~ Epilogue ~

She turned and looked up at Karis and said loudly, "Mommy, make them hurry."

"Sweetie pie, everyone has to get their stuff out. Just be patient, we're almost off," Karis smiled, running a couple fingers through her dark mass of curls. A few minutes later they were walking through the terminal into the airport.

"Daddy!!!" Ellie yelled, spotting JC. She wiggled out of the grip Karis had on her hand and ran toward his open, awaiting arms.

"There's my girl!! How are you honey?" he asked, smiling as he hugged her tightly.

"Good. This time I got to go up with the pilot in the plane, and I got an extra bag of peanuts 'cause the lady said I was really good. I got to use the potty three times on the plane. The last time Mommy couldn't get the door open and we were in there for a while. It was stinky," Ellie shot off a mile a minute.

JC laughed as he took in each word she was saying. He turned and watched Karis make her way to them. "Hello, fun flight I hear," he laughed.

Karis rolled her eyes and ran a finger through her hair. "I wouldn't go that far. I never have luck on planes. How are you?" she asked.

"Well, I'm doing much better now that my girls are here. How about we get your bags and head to my place? I made some spaghetti for us," JC smiled, waiting for the reaction he wanted.

"My favorite!!!!!!" Ellie yelled, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly again. JC smiled brightly at the feeling. The three walked through the airport, catching up on what had happened since they last saw each other three weeks ago.

"Mom, I like it better down here at Daddy's house," Ellie said on their way to his house.

"Oh, really? Why's that?" Karis asked, turning around to face her.

"'Cause he has a pool and Disney World," she smiled. Karis laughed, shaking her head and turning back around. JC watched them as he drove, wishing they did live closer and that they could see each other more than just every few weeks. He kept these thoughts to himself, though, unsure of them all still.

"Here we are, guys," he announced a while later as he pulled the jeep into the driveway. Ellie unbuckled her seatbelt and jumped out of the car, running up to the house. JC and Karis laughed at her as they got the bags out of the back.

"Warm weather, that is one big plus about coming to visit you down here. I swear, it's already below zero in Boston and it's only October," Karis laughed as JC unlocked the door.

"I've never been one for cold weather," JC smiled as Ellie ran inside. "It's too messy, or something. I'll take a little rain over snow anyday."

"It's all what you're used to, I guess. Although, Ellie sure has taken a liking to this warm weather. I'm guessing she gets that from you," Karis commented.

"Isn't it amazing?" JC said quietly, watching Ellie swing from the tree in the back yard.

"What?" Karis asked, walking up next to him.

"The fact that that child out there is something we made. She has got, like, parts of us running through her, yet she's this totally new and different human being. There's nobody like her in the world, and she's ours," JC explained, opening his thoughts to Karis.

Karis nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. "It is surreal at times, but I'm so thankful she was brought to me. She is a blessing, I'm sure of that. You know what I wonder sometimes . . ." she trailed off.

JC waited a few minutes to see if she would continue. "What?" he asked quietly when she didn't.

"I wonder . . . I wonder if maybe God sent her to me to bring you back to me. I know it sounds rediculous and crazy, but I sometimes believe it," she finished softly, not taking her eyes off of the little girl playing in the yard. JC thought about her words and let them sink in.

"Can I go swimming now pleaseeeee???" Ellie yelled, running back in the house.

JC shook his head, trying to clear it. "Why don't we eat first?" he suggested.

"Awwww!!!! Okay, but after then??" she pleaded with big eyes.

JC smiled and dropped a kiss on her forehead, "Of course, sweetie."

"Did she finally go?" Karis asked, seeing JC decend down the stairs into the living room.

JC laughed and nodded. "It only took three books, five songs, and two cups of water, but she is asleep."

Karis shook her head and smiled, "Then we're gonna go back in a few days and she'll be spoiled by it. 'Cause Lord knows I can't carry a tune if my life depended on it."

JC sighed softly, "You know, you can always call and I can do it over the phone," he said quietly.

Karis nodded, almost sadly. "What are we doing JC? Is this healthy for her . . . I mean, can we keep visiting each other every couple of weeks? In January I'm putting her in pre-school, and we won't be able to."

JC rubbed his forehead, knowing it was going to come. "I don't know really . . ." Karis closed her eyes wishing things were easier.

JC cleared his throat and Karis opened her eyes, knowing he had something important to talk about. "I've been thinking a lot lately. We've done this for a year now, going back and forth. In that time I have fallen in love every time I've seen that little girl, and my heard has broken every time I've had to leave her. But . . . something else has also happened. I've fallen in love with you again. I don't know if it's the same love we once shared; I don't think that can ever be replaced. I do, however, want to give us a try again. We've finally built a trust back up, which we needed to have any kind of relationship," JC said, staring straight at her.

Karis nodded and smiled, "I'd really like that, JC."

"So, I'm asking you to consider moving down here with me. I need to see you guys on a day-to-day basis, because I can't continue on like we are. My business is down here and there are plenty of openings in your field if you're willing to try it."

Karis thought a moment, "I really do like my job. It's great right now, but this is all more important to me. I think it will be wonderful for Ellie to finally know what a real family is like. So my answer is yes, if you're sure you'll take us."

"I have never been more sure of anything. I love you both, and my life isn't complete without you guys here," he whispered.

"I was hoping you'd say that," she smiled as his lips softly pressed against hers in a kiss that had been five years in the making to light a flame that desperatly needed to be rekindled.