5 years later, Christmas morning- Epilogue
Nathan and Elizabeth were asleep in their bed. They were sleeping in their bedroom with a skylight as Nathan had promised.
Suddenly, three children jumped on Nathan and Elizabeth's bed.
"Merry Christmas!" Allie, Jack and 5-year-old Daniel said.
"Merry Christmas" Elizabeth said sleepily.
Nathan pretended to snore.
"Come on Dad. We know you are awake." Jack said.
"Dad is sleeping." Nathan said in a robot voice.
All three giggled.
Nathan sat up in his bed.
"Let's go see what Santa left." Nathan said.
Suddenly a cry from the other room was heard.
"Looks like your little sister Colleen wants to join in the fun." Elizabeth said.
"Everyone, go around the Christmas tree and we'll open presents." Nathan said. All three of them ran down. Nathan and Elizabeth smiled. Nathan went down stairs to the living room. Nathan made sure that they had a large living room when he built the house. It was the room where he would spend the most time with his family.
Nathan made coffee and Elizabeth brought Colleen downstairs with her. Nathan kissed Colleen on the cheek.
"Everyone knows the rules. We got oldest to youngest when opening presents." Nathan said.
They all nodded their heads in agreement.
Allie opened her first present. Nathan couldn't believe his little girl wasn't so little anymore. In the spring she would graduate and then in the fall she would head off to college in Hamilton. She was going to go to the same college that Elizabeth went. She would study to become a teacher, just like Elizabeth.
"A new journal!" Allie exclaimed.
Next, Jack took a present from under the tree. Jack had grown up in the last five years. His facial features were becoming more pronounced. Nathan and Elizabeth both commented that he had Elizabeth's eyes and nose but had his father's smile. About a year after Nathan and Elizabeth were married, Jack started calling Nathan, dad. Nathan didn't ask him to and even read him the book of stories from men who served with his father every night. But it just came out naturally. Nathan didn't mind.
"New bait hooks!" Jack exclaimed.
Nathan smiled. He couldn't wait until the lake thawed out so he could Jack out to fish.
Next, Daniel opened his gift. Daniel opened his gift. They were wooden toys.
"Toys." Daniel exclaimed. His blue eyes lit up. Nathan and Elizabeth agreed that Daniel was Nathan's spitting image. He had blue eyes and a crooked smile.
Nathan picked up a gift for Colleen.
Elizabeth helped Colleen open the present. Now if Daniel was the spitting image of Nathan, Colleen was the spitting image of Colleen. She was almost two years old but looked like a mini-Elizabeth.
"A new dress." Elizabeth exclaimed. Colleen looked at the dress and grabbed at it.
"Now it's mommy's turn for a gift." Nathan said pulling out a little box.
"Nathan." Elizabeth said softly. Elizabeth opened the box and gasped.
"Those are the earrings I saw in Union City." Elizabeth said.
"I went back to get them for you." Nathan said. Elizabeth kissed Nathan.
"They're beautiful." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth lifted up a pillow and revealed her own box.
"Now it's daddy's turn." Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled and opened up the box. He pulled out knitted booties for a baby.
Nathan's smiled grew larger.
"Really?" Nathan said. Elizabeth nodded. Nathan kissed Elizabeth.
"What did you get?" Allie asked.
"We are getting a new baby for our clan." Nathan said. All the kids went and hugged Nathan and Elizabeth.
"Who wants pancakes?' Nathan asked.
Everyone raised their hand.
"To the kitchen!" Nathan said. Elizabeth picked up Colleen and started walking to the kitchen. Suddenly, out of the corner of Elizabeth's eye, she thought she saw something red out the window. She looked out the window but there was nothing there. She shook her head and headed to the kitchen.
What Elizabeth didn't know was that she did see something red outside. It was Jack looking in through the window with a smile on his face. Nathan and Elizabeth had found their path home.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who read this story. Your comments of encouragement made writing this story enjoyable. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.