Fighter {Completed}

Epilogue: Because You're Beautiful {Cole}

Epilogue: Because You're Beautiful {Cole}

Two Years Later

"Happy birthday to Alex," everyone sings. "Happy birthday to you." The little man in particular looks at the cake as if he's in love, a "#2" candle lit before him. He blows out his candle, everyone clapping around him.

Suddenly, Sebastian pushes his face into the cake.

"Sebastian King!" Julia scolds as he laughs loudly. I can't fight my grin as the kid raises his head, face covered in blue icing as he blinks, his teeth gleaming as he stands to chase his uncle Sebastian.

The birthday party continues, celebrating Alexander's second year out of the womb. As the day goes on and family and friends come and go, it finally dwindles down to just the original crew. A nostalgic feeling runs through me as I look around.

After Alexander was born, Sebastian and Taylor had their first son, Luke about five months later. Then, Ellie gave birth to Wyatt, our little boy, a short five months after Luke. Ellie rubs Scarlet's giant belly, holding their second son, Samuel, who has another couple of weeks before he's due.

It's crazy to think of how much has changed in the last few years.

We went from being tormented daily to being parents, all six of us. I shake my head, still trying to figure out how quickly things changed. They went from being bad to good to great. Looking at Ellie holding our eleven month old son, I shake my head.

I wouldn't trade this for the world.

"What's up with you?" Seb asks, wiping icing off of his clothing as he nears me.

"Nothing, man," I smile. "I'm good."

Really good.

Like...amazingly good.

Life couldn't get any better.

__________

Ten Years Later

As I pull up to the park, I search for the kids, finding Wyatt, Alex, Luke, and their friends all at the picnic tables, too cool to be bothered with the smaller kids. Samuel and Nathan, Sebastian and Taylor's second son, join them, along with another boy I don't recognize. I find them quickly, too, each playing with their own set of friends.

As I look for Aspen Rose, mine and Ellie's daughter, I freeze.

She stands beside the slide, eyes wide as she stares up at the bigger kid above her. It's clear he's mocking her as he makes a fake crying gesture, his little group of friends laughing at my little girl.

I get out of the car.

As quickly as I'd moved, the boys have, too.

Not the bullies, no. They still stand in front of Ellie.

My boys have moved.

Alexander, Luke, Wyatt, and a few others of our large family stand in front of Aspen now, and Alexander shoves the bully hard. He falls into the dirt, and I see the rest of the crew running to stand by their side. Soon, there are several boys around her, each one angry.

My heart swells so quickly I think I'm going to have a heart attack.

I'd heard that Aspen was getting bullied, but any time I'd ask her about it, she'd shut down, tell me it was nothing. The nine year-old was tough to crack, that's for sure. Alex, on the other hand, told me quickly that there was someone bullying her, and that he'd been keeping an eye on her.

When the bullies finally leave, I see the group of boys leading Aspen and her friend to the picnic tables, quickly taking her into their group and trying to include her in their activities. I sit back and watch, all the way up until a little boy named Carter, I believe, lets Aspen try his skateboard.