Epilogue
Josh held his newborn son close to him as he walked around their bedroom, the only light in the room coming from the moonlight streaming through the windows. Avery lay sound asleep in bed, worn out from the welcome home for her and Austin earlier in the day.
Watching his son yawn in his sleep, Josh couldn’t help but smile and hold him tighter. It was amazing to finally hold his son and to know the two of them were back where they belonged, with the woman he loved.
“Hey, little man, feels good to actually be with your mom and staying here, huh?” He stared down at his sleeping son’s face. Just to see him with his little scrunched up face and hold him in his arms made Josh the happiest he’d ever been. The feel of his little body against his chest, the feel of his heart beat against him, it made the whole nightmare worth it.
He stood at the window, swaying slightly as he tried to be as quiet as he could when a small flash of light came from the corner of the room. Carefully, Josh turned, a huge smile crossing his face as he saw the figure in white standing there. “Gabriel!”
The man smiled at the greeting and lifted his hand in a wave. He took a tentative step forward, looking at the baby with love in his eyes. “Hello, Josh. Little Austin’s sound asleep?”
Josh took a step toward him. “Yeah, both he and Avery are out like a light.” Josh positioned the baby so his friend could see him better. He moved the blanket back a little and ran his finger over Austin’s tiny curled up fist. “I never got a chance to thank you before.”
Gabriel moved closer. “You don’t need—”
“Yes, I do, Gabriel. Without you, I wouldn’t be here, and neither would this little guy. I know you’re the only reason I’m here, that somehow you did something that day to send me back.” Josh knew in his heart what he said was true. The panel would never have given him the second chance Gabriel had.
Gabriel blushed, ducking his head slightly. “I did what I had to, what was right.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re extremely welcome, Josh.”
Josh smiled. “Here, hold him for a minute.”
Gabriel’s eyes widened in surprised, and he took a small step back at Josh’s offer.
“Come on, G. He won’t bite. You’ve held him before, remember?” Josh closed the distance between the two. Gabriel slowly raised his arms, and Josh carefully set his son in them. The smile that crossed his friend’s face could have lit up the room.
“He looks well.” Gabriel smiled down at the tiny infant, shifting him slightly in his arms. For a moment, the baby opened his eyes and stared up at the two men. His blue eyes locked on Gabriel, and he gurgled happily. Gabriel chuckled softly. The baby seemed to smile before he closed his eyes again. “I saw the wedding, you know.”
Josh tucked the blanket closer around his son. “I thought I felt you there. Wish you would have appeared, G. Even for a moment. I could have introduced you.”
Gabriel smiled as the baby yawned. “As what?”
“One of my best friends,” he stated honestly. “Someone who helped me through the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through.”
“You were right about what everyone lost without you.”
“I hate knowing everything that happened without me.” He saw the concern flare in Gabriel’s eyes. “But I feel better to know it, Gabriel. It makes me…” He paused and looked down at his son. A slow smile crossed his face as that warmth filled his body again, the peace of knowing everything was finally right, everything and everyone was right where they belonged. “It’s corny, but I appreciate everything so much more now.”
Gabriel nodded and took a seat on the armchair, the baby sleeping soundly in his arms. “If it’s too much for you, I can make you forget. The memories will fade over time, then all you’ll have is here and now. The details of your death will be nothing more than a vague fuzzy thought once in a while.”
Josh emphatically shook his head. “No, it was a learning experience. I wouldn’t want to forget our friendship. You mean a lot to me.”
Gabriel smiled. “The feeling is mutual.” He looked at Avery lying in bed. “How is she?”
The mere mention of her made Josh smile, and he took a seat on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb her. “She’s…” He let out a deep breath. “She’s Avery. I’m just grateful she has no clue what might have been.” He twisted his wedding band around his finger. Six months since she’d put the gold band on his hand, and he was never going to take it off. “How are you, G? Busy up there?”
He nodded, carefully holding Austin out to Josh. “Got appointed to the panel. They apparently approved of the way I handled your situation.”
Josh raised an eyebrow in question as he took his son from his friend and cradled the baby close to his chest.
Gabriel actually blushed, his expression sheepish. “They hadn’t decided yet if you were to go back with him, so I sent you both myself.”
“Gabriel!” The thought that Gabriel had obviously done something outside the box had come to him a thousand times, but G had always stuck with the rules. Josh had never thought he’d go that far for him.
“Would you have wanted me to wait? I saw how much she truly hurt, how everyone suffered at the loss of Austin, and what the future could be, what it was becoming at that very moment. Returning you was the only real rational choice anyone had. She’s fine, yes?”
“She’s perfect.”
“The pregnancy?”
“Textbook, apparently.”
“And Austin?”
Josh kissed his son’s head. “Just like her, amazingly perfect.”
In a familiar gesture, Gabriel squeezed his shoulder. “Then I did no wrong.” He smiled down lovingly at the little boy. “He’s going to be a wonderful man, just like his father.” Ever so slightly, Gabriel began to fade away in front of him. “Take care of them, Josh.”
“Always, G,” Josh promised as his friend disappeared in front of him. “Always.” Josh watched, the silhouette fading away until all that was left was just a memory.
***
Author’s note:
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