Epilogue
+ Epilogue +

Enjoy! :)


A thin orange glow hovered over the city, reflecting the light of the buildings and light traffic into the vast dome of darkness that had been creeping over the skies for a good few hours now. Minute orbs began twinkling through the milky shadow, indicating that the warm summer evening was now upon the hills. Through the trees, indented in each hill, were giant houses with large extending yards in a peacefully secluded area away from the noise and traffic of the city.

Quietly, the breeze took off through the hills and came to rest around the small get together of one family and their friends, filling the night with laughter and soft conversations which seemed to echo off of the surrounding hills. A light splashing of water and a child’s giggle was heard through the large window of the kitchen where Anna stood, placing cases upon cases of soda and beer onto the centre island.

It was evident that this was to be a long evening, especially since Chester had started the barbeque only thirty minutes ago, filling the air with the delicious scent of steak and various sorts of ribs. Of course knowing him, there’d be barbeque sauce squirted everywhere and Anna knew she’d be the one cleaning up after everyone left.

The past six months had been extremely peaceful and not to mention wonderful as the days continued to pass. The family had seemed to have grown stronger and more connected with each other…well except when Xander and Laura were fighting and smacking each other over who gets the remote control. And then there was Mike who never really ended the argument but instead joined in and caused an even greater stress over which show they were going to watch. Anna smiled and shook her head at the memory, knowing full well that there were times where Mike was mature and a very good man, becoming instantly protective and caring over his family.

And of course, there were the days when he would become completely immature and helpless, leaving clothes all over the house along with dirty dishes, soda cans and pizza boxes. Anna never quite understood why he could never pick anything up after making the mess…but assumed it was probably just some male inability to get off the sofa to help with daily chores…especially when there was a very ‘important’ football game on. Anna picked up one very large and very heavy case of beer and nearly dropped it before two strong hands came out of nowhere and grabbed the case, resting it on the centre island.

“ You should be relaxing outside with the others…” Mike stated warmly with a sideways smile, eyeing his wife intently.

Anna rolled her eyes and grabbed for the case once more, but stopped as Mike grabbed her hands in a loving grasp.

“ Michael, I am fully capable of carrying a case of beer out into the yard.” She explained lightly, hiding her smile.

“ You’re supposed to be taking it easy Anna. I’ll bring the beer and soda while you go out there and sit down.” He replied with his usual protective tone.

“ And I’ve already told you, I’m fine. I can handle this.” She chuckled, shaking her head at his stubbornness.

Of course it was normal for him to be stubborn and overly protective during this time…so he usually ended up getting the final word in and persuading her to listen.

“ I know YOU can handle this…” he muttered, placing his hand gently against her bulging belly.

“ But can my little baby girl handle her mother running around, carrying heavy objects?”

“ You know, I have done this before…” she chuckled lightly, sensing Mike’s worries.

During the past six months…he had been nothing BUT worried although it was to be expected since he already showed a deep caring for this child.

“ I know you’ve done this before…so have I and every time you run around like this, doing everything for everyone…it drives me insane. Just sit down and relax before you send me into a big ball of anxiety.” He explained softly, stroking through her hair.

“ Mike, I think you’re the one who needs to relax.” She replied, watching his dark eyes soften at her words.

“ Okay I’m sorry…I’m pestering you, aren’t I?”

“ Not anymore than usual. Besides, it’s a good thing you’re so worried. That just means you’re a great father…and an even better husband.” She explained quietly, kissing him softly on the cheek.

He gave a weak smile and grabbed the beer and soda, motioning for her to walk towards the sliding glass doors which lead out into the spacious yard.

“God, I just feel so useless right now.”

“ Well you are useless Anna.” He laughed, receiving a small frown from his wife.

“ Well, not entirely useless. You ARE carrying my child.” He added, following her out onto the stone walkway which led to the deck and pool.

“ That’s what you think…” she muttered under her breath, giving him a mischievous smile.

“ Ha, ha, very funny. Chester take this beer and soda before I drop it all into the pool.” Mike replied, shooting Anna a dirty look.

Chester grabbed the cases and dropped them onto the stone deck beside the barbeque and laughed as Rob did a cannonball right into the pool, dousing the surrounding ground with chlorinated pool water. Xander squealed with excitement and clapped his hands, jumping into Rob’s arms while splashing him lightly from the fall.

“ AGAIN!” he shouted.

“ Again? I just jumped in five times.” He chuckled, lowering his eyes with fatigue.

“ I wasn’t watching that time.” Xander replied, splashing the water around with his feet.

“ You were so!”

“ Was not!”

“ Well if you weren’t watching, then how did you know I did a cannonball?” he asked with an arched brow.

Xander placed his finger to his lips in thought and frowned a little, thinking about the sense of Rob’s words.

“ Uh…”

“ Exactly! You’re such a little liar.” Rob growled and ruffled his soaked little spikes roughly, causing him to erupt in a fit of giggles.

“ Nah, he’s not a liar. He’s just manipulative…just like his Dad, right Mike?” Brad asked, titling his head up from the lawn chair.

Mike sat down beside Anna and stuck out his tongue while Joe jumped into the pool, splashing Brad who had once been comfortably dry.

“ Hey Hahn! I’m trying to relax over here!” he shouted with a small frown. Joe emerged from the blanket of water and shook his hair out, splashing Brad even more, just to annoy him of course.

“ Well then maybe you should go sit on the other side of the yard if you wanna be so dry!’ he shouted back with a laugh.

“ I can’t now! You washed all the bug repellent off of me and if I go over there, I’ll be eaten alive.” He growled with dark eyes.

Joe looked up at Dave who was walking slowly past Brad and they both winked at each other in acknowledgement. Suddenly, Dave pushed Brad into the pool and everyone burst out laughing at the sight. Xander doggy paddled his way over towards a very angry looking Brad and jumped onto his back like he was riding a whale.

“ Now the bugs ain’t gonna getcha cuz you’re all wet!”

Everyone smiled at Xander and even Brad’s eyes had softened to the small voice that instantly broke the tension.

“ Well I guess you’re right Xander…” he replied with a small smile.

“ Yup I am!” he agreed, which caused everyone to basically just laugh at how adorable he was.

“ Hey guys, food’s almost done! Gather ‘round the fire!” Chester shouted happily, clicking his tongs and holding them up high in the air.

“ You mean the table right?” Joe asked, eyeing the barbeque thoughtfully at the mouth watering meat.

“ Or…in modern speak, the TABLE.” Chester smirked, grabbing a cooking sheet to place the meat on.

“ Good, ‘cause I was looking around for a fire and I didn’t see o-.”

“ –Joe, just shut up and eat.” Dave muttered, giving him a friendly smack on the back.

“ Right…” he replied as everyone gathered around the table and sat down.

Mike glanced around for a short moment and then pulled out Anna’s chair, allowing her space to sit down. “ Be right back.” He muttered softly.

“ Where are you off to?” she asked as Chester placed a plate down in front of her.

“ I’m gonna go tell Laura’s dinner’s ready.” He replied, receiving a nod from Anna. Slowly, he left the table and walked off the stone deck onto the plush green grass. The walk through the yard was peaceful as a small breeze began ruffling his spiked hair.

He dug his hands into his pockets and smiled to himself when he spotted the young girl sitting by herself, surrounded by grass and various wildflowers…the wildflower garden to be exact. This had become her new favorite spot to be in when she wanted to be alone with her thoughts or just basically relax.

Mike inhaled the wild burning scent of flowers and stopped beside her, staring out at the view of hills below.

“ Hey…” he said softly, careful not to disturb her thoughts.

“ Hi.” She replied lightly, staring up at him.

“ Mind if I sit down?”

“ Be my guest.” She breathed.

Mike bent down and flopped into the grass, rubbing his hands against his pants in an attempt to dry them off from the damp grass. A short moment of silence fell between them as Mike watched her every move…every muscle in her angelic face twitch. It was clear that there was something on her mind.

“ Dinner’s ready. I think Chester made enough meat to serve the entire city.” He muttered with a sideways smile.

“ Yeah…I’ll be there in a minute.” She replied quietly, staring down at each individual blade of trembling grass. Mike frowned slightly, watching her eyes scanning the lawn in thought. It took a few more minutes of silence before she finally lifted her head to stare at her father, whom she would have expected to be back at the table.

“ What?”

“ Wanna talk?” he asked quietly, watching her eyes lower slowly.

“ Yeah, you go to prison for nine months and you don’t even get a tattoo? What’s wrong with you?” she demanded.

Mike chuckled to himself and lowered his head, plucking at the grass in thought. “ I wasn’t really keen on having a burned piece of metal dug into my flesh.”

“ Don’t you ever do anything spontaneous?” she asked with an arched brow.

“ Yeah, getting your mother pregnant with you was spontaneous.” He replied casually, leaning forward with interest.

“ Four years ago you said it was a mistake.”

“ Four years ago I was young and stupid.”

“ Young, stupid AND drunk.” She added with a small smile.

Mike nodded slightly and ran a hand through his hair, feeling the breeze dying down.

“ You know, I think your little sister is the only child who wasn’t planned after the alcohol was consumed.” He muttered with a frown.

“ That’s because you don’t drink anymore right?”

“ Right.”

“ So you won’t try to hurt us again?”

Mike turned his head slowly towards her and stared into her shimmering brown eyes, reflecting the moon’s light. So that’s what she had been thinking about this whole time. It seemed sort of strange that she’d be asking this now since all of the abuse was over with. Mike hadn’t even thought about it for the longest time…until now.

“ Laura…you know I’d never hurt you again…” he whispered, lowering his eyes with concern.

“ You say that now…”

“ No, I’m saying it forever. I’m done with this bullshit. I almost lost you guys…it nearly killed me.” He explained.

Laura gave a heavy sigh and poked the ground, feeling the dirt bubble around her finger. She believed him…she really did. Perhaps the only reason why she was thinking about all of this was because she still felt abandoned by his actions…and maybe she needed closure for what had happened.

“ You know, I try to forget…to forget what you did to us. Sometimes it seems like some distant memory that doesn’t even belong in my mind anymore and sometimes its like a nightmare, constantly playing in my head. I do believe that you are deeply sorry for what you have done…and I still love you even though you caused us harm. But the one thing I just can’t let go of is the fact that I still feel abandoned by what you did. I feel that you’re not all ‘there’ anymore. You know, you’re still my Dad…but some things about you have changed and its like we don’t have that bond anymore…like we used to.” She explained shakily, tearing her eyes away from him.

Mike watched her shiver slightly through the chilly breeze and he wrapped his arms around her protectively, feeling her leaning her head down against him. Slowly and with ease, the sound of his melodic voice faded into the breeze, creating a warm barrier around her.

You said you’d be there
And though I haven’t seen you
Are you still there…

I cried out with no reply
And I can’t feel you
By my side

So I’ll hold tight
To what I know
You’re here…
And I’m never alone…

That song…he had sung that same song to her four years ago as a promise that he’d never leave her. In that moment, the promise still held true and he was here. Perhaps he was always leaving for brief periods of time, such as tours and album recordings as well as prison…but he had always come back. That was the one promise he had always kept, even when he had lost himself within the alcohol and stress. And it was in this moment, that she felt the most close to him as she had ever felt.

“ I love you Laura…that’s NEVER going to change…even if I do.” He whispered, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead.

Laura instantly gave a sigh of relief and comfort, replying with the only thing left she had to say.

“ I love you to…”

Mike smiled and grabbed her hand, pulling her up.

“ Shall we eat?” he asked cheerfully, smiling with that famous grin.

“ Bet your ass…” she muttered casually, feeling the hunger pains growing within her stomach. Mike chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, dragging her towards the deck where the rest of the family had already begun eating.

“ Guy’s finally decided to join us?” Chester nearly shouted while cramming steak into his mouth.

“ Yeah, I can see you didn’t exactly wait for us to get here…” Mike chuckled, shaking his head and sitting down beside Anna. Laura sat down and grabbed a rib, digging into it hungrily as the other joked around and tossed sodas at each other. Mike sat back and watched his friends, the same band members who always stuck by him when the going got tough.

He watched as they joked around and laughed with each other casually, and began having sword fights with the steak knives. He then turned his vision towards Xander who was munching on a corner of a small steak, his face absolutely covered in barbeque sauce. He then watched as Laura attacked him with a napkin and listened distantly as he whined with annoyance, attempting to swat her away despite her growing giggles.

He turned his head and watched Anna laughing at Joe who had accidentally poked himself in the eye with the end of his fork and was now calling off the sword fight with Brad. His eyes slowly trailed down to Anna’s growing belly where his unborn little girl was located. He watched Anna’s hand rubbing her belly gently as she ate and laughed, still not able to get over the sight of Joe holding his eye and whining in pain.

She turned her head and glanced at Mike who had not yet touched his food and had a distant look upon his face.

“ Mike?” she asked softly, poking his shoulder.

He blinked quickly and stared at her, watching her smile fading.

“ You okay?’ she asked, choking down the last of her laughs. He gave a small, warm smile and nodded, looking around the table once more at his family and friends then put his arm around her shoulder, feeling comfortable and at ease.

“ Yeah…I’m fine…”

{Song: NEVER ALONE} *cough*
{Artist: Barlow Girl}

AUTHOR'S NOTE
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Woot, the epilogue is finished...and so is the story!
Wow, THANK YOU ALL SOOO MUCH FOR READING AND REVIEWING! Your kind words have inspired my greatly and I don't think I would have been able to continue this had it not been for all the support. WOOTNESS!

On another note, I was asked a question by Linkinpark_fan about why Chester was driving through Mike's old neighborhood. Well, its simple: He was actually in a different neighborhood driving around and Mike spotted the smoke coming from the house so they ended up driving in that direction. I hope that cleared it up a bit.

On another, nother note lol, I was asked about a Never Alone 4...okay...well, *sighs* Gosh, I don't know about that just yet...maybe in the future. Right now I want to focus away from this fic and move into something different and hopefully just as entertaining or even more entertaining lol.

As for You Found Me 4..not gonna happen lol...

Thank you all so very much *cries and hugz you all in a dramatic fashion*

See ya! :)