misery || b.e

epilogue

the soft glow of the sunset bathed everything in a warm, golden hue, the kind of light that made the world feel suspended in time. it was the kind of evening that didn't need words to be understood — where love existed in the in-between moments, the spaces filled with quiet laughter and the easy comfort of home.

zoe's laughter rang through the air, bright and unrestrained, as she darted around the yard with all the energy only a five-year-old could have. her tiny legs carried her in quick, unpredictable bursts, each movement full of excitement, as if the very earth beneath her feet was made for her to explore. y/n chased after her, her own breath coming in short, amused bursts, reaching out just enough to make zoe squeal and twist out of reach at the last second.

she could hear billie's laughter in the background — soft, amused, full of love.

when y/n finally caught zoe, scooping her up into her arms, the little girl let out a breathless giggle, collapsing against her mother's shoulder with a triumphant sigh.

"you got me," y/n murmured, pressing a kiss to her hair. "but next time, you won't be so lucky."

zoe pulled back just enough to grin up at her, eyes bright and shining. "yes, i will," she declared with all the confidence in the world.

y/n laughed, holding her close, inhaling the warm, familiar scent of her daughter's hair. this was the kind of happiness she had once been afraid she would never find again. the kind of peace she had convinced herself wasn't meant for her. but here she was, grounded in it.

billie sat nearby, her body relaxed in the chair, holding noah in her lap. he was only a year old, his chubby fingers curled around hers as he giggled at the sight of his sister. his blue eyes, so much like billie's, were wide with curiosity, soaking in the world around him.

the weight of the moment settled in y/n's chest — not in a heavy way, but in a way that made her want to memorize every detail. the way zoe's tiny arms were looped around her neck. the way noah let out a soft babble, reaching toward his sister. the way billie was looking at them, her gaze filled with something so deep, so unshakable, that y/n could feel it in her bones.

she had everything.

billie smiled at them, shifting noah slightly so he could rest more comfortably against her. "they really do wear us out, don't they?" she murmured, her voice a soft hum in the fading light.

y/n grinned. "they do," she agreed. "she's like a tiny tornado."

zoe let out a dramatic sigh, rolling her eyes playfully before settling against y/n again. noah, seemingly fascinated by his sister, reached for her hand, his tiny fingers wrapping around hers with a determination only babies had. zoe's expression softened as she let him hold on, the two of them locked in their own little world.

y/n watched them, her heart swelling with something indescribable.

"he's so much like you when he looks at her," she murmured, glancing at billie.

billie's gaze lingered on their son, her expression tender. "i know," she whispered. "i see so much of us in them." she paused, eyes flickering back to y/n. "zoe's got your spark, though. she's always moving, always thinking. i can never keep up."

y/n let out a soft laugh, running her fingers through zoe's hair. "she's always asking questions," she mused. "always figuring things out." she turned her head slightly, giving billie a teasing look. "kind of like you. you can never slow down, can you?"

billie chuckled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "no. not really. but i like it that way," she said, then added with a teasing smile, "i'm just grateful i've got you to help keep me grounded."

y/n felt a familiar warmth settle in her chest, something deep and steady. she reached for billie's hand, their fingers intertwining effortlessly. "i'm here," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "i'm not going anywhere."

the words felt different this time. they weren't a promise made in desperation, weren't a reassurance spoken to mend something broken. they were steady. solid. a truth, rather than a plea.

billie exhaled, her grip tightening. "i know," she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of everything they had been through.

and god, had they been through it.

y/n thought back to the years of pushing and pulling, of distance that had felt insurmountable, of arguments that had frayed the very fabric of what they were. there had been moments she had truly believed they wouldn't make it. that love alone wasn't enough.

but they had chosen each other, again and again, even when it hurt.

"i don't think i ever realized just how much i needed you until we had them," billie admitted softly, her gaze flickering between zoe and noah before settling back on y/n. "we've got everything now, don't we?"

y/n swallowed past the lump in her throat, glancing at their kids, feeling the truth of those words settle deep inside her.

they had everything.

not because their lives were perfect. not because love had been easy. but because they had chosen to stay. to work through it. to believe in each other when it would have been easier to walk away.

she kissed the top of zoe's head, breathing her in, then looked back at noah, who was still giggling and reaching for his sister's hair.

she looked at billie, at the way the sunset painted her in soft golden light, at the way her eyes still held that same love, that same depth, that same unwavering certainty.

"yeah," y/n whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "we do."

billie's fingers squeezed hers, and for a moment, everything else fell away. the world was just them. their family. the life they had built, the love they had fought for.

as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in shades of purple and orange, y/n smiled to herself, watching her little family. the sound of their laughter was all she needed to hear, the rhythm of their joy, the love she had found again. she'd found a way back to it. and with billie by her side, with their kids, she knew.

she was home.