The Magician's Witch

Epilogue...Five Years Later

Erik stood at his work bench, one pencil between his teeth, his right hand holding a square as he sketched out blueprints for the addition he was working on. Carefully, precisely, he drew the line from one edge to the other. Protractors, compasses, and charcoal pencils were picked up and set down as the plans slowly began to take shape.

At last, he stood back, scrutinizing his work. He nodded to himself, satisfied.

He became aware of a presence behind him, someone trying to creep up on him. He didn't turn around, only kept staring at the blueprints in front of him.

The presence came closer. He heard a suppressed giggle and smirked.

He spun around, growling playfully at the two four-year-olds who had been sneaking up on him, taking them by surprise. They squealed, realizing that the jig was up. Erik pulled them in, pretending to hold them prisoner.

"There is no escape for you now," he menaced teasingly as one and then the other tried to flee. He gathered them to him, enveloping them in his arms, refusing to let them go.

"Ah, I see you have captured my minions," a lilting voice came from the doorway of the workshop.

Erik looked up to see Eilis standing there, her face glowing as she took in the scene in front of her.

Erik narrowed his eyes at her. "This was all your doing—getting your underlings to distract and attack me."

Eilis' face split into a huge grin. "You found me out. Now I will have to come up with another plan."

One of the kids took advantage of Erik's distraction and made a break for it, running toward Eilis.

"Mommy," she called, holding out her pudgy little arms as she approached.

Eilis crouched down, picking up the little girl in one practiced movement, placing her on her hip. Erik copied her, picking up the little boy. He came up to Eilis, leaning in to kiss her.

The twins—Charlie and Róise—had been born nine months after Erik and Eilis had returned to the future. They were nearly identical, save for the fact that one was a boy, and one was a girl. Róise had curlier hair than her brother. Charlie had tawny eyes like Erik, like his much older sister, Aria. Róise had blue eyes like her mother and much older brother.

"What were you working on," Eilis wondered aloud when Erik pulled away.

Erik smiled and nodded toward his workbench. "Take a look."

Eilis shuffled over to the table, peering at the hand-drawn schematic Erik had created. Eilis smirked to herself, recalling the rather heated debate Aria and Erik had had as his daughter had tried to convince him that the computer programs she used to make her plans were far superior to drawing plans by hand. Erik had refused to budge on his stance and preferred to draw everything himself down to the last minuscule detail. There were many things he had adapted to well as he acclimated to his new life. There were some things, though, that were far too ingrained in him to ever be changed.

Eilis' eyes roved over the specs of the blueprints—the two new bedrooms, the bathroom, the stairway. They had planned on expanding the second storey of the house for the last few years. Now that Erik was more established with his architectural firm—one that Aria and he had started together—they decided to make some changes to their home.

Eilis nodded her approval. She could see the details fill in behind her eyes.

"I like it," she consented.

Erik smiled, wrapping his free arm around her waist. "You are easily pleased."

"Mm. I appreciate good work."