Epilogue
Leo
I soar so high I can barely see anything below. The town reminds me of a toy set, so small that everyone looks like toy soldiers. I flap my wings, diving through clouds before finally angling down towards the ground.
My body has needed this. Sometimes, I just need to shift into my phoenix form and go for a fly. I need to see things from the sky and flap my wings and let myself be.
I twist in the air, doing a few aerial tricks before finally finding my neighborhood once more. I swoop down, landing on the back porch.
“Why hello there,” Jin says, leaning against the deck railing with a coffee in his hands.
I can see the baby monitor is hanging from his pants, just in case Apollo wakes up.
He’s normally up later than the two of us which has been a blessing, giving us a few moments to ourselves before we need to give him our full attention.
Apollo has been the best baby. Some people tease us that it’ll mean he’ll be a menace when he’s a teenager but I don’t care.
No matter what type of person he becomes, I’ll love him with my entire heart.
I can’t wait to see him grow and develop and come into himself as his own person.
Nothing he could do could make me adore him any less.
I leap up from the deck, onto Jin’s shoulder. I run my face against the side of his neck, covering myself in his scent. My inner omega purrs happily which sounds very strange coming from a bird but that’s okay. It’s worth it to hear my mate coo over me.
“This form will never stop amazing me, Leo. So beautiful in every skin you wear.”
I hop off his shoulder so that I can shift back into my human skin. I let the shift wash over me until I’m standing tall as a man once more. I grab the robe that Jin hands me, wrapping it around myself before plastering myself against my mate’s chest.
“Hi,” I say with a grin, my stomach swooping as Jin kisses my cheek. He brings his mug to my mouth, letting me have a sip of his hot coffee.
Jin is so sweet to me. I feel so lucky that he’s my mate, that the forces that be somehow deemed the two of us not only compatible but soulmates. I never have to face this world alone. Just knowing he’s waiting for me at home makes the work day so much better.
My new promotion is going well and everyone at work is happy for me. Jin still works at the coffee stand from time to time but because we don’t need the money, it’s more of just a way for him to go talk to adults since he’s at home with Apollo for the most part.
Life feels so good. Every single day feels like I’m in the presence of my very own sun. He shines on me, leaving me brighter than before I knew him.
“I love you,” Jin says, his free hand resting on my cheek. Then he ruffles my hair, affection clear in his features. “I hope Apollo grows up to have your thick hair.”
Right now, Apollo has the thinnest hair I’ve ever seen on a kid. It’s barely there fuzz but it’s bright red just like Jin’s.
“Maybe he’ll be bald forever.”
Jin gasps. “Don’t say that about our son!”
I can’t help but giggle, taking Jin’s hand in my own and leading the two of us back into our home.
My chest feels like my heart is too big to be contained, pushing against the seams of my ribs, ready to leap out at any given moment.
I love my life more than I thought possible and I have so much of that to thank Jin for.
“Have you had breakfast yet?” Jin holds up his coffee mug in answer. I roll my eyes and drag him towards the kitchen. “Let’s make something together before Apollo wakes up.”
Jin gives me a small smile. “Anything for you,” he says, just like he says to most things I ask him for.
I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I plan on spending the rest of my life doing everything in my power to keep him, to prove to the universe that I’m worthy of this type of gentle, all-encompassing love that Jin bestows on me.
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep being the parent that Apollo needs me to be.
We only get halfway through breakfast before Apollo stirs awake. Jin goes to change him and bring him into the kitchen so I can greet his chubby cheeks with a kiss.
If every morning is spent like this for the rest of my very long life, I don’t think I’d ever grow bored. This is everything I’ve ever wanted and somehow, it’s made even better because it’s Jin living life alongside me.
“I love you,” I say, kissing the top of Apollo’s fuzzy head. Then I kiss Jin. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Thank you for being the sunflower to my sunshine.”
This time, it’s my turn to say, “anything for you.”
The End