The Stone Wall and His Weakness [A.H.]

Epilogue

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𝔽𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕤 𝕃𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣

I stared out over the backyard, watching as the kids chased after one another. I closed my book to set it aside, leaning back in the lounge chair to watch them. Jack ran after Elsie as she kicked a soccer ball, her movements clumsy. Though she was tall for a four year old, her control over her legs was still uncoordinated.

I bit back a laugh as she tried to kick the soccer ball into the goal, only to miss and her shoe fly across the yard instead. She took off after it as Jack laughed, kicking the ball into the goal as he moved after her, sitting on the ground beside her. He helped her slide the shoe back on before they got up and started running again, attempting to kick the ball around the yard.

"Hey," Aaron's voice came from behind me as he leaned down, pressing a kiss to my head before sitting next to me, "Soccer again? Who's winning?"

"So far, the ground." He chuckled, "She's trying, but she keeps missing the ball and falling. She laughs it off, of course."

"She's all legs, just like you, and at this rate, she'll have more injuries than the both of us combined."

As he finished his sentence, Elsie missed the ball again and fell flat on her back. I went to rush to her, but she was up in Jack's arms laughing before I could even get to my feet.

I breathed out a laugh. "She'll give me a heart attack before she gets seriously injured." We watched them continue to play for a while longer.

The weather was cool for late summer, the sun starting to set and a breeze blowing through the trees. It had become a pastime for us, day or night, to sit outback and relax. It had certainly been an adjustment from our previous life.

It had taken nearly a year after their return for our relationship to get back to where it had been. For Aaron to re-earn my trust, to be able to let him back into my life, my heart. The walls we had both built up took some time to break back down. Not even just because he left, but because of how we had both changed and grown during that time.

It had taken another six months after that to finally get married. We had lost out on a fair bit of money with all of the down payments and stuff already paid off for the previous wedding we had planned. Not so much that it hurt us, but enough that it took some time to make back. David was more than happy to help throw our actual wedding, with Penelope's help planning it. It was small and simple, and perfect.

Aaron hadn't gone back to work, but I stayed on as a part time consultant. It was enough to fulfill my need to help others, but it wasn't so overwhelming that I couldn't be the mom I wanted to be. Neither of us had missed a soccer game, meet the teacher night, birthday, or otherwise important event in either Jack or Elsie's life.

Now, two years later, we were getting ready to see Jack off to college. In the four years since their return, he had worked hard in high school to keep his grades up so he could get into any college he wanted. He stayed on the soccer team and earned full-rides at his two top choices. He was still torn between what he wants to do- go into law, like his father, or do general studies, to find his own path. No matter his decision, we're proud of him.

Elsie wants nothing more than to start kindergarten, and it was driving her insane that she still had a year before we could enroll her. We had put her into a local kids group, where she got to be with kids her own age. It was educational, similar to a pre-school, but less formal. It was enough that she stopped begging to go to school with her big brother every day.

Aaron's contact with the team remained minimal, but I stayed in contact with them. David comes over frequently and vice versa. Spencer and I talked more days than not, and I go out every so often with the ladies for a girls night. Luke and Matt Simmons sometimes deem us worth of their presence as well.

Everything had changed since the end of Scratch.

Spencer worked hard to recover from the trauma of Mexico and Prison, especially after he was reinstated. After some convincing, he finally admitted his mom to a full time care facility, and she's been better— happier.

After I left, Matt Simmons and Tara Lewis joined the team, both great agents. They fit in well. Emily and I had patched up our relationship, and I was glad to see her flourish as unit chief. Surprising to no one, Luke and Penelope started going out. Opposites attract, I suppose. And I saw JJ occasionally when her boys and Jack wanted to hang out.

Life was good. Is good.

I blinked my eyes back into focus on the kids as Elsie started shouting, both of her shoes now lost in the yard. I watched her kick the ball into the goal and cheered, clapping as she started to run towards me.

"Mom! Mom! Did you see?! I did it!" She threw herself into my arms, laughing as I squeezed her tightly.

"I saw! Good job!" I let her go when she pulled back, a wide grin on her face, Jack standing a few feet away, a matching grin on his face.

"She'll be better than me in no time," He laughed, ruffling her hair before heading inside.

"No way!" She laughed, chasing after him.

"Should we go after them and make sure they don't cause trouble?" I quirked an eyebrow at Aaron, standing up anyway. He nodded, taking my hand as we walked inside.

We followed them into the living room, where they had settled into the couch, curled up together in the corner. Aaron and I sat together on the other side, glancing at the TV as a movie began. Disney's Frozen, for the umpteenth time.

"I guess I'll get the popcorn..." Aaron trailed off, dropping my hand to head towards the kitchen.

I pulled a blanket off the back of the couch and pulled my legs to my chest, settling in to watch the movie. I only moved when Aaron sat back down. I draped my legs over his, taking the bowl from his outstretched hand. He adjusted the blanket to cover us both, handing the other bowl to the kids.

I watched as they settled in with their own blanket, Elsie curled into Jack's side, the bowl of popcorn in his lap. I watched Aaron, who glanced between them and the TV, nothing but pure love in his expression.

I smiled at the sight, my family; at the domesticity and the peace we'd built. And I relaxed further into the couch, turning my attention back to the movie.