And another epilogue!

Almost two years later…

“Welcome back to Lachlan House,” Watson said as he waved Jayce in and he smiled as he handed a footman a gift bag. Niall banned gifts and would complain until he saw the small portrait. Jayce painted it from a picture of Niall and Ran the weekend they celebrated their marriage. They married quietly, shortly after they returned to Scotland, after Isla and Simon. A very small group of friends were invited to Gallahide Castle for the weekend to join in the castle’s festivities and Jayce considered himself blessed to be among them. Ran and Niall practically adopted Jayce and they became close friends as he recovered from his injury. It was a beautifully intimate, emotional and casual weekend and Jayce took the perfect picture of Ran kissing Niall in front of the castle as everyone departed. They were so content and peaceful. Jayce could practically feel it when he looked at it. He was truly inspired and it was the first painting he decided was decent enough to release into the world.

“I was starting to worry!” Ran called as he strode across the large foyer and reached for Jayce’s hand.

“Sorry about last night,” he said as he offered him an apologetic smile then grunted as he was pulled into a hug.

“I’m sure it’ll sort itself out. I’m glad he didn’t scare you off,” he teased and Jayce laughed as he patted him on the back.

“I wouldn’t have missed this,” he declared as he gestured at Ran. He was wearing a short cut jacket and a kilt and Jayce hoped the rumors of Ran’s “sans underpants” policy were true.

“Jayce!” Darius demanded as he hurried into the hall with Alice on his hip and Jayce cheered as he reached for her. Darius narrowed his eyes at him as he pulled her away. “Have you seen my wife?” He asked accusatively and Jayce gave him flat look.

“I just walked in.”

“She isn’t in the house,” Darius pointed out and they looked to the top of the stairs as Catriona jogged down the steps.

“There’s my precious girl!” She said and rose on her toes and Darius lowered so she could kiss her.

“Where’s Jenna?” He growled sweetly and she chewed on her lip.

“I believe she went off to find a moment to herself to read,” she murmured as she tapped her chin and Darius waved dismissively.

“I’m sure she won’t mind if we join her,” he said and Catriona rolled her eyes.

“She went down by the river for some peace and quiet.”

“By the river? They’re setting up down there,” Darius grumbled as he looked toward the back doors in concern.

“There’s a bench at the back of the garden, it’s perfectly safe and out of the way,” Ran reassured him but Darius looked skeptical.

“I think we’ll check on her,” he decided then kissed Alice’s hair. “Come along, my princess. Papa needs to find his queen, she might need us,” he murmured as he raised her hand and kissed it absently.

“I’m sure she’s fine, sir,” Catriona warned him but he ignored her and left with Alice. “She’s going to tear a strip out of him. He’s become quite…attentive since Jenna had the baby and she’s pulling her hair out,” she confided and Jayce laughed as they turned to see the commotion at the door.

“That will be Sir Alston and Lady Lucy,” Ran said and his eyes glittered with anticipation and delight as a younger but slightly taller and more confident version of Niall arrived. Jayce heard Catriona’s soft gasp and he couldn’t blame her as a willowy woman with long, ash blonde hair hurried through the door and swatted Sir Alston’s arm. She was ethereal and there was a spark of mischief in her eyes as they swept around the grand foyer. “We’ve been up to Ireland a few times but this is only their second visit to see Niall since he married Isla several years ago. Sir Alston’s had his hands full turning the family’s finances around but he’s worked miracles. And Niall kept them away, for obvious reasons,” Ran explained softly.

“Ranulf!” Lady Lucy called before she ran to him and he laughed as he caught her.

“It’s good to see you again!” He said as he hugged her tight and Jayce could see that Ran adored his sister-in-law. Niall told Jayce all about his brother and sister and it clearly pained him to keep a distance for so many years.

“Not too shabby, Lord Lachlan,” Lady Lucy said as she raised her brows at him and cocked her head, gesturing at the house and Sir Alston sighed heavily.

“This is why she belongs in the country,” he said as he offered Ran his hand and he laughed as he pulled him close.

“It is quite a house though,” he joked as he leaned back. “Welcome, Rory,” he added warmly then turned and waved at Jayce. “Sir Rory Alston and Lady Lucy, this is Jayce Waverly and Catriona Drummond,” he said and Catriona dropped into a low curtsy and Jayce bowed his head. Lucy hissed as she elbowed Ran and flailed her hand.

“Stuff all that, Ran. It’s just Lucy and Rory,” she scolded but her eyes clung to Catriona’s before she shook her head quickly. “Where’s my brother? I came all this way and he isn’t here to greet me with a hug?”

“I’m afraid he’s being sequestered at Carlton House until it’s time for the ceremony to begin. I’m not allowed down by the boathouse but I have to be here to welcome guests as they arrive,” Ran said and Lucy’s lips twisted.

“I suppose… Can I go see this new boathouse?” She asked and Ran grinned.

“Of course, just mind the planner’s staff, there’s an army of them back there setting up,” he warned then paused before he pointed thoughtfully. “Better yet, could you show her around, Catriona?” He asked innocently and her jaw hung for a moment before she nodded.

“Sure… I could do that,” she said slowly and Lucy brightened.

“Perfect!” She said and Jayce wasn’t the only one who noticed the way her eyes lingered when they touched Catriona’s lips. Or the stain that spread across Catriona’s cheeks as she swept the bangs away from her face.

“If you’ll follow me, my lady,” she said and Lucy clicked her teeth as she hooked her arm in Catriona’s.

“You can call me Lucy, or just about anything else you’d like but you’re not allowed to “my lady” me. None of my friends are,” she informed Catriona and Jayce smiled as he watched them go.

“I like her,” he decided then offered Rory his hand. “Welcome to London,” he said and Rory winked as he shook it.

“Thank you, it’s been a really long time,” he said.

“Why don’t you get settled and you can join us for drinks while we wait for the rest of the guests to arrive. We’ve still got a few hours,” Ran said and waved as a footman arrived to show him to his room.

“I shouldn’t be long,” Rory said then waved at Jayce before he followed the footman up the stairs.

“Don’t go too far, I’ve got tea and lemonade in the study as well,” Ran ordered Jayce then pointed his chin at the kitchen. “Quinn’s with Roman, making sure he eats something before he starts drinking,” Ran said and Jayce rolled his eyes.

“They need to hurry up and have a kid. Roman’s just humoring him because he doesn’t want Quinn to think he doesn’t need him anymore,” he confided and Ran nodded.

“It might be time for an intervention,” he said and Jayce cheered.

“I’ll talk to Mr. Bishop and Grigore. I know Darius is on board and wants to pretend he’s useful again. You get a hold of that Reginald guy,” he proposed.

“As soon as we’re back from Borneo,” Ran agreed and Jayce held up his thumbs as he backed away then spun and headed for the kitchen. The cook smiled and waved him in and Jayce thanked her as he carefully made his way around the kitchen’s staff as they calmly and competently prepared canapés, dinners, tiny desserts and cocktails for a few hundred guests. But it was still going to be an intimate, casual wedding by British royal standards, according to Ms. Brundage. Ran asked her to stand in for his mother and help with the wedding planning and she’d put her whole heart into it. She’d absolutely outdone herself, from the looks of the kitchen.

Jayce peeked around the wall at the long family table and benches and chuckled to himself as he leaned to spy on Quinn and Roman. They were frequent guests at Lachlan House and Ran’s friends often found themselves seated at the table, drinking tea with him and Niall or inhaling as many of Ms. Brundage’s scones as possible, when she visited from Gallahide.

“Quit taking the fork!” Quinn complained as he reached for Roman’s hand. They were facing each other on the bench and Roman shook his head as he leaned back.

“You have the fork,” he laughed and Quinn snorted then swore at the fork in his hand.

“Stop doing that,” Quinn ordered then stabbed a sliced strawberry and held it out to him. “And just eat your damn fruit salad,” he added. Roman hummed as he swayed forward and opened his mouth so Quinn could set it on his tongue. He chewed then licked his lips.

“Not as sweet as you,” he purred as he offered his lips and Quinn’s twitched as he kissed him. Quinn moaned as he angled his head and Jayce decided not to bother them and stepped back, around the wall.

“That’s really good,” Quinn murmured drowsily. “Goddamn it! Stop taking the fork!” He cried and Jayce laughed to himself as he snuck out of the kitchen, through the back door. The library was on the other side of Lachlan House but he could take the terrace as a shortcut. It seemed like the safest place to hang out and kill some time. Darius and Jenna were in the garden, being happy and adorable and Jayce hoped Lucy and Catriona were hitting it off down at the boathouse but he didn’t need to stumble upon another set of adorable lovers.

They were having another wedding and everywhere he looked, someone was in love. Not that Jayce wasn’t thrilled. He loved his brother, Roman and the friends he’d made since he got clean and moved to Carlton House. Every one of them believed in him and did everything they could to support his sobriety. They were his family now and he loved them. He loved them. Aside from Quinn and heroin, Jayce never loved anything. And the heroin kept him from truly loving Quinn as a brother and made his heart too hard to love anything good. For so long, Quinn was the closest thing Jayce had to a heart and the only thing that kept him alive. He’d convinced himself he didn’t need love or to be a good person as long as he had Quinn because he was good enough for both of them.

Jayce wasn’t that man anymore and he knew he was ready. He saw how love saved his brother, brother-in-law and their friends and how much meaning and purpose it gave them and he wanted that. He knew he was ready because he wanted someone to live for, the way his brother lived for Roman and Niall lived for Ran instead of wanting someone who could give him something. He’d found his passion and it wasn’t for drugs, it was for art. He felt a connection with Roman’s murdered friend, Antoni Ricolotti. He decided he could live a good life, in his memory. Jayce was given a second chance he didn’t deserve and he wouldn’t waste it. Jayce had something to offer in return and a heart that finally worked and he was ready to live for someone else and be adorable and obnoxious with them. He was a new man and he was ready but fate must have had a terrible sense of humor because he strolled through the library’s opened French doors and groaned in irritation as he slouched and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Why do you have to be here?”