Epilogue

Zoe glanced at the slight bump on her belly and laid a comforting hand on it and smiled to herself. The native was restless today. She couldn't blame him, his sisters had some friends over and they were a rowdy bunch of Princesses. It was cool out; early signs of spring were all around. The girls had recovered well from their ordeal with Kyle Winters. Joss indeed had wounded him enough to be able to subdue him.

Three months after being taken, it was a new season; a new beginning for them. She sat in their back yard watching the girls run around in their Princess costumes, screaming their lungs out, seemingly carefree once again.

"Girl, are you sure you have another bun in the oven?"

She smiled at the gentle, teasing tone. "Hi Joss," she greeted, looking up to see the familiar outline of Auntie Joss.

"Mind if I take a seat?" Joss asked.

She shook her head in reply and watched her friend take the deck chair next to her. They both watched the "fashion show" the Princesses were putting on. Taylor, their prince, was gallantly escorting them down the "red carpet."

"The girls look good, well adjusted considering . . . " Joss uttered, looking specifically at Jossie and Gracie. They were walking on either side of Taylor as it was their turn for to walk the walk.

Smiling at Joss comment, Zoe explained. "They still have a few nightmares once in a while and occasionally they'll come running into our bedroom just to make sure we're still there. Gracie has just blossomed into this confident little girl, gives back as much as she gets from Jossie. And Jossie," she paused, shaking her head in remorse. "I rue the day I fell out of that window. She learned way too much and as such puts a lot of sailors to shame . . . "

"I have to admit to being somewhat surprised. Girl, you have such a potty mouth, who knew?" Joss shot her a crooked smile.

"I never thanked you," Zoe whispered honestly. Without Joss grounding John, they may never have made it to this point. Joss was their rock, their voice of reason. Whenever she and John came out swinging, she always calmed them down and made them see.

"You and John would have done the same for me," Joss smiled. "Of that, I'm positive." Joss never had to remind herself that her Taylor wouldn't be here without John's intervention.

For the first time in a long time, Zoe was able to relax. The horror of almost losing her family had started to fade in the past three months. Just then, she felt a swift kick. Rubbing her hand over her belly, she tried to calm their little boy. "I know buddy, you feel him too huh?" Though she hadn't seen John yet, she knew he was close. She had always felt this odd tingle at the back of her neck when he was near.

A bright smile appeared on her lips as soon as a shadow moved across them. Joss cleared her throat and stood up heading towards the back lawn where the girls were now jumping on Taylor. "That's my cue to rescue my boy from your girls."

"John," she said smiling up at him.

"Zoe," he responded, leaning down and giving her a peck on her lips.

As he was often fond of doing, he picked her up out of her chair as if she didn't weigh any more than Jossie or Gracie, took her seat and settled her across his lap. He gathered her close and laid a hand on her belly. She continued to smile at him, her eyes taking in every inch of his face then settled her head on his shoulder. They sat in companionable silence as they watched their girls and their friends terrorize Taylor and his momma.

"How did we get so lucky?" she whispered.

"Luck has nothing to do with it," he whispered back studying what he could of her features, searching for answers.

Zoe felt her stomach flip as he said that; thinking to herself what she had ever done to deserve having him in her life.

As if hearing the silent question, John answered. "WE deserve this because it's right. We deserve this life we chose with our family. Don't ever question it."

The End

AN: Phew that puppy is done! So what do you all think? Loved the whole thing? Hated it? Could have had more . . . Let me know . . . Thanks for reading.