Well, here we are at the end, at the much awaited epilogue, the final part to the final installment of my four-part series. It really killed me to write such a happy ending, buuuuut...what could I do =P
The soft winds of the London air drifted through the cloud-covered sky on the late Sunday afternoon. Emily pulled her light brown cardigan sweater over her shoulders as the wind lifted her long brown locks. She quietly looked up, glancing about at the faces around her – Zip, Alister, Winston, her mother, and her father. Each bore looks of both sadness, yet acceptance. Emily turned towards the granite headstone they were circled around. Garin Limoux. Lux Veritatis knight. Beloved friend, never forgotten.
Emily removed the small jasmine flower tucked behind her ear, then tenderly approached the headstone to place it along the tiled bottom. She stepped back, pulling her arms towards her body. She felt her mother place her hands on her shoulders, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. "You think he's in Heaven?" Emily asked innocently.
"I'm not sure, love," Lara admitted. "As good of a person he was, I'll bet he is…"
"He was quite the colorful fellow," Alister chipped in. "A very friendly lad with a large heart."
"He was," Zip agreed, tucking his hands into his pants pockets. "He died for what he believed in – an honorable way to go, if you ask me."
"Honorable, indeed," Lara added softly. She slowly turned her gaze to Kurtis, who stood with his hands in his pockets, staring on at the gravestone with a reserved look of fondness. "Are you alright?" Lara asked quietly.
He turned slowly towards her, then let his mouth curve into a subtle smile of content. "Yeah," he replied. "I am."
Lara nodded slowly, matching his grin. Then, she turned back towards the headstone. A lightning bolt reached across the sky overhead, and a large thunder roll accompanied it. "We should go in," Lara said. The small group turned away, heading towards the Croft Manor in the distance.
Lara held the glass of brandy in her hand, leaning against the fireplace in the study room on the second floor. The sun had set outside about an hour or so ago, and the rain was falling generously. The flames in the fireplace danced about, reflecting a subtle glow against the grained wood floors. Lara let the liquor dance about in the glass as she swished it around, staring forward at Kurtis as he peered out the window into the rain.
Kurtis sighed, then turned to face her, wearily running his hand through his hair. A soft grin appeared on Lara's face as she stared into Kurtis's blue eyes. After a moment, a grin crossed his face as he stared at her with confusion. "What?" he asked.
"I don't know," Lara admitted, releasing a soft chuckle. "I really don't, honestly. It's just…" She drew in a silent breath. "Seeing you…here…"
"Here…?" he said slowly, scooping up his own glass of brandy off of the nearby coffee table. He leaned against the fireplace on the opposite side, staring into Lara's eyes. "In your stately manor, yet again," he said with a grin.
Lara smiled at him. "That's not what I meant," she said, meeting his eyes. "Seeing you here, after twelve years…here you are, with me…"
"I know what you meant," he said, setting his glass of liquor on the mantelpiece. "I can't give you an answer to your question if I don't even know the question."
"So we're back to that, are we?" she asked playfully. "Forcing me into submission by admitting things that I would rather not have to voice?"
"Exactly," he said with a cocky grin. "It's been my plan all along."
"But I think you very well know the question, Mr. Trent," she continued, setting her glass of brandy next to his on the mantel.
"I believe I do," he said, "but I want to hear you ask it."
Lara sighed. "Very well," she said. She held his gaze for a moment, trying to be serious. "What does all these men gunning for us and all these unnecessary stays in mystical realms bring you to realize?"
"It brings me to realize what's important," he replied calmly. "It brings me to realize what I couldn't stand living without."
Lara lifted her head, holding eye contact. "And what could you not live without?"
"Well, my heart, for one," he replied. "As I recall, I remember telling you flatly that you have it. You know…so long as you want it."
"Something so valuable…" Lara pondered. "I couldn't risk losing it again…" She folded her arms over her chest. "Very well. So how far can you wander while someone else has your heart?"
He chuckled that sexy laugh he often chuckled. "Not much farther than a block or two."
"Well, that will be a problem, since the States are a lot farther from London than just a block or two…"
"You have a point there," he said with a grin. "Then I guess I can't stray too far from you, can I?"
"You certainly can't," Lara countered.
"I've always wondered what it would be like to live in London," he said. "To have tea three times a day, to ride around in a big red double-decker bus, to ride in the London Eye and call it fun…"
Lara laughed heartily. "Please," she begged. "I haven't ridden the buses since I was a child, and the London Eye is an over-glorified Ferris wheel."
"But what about the tea?" he asked.
Lara nodded slowly. "Well, only twice a day," she said. "It's a good relief."
Kurtis chuckled. "Perhaps so," he said. "I suppose I could get used to it…"
"Or you could just offer London the best of the States," she said with a shrug. "We certainly welcome you Yanks here without protest."
He chuckled in shock. "Yank?" he asked. "I've been around you enough…I like to think that some of your London-ness has rubbed off on me."
"Wishful thinking," Lara commented with a chuckle. She drew closer to Kurtis as he pulled her warm body into his, meeting her mouth for a tender kiss. "I believe Lady Croft deserves a real reason to wear that ring on her finger anyway," Kurtis whispered against her mouth. Then, he dropped another kiss over her plump lips.
Lara grinned as she pulled away just enough to brush her lips against his. "And I'm quite tired of sleeping alone at night," she said softly, kissing his lips again.
"Well, I would certainly not want something like that to happen," he replied. "We should make up for it right now…"
Lara laughed something between a girlish giggle and a sexy chuckle. "We should…" she agreed. "It is getting late…but you should make sure your daughter is all set in bed."
Kurtis kissed her again on the lips, then drew in her heady scent. "Sounds like a plan," he said. "I'll meet you in bed in a few." He dropped one final kiss over her lips, then pulled away from her, exiting the study and heading down the dimly-lit upstairs hallway towards Emily's room.
Kurtis softly knocked at Emily's door. After a moment, when she didn't respond, he pushed it open. The window was open in the distance, the sound of the soft rain entering through into the room. He approached the sill and pulled the window shut, then pulled the curtains closed. He gazed over at the bed to see the lumpy figure of his daughter lying under the blankets and pillows. A soft smile crossed his lips – a smile of relief that after everything, here they were, home. After everything, he had a place to call home – here in London, with Lara, Emily, Zip, Alister, and Winston. They were his family – this was his home.
Kurtis quietly approached Emily's bedside, seating himself on the edge. He brushed the hair out of her eyes, and she stirred sleepily meeting his gaze. "Hi, Dad," she said wearily with a yawn.
"Hey, kid," he replied. "I'm just checking on you, making sure you're settled in alright."
"I'm fine," she said.
Kurtis reached his hand into his pocket, removing a small, chrome object. "I got you something," he said. He extended the object forward, revealing it to be a shiny new lighter. Emily gasped, taking it into her hands. "It's awesome," she said. She met his gaze with a soft smile. "Thank you."
Kurtis grinned back. "I figured you could use it – it's better than the one you had before."
"It definitely is," Emily agreed. She slowly met his gaze, drawing in a deep breath. "Are you…are you going back to the States?"
A soft smile crossed his face. "No," he said. "I'm staying here – with you guys. If that's okay…"
Emily chuckled. "Of course it's okay," she said.
Kurtis leaned forward, kissing her on the forehead. Then, he drew back. "Get some sleep," he said softly. She rolled over in bed, likely to fall asleep within seconds.
Kurtis approached the door, stopping only to gaze back at Emily for the briefest second. Then, he turned away and exited, heading down the hall towards his and Lara's room.
Uuugghhh. It sickens me to be so cheesy -_- But I did it for you guys. I know how you like it!
A BIG HUGE HEARTY WARM APPRECIATIVE LOVING AND GRATUITOUS THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN WITH ME SINCE 'THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH'. You are the ones who inspired me to keep going with the series!
Another huge thank you to everyone who read my story after that, and thus far. I appreciate all of your dedication to reading my updates and all the critical review you gave to me. It made everything that much more enjoyable!!
And to anyone in the future who may read this after I post this final chapter...thank you for reading as well!!
I hope everyone enjoyed the stories. I likely won't post anything else, at least not for a long time. If I do, though, keep an eye on the horizon for my name =)
Take care everyone!! =)