[Reviews - 214]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 3376 times

- Text Size +




Epilogue - Still In Love

"I could definitely get used to this," Willow sighed as she settled back onto her lounger.

"The view or the lounging?" Elizabeth asked from her own lounger that was sited next to Willow's.

"Both," the redhead replied with a grin.

It was a hot day in early September, just over a year since Elizabeth and William's wedding. A lot had happened during that time. They’d had their up's and down's, their tears and laughter and they'd worked hard at extinguishing their insecurities, amazingly finding themselves even more in love with each other than they'd ever thought possible.

A few months after their union, Willow and Oz had married in a quiet registry office ceremony. Dawn and Connor had also recently married, although they'd had a far larger do than either Elizabeth or Willow.

Giles and his 'friend', Jenny, had finally moved in together after much discussion, leaving William and Elizabeth with the option of purchasing his house which they'd jumped at the chance to do.

And now, in the large garden of said home, the women were lazing around on sunlounger's protected from the sun by a large green umbrella as they watched their respective shirtless spouses trying to fix the lawnmower.

Elizabeth smiled, enjoying the sight of male flesh on show as much as her friend. "Maybe we should get a new mower," she said absently, her eyes locked on the play of her husband's muscles as he worked to pry yet another broken blade loose.

Willow stared at her own husband's compact, muscular form as he held the mower steady for William then looked over at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth caught her gaze then, grinning unabashedly at each other they both chorused, "Nah," before bursting into laughter.

The men paused in their work to glance over at the women before looking at each other and shaking their heads then letting out joint long suffering sigh's as they continued on with their task.

Still chuckling, Elizabeth sipped her orange juice then put the glass down on the ground next to her. Straightening up, she suddenly drew in a sharp breath and froze.

"Elizabeth?" Willow queried in concern as she saw her friend go deathly still. "Is everything okay?" When she remained silent, Willow sat up and reached over to touch her arm. "Elizabeth," she said, a little louder this time.

Hearing the worried tone of Willow's voice, William immediately looked over and noted with trepidation, the shocked expression on his wife's face. Dropping the wrench he held, William rose to his feet and quickly strode over to the women with Oz following closely behind.

"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly as he looked from Elizabeth to Willow and back again before dropping to his knees next to his wife's lounger.

"I don't know," Willow replied, grasping her husband's hand as he come to sit down next to her. "One minute we were laughing and the next she just froze."

Gently cupping Elizabeth's face, William turned her to face him and felt his stomach drop at the sight of tears swimming in the green depths of her eyes. "Love?" he queried softly. "What's the matter?"

Slowly, Elizabeth blinked and then a tremulous smile bloomed on her face moments before she threw her arms around William's neck and clutched him tightly to her. "Oh my God, she kicked, William, she actually kicked!" Elizabeth managed to get out between a mixture of laughter and tears. "I can't believe it!"

Abruptly, William pulled back to look questioningly into her watery eyes then, at her nod of confirmation, he let his gaze drop to her softly rounded stomach and felt his own eyes begin to tear. Reverently, he reached out and gently laid his hand against her belly. "Where?" he choked out.

Elizabeth grasped his hand and moved it slightly to the right. "Just here," she replied, holding his palm flat against her firm skin. Seconds later, she felt the fluttering sensation again and gapsed as their baby moved strongly against the walls of her womb.

"I felt her," William whispered, his face reflecting his awe. Locking eyes with Elizabeth, his whole expression changed as the reality of feeling their child move sank in. “I felt her,” he repeated in a louder voice, then suddenly let out a shout of joyful laughter and leaned in to give Elizabeth an exuberant kiss that left her breathless.

Elizabeth laughed along with him then turned to Willow and Oz who were watching them both with delighted faces. This was her world and she’d never felt so at peace or more comfortable with herself in her entire life.

Looking back at William, she saw the same expression mirrored in his loving gaze and felt whole. They’d come so far from that fateful night so long ago when their bodies and hearts had overruled their heads. Now they were married and getting ready to have a family of their own…something she’d once despaired of ever happening to her.

Not for the first time, Elizabeth sent up a silent prayer of thanks for whoever deigned that she should be lucky enough to meet the wonderful man that was her husband.

“I love you, William,” she said softly.

“I love you, too, Buffy,” he replied.

Smiling happily, they moved into each other’s embrace and shared a lingering lover’s kiss secure in the knowledge that they were loved and that they were finally home.

THE END

A/N – Well, there you have it, it’s finally finished – feeling kind of sad about that actually :(. My sincere thanks to everyone who took the time and effort to review, I really, really appreciate it :)





You must login (register) to review.