Fate's Little Bell

Epilogue

Jane May

It was lonely without him.

I was curled up on the couch watching The Lion King halfheartedly. It was the kids' favorite movie and they'd been making me watch it at least once a week with them. By now, the story was getting old and all the songs were starting to feel like nails on a chalkboard. But as long as it made them happy, I'd gladly let them watch it.

The sky had gone dark long ago, but my precious Levi and my sweet little Deiji had insisted on staying up. And I didn't have the heart to say no.

But here they were, sound asleep, my sleepy boy leaning against my arm while Deiji had curled up on my lap, sucking her thumb like I always told her not to. Playing with her silky, deep brown hair that so reminded me of his, I couldn't help but smile.

My angels.

Trying not to wake them, I felt around on the couch until my hand brushed the remote. Turning the sound down slightly, I sighed, wishing Jeongguk was here so he could help me carry them up to bed. At this rate, I was gonna be stuck here on the couch all night. But — I smiled, my hand resting on Deiji's back, feeling her breathe — for them, it was worth it.

The front door opened loudly and the two sleepyheads that had previously been dead to the world were suddenly leaping from the couch, running frantically to the entryway.

"Daddy!" they squealed, jumping up and down, clinging to Jeongguk's arms as he attempted to set down his bag.

I stood up, smiling as I walked over, watching as he managed to set his stuff down and scooped both Levi and Deiji into his arms, kissing their cheeks.

"How are all my babies doing? You two haven't been giving Mommy a hard time, have you?" he asked, setting them down.

They giggled, shaking their heads no, and hung onto his legs, weighing him down.

"And how about my other baby? You didn't miss me too much, did you?" He smiled as I walked over to him, wrapping his arms around me when I was close enough, pulling me against his chest. "I love you, Baby," he whispered, kissing my forehead. "And this baby too," he added, rubbing my belly. "I take it Abagail's asleep?"

I nodded, snuggling against his warm body, taking comfort in his solidity, his presence, the fact that he was here, really here, and not just a shadow drifting through my dreams, never quite here, always a step out of reach.

"Ewwww," Levi and Deiji shrieked, scrambling away from us as Jeongguk pecked my lips. When I turned back around to see where they'd went, my eyes found them hiding behind a chair in the living room, peeking around it so that just the tops of their sweet little faces were in view.

"Don't pay so much attention to them," Jeongguk whined, hugging my shoulders. "I'm the one you missed."

I smiled at his jealousy and patted his arm reassuringly. "Don't worry, Jeongguk. Once they're asleep, you'll have me all to yourself."

His breath caught in his throat and I flushed with heat realizing the connotation of what I'd just said. "Jeez, Princess, you shouldn't get my hopes up."

Deiji and Levi made a mad dash, screaming in horror the entire time, as Jeongguk's lips tasted my neck, leaving sensual, open-mouthed kisses scattered across my skin.

"J—Jeongguk," I whimpered quietly, biting my tongue as his hands ran over my breasts. "Stop. N—not in front of the kids at least."

He sighed and pulled away. "Fine," he grumbled.