Strawberry Red

Epilogue

This was their last afternoon in New York after spending an entire week exploring various places. They were laying on a picnic blanket in Hyde Park and enjoying the warm May weather. Meatball was running around them trying to catch flies, butterflies and birds, pretty much everything that came to close to his mouth. Ruby was currently trying to get Louis to stand up and walk a few feet. He always started out confidently but lost his balance soon and landed on his behind. But nevertheless, he kept trying and Ruby helped him by offering her hands to steady himself.

"What?" asked Ruby and brushed a strand behind her ear when she noticed her husband intensely overserving her and staring.

"I could watch you all day long," answered Buck smiling. He had propped himself on an elbow to watch his two favourite people interact. "No, scratch that. I could watch you forever and never get tired of it."

"Well, it's a good thing we've got all the time in the world now." Ruby smiled at Buck and helped her son stand up again after yet another fall. "Persistent in trying again, are you?"

"He's got that stubbornness from you," said Buck. "Remember that one time where you were persistently telling Colonel Harding to rest because he was seriously ill? Nobody else in the hospital dared to speak up against him, but you did. And you didn't let it go until Harding did what was best for his health."

"That seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?" Ruby sighed and held Louis close. He was growing rather tired from all his efforts in trying to walk. "We get to still be here and live our lives. But the life's of so many were cut short. Bubbles, Curt, Nash and the list goes on and on. It's endless."

"They died, so we can all experience peace. I miss them too, every day I think about them," responded Buck honestly.

"What about annual get-togethers to meet up with the survivors of the100th?" asked Ruby.

"Sounds like a great idea, love. The others will appreciate it."

They spent three days on the road driving to their new home in Chicago. And then finally, the day came where they entered their shared home together. What had seemed like an unrealistic dream was become reality now.

"Do you want to have the honours?" asked Buck and handed Ruby the keys to their home. Ruby's eyes lit up in excitement and she unlocked the door. Then she swung it wide open and took a step forward. Buck followed swiftly, holding his wife's hand as they walked in together.

"It's everything I dreamt of," said Ruby in awe. They were walking down the foyer into the kitchen and the living room. "Is that a garden?"

"It is. Just like you wished," answered Buck. Ruby quickly crossed the living room and opened the big glass doors and stepped in her garden.

"It's huge. I love it!" Meatball ran after Ruby into the garden. He also loved his new garden where he could play all day long.

"That's good," whispered Buck in her ear. He had followed her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Because this is our forever home."

A/N: The story ends here. I hope you liked it :) Please let me know which parts you liked or disliked. And was there anything you wished to read more about?