Epilogue
The setting sun cast long shadows over the island, painting the landscape in hues of gold and orange. Fitz stood by the window of their quiet island home, watching Laurel run around in the yard, her laughter carried on the breeze. It had been five years since he and Olivia had fled the States—five years of living a life that, at one point, he'd never thought he could have.
Fitz's life before all of this seemed like a distant memory, yet it was always there, lurking in the shadows, reminding him of the choices that had led him down a dark path. Growing up in the foster care system had taught him one thing above all else—no one was coming to save you. He learned early on that survival meant looking out for yourself, even if that meant doing things you weren't proud of.
His first foster home wasn't the worst, but it was far from loving. The system was overcrowded, underfunded, and full of kids like him—alone, lost, and angry. Fitz was just another face in the crowd, passed from one home to another, never staying long enough. By the time he turned eighteen, he was out on the streets, with nothing but a few dollars and the clothes on his back. Luckily, one of his friends from foster care had moved him into his apartment but that didn't last for long.
Homelessness came quickly after foster care. There were no jobs, no support system, and nothing to fall back on. Fitz spent nights on park benches, under bridges, and in abandoned buildings. The hunger gnawed at him, and the cold nights cut deep, but it was the feeling of hopelessness that hurt the most. He promised himself that he'd never be in that position again. He'd never be broke. He'd never be hungry.
And so, when the opportunity came to make money fast—illegally, but fast—he took it. It started with small-time jobs. Running packages, making deliveries, things that seemed low-risk. The more he worked, the more he climbed the ranks, earning the trust of bigger players. By the time he was in his twenties, Fitz had become a key figure in the shipping world—a world that wasn't just about moving goods from one place to another, but about moving drugs, guns, and anything else people would pay big money for.
That's when he met Eli Pope. Olivia's father.
Eli was the kingpin of it all—ruthless, powerful, a man who inspired both fear and respect. Fitz didn't know then how deeply Eli was connected to the darker parts of the business. All he knew was that Eli Pope had money, and working for him meant Fitz would never have to worry about where his next meal was coming from.
But like every deal with the devil, it came with a price. Eli owed Fitz millions after years of using his shipyard to smuggle contraband. When Fitz came to collect, he couldn't stand the smug look on his face and Fitz pulled the trigger. It wasn't his first kill and most certainly not his last. It was business. Anyone who messed with his family would surely rather be six feet under than mess with them.
He hadn't known Olivia then. He hadn't known that the man he'd killed had a daughter who would later become the love of his life. He hadn't known that he would spend years hiding that truth from her, terrified of losing her if she ever found out.
"Fitz?" Olivia's voice broke through his thoughts, soft and filled with concern. She stood in the doorway, her pregnant belly rounding out the soft fabric of her dress. Even after all these years, she still took his breath away.
Fitz turned to face her, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just thinking," he said, crossing the room to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "How are you feeling?"
She rested her head on his chest, her hands resting on the bump that was growing every day. Their son would be here in just a few months. "Tired," she admitted with a laugh. "But good. Lewis is kicking a lot today."
Fitz's heart swelled at the mention of their unborn son's name. Olivia had suggested naming their son after her mother's maiden name, a way to reclaim part of her old life.
"Can I feel?" he asked, his voice soft.
Olivia nodded, guiding his hand to her belly. Almost immediately, he felt the little kick, strong and sure, and he smiled.
"He's a fighter," Fitz said, his voice full of awe. "Just like his mom."
Olivia chuckled softly, tilting her head up to meet his eyes. "Just like his dad."
They stood there in silence for a moment, holding each other, feeling the quiet peace that had settled into their lives over the years. It hadn't always been this way. There had been hard times—moments where Fitz had thought they wouldn't make it, where the weight of his past threatened to tear them apart.
Especially when the truth had come out about Eli.
Fitz still remembered the night he told Olivia everything—the night her suspicions about him killing her father were confirmed. The look in her eyes had nearly broken him. But she hadn't walked away. She had stayed. She had chosen to forgive him, even though it had nearly torn her apart.
And for that, Fitz knew he owed her everything.
"Do you think about it sometimes?" Olivia asked softly, pulling him out of his thoughts.
Fitz knew exactly what she meant. He let out a long breath, tightening his hold on her. "I do. Every day. But it doesn't haunt me the way it used to." He kissed the top of her head, his voice gentle. "Because I have you. I have Laurel. And soon, I'll have Lewis too."
Olivia smiled, but he could see the sadness in her eyes, the lingering weight of the past still present. "I know," she whispered. "I'm glad we've moved forward, Fitz. But it's still hard sometimes."
Fitz nodded, understanding. He didn't expect the pain of what had happened to ever fully go away. But they had survived it—together. And that was all that mattered.
He led Olivia to the couch, helping her sit down before taking a seat beside her. They sat in comfortable silence, their hands intertwined as they watched Laurel play with their dog, Sandy, outside. The little girl's laughter echoed across the yard, a sweet reminder of the life they had built here. She had adjusted well to island life, making new friends and enjoying her new school.
It hadn't been easy, though. Especially after they left the States. Fitz had promised Olivia that he'd sold the company, that they were done with the business for good. And he had meant it… but the truth was more complicated.
Fitz had lied. At first, he hadn't sold the company. Not entirely.
There was one man—Rafael Cabrera, a major player in the drug trade—who had wanted a piece of Fitz's shipping empire for years. When Fitz pulled out of the business, Rafael had been furious. He wanted the shipping lanes, the connections, and the infrastructure that Fitz had built. And when Fitz refused to hand it over, Rafael had tipped the authorities off about Eli's murder. That motherfucker!
That's why they had to leave. The cops had been closing in, and Fitz knew that once they found out the truth about Eli, there would be no coming back. He would go to prison for life, and he would lose everything—Olivia, Laurel, and their future. So, they ran.
But even after they left, Fitz couldn't just walk away from the business. Not with Rafael breathing down his neck, threatening everything he held dear. So, for a while, he held on to the company, hoping he could find a way out without putting his family in danger.
It was Charlie, his right-hand man, who had helped him navigate those treacherous waters. Charlie had been with Fitz since the early days, back when they were both just trying to survive in a world that had no use for men like them. Charlie had stayed loyal, even when things got messy, even when Fitz had to make tough decisions.
"Boss, we can't keep running," Charlie had said one night, not long after they fled to the island. "Rafael's not going to stop until he gets what he wants."
Fitz had known he was right, but the thought of giving up everything he'd built—the empire he'd created from nothing—had been hard to swallow. "I won't let him have it," Fitz had growled. "Not without a fight."
But in the end, it wasn't about the fight. It was about Olivia. About Laurel. About the life they could have if he just let go.
So, Fitz had made a deal. He sold the company to Rafael—on his terms. Rafael got what he wanted, and in exchange, Fitz and his family were left alone. It wasn't the victory Fitz had imagined for himself, but it was the only way to protect the people he loved. And the fact that his family never has to worry about money, puts his mind at ease.
And now, five years later, they were finally free. Truly free.
"Daddy!" Laurel's voice snapped him back to the present as she came running toward the porch, her eyes bright with excitement. "Sandy found a crab!"
Fitz laughed, standing up and scooping her into his arms. "A crab, huh? Is it a big one?"
Laurel nodded enthusiastically, her curls bouncing. "Yeah! Come see!"
He glanced back at Olivia, who smiled at him, her eyes soft with love. "Go ahead," she said, waving them off. "I'll be right here."
Fitz kissed her softly on the lips, then turned and carried Laurel down to the beach, her laughter filling the air. As they ran down the sandy path toward the water, Fitz felt something he hadn't felt in years—peace.
They had built a life here, a good life. It wasn't perfect. There were still scars, still moments when the past threatened to creep back in. But they had each other, and that was enough.
Laurel squirmed out of his arms, running ahead to where Sandy had cornered the crab near the rocks. Fitz followed her, his heart full as he watched her play. He crouched down beside her, pulling her close.
"Do you love it here, baby girl?" he asked softly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
Laurel looked up at him, her bright eyes filled with innocence and joy. "Yeah, Daddy. I love it. Are we gonna stay here forever?"
Fitz smiled, his heart swelling with emotion. "Yeah, sweetheart. We're gonna stay. This is our home."
As he held his daughter close, the sound of the ocean crashing in the background, Fitz knew that they had finally found what he had been searching for his entire life—a place where they could be safe, where they could be a family.
And for the first time in a long time, Fitz believed that they had truly escaped the darkness of his past. The future was theirs now—full of hope, full of love, and full of possibilities.
As long as he had Olivia, Laurel, and soon baby Lewis, nothing else mattered.
They were home.
Don't forget to leave a review. This story is officially completed but I may revisit from time to time to write one-shots. If you want a future one-shot(of their wedding, finding out they were expecting, etc.), leave a prompt in your review. :)
