rags and riches ; muke (completed)

15- Epilogue

I originally had more planned for this story, but I dont really want to write on this book anymore but i aldo dont want to take it down, so im just going to end it on a happy epilogue.

thank you guys for all the support, reads, comments, votes that you give me, i dont thank you guys enough :).

when i started this book, i was at a bad place in my life and this book was kind of a way to express my thoughts and i feel like this book (along with others) helped me get out of the place i was in. now that im out of that place, i dont want to continue this book, but i will end it properly rather than delete it like others.

and now on to the epilogue;

10 years later

"Daddy!"

Michael smiled when he turned around from the sink. "What is it, love?" He asked, bending down to his daughter's height. The 6 year old sniffled, her blonde mess of curls covering half of her face flushed face. "Zach gave me a boo-boo." She huffed.

Michael smiled softly. "Let me see." He whispered sympathetically. She held her pale, chubby arm out, revealing the indian burn. "Oh baby girl..." He said, scooping her up in his arms, "Want daddy to talk to him?" He asked. She shook her head. "Spank him!" She exclaimed.

He laughed. "You know we can't spank him, baby." He said, walking into the living room. "Go play, I'll talk to Zach." He said, putting her down. She walked to the couch and sat down, Spongebob playing on tv.

He walked upstairs to Zach's room, knocking on the door. "Zach, can I come in?" He asked. "Zach isn't here right now, leave a message after the beep...beep..." He heard the 9 year old mumble on the other side of the wooden door. "I just want to talk, hun. I'm not gonna spank you." Michael almost whispered.

He knew Zach didn't mean it. He couldnt control himself. He had autism, and he often lashed out without meaning to. But after he did, he was always filled with anxiety and sometimes scream and kick.

Soon enough, Zach opened the door, his hair a mess and his eyes blood shot. "May I come in?" He asked. Zach looked at the floor and nodded, turning around and walking to his made bed.

Michael softly walked in, sitting next to Zach on the bed. "Do you know what you did was wrong, Zachary?" He asked slowly. The boy didn't say anything, looking at the floor. Michael didn't push it, he knew Zach might act out if he kept asking. "You hurt Riley's feelings, honey..." He said, "Did you mean to do that?" Zach shook his head.

"No...She touched my turtles! She isn't supposed to touch my stuff! It's my stuff! She isn't supposed to touch my stuff!" He screamed. Michael nodded. "She's only six, Zach. She just wanted to to play with you. She didn't want-" "They're my turtles!" He cried, hot tears cascading down his red cheeks. "I know." Michael said, "Calm down, honey...you'll hurt yourself again..." He whispered.

He let the boy cry and thrash around on the bed, waiting patiently for him to stop.

It took 15 minutes for him to stop crying and screaming. "Are you okay now?" He asked. Zach nodded. "Are you going to apologize to Riley?" He asked. Zach nodded again, stepping off his bed and walking with Michael downstairs.

Riley and Madison sat on the couch watching some cartoon on tv that Michael didn't know the name of. "Riley, Zach has something he wants to tell you." He said. Riley looked at her brother patiently, knowing he was going to stay crying. He always did when he apologized.

"'M sorry, Riley..." He whispered. Riley smiled. "It's okay, Zachy." She grinned.

Michael walked to his room to shower when suddenly a pair if arms wrapped tightly around him, him yelping. "Shh, it's me baby." He heard Luke whisper in his ear, kissing his neck.

Michael smiled and tilted his head. "I'm going to shower, wanna join me?" He asked. Luke smirked against Michael's soft skin, nodding and going to their connected bathroom, Michael following.

"You know I love you, right?" Luke asked as Michael fixed the water temperature. "Of course, why?" He asked, standing up and facing Luke. Luke shrugged as he hugged him from behind and lyed his chin on his shoulder. "I feel like sometimes I don't tell you enough. You know, cause I'm always working and you're always here with the kids." He mumbled. Michael laughed. "Don't get sappy with me, Hemmings."

"You're a Hemmings too, baby." Luke grinned, nipping at Michael's earlobe. The blonde watched as Michael's eyes fluttered closed in the reflection. "D-Don't start something you can't finish, babe..."

"I'm not." He said, pulling away and undressing his husband and himself, "Now, let's 'shower'." He winked.

Sorry for mistakes, i love you guys 💖