The Confrontation Epilogue

Mick lay quietly listening to the sounds that the night always created. The traffic so far below, a faint but ever-present breeze singing through the structure of the building, and sometimes, he swore, he could even hear the moonlight as it streamed through the windowpane. There was one more reverberation to add to that chorus this evening, the soothing, melodic heartbeat of the woman who now lay quietly nestled in his arms. He craned his neck so that he could look more fully on her innocent face as it lay pillowed on his chest. A satisfied smile graced his lips as he watched her in wonder. He brought his hand to her face and oh so delicately traced its contours, as if memorizing her by touch alone. She stirred slightly and in response he quickly withdrew his hand. His smile, however, did not fade.

She was still a constant source of astonishment to him. The child he had saved and vowed to watch over had grown into a beauty. That beauty may have been what drew him to her, but it was the woman she had become, strong, quick-witted and caring, that had captured his heart. Even as they lay together on the bed he had purchased so many years ago merely as an after-thought, he still found it hard to believe that she was truly there with him. That she had found some way, some unfathomable way, to love him in return, astonished him. How she could accept the monster along with the man, he might never understand. But the fact that she did, made him hopeful for the first time in nearly 55 years.

Staring up at the ceiling of the darkened room, Mick let his mind wander to his friend, Josef. The confrontation between Josef and Beth had decidedly been the turning point in his relationship with Beth. He had vowed to himself before this day, that he would keep Beth at arm's length in order to keep her safe. Her well-being was paramount to him, and it had been from the moment he found her in Coraline's clutches. He wondered now, how much of this afternoon's display had somehow been orchestrated. In the 50 some years that he had known him, he'd found that rarely did things happen by accident where Josef was concerned. A small laugh escaped Mick's lips as he thought about what that meant. Had Josef provided just enough leverage to the situation? Had he pushed Beth into her confession knowing that Mick stood outside that door listening to every word? For all of his bluster, for all of his cynicism, could Josef truly be a romantic at heart? The thought made Mick smile all the more, thinking that his friend truly did have a soft spot for the mortals in that icy cold heart of his.

Beth stirred slightly and wrapped her free arm more tightly across Mick's strong chest. Looking down once more, he marveled yet again at how fate had so felicitously stepped in and taken charge. He truly did not know what future lay before them. But echoing Beth's words, he did know that they would make it work. Somehow. Of that he was certain. And whatever time that they had together, he would be grateful for. A day….a week…..and hopefully many, many years.

For the first time in a very, very long time, Mick fell asleep in the comfort of a bed instead of a freezer. His arms encasing the woman he loved beyond reason. And his final thought, before sleep overtook him, was that just perhaps monsters did sometimes live happily ever after.

THE END

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