The Weekend - Completed

Epilogue

4 Years later

I practically ran down the hallway knowing the only guest missing was my dad, as I flung the front door to my beloved house open I readied myself for the bone crushing hug I was going to give him.

"Why can't all my grandchildren look that pleased to see me?" My gran exclaimed as she pulled me in for an unexpected embrace.

"Oh gran" I squealed as I hugged her back tightly, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming over? This is such a fantastic surprise, Evie will be so thrilled." I gushed, even though I doubted she would be anywhere near as excited as I was.

"I wanted to surprise you" she said kissing my cheek before easing passed me, "So where are my stunningly, beautiful great-children?" She called over her shoulder.

"The parties in the back garden they'll be out there gran." I instructed as my dad finally come into hugging distance.

"That hug was meant for you, you know?" I said conspiratorially to him, he laughed hugging me back.

"Yeah I know, and although she'll never admit it so does she." With a mischievous wink he nudged me before we walked arm and arm into the garden.

"Granddad!" Evie screamed jumping off the inflatable bouncy castle leaving sixteen 6 and 7 year olds happily tossing and turning behind her, as she ran full speed to my dad.

"Everything is perfect now you are here." She said as she launched herself into his outstretched arms and as I looked around the gathering of the people I loved I knew she was right.

"Oh my goodness Evie, how old are you now, is it 27 or 28?" He teased, she shook her head at him.

"No silly granddad, I'm only 7." She was laughing as she raised her eyes in exasperation.

I felt Daniel's hand rest lightly on the small of my back as he come to stand beside me our eight month old son, Jamie, in his arms. I could feel my face beaming with the happiest of smiles as he leant in to gently kiss me.

"I love you Mrs Clarke" he whispered, his warm breath caressing my neck.

"I love you too" I said taking the baby from him.

"Was that your Gran I saw a minute ago?" His eyes wide with surprise.

"Yeah, it sure was." I teased; he shook his head, laughing.

"Well in that case I think I'll make myself scarce, I'll probably go and check on the kids." He decided.

"Coward" I mouthed, "You can't avoid her forever." I pointed out, still laughing.

"No, but I can give it a try." Although I knew he really liked my Gran I also knew she scared him a little too.

Their relationship had, I feared, suffered irreparable damage after she had danced with him on our wedding day. He had never quite recovered from her very serious threat to cut his bollocks off with her pinking shears if he ever hurt me again. I was still smiling at the look on his face when she finally found us.

"Oh let me look at him" She said taking him from me, passing me a couple of presents in exchange. "Alex, he's got so big since I last saw him, he looks so much like you." She cooed over him.

"No Gran he doesn't" I said reprimanding, "He's the spit of Daniel and well you know it." I said shaking my head at her. My little boy was like a miniature version of his dad, from the colour of his hair, to the shape of his features and his beautiful jade, green eyes.

"Well perhaps a little" she conceded begrudgingly, knowing she wouldn't budge any further I decided to distract her.

"So are these off you?" Looking at the presents I still held in my hands.

"That one is" she said nodding at the bigger of the two. "But the smaller one is off Adam and Joanna, they dropped it off a couple of days before I flew over" She explained.

Two years ago, after his grandparents had died they had decided to move to Spain and into the house they left to him. Although they didn't have any children of their own yet I knew they would make wonderful parents one day. The first thing Evie would ask when we stepped off the plane was when she could go and see Aunt Joanna and Uncle Adam. Daniel's enthusiasm was far more contained, secretly I had always thought he was a little jealous of the closeness Adam and I shared, even though he would never admit it.

As I scanned the scene my eyes found Joel's, he smiled contentedly at me before tenderly kissing Nicole's cheek and gently touching her heavily pregnant stomach. I felt my heart warm as I thought of their little family and knew Joel couldn't be happier.

"I think he'd still come back to you, if you asked him." James whispered in my ear as he wrapped hand opens around me from behind, turning I hugged him tightly, whispering my reply into his ear.

"Less of that shit stirrer." I warned, trying hard to hold my disapproving glare, but knowing it was futile.

"Get my God son off your Gran" James' head inclined towards Jamie, "I'd get her myself but Daniel's warned me about her...she feisty." He said laughing, I didn't need to bother, as soon as the baby saw him he squirmed and wriggled, holding his arms out to James, who smugly retrieved him from my Gran. I watched his swagger as he introduced his God son and name sake to every guest over the age of 7.

With Evie finally releasing my dad from her death grip and heading back towards her waiting posse of friends, I took my opportunity to sneak a child free moment with my oh so handsome husband, he was still stood by the bouncy castle, pretending to supervise. I caught his eye almost instantly and tilted my head towards the kitchen; a huge smile filled his face as he nodded eagerly.

Wrapping me quickly into his arms as soon as I was within reach, he smiled suggestively.

"Hmmm do you think they'd miss us if we just disappeared upstairs for half an hour?" He asked before gently kissing down my neck.

"Unfortunately I think they would, but I'm sure the wait will be worth the while." I teased as I pressed myself against him and kissed him deeply.

"If you don't stop teasing me I'll have no option but to drag you up the stairs." He said, urging me to push him further, knowing he wasn't joking I quickly changed the subject.

"So do you think your mum and dad are having a nice time?" I asked still wrapped in his loving embrace.

"Of course they are, my mum's in her element, on my way in I saw she was just about to wrestle the baby away from James." I giggled at the thought of the two of them fighting over who had the greater claim over my son.

"Thank you" he said, "For everything you've given me, not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine I could be so happy." I felt my heart burst with the same happiness he had just described. Reaching up on my toes, I slowly leant in and kiss him tenderly on his lips before looking deep into his eyes and saying.

"I love you, I'm so glad you never gave up on us."