Maybe After Tomorrow (Hatchetfield)

Epilogue

     It was just under a month later when a PEIP agent came to the house to tell everyone they could get home. Paul and Emma were moving into Paul's apartment together, Deb was going with Alice and Bill temporarily just until her parents were back from a business trip they'd been on when the meteor hit, Lex and Hannah were going with Ethan and Tony, Becky was moving in with Tim and Tom and, after much deliberation, Ted had decided to go back home.
     He would miss being with Henry every day, but they had only been together just over a month. That was a bit soon to be moving in together.
     Lex and Hannah were nervous, but they had had a month to get to know Tony a bit better and it had made them feel a little better. And of course they already knew (and loved) Ethan. The four of them all got on really well and they expected they were all going to enjoy living together. Lex and Ethan definitely would.
     Bill and Deb were getting along, much to Alice's relief. It had never been a secret that Bill wasn't Deb's biggest fan, but seeing how happy she made his daughter made him come around. Plus, they realised they had very similar tastes in music. This could be a bit draining for Deb when Bill would incessantly ask her about various albums he liked to see if she knew them, but she didn't mind. She was happy as long as Alice was happy. And it seemed as though she was.
     Alice had practically refused to go back to Clivesdale. Her mum couldn't even argue. She was one of the few outside of Hatchetfield who knew what had happened (in as little detail as possible) and she couldn't even bring herself to try to get Alice to move back in with her. She didn't want to and Bill was much more protective. So Alice got what she had always wanted. She was living with her dad.
     Tim was thrilled that Becky was moving in with him and Tom. He had missed having his mum around and, although Becky could never replace Jane, it would be nice to have her there. And she was delighted. She had always loved kids and wished she could have them and she adored spending time with Tim. And Tom, of course.
     Paul and Emma couldn't have possibly been more thrilled to be moving in together. Ever since they had nearly lost each other, they spent practically every second of every day together and the others couldn't pry them apart. They had started making some rough plans for their wedding with Tim's and Henry's help and they were desperate to make it really happen.

     So, on January 24th when they walked outside and there was a car waiting for each little group, they were all relieved to be getting back to a semi-normal life. But, in a way, they would miss all living together. It had been annoying at times, but they had all grown to love it in a way. It had become their new normal.
     After hugging and thanking Henry, everyone left for their homes. But Emma and Paul stayed behind a little longer.
     'Professor, thank you so much for everything,' Emma said, standing on the doorstep.
     'It's really no problem. I had been planning-'
     'Not just for letting us stay here. For everything. It was hard to get through the beginning without Paul here. Thank you for making it a little easier for me.'
     'Well, I couldn't stand seeing you
upset-'
     Emma practically launched forward, hugging Henry for a minute before stepping back. 'Bye.'
     'Make sure you come and visit.'
     'Of course.'
     'Goodbye, Emma.'

~

(A/N: There are literally tears in my eyes right now. I'm gonna miss this story so much.)