No warnings here, just a short epilogue-chapter.

Thank you so much for reading!

Here are the main resources I used, both containing links to other ones:

.

.

Also, compared to many other survivors, Ludwig is lucky. He didn't contract any STIs, his rapists were convicted, and his friends and family stuck with him. Many survivors aren't that lucky.

Thank you again!

It is Sunday, 12:33 PM, seven months, twelve days, twelve hours, and thirty-eight minutes after It happened.

Ludwig hasn't met with the three since his birthday, a little more than a month ago (which had honestly been the largest birthday party he'd ever had in his life, and since there were around fifteen people there, Ludwig wasn't entirely sure what that said about him), and it's a relief to see them again and a relief to be indoors, away from the sudden rainstorm.

Carmen waves at him as he enters the café, gesturing to a chair, and says "We already ordered you some coffee, you look freezing, sit down!"

Ludwig does, gratefully wrapping his gloved hands around the coffee cup and taking a sip, and sighs. "Thanks."

The conversation resumes, about Sakura's blossoming muddle with the philosophy major and Carmen's enthusiasm over the new sea otter exhibit and Felicja's project that's almost completely coded, and then they turn to Ludwig.

"I—" He really should tell them, but he's just not entirely sure how, so he settles for just removing his gloves.

Sakura catches on first, staring at Ludwig's left hand, and then Felicja sees the ring and whoops, which makes Ludwig cringe a little because he doesn't really want the whole café looking at him, and Carmen, grinning, exclaims "When did that happen?"

Ludwig ducks his head— he's blushing, he knows, he still can't think of it without blushing— and mumbles "He proposed a week ago."

Before the meeting is over, he ends up in a group hug.

It is Wednesday, 11:04 AM, nine months, three days, eleven hours, and nine minutes after It happened.

They got a dog a few weeks back, as a sort of early Christmas present, an adopted greyhound whose name Ludwig insists is Aster, Feliciano insists is Linguini, and Gilbert insists is Awesomesauce. Lovino didn't offer input beyond "At this rate you should just name her 'dog' or 'you' or something."

Ludwig ended up winning, on the condition that he had to housetrain her, and it seems to Feliciano that he's doing pretty well with that. He still calls the dog Linguini when Ludwig is out of earshot.

Right now, she's lying on Feliciano's stomach, and Feliciano's head is resting on Ludwig's stomach, and they're all on the living room floor dozing off the New Year's party. Ludwig is reading some book he got for Christmas and occasionally yawning hugely, which makes Feliciano yawn, which makes Aster yawn, which makes Feliciano laugh a little.

If this is what being engaged is like— wedding in three weeks, comes the reminder, from where it's been hovering at the back of his mind ever since he dropped to his knees in the entrance of the apartment and pulled the ring box out of his jacket— Feliciano could definitely get used to it.

It is Friday, 11:55 PM, one year after It happened.

One year ago, Ludwig Beilschmidt was awake and lying on the rough pavement of a backlot, watching a car drive away but not really registering it because It was still roaring through his mind, blotting out anything else.

Now, Ludwig Beilschmidt is awake and lying in his bed, clean sheets and warm duvet, watching Feliciano Vargas snore quietly but not really registering it, because the sight is familiar and he's thinking more about how exactly to bake tomorrow's menu and when will he have time to walk Aster and it's late and he should sleep.

He does, deep and dreamless.

(Here is what has changed:

Ludwig doesn't go to bars anymore.

Feliciano is one of Coach Vasilescu's best students.

The bad days and nights still come around.

They have to be more careful about what movies they watch.

Either Carmen, Sakura, or Felicja comes over at least once a month, or Ludwig and sometimes Feliciano goes over to see them.

Gilbert and Lovino are both a little more protective.

There are days when, during sex, Ludwig has to pull away and say stop, stop, I can't do this.

Them.

Here is what hasn't changed:

Ludwig makes Feliciano coffee in the morning.

Feliciano cuddles as much as he can.

Sometimes they stay up late and watch cheesy sci-fi movies.

They listen to the radio in the kitchen.

Alfred and Yekaterina come over occasionally, and they said when she gives birth Ludwig and Feliciano can be honorary uncles.

There are days when Ludwig is the one to start things, to grab Feliciano around the waist and kiss him senseless on the couch.

Feliciano is in love with Ludwig.

Ludwig is in love with Feliciano.

They plan to stay that way.)