Thank you so much for the reviews I got for the previous chapter! It seriously means so much so much to me! I hope you won't be too disappointed, that this is the last chapter but I felt like this would be the perfect ending for this fanfiction. Thank you all so much for supporting this story for over a year, I loved writing this fiction.

Chapter 21 - Epilogue

The drive back home went by in silence. Jack was driving Lisa's SUV, which was a little more comfortable for longer rides than Jack's truck. They were all driving with them except for Julia, who was driving by herself.

Jack felt uneasy. He knew that his family needed time to process Tim's words but he hated seeing their unhappy expressions. Every bone in his body wanted to take their pain away, wanted to see them smile again. He was desperately searching for the right words to break the silence when Lou did so: "Do you think Julia will get back together with Dad?"

Amy shrugged: "Maybe. She didn't seem very enthusiastic but I guess that's no wonder", she said, not very enthusiastic as well.

"She might need some time but the fact that she appeared today shows that Tim isn't indifferent to her. It seems like he is doing really good", Lisa added.

"Probably wasn't easy for him, revealing himself like that", Jack mumbled, looking at his wife as if he was checking in with her if he said the right thing. He was worried that being at rehab with Tim might have triggered unwelcome feelings in Lisa.

"Yeah", she agreed.

"How long will it take now until he can go home?" Ty asked.

"He said that he'll be home soon", Lou replied.

"He is almost at the end of the rehab program", Amy said more to herself than to anyone else in the car.

"What happens when he gets home? Is he just gonna go back to normal? Isn't that kinda dangerous?" Ty wondered.

"No, he's not going entirely back to normal. He'll go to meetings, has to change a couple of this in his everyday life so that he can avoid another relapse", Lisa explained as neutral as possible so that she wouldn't reveal to much from herself.

"Let's just hope it'll all work out", Jack sighted.

Then it was silent again until they reached Heartland. Ty, Amy and Lou got back to their kids and to work and Lisa drove off to a business meeting. Jack saddled Paint and took Dawson with him for a peaceful ride.

In the midst of copse Jack saw another rider coming towards him. Moments later he recognized Julia.

"Hey Jack", she smiled and stopped her mare.

"Hey", Jack greeted her with a warm smile, "needed some time to clear your head too?"

"Yeah, you could say that. Not exactly my favorite pastime today", Julia sighted.

"Mine neither. But it seems like he is really getting back on track, doesn't it?"

"I suppose he is. Luckily."

"You know Julia, I know that this is really none of my business and usually it's my wife who holds conversations like these and she is much better at them than I am. But I saw Tim ruining a wonderful relationship with my daughter before and I don't want him to ruin yours with his drinking."

"It might be a little late for that", Julia remarked. She didn't mind Jack's involvement.

"I don't want to talk you into something or pressure you. I'm actually not really sure what I'm trying to say at all", Jack chuckled, "I think I just hope that he didn't ruin your relationship too much because he will definitely regret letting you go for the rest of his life and I will hear all about it every day."

"Thank you Jack, I really appreciate that", Julia smiled, "I guess we'll have to wait and see how thinks will go."

"Yeah", Jack agreed, "have a nice ride, Julia."

"You too. See you."

That evening everyone was relieved to finally get settled on the couch. Amy and Ty turned on the TV and watched a movie, Lou and Peter planned the nursery for their unborn family addition and Jack and Lisa settled down in front of the fireplace, Jack with a book and Lisa with a couple of papers for work. Her legs rested on Jacks lap and she fought against waves of tiredness that kept her from concentrating on the numbers on the documents.

"Why don't you go to bed, Lisa, it's been a long day", Jack chuckled as he watched his wife fighting against sleep.

"It's only nine", Lisa murmured.

"Well, our bedroom opens at seven so feel free to get some rest", Jack joked.

"Very funny", Lisa smiled ironically and laid the documents on the coffee table but didn't get up. Jack closed his book and asked: "Are you OK?"

"Of course."

"I just thought might not have been the easiest day", Jack remarked carefully.

"I appreciate your concern, I really do. But you also need to trust me when I say that I'm fine, otherwise you'll never believe me", Lisa smiled.

"All right. Just promise me that you'll tell me if something is bothering you. After all these years we've spent together I still find it difficult to always know how you're doing. Your pokerface is just too good", Jack smirked.

"I promise", Lisa answered and found Jack's confession rather cute.

"Thank you", Jack replied relieved, "now come here", he gestured Lisa to snuggle up in his arms. She took her legs from his legs, turned around and was asleep in his arms moments later.

Months had passed when Lou woke up in the middle of the night because a sharp pain shot through her body. "Peter", she whispered and clenched her teeth, "Peter!"

"What? Are you OK?" Peter grunted sleepy.

"I think it's time", Lou groaned and a second later Peter was on his feet, eager to get his wife safe and sound to the hospital.

"Oh, he's perfect", Tim whispered.

"Yeah, he truly is", Jack agreed.

"Finally another man in the family", Tim smiled.

"He is so tiny", Amy looked at her sister with her newborn son in her arms.

Peter and Lou couldn't stop beaming. Little Max was born early in the morning and the whole family was thrilled to see mother and son healthy and together.

"He really is perfect", Lou yawned.

"Why don't we let you get some rest now?" Jack suggested.

"Yeah, I feel like I could sleep for 24 hours straight", Lou laughed. Then Amy, Ty, Jack, Lisa, Tim, Julia, Georgie and Katie said their goodbyes and let Peter and Lou alone with their newborn son.

"He's really cute", Julia smiled when Tim drove them back home.

"Lies in the family", Tim joked.

"I guess it does", Julia laughed and looked down on her left hand where the beautiful engagement ring sparkled.

"Good for you that you accepted my proposal, now you'll be surrounded by the almost unbearable cuteness for the rest of your life."

"I can't wait!" Julia smiled.

In Ty's car his oldest daughter kept dreaming about how great it would be, if she would have three siblings: "Can't you have another one, mommy?"

"No honey, I think three of you is absolutely perfect", Amy laughed.

"But we could help you take care of the baby. Max is so cute and so tiny, right Carlotta?"

"Dadadada", Carlotta "replied".

"Dad, you need to convince mom!" Maylin ordered.

Ty laughed: "Nope, I actually agree with your mom. Three is perfectly enough. You can spend as much time with little Max as you want but there will be no babies for us anymore."

"But why?" Maylin whined.

"Do you remember how sick mom and Carlotta were when Carlotta was born? We were all very scared that we might lose one of them, so scared that mom and I decided back then that we are very, very blessed with you and that is more than we could wish for", Ty explained.

"But maybe it would be a boy so that I can have a brother and you have to sons and two daughters", Jase thought aloud.

"Kids, I'm sorry, but that's enough. You get what you get – ", Amy started talking but Jase and Maylin ended her sentence at the same time: "and you don't get upset..."

As soon as Jack and Lisa got home they decided to saddle their horses and to go on a ride together. They cantered through the nature and stopped on top of a little hill where they could look over the fields of Heartland. Jack took a deep breath in and then smiled at the sight of his wife. She was enjoying the last shafts of sunlight warming her face. Then she noticed that Jack was watching her.

"What?" she smiled.

"Nothing", Jack smirked.

Lisa puckered her brows.

"I was just thinking about how pretty my wife is."

"Yeah, you are quiet the lucky guy, aren't ya?" Lisa smirked and leaned towards so that she could kiss Jack.

"Quiet the lucky guy", Jack repeated murmuring before returning her kiss with a little more passion.

"I can't believe I'm married to a guy with six grandchildren", Lisa suddenly chuckled as they continued their ride.

"You don't say! How do you think I feel?" Jack laughed out loud.

"My old man", Lisa said ironically and Jack gently slapped her on the arm.

"I bet I'm still faster than you are – race you home!"

"Loser has to cook for a week", Lisa laughed and together they stormed over the fields.