The One Who Lived

Epilogue - Twenty-Two Years Later

"Mom!" My oldest sons voice echoes down the long marble hallway. "Do you know here my cleats and pads are? I can't find them anywhere!" He yells making me smile a little because I still can't believe moments like these are my life.

I can still remember all the times I called my mom the same way and was looking for something that she somehow always knew where it was. I know that he is almost 18, but it still feels like it was a few days ago that I was his age and a few days ago that I had him.

"Mom," He pops his head in the kitchen. "Did you even hear me?" He asks making me roll my eyes.

"Yes, Beau. I heard you." I laugh as I take all of him in.

Beau got his height from his dad and actually manages to stand an inch taller, he got Ander's steel eyes but my dark hair. Beau also got his father's strength and boldness, but he also has a secret silly side that I like to believe he gets from me. You don't see much Pearson in Beau like you do Grey, but it is there.

"Do you happen to have an answer or are my looks just too good?" Beau asks before striking a sarcastic pose.

I throw the wet cup in my hand at him, but he catches it gracefully. Goddamn football players. "They are in the mud room in the locker that just so happens to say your name on it — just like it has for 16 years." I say making Beau roll his eyes at me before tossing the cup and disappearing back down the hallway he came from.

I smile, sadly as I turn back to the soaking dishes, and I think about how this is the last first football game of his high school season.

Somehow, Ander and I have a child who will be graduating and moving away and becoming a whole ass adult. I know that growing and being good people is all you want for your kids, but why does it suck so bad? Why can't I get rid of this ache in my stomach?

"Mom!" My name is called by our other boy as he walks into the kitchen and as our girl is right on his heels. "Please tell Hanna to stop wearing my clothes! I can't find any of my sweats or shirts, and I always find them in her laundry bin." Forrest complains as Ander walks through the front door.

Forrest got my blue eyes but Ander's hair and height. Forrest takes a little after me in his ability to make everything fun or spontaneous, but Forrest also gets his worry and big heart from me as well — which I can't decide if I cursed him with that or if it was a gift.

Hanna huffs. "They are comfortable, Forrest. It is not like you are even wearing them! I have them for weeks before you even notice that they are gone." Hanna says, crossing her arms.

Hanna is all me, Ander and Anni wrapped into one. Hanna got my eyes, Anni's blonde hair but some of Ander's height making her 5'4 at only 13 years old. I can already tell she is going to be the child who puts Ander and I through the most hell, and I can't say that we are ready for it.

"Do you realize that you just snitched on yourself, Hanna?" Forrest taunts making Hanna glare at him.

"It isn't my fault that Delta keeps stealing all of my clothes, so I have to borrow yours." Hanna snaps as Delta walks in.

We all turn towards her and wait for her fight, but she puts her hands up as if she was told to surrender. "I won't lie – I steal her stuff." Delta admits making me laugh.

I know that I said I was three and done, but the universe had other plants when I got pregnant only three months after Hanna was born.

It was the hardest pregnancy that I have ever had to experience – Forrest's seemed like a walk in the park compared to Delta's. I started getting sick at four weeks along and didn't stop puking until after I gave birth. I actually was lighter in weight when I gave birth to her than I was before I got pregnant with her.