Winter nods. "Same here, until I met Sariel. I know it can get a lot more complicated."
"And yet here we are," Sun grins. "It’s just the first month, but everything points to… I’m going to be a dad. Or a father. Whatever the name."
It’s almost too much happiness for my poor heart.
All my children found their destinies!
They chose their paths and built their lives, and seeing so many relaxed, smiling faces around me makes me think of only one thing…
Where it all began more than forty years ago, when I came to Aiden’s home, bruised, crushed, hopeless, carrying nothing but trauma. I didn’t believe in any kind of future.
I turn when I feel a presence behind me…
…and meet the handsome face of my fated mate, Aiden.
For me, it all started with him.
Like a quiet spirit, he stands in the shade with a soft smile, but he’s not looking at our children.
He’s looking at me.
And then he reaches out his hand.
"Come on, let’s take a walk along the beach."
We walk in silence for a bit, and of course I keep wiping tears when he’s not looking.
We stop at the sandy beach, but turn toward the lawn where the tables stand, laughter and kids’ shouts drifting over.
"I still need to visit your nephews’ tables, and Gabriel, Hunter and Veyron too. I wanted to congratulate them on their fated mates—" I start, but Aiden squeezes my hand.
"Wait, I wanted to tell you something."
He touches my face gently.
Then he says simply, "Thank you. You built an entire world, Lake. We had nothing, and now we have everything."
Touched, I lay my hands on his chest.
"Yes, we do. Everything. That day when I came to your house, I was a shadow,broken—"
Aiden shakes his head.
"No, don’t say that. You were never trulybroken, Lake. I see it differently. You were like a seed waiting to sprout. Even then you had a strength inside you, small like a cedar seed, but it grows into a giant tree. That strength was already there."
My smile is probably wistful.
"What is a seed if it never gets the chance to grow in good soil? Everyone keeps thanking me and calling me the center ofthis home, but that’s not the truth. If it weren’t for you, none of this would have happened. Your quiet support and your strength kept me afloat."
I let out a long breath.
"When River ran away, when we discovered what really happened to Bay, when Winter was lost on this island, I would have fallen apart completely. But you gathered me back together every single time, pulling me out of the dark, always quietly, never asking for gratitude, never wanting the spotlight, never needing attention, going unnoticed by everyone, yet always standing by my side. Like my pillar, the architect of all of this." My lips tremble. "Thank you for your love and your support, Aiden, and for the wonderful family I have because of you."
I smile, he leans in, and our lips meet in a kiss full of love.
"Dad! Fa!" Rain calls from a distance. "The show’s starting, come on!"
Aiden takes my hand, and we walk back between the tables. On the stage where the wedding vows took place, Snow and Bay are standing with microphones in hand, and Bay has his guitar slung over his shoulder.
