Epilogue

Emily's POV

A year. It had been an entire year since Noah and I got together, and I'd lie if I'd say that I had been happier before in my life. These were the most peaceful and blissful months of life that I almost forgot how miserable I had been before he came into my life.

No nightmares. No crying. No insomnia. 

He really made me feel loved to a point where I didn't realize how fast time flew. Noah made me love myself before anyone else. He taught me to trust again. Trust myself, trust others. He really did make me understand the meaning of home. 

And William. Well, don't even start on him because damn, I didn't know people could be this good and selfless. He too had become so important to me, that—

Ding.

The doorbell rang and pulled me out of my thoughts and I realized how creepy I looked smiling like a maniac at particularly nothing. 

"Baby, can you get that? I'm kinda...well stuck here," Noah yelled from upstairs and I chuckled and stood up from the couch walking towards the door.

Noah was up painting William's study room and William was......well chilling around. He had to paint that room as a punishment from William because he got into a fight at school with Nichole's boyfriend and let's just say that things didn't go well and he got suspended for two days from school. 

Not that he minded.

I opened the door and the first thing I was met with was a pair of amber eyes shining brightly at me. A boy of about my age with light brown hair and amber eyes and well-defined muscles and abs was standing right in front of me with eyes wide open and a boyish grin on his face. He looked at me with a confused expression on his face but then his grin became even wider.

"Looks like I'm at the wrong place again—

he muttered almost to himself 

—is this Black's residence?" he asked and ran a hand through his hair.

For a second I thought that he winked at me but waived that thought off.

"Yes," I nodded and politely smiled at him. 

"Oh well then....wow," he looked me at from head to toe and rubbed his chin thoughtfully as if figuring something out.

"Aren't you going to let me in? Chill, I know the Blacks well," he chuckled and I lowered my head down in embarrassment.

Where did my manners go, again?

"Of course, please come inside," I awkwardly skirred away from the door as he moved inside like he owned the place.

"Nice to meet you Miss...?" he trailed and extended his out hand.

I took his hand and he lifted it up to his lips and kissed the back of my hand "I'm Emi—"

"Hands to yourself, Acehole," Noah's irritated voice came from right behind me and I turned around to look at him. 

He looked pissed.

"There you are my brother," the boy let go of my hand and dramatically put a hand on his heart.

Noah slightly shook his head but I didn't miss the slight hint of a smile on his face.

The boy moved towards him and gave him a bro hug and Noah lightly patted his back and smiled at me from atop his shoulder.

"This is my childhood friend, Ace," Noah walked over towards me and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him.

"Yep, that's me," Ace waved and winked at me.

"And this is Emily, my girlfriend," Noah emphasized the word and I inwardly rolled my eyes at his possessiveness. 

"Oh, so you are the one Noah wouldn't stop babbling abou—" Noah smacked his head before he had a chance to complete his sentence.

"The fuck is wrong with you, man?" Ace rubbed his head and whined at Noah.

"You asked for it," Noah shrugged in his usual nonchalant way and I awkwardly just stood there in his arms, trying to put two and two together.

"Fucking sadist," Ace rolled his eyes and practically pushed us away from his way, making his way towards the living room. 

 "Sorry about him," Noah slyly smiled at me as I wrapped both of my arms around his torso and pulled him closer to me.

"It's okay." 

"And...3,2,1 here we go again," he shook his head in a disappointed manner, and before I had a chance to ask what he was talking about I heard a voice yell from the kitchen.

"BITCH!"

"BUTTERCUP!" 

Noah let go of my waist and rubbed his temples, cursing under his breath. I knew that the first voice was of William and of course, Ace was the only one except us in the house so I guessed the second one was of him.

Noah cupped my face in his hands and pecked my lips, "Sorry about this one." He said and held my hand in his, dragging me to the kitchen.

There I saw William and Ace doing a weird handshake thing and then William hugged him and laughed, his eyes shining brightly.

"They act like diapers buddies or something," Noah whispered to me and rolled his eyes and I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight in front of me. 

"What a pleasant surprise," William said to Ace and he only grinned in response.

"You guys need serious help," Noah disappointingly made his way over to the counter with my hand still in his and sat on the chair, pulling me to his lap.

He had this weird habit of making me sit in his lap even if there were plenty of places to sit elsewhere.

"You're just jealous," Ace winked and Noah only rolled his eyes in response.

"What made you miss us?" Noah asked as Ace munched on Cheetos that were supposed to be mine.

Well okay then.

"Who said I missed you?" Ace made a disgusted face and William chuckled.

I didn't know what was happening.

I felt so out of place at the moment. I mean I didn't even know that boy and he was my boyfriend's best friend and a second son to his dad. They were all talking like the usual, completely ignoring my existence, and the fact that Noah was absentmindedly placing soft kisses on my bare neck and shoulders while talking to him was not helping at all. 

The day went by in a blur and it was time for dinner before I knew what was happening. I placed the plates on the table as Noah entered the room and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

I turned around with a smile on my lips and cupped his face in my hands. I leaned up and pressed my lips to his. The kiss was meant to be a soft peck but soon enough I found myself in a heated make-out session with Noah where he had me caged in between his body and the table. 

Noah dipped his head in the hollow of my neck and started kissing and sucking aggressively and I bit my lower lip to keep myself from making any embarrassing sounds. 

"Welp, don't mind me. I was just passing by," a not-so sorry voice came from behind Noah and I swear I saw Noah clench his jaw but relaxed as soon as I gently squeezed his hand in mine.

"Why? Why do you all hate me?" Noah whined and turned around with a pissed expression on his face and I couldn't help but laugh lightly which seemed to piss him even more. 

"See, it's not my fault. Get a room or something," Ace stated in a matter-of-fact tone and Noah rolled his eyes. 

Soon after William entered with his usual jolly aura and plopped down on the seat of the dining table, "You all are gonna eat or what?" He asked and without much of waiting for anyone dug into the chicken which made me chuckle and Noah shook his head in disappointment. Ace face-palmed. 

We all sat and started eating with the three of them talking and me trying to fit in. Noah somehow found my hand under the table and entwined it with his, giving it a small squeeze which obviously made me feel a lot better.

"Look who's spreading STDS," I heard Ace mutter but I wasn't sure if I heard him right.

***********

The next day I was laying down on the bed, doing nothing. Well not exactly nothing, I was thinking about Noah so that counted too, right? Right? 

As I imagined him laying down next to me, an unwanted smile made its way to my lips and I smacked myself for being so silly.

Stupid Emily.

As if reading my thoughts, my phone began to ring with the name of my favorite person on it. I obviously didn't miss a second in picking it up.

"Hey," unwillingly my voice came out raspy and desperate. 

"Hi," I heard him chuckle on the other side as if he knew how I was feeling.

Lunatic.

"Come out for a while, would you?" Noah asked and in a split second, I was off of the bed and in front of the mirror combing my hair with my fingers. 

As I was about to practically fly out of my room, with the phone still close to my ear his voice stopped me short in my tracks.

"Wear something...nice?" 

Didn't he find the clothes I wore daily nice? I mean since we were together I had always tried to dress up nicely and sometimes I even wore makeup so that he won't find his girlfriend out-dated.

"W-what do you mean by n-nice?" I asked in a low voice.

"I don't know the dresses which have you know some flowers and the other shit on it. We're going somewhere so figure that out yourself," he said and cut the call.

"No, but wai—" I sighed and turned around to wear something 'nice'. 

Noah was extremely bad at girl's stuff that sometimes I didn't even know what he was trying to imply. I shook my head but my lips were still somehow quirked up in a smile.

He meant fancy. 

Dumbass I changed into a dress Noah bought me some days ago. I didn't know what happened to him that day but out of nowhere he just came up to me and said that I didn't demand like other girlfriends did. He seriously thought about it for a while and then suddenly grabbed my hand and dragged me all the way to the mall to buy something.

It was a short blue tulle drasawee cocktail dress. I put on some makeup and grabbed my clutch before running down the stairs in my heels. 

I saw mom's empty room and frowned when I didn't find her in the bathroom as well. Since the accident, she never left the house unless it was necessary and when she did she always left me a note or told me herself. 

I sighed and hoped that she was safe wherever she was and made my way out of the house towards my boyfriend who was standing right in front of my door. He lifted his head up, probably sensing my presence, and gave me a sly smile.

My heartbeat became erratic as I approached him and fact that he wrapped his arms around me as soon as I neared him knocked the breath out of my lungs. 

He lowered his head and captured my lips in a kiss to which I responded with the same intensity that had my toes curling. Even after all these months I still wasn't used to his kisses like it was a normal thing. We both pulled away, panting heavily.

"Damn it, why are you so beautiful?" he said in a hoarse voice.

"I'd take that as a compliment?" my statement came out as a question and Noah chuckled lightly.

It was when I noticed that he wasn't as dressed up as I was and I suddenly felt self-conscious as to if I had overdone it. He was wearing a white dress shirt that hugged his muscles perfectly with black denim jeans.

"Is it a date?" I asked and Noah smirked, "Maybe?" he shrugged that annoyed me even more.

"Let's go," he took my hand in his as we made our way towards his SUV.

"Tell me where are we going," I whined. 

I didn't care if I sounded like a five-year-old. I could be anything when I was with Noah.

"You're gonna figure that out soon, anyway," Noah rolled his eyes and started the engine.

We sat in silence for barely two minutes when I realized where we were headed to.

"Are we goi—"

"Yes," Noah sighed in defeat as if he wanted it to be a surprise but who was he kidding? I knew this place like the back of my hand.

 I grinned at him. 

But what I didn't understand was that why would he take me to the lake at eight in the evening? A date? I didn't think that a date at the lake would be the best idea. But I shrugged it off because as long as Noah was by my side I really didn't care where we were or where we were headed to. 

After some time we reached the lake and I'd have to say that I forgot how to breathe for a second. The whole damn place was decorated with lights, floral petals backdrops, lanterns, tassel garlands, and string lights. The place was lit up like a castle that had me in tears. 

I turned around and saw Noah on one knee right behind me. I put a hand on my mouth as he took out a small box from his pocket. Tears pouring out of my eyes. 

"Don't worry I'm not going to ask you to marry me," he chuckled lightly as he opened the box.

I was speechless. Thousands of thoughts were running through my mind yet none of them reached my tongue. This was the most anyone had ever done for me in my entire life.

"Emily..." he breathed. 

My breathing became uneven. I felt like I would fall to my knees. Pools of tears were still flowing out of my eyes and I had no control over myself anymore. 

"May I?" he asked and I nodded as he graciously slipped the ring in my finger. 

"Noah...." a sob escaped my throat. I didn't know why I was crying. Even after a year of being together, Noah had this thing in him that made me an emotional wreck.

He stood up from his knee and wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me as close as it was possible.

"Happy Birthday, baby," he said and pressed his lips to mine in a kiss my lips ached for. I kissed him back and just like this both of us molded in the other's body.

Noah pulled away and grinned at me, "You didn't remember did you?" He asked and wrapped a loose strand of my hair around his finger.

"Obviously not," I said that made him grin even wide if that was even possible.

'Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Emily, happy birthday to you' William and Ace came out singing me a birthday song as I buried my head in Noah's neck.

William neared us and enveloped me in a hug and Ace came grinning towards me with a box in his hands. 

"Happy Birthday...... Cupcake," he mimicked and William threw his head back in a small laugh. Noah obviously got pissed. 

"You don't get to call her that," I heard him mutter as I snaked my arm around his torso.

William and Ace skirred away, fighting on something and I was left alone with Noah again. 

"Thank you, Noah. You don't know how much this means to me," I kept my face in his chest to avoid his gaze because honestly with all that he did for me today, I couldn't bring myself to look at him in the eyes.

Noah lifted my head up to make me look at him and smiled, "You don't need to thank me for anything." He kissed my forehead and I closed my eyes, savoring the moment.

William and Ace were seated on the table Noah had placed right on the bank of the lake and were living the time of their lives. 

"Cupcake?" 

"Hm?"

I turned around to look at Noah again and he motioned his hand towards the dock where I noticed someone standing with a shawl on their shoulder and face towards the lake.

"Who is—"

"Go ahead," he removed his hands from around me and took a step back, nodding his head towards the person standing at the dock.

I walked over towards it and soon realized who it was.

"Mom?"

Mom turned around and gave me a somewhat sad smile, lifting her hand up to caress my face she spoke, "Happy Birthday, honey."

"T-thankyou," I lowered my eyes to the ground, not sure how to react to the affection I lacked for years.

"I'm sorry Emily...for everything. I couldn't be a good mother to you. I'm so sorry, please try to forgive me," she whispered as a tear slid down her cheek.

"Mom..."

"I know I cannot just barge into your life right now after not being there with you through the most difficult times of your life but please do know that I do realize my mistakes. Though I cannot mend all those years of utter pain nor can I pretend that they never happened but I-I—I'll try to be here for you if you'll ever need me again," she completely broke down in front of me and I enveloped her into a hug, resting my head on her shoulder.

"It's okay mom. I forgive you," I said and she cried even more hugging me so close as if afraid I'd disappear. 

We pulled away after some moments and mom looked at something behind me and smiled, "He loves you." She said and I turned around and saw the three of them standing around the table. Noah was taking a huge cake out of the box Ace was holding earlier and Ace was saying something to him at which he was only rolling his eyes. William, on the other hand, was just laughing at whatever he was saying. 

"He does," I whispered. 

We walked to where the table was and Noah snapped his head up and smiled, putting the candles down he came to me and brushed his fingers along my cheekbones, "Time to cut the cake." 

I took the knife in my hand and cut the cake as everyone once again sang a happy birthday song for me. 

After some time I was standing at the dock alone, thinking about how my life had taken an unexpected but beautiful turn in the last year. I had lost my hope when Noah came into my life. But he never did. He did not lose hope. Not in me. Not in himself. 

Lost in thoughts I didn't realize when Ace came by and stood beside my with hands tucked in his pockets and face towards the lake.

"Hey," I said.

"Hi," he looked at me and gave me one of his signature boyish grins.

We stood there in silence for a few moments when Ace broke it, "Thanks, Emily." He said.

"What for?" I quirked an eyebrow.

"Bringing him back." 

I knew what he was talking about. 

"I didn't do anything," I shook my head.

"You did. You brought the Noah back I knew years ago. I've never seen them happier before and I know you're the reason," he nodded his head towards where Noah and William were seated. William was stuffing his face with cake and Noah had his phone out with a timer on it. 

I smiled and brought my eyes back to the lake. 

"We both healed each other," I corrected him after some more moments of silence. 

"Just don't ever leave him," Ace said out of nowhere and my heart clenched in my chest with just the mere thought of it.

"Stop manipulating my girlfriend," Noah came and possessively wrapped me in his arms and Ace rolled his eyes.

"Yeah I was just telling her that how I am the better one," he smirked and it was now Noah's turn to roll his eyes.

"Like she's ever gonna believe that," he murmured and placed a kiss on my temple.

"Before both of ruin whatever innocence I have left, it's better if I leave," Ace made a disgusted face and walked away to where William was sitting leaving me with Noah alone again.

I turned around as Noah started humming a song and rested my head just below his chin. Everything felt so whole and complete.

I looked at the table to William who was still trying to finish the cake that was left. I looked at mom who was standing at the bank of the lake, at the place where I and Christian used to sit. She was smiling as if remembering a distant, good memory.

I lifted my chin up to look at Noah who had his eyes closed and he was smiling too, savoring the beautiful moment for life.

Life. A beautiful life that waited for us ahead. I was no more afraid of it. In fact, I was waiting for what it had to bring me. Because now I wasn't alone. 

I knew I was loved. I knew I had people I could count on. People who loved me and people I loved. And I knew that no matter how much life got screwed up they will be by my side, forever. 

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed Noah. After all these years of my life, for the first time, I felt something I had never felt this profoundly in my entire life before. 

A feeling of love and fullness.  

And in that moment I realized how much I needed him. Because I knew that I was not alone anymore. Because now I belonged to someone. Because I knew we belonged together. Nowhere but together.

And I was here to spend the rest of my life with him.