A/N: And... we have reached the end. Such a bittersweet moment :). Hope you enjoy.

Epilogue- five years later

Happy Forever

A three year old ran through the grass, her dark mischeavious hair flying in all directions, laughing as she played. If asked for her name she would look up with cobalt blue eyes shining to say proudly, "Lady Éloise Destler."

"Be careful Ellie," Erik reminded from a few feet away where he sat next to Darcey in the grass.

"I will," she called as she spun in a gleeful circle.

Darcey chuckled softly as she leaned into Erik. He wrapped his arm around her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Were you like this as a child?"

"Worse. I was already climbing trees at her age."

"Don't give her any ideas." They smiled fondly at each other and were soon joined by an out of breath Ellie.

"Hello sweetheart," Darcey said as she kissed her rambunctious toddler.

"Hello maman, hello papa. Did you see me spin?"

"Yes we did. You spun really fast. I'm very proud of you." The little girl grinned happily and settled down onto her father's lap. She only lasted a little while before she jumped up as she saw Meg and Garren coming with their two children.

She hugged her friend, Rita Mei who was not quite a year older than her, before skipping back to them. "May we play in the garden?" Ellie asked with a pleading look.

"Please Uncle Erik?" Rita Mei joined in matching Ellie's puppy face.

"Alright. But be careful that you don't step on any of the flowers." They promised they would be careful before racing each other to the garden maintained on the country estate. Erik and Darcey chuckled as their laughter echoed behind them. Erik stood and offered his hand down to his wife to help her to her feet.

"Thank you Erik," she said with a kiss on the cheek before looping her arm through his and walking with him to meet Garren and Meg halfway.

"Good morning strangers," Garren greeted, shifting their quiet two year old Darin higher on his hip.

"It's good of you to come visit us before you go visit your mother," Darcey said as she hugged her very pregnant friend. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing well. The baby was playing the harp on my ribs this morning. I think she's anxious to get here. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have a doctor in the house." Darcey smiled in sympathy remembering how many times Éloise had woken her in the middle of the night. Garren had apprenticed under a well known doctor shortly after Darcey got shot and was now a doctor himself. His practice had been put in use by Ellie already when she fell off a chair in the nursery.

"Do you have time for a walk around the garden? We can find the girls before they get into mischief," Erik asked.

"We have a few minutes."

Darcey took Darin from Garren before they all began walking towards the garden. "Have you heard how Helene is getting along at the Opera House?" Erik had pulled a few strings as patron to get her a job as a dancer.

"Mother says she is doing well. She has progressed far. Much farther than many of the girls. She had great talent." Darcey smiled to hear the news.

They continued to talk about current events and plans before they had to leave. "It was good to see you. You are coming to town in a couple weeks aren't you?"

Erik nodded. "Yes. We have business to attend to at the Opera House. They wanted us to come this week but I convinced them it wasn't as urgent as they thought."

"Alright. We'll see you soon." They watched as the foursome left before Darcey sat down on a bench and found her mind starting to wander as Erik entertained Ellie.

So many things had happened in the past five years. Her cousin had been sentenced to many years in prison. After two years, he had sent a note to her begging for her forgiveness for his actions that had been driven by selfishness and greed.

They had grown and changed so much as they adjusted to life. It had taken a while for both of them to adjusting to their titles and the responsibility that comes with it. Then she discovered she was carrying Ellie. It had been a happy day when she was confident that she was indeed with child and had been able to tell Erik. They had hoped for another child by now but it hadn't occured.

Erik let Darcey get lost in her thoughts as he played with Ellie. He helped Ellie up onto a bench and then held her hand so she could balance as she walked on it. "Maman, look at me!" Darcey looked up and smiled at her daughter. Erik was struck yet again by how beautiful she was as she smiled.

"Wonderful! You could be a dancer with your balance." Ellie beamed in pride. Erik helped her jump down from the bench and watched as she walked over to her mother and climbed into her lap.

"When are you going to have a baby? Rita's maman has." Erik bit back a laugh, glancing away to keep his composure.

"In about eight months," she answered, effectively causing Erik to jerk his attention back to her.

"You mean..."

"Yes. I'm with child." Erik rushed over and pulled them both into a big hug, smushing Ellie between them in the process.

"Papa!" Ellie protested. "You're smushing me." They chuckled and Erik loosened his hold so that she could slip out from between them.

Once she was down, Erik pulled Darcey to her feet and hugged her again, Lifting her off her feet and spinning once in a circle before planting a kiss on her. She laughed happily as she kissed him back.

"I love you so much," he said beaming at her.

She rested her head on his chest, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. Now she understood what all those storybooks meant when they said, "And they lived happily ever after."

A/N: And its officially done! I will be starting a new PotO story but I'm searching for another story to branch into. Any ideas and opinions would be appreciated. Love ya!