1 Epilogue
25 July 2008
1.1 Hunter stared down in awe at the small bundle in Stephanie's arms. Their daughter. She was like a perfect angel. A miniature angel.
'She's beautiful,' he whispered, unable to take his eyes away from the sleeping little face. He had never seen a more adorable baby.
'She's perfect,' Stephanie whispered back, looking at him with a soft smile on her face. 'And she's all ours.'
Hunter turned to face her, and smiled back. 'You're beautiful.'
'I love you' she told him without moving her lips, and he believed her. She never said the actual words often, but he knew. She told him every day, just never with words. She told him, and he believed her.
Never again was he going to push her away. Never again was he going to deny the obvious, to reject the obvious. That he had always loved her, that it had always been her.
Never again was he going to lose her.
Author's notes: This has been close to a year in the making, and I know that throughout that year I haven't been the best updater. First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has been with this fic from the very beginning, and who have gently (and some not too gently, *cough* Merc *cough*) prodded me to continue. Your patience and determination to reach the end is flattering, and I can only hope that the conclusion is adequately satisfactory. I truly appreciate all the reviews that this fic has generated, and without them I probably would have discontinued writing it long ago. I would especially like to thank Becca, who has emailed me her thoughts on the fic throughout the year. And yes, Becca, it was always going to be a Steph/Hunter fic!
Secondly, I would like to thank my beta-reader who came in halfway through this fic (and that's why the last half is better than the first) – Scattia. Thank you so much for your honestly and candid criticisms, and although I may not have utilised all of your suggestions I am grateful for each and every one of them. You're the best, lil sis! Long live the red pen!
25 July 2008
1.1 Hunter stared down in awe at the small bundle in Stephanie's arms. Their daughter. She was like a perfect angel. A miniature angel.
'She's beautiful,' he whispered, unable to take his eyes away from the sleeping little face. He had never seen a more adorable baby.
'She's perfect,' Stephanie whispered back, looking at him with a soft smile on her face. 'And she's all ours.'
Hunter turned to face her, and smiled back. 'You're beautiful.'
'I love you' she told him without moving her lips, and he believed her. She never said the actual words often, but he knew. She told him every day, just never with words. She told him, and he believed her.
Never again was he going to push her away. Never again was he going to deny the obvious, to reject the obvious. That he had always loved her, that it had always been her.
Never again was he going to lose her.
Author's notes: This has been close to a year in the making, and I know that throughout that year I haven't been the best updater. First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has been with this fic from the very beginning, and who have gently (and some not too gently, *cough* Merc *cough*) prodded me to continue. Your patience and determination to reach the end is flattering, and I can only hope that the conclusion is adequately satisfactory. I truly appreciate all the reviews that this fic has generated, and without them I probably would have discontinued writing it long ago. I would especially like to thank Becca, who has emailed me her thoughts on the fic throughout the year. And yes, Becca, it was always going to be a Steph/Hunter fic!
Secondly, I would like to thank my beta-reader who came in halfway through this fic (and that's why the last half is better than the first) – Scattia. Thank you so much for your honestly and candid criticisms, and although I may not have utilised all of your suggestions I am grateful for each and every one of them. You're the best, lil sis! Long live the red pen!