Bruise Me Twice (Twice #3)

Epilogue

                                                                                           Brooklyn 

                                                                                        (5 years later)

"Sofia Brienne Medina" I yelled strictly, chasing the little girl down the grand staircase

Before I could catch her, she jumped onto Vaughn's arms. He tilted his head back, the sunlight reflecting off of both of their bright green eyes as he laughed. Part of my rage melted at his melodious laughter as I got to the both of them, hands on my hips.

"Who thought it was a good idea to fill my vase with glue and glitter" I asked, directing to the little curly haired blonde in Vaughn's arms.

"Did you do that?" Vaughn asked sweetly

"No" She squeaked as Vaughn set her down

"It's not very polite to lie, they always come back to you" Vaughn advised with a tremor of humor in his voice

"Ok I did it" She said quietly, looking at the ground "But daddy said it will be funny to do it" She giggled, pointing at Vaughn, a faint ghost of sleep still on his face, hair tousled as he held his mug, bare-chested with a grey pair of sweat pants.

"Vaughn!" I said, playfully swatting his arm as he handed a mug of coffee, raising his hands in surrender as I snatched the steaming mug from him

"That vase is ugly as hell though" He reasoned

"You're buying me a new one" I scoffed, rolling my eyes and taking a sip

"I'll buy you a million vases, made of diamond if it makes you happy" He said, wrapping his arms around my waist and leaving a soft kiss on my lips

"Ewwww" Sofia gagged, sticking her tongue out and mimicking vomiting sounds

"One day you'll be like us" I smiled as Vaughn picked her up, spinning her around

"Over my dead body" Vaughn rolled his eyes

I smiled as I watched Vaughn play with Sofia, nothing but the loving gaze in his eyes as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Ew daddy noo, put me downnn" She squealed

"Nope, you're trapped" He chuckled

"Put me down or else I'll point that black thing that makes a loud noise at you and pull the trigger" She said innocently as I almost spat my coffee out in a fit of laughter as he set her down, complete shock on his face

"It's called a gun Sof, and I'll help you" I giggled

"Did I just get threatened by a four year old" He said shocked

"Grandpa!" Sofia screamed from the other side of the room

"She's a Medina all right" Evanna chuckled, smiling at us

"Flesh and bones" Blake added as he scooped Sofia up in his arms,

"We had to come by to see our little baby" Evanna said, placing a kiss on Sofia's forehead

"You looked whipped son" Blake commented as they came up to us, shock still on Vaughn's face

"He's fine" I said

"Ok come on honey, let Grandpa and Grandma breathe for a second" I said as she got down and sprinted to the living room where she had an array of toys scattered on the floor

"We're not that old" Blake scoffed

"We're still 17" Evanna said as Blake wrapped an arm around her waist

"Come on, you got it" Vaughn encouraged as Sofia dipped her foot into the lake, the same one he took me to a few years ago...

"I can't daddy" Sofia whined

"You can do it baby" I said softly as I swam up to her

"I was scared too, but when you learn how to swim, splash daddy okay?" I whispered to her as she gave me a mischievous grin and nodded her head

"What?" Vaughn asked me

"Oh nothing" I grinned

Sofia jumped into Vaughn's arms, holding onto him for support as he held her tightly, lifting her up from the water as he chuckled

"See not that bad" He said, lowering her down to the water, instructing her on what to do as she splattered water at him, her contagious laughter echoing from the quiet woods behind us. I watched as he splashed her back, the tattoos on his back gleaming in the sunlight as he shook the water from his hair, leaving it to stick to his skin in spikes that perfectly fell down. If I told myself 6 years ago that I'd be in the same place that the cocky, cruel person that my family loathed, with him holding our child, away from the cold, stiff and brutal person that I once hated, that he once was. Now freely making funny faces to our little girl, laughing as he looked at her with pure, complete love, his gold wedding band that matched mine, gleaming in the sunlight as he tipped his head back and laughed.

Had I not taken a leap of faith and given him a chance to show me all of him, we wouldn't be here right now. Had I not trusted him and saw him for who he truly was; a little child underneath his infamous background, we wouldn't have made a little life that consists of a half of the both of us, sealed in a little bundle of joy.

Vaughn Medina was the person that hurt me, made me break down, covered in bruises- some still not healed- but every time he kisses my bruises away, a new sliver of hope blooms, coming in as strong as an army, ready to fight away my demons. Vaughn Medina may have hurt me, but had I not given him a second chance, left me vulnerable enough that he could Bruise Me Twice, I wouldn't be 

The person I am now- a better version of me. And that was what he did to me, and frankly, it was worth the pain.

Every second he kissed me tenderly.

Every minute I laughed with him.

Every hour he held me in times of need.

And every year he and I spent with Sofia.

A whole lifetime.

Together.