Epilogue (I)

Playlist for this Chapter: Say You Won't Let Go by James Arthur, All of Me by John Legend

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- N I C H O L A S - K I N G -

"Fucking hell." I muttered, wincing as the small Lego block crushed under my feet.

Why the fuck does this hurt so much?

"Mamma!" I heard an ear piercing scream, which, no doubt, had to belong to the little brunette who rushed past me like a bolt of lightning as I swore once more, following her down to the kitchen.

"Nicholas." Her voice made my shoulders tense while I was looking behind the kitchen counter and gulped, getting up to my feet and facing her.

"Baby." I smiled sheepishly when she raised her brow at me, holding out the glass jar towards me when I groaned.

"Now, Nicholas." She said.

Shit, she called me Nicholas.

"I can explain." I said when she put a hand on her hip while soft giggles came from behind her.

Looking down at my wife's legs, I saw the little princess giggling at me, her hazel green eyes gleaming with mischief.

Grumbling under my breath, I whipped out a dollar from my wallet and stuffed it in the god forsaken 'swear jar' which was now filled to the brim, thanks to me.

"Good. Don't do it again." Dove warned.

I playfully glared at both my girls before lunging forward and scooping my little princess in my arms, throwing her up in the air and catching her while squeals escaped her mouth.

"Nico! Careful!" My wife warned me as I pecked my baby girl's cheek and then my wife's lips.

"How are my girls doing?" I asked pulling Dove closer to me by her waist when she beamed at me, the same smile that had me on my fucking knees for her.

"Good, but someone caused trouble at school, and I got a call from their teacher." She said loudly.

I briefly heard someone grumble before raising my brow and turning my head towards the living room at the brooding boy.

"Cassian." I said, my voice taker a much colder tone when Dove shot me a look.

"Be nice." She hissed when I rolled my eyes as my seven year old son sauntered over to me, midnight blue eyes gleaming with trouble.

Yup, definitely my son.

"What is this I hear? What trouble did you cause at school?" I asked putting my daughter on the stool and crossing my arms over my chest while my son stared back at me, unwavering.

"Some boys were making fun of Celeste." He gestured to his sister when I looked at said daughter with a raised brow.

"Celeste?" I turned to my daughter who fiddled with her thumbs nervously.

"Hanno detto che sembravo un ippopotamo grosso e grasso, papà. Cassian si è arrabbiato." She mumbled when Dove gasped.

(They said I looked like a big fat hippo, papa. Cassian got angry.)

"Baby, why didn't you tell me?" Dove looked at the little girl before walking towards her.

"Mi dispiace mamma." (I'm sorry mama) She whispered when Dove hugged her to her chest and looked at me worried.

"Cassian." I looked back at my boy.

"Sì, papà?" (Yes, papa?) He asked as the comer of my lips tugged upward.

"Assicurati che non vivano la prossima volta." (Make sure they don't live next time.) I said coldly as a grin took over my son's face.

No one messes with my family. Not even seven year old brats.

"Sì." He said, looking worriedly at his sister. Cassian was the older twin of the two, and a bit over protective of his sister and younger brother. Sisters, actually.

"Where is Lucien? And Amelia?" I asked when Dove gestured outside and I no noticed the numerous voices coming in.

"Is someone here?" I asked confused, when she nodded, heading over to me kissing my lips briefly.

"Happy birthday, Nico." She said as a grin formed on my lips.

"Thank you, my love." I kissed her back before she left with Celeste, leaving me and my son alone.

"Sono orgoglioso di te, giovanotto. Mantieni sempre la tua famiglia al sicuro." (I'm proud of you, young man. Always keep your family safe.) I told him, ruffling his jet black hair as he tried to hide the smile that was forming on his face.

"Grazie, papà. Ti renderò più orgoglioso." (Thank you, papa. I'll make you prouder.) He said when my smile grew as I pecked the top of his head and led him out.

I have no doubt about it.

Cassian was more like me, or as Dove liked to say, 'a big 'ol grump like his father'. Which was why he was usually serious, brooding, and grumpy, like me. Celeste, on the other hand, was more like her mother.

But if you made her angry, you did not want to be on her bad side, trust me. She took that from her mother as well.

"Ace, happy birthday." Jake came towards me, pulling me into a side hug while his wife, Liliana, talked to Dove and Adriana.

"Also, tell your son to stop bullying my daughter." He said eyeing the two kids.

"Cassian, stop bullying Delilah." I told my son off who rolled his eyes.

"Oof, attitude. Takes that from his old man." Jake said laughing.

"It's not like your daughter minds. I think she has a crush on him. Tell her to stay away from my son." I grumbled when Jake laughed.

"I'm pretty sure it's the other way round."

"Oh yeah? Then tell your son to stay away from my daughter." I told him when he raised his brow at me.

"Which one?" He asked waggling his eyebrows when I eyed his oldest son annoying Amelia.

"Enzo. Tell him to stay away from Lia." I said when he chuckled.

"And what about Lucian hitting on my daughter?" He asked smugly when I gave him an 'oh really' look.

"Lucian is five." I said when he rolled his eyes.

"And Enzo is three."

"Doesn't matter, neither of my daughters are allowed to have a boyfriend before forty five." I said proudly as Stuart broke into a fit of laughter from behind us.

"Now that, is the stupidest thing I've heard. My daughter wont be allowed to have one before fifty." He said proudly, carrying his two year old son, Vincent, in his arms while his older daughter, Elena, who was Cassian and Celeste's age, ran around the garden with Celeste.

"Stop deciding their futures for them damn it." Matteo spoke from somewhere, coming in with his pregnant wife and his five year old son, Adriano, holding his hand.

"Uncle Matty!" Celeste squealed, running towards said man who picked her up in his arms and tickled her.

"How's my favourite niece?" He asked.

"I'm good uncle Matty. Hi Aunt Gia!" She waved at his wife, Giana, who waved back with a smile before making her way to the other women.

"Lucian!" Dove yelled, grabbing my attention as Matteo and Stuart spluttered out laughing at my son shoving sand in Delilah's bag.

"That devil's spawn." Jake muttered before throwing my son a sharp look and then glaring at me.

"The real devil's spawn is Cassian, Jake." Stuart told him while I rolled my eyes.

"He's my son." I stated matter of factly.

"I know, that's why I said it." Stuart said as the others chuckled at me.

"Princess." I called over Celeste who ran over to me, and I picked her up as Dove brought out the cake she had baked for me.

"Come here son." I beckoned Cassian over with my finger and Lucian followed behind his brother as Dove picked Amelia up in her arms.

As everyone gathered around us, I cut the cake, all my family singing the stupid birthday song and cheering as I fed a bite to Dove, then Cassian and Celeste and then Lucian.

"Happy birthday Nico." Dove reached up to me and I leaned down to claim her lips, kissing her softly.

"Thank you, my love."

"For what?" She asked confused when I smiled, pecking her lips once more.

"Everything."

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- D O V E - K I N G -

"How's the baby doing?" I asked Giana who smiled, rubbing her stomach affectionately.

"Good, I'm due in a few weeks." She said proudly before taking a bite of the cake.

"Cassian is so much like Ace, it's terrifying." Adriana said looking at my son and hers, Vince, before smiling.

"Tell me about it. He's like his father's carbon copy." I stated sighing, feeding my two year old daughter, Amelia.

"And what about Lucian?" Giana asked.

"He's also like his father, but a little less grumpy." I said.

"He's a like a mixture of Dove and Ace, actually. Celeste and Amelia are like you. Cheery and happy." Lily shoved a spoonful of cake in her daughter's mouth before wiping her lips with a napkin.

"Mamma, can you tell Enzo to stop bothering us, please?" Delilah complained to Lily who shot her son a dark look.

"Lorenzo, stop annoying the girls or I'll send you home!" She threatened and I briefly saw Enzo sticking his tongue at the girls before sauntering off to Cassian, Lucian, and Adriano.

"How's Adriano doing?" I asked Giana who beamed.

"He's doing well. Especially with the kids here, he's finally coming out of his bubble." She said with a soft smile.

"He is, I noticed too. He's such a sweet boy." Lily said as I got up to gather the dirty plates.

Matteo and Giana got married three years ago after they had their son, Adriano, and now were expecting another baby.

As for Jake and Lily, they got married a year after me and Nico and had Asher, their eldest, who is a year younger than our twins and then had Delilah, who is four and then Enzo, who turned three a month ago.

Since Addy was pregnant at the same time I was, she had a beautiful daughter, Elena, and a son who is now two, Vincent.

I had completed my degree in English Literature and had written a book or two, which got quite a lot of recognition.

And now, I have four beautiful children, Cassian and Celeste who are now seven and will be turning eight in a few months, then Lucian, my younger son who is five and Amelia, our youngest daughter who is now two years old.

The day went by amazing, and Nico's thirty sixth birthday was a success, thankfully, and no one died.

Respectfully.

Saying goodbye to all our family and friends, I noticed Cassian trying to nudge his brother awake with his foot while Nico tried to control his laughter at them.

"Let's put them to bed." He said, picking up a sleeping Lucian in his arms and then Celeste, who was also drowsy by the looks of it.

I took Cassian's hand and picked up Amelia, our little angel before all of us went upstairs.

I carefully put Amelia in her crib, while Nico tucked in Celeste as I took Lucian from him and led both boys to their room.

"Goodnight mamma." Cassian said as I kissed his forehead, pushing his shiny black hair away from his forehead.

Definitely Nico's boy.

"Good night baby, I love you." I said before kissing Lucian's forehead and making my way out where Nico was already waiting for me.

On seeing me, his face lit up as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to his chest.

"Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" He asked when I chuckled, pecking his cheeks as he carried me to our room.

"Very much, all the time, but I don't really mind." I said and saw his grin as he pecked my lips, setting me down gently on the bed.

"Mmhm, then I love you." He said nuzzling his face in my neck after climbing on top of me as a sigh escaped my lips.

"I love you too Nico." I said, yawning right afterwards when he pulled away with a chuckle.

"Tired?"

"Yup, your children tired me out." I mumbled, my eyes finding it hard to stay open when he chuckled deeply.

"Our children, my love."

"Nope, definitely yours. They're annoying, like you." I grumbled as he laughed softly, placing kisses all over my face as he pulled me closer to him, my head resting on his bare chest as I listened to his steady heartbeat.

"You mean Cassian?" He asked and I nodded absent minded.

"Especially Cassian. Your carbon copy." I muttered as his fingers ran through my hair.

"Lucian has your eyes. He's loud, like you." He mumbled when I glared at him playfully.

"And Lia has brown eyes." I stated, remembering he told me that his sister also had brown eyes, because of their grandfather.

"She looks just like my sister." Nico said sighing when I kissed his cheek.

"Your family would be proud of you." I told him softly and saw his small yet sad smile.

"Thank you, my love. It means a lot to hear you say that. But now, you all are my family, si?" He said tucking my air behind my ears when I smiled and nodded.

"Si." I answered, laying my head back down and closing my eyes to the sound of his heartbeat lulling me to sleep.

And with Nico, my amazing husband, I feel like everything is possible.