Sweet Ophelia (Hannibal Fanfiction)

Epilogue

Healing from tragedy wasn't easy, nor was it a linear journey.

For Molly and Reba, healing would take the rest of their lives. Unlike the whirlwind courtship between Molly and Will — dating for ten months, engaged for five, married for twelve — they were much more cautious. Years of dating before moving their households together, years of cohabiting, a lengthy engagement and a million nights spent picking up the pieces and mending the cracks. The blessing of Wally, and Molly's mother, and the dogs, both new and old. The genuine smile on Reba's face when Molly brought home another dog, or the rush of affection when Molly saw how Reba treated her son like he was her own. The unbridled joy of Crawford's remaining team members when they received the wedding invitations, and the unexpected postcard from Alana and Margot, wishing them well.

But most of all, Molly and Reba were no longer sweet Ophelias, drowning in their sorrows or choking on the broken vows of mad Hamlets. They were something more: shining swords that came out of the forge stronger than they went in, birds rising from the ashes of white-hot flames, teacups whose cracks were mended and transformed by gold. They were survivors, and goddamn it all if they didn't take life by the horns and live happily ever after.

How could life say no?