Epilogue

"Momma!" Hannah cried from the back deck.

"Hannah, sweetie, what are you doing?" Michaela asked, throwing her dish towel over her shoulder and bending down to her level as best she could with her growing belly.

Hannah was covered in washable paint, markers and play doh. "I am making a present for Katie's birthday and I made a big mess." She replied, pouting.

"Yes, I see that, how did you make this mess?"

"I was just having fun and painting this picture."

"That is perfectly okay, here, let me pick you up so you don't track it in the house."

Michaela carried the three year old in the house and down the hall to the bathroom and put her in the bathtub.

"Yay, momma! I like baths," she squealed, splashing bubbles and water all over Michaela.

"What is going on in here?" Sully asked, carrying a squirming Katie.

"Daddy, I want to get in the bath tub too!" Katie wailed.

"Katie, Hannah isn't going to be in here very long, she made a mess outside and I'm cleaning her up."

"Okay, momma," Katie was satisfied with her answer.

Sully and Michaela exchanged tired glances. The girls were now three years old, with just a few months separating them. They were very independent little girls with a strong will and determination. Katie took after Michaela in her fierce determination and Hannah took after Sully in his love of the outdoors. She insisted on being outside all the time. Katie and Hannah were inseparable. Michaela loved that they had a deep bond.

Michaela left the girls in the living room with Sully while she finished preparing dinner. The timer on the oven alerted her that Katie's birthday cake was done baking. She heard giggling and squealing as she put the cake on the counter to cool. She peaked around the corner to see both girls climbing over Sully while he sat on the couch. She smiled as she watched the three of them bonding.

"You all sound like you are having fun without me!" Michaela declared.

"We don't mean to, momma," Katie answered.

"Michaela, come sit over here by me," Sully said, patting the sofa next to him.

She moved to sit next to him and the girls giggled and scampered out of the room.

"Don't go far, dinner is almost ready," Michaela called after them.

Sully put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. She snuggled into his shoulder and kissed him lightly on the neck. She was very content with her life at this moment. She glanced around their living room. It was a two story space with expansive windows that looked out on the mountains and valley below them. Sully had surprised her with the details of the floor plans. It was built in the same style as the restaurant where they had their first date.

The fireplace was in the middle of the room and was built out of large stones and boasted many pictures of them and the girls while out on adventures. There was a large wooden mantle that Sully had created that ran the length of the hearth. Sully's wood working business was flourishing in the mountains of Colorado Springs. He had recently expanded to a new location in Denver. This kept him busy and away for several days at a time while he was getting that facility running. It was difficult on Michaela with the two girls to manage.

Michaela decided that she would become a part time physician in the pediatrician's office in town while the girls were small. The rigors of maintaining a fledgling practice and raising two small children was more than she could handle at the time. Michaela enjoyed the time she was able to spend at home.

"What are you thinking about?" Sully asked, after she was quiet for a while.

"I'm just thinking about how good life is now."

"I couldn't agree more," he answered, kissing her on the top of her head.

Hannah came back in the room quietly and wiggled her finger at Sully. "Daddy, can I go outside and get Katie's present?"

Sully hugged her and said, "Yes, sweet girl, but bring it over to the counter top and put it where Katie can't see it until after dinner."

"I should go see if the food is ready," Michaela stated and stood up.

The girls ate their dinner fast in anticipation of getting a piece of birthday cake. Sully put a paper cone hat on Katie that had a bright red pompom at the tip of it that had "Happy Birthday" written on it. Katie wore it with pride. She was beaming with a wide smile on her face while waiting for her slice of cake and her presents.

Hannah proudly presented her present to Katie. It was a piece of large construction paper trimmed in glitter and a sculpture of a horse made of playdoh. Hannah loved to create things with her hands and took every opportunity to make something for anyone she knew. Katie loved horses.

Later that evening, Sully and Michaela were sitting on the deck in their favorite swing watching the sun set behind the mountains. The girls were already sound asleep in their beds. The sky was turning a deep shade of orange and casting long shadows across the valley.

"This is my favorite time of day," Sully mentioned, placing a protective hand on her belly.

"Mine too," she agreed, looking up at him.

THE END

Author's Note:

I want to thank everyone for reading and taking the time to leave me a review. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of writing my first fan fiction story. I hope you enjoyed as well.

Thank you!