100 Reasons Why (Ashton Irwin)

Epilogue

Epilogue

Annabelle POV

"Oh, my God, Ash! Guess what I found!" I run over to him as fast as I can. I'm pregnant, so that's not very fast.

"Hey, be careful. You're gonna hurt little Thomas," Ashton laughs.

"I would never. But look!" I hold out a small little notebook, the one I wrote my reasons in all those years ago. It's 2024, and looking at my notebook that started this relationship nine years ago. "The reasons that started it all."

"Babe, you now what we promised."

"I know, but just because you can't read them doesn't mean I can't." After dating a year, Ashton and I promised each other that we would never read the others reasons. We wanted to keep it secret. "It's so surreal, looking back at the project that got me to talk to you."

"That got all our friends to talk to each other."

"Well, besides Jenna and Calum. They decided to give themselves a head start." I laugh as I look back at all those years.

All eight of us graduated in 2018. We kept our relationships throughout college. Jenna and Calum had a happy relationship once they told us their secret. Amelia and Michael sometimes had a rough relationship, but I honestly believe they were so in love it didn't even matter. They always made it through. Luke and Meg were always so damn happy it was sometimes infuriating. They are so alike. It is weird.

Ashton and I had a normal relationship.

Ash and I married in 2022. Seven years of dating, I know. But Ashton and I wanted to be financially stable before marriage. And we were, which is good.

We both have a good job, along with our friends. They're all married as well. The only ones with kids are Milly and Michael. But, Meghan and Luke are pregnant. They're only two months along.

Ashton and I are eight months along. We're having a boy, and naming him Thomas. I'm very excited for this boy. Not only am I ready to be a mother, but I'm ready to get this damn boy out.

I need to pee, all the time. Morning sickness kills me. I have the weirdest cravings ever. Last week, I begged Ashton to buy me oranges and ranch at three in the morning yesterday. It was terrible. I hate it.

Meghan is doing well. She laughs whenever I complain. She says it's not so bad. But she's only two months along. Luke wants a girl, Meghan doesn't care. Meghan definitely thinks it's a girl. If they have a girl, they're naming her Liz. If they're having a boy, his name will be Andrew.

Meg has this theory. If they have a girl, Thomas and Liz will get married. Or they're at least going to be very best friends. Same with the boy. If they have a boy, Thomas and Andrew will be best friends. I don't see how they can't be.

"I'm so happy I met you," I tell Ashton. I'm clutching the notebook close to my heart, just like these reasons are close to my heart.

"I'm happy you met me, too." Ashton giggles.

"You're so stupid." I laugh. I start to lean in to kiss him, but then Thomas starts kicking. "He's kicking!" Ashton immediately puts his hands on my stomach.

"Isn't it cool that he's half mine and half yours, and together he's ours?" Ashton asks.

"It is, yes. It's very cool." I excuse myself to go use the bathroom, and when I come back Ashton has set up blankets and pillows on the couches. "What's this?"

"Movie marathon. Just like we would in college." Ashton says.

"Ashton, I don't think I can cuddle up to you like I used to." I tell him.

"We haven't cuddled since you got the baby bump!"

"That's your fault!"

"You wanted the baby, too."

"Okay, okay, I can try. But I'm promising anything." I sit down on the couch next to him, and I put my head on his chest.

"See, I told you we could make it work." Ashton laughs.

We watch three movies. By the end of the third, I'm falling asleep. I hear Ashton talking, though.

"Thomas, you have such a beautiful mommy. She's taking good care of you, isn't she? She takes good care of me, too. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't meet her. I love her so much, and you. When you come into this world, it will be the best day of my life. My dreams of having a family with the woman I love will come true." Ashton says. "I love you, Annabelle."