Epilogue

"You look great," Zach said, patting my shoulder. "Quit worrying."

"Easier said than done," I muttered, fussing with my tie.

"I sure wish your mom could be here to see this."

I nodded. "Me too… it's weird, not having her here… she always so looked forward to this moment."

Zach smiled sadly. "I'm sure she's watching, Jett."

It'd been almost two years since our whole ordeal… and though things weren't completely normal, they could've been worse. From time to time, Alaira still had nightmares about Mitchell…but then again, so did I. She was as needy and dependent as ever, but maybe that was good… After all, that was the woman I'd fallen madly, hopelessly in love with. I was about to marry that woman… and I was petrified. On the bright side, Zach had made a full recovery, and I could use my arm just fine. The twins, being premature, had spent the first two months of their lives in the hospital. It was a rough road, but I'd never imagined loving them as much as I did. Maybe we'd never be a perfect family, but I prayed there would always be plenty of love to go around.

"I just can't believe you're doing it!" he said, grinning. "I mean… I thought I'd be married way before your ass! I love Nina and all, but marriage is the last thing on my mind!"

Nina Flores was a pretty, petite Guatemalan nurse that had taken care of Zach in the hospital. The day he got out, he asked her out to dinner, and she'd accepted. They'd since moved in together, which helped to finally get Zach the hell out of my place. Nina and Alaira had become fast friends, and she was her maid of honor. So overall, things weren't half bad for any of us.

Half hour later, there I stood, watching Alaira make her way down the aisle in her delicate white dress. My heart stopped, I was pretty sure. In that moment, I was sure that I was making the right decision, because I would never love and admire a person more than I did her.

"Holy shit," I heard Zach whisper from behind me. I smiled slightly, my gaze never leaving my girl.

"Daddy!"

The high-pitched squeal snapped me out of my trance and I looked down and saw a little girl tugging at each of my pant legs.

"Bella! Mia!" Heather called, laughing. "Sorry, Joseph! We tried to hold onto them!"

I grinned, kneeling down and pressing a kiss to my kids' foreheads.

"Hey pumpkins…" I lifted one in each arm and held them tight. When I looked up, Alaira was standing in front of me. I opened my mouth, but I was speechless. She reached out and took Mia from me.

"Well… here goes nothing," she whispered.

I nodded. "Oh geez…"

So maybe I'm not a superhero. But as far as the two girls that call me daddy and the woman who I'll call my wife in a matter of minutes are concerned, I'm a hero…and that'll always be good enough for me. Who the hell needs a super cool uniform when you've got a wedding ring and two kids permanently clinging to you? I had it good, I decided… and there wasn't a single thing I'd change.

"Joseph?" The preacher looked concerned. "Do you take Alaira Sebright to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"This is the third time he's asked," 'Lair informed me. "You okay?"

I nodded. "Never better. I do… I definitely do."

"Well, in that case, you may kiss the bride."

"You already said your vows?" I asked, confused.

"Oh wow… yeah, I said 'em. Where've you been, Joey?"

"Just thinking about us…" I set down my daughter and took Mia from Alaira and set her next to her sister. "I love you," I whispered. And I gave her a kiss neither one of us would ever forget.

Finally done.

Thank goodness.

New projects: Boozed Up and Broken Down and hopefully something with new characters when I come up with it...

Thanks for reading!