Hey everyone… here’s the epilogue. Hope you like it. Enjoy and please leave your votes and comments.

Love you all,

tauralicious.

--- EPILOGUE ---

AUSTIN:

A pair of ocean blue eyes stared back at me, scanning me from top to bottom. I refused to believe for a second that those were my eyes, staring at my reflection, staring at the man who wasn’t what he used to be. Arrogant sick sex loving bastard. I wasn’t any of that anymore but a guy who was madly in love with two beautiful ladies in his life.

Andy and Arianna. My love, my life, my everything…

An effortless smile spread across my lips as I thought of them. Since last six months I had nothing on my mind but Arianna. My daughter. I had spent every waking moment with her. I chuckled as I thought how Andy had complained I never let her play with Arianna. We were a family now and in just a few moments it would be official. Andy and I will finally be married. I felt my face getting hot at the thought. How I had fussed about getting married so soon and now I couldn’t wait. If it were up to me I would run with Andy up to the Priest and ask him to get over with it already.

I remembered standing in the hotel same room, twisting Andy’s engagement ring in my fingers thinking how easy was it to fall in love with her. A little jealousy, a little possessiveness and next thing I knew I was in love with her. It was on the same hotel’s rooftop that I’d slipped the ring in her finger right after she got crushed because I invited Lee Breton intentionally for the sake of a stupid revenge, and I regretted it. It was the same hotel where we were tied in a relationship. And it will be the same hotel, same rooftop were she’ll finally be mine. Forever.

My heart leaped as the clicking of the door lock startled me. Paul came in, closing the door behind him. I kept fixing my tie as he came and stood beside me. Suddenly I felt my hands going cold and my heart started beating out of order. Paul stepped in between me and the mirror, taking control of my tie. I noticed that I had done nothing but untie it over again. I dropped my hands, looking everywhere except Paul’s eye as his hand worked on my tie. “Nervous, huh?”

“Weren’t you?” I looked in his eyes and he grinned. Paul and Karen married a month ago and had cut their honeymoon short just to attend our wedding. I remembered sitting on the bed in the same hotel room, drinking champagne, watching him getting dressed.

“Hell I was! Marriage is no picnic, buddy.” He mocked and grinned wide.

“Well I’m not.” It wasn’t a lie. In fact I got cold feet because I was really excited.

“Yeah, right.” He patted my shoulder, pushing me away a little to have a good look. “Lookin’ nice bro.”

“Where’s Arianna?” I asked suddenly feeling the urge to hold her in my arms.

“She’s with mom probably in Andy’s room.”

“I’ll just go and see Andy.” I quickly turned around and walked towards the door thinking I might get a chance to take Arianna for a minute. I was addicted to her. There hadn’t been any moment that I had spent away from her.

“Aye! You can’t go around sneaking on the bride before the ceremony. It’s a bad omen.”

I turned sharply and found myself laughing at his face. “Bad omen? What, am I going to be cursed or something?” I laughed. “Can’t believe you’re telling me his when you sneaked up to Karen yourself.”

“That was something different…” he blushed.

I chuckled. “Well, I need to see her.”

“Hey Boys!” Paul shouted just as I turned around. “I think our Groom’s ready for the slaughter.” And just as he stopped shouting, the front door smacked open and my whole soccer team walked in, wearing tuxedos.

“Let the Best Man through!” Seth shouted, pushing his way through. He had a bottle of champagne in one hand and a silver round tray with about fifteen two inch wine glasses on his other hand. He set it on the table and messily poured down the wine. He turned to me, handing me a glass and smirked. “Well well well, look who is getting married…” Everyone hooted as Seth teased me raising his glass up. “To Austin B. Carlson, Captain of our team and Slave of Andy’s heart.” He grinned, smacking his glass with me. I felt my face going hotter as they all laughed and drank. “Alright team! Let’s get the Captain to the wedding field.”

With that they all gather around me. I know what was coming. I back a little but Paul was behind me, pushing me towards them. “Touch me and you’ll all do a hundred push-ups daily for an entire month!”

“I think we can handle that.” Jeff chuckled and soon they were lifting me off the ground. “Hey!” I protested but it was too late. They headed out with me on their shoulders towards the elevator. “Watch the suit man!” it was no use protesting, they were already cramming inside the elevator. “Remind me to make it a thousand push-ups Seth.” I joked as I saw him grinning up at me. A little later they let me down as the elevator opened to the beautifully decorated rooftop.

I took a deep breath, maybe trying to calm myself, as I saw the enormous gathering. With Paul and Seth on either side of me as the Best Men, I walked towards the crowd and made small talks to everyone while they congratulated me.

“Sons of Carlson… you’ve made me proud!” Grandfather reached us, pulling me and Paul in a hug. It was a little embarrassing but I wasn’t exactly in a position to do anything, especially now. I ran my eyes around as grandfather started talking about something I couldn’t really listen and found Arianna bouncing excitedly in Mrs. Carter’s arms, trying to reach for everything around her.

I was quick in getting to her and took her in my arms, kissing her rosy cheek. She giggled heartily, looking at me with her beautiful blue eyes. “Daddy missed her little princess!” I exclaimed and she buried her little face in my chest like she understood what I said. A while later I gave her back to Mrs. Carter and went to stand at the altar, while everyone else got seated facing me.

I felt my heart pounding as I glared at the glass doors, waiting for my bride. I heard Paul and Seth sighing behind me as Collie and Karen entered followed by the other two bridesmaids. I gulped when finally the doors opened and Andy walked in with Mr. Carter. I caught her eye and suddenly I was breathless…

ANDY:

“Are you breathing?” Collie asked me, giving a final touch to my hair which hung down in loose curls, and checked the crease of the dress. A champagne pink strapless silk gown, flowed down elegantly with a belt made of tiny pearls hanging loose on the waist – my mother-in-law’s creation.

“Yes…” I mumbled, biting my glossed lip. I was kinda nervous. I’ve always resented big parties and large gatherings and I knew behind those glass doors were probably hundreds of people all waiting for me now to make a grand entrance for my wedding.

My wedding! I felt my heart flutter.

“Just keep breathing, alright? And remember…” Karen said, squeezing my hand. “…you look extremely gorgeous.” She smiled and stood in her place. The doors opened and the four bridesmaids walked out, leaving me behind with my dad. I inhaled a lot of air, trying to steady my heart that was going nuts as I thought about Austin and grasped my dad’s arm a little tightly.

“Thanks dad…” I looked up at him.

“What for?”

“For fixing my marriage…” I wanted to add ‘with the best guy in the world’ but I smiled instead which he returned.

“I love you honey.”

“Love you too dad.”

The glass doors opened again and holding my breath I stepped out with my dad beside me. I felt a thousand eyes on me and suddenly I started feeling hot and my legs wobbled. Damn! Without a glance anywhere I looked at the end of the aisle and found Austin staring at me. He looked breathless but then, I was breathless too. I kept my eyes on his ocean blue and once again I felt drowning in them like always. The aisle suddenly seemed to stretch longer. I wish I could just fly to him. With every step I took towards him, I felt light, happy and lucky. I know I was smiling broadly because Austin smiled too and maybe not even knowing what he was doing he stepped down the aisle and walked up to me.

“May I?” he asked my dad, holding his hand out.

“She’s already yours.” Dad smiled, kissed my cheek and backed a little. The soccer team, sitting in the second row hooted as Austin grasped my hand lightly, walking towards the altar. We held hands as we stood facing each other, looking directly in the eyes. ‘You look beautiful…’ Austin mouthed the words and I blushed, looking away. I saw Arianna – my love, sitting on my mom’s lap, sucking her thumb, staring at us with her gorgeous blue eyes. She looked more like Austin these days and I was glad about it.

Austin squeezed my hand; bring my attention back to him. The priest started the ceremony but I could barely listen. All those times me and Austin had spent together came flooding in my mind. It had been such a long journey and now we were finally going to be tied together. Forever. My heart swelled with happiness as I whispered ‘I do’.

“I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss your bride.” Priest announced and before the words could sink in, Austin’s lips were on mine. His hand slipped down my waist, pulling me near. At the touch of our lips, I felt sparks and for a second everything tuned off. All I could feel was a deep passionate kiss from Austin, now my husband.

I pulled back, unwittingly and blushed hard. Austin chuckled and from the corner of my eye I saw him smirking at me. Everyone clapped and I heard Arianna giggling, totally enjoying things. I stepped forwards, taking her from my mom but Austin quickly took her from my arms.

“Hey! Not fair Austin!” I whined.

“Everything’s fair in love and war baby…” he smirked and little Arianna cooed in his arms.

Before I could reply to this, everyone was already hugging and congratulating us. For a second I felt suffocated but watching Arianna jumping excitedly in Austin’s arms made me forget everything.

“After all getting married wasn’t so bad, right?” Austin winked at Paul who was standing beside him.

“Some tradition, huh?” Mr. Carlson, now my father-in-law, heard them as he reached over. Both of them looked a little embarrassed, probably because of the way they reacted when they were told to get married. Mr. Carlson grinned at them and hugged them. “I’m proud of you both. Proud of my sons and my daughters-in-law and both my grandkids.” I saw his eyes getting wet as he said that.

“Pwoud ov me gwan’pa?” Junior was in Paul’s arms, looking at Mr. Carlson with huge eyes.

“Yes, proud of you too little Paul.” Mr. Carlson ruffled his hair, smiling widely.

“Junior gwan’pa. Me no lil Pawl!” he scoffed. Junior had started speaking a little and I’d always wished Arianna would start talking soon… “An’ when I mawwy(marry), wou’ you pwoud ov me?” he asked cutely making us all laugh.

“Does this guy look he’s two?” Austin chuckled.

“I’ll tell you what Junior,” Paul let him down, kneeling beside him. “Go and find a cute girl here and we’ll marry you right now.” Junior beamed. “Weally?” “Yea. Just tell me if you like anyone.” He grinned. “Me likey awl!” Junior exclaimed and was already turning around to look.

“Like father like son.” Karen shook her head in disbelieve, trying hard to hide her grin.

Lunch wasn’t dragged long and toasts were cut short, because Austin had insisted we had to leave. I tried to ask where to but he didn’t answer me. After the dance he excused himself, took Arianna and grasping my hand he paced out. Without any answers he walked us out of the hotel to his brand new car gifted by Mr. Carlson for a wedding gift.

Just as I was about to get in, I felt as if someone had punched on my gut, sucking all the breath out of me. Lana Travis was standing a few feet away from us. She tried to smile but I could tell she couldn’t. She slowly walked to me and Austin was quickly by my side. She glanced at Austin just for a second, quickly shifting her gaze at Arianna who was still in Austin’s arms. For a long time, neither of us spoke. She stared at Arianna with awe. Then when she finally looked at me, I saw her eyes had welled up. It was hard to believe she was the same Lana that I’ve known. There was no hint of bitchiness on her face or in her expressions which were disheveled, pained and full of regret. Maybe for the first time, I noticed how beautiful she really was.

“Andy, I don’t know if it would mean anything to you but I’ve wanted to say this for a long time.” She gulped in, not looking away. “I’m really sorry for everything I did. I’ve been a bitch to you and I was wrong about everything.” Her voice quivered and a tear trickled down her cheek. I knew she wanted to say more but she couldn’t. My heart broke. I had never expected this and it made me feel awful but whelmed at the same time. Whatever she had done was quiet a hard thing but it had brought me and Austin even closer.

I quickly pulled her to me. I could tell she was bewildered by my sudden reaction and she hesitated at first but then, wrapped her arms around me, crying on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry Andy! I’ve felt awful every single day.” She mumbled but I shushed her. “It’s alright… its all forgiven and forgotten.”

She pulled back, biting her lip. “I can’t thank enough…”

“Then don’t.” I smiled at her.

“Anyways, I wanted to congratulate you both…” she glanced at Austin and their eyes met for a second but Austin looked away. “I should go… mom’s waiting…” she said, smiling at Arianna briefly and left. I stood stunned for a second.

“Let’s go.” Austin told me and I got in, sitting Arianna on my lap. Austin got in and drove out quickly. We were silent for a long time until Arianna squeaked. Her mouth was forming an O and her eyes were huge as she looked outside at the passing trees in awe, slapping her hand on the window.

“Where’re we going?” I broke the silence, noticing the road going narrower and there were hardly any cars, just trees on both the sides.

“You’ll see.” Austin glanced at me and smirked. I sat quietly the whole way because I knew he won’t tell even if I ask him a thousand times. A while later he parked the car in front of a beautifully built cabin. I gasped as I remembered it. It was our beach house. Austin quickly got out and opened the door for me. He took Arianna in his arms who, I noticed now, had slept while sucking on her thumb.

Still breathless, I walked in with Austin behind me. I was awed as I saw unlit candles decorated in patterns on the floor all over the place. Unlit? I guessed Austin saw my questioning look and before I could ask he said, “I’ll take care of this… Take her to the room… first one on the left.” Austin told me, placing Arianna carefully in my arms. I walked in the room and placed Arianna in the little cot. I knew Austin had set it all. Arianna’s room was painted in soft pink and there were a lot of toys around and the little cot had the words embossed on the head, ‘Princess Arianna’.

My eyes started to well up. There was so much I could feel. Happy, excited, lucky… I had everything. A very cute daughter and an amazing man whom I was madly in love with. I didn’t hear Austin coming in and so I got startled as he stood behind me and placed a light kiss on my bare shoulder. I shuddered, trying to hide my face but Austin saw my moist eyes.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he grasped my forearms, turning me around. I shook my head and smiled unable to say anything. “Come on.” He held my hand and walked out, closing the light and door of Arianna’s room. He’d lit all the candles which made the house glow like honey. He walked me out to the deck, holding my hand tightly.

The scene was breath taking. The vast stretching sea was calm and glittered in the setting sun. I took my heels off and Austin helped me climb down the deck. I inhaled the light cold breeze, closing my eyes just as the cold soft sand touched my feet. We walked a little further and sat on the sand. We stayed silent for long, watching the sun setting down beautifully. Everything was so perfect. At a moment I looked up and found Austin staring down at me. I didn’t know how long had he been looking at me. He smiled and his eyes sparkled. His face looked so perfect. I smiled back, resting my head on his shoulder.

“God, I think I’m falling for you over again…” he whispered. I blushed as I looked up at him again and I knew he hadn’t watched the sun setting. Even though it was getting dark, I could see his sparkling eyes. “You know I love you right?”

I nodded and his lips were on mine. Like always there were sparks everywhere. After a while he pulled back and stared deep in my eyes. I couldn’t look away. I don’t know what he was waiting for. Weren’t we supposed to keep kissing? His perfect smile started to fade away and he snorted. “What?” I asked feeling a little stupid.

“Ah my innocent little wifey…” he sighed. My heart fluttered as he said Wifey. “…when you’re told that you are loved, you’re supposed to say it back…” he explained like I was a toddler. I was embarrassed but didn’t look away and he smirked.

Wait a minute… “Did you say little?” I crocked my eyebrow.

“Yeah so?” he mocked.

“So?” I frowned. “You just reminded me that I’ve married a moron!”

“A total bad ass moron.” He corrected me and smirked. I bit my lip to hide my smile. “Remember the last time we were here? I got the best news of my life…”

“Yeah and you didn’t even say anything.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Wish I could have…” He mumbled not wanting me to hear it but I did.

“If I knew you were such a loser, I would never have married you…” I joked badly and regretted it.

He chuckled and looked back at me. “Oops, too bad. You’re already married to the loser, Mrs. Andy Blake Carlson…” I saw the naughtiness dancing in his eyes.

“So you admit you’re a loser?” I teased him.

“Only if you admit you love that loser…” he sneered. He waited but I didn’t say it. “Okay, so that’s how it’s gonna be? I don’t mind.” He smirked and I felt his hand creeping up my waist. I shuddered but he leaned in, a smirk plastered on his face. My heart started pounding but I didn’t back away.

He placed kisses on my shoulder making me shiver and trailed up to my neck. I closed my eyes feeling dizzy. He kissed his way up to the ear and nibbled on my ear lobe. A moan escaped my mouth and I heard him chuckle. He kissed my jaw line and came right at the edge of my lips. My heart went wild. I wanted to pull him and kiss right away but he just brushed his lips on mine and moved to my neck again. I gritted my teeth in frustration. I wanted him so bad! He kept teasing me by kissing everywhere except on the lips. “I’m still waiting Andy…” he breathed in my ear. I opened my eyes and saw his face gleaming in the moon light. He smirked again and leaned brushing his lips to my collar bone and kept kissing his way down to my chest. He teased me some more until I lost control.

“Okay! Okay!” I clutched his hair, bringing his face up to mine. I placed a long kiss on his lips and moved my tongue in his mouth. His hand slipped in my hair. When I pulled back we both were breathing frantically. “I love you Austin!” my voice came out aggressively. I pecked on his lip again as he smiled. “Even though you’re a loser… I love you!”