So here we are! The last chapter and the conclusion of my trilogy! Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed, especially my fab four. There's no way I would have come this far without you guys!

Fear not, I do have other ideas for more Ben and Evelyn stories so keep a look out!

Special mention to dhawthorne for the ideas for the setting for this chapter - even if I did just go my own way - and letting me use some of her characters.

Enjoy!

Epilogue

September 1996

Two years later

It had been a beautiful wedding.

When the heavily embossed cream invitation had dropped through the door a few months earlier, it had been the first indication of the grandeur that was to follow and there certainly hadn't been anything about the day so far to disappoint.

The venue, Woodwinds country manor house in the heart of Connecticut, had been breathtaking from the moment it had come into view on the long, sweeping drive. At the front entrance, and dotted throughout, were cascades of white roses and pink carnations, mirrored in the bride's bouquet and on the dining tables, set with crisp white linen and gleaming silverware. The suite they had been allocated on arrival was far plusher than she had expected, with a king size bed, Jacuzzi bath and views over the valley, which made her wonder how sumptuous the honeymoon suite must be. There had been endless welcoming drinks, a dozen or so staff flitting around topping up champagne glasses and serving canapés and when they had finally been directed into the ceremony room, she had been stunned by the attention to detail, the roses at the end of each row of chairs, the sparkling chandeliers and the stunning bay window looking out onto the grounds before which the happy couple would exchange their vows.

There had, of course, been much speculation about the dress. She had wagered on a 'princess' style but had been suitably proved wrong when the bride glided down the aisle on the arm of her beaming father in a tight-fitting sleek number with a fishtail train that emphasised her hard-won figure and suited her style perfectly.

In fact, everything had been utterly perfect.

Not that she had expected anything less.

Now, as she watched the bride and groom dancing a few feet away, their eyes locked on each other, she couldn't help but think that they really were made for each other, despite what some people might think. After a sumptuous meal, the father of the bride had spoken warmly about his daughter and about how much he welcomed his new son-in-law into the family. As best man the groom's brother had given a raucous rendition of his younger life, with some stories seeming rather close to the bone, eliciting gasps and laughs from around the room whilst the groom shrank slightly in his chair under the weight of embarrassment. Then it had been his turn. He had thanked everyone for coming, for the generosity shown by his new in-laws and then he had spoken so movingly and so lovingly about his new wife that it had brought everyone almost to tears. As they had laughingly cut the cake to loud cheers and moved onto the marble, twinkling dance floor for the first time, it really had seemed like the ultimate fairytale.

Mike and Elizabeth; the new Mr and Mrs Logan.

Evelyn couldn't help but wonder, as they floated by to the soft strains of the jazz quartet, whether or not Elizabeth would keep her maiden name. Would she remain Dr Elizabeth Olivet or would she use Dr Elizabeth Logan? Would she be plain old Mrs Logan for everyday matters? It was a dilemma that she herself thankfully hadn't needed to consider. Throwing off the shackles of being Mrs Burns and re-embracing herself as Ms Nicholls had been liberating, but there had been nothing to beat the feeling of referring to herself as Mrs Stone for the first time. Instinctively, her eyes roamed the room, finally resting on her husband standing near the bar talking to Adam.

Her husband. Fifteen months married and it still gave her a thrill to think of him that way. If she closed her eyes, she could see their own nuptials in the Boboli Gardens in Florence, the most intimate affair it could have been. There had only been herself, Ben, the registrar and two witnesses arranged by the wedding coordinator, who had been somewhat surprised yet accommodating when they had told her that they simply wanted a ceremony, a few photographs and nothing else. After they had exchanged vows and rings and thanked those there, they had walked to a local trattoria,, Ben's suit and her simple cream dress the only indication that the occasion was anything more than a couple simply enjoying a meal together. Then they had returned to their room in the quiet hotel overlooking the city and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening in bed.

It had been as perfect for them as this day clearly had been for Mike and Elizabeth.

She continued to watch as Adam said something to Ben and he nodded in response. Their conversation looked easy enough, but she could have made an educated guess as to what they were discussing. It had taken two full years teaching at Columbia for Ben to finally admit that he missed the DA's office too much. Through the summer months he had gone back and forth trying to decide whether to continue on or take Adam up on the offer he had previously made to have him back. When he had asked her opinion, she had told him that she only wanted him to be happy and that she would support him whatever he chose to do. So far, he still hadn't made a final decision, although she could guess what it would eventually be.

"My feet are killing me!" Claire exclaimed, flopping down in the chair beside her. "And they haven't even started the proper dancing yet."

Evelyn looked down at the impossibly high blue coloured shoes the other woman was wearing and smiled. "Maybe you should have brought pumps."

"Maybe..." Claire slipped one shoe off and rubbed the ball of her foot. "I suppose there's one thing you can say for Jack though."

"What's that?"

"He knows the way to a girl's heart."

"Through her feet?" Evelyn laughed. "I'll have to remind Ben about that."

"Get him to buy you some new shoes before your next television appearance," Claire grinned.

Evelyn felt herself blush, thinking back to the interview she had done a few weeks earlier on behalf of Women In Need. After much cajoling, chasing and persuading, she had eventually accepted Marion Delgado's offer of a job and had found herself thrown into fundraising, motivational speaking and policy planning, about as far from her previous legal career as she could get. At first, much like Ben, she had wondered if the move had been the right one, but when she saw the impact that her involvement had, when she thought about how by speaking out she could reach even just one woman and help her change her life, she knew that she had finally found her calling.

It was somewhat ironic, but she almost felt as though she had Edward to thank for it.

She had donated part of her eventual share of his estate to charity and had then locked the rest of it away in a high interest bond that she couldn't touch until she retired. She wasn't entirely sure what she would do with it then either, but somehow not being faced with its existence every day in her bank account made it slightly easier to swallow.

"Liz looks beautiful, doesn't she?" Claire commented as the happy couple swept by again.

"Yes she does."

"I wonder how much it costs to get married here."

Evelyn glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. "Something you'd like to share?"

"No," she shot back quickly, "and even if there was there's no way we'd be doing it here."

Nick and Isobel, Elizabeth's parents, suddenly crossed the dance floor together and tapped the bride and groom on the shoulders, cutting in and claiming each partner for their own. A slight smattering of applause sounded around the room as the rest of the bridal party joined them, Mike's sister Katy, Elizabeth's maid of honour, dancing somewhat awkwardly with her own brother while her husband Pat watched from the side with their children, Tommy and Eileen, still impeccably decked out in their finest attire and who had drawn much admiration from the assembled guests as they had paraded down the aisle behind their uncle as he had taken his place to await his bride.

"You must dance with me! I insist!"

Elizabeth's friend, Nicky, suddenly appeared beside them and held out his hand to Claire who, somewhat bemusedly, took it in her own just in time before he swept her onto the floor to join the others. Evelyn couldn't help but laugh at the stunned look on her face as he twirled her around, the effects of a long day quaffing champagne clearly starting to take their toll. She glanced around quickly to see if Jack was watching when she saw Ben coming towards her and instinctively got to her feet.

"How did you know I was going to ask you to dance?" he said.

"Wife's intuition," she replied as they fell into step together. "I saw you talking to Adam."

He shrugged, "Well...you know..."

"I know."

"I'm going to give it one more year at Columbia."

"Ok."

"At least, I think I am."

She laughed and shook her head, "Ben, if you really want to go back to the DA's office then do it! I told you before that I support you a hundred percent."

"I know and I'm grateful," he said, turning her around. "I just want to do the right thing for all of us. For our family."

"Our family will be fine whichever you choose," she reassured him. "Peter's off to college in a few weeks and Pamela's going to be starting to look soon...there's going to be a lot of changes all round." A wistful look came into his eyes and she knew what he was thinking about. Much to everyone's excitement, Peter had been accepted on a baseball scholarship to the University of Michigan and part of the summer had been spent there looking at accommodation and getting everything ready for the next stage of his life. She knew that, although he was happy for his son, Ben was going to feel his absence keenly. The time they had spent living together over the last three years had cemented the previously fractured father-son bond and every time college was mentioned, she saw him fight against the emotion.

"Yeah, I guess they're both growing up," he said finally, his voice thick.

"Speaking of which, I should probably call again."

"You only called an hour ago."

"It was longer than that, surely?"

"No, it was an hour." He pulled her tightly into him. "You need to try and relax. She's in good hands. My mother knows what she's doing and the kids will be helping and with any luck she'll be asleep by now anyway."

"So you don't think I should call?"

"No, I think you should just relax and enjoy dancing with me."

As if on cue, the music slowed slightly and they moved closer together, her head resting on his shoulder as they started to sway. She knew he was right. Mary was more than capable and, since her episode two years earlier, had shown no sign of a recurrence of her heart problems. Besides, Peter and Pamela had already proven themselves to be loving and attentive older siblings.

Kate.

She smiled just thinking about her chubby red cheeks and streaks of auburn hair, the way she laughed and waved her hands and enjoyed smearing her face with whatever food took her fancy. She had thought that she would never know the joy of motherhood, had contented herself with trying to be the best stepmother to Peter and Pamela that she could be, had focused on her new career and being truly happy for the first time in so many years. Then, much as before, she had suddenly started to feel ill at odd times, her body felt different and she realised that in the haze of marital bliss and new employment she hadn't noticed that she had skipped a period. When the home pregnancy test had brought up a positive result and she had pulled herself from the frozen feeling of shock and shown it to Ben, he had given her the reaction that she had always wanted.

The pregnancy hadn't been without its troubles. Considered high risk due to her age and previous history, the passing of each month with her baby still growing inside her felt like a miracle and though she had wanted more than anything to experience the full gambit of natural labour and birth, she had wisely taken her doctor's advice and undergone an elective c-section, her daughter coming into the word screaming lustily.

Five months on and she could barely remember her previous life.

Though inwardly she had worried if it was what he truly wanted, Ben had taken to new fatherhood with a practiced ease that she knew surprised even him. When she had struggled to complete even the simplest tasks, such as change a nappy or heat a bottle, he had been there to help her, without judgement and his bond with Kate was as strong as she could have ever hoped for. Although he never said it, never made a comparison, she knew that he was determined not to make the same mistakes the second time around, which also accounted for part of his reluctance to commit once more to the DA's office.

The music stopped, the dancers all applauded enthusiastically and she excused herself to go to the restroom, promising Ben that she wasn't going to use the phone instead taking the opportunity to freshen up her makeup and spray some more perfume. This was the first child-free night they had had together since Kate had been born and she was hoping that it wouldn't end with the pair of them simply falling into bed and going to sleep.

"Oh, there you are!" She turned in time to see Elizabeth coming in behind her. "I've been wanting to talk to you all evening."

"You've been having too much fun dancing in your new husband's arms," Evelyn teased, smiling at the blush that crept over the other woman's face. "Not that I blame you. He's looking very handsome this evening."

"He is, isn't he?" Elizabeth giggled and then put her hand against her forehead. "I think I may have had too much champagne."

"I think you're entitled, it's your wedding day after all."

"I'm so happy, Evelyn, I can't tell you..." she leaned back against the wall. "I never thought...there were so many times when I just didn't think it would happen. We're so different and yet...here we are...married. My God, I can hardly believe it."

"I'm so happy for you, for both of you," Evelyn reached over and squeezed her hand. "You deserve it."

"Look at us," Elizabeth pondered. "Who would have thought it?"

"Not me," Evelyn admitted, "not sitting in your office all those years ago now pretending that certain things had never happened. You helped save my life, Liz. I probably wouldn't be married to Ben or have Kate if it wasn't for you."

"And I probably wouldn't be married to Mike if it wasn't for you and Ben. All that business over Staten Island when we were so close to throwing it all away..." she shook her head. "I'm glad we could help each other. But I have to say, I find being your friend preferable to being your therapist. I think it's frowned upon for doctors to go on spa days with their patients."

Evelyn laughed, grateful too for the re-evaluation of their relationship. Elizabeth's counsel had been invaluable in the first six months after her release from treatment, but as she had felt herself grow stronger and more in control of her own thoughts, feelings and actions, she had cut down on her sessions, finally stopping them completely just before travelling to Italy with Ben. It had been a chance encounter in Ralph Lauren a few weeks after her return that had led to a lunch date, then drinks, then a spa day and their friendship had blossomed in a way that she could never have foreseen but would always be grateful for.

"How many times have you called home?" Elizabeth asked, checking her reflection in the mirror.

"Too many according to Ben. I guess I just can't help it."

"Of course you can't. I'd be just the same."

"Well it's your turn next."

"God, I hope so." Elizabeth had made no secret of her desperate desire to have children with Mike and Evelyn could only hope fervently on her friend's behalf that it would happen quickly and easily for her.

The remainder of the evening passed in a blur of singing and dancing until, just before midnight, Elizabeth and Mike disappeared to change into their leaving outfits before being cheered into a waiting limousine bedecked with flowers, tin cans and a 'just married' sign that was to take them to the airport where Nick's plane was due to fly them to Bermuda for the first leg of their honeymoon.

As the car disappeared down the drive and the guests slowly began trickling back inside, Evelyn felt Ben's arm go around her waist and his breath warm on her ear. "Can we go to bed now?"

"Of course," she replied, turning into him, "so long as you don't expect to sleep."

In the end, it wasn't quite the passion-fuelled encounter it might otherwise have been had they not been world weary from life with a small baby. Laughing together they had gotten undressed, fallen into the oversized bed and spent the next half hour gamely attempting something akin to lovemaking. But fatigue had eventually won out and it had been morning before Evelyn realised she had even fallen asleep.

Leaving Ben snoring softly next to her, she showered and dressed quickly and then stepped out onto the small balcony to take in the silent morning vista. Aside from the occasional birdcall, there was nothing to disturb the peace, not even the ordinary sounds one might expect from such a venue waking up. It was so different from their apartment where the everyday noise of the city had become so familiar, so comforting even. And yet she didn't feel out of place. In fact, she felt very much at home.

"It's quite a view," Ben said, coming up behind her and causing her to jump. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"I thought you were still asleep," she said, kissing him. "I didn't want to wake you."

"I wish you had," he replied, pulling her into him. "Sorry about last night."

"Me too," she laughed.

"Shall we order room service rather than going down?"

"Fine," she agreed and they ordered toast, eggs, bacon and coffee that arrived fairly promptly and which they ate seated at the iron table and chairs on the balcony, Ben flicking through the complimentary newspaper. The food was as delicious that morning as it had been the previous night and after declaring herself stuffed she headed back inside to call Mary who confirmed that everything was fine, that Kate had only woken a few times during the night and that she was now happily gurgling away in her baby bouncer.

"Don't hurry back," Mary said. "Take all the time you want. We're having a lovely time."

"Thank you," Evelyn said, "We really appreciate you doing this."

"Nonsense. What are grandmothers for?"

As she replaced the receiver, she couldn't help contemplating the question. What were grandmothers for? To love, cherish and nurture their grandchildren something that was, sadly, lacking when it came to her own mother. Susan had seen Kate only a handful of times since she had been born with each encounter as awkward as the one before. Slowly she was coming to realise that some relationships just couldn't be fixed and that sometimes, blood definitely wasn't thicker than water. She felt sorry for her mother, for what she was missing out on, but she didn't feel sorry for herself. Her own little family gave her so much more than she could ever have asked for. For the first time in her life, she felt as though she really didn't have any need for her own mother, as sad as it sounded.

"I told you everything would be fine," Ben said as she came back out onto the balcony. "You need to stop worrying."

"Oh I guess I just can't help it," she said. "Anyway, she said not to hurry back."

"Good," he grinned. "Then we have plenty of time."

With checkout still a few hours away, and despite her protestations at having already showered for the day, Evelyn found herself easily coerced back into bed, her body responding to his with an ardent need that she hadn't even know it possessed in the fog of motherhood. After a second, more languid shower, they made their way downstairs to check out and saw Nick and Isobel sitting in the large armchairs in the foyer, drinking coffee and reading the papers looking as fresh as if they hadn't been celebrating long into the early hours. They both got to their feet when they saw them approach.

"Thank you so much for having us," Evelyn said, as Ben went to the front desk to hand back their key. "It really was a lovely wedding."

"Thank you for coming," Isobel said, dropping a kiss on her cheek. "I know that it meant so much to Liz. You've been good friends to both of them."

"It was a pleasure."

"We're going to be hosting a little get-together once they're back from honeymoon," Nick added. "Probably at Southerly. You'll both come of course?"

"We'd be delighted, thank you," Evelyn said as Ben came back to join them. "Enjoy the rest of your weekend."

"And you," Isobel embraced her again. "Safe journey home."

The car was warm from having been sat in the sunshine but once the air conditioning kicked in and the temperature became more pleasant, Evelyn rested her head back in the seat and watched as the scenery rolled by. As the miles ticked over and they left Connecticut to enter New York, Ben's hand moved to rest on her leg and, for a brief moment, she remembered their trip home from the treatment center and where they had stopped to get reacquainted. In some ways, it seemed so long ago and in others, just like yesterday.

After they had driven a while longer and she was in danger of falling asleep, she roused herself and sat up straight, concentrating on the sights around them and suddenly realised that she had no clue where they were.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"Upstate." He indicated suddenly and hung a left down what looked like a country track.

"You're not going to ravish me by the water again are you?"

"No..."

"So where are we going?"

"Wait and see," he replied, looking over at her and smiling in that way that she knew meant he was up to something. "I promise you'll like it."

Her curiosity piqued, she watched and waited as they continued along the road before taking in a sharp breath as they emerged out in front of a large ramshackle house nestled in front of a large expanse of trees. As he pulled to a halt in front of it, she couldn't help but take in the boarded windows, the vegetation growing on the front porch and the rusted For Sale sign creaking in the breeze. It was like something out of a horror film.

"What is this place?" she asked, opening the door and stepping outside.

"It's a house," he replied.

"I can see that..." shading her eyes against the sun, she looked up at it. "It doesn't look like it's been lived in for years."

"The realtor said that it belonged to an elderly couple and after they died, it fell into disrepair."

She turned to look at him. "The realtor?" He smiled. "Since when were you talking to the realtor?"

"Since I thought we might buy it."

Before she could stop herself, she started laughing. It was the most ludicrous suggestion she had ever heard. What on earth would they want with a rundown house in the middle of nowhere when they had a modern, serviceable apartment in the city? He kept smiling at her, but in a way that told her that he wasn't joking.

"You're serious."

"It's got six bedrooms. I couldn't find one with seven."

"Ben..."

"We can't go inside because the flooring isn't safe, but we can go around the back." He held out his hand to her. "Come on." Somewhat dubiously, she slipped her hand into his and allowed him to guide her around the side of the house, through a gate barely held on by its hinges, and into what she assumed was the backyard. It seemed to stretch for miles down into the trees, the grass overgrown and badly in need of care. "See it?"

"See what?"

"There."

"Where?"

"Down there...next to the large oak tree."

She opened her mouth to remind him that she wouldn't know an oak tree from a fir tree when suddenly she saw what he was referring to and she felt her stomach leap. "A tyre swing," she said quietly.

"A tyre swing," he echoed, sliding his arm around her waist. "Imagine the kids playing here...our grandchildren...you and me sitting out here of an evening enjoying the peace and quiet..."

"Ben..." she turned to face him, pausing at the look of determined excitement that she could see in his eyes. "This place...it would take years, not to mention every penny we could ever hope to have, to make it liveable, to make it a home."

"I know that."

"I think you're crazy."

"Maybe I am," he shrugged carelessly, "But I love you and I love our family and I'm not planning on going anywhere...are you?"

"No," she admitted. "No, I'm not going anywhere."

"Well then," he kissed her. "Be crazy with me. Let's do this."

It was...well, she didn't know what it was. Madness. Insanity. A possible millstone around their neck. The worst decision they might ever make...or maybe the best. Wrapping her arms around his waist she looked back at the house, at the peeling paint, the broken gutters, the cracked shutters and could almost have sworn that she could see the faint hint of a smile emanating from its very fabric, almost as though it was saying, I'll make you happy. Love me.

Suddenly she saw what he could see. She saw Kate running, jumping and laughing, her hair flowing out behind her, her face upturned to the sun. She saw skinned knees and grubby clothes from hours on the swing. She saw Peter and Pamela and their friends lounging on the grass. She saw the two of them, old and grey, watching as the sun set over the horizon on a life filled with happiness.

She saw everything that she had ever wanted...even if, at times, she hadn't known it.

"Ok," she agreed, feeling safe, warm and loved in his embrace. "Let's do this."

The End