So interest seems to have dwindled somewhat in the past couple of chapters, must be something I said – wrote :/ lol nevertheless here is the final chapter/epilogue which I hope you enjoy…

Epilogue

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"A daughter is a gift of love."
Unknown

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It's Camille's first day and Alex just knows something is about to happen. She can feel it in her bones; can hear it in her daughter step as she saunters across the stage towards the microphone; can see it in the twinkle of her eyes reflected by the light and the way the corner of her mouth is already tugging upwards in a self-satisfied little smirk.

And Alex just knows her daughter is about to do something.

It's like looking at Neal.

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As a means of welcoming the new students, the children had been asked to each say a little about themselves and to bring along something for a show-and-tell, of sorts, that would be of interest to the class.

Naturally, Camille has brought her father and naturally, Neal hasn't stopped talking about it since the moment their daughter asked him. She imagines Peter gave him the day off in the mere hope that it would mean he could escape from it all; no such luck, since Elizabeth and Peter stand on one side of her, with June and Mozzie on the other. Neal had taken great delight in insisting they all be present for this family day out.

Camille introduces herself and Alex watches Neal's face light up in pride as she incorporates his surname as her own. She greets the teachers, and recites her little rehearsed speech as if she was simply improvising right there and then; and then comes her finale.

"This is my Daddy," her daughter says, holding out her arm to gesture to him as he does a bow for the audience. "And he's a 'ternationally-known art thief."

And that's when things start to turn a tad chaotic.

Arms are crossed over chests, hands are on hips; the immediate demand for answers is almost laughable as children start to shout and run around, making the most of the loophole in attentive parental and teacher supervision.

All Alex can see, however, are the two most important people in her life standing side by side, center stage.

And from where she's sitting, she has a perfect view of their matching smiles.

She rolls her eyes; they couldn't look more pleased with themselves if they tried.

The magician's costume doesn't help matters, of course, and Camille seems to relish in the moment as she flips her top hat into her awaiting hand and does an extravagant bow for the crowd.

She might have to throttle Caffrey when they get home; he's enjoying corrupting their daughter entirely too much.

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Elizabeth has a hand on her chest, while the other is making a poor attempt to cover the smile on her face; she finds the whole act endearing, Alex can tell, so very Neal.

June has her hands clasped together, pressed at the spot by her heart, her face brimming with delight; she does so love to watch them as they perform.

Peter can only shake his head, as he mutters Neal, Neal, Neal; but there's more affectionate in his tone whenever he speaks to his partner and Alex imagines it has a lot to do with a certain father-daughter charm she knows all too well.

Mozzie throws his hands up in the air and casts his gaze across to her and with the apparent thought: it's Neal, what you going to do?

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Neal lifts Camille up, balancing her on his side – for a better view of what she's accomplished; Alex isn't oblivious to the way his mind works, narcissist that he is – and she catches his eye.

He knocks their daughter's hand so the top hat goes flying upwards, and he performs a little trick of his own, before placing the hat on their daughter's head. It slides down and her bangs cover her eyes, so he flicks the rim up and Camille grins giddily under the visor at him, a look he wholeheartedly returns.

There's no doubt it's genuine, but damn do they know how to work a crowd.

Camille turns to seek her out, and waves frantically at Alex when she finds her, her other arm looped around Neal's neck playing havoc with his collar so it eventually flips up and adds to his effortlessly cool look. She smiles easily back at her little girl, because of course Camille decides to create mayhem on her first day of school, and expects to get away with it with naught but a smile.

It's not difficult to wonder who she gets that idea from.

She shakes her head at Neal, but she can't rid herself of the smile, and he simply holds out his free hand with a grin and shrugs; he's in his element.

He's so damn unapologetic it makes Alex's smile lift even more.

With both legs and arms wrapped around her father, Camille drops her head onto his shoulder and Neal turns to press a kiss into her hair.

Alex can see her daughter's little smirk a mile off.

Not only do they both look immensely proud of themselves, but they are shamelessly adorable, and they know it.

All Alex can do is stand and stare at them, enchanted, and then she lifts her hands and applauds.

The quartet that surround her join in with the clapping and all eyes are once again on them.

And she can feel it: with June and Mozzie next to her, Peter and Elizabeth by her side; in the middle of this large, vast crowd, staring up at Neal as he holds Camille in his arms.

She can feel the connections they've created, the energy that harmonizes them, how easily they fit into each other's lives.

She can feel the family that they've created, the ripples of all that they hold dear settling around them; and there really is nothing like it.

It's magic.

It's love.

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"My accidental happily ever after
The way you smile and comfort me with your laughter
I must admit, you were not part of my book
But now if you open it up and take a look
You're the beginning and ending of every chapter."
'Never Knew I Needed', Ne-Yo and Cassandra Steen

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The End.

I have the basics of a sequel planned out, although I'm not sure if I'll end up able to flesh it out enough to type up and post. So if I do post it, I hope you'll join me in another journey with this story and these characters, and if not, I thank you sincerely for your interest and participation thus far.
Thank you all so much for reading/reviewing/favouriting/alerting.
Steph
xxx