~Epilogue~
-SKYLARS P.O.V-
I walk down the stairs of the house Hunter had gotten us over 18 years ago for our wedding as a surprise for me, it was my dream house even since I was ten years old. It was still the same house, but now it was more, it held memories. Memories that were priceless. Memories that involved Hunter and I and our two kids, Natalie and Alex. This was where they grew up and got their inspirations, their purpose in life. I see the pictures on the wall and I smile looking at each one before walking all the way down the stairs to the TV stand and I pull out a case labeled with 'Natalie and Alex from Day 1' it says and I smile putting it in the small DVD player. I sit on the couch as the TV lights up the dark living room as I wait to watch the videos that always brought tears to my eyes. Natalie appears on the TV and I smile. "Daddy, will you sing to me." She says in her little two year old voice as she was sitting on top of the piano and Hunter begins to play the song he wrote her and I hear her sing along with him with the words she knew. The video changes to Natalie playing hide and go seek with me while I was pregnant with Alex and Hayley is recording us and I smile as tears form in my eyes remembering that day. "Mommy I'll find you." She yells and I hear Hayleys laugh as she follows Natalie. "Got you!" She says as she runs behind the couch and I jump out tickling her stomach and she falls with me to the floor giggling. The next video is of Natalie on stage with Hunter and I giggle remembering how the crowd screamed her name. "Say bye Natalie." "Bye Natalie!" She yells as Hunter laughs into the mic shaking his head. The next video is of Hunter and Natalie holding Alex for the first time and Hayley is sitting next to them still in her wedding dress watching with tears in her eyes. "He has Mommy's eyes." Natalie says smiling and Hunter nods. The videos change and its Natalie's first day of preschool at a local school near Moms house and I laugh remembering how Hunter cried. "Ready for school Natty?" Hunter says kneeling down and she nods hugging him and he kisses her forehead. "Love you Daddy, love you Mommy!" She yells waving into the camera before running into her classroom and Hunter watches. "Our little girl." He says wiping his eyes. The video changes and Natalie is up close to the camera. "Is it on?" She says and Hunter says yes. "My name is Natalie Hayes and this is Alexander Hayes the princess." She says as Alex comes in looking angry as his blonde hair was in short pig tails on top of his head and he had on makeup and princess dress. "Sing for us princess Alex!" Natalie yells and he sits down crossing his arms and I hear Hunters laugh. The video changes and its of Natalie a little older now. "I'm Natalie Hayes and this a song my Daddy wrote for my Mommy called Wanted." She says into the camera before she sits at her piano and begins to play and I wipe my eyes as I listen to her voice and the beauty in it at only age nine. The video changes and its of Taylor and Natalie with Alex and Haden, Hayley and Sams son, building a blanket fort and reading scary stories together and Haden and Alex are under one blanket hiding and I hear Sams laugh as they both scream as the girls scare them. The video changes and its of Natalie at her first show talent show on stage singing and at the end everybody claps standing for her and I remember how she smiled when she took home first. I continue to watch the videos as the kids grow older and I see the video of Taylor and Natalie in front of the Eiffel tower giggling taking pictures of each other on our trip to Paris and I remember the carrousel next to it that we all rode. I see the video of all of us surprising Leo and Lynette on Christmas morning and Natalie receiving her first guitar from Hunter and I and Hunter teaching her a few cords on it. I see another video of Natalie playing I Want Crazy on it for Mom and Alex and they clap and she bows laughing. The video changes to Alex outside at age 13 and I giggle knowing this video all too well. "My name is Alexander Hayes and after months, well, three days of practice I will successfully do the half pipe on my skateboard." He says and I laugh wiping my eyes remembering having to go to the ER that night with him almost getting a concussion and leaving with a broken arm. The next video is of Natalie on stage at her first fair show performing with Hunter and they are both playing their guitars singing. The videos change and I see the video of Natalie walking across the stage of her high school accepting her diploma and everybody claps for her and I remember the way we stayed up all night that night planning for her future that was pointing towards music. The next video is of her and Hunter on stage again when she opened for him and they are singing together and I smile. I see the video of Hunter and Natalie announcing a CMA award together and the video of her accepting New Artist of the Year, just like her dad had around the same age. I sit up and see the video of everyone at the house for Alex's going away to college party and we are all hugging him and congratulating him and a tear falls from my eyes as I remember the day and how Hunter and I cried as our babies were all grown up and gone. I see the video of Natalie at her first show at the Opry and I smile remembering how nervous she was to perform. Another tear falls as I see the video of Natalie and Alex coming home for Christmas surprising Hunter and I almost a year ago and the way we all sat near the tree all day talking. They were amazing kids. The video changes one last time and I'm caught off guard by the voices in the video I had never seen before. "Hey Mom." They say at the same time. "We are doing this so that the next time you decide to watch this CD you'll be able to hear how much we love and appreciate you for all you have done in our lifes." "Mom, you and Dad got my dream in motion and now I'm playing stadiums and I've even performed at the Opry." Natalie says and I smile as more tears fall and Alex's voice is heard. "Without you and Dad pushing me to go to college, I wouldn't be finishing my second year at NYU." He says smiling and I wipe my eyes thinking about how proud I was of him. "You have given us everything and we..." They say and I hear voices from behind me startling me. "Love you so much." They say and I turn around standing as Alex, Natalie, and Hunter stand in the doorway and I cover my mouth in shock. I run up to them and hug Natalie before backing up and seeing her light blue eyes that resembled Hunters still and she smiles. "Hey Mom." She whispers and I see her blonde hair curled and I back up. "How is the tour going?" "Amazing." She whispers and I smile turning to Alex as he hugs me tightly. "How's my baby boy doing?" "Mom," "Let me have my moment!" I say giggling a bit wiping my eyes. "I'm doing amazing as well, all A's." "As always." I whisper as he backs up and I see his eyes resembling mine and his blond hair pushed up. "I missed you guys so much, let's all have dinner like old times and catch up." I whisper and they walk to the kitchen and I see Natalie push Alex a bit as they laugh and I smile as Hunter looks at me smiling. "You did this?" I ask and he nods kissing me. "We all agreed we needed some family time together again." "I love you Hayes." "I love you Sky." "Are you ready?" "Always have been." "Always will be." He whispers to me kissing my forehead gently. And with that, my story was over. I had everything I wanted in life. I was ready.
