AHH FINAL CHAPTER!

I will post the first epilogue next week, so stay tuned- it's not over yet.

Enjoy, don't forget to comment & vote.

Love,
~ShoamEmily

~

25th of December, 1989
Michael is 31, Angela is 25

Michael: Angela kissed me slowly, her whole body pressed against mine firmly, fingernails scratching my back.

She giggled happily into my mouth, making me pull her closer.

The fire crackled loudly in the fireplace across from us, our sweat glistening as it mingled together, and a few disposed condoms filled the small trash can next to the bed.

I let my fingers travel down to her entrance, earning a soft moan from her.

We had just calmed down from our previous... Activities, but that could never stop me from wanting to make her feel good again.

"Mike, we just- Ooh..."

"You were sayin', baby?" I chuckled in her ear, watching as she unfolded under my touch.

"Mmmm... We gotta get up early though..." she sighed.

"And...? When did that ever stop us?"

Her back arched in response to my fingers moving inside her, another demanding sigh leaving her lips.

I paused for a moment, letting my eyes roam over her body.

Four months after giving birth, and her young body had nearly returned to its natural state.

Nearly.

Her hips had softened with subtle curves, and the faint stretch marks along her sides caught my eye. I traced them lightly with my free hand, admiring them.

Her breasts, still full from nursing, had changed too; they were rounder, heavier.

I cupped one gently, letting my thumb graze over her nipple.

"Mike..." she murmured, her cheeks flushing as she squirmed under my touch.

"You're beautiful." I said, meaning every word.

She scoffed lightly, though her lips curved into a shy smile. "You're just saying that."

"No," I whispered, leaning in to press a kiss against the freckles on her shoulder. "I love all of it. The curves, the marks... Everything. It reminds me of what you've done for us. For them."

Her eyes softened, and for a moment, I thought she might cry. But instead, she kissed me, her lips warm and tender against mine.

I took the opportunity to move my fingers deeper inside her, earning a sharp gasp against my mouth.

"Michael!" she exclaimed into the kiss, her hands finding my shoulders, nails digging in.

I felt her body relax and tense all at once, her legs shifting slightly to allow me better access. My lips curled into a smile against hers, feeling the way her breath hitched.

But then, the faint fussing sound from the baby monitor on the nightstand broke our moment.

Angela sighed, her head falling back against the pillow as the sound grew louder.

"Well, that might stop us..." she muttered, playfully pushing me away.

Unwillingly, I let her go and followed her out of bed. We both found our robes quickly.

The sound of the baby monitor grew louder, enough to break the quiet of the night, and Angela's hand in mine was the only thing keeping me grounded as we made our way up the stairs.

The soft glow from the Christmas lights outside seeped through the curtains, casting a warm, gentle hue across the nursery.

Our baby girl's whimpering grew louder, followed by her unmistakable cry.

Four months in, and both of us were able to tell their cries apart.

MJ's was softer, less demanding, while Mikey's was always a little louder.

Angela's movements seemed automatic at this point as she reached into her crib, "Oh, she just needs a diaper change..."

As if on cue, Mikey stirred, probably sensing his mother close by.

Angela glanced at me, and I offered to take MJ from her.

We worked in a familiar rhythm. My wife sat down to feed our son, while I took our daughter to her changing table.

"Still one hungry baby..." Angela whispered to Mikey, who immediately latched to her nipple.

MJ whined uncomfortably, and I realized her little stomach was probably upsetting her.

I gently massaged it, calming her a little, before changing her diaper.

When I was done, I sat next to Angela on the couch, cradling my baby girl close.

"You think they know?" she asked me quietly. "That it's Christmas?"

I looked down at MJ, her brown eyes already half-closed as she settled against my chest, the soft pattern of her breath mingling with Mikey's suckling.

"I don't think they know," I chuckled softly. "But I'd like to think they feel the magic..."

Angela smiled, her eyes flickering up to meet mine. "Maybe they do. They're just too little to understand... But one day, we'll tell them all about it. Their first Christmas."

I nodded, glancing back at the glow of the decorated tree outside the window.

Angela let out a quiet, content sigh, her fingers brushing against Mikey's tiny hand as he sucked a bit more eagerly, making her wince.

"He's growing so fast, Mike..."

I smiled, rubbing small circles on MJ's back. "They both are."

For a moment, we both sat in silence, the only sound the peaceful breaths of our children, along with the hum of the wind in the background.

MJ stirred in my arms, her little mouth opening and closing, tiny body relaxed.

I looked at Angela, whose face was filled with that same quiet love as she held Mikey to her shoulder when he finished.

"You ready to sleep?" I questioned, watching her gently stroke Mikey's curls.

She nodded, giving me a tired smile. "Yeah... I think we all need it. Can we bring them with us...?"

"Of course, Angie."

I stood up, shifting MJ carefully in my arms.

Angela followed closely, her movements slower now, and she finally relaxed into bed, with our twins safely nestled between us.

"You know," I said, my voice quiet, just watching them sleep. "I think this is the best Christmas I've ever had."

"It's only your second Christmas... And there's no competition between the two. Both were spent with me." she teased.

"You think too highly of yourself, baby." I joked.

She nudged my arm playfully, leaning in for a kiss. I met her in the middle, our faces hovering over our babies.

As our lips met, the kiss was soft, and full of the love we'd built over the past year.

I cupped her cheek, kissing her deeper. How has it already been a year?

My mind raced with the memories, how different everything had become in just a short year.

From Christmas at her parents', finding out about the pregnancy, the quiet nights spent at my penthouse in New York, to now, in the glow of the fire, raising our children together.

I pulled back slowly, just enough to stay against her lips, and echo the same words she whispered to me a year ago in her childhood bedroom, "I love you, Angela..."

She smiled, her eyes still heavy with sleep.

"I love you more, Michael." she murmured, her fingers brushing lightly against my chest as she lay back into her pillow.

"Impossible." I argued.

"Oh, don't even start..." she rolled her eyes, then kept them closed.

I chuckled softly, watching her start to drift into a peaceful sleep.

Her left arm draped lazily around our children, the fire reflecting on the rings on her finger.

I examined her perfect skin, and brought my finger to trace the endless freckles.

She let out a hum, repeating that one, simple word from our wedding vows. "Always, right?"

"Always, Angie." I promised.

I shifted closer to my family, careful not to wake MJ and Mikey, wrapping an arm around the three of them.

"Merry Christmas." I whispered.

Angela murmured something in response, but her words were lost in her sleep, and I smiled.

There was no other place I'd rather be than here, with her, with our family.

This is what matters now. This is everything.

As I lay there, the fire crackling and the Neverland gardens glowing outside, I found myself grateful. Grateful for her.

For the babies. For us.

And while I closed my own eyes, I couldn't help but feel like everything was exactly where it was meant to be.

~

I woke up in bed, alone.

It felt late, my body heavy with too much sleep.

The house was eerily quiet at first, and I had to blink a couple of times to shake myself awake.

I stretched lazily, feeling the familiar ache in my back from the night spent holding my family close on the queen-sized bed.

The fire had died out, and the room was too still.

The twins, my beautiful babies, and Angela - they weren't there, and I felt empty.

My mind went to places it hasn't gone in a long time.

Was this all a dream? Was she just a dream? Why aren't they here with me?

But I looked around the master bedroom, and realized it was just my anxiety of being alone bubbling up.

Everything was in its place. The body lotion she'd usually kept on her nightstand, her jewelry bowl, and the pinboard above the fireplace with pictures of her pregnant.

Even the things that weren't in their place reassured me, like burp cloths and onesies that were carelessly thrown onto the chairs by the little table, with Christmas cards left unopened on it.

I inhaled deeply, calming myself down. It's all here. She's here. They're here.

After a few moment, I decided to get up. I dragged myself to the bathroom and took a quick shower.

As I brushed my teeth over the sink, I caught a glance of myself in the mirror.

The man looking back to me had changed completely. He was still exhausted, though it was a different kind of exhaustion.

Not induced by insomnia or his demons, but from late nights with his amazing wife and two children who brought him so much joy.

He was healthy, and even gained a few pounds since his babies were born.

I finished brushing my teeth, taking one last look in the mirror.

This man, this version of me, I hardly recognized him.

He was... Happier, softer, more complete.

There was a quietness about him that hadn't been there before, fulfillment that reached deeper than I'd ever known.

My reflection stared back, and I realized that instead of my familiar anxieties, there was a peace, a gratitude I could hardly put into words.

I left the bathroom, my seven months chip felt in my pocket as I walked down the hallway toward the sounds of distant laughter and the clink of dishes.

My heart fluttered when I moved closer, catching snippets of Angela's voice, mingling with her family's chatter.

Liz's laugh was heard too, loud compared to everyone else's.

And just under all the noise, I heard a small, sleepy coo; Mikey, waking from his morning nap.

As I stepped into the dining room, I was greeted by the warm sight of everyone gathered around the table.

Angela sat with our son, her chest covered as she nursed him.

She didn't see me at first, looking down at him under the cloth over her shoulder, making a face before adjusting him. "Come on, baby boy, just let mommy eat in peace..."

I watched for a moment, a smile making its way to my lips.

Another soft coo came from MJ, who was being held by Luciano, and played with the collar of his shirt.

He'd become a pro at holding his niece and nephew after four months, and I loved seeing him slowly become the best uncle he could be.

Sensing my presence, Angela locked her gaze with mine. "Hey, sleepyhead..."

"Did you open presents already?" I asked, coming to sit next to her.

I peeked at Mikey, who was now eating more demandingly.

"No, we waited for you," she leaned in, not quite meeting my lips. "But Luci was too hungry to wait for breakfast..."

"Hey, I'm a growing boy!" her brother protested.

I chuckled, shaking my head. Angela then offered me orange juice, carefully reaching for the bottle, mindful of Mikey.

"How did you sleep, Michael?" Liz smiled and handed Rosa the plate of pancakes.

"Oh, the usual. These two won't give us a full night of sleep yet." I told her.

Angela came closer to my ear, her tone playful. "Yeah, because they're the reason we didn't get enough sleep last night..."

I could feel myself blush, luckily no one heard her.

Mother and Joseph sat on the other end of the table along with Maria and Jared.

Although hesitant to come celebrate Christmas at first, my parents were eventually convinced by Angela, who begged them to be there for their grandchildren.

Our parents seemed engaged in conversation, only offering me a small 'good morning' each.

"Can we go on the rides today, Mike?" Luciano looked at me, wide-eyed.

"Only if the boss says yes." I nodded towards my wife.

Angela raised an eyebrow, trying to keep a straight face. "Hmm, well, as long as you all can handle it. We're on a pretty tight schedule today."

Her teasing made everyone laugh, and Luciano gave an exaggerated groan, clearly impatient to hit the rides already.

I was next to get the plate stacked with pancakes. I only took a couple, but Angela reached in, piling on an extra one.

"Just for good measure." she whispered.

I dug in, while she stole small bites from my plate, although having her own which only held a half-eaten meal.

Just as I was about to take another bite, Joseph cleared his throat across the table.

He hadn't said much since I sat down, and the silence between us seemed to grow thicker by the second.

It was always quiet like this with him, even after seeing him more since the babies were born.

His gaze was steady, but his expression was unreadable.

"How's everything going with the twins?" Joseph asked, his voice low but surprisingly warm.

I glanced at Angela, still feeding Mikey, her attention split between him and the conversation.

Her smile faded for a second, and I could tell she was bracing herself for whatever Joseph was about to say.

"Everything's... Good," I said, trying to keep it light. "You know how it is- busy, but we're managing."

"We're more than managing." Angela added.

Joseph simply nodded, his attention now on mother.

My wife placed a soothing hand on my thigh, and I knew better than to turn this into something more.

Mikey fussed against her suddenly, making her pull him back from her breast, covering herself quickly.

Without needing to ask, she put the cloth on my shoulder, our son next.

I caught mother watching our little interaction, a bright smile on her face as I rubbed my baby boy's small back.

As breakfast wrapped up, Angela and I stayed put with our children while everyone funneled into the living room.

Joseph lingered around for a moment, with a hesitant expression.

"You seem... Settled, Michael. Fatherhood looks good on you, son." he said quietly.

I blinked, unsure of how to respond.

His words seemed genuine, but there was something about the way he said it that felt like an opening.

"Uh, thanks, Joseph..." I managed.

He patted Angela's shoulder lightly, then joined everyone.

There was a moment of silence, and for a second, I thought maybe things might just be... Fine between us.

The quiet stayed in the air for a moment, and I found myself staring at the doorway Joseph had just passed through.

His words seemed to stay, almost like a blessing, but I knew there will always be something unresolved between us.

I didn't expect a compliment from him, and I wasn't sure what to make of it either.

Angela gave my thigh a squeeze, to let me know she's there.

I smiled at her as I bounced Mikey gently on my shoulder.

He babbled, his little hands tugging at my shirt.

I kissed the top of his head, his sister joining him.

"Everything's gonna be alright." Angela whispered, almost as though she could read my mind.

I leaned my head against hers for a moment, grateful for her reassurance.

"Yeah, it is." I murmured.

I moved Mikey in my arms, his blue eyes that matched his mommy's now looking straight at me.

I melted a little inside, my glance moving between him and MJ.

"It is, right?" I asked them and tickled their tummies.

Two rolling laughs filled the room. Angela joined them, moving closer than she already was.

She held me by the back of the neck before she planted a soft kiss on my lips.

"Come on," she said. "Before Luci loses his patience."

We made our way to the living room, the sound of laughter and movement filling the space.

I glanced around at them, all the people who made this life feel like home; even Joseph.

There was no more doubt, no more questioning. This was where I belonged.

"Miiiike, we need to get this going, the rides won't wait forever." Luciano's voice broke through my thoughts.

He was grinning like a kid on Christmas morning, a present already in his hands. Oh, wait...

Angela sighed but smiled at him, shaking her head. "Okay, okay. But no complaints later if you're too tired to walk."

"I promise nothing." Luciano rolled his eyes just like my wife does.

I laughed, "Let's get started, then."

~

The day continued as planned, and by the end of it, we were all still walking around the Neverland grounds.

Lights and glittery decorations twinkled around us as we wandered down the endless lanes.

Angela and I stayed close together, our babies now sleeping soundly in their strollers.

We just put them down for the night, but I knew it was far from being over, like every other night.

I never imagined this when she first walked into my life.

Moments like these, the ones that felt suspended in time, were now my new reality, and I couldn't help but love every minute of them.

Angela squeezed my hand, a knowing look in her eyes.

We were both thinking the same thing.

I caught her smile, so loving, as we shared this moment together.

She seemed lighter tonight, maybe because the stress of the day interrupted the familiar comfort of our routine, giving her more time for herself.

I leaned in closer, my voice soft. "It's been a good day, huh?"

"Yeah. An amazing day." she said.

The gentle hum of the park's background music filled the space between us, but it felt distant, almost like the world outside of this bubble was on pause.

Angela and I didn't speak much, just walked hand in hand, the sound of our footsteps mingling with the murmurs of our babies as they slept deeply.

We passed by the carousel, its lights glowing brightly against the dark sky, the gentle swaying of the horses almost hypnotic.

I found myself smiling at the sight. Neverland really felt like home now, as if it was serving its purpose finally.

It was so full, wasn't just me. It was me, Angela, and our beautiful babies.

As we reached the end of the lane, I noticed the empty bench tucked under a willow tree, and I pulled Angela toward it.

"Let's sit for a minute." I suggested.

She agreed, her body sinking into the wooden seat beside me.

We both looked out at the lights in silence for a while.

Her fingers ran along my arm, head rested on my shoulder, every now and then she would bring our intertwined hands to her lips, pressing a firm kiss on the back of my hand.

The peaceful quiet of the moment felt almost sacred, like time had slowed down just for us.

The rustle of the willow tree's leaves above and the distant sound of the carousel was the only noise in the air.

Angela's touch was gentle, the way she kissed the back of my hand was like a silent promise.

"You're everything to me, you know that?" I whispered.

"I know." she replied.

I didn't need to hear say it back. It was that simple 'I know', her sure tone, that told me the feeling was mutual.

Another comfortable silence enveloped us, but this time, it was full of understanding.

Everything in my life had changed since Angela had come into it.

I didn't know then how much I actually needed her.

Not just for myself, I needed our family, this life we were creating together.

And as much as I was scared of the future, and what it held for my children, I couldn't imagine doing it with anyone else but Angela.

I glanced over at her, her features softened by the glow of the park's lights.

Her eyes met mine, and I knew she felt the same warmth I did.

We both leaned in, our lips crashing onto each other.

I held her by the sides of her face, while her arms wrapped all around my torso.

Breathing seemed like a burden in that moment, all either of us wanting was to feel each other close.

But even in the quiet, I couldn't shake the sense that there was always something around the corner.

I had learned that nothing stays still for too long, not with my lifestyle.

Outside the safety of the Neverland gates, the world was buzzing, just wishing they could to catch a glimpse of our little family.

And yet, here in Angela's arms, in the little sounds of our babies, in the warmth of her body close to mine; I realized that, for now, this was enough.

The world could wait.