This is the epilogue. Before you read this, I want to thank each and everybody of you for reviewing this piece, for putting it on your favourites and story alert list, for putting me on author alert… All these things. Then I want to thank my wonderful friend who beta read for me and helped me when I was stuck with my plot AND gave me some ideas. Thanks so much.
There you go, guys.
Disclaimer: I only own Ann, and the family as it is shown here. The rest is property of CBS and all those wonderful guys.
Epilogue
Two weeks later, the whole family was at the restaurant. It was Duke's and Doreen's last evening in Miami. Both had decided they would take some time off from Boston and stay in Miami longer than they had planned to, to enjoy a bit of the Miami sun. But Duke had to go back to work now. The good-bye dinner had been Ron's idea. So Duke, Doreen, Ryan, Ron and Ann had met at one of the fanciest restaurants in Miami. Ron and Ann were sitting next to each other, sharing a menu. Ryan had to grin. Actually, the moment Ron had confessed his love for Ann had been number one of the most unromantic 'I love you' situations ever. When she had helped him pulling his socks on when he had left hospital. But well, Ann was used to it. After all, having spent so much time with Ron, she knew he was a little weirdo. But the smile on both their faces indicated that they were very happy.
"Ryan, you know what you're gonna eat?" Doreen asked. "You could use a little bit of vitamins, you still look a bit pale…"
Ryan grinned, "I'm alright, Ma'am…"
"Yeah, that's what you say."
Doreen Wolfe was alright again. Physically, she had recovered the fastest. She had been released from hospital the day after she'd been admitted already, only having a few bruises and a sprained wrist from the fall. But they all knew that it could have been different. Ron had on more than one occasion protected her from the terrorists when they threatened to use her for having a little fun. It was there when Ron had actually gotten most of his wounds from. Duke didn't say a thing, but Ryan knew that he and Ron had had a serious conversation, and that also between them, things were going better. Slowly, but they were. Though Ron had a really hard time to forgive his brother too, and he wasn't too thrilled about the fact that he actually owed his life to Duke who had given him his blood.
Ryan was just about to decide between the calamari and the lobster when he heard a voice.
"Duke Wolfe? Is that really you?"
Duke raised his head, smiled and got up when he saw the man who had just called him. "Dmitri Danilow. Haven't seen you in ages. How are you doing?"
The man shook Duke's hand, "Just fine, just fine… How about you?"
"Alive and kicking. Wait, let me introduce you…" He turned back to his family. "This is Dmitri Danilow, an old friend of mine. Dmitri, this is my family. My wife, Doreen Wolfe, my brother Ron and his girlfriend Ann Evans, and my son Ryan."
Ryan nearly choked on his water. Son? Did Duke really just say that? He checked with Ron. Ron had his arm around Ann's shoulder and was smiling at him. Yeah… Duke had just introduced him to a complete stranger as his son... Ryan smiled when he shook the man's hand. Maybe, after all, it wouldn't be as difficult as he imagined it to be a family again. It would take him some time to forget what had happened, to forget all the pain, the fear and the humiliations his father had put him through. He would never be able to let all the walls he had built around himself down. Too much had happened. Getting over it would be hard. But he was willing to try. And if he had learned one thing in his life, which both Ron and Duke had taught him, was that, if you wanted something very much, nothing on earth could stop you. And nothing on earth would stop Ryan Wolfe.
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So, yeah, the end of this story. I hope you liked it. As said above, I want to thank each and every one of you for reading and reviewing. It has been such a motivation. I have some ideas for new fics, so I'll probably be back soon. If you want… :) Peace and Love,