Epilogue 1 - Sara

six months later

"Careful with that box, Dad! It has all my photo albums in it!" I call out, watching as my father navigates his way through the front door of our new house, a large cardboard box labeled 'Sara's Memories' in his arms.

"I've got it, pumpkin," he assures me, grunting slightly as he sets the box down in the living room. "But maybe next time, consider digitizing these things, huh?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "Where's the fun in that? There's something special about holding a physical photo, don't you think?"

Dad chuckles, wiping his brow. "If you say so, kiddo."

I take a moment to look around the house—our house, Emile's and mine. It's been six months since that perfect night we officially became an ‘us', six months of bliss and love and the most incredible time of my life. Emile is soulmate, the other half of me. And now, we're taking the next step by moving in together. I've shared many firsts with Emile of the last six months. But I think this one is a first for both of us. It's the official start of the rest of our lives together.

And while the hockey season may be over—the best one the Nighthawks have had in years—the work hasn't finished. I've been busier than ever in my job as the Nighthawks social media manager, and Emile has been working hard honing his skills so he remains on top of his game. His first professional was a roaring success. So now he's feeling the pressure of maintaining such a high standard. But I believe in him. Just like he believes in me. This man has been my rock, my partner, my everything. Every day, I fall more and more in love with him, with his kind heart, his fierce determination, his unwavering support. We've got an amazing life ahead of us.

"Sara, where do you want this box of kitchen stuff?" Natalie's voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn to see her standing in the doorway, a large box in her arms.

"Oh, just set it on the counter for now," I tell her, moving to help. "Thanks so much for your help, Nat. I don't know what we would have done without you and Luc today."

Natalie grins, setting the box down and pulling me into a hug. "Of course, Sara. You're family now. Plus, it's the least we could do after you helped us move last month."

I return her hug, feeling a warmth spread through me at her words. Family. It's something I've always cherished, but with Emile, with Natalie and Luc, my little family of Dad and me has expanded, grown into something even more beautiful and precious.

"Hey, has anyone seen Emile?" Luc asks, appearing in the doorway with a load of Emile's hockey gear.

"I think he's upstairs, setting up the bedroom," I reply, feeling a flutter in my stomach at the thought. Our bedroom. The space we'll share, the bed we'll sleep in every night, wrapped in each other's arms.

Luc nods, a knowing grin on his face. "Of course he is. Probably making sure the bed has the proper supports, huh?"

Natalie whacks him on the arm, but she's laughing. "Behave, you."

I feel my cheeks heat, but I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. Because the truth is, Luc isn't entirely wrong. Emile and I spent the couple of hours before the movers were set to arrive ‘testing the supports' of pretty much every available surface in this house, drunk on the excitement of this new chapter in our lives.

The sound of footsteps on the stairs catches my attention, and then Emile appears on the landing, his hazel eyes lighting up when he sees me. "Everything OK down here?" he asks, continuing down to wrap an arm around my shoulders.

"Perfect now that you're here," I respond, leaning into him. The warmth of his body is a comfort, and the smell of him—sweat mixed with the cologne I gave him on his birthday—makes me feel right at home.

"Looks like we're almost done unloading the van," Emile says, surveying the room filled with boxes and half-assembled furniture. "Who's up for some pizza?"

There isn't a no in the house, and when it arrives, we all sit down and eat it on the floor of the living room, too exhausted to worry about plates or tables. Dad regales us with stories of my childhood, of the trouble I used to get into, the dreams I used to have. I'm half embarrassed, but also touched that he remembers so much. Natalie and Luc share a few stories of their own, and the topic shift to plans for the future. Emile and I huddle together, listening and conversing, and I get this sense of contentment that washes over me. It's a feeling of rightness, of being exactly where I'm meant to be, and it feels as though this day couldn't be even more perfect if we tried.

As the night winds down and our family starts to leave, Emile pulls me into the kitchen. "What's going on? Please don't make me unpack anymore boxes," I whine.

He lets out a chuckle. "I can't promise that. But I think you'll like this box. It's a housewarming gift, of sorts."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Did you get me a surprise, superstar?"

He grins, pressing a kiss to my nose. "You'll see. Just give me a minute, OK?"

I nod, watching as he disappears upstairs, bouncing on my toes because I love that he likes to surprise me. A few minutes later, he returns, his hands behind his back, and a nervous energy that's rolling off him in waves.

"You OK?"

"Sara," he starts, his voice soft yet serious. "I want you to know that these past six months with you have been the best of my life."

"Aw. Mine too."

He smiles and continues. "You've brought so much joy, so much love, so much light into my world. I can't imagine my life without you."

I feel tears prick at the corners of my eyes, my heart swelling with love for this incredible man. "Oh, Emile…"

Then he takes a deep breath, then drops to one knee, his hands coming out from behind his back to reveal a small velvet box. My breath catches in my throat, my hands flying to my mouth as he opens the box to reveal a stunning diamond ring.

"Sara Belanger," he says, his eyes shining with emotion. "Will you marry me?"

The tears are flowing freely now, but I'm nodding, a watery laugh bubbling up from my chest. "Yes," I manage to choke out. "Yes, Emile, of course I'll marry you."

He surges to his feet, pulling me into his arms and crashing his lips against mine. The kiss is salty with my tears, but it's perfect. It's everything. It's even more than a shared home. It's the promise of a lifetime together.

When we finally break apart, both of us breathless and grinning like fools, I figure it's time to share my own surprise, my own special gift for him.

"I have something for you, too," I say, taking his hand and giving it a gentle tug.

"Don't tell me you got a ring too," he teases. "That would be awkward if I stole your proposal idea."

I laugh and lift up on my toes to give him a quick kiss. "Not a ring. But I think it's something you'll be really happy about."

Leading him to the bathroom, I tell him to close his eyes as I rummage in the drawer, then pull out the small plastic stick. "OK. Open," I say once I'm holding it up for him to see.

He lowers his hands from his face, and it takes him a second to realize what it is, but when he does, his eyes go wide, his mouth falling open in shock. "Is that…?"

I nod, fresh tears falling as I smile up at him. "I'm pregnant, Emile. We're going to have a baby."

He stares at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable, and for a second, I feel a flicker of doubt, of fear. But then he's sweeping me into his arms, spinning me around, his laughter ringing out through the house.

"A baby," he gasps, setting me down and touching my face with such tenderness that I weep even more. "We're really going to have a baby?" His voice cracks with emotion, and I nod.

"You're gonna be a daddy," I whisper, and his smile grows even bigger.

"And you're gonna be a mom. We're gonna be parents."

"Are you happy?"

"Ecstatic. Little mouse, this is the most amazing thing you could even do for me." He presses his lips to mine, kissing me, soft and sweet. "I love you, Sara," he whispers, his forehead resting against mine. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Emile," I reply, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. "Forever and always."

And as we stand there, wrapped in each other's arms, our future stretching out before us, bright and beautiful and filled with love, I know that this is just the beginning. The beginning of our forever, our happily ever after.

The true beginning of everything.