Coming Home

Epilogue

And here I thought I was done with this (: heh. I thought of this in November, but didn't know HOW to write it, until now. In the year following the last chapter, David decided the house he got in the story wasn't exactly what he wanted and with being engaged/eventually married to Jen, it didn't make much sense to him anymore. I imagined they went on a date somewhere in Montecito where they - by some MAGICAL random chance - found the home they live in now in the AU.

March 2023

Laughs, chatter, applause, you name it, it had probably been heard for the last 2 hours as all the guests, along with the newlyweds hung out outside of Jen and David's home in Montecito.

Jen had just thrown the bouquet, much to nobody's surprise as Courteney ended up catching it. Jen pointed to her best friend as she looked over at Johnny. "NO EXCUSES ANYMORE, MISTER! She's an empty nester!" Jen said in a fit of giggles, partially drunk but mostly just intoxicated by her own happiness and the fact that she was now married to the love of her life.

"It's with the greatest Honor to present Mr and Mrs David Schwimmer!" The words had played in her head over and over constantly for the past 3 or so hours.

"I'm working on it!" Johnny protested half sarcastically. "I do think it'll be easier now, no offence." He added with a chuckle knowing he'd probably be in trouble for hinting Jen's full time gig of being in LA would now be halftime as she'd take on being in LA and NY, hence less time with Courteney and the gang.

David looked over at his wife as she walked toward him to take her seat next to him. He smiled softly and gently squeezed her knee.

"Are you ok?" She asked him softly. He nodded, but honestly was lost in thought about a particular night a few months prior.

"David, I know tonight's your last night in town, so I want you to do me a favor." John said as he and David were spending some time together. David looked over at the older man, "Anything." He replied, half scared of where this could go.

John pulled a small envelope out of his pocket, then passed it to David.

"You don't have to do this at the reception, but I'd like you to give Jen this at some point on your wedding day. I told myself I would give my wedding band to the man I knew would love my daughter for the rest of their days, and I know for a fact that that man is you. It always has been, it always will be. I don't expect you to wear it, just...consider it the 'something old'. There's a letter in there for Jennifer that I want her to have. Thought it would be easier to just put the two together."

David came out of his thoughts when he heard Adam speak up.

"Aniston, you really need to look at the sky. Everyone does, but especially you." He said, sounding astonished by what he was seeing. His wife nodded her head in quick agreement.

Jen turned around, then immediately sprang to her feet in shock, walking a little ways into the nearby garden.

In the evening sky, filled with red, orange and yellow, was a double rainbow. She put her hand on her heart, doing her best to not break into tears for what felt like the 500th time that day.

"Oh! This would make for a great wedding shot!" David said as he approached Jen and wrapped his arm around her waist. He looked toward her and saw the tears streaming down her face. He rubbed her back reassuringly, then kissed the side of her head, his lips lingering for a few seconds as he mumbled that he loved her, and that it would be ok.

Jen looked up at him, a smile spreading over her face. "I wholeheartedly agree. This is a sight I absolutely need captured forever." She then turned to the guests "How shitty do I look?" She asked, which made everyone laugh, a lot chiming in that she looked absolutely perfect and that you could barely tell she was crying.

A few hours go by, the guests leave, so Jen and David finally get to spend time alone as husband and wife. They laid in their bed, giggling and kissing as they caught their breaths.

"For the record, I think we just discovered a new turn on for me." Jen pointed out as she laid on David's chest, her fingers happily sliding across his chest. David chuckled as he grinned stupidly. "Good, cause I'm never getting sick of calling you Mrs. Schwimmer. I don't know if we would have stayed married this whole time back then, so I have about 20 years of missed opportunities to call you that to make up for."

He then looked down to see Jen giving him a look.

"We both had a lot of growing up to do." Jen acknowledged. "I couldn't provide a family beyond just us...so I am really happy you got Cleo out of it all. No point dwelling on stuff I can't change, but never having kids, that'll always be something I have a bit of trouble accepting, I think. Therapy helps!"

David couldn't help but feel a sting in his chest. Then he shuffled to his bedside table, as if to reach for something. "Speaking of having trouble accepting things, here." David said as he passed Jen an envelope. "I know you just love me and my surprise envelopes!" He quickly added, laughing about the situation but knowing damn well it wasn't all that funny.

Jen raised an eyebrow to him before taking it and opening it. Her breathing gets caught in her throat as she immediately recognizes the handwriting.

To my dearest Jenny,

If you're reading this, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to physically be at your wedding. Though you best damn well believe I'm going to pop up in the most unexpected way. I fought for as long and as hard as I possibly could, and I know you both know that.

Even if I do leave this planet before you marry, I know I'm leaving this earth knowing you have your marital soulmate by your side. I know I am leaving this planet with my little girl in the arms of the man she's meant to be with. The man I know will protect her and love her for the rest of your days.

Congratulations, Jennifer and David.

Welcome to the family, David. You've always been like a son to me, and I've always loved you like one, I will always love you like one.

With love,

John 'Papa' Aniston

Jen held the note tight to her chest as she felt the hot stream of tears fall from her face. David wrapped his arm around her back, pulling her closely as he did his best to soothe her hair and comfort his bride. A few moments go by, then David digs into the night table again, pulling out a box.

"He said he wanted me to have this, but...I can't bring myself to take it. It's too precious and I really think you should have it." He said quietly before handing the box to Jen.

The woman looked up at him, then down at the box. "You have every right to cry. I'm just making this worse so you can get it all out now." He continued as he watched her being hesitant about the box. Jen nods at his words and takes the box from his hand.

When she opens it, her jaw drops. She looks back at David before pulling out a gold chain with a gold male wedding band on it. Jen once again feels tears form, but instead of immediately crying, she smiles up at her husband.

"Thought it could go back to an Aniston. It's a heirloom of sorts and I feel a bit wrong taking it." David starts as he kisses her hand, glancing at the ring finger that now holds her engagement ring and her own wedding band from him.

"I appreciate the sentiment behind giving it to me, but I thought you could take it. Take your dad everywhere you go, and when you really miss him, you could give the ring a squeeze or look down and know he's right there with you." He concludes with a tight lipped smile.

Jen wrapped her arms around the man's neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. "Thank you. I love you." Jen whispered as she felt a couple of tears escape. David breaks the hug, his fingers wiping her tears and making her look at him. "And I love you. You're my home. My safe space. I'm going to make sure you know how much I love you every day for the rest of our lives. I promise you that."

Jen smiles and presses a kiss to his lips.

"It took a long damn time, but I finally found my way back home. I promise this is for life. This is where I am meant to be"