as the verdict came in. Silence echoed all throughout the cloud. Today would not be a stormy day.
She stole a glance at her friend. His composure was awe-inspiring. The Council of Elders was so… intimidating.
"Have you two realized what you did?"
"Yes, sir!" The two entities shouted up.
"Then, you know the circumstances are different in this case. You know that the consequences will be harsher this time."
"Yes, sir!"
"Before I read the verdict, what have you two learned?"
"That human lives are not to meddled with so capriciously," shouted the young man, "sir!"
"Mmm… and you?"
"Human lives are fragile. The smallest changes can affect the outcome of their destiny and change their fate, no matter how strong those two are. Our interference can greatly harm humankind."
"Only interference?"
"Our powers… sir."
"At least you two have learned something… for once. This, however, will not change the verdict."
She gulped, not sure what to anticipate, and noticed that her friend was glowering.
"Fate and Cupid. What you have done is considered a crime. After this trial ends, you two will be relieved of your duties. Replacements will be found promptly and you two will be banished to the human realm."
"Yes, sir!"
Fate trembled at her feet. What will happen to us?
"You will have no memory of this place. You two will start new lives separate from one another." He actually was unsure about that last part. There was always the small chance that they could end up living in the same household and not even know it.
"So, sir," cried out the young woman, "we will be reincarnated in the human realm?"
"Yes. You two will be born again. Say your farewells and prepare to leave by sunset."
The two youthful miscreants nodded mutely. They had no idea what would await them or if they would ever meet each other again.
But then again, maybe it was their fate.
"Mhmhmphm… Eric, stop! That tickles!" She giggled as her husband casually rubbed her side with his foot.
They were sitting at a table, finishing up their dessert, a lightly whipped pomegranate cheesecake; the orange sun low on the horizon, setting off its magnificent glowing hues before its adieu until the following morning.
"Ew, you guys are gross," the little boy across from them scrunched his nose. "Save it for your bedroom!"
"Stinky poo!" His younger sister copied him, squeezing her nose with her forefinger and thumb.
"Okay, you two," their mother in a mock scolding tone, "brush your teeth and off to bed!"
"Aww," whined the five year old, "do we have to?"
"C'mon, Ella, mommy and daddy need mwah-mwah time." The older boy dragged his sister out of the dining room, the whole time making fish-kiss faces.
The two adults laughed. As she picked up the dishes to wash them at the sink, she teasingly stated, "He's your son."
"Oh, really? I thought he'd always been yours." With a slight limp, he made his way over to his wife's side.
"Oh? So when is he yours, then?"
Nuzzling his face playfully at her neck, he whispered, "When he marries a pretty girl."
"Hmm… only pretty?"
"Well, pretty… and… intelligent and loving and caring and gorgeous and-"
She shoved the last piece of cheesecake into mouth. He's so cute.
"So, how's Alyson and Aaron coming along?"
"Is that what their names are going to be?"
"Yeah, they sound… good."
She laughed out loud. "Yeah, Alyson and Aaron… Delko…" A maternal glow radiated from the expecting mother. "They kicked."
"Really?" He lifted himself off the couch he had been resting on and kneeled by his wife's tummy. "Hey in there! It's your Papí, you're not giving your Mamí any trouble now are you? I hope not… I hope you're all warm and cozy in there and filled with a lot of love! And-"
"Papí, can we talk to them too?" His two children had padded their way down the stairs and into the family room.
"Of course!" He grinned as they hopped onto his lap and began talking gibberish to their unborn siblings.
"So, what did you two do today?" Their mother curiously asked.
"Oh, nothing… important…" The two children giggled and found that they couldn't meet each other in the eye and ended up running upstairs to their beds.
"Wonder what they did…" Their parents dwelled upon it for a moment, until a thought brought a small smile on his face. "You know what tonight is?"
"What?"
"When I proposed to you eight years ago!"
"Eric, that's next month."
"Well, can't we still do a monthly anniversary?"
"So, it's like our ninety-fifth month anniversary?"
"Something like that."
"Wow, we sound old."
The two young lovers laughed. "Wanna invite people for a mini-celebration?"
"Why not? Let's see, definitely Marísol and Horatio-
"Ryan and Valera-"
"Technically, she's Maxine Wolfe now…"
"She'll always be Valera… may as well be Valera Wolfe."
"Yeah, I'm sure that's on their certificate." The two laughed again, their fingers interlaced together.
"Well, also Calleigh and Peter-"
"Definitely, and Alexx and her husband."
"That's about everybody right?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
"Yeah it does." He gently kissed her cheek, "We should tuck those little rascals in, shouldn't we?"
Beaming, she replied, "Of course!"
She patiently helped her husband climb the stairs that led to their children's bedroom, turning off the light that once flooded the living room.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
-Matthew 7:7-8
A/N: LOL -Choco.Sushi.Nut takes a deep bow. Thank you to all those who have supported me along the way and given me tips and advice (namely, floofymiko).
LOL. Oh. My. Gosh. I actually finished this story. Yep, this would be my first. WOOT! I hope everyone's had a great time reading it as I've had writing it!