Into The Hills

Chapter 33

Epilogue

I gently groan, Elena's long hair is in my face, and I smooth it out, opening my eyes, it was a brand new day, a new start, and I smile softly, as I set Elena on the bed, careful not to wake her up. I grab my clothes from the drawer, and change in the bathroom, brushing my teeth and hair, I yawn lightly as I exit the bathroom and see Elena, my wife we were married sleeping on the bed, she looks so at peace, and I smile as I walk barefoot out of the room. I was only up early because I had an early class on CPR, that's right, I had gotten my life together, finally, Elena and I found our way back to each other, and we even had something to count for it: A son.

I smile and walk to my son's room, he's sitting on the floor, curly brown hair in his hazel eyes, as he plays with his trucks, making tiny "broom" noises, his face in full concentration, and then he looks up at his face lights up at the sight of his father leaning in the doorway.

"Good morning buddy." I say gently, and he screams daddy! And runs over to me, his chubby toddler legs running as fast as they can, as I swoop him up in my arms, giving him a little kiss on the side of his head. I love my son, so much, and after years of convincing myself that I deserved a kid, and then he was born, and I find myself learning new things about myself as I raise him, Elena knows he makes me happy, and she's happy to have him too, Jackson even comes over sometimes, and plays with him.

She hasn't gotten full custody back, but she's okay with letting Jackson come over once in awhile, I knew she missed him all through out rehab, and now I understood the pain in her eyes, because I don't think I could live without my son.

"Mason." I laugh, as I spin him around, and he giggles softly, holding onto my shoulders, I finally set him down, and he falls on his diapered butt, and I laugh softly, as I ruffle his hair.

"Let's go get breakfast before daddy has school, okay?" I ask him, and he giggles quietly, and takes my large hand in his.

"Daddy can we have cereal?" He asks, and I nod my head, grinning as we walk down the stairs of our home, Damon and I had built it together, from scratch, I found the old sketch I had in my notebook from high school, and I told Damon about it and he agreed, he and Bonnie love Mason, and always come over in the afternoons, I keep teasing Damon to get a kid of his own, and he always says in time. But I know he's really happy for me, and I'm happy for myself too, I thank God for Damon every day, for helping me in my darkest hour, for signing me up for a better life, from pulling me back from death, when I had no one, for believing in me when I thought no one else would. I love my brother, dearly, he's my best friend.

Mason drags me down the stairs, and I get to the kitchen, setting him down on his chair, he grins at me, as I turn on his favorite cartoons, I grab a bowl and pour two amounts of cereal in there.

I hear Elena's yawn from the walkway, and I smile as she enters the kitchen, I hand her a cup of coffee, and she raises it to me, grateful, as she takes her first sip, she looks so beautiful standing there in her robe, her hair pulled back into a low bun, as she looks out the window, admiring the sunrise.

I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her thin waist, I knew she had to be at the school soon, she started teaching kindergarten at Jackson's school and she loved it, as far as I could tell, she smiles, holding my strong arms with one hand, as she leans back into me, she smells like lemons, and I love it.

"What are you thinking about?" I whisper, kissing the side of her face, and she bites her lip, gently.

"How amazing our life is." She answers truthfully, and I smile, my green eyes glance at Mason, he's glued to the tv, as he sits, eating his cheerios with his spoon, I smile, kissing her neck gently, her heart beat picks up a little.