A/N: First and foremost THANK YOU to everyone who has read this story and all my other ones. I greatly appreciate it and are indebted to you all for giving me a reason to write and escape the real world for a bit. Thank you for the kinds words and reviews. You all put a smile on my face. Thanks for giving me a safe place to write and I hope some of you were able to escape any problems or stresses in your life for a little bit by reading my stories. :)

Epilogue

The next day James Sawyer opened his eyes again. The pain was agonizing from the gunshot. The pain medicine wasn't do it's job and the sun was shinning bright into his room, it almost blinded him.

"Good morning, sunshine." Punk's chipper voice greeted and James turned his head to see a happy Marshal Brooks sitting next to his bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit." James spat.

"Don't make this even better for me." Punk laughed happily. "How painful is it?"

"Fuck off." James groaned. "Get out of my room."

"Oh, no, no." Punk smirked. "You're rights are gone. See this." he said jingling his wrist that was handcuffed to the bed. "You are under arrest."

"It won't stick. It never does." James smiled to himself.

"You wish." Punk chuckled amused. "There's no way out for you."

"Why are you even here?" James grunted.

"I promised April I'd stay. She was afraid you would die." Punk informed him.

"She's loyal to me." James said happily. "Does it bother you?"

"She's not like us." Punk told him and James eyes him. "She can't take a life, no matter how justified she is. Even a worthless, shitty life such as your own."

"Why didn't you kill me?" James asked.

"I would have, had you not shot at me." Punk told him. "I've been dreaming about it. But last night I found myself hoping for your full recovery so my wife could have some peace. You are done torturing her. Your hold over her is gone. And I'm elated."

"I always get out." James warned him.

"Not this time." Punk remarked happily. "I'm your witness now." he told him smiling. "Not April, I'm the witness to you kidnapping my daughter, I'm the witness who you shot, I'm the witness to you keeping my wife hostage. You are going away for the rest of your life. And don't think you're going to be in solitary confinement either. You're going to gen pop. And I'm going to make sure all of your new roommates know that you're a child predatory, born with a silver spoon. Inmates are going to LOVE that."

"You can't do that." James said to him.

"I think I can." Punk grinned. "I have all the power now. You have nothing. You don't have your dad, you don't have my kid and you don't have a way out."

"There's always a way out." James told him.

"Not anymore." Punk told him and he stood up. "I'm going to go home and see my family. My wife, my son, MY daughter." he grinned happily. "You didn't change a thing between us except make us stronger. Actually, you're the reason for my family. Never would have met April and had those children without you."

"I'm glad my life wasn't worthless." James mocked.

"Oh, no your life is totally worthless." Punk said seriously. "I'm going to make sure family members of the women you killed show up at your trial. I'm going to dig into all of those cases that never made it to trial and add charges. You're done. You're life was pointless."

"Get out." James ordered.

"Normally I don't take orders from criminals but like I said, I have a family waiting for me." Punk said to him. "I think once you're recovered you'll be moved to my office. I'll come by and see you every single day so don't you worry. This is just the beginning."

Karen called Punk to tell him the house was cleaned and April and the twins returned home. Punk walked inside the normally loud house to silence. He walked up the stairs and into his bedroom where April was laying down with both twins as the TV kept them occupied.

"Hey." April smiled a bit.

"Hi." Punk grinned, happy to see his wife and kids.

"How is he?" She asked hopefully.

"He's going to make it." Punk told her and she felt relieved. "I mean, he'll survive the gunshot but I don't know if he'll survive prison."

"I'm just glad I didn't kill him." She said relieved.

"Yea, you can rest now. He's awake." He told her.

"He's handcuffed, right?" She asked.

"Of course he is." Punk scuffed kicking off his shoes and climbing into the king sized bed, beside his wife and children. "Did you sleep at all?"

"No." She admitted. "I was too wired."

"I understand." He said to her.

"Thank you for waiting at the hospital." She told him.

"Anything for you. Besides, I wanted to be the first he saw when he woke up." He grinned.

"I can't believe it's over." She said to him. "Years later and it feels weird. I forgot how it felt to not wait for the piano to drop on my head."

"Get used to it. Our only fears now are J.R turning into me or Mya dating." He told her and she laughed.

"Those are your fears." She laughed. "I'd love it if J.R turned out just like you. So what do we do?"

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"We're free." She noted.

"We are." Punk smiled.

"Don't we celebrate?" She asked. "I feel like we should. I mean we did almost die. I almost died like three times last night alone."

"So, what do you want to do? How do you want to celebrate?" He asked. "Anything you want."

"Let's go away." She suggested. "The kids have been cooped here since they were born. Can we take a short vacation?"

"Yea. Where to? You want to go see your parents?" Punk asked.

"I don't want to go that far. I don't think they'd be patient on a plane for that long." She smirked. "What about driving up to Vermont? Your family cabin?"

"I think that's a great idea." Punk agreed. "I mean it's summer but the lake is there and there's things for them to do."

"I don't think we've ever been alone with just the two of them since I had them. Dean or your mom or my parents have always been here." She noted.

"Think we can handle them alone?" Punk asked.

"No. But it's worth a shot." She smirked. "And this time call your dad first, I don't want the kids to see one of his lady friends like we did."

"I'll call him after I take a shower." He told her. "You want to go on vacation?" he asked J.R who was cuddled against April. "Mama's boy." he teased.

"He is." April agreed proudly. "Mya is daddy's girl though." She said to him.

"Wait until he's older and we're playing baseball." Punk smirked.

"And you wait until she's older and sneaking out with boys." April teased.

"Remember that I'm an armed federal Marshal." Punk told her then looked at Mya. "YOU remember it too."

"I think Vermont is going to be nice for us." April said to him. "We should invite Dean though."

"Ugh. I though it was just the four of us." Punk groaned.

"Yea but we have to remember that we didn't do this alone." She pointed out.

"I'm pretty sure we made these kids alone." He said seriously and she laughed.

"I mean protecting the children." She told him. "And us. Dean has been living here for over a year."

"Yea." Punk had to agree.

"He deserves a break more than us and your mom-" She began.

"Fuck that." Punk spat. "I will not go on vacation with them."

"We all deserve a break." She pointed out. "Even them."

"I liked it better when it was just us." He grunted getting out of the bed. "I'm going to shower. Want me to put them in their room so you can sleep?"

"No. This is perfect." She smiled cradling her two children.

"Alright." He said leaning over and kissing her and he was amused at her smile. "What?"

"It's just James thought he was going to ruin that, kissing you is still my favorite thing to do." She smiled.

"He misjudged us." Punk said simply.

"Phil." She called for him before he headed into the shower.

"Yea?" he asked turning around.

"Did you really see my brother?" She asked curiously.

"I did." He told her. "I don't believe in the afterlife or whatnot but I've had two close calls."

"Do you think if there is an afterlife our brothers know each other?" She asked curiously.

"I'm sure they do." He smirked. "Someone was watching out for you for sure because I never would have went downstairs. I left Dean and John and Corey behind and jetted to you. Something or someone told me to go downstairs."

"That's oddly comforting." She admitted with a faint smile.

"Yea, but let's be more careful. I think you and I have used up all of our lives for now." He teased.

"I will." She promised.

Later that night April was still having trouble sleeping and headed downstairs where she heard Dean come in.

"Hey." Dean greeted.

"Long day." She noted. "Everything ok?"

"Yea. But I had a lot of paperwork to fill out." He said. "How are you doing?"

"Good. I'm so relieved that I can't sleep." She admitted and Dean smiled.

"Good for you." he said genuinely. "Just give me a few days and I'll be out of here."

"And go where?" She asked. "Your lease ran up at your apartment before the kids were born."

"Maybe I'll stay with Karen for a bit, just until I get settled." He shrugged.

"Stay here for as long as you need." She offered. "You're family, not just a guard."

"I don't want to intrude. You guys can finally have peace of mind." Dean told her.

"It's not an intrusion." She assured him. "There's no end date, stay for as long as you can." she offered.

"I mean, if you don't mind." Dean smirked.

"Of course not." She said to him.

"How's Punk doing?" Dean asked.

"He's sleeping like a baby. He actually fell asleep with a smile on his face." She grinned.

"James Sawyer has been haunting him for years." Dean said to her. "And when it got personal he never had peace. He finally does."

"We all do." She said to him. "Have you seen him?"

"I have." Dean forced out. "Rambling like a madman. Starting to realize he's going to prison and there's no way out this time. You do real good last night."

"Yea, I mean if I didn't show up when I wasn't supposed to you guys might not have known he was in the house." She pointed out proudly.

"I guess." He laughed. "Just next time do what Punk says."

"She's non-compliant." Punk remarked walking into the kitchen.

"I'm going to head up and get some sleep." Dean told them.

"What are you doing up?" Punk asked.

"I don't know." She shrugged. "Can't sleep."

"I thought this would be your best nights sleep ever." He smirked.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm relieved." She told him. "I'm just still adjusting to all of this. I mean last night was-"

"Traumatic." He agreed.

"Not for you." She scoffed. "You do this kind of stuff in your sleep."

"I've never dealt with a madman pressing a gun to my wife's skull." He informed her. "I've never felt so powerless. When I confronted James with Mya I knew she wasn't going to hurt. If he killed me he would have tried to taken off with her and would have been stopped. He didn't want to kill her. He wanted to kill you and I didn't know what to do."

"I think you did a good job." She smirked wrapping her arms around his waist.

"You did it. You always save my ass." he smirked.

"So, did you call your dad?" She asked and he nodded.

"Yea. Cabin is ours and he promises to not show up with any young dates." He told her.

"Good." She said to him.

"Now will you come upstairs?" he asked in a whining voice.

"We're not doing anything, your ribs are hurt." She warned.

"I've been thinking about it and if I just lay straight and you do all the work I should be good." He said seriously and she laughed.

"Oh, really?" She mocked and he nodded.

"I think we deserve to celebrate. We survived bullets last night." He pointed out.

"That we did." She had to agree and smiled. "Come on." She said grabbing his hand and leading him up the stairs.

"You'll do all of the work? I'll make it up to you." He promised her as she laughed. "Babe, I'm not kidding." he promised.

Two weeks later...

After being away for two full weeks filled with relaxing family fun it was back to reality. April just had one more stop before officially closing this horrific chapter of her life. She entered the Marshal's office and Corey took her downstairs to the holding cells.

"Well, well, well." James greeted sitting up on his cot in his cell. "I'm not surprised."

"I just wanted to see you behind bars for myself." She admitted. "I heard you're taking a plea deal."

"I am." James noted. "I'll be out before you know it."

"You think you'll be alive in seventy five years?" She asked amused.

"It's possible." James grinned. "You never know."

"I know." She said to him. "I just had to look at you in the eyes one final time."

"You should be thanking me." James said to her. "I gave you a wonderful life."

"I would have found Phil with or without you. I'd still have my beautiful children." She told him. "You hurt so many people in your short existence on this planet. All of the innocent women you killed had families. Do you have any regret?"

"Not reaching you the night in your apartment. If I would have killed you that night, all of this would have been avoided." James said coolly. "But you can't turn back time."

"No you can't." April agreed. "I wanted to let you know you didn't taint my relationship with my husband. I'm not afraid to kiss him. I'm not afraid to be with him."

"That's because I didn't get a chance to finish." James remarked.

"You are finished." She informed him stiffly. "I'm happy I didn't kill you and I know you'll be suffer for the rest of your life behind bars. Nothing or no one can save you from that."

"I had the best life." James grinned. "I did what I wanted, I had fun. I have no regrets."

"You are a sick and twisted man." April spat.

"Haven't you heard how famous I am?" James asked amused. "I'm on every news channel. Newscasters want to hear from me."

"Is that why you admitted to so many murders? You want your day of fame?" She asked.

"One would think so." James smiled.

"Everyone hates you. But I don't imagine you care." She noted.

"I don't." James agreed.

"You know who is going to hate you?" She asked and he was intrigued. "My children, Mya in particular." and his face fell. "You wanted that innocent untainted life. Someone who hadn't known you for what you had done. Someone to give you unconditional love and she does love unconditionally." she told James with a bright smile. "She loves bubble baths and splashing her brother. She gets the biggest smile when she see's the neighbor puppy. If she knew how to run, she would run to him." she beamed. "But, I never see happier than when Phil comes home from work. She ached to be in her daddy's protective arms. He's her savior."

"Shut up." James warned.

"And he melts like butter." She told him cheerfully. "Phil loves both of our children equally but there's this bond between him and Mya, one I can't even touch. He saved her and she knows it deep down. He's her hero. You helped create that unbreakable bond. You wanted to be a father to her like your father was one to you. That was the only relationship you valued. I get it now."

"I would have been great to her." James told her firmly. "She would have loved me like she loves him."

"Not possible." April said shaking her head gently. "You'll never be loved ever again. You'll never be looked at anything other than revolting."

"I want you to leave." James instructed her.

"And I wanted you to leave my family alone." April reminded him. "Do you want to hear more about Mya-"

"Shut up!" James screamed so loud that April flinched.

"Now, now." Punk scolded teasingly walking up behind April. "That's not very nice. She's your last visitor, probably ever. You're being transferred today."

"I'm sick of her face." James spat.

"She said that about you the last two years." Punk remarked. "Now we never have to see it again."

"I just want to be left alone." He informed them and Punk smiled.

"Did you hear that, babe?" He asked his wife. "He wants to be left alone."

"I wanted to be left alone too." April noted. "Lucky for him, I'm done now."

"Bye, bye." Punk said to him. "I have a feeling I'll be seeing you again. I might pop into prison every once in a while to pay you a visit. I want the other inmates to see you being chummy with a federal Marshal. That will make you look real good."

"You're going to get me killed." James warned Punk who just smiled.

"How would I sleep at night?" Punk teased. "Let's go. Ape." he said placing her hand on her lower back gently and guiding her away.

April looked over her towards James one final time. He looked devastated as he sat on his bunk with his head held low and that made her smile.

"Do you feel better?" Punk asked as he lead April into his office.

"Yes." She admitted. "I needed that."

"Good." He said to her.

"Where are my children?" She frowned. She arrived with the children but they were no longer in the office.

"Grandpa Dean took them to see the Chief." Punk said seriously and April laughed.

"I said to cut it out with that Grandpa shit." Dean scolded coming back into the room pushing the double stroller. "It's messed up."

"So is sleeping with my other." Punk reminded him.

"I don't know why you married him." Dean said to April then walked out of the room.

"They're tired, I have to get them home." She said eyeing her children.

"I'll go with you." He offered.

"You have to work." She pointed out. "We just got back from being away."

"Actually I wanted to talk to you about work." He admitted. "I've been thinking a lot about you and the kids and the field work I do."

"Yea?" She asked intrigued.

"I've been offered a promotion and I think I'm going to take it. It takes me out of the field." He told her and her face lit up.

"I don't want you to do it unless you want to." She said trying to contain her excitement.

"I want to take it. It's amazing money and gets me home at 5 instead of the middle of the night." He told her.

"What will you be doing?" She asked.

"Supervisor of special divisions. Which means I'd promote someone in my team and they would report to me. All team leaders would report directly to me." He told her.

"I think you really deserve it." She smiled.

"I'm thinking of giving Dean the job." He told her.

"Is this what you want?" She asked.

"I'm not getting any younger and to be honest when I'm here all I think about is being home with you guys. I want to be home more I want to have more kids, I want to have dinner with you guys every night and be off on weekends." he told her. "I'm taking it."
April threw her arms around him then her face fell and pulled away.

"More kids?" She asked.

"Yea, in a year or so." He said to her. "Hopefully just one at time from now on."

"Hopefully." She agreed. "The kids and I are very pleased with this announcement."

"Well, I thought we'd give this 'being normal' thing a try." He teased.

"There is no one other than you I'd want to be normal with." She grinned and kissed him.

"Alright. Let's get the hell out of here." He said to her. "I was going to oversee Sawyer's transport but I don't want to waste another moment on him."

"Great." She said. "You can hold J.R since he's heavier than Mya." She said picking Mya out of her stroller.

"My boy likes to eat." Punk grinned proudly and took J.R out of the stroller next. "Nothing wrong with that." He assured his son.

"We have to stop at the grocery store too. I need diapers." She told him. "And baby food." He just nodded as he folded up the stroller with his free arm. "And baby shampoo."

"So we're doing like a full grocery shop." Punk remarked.

"No, just a few things. You can even run in while we wait in the car." She grinned.

"I feel like I've been set up." Punk remarked.

"We're so glad to have you home more." She smirked and he kissed her quickly.

"I'll gladly be Mr. Mom." He remarked.

"You can just be dad." She told him.

"Just dad. I like that." he said looking at J.R and making a face at him causing him to laugh a bit. He heard Mya begin to grumble and made a face at her as she was looking over April's shoulder and she laughed now too.

"Yes. They're definitely going to love having you home more." April smirked. "But I'm going to enjoy it more."

"Yea?" he grinned and she nodded. "The children sleep through the night, they go to bed at seven. We can actually spend some time together."

"Sounds good to me." Punk remarked as he followed her to the elevator and they waited. "I think the kids wants to watch Batman tonight."

"I think they're too young for Batman." She said to him.

"I think you're wrong." He remarked. "We'll have a family movie night. It will be our tradition."

"Change the movie to lego Batman or these two will not sit through it." She told him.

"Deal." he agreed and they stepped onto the empty elevator.

"If you get the children to bed by yourself tonight and give me the chance to take a bath, then you and I can have some private time." She offered.

"Easy." He remarked. "You better be out of the bath the second they're asleep, if not I'm going to join you."

"I like that." She smiled. "I'm liking normal."