Epilogue

"Ruby, we really do need to go."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You're always cranky at work if you don't get your special time with your wife. You know, it's a good thing you rescinded that rule about no office romance."

Vivian felt herself going red, but Emma merely rolled her eyes. "Laugh it up, Ruby. I don't see you getting any."

Ruby spluttered over her glass of champagne. "You'd best watch out, Emma. I was Vivian's personal assistant first. Maybe I'll decide that I want to work for her exclusively."

"If it doesn't work out with you helping both of us, I'll be happy to get my own assistant."

Ruby pouted. "You're no fun."

"Well, I've just been promoted to vice CEO of Sterling Enterprises. It's a big job. Perhaps I'll need to focus more on work and less on entertaining you people."

There were chuckles all around. Almost everyone in the office was here, as well as all of Emma and Vivian's other friends, most of whom were parents at Lily's school.

Everyone had wanted to be here at the celebration party for Emma's promotion.

"Come on. Let's go home." Vivian's soft murmur was for Emma alone. Emma took her hand and squeezed it gently before disengaging.

"Goodnight, everyone! We'll see you on Monday."

There was a chorus of goodbyes, after which Vivian and Emma were free to leave.

Lily had dozed off watching TV. Vivian wanted to carry her to bed, but Lily had recently been protesting to such treatment, insisting that she wasn't a child anymore. She was set to start high school next week.

"Lily. You can't sleep here, sweetheart, you'll hurt your neck. Time to go to bed." Vivian shook her gently.

Lily yawned and opened her eyes blearily. "Hi, Mom."

"Hi. It's time for bed."

Lily nodded without protest, only half awake. She wandered through to her bedroom and closed the door.

"Well, that was easy," Emma commented. "She always goes to bed easier when it's you asking."

"Yeah, but she always does her homework easier when it's you asking."

"It's because you're too easily distracted. You let her draw you into business talk, and by the time dinner is ready, she doesn't have anything done."

"Guilty," Vivian chuckled. "I guess it's a good thing that she has both of us, then."

"Yeah, it is."

Vivian had legally adopted Lily two years ago. She and Emma were now equally her mothers in the eyes of the law as well as the eyes of their family and friends. Vivian and Emma made sure to honour Alison at every chance they got. Vivian in no way wanted to replace Alison or minimise her as Lily's mom, she just wanted to take care of Emma and Lily.

"It's late. We should get to bed. We promised to take Lily shopping tomorrow."

"Yeah." Vivian pulled Emma in for a quick kiss before heading to their bedroom. They were both too tired from a good but long evening to do anything more than exchange a few kisses before they folded into each other's arms.

"I'm proud of you, Mrs. Sterling."

"You're the one who promoted me."

"Because you earned it. You've taken on more and more responsibility over the years. In practice, you already were vice CEO. All I did was put a name to it."

"Well, I'm proud of you, too."

"For recognizing your brilliance?"

Emma snorted. "Sure, that too, but mostly, I'm proud of the woman you've become. Remember when I met you? The Ice Queen? Who would ever have guessed what a warm, loving woman you'd evolve into, surrounded by people who care for you and who you care for in equal measure?"

"You did."

"I only hoped. You made that hope a reality."

"Remember that day? When you agreed to try again? I promised then that I'd never stop trying to be the kind of woman who deserves you."

"You have always deserved me."

"Perhaps not in the past, but I think I do a fairly good job at it now."

"Agree to disagree on the past, my love."

"Yeah, yeah. Go to sleep, Emma."

Emma laughed softly. "Goodnight, Vivian."

"Goodnight, Mrs. Emma Sterling. I love you."

"I love you, too."

Vivian had been wrong before. She didn't need her career to be happy. She just needed Emma and Lily. Her career was the delicious chocolate icing on top of the cake, but she had everything she truly needed right here.