Chapter 27: Epilogue

A/N: Absolute, tooth-rotting fluff. Read at your own risk.

Two years later

Today was Kim and Grace's graduation and Jerry and I were just coming back from the mission. We were practically cited for insubordination because both of us hated to miss our girls' special day. Luckily, the mission went quick enough with no need for guns or shooting and we were heading back home just in time.

Back at the base I took opportunity to clean up, shave and dress in something better than my usual casual get up of jeans and a T-shirt. Time to go and meet the new graduate.

Kim was getting her dual degree in vocal and composition and already had offers to join two opera houses as the understudy soprano. While she has not exactly made her decision, I thought she was leaning towards staying locally. I have not told her yet, but I planned on retiring from the team and the force entirely. Milton thrived being an instructor and I enjoyed the physical aspects of training the new recruits, but I did not see myself as a teacher.

Jerry and I planned on starting our own security company. Between our experience and the funds available to me from the inheritance, we thought we had a fair chance. I hoped that I could predict my schedule better and I would not be tied necessarily to San Francisco. If everything went like I hoped to, Kim would have more options in choosing where to go, because I could simply follow her.

The drama with Kim's brother came to end the summer after the kidnapping. Vladimir Belov was killed before trial while incarcerated by either his own gang or a rival one. Ethan has pleaded guilty to lesser charges; and because of his cooperation with authorities and because Kim testified that his actions led to the capture of the bratva operatives, he received a reduced sentence. The plan that split their portions of the inheritance went unopposed since neither Kim no Ethan cared about it at the time. Kim confessed that she was glad that the open hatred between her and Ethan was over, but it was unlikely that they would ever have a normal sibling relationship.

It took Kim a while to get over the ordeal. She had occasional nightmares and was skittish when there were too many men around. It all faded eventually, after about a year, and she joked that the experience fueled much of her music.

She was steadily making name for herself as the composer. The first job as the video game score writer brought her few more similar jobs. She was good at it and branched out writing scores that involved more than just classical instruments.

The biggest surprise was the success of the song from the first game. Mark's company advertised the game using it quite a bit and it got a lot of recognition. Once the game was released, users made their own videos to accompany the song and it was popular for a while, getting various covers. The company ended up ordering several more songs for later versions of the game and Kim's name as the singer behind these songs became well known in the gaming community.

Kim POV

It was finally here. My graduation was today. I couldn't believe that I was done with school. So much in my life changed over the course of these four years. It was bittersweet to be parting with the school. And yet, so much more exciting things awaited me ahead. I had offers from opera houses to join them as a soprano. I had my niche market as a score composer for video games. I recorded occasionally songs as a soloist. And I had Jack. To think that when I met him I thought him to be an unstable hobo. He was my eternal summer and my hero. I was thinking of staying in the Bay area, so that I wouldn't have to be too far away from him. I wasn't sure if I could long distance relationship at this point, too used to living with him and sharing my life with him.

For a while, after the kidnapping, I lived with him because of the security reasons. Then it was my ongoing nightmares that Jack was very adept at keeping at bay. Then we simply couldn't be parted.

Ethan was still serving his time and the specter of bratva was long gone. My life was safer now, more predictable.

Grace and I remained best friends and she told me she would accept an offer from the San Francisco Symphony to stay near Jerry. They had an interesting dynamic, those two.

Mark and I became good friends. He routinely made me laugh, and Jack blush, by inadvertently hitting on him. He convinced Jack once to do the motion capture for a series of martial arts routines with bo staff and a katana. The company kept asking Jack to do more of those, but he declined.

Mark's ideas for video game promotions got me a lot more recognition within the gaming community. With the first song from the game being so popular, he brought me to the fan conventions and I was shocked to realize the reach and popularity of the video game. Fans were amazing and a bunch of them wanted to know my inspiration for the song. I played coy, but a fan posted a video of Jack and I leaving the convention together and many speculated that Jack was the inspiration behind one of the avatars. Since many already guessed that the girl in the tavern/princess was somewhat based on me, the fan theories were rampant.

Jack and Jerry were on the mission again and Grace and I were not sure if they were going making it to the graduation. Grace's family was here and generous and welcoming, but I felt acutely that I had virtually no family anymore, Ethan notwithstanding.

The ceremony has already began when I spotted the two men cutting their way to the rows of chairs in brisk walk. There was no mistaking them. Jerry and Jack made an imposing picture. Jack was wearing a dress shirt and pants and he looked impossibly handsome.

We were at the Blue Whale celebrating the graduation. Jack's original team was here and between them, Grace's and Jerry's family, there was a large crowd. Mark showed up as well as my friend and he brought Paul and Jeremy as well. I was overwhelmed by the number of people that I now knew and loved and I couldn't believe my luck. Grace and I were toasted and flattered throughout the evening and Phil kept lavishing us with food and drinks. Jack was relaxed and happy and I was floating on cloud nine. At some point Jack got up to toast me and raised a flute of champagne.

"I am not very good with words and Kim's knows that. But I wanted to tell her how proud I am of everything she accomplished. So with the help of our friends, here is my tribute to Kim." Jack motioned to Phil and the lights deemed. The white screen lowered behind the small stage and there appeared Mark's company logo. It was a video!

My first song, the hero song, started playing without my singing. The game versions of Jack and I, set in a fantasy world of the game, replayed our meeting, a date when Jack was called into a mission, kissing, chapel conversation, kidnapping and a rescue. The video transitioned into scenes of domestic life and ended with a feast in the castle hall. The Game Jack approached Game Kim and dropped onto one knee holding a ring in his outstretched hand. There was laughter and joking from the audience during the video, but at this moment there was a collective gasp from all the women and a low murmur of Ohh and Way to go, Jack. I sat there speechless, shocked, elated, happy, and breathless. The lights came on and real Jack came to me and went on a bent knee. He slowly opened his palm and there sat a diamond ring. He swallowed hard and nervously began, "Kim, when I met you I was lonely and I didn't even realize that I was. My friends told me that it was destiny. They were right. You are my fate and I couldn't be happier. You make me lighter, you brighten my world, you bring music and laughter. I want to spend the rest of my life in your light. Will you marry me?"

My eyes teared the moment Jack went to his knee and by this point tears were flowing freely down my face. I stared at Jack for a long time time and finally was able to speak, "and you say you are not good with words. Yes... Yes... Yes... Thousand times yes. You are my hero, my rock and my shelter. I want to spend my life with you too." I thrust my hand at Jack and he put the ring on. There were thunderous cheer and applause and we kissed surrounded by friends and family.

Who knew that a decision to borrow sheet music would bring me here?

The end.

A/N: So, this is it. I enjoyed writing this story and your reviews made this experience even more amazing. This is my first fanfic ever, so the fact that people liked it is still mind-boggling. Let me know if you want to see more from me.