Epilogue
Alicia
Two Weeks Later
Dom's hand tightens around mine as he drags me through the hallways of the hospital, rounding corners so fast I almost skid across the squeaky clean floor as we hurriedly make our way to the waiting room.
He bursts through the double doors, pulling me along with him, and everyone's eyes rise to meet ours.
Michael and Louise are sitting together, wrapped in each other's arms with Jess at their side.
Rory and Jaylen are behind them in a second row of plastic chairs, worried expressions painted across their faces.
My eyes dart over to Leo, who's standing in the back corner of the room, arms crossed over his chest, brows drawn low.
Dom moves towards the seat beside Jess, tugging me along with him, and pulling me down onto his lap as he sits in the uncomfortable looking chair.
"Any news yet?" he asks, eyes darting around to everyone in the room as they all shake their heads.
Sighing, I wrap my arm around his shoulders, pulling his head against my chest.
"She's going to be fine, Dom."
Minutes pass, every second feeling like hours as we sit in silence. We glance at the clock, getting ready to stand every time a nurse walks through the doors, only to settle back into our chairs when they continue walking past us.
Finally, after who knows how long, Kaleb bursts into the waiting room and we all stand up, eagerly staring at him, waiting for him to speak.
A smile splits across his face, and he claps his hands together in front of him.
"It's a girl," he announces.
Cheers break out across the room, Jaylen's being the loudest as he moves towards Kaleb, clapping him on the back.
"How's Sophia?" Louise asks as she wraps her arms around Kaleb's frame. "Is she okay?"
He nods, the smile never dropping from his face.
"She's perfect. Tired, but beyond happy, and she's waiting to see everyone."
We all follow after him as he leads us through a set of double doors into the labour ward. Walking to the end, he pauses outside the door.
"Before you enter, you all need to scrub your hands with some sanitiser," he says, gesturing towards the dispenser on the wall.
Each of us squirts sanitiser into our hands before piling into the room, where Sophia is lying in bed with a pink blanket covering the small squirming bundle in her arms.
She glances up at us all, lazily smiling, before her loving gaze immediately moves back to her new-born daughter.
Kaleb moves to her side, stroking his hand over her head, dipping down to press a kiss against her cheek.
Her parents move to her side, giving her a loose hug and peering down at the baby in her arms, asking how they both are and if she's decided on a name yet.
Hushed conversation from behind me has me peering over my shoulder, and I see Leo lead Rory out of the room and back into the hallway.
Directing my attention back to Sophia, she nods her head, teary eyes meeting her mother's.
"We've named her Hayley Valentina King."
My eyes tingle as Louise sobs, and Michael pulls her into her arms.
They've named her after Jaylen's mother.
Dom's hold on me loosens as he steps back, moving beside Jaylen and Jess. He places a firm hand on Jaylen's shoulder and curls his other arm around Jess's as tears drip down her cheeks.
Sophia glances at her cousins, a nervous look on her face.
"I hope—"
Jaylen moves towards her, cutting her words off as he leans over her, wrapping one arm around her and pulling her against his chest.
"It's beautiful, Soph."
"She'd be honoured," Jess adds from behind us, sniffling as she swipes at the tears on her face.
"They both would," Michael says, nodding at Kaleb, referring to the use of his mother's name—Valentina—being the baby's middle name.
Dom clears his throat, gaining everyone's attention just as Rory slips back into the room with teary eyes, and Leo follows behind her, shoulders tense.
"I have to ask, why King as the last name?"
Sophia glances at Kaleb, then moves her gaze back to her brother.
"Well, Kaleb will be taking our name eventually, so we thought it was only right for our children to, as well."
"I don't want any connections to the Rossi name anymore," Kaleb sighs. "It may be my mother's name, but my father tarnished it, ruined everything it stood for, and I don't want my children growing up with the burden Jericho and I had to carry."
A beat of silence spreads around the room, and then Sophia asks if anyone would like to hold Hayley. Instantly, everyone steps towards the bed, crowding around them.
A gentle hand on my shoulder makes me pause, and I glance over to see Leo standing behind me.
"Can I borrow you for a minute?" he asks, motioning with his head to the door.
I nod, concern swooping through me as I follow him out of the room.
He runs his tatted hands over his head, fingers disappearing into his inky black hair as his eyes dart around the hallway for a moment before they focus on me.
"I just wanted to pull you to one side to say goodbye."
My heart drops, along with my jaw.
"What do you mean, goodbye?"
He shrugs, his hands dropping to his side.
"I'm leaving London," he says, voice steady, certain. "I'm going back to the US… I want to find her, and I want to make things right. I need to apologise, and explain."
My brows raise, and I gulp as understanding washes over me.
"She's going to fight you at every turn. You know that, right?"
He nods, sighing, and stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"I'm prepared to do whatever it takes. I've watched you and Dom. I've seen you two make it through some shit. You've managed to forgive each other and accept each other despite your flaws. I'm hoping Avery and I can do the same."
Tears fill my eyes, and I shake my head.
"But, you're needed here," I tell him, chin wobbling slightly as my emotions start to get the better of me.
Cocking a brow, he chuckles.
"I'm not needed here at all. Jaylen is almost back to being himself. He's been helping Dom with everything for months now. I've trained Dom as best I can, and honestly, I was only kept around because I was needed to keep you out of trouble."
"What if I still end up causing trouble?" I ask, selfishly wanting him to stay.
He was the first person I befriended here, and although it was his job to look after me, we became friends. We bonded. I know he'd probably deny it, but he cares for me, as I do for him.
The thought of losing him hurts, but I understand why he wants to go.
"There's no need for you to cause trouble anymore," he says, shaking his head. "Besides, everyone inside that room has got your back. You're part of the family now, and it's one hell of a family to be a part of."
With an ache forming in my stomach and tears running down my face, I step towards him and tentatively circle my arms around his body.
"Good luck," I whisper as his arms wrap around me, pulling me into his hard chest. "I'll miss you, scar face."
He grunts, and I smile as I unravel my arms from around him, taking a step back and wiping away the tears wetting my cheeks.
"It's okay to admit you'll miss me too," I tease.
He stares down at me, jaw rippling.
"I won't have to," he says, his throat bobbing as he swallows, taking a few steps away from me. "I'll keep in touch with you, Lissa."
He turns, walking away down the corridor, and I watch him go, the ache in my chest growing as fresh tears fall from my eyes.
The door beside me opens, and Dom steps out, concern etched onto his face when he sees my trembling lips and tear-soaked face.
He glances down the hall, seeing the back of Leo just before he turns the corner, and realisation sweeps over his face. He moves towards me, dragging me against his chest and resting his head atop mine.
"Come on, little viper. Let's go say goodbye to everyone, and then we can head home. I'll even let you cry on my shoulder about another man while I sit there and pretend not to be jealous about it."
Pulling away from him, I jab my hand into his chest, glaring up at him.
"I hate you."
"I love you too, baby," he mutters, dipping down to capture my lips with his.