chap. 26: epilogue

~10 YEARS LATER~

My cell phone rang. I pulled my phone as I continued to run. Why would you call me? I don't want to talk to you. I thought to myself irritated. There was no way I was going to talk to him after what he did. How could I forgive him? My phone let out a muffled beep. Oh great, he left a message.

I came up to the house in the quiet neighborhood. I walked right in, not needing to knock of course. The house was full of balloons and party decorations. They really went all out, but they always did. I guess I would too if he were my son.

"I smell vampire." Someone complained from the kitchen.

"Not just any vampire, that's our vampire!" Anya and Jason said in unison, laughing.

It was the usual greeting, always the same. I remember a time when the word vampire was human. Anya was the first one to come skipping down the hall. Time was definitely frozen for us, nothing changed a bit. Jason followed behind her.

"Dolcetto!" She hugged me excitedly, followed quickly by Jason's embrace.

"Did you get a hold of Anabelle and William?" Jason asked.

"They'll be here." I grinned. My phone beeped again. I ignored it. "Where's Nathan?"

"On his way. Probably dragging Shane to more bars." Anya rolled her eyes.

Even though Nathan should have been 10 right now, he was actually 21 which was lucky for him because that's when he stopped aging. He was younger then me but at the same time older then me. We had a strange relationship. Neither of them really drank much but Nathan made it his duty to "find Shane a girl" as Nathan had put it, a decent girl with no luck so far. I handed Jason the perfectly wrapped present.

"It's a toy truck." I whispered. He chuckled.

"A toy truck?" Nathan's voice rang out behind me.

Jason burst out laughing and went to the kitchen. I spun around. Anya greeted her son with a hug.

"Mom..." Nathan muttered, sounding somewhat embarrassed.

"Just a friendly reminder of the age you should be right now."

He rolled his golden eyes at me. He had Anya's hair, only because of how short it was you really couldn't tell how thick it was. He had facial hair that was stubby but worked for him. He looked so much like Jason, anyone who didn't know they were father and son thought they were brothers. Shane was quick to hug me first as Nathan glowered at me.

"Any luck?" Shane knew what I was asking. He shook his head.

"Nope, not tonight." He let me go. Nathan was next to hug me.

"Where's Kale?" He asked when we pulled away from eachother andheaded into the kitchen.

"He--" I began but stopped myself short and turned around. As soon as I did he pulled me into his arms, kissing me long and hard.

"Missed you!" He breathed, kissing my nose now.

"Missed you more." I challenged. He set me down on my feet.

"Impossible..." He shook his head.

Nathan cleared his throat. We both turned to him.

"I was hunting." He answered Nathan's question that he had just asked me. Kale pulled a black iphone from his pocket with a little red ribbon on it and handed it to him. "Oh, look what I found. You can have it I guess." He shrugged.

Nathan's eyes widened as he took it. His cell phone was just a silver flip phone, he'd been asking for a new, better one for awhile now.

"Thanks! And you just got me a toy." He teased toward me.

"It was her idea. She just let me give it to you." Kale grinned, catching my hair in his hand and playing with it.

"It's from both of us." I corrected as we continued to head into the kitchen where music played in the background.

A large triple chocolate cake was on the counter next to a barrel of cookies and creme ice cream. The boy loved chocolate and cookies, amoung other things that 10 year olds loved. I bit my lip so I wouldn't laugh. Outside, Jason was grilling brats, steaks and burgers. The sliding door was open so the smell filled the house. Anya went out and brought him lemonade.

They were a pack of shapeshifters who ran around all the time, it would have been more surprising if they hardly had no food around their house. Speaking of the pack, they were scattered all over the house, talking and laughing. It was actually pretty rare to see them around like this.

"There's nothing like a Nathan birthday." Shane chuckled.

"He grew up way too fast." I sighed.

"Litterally." Kale shook his head.

My phone beeped again. I pulled it out to turn it off. Kale, of course, took it from me.

"He left you a voicemail." He stated. "Why don't you listen to it?"

"I don't even want to hear his voice." I muttered.

"Oh come on Jamie, he's your best friend." Shane looked at me sadly. He was his best friend too. Ever since that night he barely saw him anymore.

"Shane's right." Kale murmured. Even now he was still unwilling to agree with one of them.

"You forgive him?" I raised my eyebrow. He waited a moment then nodded.

"I think he learned his lesson..."

"Really?"

"Of course not." He sighed. "No matter how many times I wail on him, he'll never stop loving you." He winced. "Even though he took it too far this time, he's still apart of this family."

I groaned. If Kale forgave him...

"Fine." I muttered, lifting the phone to my ear.

"Jamie. Listen, I'm so sorry. I never should have taken advantage of you like that. Like Shane and I always say; I'd rather have you in my life as a friend then nothing at all. And now that we don't even talk anymore that saying means more to me now then it ever has...I'm really, really sorry..."

His voice was pained, miserable. I looked at Kale and Shane, who heard it too.

"You really forgive him?" I asked Kale again.

"Yes. I doubt he'll cross the line again."

"I'll take him out with me and Nathan. It's not so bad after awhile." Shane promised.

I sighed. Neither of them were happy. Both of them still loved me. Would it ever go away? I began to call him back when I caught his scent. I glared at Shane.

"Oh. I forgot to tell you, Jake will be here any second." He took a step back.

Jacob walked into the kitchen, holding a large box, an overly large box that three full grown strong human males would have to carry together. Jake carried it with one arm.

"Is that mine?!" Nathan, who had been mingling with his pack and talking to his parents, came running over. Again, like a 10 year old. I stiffled a laugh.

"Unless someone else here is named Nathan..." His voice sounded tired.

He set the box down at Nathan's feet. As Nathan tried to tear it open, Anya grabbed his arm.

"Not now. Wait until everyone gets here. Jeez, you're as impatient as Kale." She teased.

"Am not..." He murmured.

"I swear, he gets more and more like him everyday!" She continued to tease, looking at me. We laughed. He had a little bit of all of us in him. His looks from Anya and Jason, of course. He was always being sarcastic, impatient, teasing, caring, loving, but most of all happy.

Jacob looked at me nervously. Both Kale and Shane pushed me forward.

"I'll be right over here." Kale brushed the hair out of my face and kissed my forehead. "Be nice to him, sweatheart."

"I'll try but I'm not promising anything." I muttered and he left me there with Jake to go talk to Jason.

"Did you get my voicemail?" He asked timidly. I only nodded. "I never meant to--"

"Yes, you did." I interrupted him. He looked down.

"Of course I did." For the first time ever, he actually sounded ashamed of what he did. I let out a sigh.

"To be honest, I'm surprised you didn't try sooner..."

He shook his head. "It's not worth it if it means losing you from my life. I haven't talked to you in three months but it feels like an enternity."

I did miss him. My best friend. The one who completes our family...Our family. Of course he would choose this day to reconcile. The day the recent member of our family joined us. I had to forgive him. It wouldn't be right if I didn't. I shut my eyes.

"Just, no more Jacob. Kale's been putting up with you and Shane for over 11 years now. Everytime you two even look at me, you're lucky he doesn't kill you."

He nodded. "I promise Jamie, I love you but for the sake of our friendship, our family, for the sake of you and Kale, I'll stop chasing you." He told me eagerly, promising carefully. I laughed. 11 years later, 11 years after we met, 11 years after the wedding, he finally decides I'm off limits.

"Thanks Jacob." I said somewhat sarcastically.

He understood the tone of my voice. He helf his arms out toward me. I glowered at him for a moment.

"Don't stray." I muttered and moved into his arms. He squeezed me so tightly, he nearly broke me in half as he lifted me off the ground. Strangely, it felt right.

"Do I get one of those?" William was suddenly standing behind Jacob in the hallway. Anabelle was right at his side as always.

"Will! Ana!" I let out as Jacob dropped me. I flew past him, leaping into William's arms.

"Where have you two been?!" I gasped from my excitement. I was hugging Anabelle now. "It's been two years!" The longest I've gone without seeing them. I talked to them on the phone but not long enough to really know what they were up to.

"Europe." Anabelle grinned.

"Did you two tie the knot yet?" Kale asked beside me now.

"No." Anabelle rolled her eyes, hitting Will's arm. He grabbed her hand that just wacked him.

"Soon though. I have to find the perfect way to do it..." His voice trailed off.

She sighed looking up at him. She didn't sigh annoyed, she sighed in love. I looked at Kale who smiled at me. We were both thinking about his proposal, his perfect way. Nathan came over now. His eyes wide, like when we had brought him his gifts, only they didn't have anything for him.

"So, you decided to come back to me afterall Anabelle." He said with an unfamiliar deep voice that made all of us burst out laughing as he puffed out his chest.

"Awwe, I remember when you were a cute little pup who couldn't speak. Now those were the days." She patted his head and kissed his forehead, sending his whole body trembling. I wasn't sure if it was from her cold skin or not.

"He's only ten, Anabelle." Anya scolded her with a quick wink.

"I'll try to control myself next time." She lifted her hands, taking a step back.

Everyone burst out laughing again. Not only were his features like a 21 year old but he was tall too. Taller then me and Anabelle but the same height as Anya. Nathan rolled his eys.

"Is everyone here?" He pouted childishly.

"I suppose." Anya sighed.

Nathan opened his gifts, getting anything from video games to a ton of new clothes which he definitely needed. He didn't exactly think before he formed. He saved Jake's for last.

"Whoa! No way!" He gasped.

"Jeez, a plasma TV Jacob?" I raised my eyebrow at him.

"He's only ten." Jason crossed his arms in "dissaproval" as he eyed the gift himself.

"I've been running out of ideas." He shrugged.

"Try clothes next time." Anya suggested. Jake sighed.

"Will do."

"Let's get this hooked up." Jason sounded way too excited now. Anya smiled, shaking her head at her son and husband as they left the room.

~#~#~#~#~#

I stared down at the triple chocolate birthday cake, with white letters on it: Happy 10thBirthday Nathan! The 10 was big and bold, a reminder to all of us I think. Though physically and mentally he was 21, technically and in the real world, the world I once lived in once upon a time, he was still a child.

I stared down at it deep in thought, sitting on the stool that spun when I moved my legs which I was doing. Kale appeared suddenly at my side. He kissed my neck and began to play with my hair. I barely responded. I was too deep in my thoughts.

"What's wrong, my love?" He spun me all the way around in the stool so I was facing him. He lifted my chin so I would look up at him. My eyes met his perfect blue gems that looked exactly as they did 11 years ago. I truly loved that about this world, none of us ever changed.

"Do you think..." I started slowly. He shrugged instantly.

"I try not to." He grinned, running his fingers through my hair. Lately he loved doing that. He pulled me up against him by my waist with his free hand. I smiled back at him. "Seriously Jamie, go on. What's bothering you?" He asked concerned as always.

I was actually thinking about the werewolves, Milo, Dane, Emily and her brothers, for the first time in years. I had nearly forgotten about them but I had this strange feeling...I started again;

"I'm just thinking about the night Nathan was born. Nothing wrong." I lied because I hated to worry him. "Just thinking."

"I definitely remember that night." He smiled devilishly.

"We didn't do anything new that night." I reminded him. He shrugged.

"When we get home, let's do that."

I laughed. "Well, I guess we could." I wrinkled my nose. "It's not like we do that every single day." I said sarcastically.

His hand entangled in my hair when he brushed his lips against mine.

"Eww! Why are you doing that by my cake?!" Nathan interrupted us.

Kale pulled back looking down at me with a smile. I knew that look in his eyes.

"Take it easy on him," I breathed. "Anya wouldn't appreciate it if you hurt him on his birthday."

His grin widened, his eyes slightly turning black.

"It seems you haven't gotten your birthday spankings yet, Nathan." He spun around. "What a shame!"

Nathan gasped, spun around and flew past Jacob in the hallway. As Kale took off inhumanly fast after him, Jacob and I stared at eachother. This was familiar, only he wasn't after Jacob. Memories flashed through my mind. Then we both burst out laughing, obviously having the same thoughts.

"Poor kid. It's not fun getting wailed on by Kale." He sighed.

"He'll learn someday. Although you and Shane are still learning."

He laughed. "Definitely."

Shane came wandering in now. His hazel eyes seemed worried and anxious but he smiled at us. Something was bothering him but like me, he wouldn't want to say anything. At least not tonight. When Kale came back we were all just staring at eachother. We looked at him in unison. He sighed, taking my hand as everyone began to pile into the kitchen.

"Finally!" Nathan pushed past us, his short hair was tossled. He looked the way anyone did after Kale was playfully finished with them. Anya was beside him, trying to fix his hair and clothes, shooting a glare at Kale. He shrugged, throwing his arm around me. Jason was muttering at Anya;

"He looks fine...You know how Kale is. He gets irritated easily..."

Nathan ignored everyone, staring down at his cake with wide eyes that were always full of wonder. By the time Maverick showed up, the cake was half gone and most of us were leaving. He was carrying a box. He had taken a liking to Nathan from the very begining. He waved at us as we left, taking off out of the quiet little neighborhood and disappearing into the nearby forest.

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The picture in this chapter is Nathan