The Ring ✔️

Epilogue

-10 Years Later-

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Noelle, happy birthday to you!" Nathalie sung to her (now officially) ten year old daughter, still half-asleep as she watched her daughter swing her head back and forth.

"Okay, honey. Go ahead, blow out the candles!" Nathalie enthused, nodding towards the pink, Barbie-themed birthday cake.

The ten pink, spiral candles counted as one of the only light sources in the otherwise dimly lit kitchen.

Nathalie had (just barely) managed to keep her eyes open until precisely 12 a.m. to celebrate her daughter's 10th birthday.

(Apparantly double digits were a big deal)

Noelle beamed up at her mother, her big, blue bell eyes shining as she flashed her a grin before turning back towards her cake and blowing out the candles.

Nathalie watched the flames flicker with a satisfied smile. After all, this was all she could've ever dreamed of and more.

"Found bumblebee!" Chimed Gabriel as he walked into the kitchen shirtless, a bumblebee pacifer clutched between two fingers and a newborn baby girl strapped to his chest.

"Oh, thank God," Nathalie breathed, "I couldn't take another tantrum. Bumblebee is essential to this family's survival." Nathalie joked, taking the pacifer from him with a toothy grin.

"Mommmmmm," Noelle drawled as she looked through her presents.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Nathalie questioned, turning back around to face her ten year old.

"I appreciate the sentiment, I really do." She started, smiling up at her parents with a (partially toothless) grin.

"But I told you I wanted a baby brother, not a new dollhouse." The girl huffed, folding her arms across her chest.

She had her mother's attitude, that's for sure.

Nathalie flushed.

"But you just got a little baby sister," Gabriel mused, turning to the side as he showed off the still pink baby girl.

"I didn't want a sister." Noelle groaned, "I wanted a baby brother, now I have to share my toys." She huffed dramatically.

Nathalie simply chuckled, "Noelle, honey, you have two older brothers."

"Isn't that enough?"

Noelle simply groaned.

"Whatever. Goodnight, momma, goodnight, papa, goodnight, Eva." Noelle muttered, kissing her parents on the cheek and then her sister's forehead begrudgingly.

She then stomped off to her room carrying their cat, the precious (and now very old) Moth, leaving her many unopened gifts and single open one behind.

Nathalie and Gabriel simply looked at each other and giggled.

"She's got your attitude." Gabriel mused,

"My attitude?" Nathalie scoffed.
"Well, she's got your temper, that's for damn sure."

Gabriel rolled his eyes and planted a kiss on his wife's lips, murmuring a gentle: "I love you."