One Step

Epilog

(Rat POV)
It’s been two years since Shion's trial. Today was an important day for me. It took a lot to get here. If I hadn't met that white haired scared boy I don’t know where I would be. Not here that was obvious. I smiled at the people around me. Today was all because of Shion.
Ok so I’m getting a head here. See I didn’t skip out of school when I turned eighteen like I had planned. Instead I graduated. Yeah I find it hard to believe too. Shion berated me for over an hour when he found out my plans. That was the worst hour of my life. Eventually I just gave in to him.
Shion and I moved out of our respective homes right after the trail. We moved to another city enrolled in a new school. He kept the name he was given in witsec. Well I couldn’t tell you if he changed it anyway. 
We found our own place. A small apartment on the edge of town. There were trees , a park and the school was only a block away. The apartment was in an old barn. There were three all together in the barn. Shion and I had the top floor. It was wide open. We had our bathroom tucked away in a corner but the rest of the space had very few walls. We liked it like that. The best part was that they left the door to the hay shoot there. We could open them and sit in our living room.
Shion rushed me each morning so we wouldn’t be late to school.  Most mornings it was because I was tired. The wit sec program only gave you so much money each month. That was only until you could provide for yourself. For me though I had a job. I took care of Shion. If it were left to me I would have worked just so he could go to school.
It wasn’t all up to me. Shion wouldn’t hear of me not graduating. With his help I graduated. He would take notes during class so I could sleep. Of course with his brains he was valedictorian. The town we chose had a nice college.
Shion went on to college. He wanted to be a doctor. I thought that was perfect for him. It meant a lot of schooling but I was ok with working to support him until he was through med school. School was never my thing. I was always more physical.
Which lead to today. I already had experience as an undercover informant. I could handle myself in a fight. I was good with hand to hand, knives or guns. I trained with the best. Today I would receive my Private investigator’s license. I could still work for the police department as an informant. I could also keep my acting gigs.
When Shion found out I could sing and loved to act he helped me audition for the local theater. It didn’t pay great but it was enough for now. We were happy in our little corner of the world.
After the ceremony Shion ran up to hug me. His beaming smile was all I needed from today.
“I am so proud of you Rat!” He gushed hugging me tightly. I buried my face into his white hair.
“I couldn’t have done this without you. I love you Shion.” He beamed up at me.
“This is Shion?” A snarky voice called out. The girl it belonged to sauntered over to us. She had flaming red hair, freckles that made her look almost tan, and a smile to light up the world. I laughed.
“Chloe, Shion, Shion Chloe.” I finally got to introduce the pair.
“I heard a lot about you in our cram sessions.” She shook the smaller boys hand. Then she turned to me.
“Did you tell him yet?” She asked. I smirked shacking my head.
“Tell me what?’ Shion asked looking between us. I smirked at him. Pulling him in close I tucked him into my side.
“Chloe is going to be my partner. Her uncle has a PI firm and he is extending it up here. We will be running the branch from downtown.” She beamed at us.
“That’s great!” Shion cried. I laughed.
“You two are adorable.” She cooed. She forced us to take about a thousand pictures before she went to find her family.
“Shion, I wanted to thank you for everything you brought into my life. If it wasn’t for you…” I stopped turning to face him. We stood under a tree on the side of the building that I had taken the PI classes in. I took his hands as I looked at him. The sun was making his hair sparkle. I smiled.
“I don’t think I would even be alive today if it wasn’t for you.” I watched the blush creep up his face.
“Rat, you’ve done everything for me too.” He said. I laughed. Before sinking down to one knee before him.
“Not enough.” I said. I pulled the box out of my pocket. Chloe and Sherra had helped me pick the ring.
“Shion you are my world. There is no place I would ever want to be that you are not there. Will you marry  me?” I asked. His mouth fell open as he looked at me. Tears swelled in his eyes. He threw himself into my arms kissing me as we fell backwards onto the grass. I was laughing breathlessly. But then he was yanked from me.
“You have to answer him pipsqueak!” Sherra shouted into his face. I managed to get back up on my knee.
“Yes, yes of course!” Shion squealed. 
“I’m glad because this is the court house, and we have our two witnesses….” The girls waved their hands. Shion’s eyes grew round. It wasn’t fancy. It may not have been the best way to get married, but I didn’t want to wait until Shion graduated school. I told him we could renew our vows in a proper ceremony then. But for now I  just wanted him to belong to me.  We were married that day. We also got a dog, because Sherra nearly killed it with her car. But that is another story.