The Death That Follows

Epilogue

TW: Micheal x Fundy, Bee Duo

Fundy

"There once was a man named Wilbur. Ever since he was little, life wasn't fair to him. It took his mom, and his dad, and his brother, and his son, and his love, but it couldn't take his determination. Even when a bad man named XD and an even worse man named Schlatt tried their best to break him. They wanted to rule the world. But, Wilbur stopped them. He knew that the people he loved would be able to live long, happy lives if the bad men were stopped, but there was only one way. He had to help his son. So, he sacrificed himself, sending all of the power and love inside of him to his son. And, when Schlatt tried to kill the little boy, he found that he couldn't. Because the spirit of His dad, and his grandfather, and his uncle, and all of the people that loved him was behind him, saving him and the rest of his family from hell." I said, and William looked up at me with his big, blue eyes.

"Is that me?" My five year old brother asked, and Michael swung him into his arms and threw him in the air.

"Of course, little man. That's why your daddy isn't gone. He still lives on in you." He said, smiling, and I watched. Five years. That was such a long time, wasn't it? But it passed in a flash. Everyday, I woke up, not sure what I expected to see when I went downstairs. Wilbur and Niki making breakfast? My wardens glaring down at me? Michael asleep on the couch?

But, no matter what, my family was with me. Now, I had Quackity, and Techno, and Niki, and Ranboo, and Tubbo, and Michael. My sweet, adorable boyfriend of five years.

"Do you want some space?" Michael asked, looking at me worriedly as I stared at the headstone, flowers in my arms. For a moment I stood there, taking it in. I had just gotten word that my mom, Sally, had died of D.O. I was an orphan, but I didn't feel alone.

Dad didn't just live with William. He was with all of us. I felt him when Niki was helping Techno braid his hair. I felt him when Quackity read William to sleep. I felt him when Michael held me while we watched a movie. I felt him when Tubbo yelled at Ranboo for feeding us spaghetti five times a week. I felt it when Karl drew with William, finally finding an outlet for his visions.

I felt all of them. All of the people that love us. They are never really gone, as long as we remember. As long as we remember the quiet nights together, and the long fights. The gentle mornings with coffee and pancakes, and the hectic afternoons with rushed lunches and lost shoes.

"No. I am okay." I said, smiling as I put the oxide daisies along his grave, reading the etching one last time.

"Beloved Father, Son, and Brother. He gave his life for those he loved, and he will never be forgotten. We will always miss you, Wilbur 'Big Man' Soot."

"Let's go home." I said, the sunset warm against my back. People say we should forget our past, that it is irrelevant, but without it, we would not be the people we are today. So, for now, I saw goodbye to the past, even as I hold it close when I look towards the future.

Because, while dad's, and grandpa's, and Tom's adventure might be coming to a close, ours is just beginning.

And family and friends, with us or not, is the greatest gift of them all.