Epilogue

"Silas! Don't go too far!" I shout as my eldest son takes off on his bicycle. I watch our ten-year-old speed up the block and take a right turn. No more than two minutes later, Silas has made it around the block and comes to a stop in front of me.

"Can I go again, Dad?" he asks, his brown eyes matching mine.

I remember having a lot of energy at his age, too. I was always amped up to do something but was yelled at to calm down and shut up by parents still coming down from a bad trip. My son will never know what that feels like as long as I"m around.

"Sure, buddy. Stick to our block, okay? Make sure to check in with either your mother or me at least every fifth time you go around," I say with a wink.

Silas tears off once more, lifting off the seat so he can stand and pump the pedals harder and go as fast as possible. God help us when he gets his first motorcycle. It's inevitable. The kid loves going on rides with me. He even rode with me in our bi-annual Poker Run Charity last year.

"I assume our son is as wound up as ever?" my wife asks from the front porch.

I look at her over my shoulder and then turn to face her fully. She's more beautiful now than when I met her, which is saying something. Her long golden hair flows behind her while those hazel eyes shine with love and playfulness.

My gaze wanders down her luscious curves, pausing to appreciate her full, round breasts and slightly rounded belly. Aurora just found out last month that we're expecting again - our fourth child. I'm still gunning for Gretta as a name, but mostly just to get a rise out of my gorgeous wife.

"Always," I finally answer as I make my way up to the porch.

I press a kiss to Aurora's forehead, then stand behind her and wrap my arms around my precious woman. She leans back against my shoulder, her lips tickling my neck. We stay like that for a few moments, laughing quietly when Silas zooms past us on his bike.

"I love you," she whispers. "I love our lives. Our kids. Our home. I never thought I'd have this."

I remember when I told Aurora the same thing right after she said she was pregnant. I didn't think life could get any better, but here I am, father of four, husband to the most incredible woman ever, and still going strong with the Rebel Hearts.

"We built this together," I murmur. "We took all the ugly, difficult, painful things in our past and turned them into a beautiful life."

Aurora nods and I turn my head, rubbing my nose against hers in the way I know she loves. "I can't wait to see what's next," she says softly.

"Me either," I confirm, my hand sliding down to her belly where our baby is growing. "Whatever the future holds, I"m just happy to have you by my side," I tell her. We sway back and forth, taking in the cool spring evening breeze and watching the sun slowly sink into the sky. I don"t know what I did to deserve this, but I sure as hell won"t give it up for anything.