Page 96 of Fourth Wall

“You’re coming out of your shell, Christian.” She smiled, looking up at me with the warmth practically seeping out of her.

“But don't you see? It’s only because of you, Maeve. It has always been because of you. Since the moment I met you, I have always thought you were the one for me. I thought you were beautiful when I first looked at you, and today, I think you are even prettier.” I coughed again, feeling the tears starting to form.

"I love you, Maeve West. I want to be the best husband I can be, though I can't promise I won't stumble along the way. But I'm grateful that you're here, by my side, ready to pick me up when I fall. And I'll need your guidance when this little one arrives, too," I said, gently patting her stomach.

As our eyes locked, I saw tears glistening in hers. "It's because of you, Christian, that I have my family. Gratitude doesn't even begin to describe the depth of my feelings for you and the sacrifices you've made for us. It's ironic how it all started with that fake dating plan," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

She nestled into the crook of my neck, a familiar and comforting gesture. I savored the moment, inhaling her scent before sleep gently claimed her. I listened to the soft sighs and watched her rhythmic breathing, feeling an overwhelming sense of peace and contentment.

Life had taken me on a journey I could have never foreseen. From a childhood without parents, to tumultuous times in the Marine Corps and a painful divorce, I never imagined I'd endup here—married to the woman of my dreams, surrounded by a loving family.

The journey that brought us here wasn't always easy, but the lessons I learned along the way truly mattered. As I lovingly brushed a few stray strands of hair away from her face, I couldn't help but gently kiss her forehead, filled with the warmth of our shared love. I leaned down toward the shell of her ear and whispered the one truth that remained this entire journey.

“There was never anything fake about us, firecracker.”

Ave Atque Vale

End.

Epilogue

Maeve

One(ish) Year Later

“Happy Mother's Day!” Kelcie, Kinsley, and Christian barged into the bedroom with a tray filled with breakfast treats and a vase with the most colorful poppies I had ever seen.

“Perfect timing. Guess who just woke up?” I looked down at the crib set up in what we used to call my room, although I admittedly didn't think I had ever slept there. It was always meant to be baby Greyson’s room.

Christian slid next to me and looked down where the cutest little boy lay tucked safely into his sleep sack. His incredibly fluffy blond hair splayed all over the mattress, and he looked up at us with the same piercing blue eyes as his sisters.

“Every time I look at him, I just see a copy-and-paste version of you.” I looked over at Christian, who just couldn’t stop staring at the little boy, his favorite pastime.

“What did you guys bring me?” I asked the girls, and they shoved the tray in my direction.

“Poppy Christian helped make the pancakes,” they both excitedly burst out. I know the nickname they called Christian sounded utterly ridiculous, but over the past year, it had really grown on me. There was such symbolism and meaning in that little flower, and the growth of our family that I had grown to love it.

“That is so nice of him.” I gave each of them a thank-you hug, and we all headed downstairs. I watched as Christian held Greyson, and Kelcie’s hand, as Kinsley went ahead of them. This was the family I always hoped for. The partner that I could only have conjured in my dreams.

Christian was still doing the same thing that he always did, and Alex looked like he would win the presidential race this fall, so it was likely he and Julian would be able to delegate their more “gritty” tasks so they could focus on more of the legit side of the business.

As we got downstairs, I heard the doorbell ring and quickly went to answer it.

“I’ll get the stuff ready for brunch in the yard,” Christian shouted from the back. We had borrowed Julian’s chef today in honor of Mother’s Day to have a big brunch celebration for all of us.

I opened the door, and Gianna and her almost one-year-old daughter, Aria, came into the house. Elio was in tow with the playpen, diaper bag, breast pump, and everything from their entire house, it seemed.

“You guys know we have this stuff here, too?” Gianna gave me two kisses on each side of the face.

“You know how particular El is.” She rolled her eyes and dropped the baby, who crawled all the way to the back.

“Hi, beautiful. Happy Mother’s Day,” Elio offered and gave me the same kiss-greeting.

Tatum and Julian walked up with their six-month-old, Jax.

“Guess what?” Tatum screeched from the end of the sidewalk.

“What?” I walked out to greet her and grabbed the baby from her hand, giving him a little kiss on the cheek.

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