Epilogue
T he past week had gone by in a blur. Steve had taken a week’s leave to be with Diane. He hadn’t stopped smiling since Diane had told him the news, despite everything else they had to deal with.
As expected, Megan had been over the moon and couldn't wait to be a big sister. She was already listing all the things she could teach her baby brother or sister. They had gotten an ultrasound, and the 3D image of the little blip was displayed proudly on the front of the fridge.
Over several hours, Diane had given her statement to Dale. Dale had allowed him to sit in and once again he had been overwhelmed at her courage and strength as she described everything that had happened. Later, she’d also been allowed back into her office at McCormick and Michaels to collect her personal belongings.
Kelly, Mira, and Sophie had visited. Diane had asked him to stay for that one, while she explained to the girls how she’d been feeling and why she hadn’t come to them. The girls had been understanding and supportive as he knew they would be. That made him happy. Knowing Diane had been honest with them made him feel better about the next time he had to leave for a mission. These women would make sure Diane was OK. The rest of Raven and Sam had come by later, and together they had shared the news of their growing family to the delight of everyone.
Diane had also spoken to Melanie and Natasha, and they’d even come over for lunch with Anya. Diane was still hurting a little, and it would be a few more days until the stitches could come out, so Steve had offered to wait on the ladies, and they’d had a great time.
Today had been Megan’s birthday party. They had spent the morning at the trampoline park with her friends, followed by ice cream and presents. Afterward, they came here to Dex’s place for part two, with her “adult friends,” as she called them.
The boys were spoiling her rotten while Steve turned the burgers on Dex’s grill. He always seemed to man the grill at Dex’s barbecues, not that he minded. He considered himself a grill master. Everyone was there, including all the members of Nyx. When the news spread about his growing family, the gathering had turned into a double celebration.
He looked up from grilling to where Diane sat in a lounge chair on the deck talking to Donnie. He smiled, watching her. What a difference a week can make. Diane looked relaxed, happy, and positively glowing. She must have sensed him because she looked up and smiled.
They had talked a lot this past week. They had even had a session with Claire, the team psychologist. He had suggested it and was surprised but glad Diane had agreed. He wanted nothing more than to see his angel regain her self-worth and confidence. Diane was still worried about not working, the house being too small, and their money situation. Steve had done his best to reassure her. He’d even told the guys, asking them to look out for any cheap three-bedroom houses that maybe he could fix up. The team were eager to help, and if they found one, he knew all of them would be there to lend a hand. He didn’t want his wife to worry about any of it. All he wanted her to do was take this time for herself and let him take care of the rest.
“Don’t burn those burgers,” Dex said handing him a beer.
“Have I ever?” Steve challenged.
Dex laughed.
“You ready to get back to work tomorrow?”
“I am. It’s been great spending the week with my family, but I’m ready. Any ops on the horizon? Aziz?” He wanted to go and get those brothers sooner rather than later.
“They are officially a target. The intel team have pieced together more than enough evidence, but still no location. You know as well as I do Reborn have always been good at staying hidden.”
“They’ll slip up. They always do.”
“Hell, yeah, and we will be waiting. I’m sure they're pissed that we stopped the attack.”
“What you told me about Tracer, him not liking that Reborn are making this personal, he was right. It doesn’t seem to matter who’s in charge, their grievance with us isn’t fading.”
“I know.”
Steve noticed Kelly moving to sit next to Diane. Neither he nor Dex said anything as they both watched the women they love, as well as the rest of their Onyx family enjoying themselves. Reborn were always going to be a threat until they shut those bastards down.
“You two look way too serious.” Diane was walking toward them. She wore a pretty blue halter-neck sun dress covered in little white flowers. She looked beautiful. Radiant. He loved seeing her like this. Relaxed. Happy.
Steve smiled. “We’re just being sentimental about what a great family we all belong to.”
He held out his arm and Diane leaned into him. Seconds later, Kelly joined them and whispered in Dex’s ear.
“You want to do it now?” Steve heard Dex say. Kelly nodded.
“Hey, Tyler.” Dex called him over. “Can you keep an eye on the grill? Me and Kelly want to talk to Steve and Diane.”
“You bet.” Tyler took the spatula out of Steve’s hand. Steve looked at Dex with an arched eyebrow. What the fuck was this about?
“Come inside the house for a minute.”
“What about Megan?” Diane scanned the beach looking for their daughter.
“She’s playing soccer with Ryan. We got her,” Tyler said.
Dex led them into their house to the small dining table, where they all sat. Steve grabbed hold of Diane’s hand. Dex and Kelly were smiling, so whatever it was didn't appear to be bad news.
“We have a proposition for you. Well, Kelly does. But before she tells you, we want you to know, if you say no, we won't be offended, and it changes nothing. OK?”
Steve looked at Diane who seemed as confused as he was.
Dex didn't wait for an answer. “Go ahead, babe. This was your idea.”
Kelly looked about to burst.
“Diane, I know you’re concerned about not working, the house being too small and how you’re going to manage, and it got me to thinking. Since I moved in here with Dex, my house has been sitting empty. I couldn't bring myself to rent it out or sell it. It was my family home. I have so many memories there. My childhood, my dad, Dex and even Ryan. The thought of strangers living in it makes me sad. But it’s sitting there empty, and that makes me sad, too. It’s a family home, and it deserves to have a loving family in it. I want to offer it to you.”
Unable to find words, Steve could only stare at her.
“I’m not sure I understand?” Diane said.
“It’s a three-bedroom house,” Kelly explained, “with a large family room, a study, and it’s right on the beach. It would be perfect for you. Plus, it’s just down the street. I’d be right here to help out when the boys are gone with Megan and the baby if needed. I can’t have strangers living there, but I can have my family live there.”
“Kelly, we can’t take your house,” Steve said, finding his voice. He was overwhelmed by the offer, but it was too much. They weren’t a charity case.
“Steve, you’re not taking it, brother,” Dex said. “And we’re not giving it to you for free.” Dex tapped the table. “One, we ain’t that fucking generous, and two, I know you would never accept.
“What we’re proposing,” he said, “is if you like it, sell your house and move in there. At least until after the baby is born. You can rent it or buy it. We are open to both, but you don't have to decide now. Let us help by you living there until you figure things out with the baby and work. And there’s no rush. Right now, we’re still covering the bills, so you moving in takes that off our plate. And you get to cut the damn grass.”
Dex chuckled.
“Trust me you’ll be doing me a favor. Then when you’re ready, and if you want to make it permanent, we can discuss the finances. We can put an agreement in place between us, draw it up legal. Whatever you want. But it will be a hell of a lot cheaper than buying any other place on this island.”
“I can’t believe you’re offering us this,” Diane whispered. “I don’t know what to say.”
Diane hadn't said a flat-out no, telling him she at least wanted to consider it. Steve had to admit he didn’t hate the idea.
“You don't have to say anything now, just think about it,” Kelly said. “It will mean we will be very close neighbors. Not sure how you feel about that,” she said, grinning.
Steve kept his face straight. “You won’t be a problem, Kelly, but, Dex. I don’t know about being down the street...”
He couldn't keep his face straight and they all laughed.
“Seriously, guys, this is.... I don’t have words,” he said. Yeah, they were all close. They were family but he never had expected this.
Kelly got up and opened a drawer. She turned and held out a set of keys.
“Why don’t you go take a look? No pressure. Like Dex said. If you say no, it’s all good.”
“It won't be all good, because I’ll still have to cut the grass,” Dex mocked.
Steve looked at Diane. “What do you say? Want to go and look?”
Diane nodded. “Yes, I would.”
“Keep hold of the keys,” Kelly said, dropping them into Steve’s hand, “and go whenever you want, however many times you want. Take as long as you want to decide.”
Diane stood, moved around the table, and hugged Kelly. “Whatever we decide, this is such a generous offer.”
Steve held out his hand to Dex. “She’s right. Thank you.”
“Fuck that.” Dex pulled him for a manly slap on the back.
––––––––
T HEY DECIDED TO HANG out and have food first. Then, making sure Megan was busy having more ice cream with the team, they snuck out.
Neither of them had ever been in this house, but as soon as they got inside, Diane’s face lit up, and Steve knew this was going to be their home. They walked through the house in silence. The decor might need a little updating, but the kitchen and bathroom were good, the bedrooms were a great size. And the view, wow! Just like Dex’s place, the back of the house looked out over the beach and ocean. Their kids would love it here. Kids. Plural. Fuck he loved saying that.
Diane turned from the view to face him, the biggest smile spread across her face. “Steve, it’s perfect,” she whispered.
He pulled her into his arms. If she loved it, then he loved it.
“Is that a yes, then?” he asked softly.
“Yes, but what about you?” she asked seriously. “I mean it is pretty close to your team leader.”
He laughed and loosened his arms so he could see her face. “ That is not a problem. Although, I bet he makes us host some of the barbecues going forward.” He grinned.
“We’ll have the excuse of having a new baby, so I’m sure we can get away with it for a while.” She smiled.
“I like your thinking. The view makes it, doesn’t it? I can see our family enjoying the beach and the ocean every weekend.”
“That is great, but I also love that it has a study.”
“Really. A study?” He didn’t hide his surprise.
“Yes. Because I’m going to need an office for my new job.”
Steve smiled. It was great she was thinking about the future. “We got some time before you need to worry about that.”
“Not really. I start next week.”
He stared at her, speechless. She leaned up and kissed him gently on the lips.
“I spoke with Melanie Costas today. I’m going to work with her. Just her and I working together, doing what I wanted to do. Helping the people that really need it. It’s not as much money as I had before, so it might be tight, but at least I’ll be earning. She said we can work around Megan and the baby, and your job. We’ll be partners and—”
His hand over her mouth stopped her talking. Then he dropped his hand and covered her mouth with his. Lifting her in the air, he spun her around and she squealed in delight.
As he lowered her back to the floor, he said, “I am so damn proud of you.”
“You don’t mind? I mean it’s not the same as working for a big firm,” she said softly.
“Are you kidding? Look how happy you are. This is all I want. You. Happy. I think it’s a fantastic idea.”
“It’s all working out, isn’t it? Us, the baby, a new home, a new job. I can’t believe how much has changed in such a short space of time.”
“You deserve all of it. This is the start of a brand new chapter for all of us. We can sort out all the details next week, but should we go and give our family the good news?”
Diane nodded. “Our family. I’ve never felt more a part of this beautiful Onyx family than right now. I will never forget this day.”
He glanced at his watch. “We haven't been gone that long. How about we let our family take care of Megan a little longer, and really test out the house?”
Diane smiled. “Which room should we start in?”
***
D ONNIE RAISED HIS BEER in toast to his friend and teammate in congratulations. It was good to see Steve and Diane appeared to be working things out and were excited to be growing their family.
Everyone was in good spirits. It was always good when both teams were home, and they got to hang out, but Donnie wasn't feeling it today. If he had his way, he would be home, with a bottle of Jack, trying to block out the memory. The anniversary of his best friend’s death never got easier. Ten years, and he could still remember it like it was yesterday. He still missed Nate. He’d never told the team what happened, so they had no idea what this day did to him. No one knew the guilt he carried. Not even Nate’s sister, Charlie.
He wondered how she was doing. She had been planning to study political science and from what his mom had told him, she had done just that and was now working for the US government. When he’d first left his hometown, Charlie had texted and called but he ignored her until she gave up. Over the years he’d thought about reaching out to her so many times, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. After what he’d done, he would never forgive himself, and if Charlie found out the truth, she would never forgive him either. Staying away was best for everyone.
“Hey, Donnie,” Steve said, “you’re falling behind over there,”
Donnie forced his attention back to the celebration. Picking up his beer, he guzzled it down, finishing it off.
“You were saying?”
“That’s more like it.” Steve slid another bottle towards him.
His grieving was going to have to wait. Ironically, today was about new life, not about mourning the dead and what he’d lost.
***