"And now?"
"Now we heal.We tell the kids.We figure out what comes next."
"What does come next?"
"Life.Family.Building something worth protecting instead of just fighting to survive."
She's quiet for a long moment, her fingers tracing patterns on my shirt."I love you," she finally says.
"I love you too.More than anything."
"Even with everything that's happened?Everything you've done?"
"Especially because of it.You make me want to be better, Angel.Make me want to deserve you."
"You already do."
I'm not sure about that.But lying here with her, safe and alive and together, I can almost believe it.
* * *
I wake to the Evangeline lying on my shoulder, her eyes wide open.I can hear the kids voices downstairs, excited and scared and confused all at once.
"I should go to them," Evangeline says, trying to sit up.“It’s late in the afternoon and they’re probably worried about us.”
"Not yet.Let me."
I find them in the common room.Mason, Sophie, Jake, Emma, and little Lily.Five kids who've lost everything and are trying so hard to be brave.
They see me and rush over.Mason reaches me first, grabbing my hand.
"Uncle Hades!Where's Aunt Evangeline?Is she okay?"
"She's going to be fine.She got hurt, but Ruin patched her up.She needs rest."
"Can we see her?"Lily asks, her eyes wide and scared.
"In a little bit.First, I need to talk to you guys about something."
I sit down, and they gather around me.Waiting.Trusting.
God, I hope I don't mess this up.
"You remember I told you we were trying to find out what happened to your parents?"I start carefully.
They nod, hanging on every word.
"We found out.It was Ethan.He hurt them because he was trying to hide the bad things he had done."
"Is he going to come after us?"Jake asks, his voice shaking.
"No.He can't hurt anyone anymore.It's over."
"Did you stop him?"Mason asks.
"My brothers and I made sure he can't hurt anyone else.Ever."
They're quiet, processing.Then Lily, the youngest, climbs into my lap.
