Epilogue: Still

With a grunt, I stretched and leaned back against the side of my house, wiping sweat off my forehead.

Kai always stuck his tongue out at me whenever I said it, but I personally found autumn to be the best of the seasons - bustling, but under a much cooler canopy than summer. The air in town constantly smelled like pumpkin, spices, apples, and roast anything, and the rippling array of orange, yellow, brown, red, and violet gave the land the appearance of an ongoing sunset.

Inhaling the fresh November air deeply, I surveyed the land. It was overrun with a colorful assortment of vegetables in one quarter of the field. The remaining areas were dedicated to a wide pasture, a rippling patch of royal blue flowers - the few red ones that had been sprinkled in had gone to Lillia, next door, improving her health considerably - and a patch of apple trees, heavy with ripening fruit.

With a small smile, I made my way toward Mother's Hill, where I knew Kai would be waiting for me.

"Evening, handsome," I heard him call happily, as I reached the lake.

"Evening," I responded simply, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. We made our way to the small bridge that connected the lakeside to the further-up meadow and summit, staring happily at the farm far below. It was even more colorful from up here. "So, how was work today?"

Kai shrugged, smiling at me. "Same as ever - but get this. Manna wants me and Cliff to start stomping the grapes soon. I dunno how they managed before... man, what if they stomped them? Ha!" He let out a bark of laughter at the mental image, and I couldn't help but join him - picturing the stone-faced Duke hopping around the vat joylessly while Manna chattered away excitedly, skipping around on the grapes and twirling her dress like a showgirl.

Kai shook his head and continued: "But you should've heard her!" Voice pitching up to a squeaky falsetto, he began jabbering: "'Wash your feet really good next week boys and clip those toenails because who knows what kind of mess gets under a man's nails and no horsing around either I know that I Love Lucy stuff is pretty funny but we're running a business here and'-"

Laughing, I held up a hand to slow him down. "You plan on breathing?"

"Through my nose," he said quickly, "'and make sure to separate the... the...' blah blah, something Italian-sounding and grapey," he decided with a nod. Exhaling loudly, he slumped over the bridge. "Actually sounds kind of fun! Except the no rough-housing part. I always wanted my ultimate test of strength against my greatest rival to be in a vat of grapes."

"Aww, but Cliff's got that baby on the way, anyway. He shouldn't be wrestling people in Ann's condition." I patted his shoulder sympathetically, shooting him a cheeky grin. "It's okay, Kai, I still love you. Even if I think less of your masculinity now."

"Damn! Maybe I should wrestle bears?" he suggested, faking a thoughtful look. Shaking his head, he looked back to me. "So, I bet you're exhausted. What needs to be done around the house?"

I waved off his offer gratefully. "Nothing, actually. You've been a huge help with that, so we're... actually ready for tomorrow. We're just gonna need to get dinner ready before they arrive, and that'll be it."

Nodding and looking pleased, Kai hummed excitedly. "I can't wait to see them again."

"Me, too. At least they'll get to sleep in the house this time."

Nearly two years had passed since I'd arrived in Mineral Town - in the past year-and-a-half, Kai's mom had remarried and visited with her new husband during the previous New Year's week, alongside my parents and brother. I smiled fondly at the memories - gathering in the living room and watching movies after a snowball fight; enjoying a large dinner at the inn after dancing in the square on New Year's Day; swapping stories about our lives, our jobs, and the places we lived.

In that time, I'd managed to have a second guest room added onto my house - the last visit had found my and Kai's family staying at the inn. No problem for them, as they repeatedly insisted over our guilty apologies - although my brother did lay a pretty hefty, playful guilt trip on me, until my mom threatened to put him to work sweeping the town's chimneys if he didn't stop.

Looking down a bit further, tearing my gaze away from the farm, I let my eyes wander to the gushing waterfall that poured from the stream flowing directly beneath our feet. Did it all start right there? It was so almost like a distant dream now: A chance meeting with Kai by the river, before and after some of the weirdest encounters I'd ever had in my life.

On the other hand, it'd been totally worth it.

"You know, the farm looks nicer and nicer every time I see it," Kai mused, inching closer to me and slinging an arm around my shoulder. His lips brushed my cheek briefly. "I know your grandpa's not the only one proud of you."

I leaned my head against his, sighing gratefully. "You know, I actually had a dream like this once. It's almost uncanny."

"Mmm?"

I chuckled softly. "That night you took care of me back before we started dating, remember? I had a migraine, and your face disappeared, and you started speaking like you'd had a stroke."

"Oh?" He smirked. "I seem to recall someone else babbling incoherently, but back to this future-predicting dream of yours. Go on, Miss Cleo."

I poked him in the ribs, making him squirm and squeak. "There you go again, talking crazy. But, yeah, while I was passed out. I just dreamed about us standing up here, looking at the farm together. You told me how proud you were-" I turned to him, looking into his eyes and taking his hand, placing it on my cheek, "-we looked at each other, you touched my face, and..."

We leaned in, eyes closed blissfully as the breeze rustled by us.

"...And then everyone exploded?" Kai teased after we pulled apart, raising his eyebrows.

I snickered and shook my head. "Actually, I woke up before we kissed. I just... wanted to finish what the dream started. You know, it was the day I realized I liked you, too. When I was sick and delirious."

"I have that effect on people," Kai cracked, rubbing the nape of my neck with his thumb. "Tell you the truth, I kinda started falling for you after we hung out at the diner that one day."

Slipping my arm around his waist as we turned to head up to the summit of the hill, I clicked my tongue in a sympathetic manner. "Damn those cooking oil fumes."

"I can live with the side effects," he said happily, flicking my hair playfully. "Hey, I ever tell you about my dream...?"

I smiled and pinched him lightly on the side, causing him to yelp. "Kai, if this is about that spaceship again..."

He gave me a playful punch on the arm. "I'll take you out first when I get that thing!"

"Nah, you love me too much. You'll save me for last."

He shrugged. "Good point. Maybe you can be my second-in-command. But I'll leave the farm alone."

I hugged him tighter. "Gee, thanks!" I felt him laugh as we sat down by the tree where we watched the fireworks together again last June - and for the first time the June before that. The night things finally came to a head.

"Of course." He squeezed my hand as we watched the sun start to set. "Love you, Jack."

No matter how many times he said that, it still made my stomach feel light and fluttery, and the rest of me pleasantly warm. I hoped hearing those words would keep bringing the butterflies for the rest of our lives. "Love you too, Kai."

Author's Notes: And... that's a wrap. It's been quite a run, writing this story. Hopefully, it was an enjoyable one for the folks reading. Admittedly, I do look back and see that, even though I've grown since writing the original, I still had quite a ways to go when starting this, and still do now. Nonetheless, I'm glad I did this. I think it's prepared me better for future stories I may start.

Thanks to those who read, commented, favorited, followed - hopefully I made the story worth it. Reviews are still highly welcome, and a final special thanks to my wonderful friend Jersey S for the feedback and the behind-the-scenes brainstorming, even when either of us took it to bizarre places.

Well, time will tell what comes next, but I'll see you all there!

FIN