Epilogue
Amelia POV
"Mom!"
I didn't even turn around.
"I can hear you running," I said, trying to sound serious.
Small footsteps got louder.
Very fast.
Very chaotic.
Then...
Impact.
Tiny arms wrapped around my legs.
"I wasn't running," he said.
"You were definitely running."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
I sighed.
"Noah."
Silence.
Then quietly,
"...maybe a little."
I smiled, finally looking down at him.
Eight years old.
Messy dark hair.
Big eyes.
And absolutely no sense of calm.
Which he definitely did not get from Dominic.
"Where's your sister," I asked.
He pointed behind him.
"She's slow."
"I am not slow," a small voice said.
I looked up.
And there she was.
Walking much more calmly.
Much more carefully.
Sophia.
Four years old.
And somehow already more composed than all of us.
"he pushed me," Sophia added.
"I did not," Noah said immediately.
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You did."
I crossed my arms.
"Both of you. Stop."
They both went quiet.
For exactly two seconds.
Then Noah whispered,
"She started it."
"I heard that," Sophia said.
"I wanted you to hear it."
I sighed again.
"This is my life now."
And honestly...
I wouldn't change a single thing.
"Amelia."
I turned.
And there he was.
Dominic.
Walking toward us.
Calm.
Composed.
Exactly the same.
And yet...
Not the same at all.
Because now...
He smiled more.
Not all the time.
Not for everyone.
But for us.
For me.
For them.
And every time...
It still affected me.
Which is honestly unfair.
"How long have they been arguing," he asked.
"Since they woke up."
He nodded.
"That sounds right."
Noah ran to him immediately.
"Dad."
Dominic rested a hand on his head.
"Running again."
"I wasn't running."
"You were."
"Mom said that too."
"Because you were."
Oliver sighed dramatically.
"No one believes me."
Sophia walked over and grabbed my hand.
"He lies."
"I do not."
"You do."
"I don't."
Dominic looked at me.
"...This is your fault."
I gasped.
"My fault?"
"Yes."
"How."
"They talk like you."
"That is not an insult."
"It wasn't meant to be."
"It felt like one."
And then...
He smiled.
Fully.
No holding back.
And I just stared at him.
Again.
Like I always do.
"Stop looking at me like that," he said.
"I can't help it."
"You've seen me smile before."
"I know."
"Then why are you still surprised."
"Because you still have dimples."
He shook his head slightly.
"And that surprises you."
"Yes."
"It shouldn't."
"It does."
He stepped closer.
Close enough that I could feel that same warmth.
That same feeling from years ago.
Still there.
Still real.
"You haven't changed," he said.
"That's a lie."
"How."
"I'm more mature now."
He looked at me.
Silence.
Then,
"No."
I gasped.
"I have grown as a person."
"No."
"I have responsibilities."
"No."
"I am a mother."
"That's true."
"Thank you."
"But you're still the same."
I narrowed my eyes.
"That is rude."
"It's not."
"It is."
"It's why I love you."
Oh.
That.
That still does something to me.
After all these years.
Still.
"You're very smooth," I said.
"I'm not trying to be."
"That's worse."
Sophia tugged my hand.
"Mom."
"Yes?"
"Are you done talking."
I blinked.
"...Excuse me?"
"We're bored."
"I'm having a moment."
"With Dad."
"Yes."
She looked at Dominic.
"Can we go now."
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Traitor," I said.
He almost laughed.
Almost.
Noah grabbed his hand.
Sophia held mine.
And just like that...
We started walking.
Together.
Simple.
Easy.
Complete.
Later that evening, the house was quiet again.
Finally.
The kids were asleep.
Miracle.
I stood by the window, looking outside.
Thinking.
Not overthinking.
Just... thinking.
Soft footsteps behind me.
Then arms around my waist.
Warm.
Familiar.
Safe.
"You're thinking again," Dominic said quietly.
"I'm allowed to think."
"You are."
I leaned back slightly into him.
"I was just... remembering."
"What."
"The beginning."
A pause.
Then,
"That was chaotic."
"That's one way to describe it."
I smiled a little.
"I tripped on a wire."
"You did."
"And dragged you down with me."
"You did."
"And then..."
"You kissed me."
I turned slightly.
"That was an accident."
"It wasn't."
I smiled.
"It really wasn't."
Silence.
Soft.
Comfortable.
Then I looked at him.
"You know what's funny."
"What."
"I thought that was the most embarrassing moment of my life."
"And now."
"Now it's my favorite."
A small pause.
Then he smiled again.
And I swear...
It still felt exactly the same.
Like the first time.
Like something I'll never get used to.
"I love you," I said.
The words came out easily now.
No panic.
No overthinking.
Just real.
"I know," he said.
I frowned slightly.
"That's not the response."
He looked at me.
"I love you too."
Better.
Much better.
I smiled.
And for once...
I didn't question anything.
Because I didn't need to.
Because this...
This life.
This family.
This love.
It wasn't something I planned.
It wasn't something I expected.
But it was everything.
And more.
?? THE END ??