Epilogue: An Indelible Mark on Your Soul
Erin watched as Walter and Paige took their final breaths. Only moments later, she could no longer hear the sound of labored breathing that had been a constant in the Garage these last few days. He was gone. Nearly blinded by tears she reached toward Cousin Walter's device to turn it off, but as she did, her hand knocked several of the dials, setting The Window to a setting Walter had never tried, had never had a reason to. Frustrated by her clumsiness, Erin swiped her tears away. Before she could reach for the machine's power switch a second time, her attention was caught by the scene on the screen in front of her.
The Window was drawing power at its lowest setting and so was displaying the inside of the Garage where Erin stood, in her own time, 2065. So much of the same familiar clutter filled another Garage, but there were several decades more of items stowed there showing that many more people had lived and loved there over the years. Bicycles, baseball bats, and homecoming tiaras were strewn around the room. There were science fair ribbons, graduation programs, lovingly framed fingerpainting masterpieces, and more. But what Erin was most fascinated by were the framed and unframed photos occupying every available desk, shelf, and miscellaneous horizontal surface. Photos of Walter and Paige and the rest of the Scorpion team showing the passage of time. Photos including new team members added through the years. Photos of Walter and Paige and their children growing up and eventually grandchildren and even great-grandchildren added to their expanding family.
What she saw amazed and surprised her, but Erin was confused. How was this possible? Was there another alternate universe attached to their own? She almost called out to Noah, but then stopped herself, whether there was yet another universe attached to her own or not made no difference. They had done their best to hide the knowledge of another universe, what happened next was out of their hands.
Erin was so intent on studying a photo of a young and in love Walter and Paige on their wedding day that she almost didn't notice the two figures entering the Garage, their Garage. Walter, who had the same white curls and arthritic fingers that Erin remembered, had a joy that shone in his eyes that Cousin Walter had never possessed. Paige, the obvious origin of much of that joy, entered the room just a step or two behind him. She barely had a chance to drop her bag at her feet, before he took her hand and pulled her gently towards him as he flipped on the nearby music player.
They both smiled as the opening notes to the familiar song played, one they had danced to countless times before. Paige allowed herself to be twirled around before Walter placed his hand expertly at her waist and hers went to his shoulder. She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes as they moved in time to the music. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and closed his eyes as well.
Erin watched the pair dance for a few moments longer, reveling in the knowledge that somewhere, in some lifetime… in some reality, Paige and Walter got the happy ending they had always deserved, before turning off The Window to Another World for the very last time.
Author's Note:
The fact that anyone reads my stories at all amazes me. And then when readers take the time to leave reviews and comments, I am humbled and amazed all over again. I want you to know that I read and treasure every single review. FFN makes me sad because the only 'official' way to reply to a review is to PM the reviewer and that feels kind of weird to take a public comment directly to a private message. I know that many writers put answers to their reviewers in the next chapter or next story. I have mixed feelings about that. So what I have chosen to do is to leave a guest review as 'Masikka' addressed to each comment/commenter. If you leave me a comment, I will do my best to reply promptly. If you are ever so inclined, also feel free to PM me and I will answer that as well. Thank you once again for reading, enjoying, and commenting on these stories. You are my Cyclone!