Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine and I have finally finished playing with them. It's been a fun journey, but it's time for them to go back to their rightful owner.

THANK YOU all so much for reading and reviewing! I truly hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Unfortunately, Zero and Steph's love story ends here.

Epilogue

SPOV - 24 years later

"I want you to have these." I handed Maggie the small box. "I wore them on my wedding day to Noah as did several generations of women who married the Allen's of the Wilson family." Her eyes filled with tears as she saw the string of pearls.

"How old are these? They're beautiful." Her finger ran over the strand.

"I'm not entirely sure. You'll have to ask AJ's grandma, Mary. She and Melody gave them to me before I married Noah and now they belong to you." She hugged me and wiped her tears off her face.

"You know what this means don't you?" I asked and she pulled away and looked at me puzzled.

"Your first son has to named Allen and then his soon to be wife will get these pearls." Her eyes got wide and more tears fell.

"It would be my honor to wear these and pass them on. Thank you." I wiped the tears off her beautiful face and smiled at her. She looked just like her father and I missed him terribly.

Margaret Annabella Morelli was born eight months after her future husband. They practically grew up together since Joe and I were so close. Joe was shot and killed one day when Maggie was thirteen. It broke her heart when her dad died and AJ was beside her from that day forward. I knew then that they would always be together. He comforted her like her father use to comfort me.

In just a few hours, Maggie Morelli would marry my son and I was ecstatic about it. I loved her just like Noah's mom's loved me. I included her in our family long before her and AJ officially got together. She fit right in with the rest of us.

Noah and I married in a private ceremony the Halloween after AJ was born. He was a year old and quite a handful, but we loved him. AJ's brother and sister were born ten months after our wedding. Addison Grace came first screaming just like I was and then Aidan Carlos came calmly seven minutes later. They were supposed to be our last, but God felt we needed an oops baby.

A month after Joe was shot, I found out I was pregnant. Alexander Joseph was born and even though he was oops, he's well-loved. Addy and I are outnumbered by males, but we love it. She's daddies little angel and is adored by her brothers.

I sat in the church looking at our family and friends and thanked God that I was here. There was no other place in the world that I wanted to be than right here, surrounded by people who I love.

Ranger was sitting a few rows back with his newest girlfriend, Holly. He's never settled down and I don't think he ever will. He's happy just the way he is, so I'm happy for him. I shot him a smile when he caught me looking at him. No matter how old he is, he is one sexy man. He must have read my thoughts because his wolf grin appeared and he winked at me.

The rest of the Marry Men were scattered throughout the church with their girlfriends and wives. Most of the guys refuse to marry and continue to play the women of Trenton. Bobby married a doctor and they have three children. Surprisingly, Cal is married with four kids. Number five is on the way and they have no plans of stopping.

Karen and her new husband are sitting in the pew across the aisle. I know she misses Joe every day, especially days like this; but she's been able to move on with Bill. They don't have any kids together and Maggie was her and Joe's only child.

Both sets of Zero's parents were in the pew behind me. His brother and wife were there too as were their three younger kids. Like us, they had an oops but it was a triple oops. Harmony about died when she found out.

My parents both died about four years ago in a car accident. I miss them and my grandma daily. She passed away several years ago, but she went in a blaze of glory. She would have been proud of the press her funeral caused.

The music started to play and I watched my daughter walk down the aisle. She was a bridesmaid and was absolutely beautiful. Her boyfriend couldn't take his eyes off of her. His father, Lester, slapped him on the back of the head when he caught his leering.

Neither Zero or I was happy when she brought home Mateo Santos as her boyfriend. Les never married and the boy's mom left him with Les when she took off to strip in Vegas. Les raised him and remained single. He told me that I was the only woman that he would give up his player lifestyle for. Luckily we found out that his son was nothing like him. He was a really good kid and would soon be taking over RangeMan Boston. I knew Addy would follow him there. Call it a mother's intuition, but I smelled another wedding soon.

The maid of honor walked down the aisle and made her way to the front of the church. The music changed and we all stood to watch the bride and she was breathtaking.

Her dark hair was styled up with a few strands framing her face under the long veil. The black pearls held a place of honor around her neck and I felt Mary and Melody both squeeze my shoulders when they noticed. I made a promise to them and I always keep my word.

As beautiful as the bride was, I couldn't take my eyes off the man walking her down the aisle. After Joe died, AJ and Maggie became inseparable so she was always at the house. Noah treated her like his own daughter so when the time came for the wedding, she asked him to walk her down the aisle. I think Karen and Bill were both upset at her choice, but they never said anything to her. I was thankful for that. Joe Morelli was a hard man to replace in his daughter's life, but somehow Noah filled that void in her life.

Even after all of these years, my husband was still a damn sexy man. The years have added a few wrinkles and his hair is lighter, but he still takes my breath away with his crooked smile and he still has the ability to turn me to mush with one touch. Our life together wasn't perfect. We're both human and we both made mistakes. We argued at times, but we never stayed angry for long and we ALWAYS made up. Our love for each other only grew stronger over the years. He truly is the love of my life.

I watched intently as he passed off the bride to our son and then walk back to where I was sitting. He put his arm around me and kissed my temple while pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket. He knows me so well. It was hard to watch my first-born get married. It seemed just like yesterday that we both were driving back to Trenton with Ranger. I have no clue where the last twenty-four years went.

I watched with tears in my eyes as the couple said their vows and I let the tears fall when the minister announced them husband and wife. I cheered when AJ finally kissed his wife. I was truly happy for them. If they had half of the love for each other that I had for the man beside me, then they had enough to last them a lifetime.

That's what I wished for them. A lifetime of the happiness that I've had over the years. A lifetime full of comfort, respect, desire, passion, and honesty. A lifetime full of love.

A/N - Short epilogue, I know, but I think it wraps everything up nicely. Thank you for joining me on this incredible journey. I'm going to miss the characters, but who know...maybe we'll see them again...someday. : )