But the seed is planted now, growing roots in my chest.Marriage.Making this family official in every way that matters.
The question is when.And how.
* * *
By afternoon, the house smells like fresh paint and grilled meat.Ghost and Rogue showed up an hour ago with enough burgers and steaks to feed an army.Tempest brought beer.Savage dragged the old grill from the clubhouse and set it up in the backyard.Natalia, Willow, and Wren are also here.Sophie adores Wren and the two play together happily.
The brothers are here.Our family.
I flip burgers while Ghost mans the steaks, the two of us falling into the easy rhythm we've perfected over years of club BBQs.
"Kids seem happy," Ghost observes.
"They are.We all are."
"Good.You deserve this, brother.After everything."
I glance at him."We all went through it."
"Yeah, but you lost your sister.Took on five kids.Nearly lost Evangeline."He meets my eyes."You've earned some peace."
Peace.The word sits strange in my mind.I've spent so long at war, violence and vengeance the only things I knew.But standing here, surrounded by family and laughter, I think maybe Ghost is right.
Maybe I've finally found peace.
Evangeline emerges from the house carrying a tray of buns and condiments.She's wearing cutoff shorts and one of my old t-shirts, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail.Beautiful in a way that has nothing to do with makeup or fancy clothes and everything to do with just being her.
She catches me staring and smiles."What?"
"Nothing.Just appreciating the view."
Her cheeks flush pink.Even after everything, I can still make her blush.
"Food's almost ready," I tell her."Round up the kids?"
"On it."
She disappears back inside, and Ghost chuckles beside me."You're a goner, man."
"Yeah.I am."
"Good.She's good for you.They all are."
The kids flood the backyard moments later, a chaos of noise and energy.Lily immediately attaches herself to my leg while Emma helps set the table.The boys are debating something about the tree house, their voices overlapping.
This.This is what I fought for.What I killed for.
And I'd do it all again without hesitation.
* * *
After dinner, after the brothers have left and the kids are crashed in front of a movie, I find Evangeline in the laundry room.She's folding laundry, movements slow and methodical.
"Hey," I say from the doorway.
She looks up, smiling."Hey yourself.That was fun today."
"Yeah.The kids needed it.We all did."
