Never let you go

Epilogue

Grey:

When my alarm goes off I seriously think about shutting it off because getting up at five in the morning on my day off just doesn't seem like fun, but then I remember the plans for today and I wake up a bit. It's funny to think that at one time in my life sleeping past five was considered sleeping in late. As I reach over to turn off my alarm I feel Hunter's strong arm tighten its hold on me. I smile as I realize he is already awake.

"Five more minutes" he grumbles sleepily.

"As tempting as that sounds" I say lightly with a smile in my voice. "We both know five minutes will turn into an hour and we need to get up so we can get the kids ready."

Hunter sighs and then groans. "Ugh I hate when you're right" he says as he sits up and kisses me on the cheek quickly before hopping out of bed. When I don't get up immediately he pauses and looks back to say, "Come on lazy bones get out of bed already." The grin he gives me is so boyish and sexy it drives me crazy. He looks so young when he grins like that. He certainly doesn't look like he's in his thirties, but maybe I'm just biased because I'm endlessly in love with him.

I hop out of bed after him and then together we shower and get ready for the day before waking our children. Once we're done we head down the hall towards Braden's room. We both pause in the doorway as we watch him sleeping peacefully before running and jumping on his bed like children. Our son quickly wakes up and squeals as we tickle him. His laughter filling the room and my God is it beautiful.

Once we feel like he's had enough we stop tickling him and settle down. "Are we going to see grandma and grandpa today?" he asks as he lifts his beautiful blue eyes to meet mine.

"Yep" I say as I nod at him. "So we need to get you and your sister up and ready so we can go."

"And Uncle Jason?" he asks innocently and the hope in his voice breaks my heart.

"Yes, and Uncle Jason" I say as I smile proudly at my three and a half year old. Hunter and I agreed together that our kids should grow up knowing about the people we loved and lost. We both wanted their memories to live on through our children. I also wanted them both to know how they got their names and I promised Jason my kids would know about him. I was going to keep that promise. In the years Braden has been alive he has heard countless stories about Jason and seen dozens of pictures. He's also been to his grave with me several times and while he's there Braden always talks to him. It's so sweet. It always makes me tear up.

"Yay!" he shouts happily as he jumps out of bed to get dressed. Once Hunter and I help him get dressed we head into Nova's room to wake her.

After we get Nova changed we make breakfast for everyone together and then we get everyone in the car and we start making our way from our home in Massachusetts to my parents' in New York.

The car ride takes about four hours and thank God for modern technology and television in the car because it makes the ride for Braden and Nova much more enjoyable and for Hunter and me as well for that matter. I still feel unsettled sometimes while I ride in cars. I'm not sure that will ever really go away, especially now that I have children and am constantly worrying for their safety, but I have gotten a lot better. I don't have to be medicated anymore for one and I'm also able to drive a car myself now. I finally forced myself to get in the driver's seat about six years ago. It wasn't easy by any means but I was proud of myself and I know Hunter was too.

When we pull up to my parents a strange rush of emotions comes over me just like every time I visit here. So many wonderful and sad memories fill my head and it's almost overwhelming, but then Hunter squeezes my hand reassuringly and brings me back to earth.