EPILOGUE.

CPOV

"Daddy, look I can reach higher" Teddy told me as he placed his little hand on the tree.

"You grow like a weed, I'm not surprised you have grown bigger. I'm glad you don't grow as high as this tree though."

"Don't be silly Daddy, I won't be able to go in through the door if I'm that big."

I smiled at my son as he stood on his tiptoes, reaching further up the tree, Ana's tree. It had thankfully continued to grow over the years and had no lasting damage from the helicopter lopping the top of it.

I followed Teddy back up the hill towards the house. He was heading for his sledge so we were not going inside yet. Teddy, had turned five a few weeks ago and was a perfect representation of my wife and I. His little sister was just the same.

Ana and I had the wedding we both wanted, here in the place which has become our permanent home. We were married on the mountain side, in a meadow of flowers. Our vows drifting on the breeze across the valley below. Our family were here, as were our close friend from Seattle and most of the town came too.

When day turned to night, we danced under the stars as the band played. The only light we had, was the moonlight up above and the fairy lights and candles in the marquee. It was the best day of my life and one I will never forget.

I still worked in Seattle although my day there is shorter than what it used to be. I wanted to be home for dinner with my family so I had become good at working in the car, both there and back.

Before Ana, I always thought I would like a house over looking The Sound. Now I could never imagine living anywhere but here. Ana still works for SIP but unless she needs to go into the city, her work is done from home. With the enhanced internet and phone connections my team had created over the years, it gives her the perfect environment to work when she wants to and still remain here with the children.

"Come on Daddy" Teddy called as I climbed onto the back of the sledge.

We were soon moving down the hill, laughing when we landed in the snow bank at the bottom.

"Are you two having fun" Ana called to us.

"Lots of fun Mommy" He laughed as we walked back up the hill.

I left Teddy who was picking snow up and throwing it at the snowman we had made yesterday, wrapping my arms around my wife.

"Are you warm" I asked Ana, kissing her beautiful lips.

"I'm, fine Christian. Toasty and warm" she smiled, answering the same question I had asked her hundreds of times before.

We watched Teddy go down the slope, giggling all the way, especially when he landed at the bottom.

"Is Phoebe awake yet."

"Yes, she seems fine now. She's reading to her dolls with my Dad."

"I wonder what made her so tired, has she got a temperature."

"No I checked, its normal. I just think with the excitement of the day, she had worn herself out."

I looked through the glass doors, seeing Ray sat with his granddaughter, playing happily. It was rare for Phoebe to have a nap during the day any more, hopefully my wife is right.

"My turn now" Ana told Teddy as she took the sledge.

Teddy was stood waiting for his mother to go down the hill, but she quickly pulled him in front of her and they were off, giggling all the way.

"What time is everyone getting here" Teddy asked us.

"They will be here before dinner. Elliot, Kate and Ava have to come from seeing Kate's parents in the city and Grandma and Granddad will be here when Grandma finishes at the hospital."

We made our way into the house when Teddy was starting to get cold. It was Christmas eve and like always, we were expecting a full house.

"Daddy" Phoebe shouted, before getting up and running over to me.

"How is my baby girl doing" I asked, picking her up and covering her face with kisses.

"Daddy" she squealed before planting her own sloppy kisses on my cheek.

Phoebe Grace Grey was the apple of my eye. She was a perfect tiny version of her mother and even at the age of three, she didn't have a book far from her hand.

We walked over to the fireplace where she touched each of the stockings there. All with our names on. Ana still had her original stocking, despite the stitching going two years ago for us to find her presents on the hearth. She told the children that Santa's present was too heavy for the stocking and made it fall through. Along with Ana's, there are Teddy's, Phoebe's and also mine, all that are filled every year by my father in law.

The house phone beeped which Ray picked up.

"Grandma and Granddad are on the way up" he told the children.

One thing we never had here before was security. That was essential as the children came along and also for my wife and myself. Ana didn't want them following her around town but they're always discrete and when the press decide to be brave enough to come into town, they're needed. I will never chance losing Ana again.

When I moved here permanent, Taylor and Gail were happy to come as well. I think Taylor likes the slower pace of life here and Sophie doesn't want to go home when she visits. They have a small cottage that was built near the bottom of the road, up to our house. We also have a security office there too. All built to look as if they had always been there, blending in perfectly with the scenery that surrounds them.

The trial with Paul Clayton was swift and completely fell apart on him. Sitting across from a man who tells you that he is in love with your fiancée, was hard. The lies that came out of his mouth, tripped him up one after the other. Blaming my girl for moving on with her life, saying almost killing her was the last chance he had for her to listen to him. He ranted all through the trial showing no remorse, how everything was Ana's fault because she wouldn't do as she was told. He was digging himself deeper and deeper and his fate was set. The jury had seen him for what he was, a psychopath and a danger to Ana. He was sentenced to life for attempted murder and kidnapping, being dragged from the court when his anger was aimed at the judge and jury. Shortly after, the Clayton's packed up and left town.

There was no animosity towards his parents. They were part of this community and shocked by his actions too but they said they needed a break away. When Ray last heard off them, they were enjoying their life in Florida away from the stress of their son.

"Merry Christmas Eve" my mother called out, bringing me from my thoughts as she came in through the door with my Dad following.

The children were immediately on their feet, running to greet them.

"How's Doris" Ana asked.

"Fit and healthy and on her way to Maisy's house" my mother told her.

That was a relief to hear, after she had suffered a fall at home.

"Did you give all the patients eggnog before you left" I asked.

"Now would your mother do that."

"Yes" Ana shouted on her way to the kitchen, making my mum laugh.

My mum now worked at the small hospital here in town, having moved from the city just after Phoebe was born. They wanted to be able to see their grandchildren without the 90 minutes drive.

"Are you staying with us tonight Grandma" Teddy asked her.

"Of course, it's Christmas eve and I have the perfect pyjamas just for you."

His groan joined mine as my wife's laughter met our ears.

"Look forward to it grandma" he said before disappearing to his room.

The house had grown since Ana and I had met. We now had two extra bedrooms in an extension that my brother built when Ana became pregnant with Teddy. He was a honeymoon baby and very welcome as Ana had not had her shot renewed a couple of months before our wedding, both of us wanting to start a family.

I helped my mother, take her bags into the guest room which they had spent every Christmas eve in, coming back to take the hot chocolate from my wife's hand.

"Thank you baby" I said before kissing her lips. It had to be done as we were stood under the mistletoe that had been hung in various places throughout the house.

When Mia and her Fiancé Sean arrived, followed shortly by my brother and his family, we were complete.

"How's work" I asked Elliot.

"I think I'm more busy since moving here than I was in Seattle" he laughed.

Taking over the hardware store from the Clayton's was an easy decision. They wanted to move quickly and Elliot offered them cash, as well as making an offer for their house. A house that was knocked down and in its place because of the large amount of land that came with it, two were rebuilt. One for my parents and one for himself and Kate. Elliot still worked a lot in Seattle but all the planning and his office was here in town.

Our Christmas eve traditions continued but apart from the children's, our pyjamas were all normal. I looked for a tail sticking out the back like the dragon I had received the year before, but nothing.

"Mum are you ill" Elliot asked her as he held up his pyjamas, turning them this way and that but not finding anything out of the ordinary.

"No I'm perfectly fine. I couldn't find any funny pyjamas for adults this year so I thought I would just stick to the children from now on. Unless you want me to go into the city next year, just for them.

"NO mum, these are perfect thank you" Mia told her.

My mother smiled before winking to my Dad. She was up to something. Ana and I changed Teddy and Phoebe into their pyjamas while waiting for the others to come back. We had a roaring fire going and although we had a large guard around it, we still didn't like to leave the children alone in the room unattended while it was lit.

"You look good Dad" Ana said to Ray.

"They actually feel comfortable, not like the onesie I had last year which was up my ar… bottom" he quickly changed his words as he had little eyes looking at him.

Ana pulled my hand, leading me up to our bedroom before shutting everyone else out.

She went to pull her sweater off but I stopped her, stripping my wife instead.

"Bra and panties" I asked.

"They can stay, until later that is." I kissed her lips before she put her pyjamas on and then removed my clothes.

"We are probably taking a lot longer than everyone else" Ana said on her knees as she pulled my jeans down my legs and removed them from my feet.

"The floor boards aren't squeaking so they cannot complain."

She laughed as she took my hand, getting back on her feet again.

"Boxers" Ana asked, her hand on the waist band.

"Later, I will let you remove them."

"Look forward to it Mr Grey."

Once we were dressed, we joined everyone else in the living room. The opening credits for Frozen were starting, my baby girls favourite.

I sat down, Phoebe scrambling onto my knee as she started singing. We heard grumbling from all the other men in the room with having to watch it again but I didn't mind, Phoebe was happy.

"Oh. Let it go" She said, making us laugh.

My baby girl knew every word, to all the songs and sang along to them. I hate to admit it out loud, but I knew every word too and sang along with her.

I carried my tired daughter to her room, while Ana followed behind carrying Teddy. We had just finished watching his favourite Christmas movie and I could still hear him humming the theme tune.

"Santa coming" Phoebe asked, letting out a tiny yawn as I lay her in bed.

"Soon baby girl, soon. You sleep and he will be here before you know it."

She closed her eyes, pulling her little plush reindeer closer to her chest and let sleep take her.

…

Christmas morning, there was definitely no chance of a lie in with my wife like we had tried before. We had little hands banging on our bedroom door, imploring us to get up.

"Merry Christmas Ana" I kissed my wife before going to open the door, once she was covered.

"Merry Christmas Christian. The hectic day begins now."

I laughed opening the door, my little girl running past me. Seeing her mother still sat in bed, she pulled on her hands.

"Ok I'm up" Ana laughed before picking Phoebe up and lay her down on the bed beside her.

"Mommy up up, Santa been."

I wrapped my arm around my son's shoulder as his arms went around my waist. He had obviously been woken up by hurricane Phoebe in her excitement for Christmas.

"Has Santa brought me presents" I asked him smiling.

"Yes lots of presents, all for me" he giggled as I picked him up.

"Any chocolate and it's mine."

"Share Daddy" he laughed as I placed him on the bed.

Finally when everyone was ready, we made our way downstairs. The tree was overflowing, having been added to a lot once the children were tucked away in their beds.

Our stockings were opened first, as Ava joined us opening her own.

"Remember to look for your own name otherwise you get to keep the gift you open and whoever its for, gets yours" Ana told everyone.

Teddy ended up with some bath bombs which were for his mother last year and my Dad ended up with some lingerie which was for Kate off Elliot. I don't think I had ever seen my Dad go so red before as he quickly handed them to his daughter in law.

The wrappings were quickly shredded, making a bed for Boomer who was lay on the floor. He was an old man now but still liked to run around after the children.

"What's this Christian" Ana asked, holding up the keys for her new car which was outside in the garage.

"Keys" I said innocently.

She smiled, kissing my lips before handing me a box. I laughed opening it, as Ana had gotten me the exact same thing.

"It's at Dad's as you told me I couldn't use the garage until you finished making the log store."

A little lie on my part. I finished the log store a week ago which contained the logs that I had cut up myself with the help of my son.

"I think there will be plenty of room for both. Thank you."

When the wrappings were all bagged up for the fire and the children were about to run off to play with their new toys, my mother stopped us.

"Ana come here dear" she said as my wife came in from the kitchen where she had been checking on dinner.

"Your father and I have one more present for you all."

They handed each of us a package, a soft package. I'm not wearing a onesie for Christmas dinner if that is what this is.

"Open them then" My mother smiled, seeing us carefully holding the packages as if they were dangerous.

Phoebe was the first to open hers, pulling out a Christmas sweater with a reindeer on the front. As we opened the presents, each was worse than the one before.

My mother had given up on getting us ugly pyjamas for Christmas eve and moved on to ugly sweaters.

Mine had a Christmas tree on the front with lights that flashed when it started to play, we wish you a merry Christmas.

"I'm in hell" Elliot said, holding his sweater up. It had the body of an elf on it but it was the hat with pointy ears attached that mum put on his head, which had us in hysterics.

"I'm glad you think their funny, my work here is done" Mum laughed.

"I want Mommy's" Phoebe called out as I looked to my wife.

Ana had put her sweater on and it was a fairy's body with a tutu around the waist and little wings on her back. Hers came with accessory's as well, in the shape of a crown and wand which my daughter was now wearing.

Throughout dinner, my music played thanks to Teddy who kept pressing the button. I felt like I was in a club as the lights flashed before my eyes. Elliot had to keep the elf hat and ears on, my mother telling him it was a new tradition that they had to wear it.

"Next year, we're at your mothers" he told Kate.

"You can go, I'm staying here. It's more fun" she laughed.

Putting two tired children to bed that night, Ana and I could finally take a breath. Like every Christmas day here, it had been full of fun and laughter but also full of love.

"Did Santa bring you everything you wanted" I asked Ana, when I had her to myself in our bedroom.

"I already have everything I could ever need here Christian. You and our children, Our crazy family too."

We stood in front of the window, watching the snow falling quietly outside.

"There is one thing I would like for next Christmas though."

"What's that. I will give you anything you want Ana."

"A baby."

I turned her around to face me, ignoring the view out of the window.

"Another child" I asked as she nodded.

"Another Grey, another mountain baby" she said, smiling.

Picking Ana up, she wrapped her legs around my waist as I walked over to our bed.

"No point in waiting until next Christmas, that's something we can work on now."

And we did. With the snow falling outside the window, against the backdrop of the mountain. Lily Rose Grey was conceived. Here in time to spend the next perfect crazy Christmas with us, on the mountain we call home.

The End…

Thank you for everyone who has taken the time to read and review my story, I truly appreciate it.

There will be no sequel to this one like I had been asked as I felt it finished at the perfect place.

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New year.

I'm off for a cup of tea and a mince pie and I will be back in the new year with some new stories.

Take care

Caroline.