Help Me To Heal

Epilogue

5 Years Later

The sound of a crying baby filled the house, shortly followed by Lexie's exasperated cries for help.

"Buckyyyyy, send help!" She yelled out the back door, in to the garden.

Bucky approached her, holding his hands out, gesturing for her to pass him the baby she was carrying. "What have you done to upset my sweet baby girl?" He made soft cooing noises and bounced the baby in his arms, her cries instantly fading into a content gurgle.

"Nothing!" Lexie whined, throwing her hands in the air "she just hates me! I'm positive she's got a crush on you and hates me because I'm your wife"

"Don't be ridiculous Chip" he laughed "she's 6 months old, how could she possibly have a crush on me? Or even understand the concept of marriage?"

"I don't know, but I'm telling you I'm right" she huffed "she must get her obsession for you from her daddy"

"Sam is not obsessed with me" Bucky scowled

"Oh yes he is." She bent down and tried to tickle the baby's chubby belly "isn't that right my sweet little Darlene?" Darlene instantly started to scream, her round little face screwing up in disgust "see! She hates me!" Lexie threw her arms in the air in frustration "I'm going to see the other one, at least I've got one God child that doesn't hate me. Where is Riley?"

Bucky smirked at her as Darlene began to settle back down, gurgling happily as her chubby little fingers reached up and grabbed his cheek "he's playing in the sandpit with Frank"

"Just Frank? Where's the rest of the boys?"

"I think Bombur is asleep in our bed as usual, and Lupin is sulking by the big tree waiting for Alpine to quit chasing birds and play with him"

Lexie chuckled and kissed Bucky on the cheek, causing Darlene to scream and grab a handful of Lexie's hair, pulling on it hard "boy are you gonna hear about this when you're a teenager young lady"

Leaving Bucky fawning over the baby girl, Lexie found Riley playing in the sandpit, building sandcastles while Frank - Lexie and Bucky's sausage dog - happily dug a hole in the sand "how's my smiley Riley doing?"

"Frank's being silly" he smiled up at her. Riley was 3 years old and the spitting image of Sam.

"He sure is" she laughed as she watched Franks tiny little legs dig frantically in the sand. "Can I help build sand castles too?"

Riley swung the little play bucket at her "Auntie Lex build castle"

Lexie took the bucket and started to scoop sand in to it with her hand "No!" Riley cried out "Silly sausage, with this!" He giggled passing her the toy spade.

"Oh you're just as bossy as your daddy you little whatsit" she laughed as she grabbed him, tickling him and blowing raspberries on his cheeks, causing him to giggle hysterically. The commotion grabbed the attention of Frank who started licking Riley's face, making him giggle and shriek with excitement. After a moment, Lupin - an Irish Wolfhound - came lumbering over to check out what all the noise was about "hey buddy" she reached up, scratching behind his ear "Alpine avoiding you again scruffbag?" Lupin whined softly, putting his giant paw in her lap. Behind him, she saw Alpine the cat, his Snow White fur bright in the sun as he jumped down out of the tree and ran towards the house "There he goes Lupes, go get him!"