Epilogue

Wren

3 years later

J ust act normal, Wren. Don't freak the fuck out.

The auditorium buzzes with excitement as I adjust my graduation cap for the hundredth time. Three years of busting my ass, and here I am, about to get my Associate Degree in Nursing.

Fuck yeah, I did it. Maybe I ain't so bad after all.

"Momma, you look pretty!" Alex's voice cuts through the chatter. He's six now, all gangly limbs and mischievous grin. Looking so handsome in the suit.

I ruffle his hair, grinning. "Thanks, kiddo. You clean up nice yourself."

D appears behind him, looking annoyingly handsome in a tailored suit just like Alex's. "He's right, you know. You do look beautiful."

D tilts my chin up, his lips crashing against mine in a deep, passionate kiss. Gosh, he tastes sexy . But when he doesn't want to pull away, I press my hands against his chest.

"Stop it, you," I murmur against his mouth, breaking us apart.

He tilts his head back just slightly, his lips curling into that smug, teasing smile of his. His eyes sparkle with mischief as he whispers, "Never, krasotka. " Then he gives me a cheeky wink.

I shove his chest again, but I can feel the heat creeping up my neck. "Save it for the after-party, big guy."

He chuckles, that deep rumble that still does things to me, even after all this time. "Speaking of parties…"

Oh, no. I know that look. It's the same look he had at Alex's birthday last year, right before he pulled out a ring and nearly gave me a heart attack in front of a bunch of six-year-olds.

"D, I swear to God, if you're planning what I think you're planning—"

He holds up his hands, all innocence. "What? Can't a man be proud of his… what are we calling it these days? Life partner?"

"Pain in the ass works, too," I mutter, but I'm smiling.

Suddenly, there's a commotion near the entrance. Lenny bursts through the doors, all six feet of him decked out in honest-to-God cowboy boots and a Stetson. Em's right behind him, trying to wrangle Niko and Natalya.

"Wren!" Lenny bellows, sweeping me up in a bear hug. "Look at you, all fancy in your cap and gown!"

I wheeze, tapping his arm. "Can't… breathe…"

He sets me down, grinning sheepishly. "Sorry, sis. Just proud of ya, is all."

Em finally catches up with Niko and Natalya in tow. "Sorry we're late. Someone," she glares pointedly at Lenny, "insisted on stopping for ‘authentic road trip snacks.'"

"Hey, you can't road trip without beef jerky. It's un-American," Lenny protests.

Before I can retort, there's a tap on my shoulder. I turn to see Sophia and Luka, both looking like they just stepped off a runway.

"Congratulations, dorogaya, " Luka says, kissing my cheek. "You've come a long way."

Sophia hugs me tight. "We're so proud of you, Wren."

I blink back the sudden moisture in my eyes. Damn it, when did I turn into such a sap?

Em's eyes are shining as she looks at me. "God, Wren, I'm so proud of you. And… Dad would be, too, you know?"

The mention of John feels like a knife to the ribs, twisting and piercing deep into my heart.

It's been a year since he passed, but the ache is still there, raw and persistent.

Fuck, don't cry. Not now.

I swallow hard, forcing a smile. "Yeah, well, at least he got his shit together before he checked out, right?"

Em squeezes my hand, understanding in her eyes. "He did more than that, sis. Those last few years… he was really there. For all of us."

I nod, memories flashing through my mind. Dad, clean and sober, playing with Alex.

"It wasn't perfect," I admit, "but it's still more than I ever thought we'd get."

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you could all take your seats. We're about to begin the graduation ceremony," the dean's voice thunders through the auditorium.

"Alright, everyone, go sit down now," I mutter, shushing Alex, who's giggling at something Niko said. I give D a knowing look, like I'm half-expecting him to cause trouble too. He just smirks.

Em shoots me a wink. "I'll take lots of pictures for you!"

I give Em a quick smirk, "Yeah, yeah, just don't get too close with that camera. I don't need a hundred photos of me looking awkward."

She flashes a grin, holding up her phone like a weapon. "Too late."

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Inhale through my nose, slow and deep, filling my lungs until my chest tightens.

Hold it. Let it go.

Straightening my gown, I glance around at the sea of faces, familiar and not-so-familiar, but they all blur together. I nudge through the crowd, weaving past family members and students, dodging a toddler running loose with a juice box.

D's eyes flick to mine, still smirking, but I'm not having it. I give him a quick eyebrow raise, letting him know I ain't falling for that shit.

I reach the lineup of graduates, slipping into my spot. The girl behind me leans forward, whispering, "God, I'm so nervous. Is your family here?"

I turn, ready to give some snarky reply, but the words die in my throat. The girl's eyes are red-rimmed, as if she's been crying.

"Yeah," I say instead, softening. "They're here."

She nods, a wistful smile on her face. "That's nice. Must be great to have people you love supporting you."

I follow her gaze to the crowd, searching for my misfit crew. There they are, right in the front row. D's sitting ramrod straight, looking like he's ready to take on anyone who even thinks about messing with this ceremony. Alex is bouncing in his seat, held in check only by Lenny's firm hand on his shoulder. Em's got Niko on her lap while Sophia's wrangling Natalya. Luka's there, too, looking amused by the whole spectacle.

Holy shit. They're all here. For me.

The realization hits me like a freight train. Three years ago, I was a mess, convinced I'd never amount to anything. And now…

Don't you fucking dare cry, Wren. You've got mascara on.

But it's a losing battle. I can feel the tears welling up, my vision going blurry. I blink rapidly, trying to clear it.

"You okay?" the girl behind me asks, concern in her voice.

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. She pats my shoulder awkwardly, and I have to bite back a laugh. Here I am, getting comforted by a stranger at my own graduation.

"Wren Davis."

Oh my God, that's me.

I'm walking across the stage toward the dean, trying to look as confident as I can, but something feels off.

The dean's got this strange smirk plastered on his face.

What's going on?

As I reach for my diploma, the dean pulls it back. "Ms. Davis, I'm afraid there's been a slight change of plans."

My eyes nearly pop out of my skull. "Excuse me?"

The dean chuckles. "It seems someone made a rather generous donation to our nursing program. Half a million dollars, to be exact."

I whip my head around to see my whole crew holding up giant cardboard signs. "Marry D Already!" "Say Yes!" "Do It For The Free Booze!"

"What the actual f—?" I catch myself, remembering where I am. "What's going on?"

Suddenly, D appears on stage, looking like he just stepped out of a movie scene. The audience gasps and cheers. I swear I hear someone faint.

"You…" I hiss.

D takes my hands, his eyes locked on mine.

"Wren, you stubborn, beautiful pain in my ass. You've been my inspiration, my rock, and the best mother our boy could ask for. You've loved me at my worst and pushed me to be my best. You've seen me covered in blood…" And I hear more gasps from the audience.

"D!" I warn.

"What I'm saying is. Krasotka , you're the only woman who can make me feel like a lovestruck teenager and a grumpy old man in the same breath."

I'm trying to glare at him, but my vision's going blurry with tears.

D takes a deep breath, his eyes never leaving mine. Then, in one smooth motion, he drops to one knee. The entire auditorium goes silent.

He pulls out a ring box, and I swear I hear collective gasps from the crowd. "Wren," he says, his voice rough with emotion, "I added a few more carats. Thought maybe that'd sweeten the deal."

I can't get a word out. D lets out a nervous breath, like he's been holding it in for way too long.

"Will you marry me?"

I'm barely holding it together, tears streaming down my face. D reaches out, his calloused thumb gently brushing away the wetness on my cheeks.

I catch a glimpse of what's in his hand and nearly choke.

There it is. The ring.

Holy shit.

The ring inside is ridiculous—a massive diamond surrounded by smaller stones, glittering so brightly it's almost blinding. It's like someone shrunk down a disco ball and slapped it on a band.

My mind's racing a mile a minute. This is insane. We're in the middle of my fucking graduation. There are hundreds of people watching. My cap's sliding off my head, and I can feel my mascara running down my face.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. My throat feels like I swallowed sandpaper.

Suddenly, a familiar voice pipes up from the audience. "Marry Papa, Momma!"

It's Alex, standing on his chair, hands cupped around his mouth like a megaphone. The crowd erupts in laughter and cheers.

I suck in a breath, feeling like I've been sucker-punched. D's holding both my hands now, his grip warm and steady. I look into his eyes, seeing a mix of hope, fear, and something else I can't quite name.

"You son of a gun," I whisper, my voice shaky. "You've ambushed me."

D's lips quirk up in that infuriating smirk of his. "Guilty as charged, krasotka. But can you blame a guy for wanting to lock down the best thing that ever happened to him?"

His words are light, but his eyes… Fuck, his eyes are so sincere it hurts to look at them.

"Do it! Do it!"

The crowd's getting restless. I see people leaning forward in their seats. The dean's tapping his foot, probably wondering if he's gonna have to give me my diploma or a wedding certificate.

"Wren," D says, his voice low and intense. "I know this is crazy. I know you hate being the center of attention. But I love you. I love our kid. I want to build a life with you, a real one. No more running, no more hiding. Just us, facing whatever comes next together."

I swallow hard, my heart pounding so loud I'm sure everyone can hear it. This is it. No more excuses, no more running.

"Yes," I whisper.

D's eyebrows shoot up. "What was that?"

I clear my throat, feeling a grin spread across my face. "I said yes, you deaf bastard. Now, put that rock on my finger before I change my mind."

The auditorium explodes. It's like someone set off a bomb of cheers and applause. D's on his feet in an instant, crushing me against his chest. I can feel his heart hammering, matching mine beat for beat.

He pulls back just enough to slide the ring onto my finger. It's heavy as hell, but as I flex my hand, watching the light dance off the ridiculous diamond, I realize I don't mind the weight at all.

"You're crazy," I mutter against his chest.

"Crazy about you, wife, " he fires back, and I can hear the grin in his voice.

I pull back, ready to roll my eyes at him, but then I see his face. He's beaming, looking at me like I'm the best thing he's ever seen. It knocks the wind right out of me.

"I love you," I blurt out, surprising myself.

D's eyes go wide for a second before his grin turns downright wolfish. "I know," he says, and before I can smack him for the "Star Wars" reference, he's kissing me.

The crowd's still going nuts—cheering, whistling, clapping like they've never seen anything like it. But honestly? I don't hear a damn thing. It's all him.

I wrap my legs around his waist, arms tight around his neck, and he catches me like he always does—steady, solid, mine.

"Looks like you're stuck with me now," I whisper, smirking against his lips.

His grin is pure trouble. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

And then he kisses me again, the whole world fading away until it's just us.

My husband.

The End

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