Extended Epilogue
Five years later…
"Here you go, buddy," Connor said as he popped the top of a cold beer can and handed it to Dante Muccino. Even though it was a long holiday weekend, the chef was still on food duty.
“Thanks, dude,” Dante replied, taking a sip.
Two familiar squeals of delight made him turn his head. Lizzie and her brother, Anthony, were running down the lawn, followed by their parents. He waved to Quinn and Selena, who was carrying their newest addition, baby Jacob, in his carrier.
"Oops, watch it, Connor," Dante chuckled. "Don't get your precious package too close to the grill."
He looked down at his "package." Two-month-old Charlene Tala Forrest was sleeping soundly in her baby carrier, her chubby cheeks resting on his chest. He had gotten a little too close to the heat and Charley stirred a bit. "Oops," he said, moving back half a step. "Thanks."
"No prob." The chef smiled at him, his mismatched blue and green eyes briefly glancing down at Charley. His expression seemed … wistful? He wondered what was going through the other Lycan's head. Dante Muccino's career had exploded in the last five years, and he was the hottest chef in the country. Connor didn't spend a lot of time with him socially, but he seemed to enjoy his celebrity status. But, despite the fact that he hobnobbed with stars, Connor knew him to be a great guy. He was also one of the last single Lycans in their circle. He wondered if the chef was still enjoying his bachelorhood.
Looking down at Charley, he couldn't imagine trading her or his life for anything. Had it been five years? Time really did go by when you were having fun. And that was his life with Evie. Five years, two kids, and a whole barrel of fun. He was content. No, he was more than content.
The nightmares sometimes still haunted him, but he knew that Evie would always be there, soothing him and telling him that things were all right. Slowly, he also made peace with his demons and his wolf. The feral wolf was still unmanageable some days, but he no longer had trouble getting his body back. It was there when he needed it, especially on those dangerous missions, but the wolf helped him. After all, he had to come back to his family.
"Daddy! Daddy!" A tugging at his shorts made him look down. Four-year-old Cliff looked up at him, his toffee-brown eyes so much like his mother's. "Everyone’s headed to the living room. It's time!"
"I'll finish up here and follow," Dante said. "You go ahead."
He nodded at Dante and picked up Cliff. The little boy let out a whoop of delight as his father put him on his shoulders. He strode into the mansion, and followed the crowd of people heading into the entertainment room.
“Okay, I think I got it set up!” Quinn said as he pointed the remote control toward the TV. Everyone was gathered around, waiting for the show to begin. The screen blinked to life.
"Welcome, everyone to the pre-awards show red carpet countdown," the host on the TV said. "I'm Melanie Arkin, and we're here in London for the Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber Awards where we celebrate the best of the stage world! It's almost time for the show to begin, but we wanted to catch up with some of the theater world's biggest celebrities first." Melanie pointed off camera. "Oh, here's someone everyone should recognize. Two-time Tony Awardee for Best Actress in a Musical, Evie King. She was also the voice of Arya in the Disney movie, The Last Princess.”
The camera panned to Evie, who was walking the red carpet in a beautiful red gown. As she passed Melanie, the host stopped her and called her name.
“Thanks for stopping by, Evie.”
"Oh, I'm always happy to talk to you, Melanie," she said.
"And with you, of course, is your writing partner, Jack Donohue." Jack looked handsome next to her, wearing a custom-fitted black tux. "So, you guys must be nervous! You're up for an award for Best Book of a Musical and Best Musical for your hit show Changes.”
“Yes, we are pretty nervous,” Evie answered. “But whatever happens, we’re just happy to be here.”
“Everyone was pretty surprised when, at the height of your career and you were playing Colleen in Love and Regrets, you quit the show to have your first baby. Tell me, do you regret giving up that show?”
"Melanie, working on Love and Regrets was one of the best times in my life. I loved the cast, the writers, the director, the crew. But, no, I don't regret anything. I love being a mom. And having my son was the inspiration I needed to write Changes. "
“And you just had another baby, right?”
"Yeah." She looked at the camera. "I'd like to say thanks, Connor, for taking care of the kids while I'm away. I'll be home very soon."
“Awww … so sweet!”
A soft cry caught Connor's attention, and he realized Charley was stirring. He sat down on the couch, removing the straps of the carrier with practiced ease as he turned her around so she could face the TV. "Look, Charley, there's mommy. Isn't she pretty?" The baby gurgled in agreement.
Music began to play, and, soon, the awards show began. There was excitement in the air as they watched. Everyone was sitting around, chatting, having a good time. There were loud cheers, of course, when they announced Evie and Jack as winners for Best Book. Evie seemed shocked, and she was speechless for about two seconds before Jack nudged her. She thanked everyone in the show and everyone back home.
Finally, it was time for the big award, and a hush fell over the room. The two presenters introduced all of the nominees. Connor smiled as the camera focused on Evie, who was trying to look calm, though he could tell she was nervous.
“And the winner for Best Musical is,” the presenter opened the envelope. “Changes, music and book by Evie King and Jack Donohue."
The entire room erupted with cheers. Popcorn was tossed in the air and people were jumping up and down. Cliff bounded onto the couch, hopping on the cushions, screaming “Mommy won! Mommy won!”
“Shhhhh!” someone shouted. “Sit down! We want to hear her speech!”
The camera cut to the podium where Jack was standing by himself. "Thank you, thank you, everyone. From the bottom of my heart, both our hearts, thank you!"
Connor frowned. This was Evie's big moment. Why wasn't she up there with Jack?
“So, first of all, Evie relays her most sincere apologies. But we’ve been gone for a whole week now, and she really misses her kids and her husband, so she’s gone home. I mean, she’s headed home. But, we wanted to thank …”
A pair of small hands covered Connor's eyes, and the sweet scent of peaches filled his nostrils. "Evie?" He turned his head, and the hands pulled back. Standing behind the couch was his Evie, all made up and still dressed in her red ball gown. "Evie, your award—"
"I told Daric to come get me as soon as they announced the winner. Whether it was me or not.” She waved to the warlock, who gave her a nod, then turned his attention back to his sons. "I couldn't wait another second to come back home to you guys." She grabbed Charley from him, and held her up. "Aww, did you miss Mommy? I missed you too, Charley." Evie put her little head on her shoulder and rubbed her back in a soothing manner.
"Mommy's home!" Cliff cried, jumping into Connor's lap. He scooped up his son, then stood and walked to his wife. "Ahhhh! You're squishing me, Daddy!" he giggled as Connor wrapped him, Evie, and Charley in his arms.
“Aww, squishing just means I love you,” he said, giving his son a kiss on the forehead.
“I love you too, daddy.”
Connor felt a tug at his heart. Those words were what he lived for. He looked at his daughter. Already, he told Charley he loved her every day, and he couldn't wait for her to say it back. A rumble from his chest made Cliff giggle. "Does your wolf love me, too?"
“Of course it does.”
“Good.” Cliff laid his head on Connor’s chest, then patted it with his little hand. “I love you, too, Princess Tiffany Spankinbottom.”
“Princess … what?”
“Yeah, Uncle Quinn told me that was your wolf’s name.”
Evie guffawed, and Connor let out a laugh. "He did, did he? Well, did you know Uncle Killian, Aunt Meredith, and I used to call him Mr. Poopie Pants?"
Cliff giggled. “You did?”
"Uh-huh. We were working with your Grandpa Archie, and he was stuck under some bushes, doing surveillance. He had to go, but the bad guys were all around us. He didn't have a choice, and he crapped in his pants." He set Cliff down. "Now, why don't you go tell your cousins and your friends about that story? I'm sure Auntie Selena would love to hear that one, too."
“Yeah!” Cliff zoomed off, running to the group of children playing in the game room next door.
Evie raised a brow at him. “Mr. Poopie Pants? Really?”
"Actually, it was Mr. Shitty Pants, but that didn't seem appropriate for the kids."
Evie laughed. “Right.”
There was a loud crash, laughter, and the sound of children screeching, “Mr. Poopie Pants!” from the other room. It was followed by an indignant cry from an annoyed-sounding Quinn.
“CONNOR!”
The End
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