Frozen

Epilogue

Four Years Later

Brianna

I took a deep breath and stalled going into the living room where my little brother was waiting.

I wasn't sure how he was going to take this.

I felt arms wrap around my waist, one flat in the middle of my stomach, and my husband's lips brushed my neck.

"He'll be fine, baby," Barney mumbled.

"But what if-"

"Shh," he said, capturing my lips for a short, sweet kiss.

We walked into the living room hand in hand and Bentley grinned up at us.

"Took you guys long enough. Hey, where's the food?" he complained.

"In the kitchen. Bentley, we have something to tell you," I said, sitting down and dropping Barney's hand to clasp mine together in my lap. Barney sat next to me and put his arm around my lower back, pulling me tighter into him.

"Monster...sometimes, when two people love each other very much-"
Barney snorted and I sent him a glare.

"What? Look, darlin, he's ten. He knows what happens when two people love each other very much," he said, his thumb stroking my waist comfortingly.

When I glanced over at Bentley, I saw that his green eyes so identical to my own were warm, amused, and more than a little confused.

"She's pregnant, bud," Barney said softly.

Bentley's eyes widened and I had a moment of panic until his face lit up with a huge grin.

"I'm gunna be an uncle!" He said, falling back onto the couch and letting out a loud "Whoo hoo!"

"Um, yes...I'm assuming you're okay with that?" I said, my lips curling up in a tentative grin while Barney was beaming, one hand resting on my stomach, which he had been doing a lot lately.

"Okay with that?" Bentley asked, sitting up. "Bri, I am going to spoil that kid so bad. Do you know if it's a boy or girl yet? Doesn't matter to me, I'm just- NO! Wait. I want a girl. Give me a little niece so I can protect her and help her with- NO! Make me a boy so Barney and I can play sports and video games with him."
My eyes were wide and I glanced at Barney, who was resting his elbow on his knee and covering the lower half of his face with his hand to smother his laughter.

"I don't have any control over it, monster," I said softly, not really knowing what to do with all the happiness swirling around inside of me me.

It was chaotic for a second, overwhelming my emotions, then it settled.

It wasn't gone, but it had changed into a warm glow that I felt down to my toes and I just knew it was there to stay.

I glanced at Barney, who winked at me before standing up and slinging a laughing Bentley over his shoulder.

"Let's get you food," Barney said, grunting dramatically as if Bentley's weight was too much for him.

Looking at my boys, that warm glow that now consumed me took over everything my father had iced over.

And just like that, everything inside of me that was Frozen, melted.