Through Pain We Survive

Chapter 100

Epilogue

"And cut!" Nate backed the camera away. "That was great!" AJ complimented Alyssa. "Alright, that's a wrap! Thanks everyone!"

"Thanks for having me! This was so fun!" Alyssa, who was playing the main character in their next musical, was so excited to have this opportunity. She'd met AJ, Gwen, and Nate through Angi Viper, another cosplayer they'd worked with multiple times in the past.

After Alyssa and AJ got changed back into their street clothes and got the makeup off, they said goodbye to her and she left.

Cat helped get the loose pieces of set put away. She had been a big asset to the team since she joined.

Two months has passed since the trial. Gwen and AJ were glad to have Nate back in the house full time. Cat and Mira Lynne had been living together since the trial ended, and they had been getting along wonderfully.

"Whew, what a day! Cat, did you want to stay and have dinner with us?" AJ said.

"Sure! Sounds good!"

"Call Mira Lynne and invite her along too!" Gwen suggested. Cat nodded and called.

Nate and AJ went into the kitchen and started setting out the items to make.

"So, how have you been?" Gwen sat down in the living room. Cat sat beside her.

"Things have been good. I started back up at Fratelli's last month, and it's like I was never gone."

"That's great!"

"When a maniac isn't breathing down your neck, it's amazing what you can accomplish," Cat joked.

Gwen smiled at her, but it faltered slightly. "Have your still been seeing the therapist?"

"Yeah, Joy has been great. She's really understanding and sympathetic."

"I've found that out too. Thank you for recommending her to us."

"No problem! I am glad I found her. She has been wonderful for all that I have been through. We're even getting into the issues with my mother."

"Woah, she's going deep with you."

"Well, when you're as messed up as I am..." Cat chuckled.

"Hey now, you don't need to be self deprecating. You're not messed up. We all have our issues." Gwen put her hand on Cat's and squeezed it. "I've had a lot happen to me, and I know I've come out better for it. You will come out stronger from this." Gwen pulled her hand away.

"Thanks. I hope so."

Nate and AJ walked out to the grill. "So, how are things with you and Becca?" AJ looked at Nate, getting the grill started.

"Things are going really well. It was a little weird after I moved back here, like we were taking a backwards step in our relationship, but things have smoothed out." Nate cleared his throat. "I— uh, I actually wanted to talk to you about having Becca move in here. I'm ready to talk to her about it, and see if she's ready."

"Hey, that's great man! Congrats!" AJ gave Nate a side glance. "So, do you think she may be the one?"

"Y'know, I really do. She's been there through thick and thin with me. I don't see any other woman measuring up to her." Nate smiled, thinking of her. "I'm not going to ask her to marry me just yet, but I can see it getting there."

"That's fantastic. I'm really happy for you." AJ smiled to Nate.

"I did want to talk to her tonight about moving in though."

"Invite her over for dinner. We'll give you two some privacy after dinner and you can talk to her then."

"Yeah, I'll do that." Nate sent a text to Becca, asking her to come over for dinner.

Becca and Mira Lynne both arrived as the food was getting pulled off the grill.

"Hey! Glad y'all could make it!" Gwen hugged Becca and Mira Lynne.

"Of course. Any excuse to get together with y'all." Becca smiled. "How are you doing, Cat?"

"Doing alright, thanks." Cat hugged Becca as well. "Glad you could make it." She hugged Mira Lynne.

Becca set her purse down in the living room. "The guys outside?"

"They were just pulling the chicken off the grill. We've been in here gabbing and making the sides."

"Oh, yum. Sounds good," Mira Lynne said.

The guys came inside with the chicken. Nate saw Becca and smiled. He set the plate down and walked to her and gave her a hug. "Hi."

"Hey. Thanks for the invite. I was actually just trying to figure out dinner for myself when you texted, so great timing!" She smiled at Nate.

"What can I say, I know my lady." He made a smirk and they all laughed.

"Why don't we eat outside? It's such a nice evening out, I'd hate to waste it," Gwen suggested.

"I'm game!" Cat said. The others nodded in agreement. They all made their plates and headed outside.

After they all had their fill, Gwen collected the plates and brought them inside. Cat and Mira Lynne followed her and started helping with the dishes.

"I had better get inside and put some things away." AJ gave Nate a look of encouragement.

Nate cleared his throat and turned to Becca. He took her hand. "So, how was your day?"

"A bit tiring. I have a project I'm working on that isn't cooperating at all." She sighed. "But, I'm feeling better now that I'm here with you." She put her head on his shoulder.

"Uh, Bex? I... ummm, I did want to talk to you." Why am I so nervous now?

She sensed his nerves and lifted her head to look at him. "Oh, um, okay. What's up?" Her heart started pounding. Please tell me he's not breaking up with me! I know him moving back has been hard on both of us.

"Well, I think... I mean, if you want to, you could... I wanted to know..." Nate was stammering and not able to fully make a sentence.

"Nate? What is this about?"

Nate took a deep breath and looked down. He chuckled a bit to himself. I don't know why I'm so nervous! This is something I've wanted for years! "I wanted to ask you to move in with me. Well, with us." He looked up at her.

Becca's heart skipped a beat. "Really?" She smiled broadly and Nate nodded. "Of course! Absolutely!" She leaned in and kissed him.

When they pulled away breathless, they couldn't stop smiling at each other. Nate took her hand and pulled her to her feet.

"I love you. So much." He kissed her again.

"I love you."

"Now, we need to go in and tell the vultures," Nate said.

Becca laughed. She pulled on his hand to stop him from going inside. "Not just yet. I want us to have this moment." She looked into his eyes. "I have never felt so happy, so satisfied, and so thrilled to have you by my side." She wrapped her arms around his neck and put her head on his shoulder. She sighed a content sigh. "Thank you for loving me the way you do. You are such a remarkable man. I don't know why it took me so long to see it. But I am glad I see it now."

She kissed him again, elated for this new chapter in her life to open up.

Nate couldn't believe it. He knew this was the way it was supposed to go. He thought about the ring in his dresser. He thought about how when he last visited his parents, his mom gave it to him and told him to hurry up and ask already. They had always liked Becca. He wasn't ready for marriage just yet. Once he was ready, he would ask her. And he hoped her reaction would be the same.