Standard disclaimers applied. See Prologue for further details.

Author's Note: This is final chapter of 'In This Life.' I wanted to wrap up everything in an epilogue. Enjoy and be sure to read the extended author's note and additional explanations at the end.

Epilogue - The Gentle Reassurances from the Wind

One must wonder if there was a happy ending for Ray and Neela Barnett. From outward appearances, they seemed so different. He had a fetish for air guitars and loud music, while she was into curry cooking and spoke with a British accent. They set off to be roommates, strictly for convenience purposes because they worked in the same hospital. In fact, they weren't interested in any type of romantic relationship with anyone because they both had suffered the deaths of loved ones previously.

Yet, they found themselves falling in love and eventually tying the knot. Their life together was filled with both happiness and tribulations. There were both surprises and heartaches along the way, but that was the course of life.

After the miscarriage, Ray and Neela were forced to reexamine themselves. They had began a life in Chicago, a place where they established their careers and relationships. They had a great deal of mutual friends and colleagues. However, that was only one chapter, so perhaps, it was time to begin another.

Meanwhile, Neela reconciled with Parama. The younger Ragostra never remarried again but was contented with living Tony Gates and sharing with her ex-husband, the custody of her two children. She expanded her dancing studio to be part-time professional teacher for pregnant women, while taking a position full-time as a choreographer at a local theatre.

Abby had two twin daughters, Sophia Mae and Alexis Marie Kovac. She and Luka still lived in Chicago, but after the birth, Abby had devoted much of her time on the OB floor instead of the ER. Susan and Pratt were still there, taking on fresh medical students as they come. Kerry, still omnipresent in the ER was taking more administrative duties with County General. The hospital was seeing new faces, as old doctors moved away and others transferred to other places. Neela and Ray were among the former who decided to move to North Carolina. They had taken up residences near Beaufort, but closer to the city where Worth Carter was living in.

They did try to again with another baby. The nine months of waiting were agonizing and Neela went on leave much earlier and stayed in bed most of the time. It was trying with little stimulation and even less ambulation. However, the Barnetts bore the time with patience, faith, and love. Neela ended up having a C-section to give birth to a daughter, Reina Sharmis Barnett.

The expanding Barnett family visited Ray's childhood home often. On one of these occasions, when Ray was rummaging through some boxes in his old room, he came across an worn piece of legal paper. Some of the writing were faded and other parts were crossed off. At first glance, it could be mistaken for a shopping list, but he knew better.

Long ago, it had served as guide of all the things that he wanted to do with his life. Some of them were naive adolescent dreams. Some were a bit farfetched, while others, he had accomplished at various points in his life. Back then, one of the biggest things was for him to leave Beaufort and attend medical school. He had done both, and now, finding himself enjoying the pleasures that life had to offer. More often than not, he counted his blessings of having Neela and Reina in this life.

It was at this moment that the said wife joined her husband by his side as she wrapped her arms across his waist. "What are you doing here by yourself?"

In a witty fashion, he answered, "I'm no longer by myself." He led her outside and onto the docks. The sun was just about to set, but the night chills has yet to descend upon them.

"What were you thinking about just before I came?" she asked him to break the comfortable silence.

"You and our daughter."

"And, what conclusions have you come to?"

"That, I am truly blessed."

"Any regrets?"

Shaking his head, he asked her in turn. "No regrets. A long time ago, I told Parama rather vehemently, that only I can live this life. I'll be the one to make my own happiness."

"And, are you happy?"

"Didn't you once tell me that true happiness is a relative term? You only need to believe like you trust in the existence of the wind. And you know what, Ray? I do believe as strongly as the fact that you are standing next to me right now and like you, I am truly blessed."

All words dissolved as they shared a kiss against the backdrop of the brilliant waters in this little port town. A southerly wind caressed the two figures, subtly reminding them that in this life, it is filled with hopes, dreams, and love.

The End

AUTHOR'S NOTES

A total of chapter 26 later, 'In this Life' comes to an end. I could not have done this without reader's support. A huge thank you goes out to all of you who have stuck with this until the very end. No amount of words could express my appreciations.

Initially, this story started out as a little experiment. I had written about eight chapters, before I tested reader's response by posting the prologue which was followed shortly by the first chapter. My own reluctance and fear comes from the fact that I had seen very little of Season 12 of ER. Not only that, the last time that I had seen A Walk to Remember was around the time that it came out on video. Yet I was determined to make this little idea work, so, armed with a bit of medical background, and information from various internet sites, I began to write.

Crossovers are especially tricky because not everybody is familiar with the storylines. I had to establish a background for both, while maintaining true to the characters as well as the original themes. I hoped that by the end that I had accomplished this.

On the Title

The title is simplistic but it essentially summarizes the most general theme of this story. It is about the lives of two people in their most vulnerable and triumphant moments. I thought that it was seemingly appropriate for the story to begin in Beaufort and to come home full circle when they realize that another chapter of their lives is beginning.

Important Concepts

There is no doubt that love, faith, belief, and grief all played important roles. At the central focus is the relationship between Ray and Neela. However, they are affected by the 'loves' between Neela and Gallant, Landon and Jamie, Neela and Parama, Ray / Landon with his parents, and on a more subtle level, Landon with the Reverend along Neela and her parents.

On faith and beliefs, I didn't want to be overly preachy. However, as I mentioned previously in different parts of the story, it played a vital role in the development of Landon in AWTR, hence the inclusion. While I understand, Neela would probably be following a different religion, I think that the idea of having faith is truly universal.

On the Characters

I had done a little bit of research online and read various Reela fics before attempting a few of them on my own. As I began to write about Neela, I needed to differentiate her from Jamie in AWTR, but then further the qualities that would make her 'attractive' to Landon / Ray. No doubt, she is intelligent and passionate. She has her own sense of humour but she is dealing with a lot of grief. Like most, she may not have the perfect home life. Yet, there is an endearing quality to her that is truly unique. It is this that Ray eventually falls in love with.

For Ray, I am fortunately that I have a lot to work with from the character that is initially established in AWTR. Yet, it is also a bit of a stretch because I have to mould him to fit the persona that makes him lovable in the ER. Therein lies the challenge, because I have to infer a lot about his character. I think that in the end, I have constructed enough depth that makes him believable.

I had a lot of fun playing with the character of Gates. I got various reviews where some readers were initially turned off by his portrayal in the show. Again, I had to infer about his character but I am glad that I have convinced some of you that he can be a good guy underneath it all. He is like Ray at his wittiest which at times, can be sickeningly annoying. However, it is this that makes him subtly observant and sarcastically honest. I'm glad that I had to chance to diversify his role in the fanfic world.

Parama, my original female character had taken me by surprise as the story progressed. I didn't realize what role she would play until the end. I was very worried that I might dissolve her to be a Mary Sue - a character that is too perfect and too unlikeable. Ironically, her name means 'the best.' Yet, she was part of some critical moments that contribute to the ultimate felicity of our Reela couple. She has her faults, but she has own moments as well. Setting her up with Gates was a pleasure because they both had a way with words!

Final Thoughts

So, some of you may be wondering what's next for me. I think that there is little chance for a full-feature sequel for this story. Believe me, developing this story was hard enough, but I think that I have done justice to this particular Reela. Still, I am not dismissing the idea of writing vignettes about their married life in North Carolina, the birth of Reina, etc that pertains to this story. We'll see how quickly the muse recovers and whether there is an interest in these stories.

As we speak, my other fic, "By Correspondence" is wrapping up which expands on this alternate universe that I have created. Also, some shameless promotion here: Infinite-Endings has began an account of LUBY-related stories which deals with the world that stemmed from, "In This Life" and "By Correspondence." As well, there will probably be more Reela-related fics from there which doesn't deal with this particular storyline. Check it out.

Anyways, I will like to take another moment to thank all my readers and reviewers both old and new. You guys have been awesome.