Epilogue: Her Love And Happiness

~~~NATE'S POV~~~

It has already been five years since Catherine and I got married. I didn't wait any longer to propose to her when she told me that she loves me, that she loves us. Five months after I proposed, we got married as I do not believe in long-term engagement.

It was a simple wedding celebration with only our family and closest friends and there were not too many of them. I would have given Catherine a big and grand wedding celebration but Catherine doesn't want that saying that it was too stressful and I agreed immediately. My top priority is her comfort.

I still kept her as my assistant while assigning an intern to help and assist her. I had to tell everyone in my company about her condition though Catherine is against it. I told her that I need them to know so that they could help me look after her. And at the same time, I want them to be aware not of her having Fibromyalgia but be aware of the condition itself since not everyone is aware of it.

I want to prove that even if one person has a debilitating condition, they could still live and love and be happy like healthy people do.

I let Catherine work and do what she wants to do. I didn't stop her but I kept her back. I always tell her that I will be her rock and keep a balance in whatever she does.

My priority is to keep her happy without neglecting her health as well.

I found out about her mother's depression after getting the same condition and then she chose to end her life. That is what I am trying to avoid.

I will support Catherine with whatever she wants and at the same time make sure that she is not stressing or straining herself.

Catherine is a strong woman and I am proud of how much she managed to balance her work and her duty as a mother to my daughters and a wife to me.

"Good morning, Dad!" I heard Aenid greet me. I put down my coffee on the kitchen counter and face her. She is already fourteen now and has grown to be a beautiful young lady. My, how time flies fast. She kissed my cheeks and then went to help her mother and sister in preparing breakfast.

After Faye got food poisoning in school Catherine was very cautious with the food we ate. As much as possible, she wants it to be home-cooked. And she wants to be the one cooking them. I allowed it as long as she had the help and most of the time Aenid and Faye helped her.

"Good morning, Mom!" She greeted Catherine and embraced her from behind. I don't believe in favoritism but recently I am starting to believe that Aenid and Faye favor their Mom over me, which I don't mind.

"Good morning, baby," Catherine said and I laughed because I know that she is teasing her. As she grows up Aenid doesn't want us to call her baby anymore.

I watched as she pursed her lips. "Mom, I'm not a baby anymore," Nevertheless, she snatches the spatula from her Mom.

Catherine laughed and I swear I fell in love with her over and over again. She never failed to make me fall in love with everything she does. "You'll always be my baby, Aenid,"

"I don't mind being called 'baby' by Mom even when I grow up," Faye said standing on the footstool while whipping something on the saucepan. She is only eleven and already knows how to make breakfast provided, an adult is supervising her.

"See, she doesn't mind," Catherine pointed out before kissing Aenid and Faye both on their cheeks. "Now continue that, I need to sit," She said and that is my cue.

I immediately stood up from my seat and helped her take a seat. She waddled towards me cradling her protruding stomach.

"Are you okay?" I asked when I noticed her flinch. For years we have been together, I know with one look when she is in pain. And I know that she is now. "I told you we shouldn't have done this," I said as I helped her sit.

~~~CAT'S POV~~

"Stop it, love," I said as I got seated. For years I've got used to calling him the same way he calls me. And I must say I love how it rolled on my tongue. He was right, there is nothing wrong in calling him the way I feel for him, if anything, it is perfect.

"And don't let your son hear you say that. He would think that you don't want him," I added though I am more than a hundred percent sure that Nate wants him more than anything else. I could already tell that he would spoil him too much.

"And besides, he just moves. A sign of little life inside me is nothing but a beautiful pain," I smiled and reached up to kiss him on his lips.

Our marriage so far was nothing but beautiful and filled with love and we are working to make it last. Though there were ups and downs, arguments cannot be avoided since we all have our differences.

Faye and Aenid argue.

Aenid and I argue as well.

Nate and Aenid argue because it seems that Nate is not yet willing to accept that Aenid is not his little baby anymore.

Nate and I argue a lot mostly because of my stubbornness and he was just looking after me but we never let a day pass without talking. I hate sleeping beside him with a heavy heart, so it was always me who apologizes first at fault or not.

And one of the reasons for our argument is this. My pregnancy. I always wanted to get pregnant. I wanted to give him a child. Don't get me wrong, I love Aenid and Faye like they are mine but let us accept the truth that they don't come out of my womb.

And I want that. I want to experience that.

And that is what Nate doesn't want. He talked to Alvin about that, and believe me, those two were always conspiring against me. He knows that pregnancy will only worsen my symptoms and the pain during labor will be much worse.

Though I know he is right, I still forego this.

And seeing that I wanted this badly, unwilling to let this be the cause of my depression and us falling apart, Nate finally agreed a couple of months ago after seeking health advice from a couple of experts.

My first trimester was a challenge. I stopped my fibromyalgia medication. I had extreme fatigue and nausea. Both Nate and I had a hard time coping with my hormonal fluctuations. And surprisingly, I didn't have much problem with my pain.

Nate and I had to stop going to the company and instead brought work here at home. Nate cannot stop me from working, may I add. Though my work is limited.

Mr. and Mrs. Vann who now I called Mom and Dad had to go back to the company in the meantime.

My second trimester was better, my mood is better, my sleep is better and I am much more aware of my well-being.

But as soon as I started to gain weight because of my swelling abdomen, that's when the problem with pain came in. Frequent discomfort and fatigue have accompanied me every day. I am also having problems with sleeping. Especially as soon as I enter my third trimester.

But Nate is perfect. He was always so supportive of me. He lets me sleep at any time of the day as long as I feel sleepy. He hired a yoga instructor for me. And even attends sessions with me. He never leaves my side.

Now he never lets me work but I don't argue anymore because I know my limits. I know that with my symptoms, I cannot work anymore.

"Kean will get a word from me for making you uncomfortable," Nate said playfully, leaning down my stomach and kissing it.

"Don't you dare, dad!" Did I forget that my unborn child will not only become spoiled by his father but by his sisters as well?

I laughed, "Come on, girls! You know how spoiled Kean is from your father. I doubt if he would ever say no to him," I said in a teasing tone.

Soon Aenid and Faye finished preparing the breakfast that I started. I am always grateful to them for always having my back like their father always did.

After breakfast, Stan drives the girls to school. I am still hesitant to send them to school by themselves. For years I got used to sending them and picking them up at school. But a couple of weeks ago, Nate decided that I should just stay at home most of the day and as much as possible avoid moving around. As if I could still move around.

It was just Nate and I left at home. I watch him as he washes the dishes. He is still the most gorgeous devil I've ever seen and I will never see anyone as gorgeous as him.

"I could feel your gaze on my back, love," I heard him say, making me smile. He knows me very well. Then he turns around as he dries his hand. "What are you thinking?" He asks as he walks around the kitchen counter.

Now he is standing in front of me.

"A few years ago, if someone asked me what I see in my future, I would say 'alone' without a blink of an eye. I will work until I can, stay single, and die alone." He frowned but never said anything. He just places both his hands on my hips and massages them like he always does.

I closed my eyes and sighed. When I opened my eyes I said, "I still can't believe I have you as my husband, got two lovely and sweet daughters with a spoiled son on his way. I feel so loved." His hands were now on both sides of my neck with his thumb stroking my cheeks.

"You always have me, love, always, and forever. All you had to do was say yes and you did. You always deserved to be loved. You deserve everything in the world and I will give it to you, love. I love you so much Catherine Vann, always and forever," He said then he leaned forward to capture my lips. It has been years and it seems that he still never gets enough of it. He still kisses me every chance he gets.

And I am glad he does because I love to kiss him as well.

"I love you too, Nathan Vann. Always and forever."

Through the pain and all, I still deserve to be loved and happy.

The End

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