Epilogue

Epilogue
“Mama! Look!”
Blair looked up from her laptop to see her two-year-old daughter, Olivia, proudly showing off a crayon drawing that was mostly colorful scribbles.
“That’s beautiful, sweetheart,” Blair said, genuinely impressed with the artwork of her toddler. “Is that our family?”
Olivia nodded madly, her dark curls bouncing. “You, Daddy, me, and da baby.”
Blair’s hand automatically went to her slightly rounded belly. At four months pregnant with their second child, she was already showing. “That’s right. Our whole family.”
“Can I put it on our ‘frigerator?” Olivia asked, already turning toward the office door.
“Of course. Ask Daddy to help you.”
Olivia ran off, drawing clutched tightly in her small fist, calling for her daddy. Blair smiled, returning to the quarterly reports she’d been reviewing.
Running Warner Industries from her home office three days a week had turned out to be the perfect balance, allowing her to be present for Olivia while still managing the company her parents had built. And then Uncle Peter had tried to steal it.
The past two and a half years had been a whirlwind and didn't show any signs of slowing down.
When Olivia had been born… a very healthy seven-pound bundle with Roman’s dark hair and Blair’s blue eyes, they had both fallen instantly in love with their little girl.
Roman had proven to be a devoted father, managing to rearrange his entire schedule to be home for dinner almost every night and taking an active role in all aspects of parenting, including changing dirty diapers.
A knock at her office doorframe pulled Blair from her thoughts. She looked up to see Roman standing there, Olivia perched on his hip.
“Your daughter has informed me that she’s now an artist and demands gallery space on the refrigerator,” he said with mock seriousness.
“Well, we can’t ignore such talent,” Blair replied, grinning.
Roman set Olivia down, and she immediately ran to Blair, climbing onto her lap. “Careful with Mama,” Roman warned gently.
“Baby in here,” Olivia said, patting Blair’s stomach with surprising gentleness for a toddler. “I be careful.”
Blair pressed a kiss to her daughter’s head. “Yes, you are. Such a good big sister already.”
Roman leaned against the doorframe, watching them with affection. “Sutton called while you were working. She said they were on their way, which was about twenty-five minutes ago. So, they should be here soon. Also, Liam took his first steps today.”
Liam was the spitting image of his father. “Already?” Blair exclaimed. “He’s only ten months old!”
“Apparently, he’s determined to keep up with his big brother,” Roman said with a chuckle. “Sutton says they have dessert in the car.”
Blair nodded. The monthly family dinners had become a tradition, bringing together their ever-growing family, which sometimes included extended family like Prince Niko and Amelia with their little boy Edward when they happened to be in the States. Even Roman's sister Rose and her boyfriend of the moment. Roman's parents or even Luca's father or brother and sister-in-law Bella. Family was important to her and her sister's. They didn't have to be family by blood.
Sutton and Luca had a strong, loving marriage after Luca had proved himself more than once to Sutton. They now worked side by side at Cyber10, which had become one of the leading cybersecurity firms in the country under Luca’s leadership. They had two little boys now, Miles and Liam.
Keira was still Keira, smart mouth and all. She loved being an auntie. When Roman had remarked that she would make a great mother a few months ago, she had thrown Olivia’s favorite toy at him. She and Alexei were enjoying life and not ready to have kids. Yet, she had said.
“What are you thinking about?” Roman asked, moving to sit on the edge of her desk.
“Everything,” Blair admitted. “How far we’ve come.”
Olivia, growing restless, wiggled off Blair’s lap. “Can I go play with my blocks?”
“Yes, but stay in the playroom,” Roman told her. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
As Olivia skipped off, Roman pulled Blair to her feet and into his arms. “You look tired. You should have let me bring someone in to handle tonight's dinner.”
Blair leaned into his chest, savoring his warmth. “I’m fine, my sisters will help. I love you.”
Roman’s hand slid to her belly, resting protectively over their growing child. “I knew from the beginning you were meant for me. Even when you were calling me a shithead.”
Blair laughed. “You were a shithead. Sometimes you still are.”
Roman's laugh rumbled against Blair's cheek as he hugged her closer. "Only with you, sweetheart. Everyone else gets the polished CEO."
"Lucky me," she teased, tilting her face up for his kiss.
Their moment was interrupted by a car pulling up outside, and Blair sighed. "That'll be Sutton and Luca." Her office overlooked the front of the house.
"I'll get it," Roman said, pressing one more kiss to her forehead before releasing her and heading to let her family in.

Sutton juggled the tiramisu in one hand while unbuckling Liam from his car seat with the other. Miles was already racing toward the front door where Roman stood waiting. After Miles’ rocky birth, no one would look at him now and guess he’d had such a scary start to life.
"Uncle Roman!" Miles wrapped himself around Roman's legs while Luca came around the car to help her.
"I've got him," Luca said, lifting Liam, who immediately reached for his father's face. "You take the dessert before you drop it."
Sutton handed him the baby with a grateful smile. "Thanks. He's getting heavy."
Walking up the path to the house, Sutton felt that familiar warmth spread through her chest. The Warner family home, she was so glad Roman had bought it. She and Luca had purchased a house nearby, but a little closer to work.
"Auntie Sutton!" Olivia came barreling out the door, a blur of dark curls and energy.
"Hey, princess!" Sutton knelt down, balancing the dessert carefully as Olivia hugged her.
"I drew a picture!" Olivia announced, tugging her toward the house.
Blair appeared in the doorway, her hand resting on her small bump. "Let Aunt Sutton breathe, Liv."
Sutton caught her sister's eye over Olivia's head and smiled. She loved her family.
"Come on," she told Olivia. "Let's put this in the kitchen and you can show me that picture." To Blair she said, "Keira and Alexei not here yet?"
"No, but I'm sure they will not be long."

"Ready?" Alexei asked, his hand coming to rest at the small of her back.
"No," she admitted. "But when has that ever stopped me?" She could just imagine her family's reaction to their news.
He chuckled, planting a quick kiss on her temple. "Never. That's what I love about you."
As they approached the door, Keira felt her stomach flip. She placed a protective hand over her still-flat belly. Eight weeks pregnant. With twins. The news had knocked her sideways when the doctor confirmed it yesterday.
Alexei rang the doorbell, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "They'll be thrilled."
"Roman will be smug," Keira grumbled. "Because we're having two at once. I swear to God, Alexei, this is your fault."
His eyes widened with mock innocence. "My fault? I seem to recall you were an enthusiastic participant."
"You and your royal super sperm," she muttered. "When I said I'd give you a baby, you didn't say anything about two at a time."
Before Alexei could respond, the door swung open, revealing Sutton, Miles clinging to her leg and baby Liam balanced on her hip.
"Finally!" Sutton exclaimed, stepping back to let them in. "Blair was just wondering if you'd gotten lost."
Keira rolled her eyes, scooping up Miles for a quick cuddle, then kissing Liam. "We're fashionably late. There's a difference."
Inside, Blair sat on the sofa, her hand resting on her slight belly, while Roman stood nearby deep in conversation with Luca. Two-year-old Olivia was showing off her drawings to anyone who would look.
"Aunt Keira!" Olivia shouted, abandoning her colouring-in to run across the room. Keira bent down, catching the little girl in a tight hug.
"Hey, munchkin. What trouble have you been causing?"
"I drew our whole family!" Olivia announced proudly, pointing to the colorful scribbles on the coffee table. "Even the new babies!"
Keira froze, glancing at Blair, "Babies? Plural?" She knew Blair was pregnant with only one.
"She was just telling us you needed to have babies as well," Blair clarified with a laugh. "Olivia's convinced everyone needs at least two kids."
"Smart kid," Alexei muttered beside Keira, earning him an elbow to the ribs.
Dinner was a noisy affair with the kids, conversation flowing easily among the three couples while dealing with the little ones’ needs. Keira watched her sisters with their husbands, feeling a surge of gratitude for how things had worked out for all of them, especially after everything they'd been through. No, their parents were not here, but she was sure they were looking down on them. Proud of how their daughters had turned out and the lives they had built.
When dessert was cleared away and the children had been temporarily occupied with a movie in the next room, Blair leaned forward.
"So, what's the news you wanted to share?" she asked, fixing Keira with a knowing look.
Keira nearly choked on her water. "What makes you think I have news?"
"Please," Blair scoffed. "You haven't touched your wine all night, you keep putting your hand on your stomach, and you've been shooting daggers at Alexei every time he opens his mouth."
"So, normal behavior then," Roman quipped, earning a glare from Keira.
Alexei squeezed Keira's knee under the table. "Might as well tell them."
Keira took a deep breath, looking around at the expectant faces. "Fine. I'm pregnant."
Sutton and Blair both got up to hug her, while Roman and Luca exchanged knowing looks.
"I knew it!" Blair crowed. "How far along?"
"Eight weeks," Keira admitted. "But that's not all. Apparently, Alexei's sperm decided to overachieve because..." She shot Alexei an accusatory look. "It's twins."
The room erupted in exclamations of shock and more congratulations.
"Twins?" Luca laughed, clapping Alexei on the shoulder. "Good work, Your Highness."
"Yeah, because if they’re half the handful Keira is, you’ll need it," Roman laughed.
"See what I have to put up with?" Keira grumbled to Alexei loud enough for everyone to hear.
"You should see her when she has morning sickness," Alexei grinned, dodging Keira's swat. "The Queen of One-liners becomes the Queen of Green."
"I hate you," Keira said without heat.
"No, you don't," Alexei replied, his smile softening as he caught her hand. "You love me."
"God help me, I do," she admitted, unable to keep the affection from her voice.
"Two babies," Sutton marveled. "That's going to be..."
"Terrifying," Keira finished.
Blair laughed. "You'll be amazing. Besides, you've got all of us to help."
"And you've got me," Alexei added quietly, his eyes serious as they met hers.
Keira leaned into him, momentarily forgetting their audience. "I know. That's the only reason I'm not completely freaking out."
As the family continued talking excitedly about the new additions, Keira felt a strange sense of peace settle over her. She'd never imagined herself as a mother, never thought she'd be sitting here, married to a prince of all people, with twins on the way. Life was funny like that.
"You okay?" Alexei whispered, his arm tightening around her.
Keira nodded, watching her family… her growing, complete, somewhat chaotic family, and smiled. "Yeah."