Ten years later

Luca Donato was dreaming about rolling around with a certain redhead on a private beach, and just as things started to get sexy, a bold lick across his cheek woke him up.

"Mm, Cricket," he murmured as he turned to face his wife, but as he opened his eyes, he found himself face to face with a sixty-pound golden retriever instead.

"Lucky," he grumbled as the puppy began licking his face.

He turned to face the other way only to find himself facing a foot topped off with purple nail polish on her little toes.

He sat up to check the clock and could hear Kit in the kitchen. Leo's had been busy all summer, they were down a chef and Luca had been working hard. Kit insisted he relax and sleep in while they were on vacation.

He decided to do just that when the dog plopped down on his pillow.

"You little shit." He glared at the notorious spot stealer, who wagged his tail and settled himself in.

He took a moment to look at the two girls on either side of the bed.

Lissa, the girl attached to the foot, was their youngest and was sprawled upside down on the bed. They named her Elisabeth to honor Luca's mom; she was the perfect combination of the two of them. She had Luca's intense blue eyes and his devious smirk, but Kit's features and her wavy red hair. She'd just turned six, and was a tiny little thing with a huge personality.

Their oldest who was nine already, was on the other side of the bed, curled up on Kit's pillow. She was a sweetheart and a world-famous blanket stealer, she had them all draped over her. Leondra was named after Leonardo, but they called her Loni for short. Apart from her hair which was brown hair a shade lighter than Luca's, she was Kit's twin, down to the doe-like brown eyes and pout Luca couldn't say no to.

That pout was why his pillow was being slobbered to death; there was no point in going back to sleep. He started to stand up and banged his head on the ceiling.

"Ouch!" He rubbed his head, feeling sheepish. "Darn camper."

The family's annual fishing trip had evolved into a yearly camping trip. They bought a new camper this year, and he was still getting used to it.

Luca opened the door to the bedroom loft and closed it behind him, taking the two steps down to the main floor. "I thought the girls loved their bunk beds?" He commented as he made his way down.

"They did. Until it was time to sleep in them." Kit was busy finishing up some pancakes. She turned on the oven to keep them warm.

As she leaned over and slid the pancakes into the oven he eyed her perfect butt, she knew and stuck it out further for him. She was as gorgeous as ever, with her healthy summer glow. She'd recently cut her wavy red hair just above her shoulders to reveal her neck, which was begging for him to kiss it; he came up behind her and did just that as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Morning, baby." He said in a husky tone. "The girls are sleeping."

"They could wake up," she protested but didn't move.

"They won't." He started pressing soft kisses down her neck.

She groaned and turned to face him; her cheeks were deliciously flushed.

"We can be quiet. Well, I can," he teased as he drew closer to her, their bodies pressing together.

"We're at a campsite with your brother and my dad," she reminded him, even as a soft giggle escaped her throat.

"If the trailers a-rocking-"

"Luca!"

He silenced her protests as he devoured her lips with his own. She gave in, her hands combing through his hair as her hips pressed against his.

He lifted her so she was sitting on the small counter island in the camper, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as she started to undo her robe.

"Knock, knock, neighbors!" Andre knocked once and busted inside carrying a box of donuts.

"Impeccable timing, Andre," Luca groaned.

Kit was quickly refastening her robe and pushing him back.

"Sorry...uh, pretend I was never here." Andre set the box down and started to back up.

"Uncle Andre!" A little girl screamed.

"Too late now, I guess." Andre stayed and waited for Lissa to come bounding into his arms. He scooped her up as she came running down, so she was hanging over his shoulder as she squealed gleefully. Her sparkling blue eyes lit up when they spied the box on the counter.

"Donuts!" She started making grabby hands at the box.

Andre laughed and set her down, and she wasted no time grabbing a big pink one with sprinkles. She shoved it into her mouth, painting her face pink.

"So much for pancakes." Kit was watching and looked amused.

A yawning Loni came down next and had Lucky with her. The dog picked up on the excitement in the room and came running. He was knocking into everything with that happy tail, and before Luca could calm him, he knocked the entire box of donuts to the floor.

"Lucky! You little shit!" Lissa yelled out.

"Oops," Luca cringed.

Kit threw her head back and laughed along with Andre.

Luca smiled as he thought, life didn't get any better than that.

**

Carly was laughing her head off as Kit recounted the morning's events. They were lying in their lounge chairs, watching the kids play.

I'm sorry, Kit. If I had known you were a morning sex, couple, I wouldn't have let him go over."

"We're parents. We're an anytime you can get sex, couple," Kit said with a laugh.

"Try having twins," Carly said pointedly.

Carly and Andre found joy in traveling, and after that first summer, they both found online work and spent many years doing it, so much so that they ended up selling the house to Kit and Luca and building themselves a smaller house on the property for when they did come home. They paused traveling for a few years when Carly finally got pregnant, but they'd soon be back at it when the twins were a little older.

They had one boy and one girl, who'd just turned two. Both were blonde like Carly but green-eyed like Andre. Carly's energy in the form of two toddlers was a lot. They were a handful but an adorable handful. They'd named their boy Leonard after Leo, and their girl, Ruth, after Carly's grandmother.

Adding her little firecracker, Lissa, to the mix it was sure to be a chaotic weekend.

Lissa was on the ground making sand angels while Loni played with the twins on a blanket. Her sweet Loni was always trying to help in one way or another. Lucky was sitting next to her, Lucky had always been extra attached to Loni. It was sweet and she smiled at the two.

"No, Lenny, don't eat sand!" Carly was up, brushing it out of his little hands. He got annoyed at the intrusion and started wailing.

Lissa got up and covered her ears; the sight made Kit laugh as Carly shot her a look.

"Can I try to help?"

"Please do," Carly said gratefully, holding the red-faced noisemaker towards her best friend.

Kit took Lenny from her arms and started swinging him around and making silly noises. He laughed; the sand forgotten. Little Ruthie clapped her hands and giggled as she watched.

"How do you do that so easily?" Carly groaned.

"Sometimes, for whatever reason, they just need someone else," Kit assured her.

Carly still looked doubtful; she was too hard on herself sometimes.

"Seriously. I used to drive Lissa over to my dad's house, screaming her head off the whole way."

"I remember that." Carly was cheering up. "Lissa's meltdowns were like none other."

"The best advice I can give you is to laugh it off," Kit advised.

"Are you telling me to chill out?"

"Basically, yup," Kit quipped.

Carly picked up the pillow from her chair and tossed it at Kit, who laughed and threw it back at her.

"Just give yourself some credit; you're doing great," Kit promised.

"What would I do without our talks?" Carly smiled warmly.

"Loni, come make a sandcastle!" Lissa pulled her on her sister's arm, and Loni begrudgingly got to her feet.

"Only if you listen to me this time!" Loni scolded with her hand on her hips.

"I always do!" Lissa promised in a sing-song voice....and there was Luca's smirk.

"Yeah, right!" Loni rolled her eyes.

"I will listen! I will! Pu-lease, build one with me!" Lissa was jumping around as she begged, as dramatic as ever.

"Fine, but I mean it. Follow all my directions." Loni was leading the way now, and Lissa was following.

"Loni, honey. It's just a sandcastle. Try and have fun, okay?" Kit called after them.

"Just a sandcastle today," Carly pointed out. "Who knows? Maybe, in the future, she's building real castles."

"She does have quite the artistic talent," Kit said proudly; her refrigerator was decorated with dozens of drawings from Loni; she was incredible already. Kit had no idea where she got the creative talent from, but she was so proud of her.

The twins started fussing, and Carly went to tend to them; as Andre came over to help her.

Stone pulled up to the dock in a speedboat that Kit was sure they would all have a blast in all weekend. He often came on these family trips and was always a huge help to the girls. It was good for him too. Jase and Jess had moved to the city a few years back, and he was sometimes lonely. Luca hurried to the dock to help Stone get the boat secured to the pier.

"I brought the stuff we need," Stone whispered to Luca too loud, and Kit overheard him.

"Dad," Luca laughed, "you know she won't let me."

"If you're talking about making poison, yup," Kit agreed as she kissed Stone's cheek. "It's banned, dad."

"Banned in your house, we're on vacation!" Stone protested.

The last time Stone talked Luca into getting into that stuff with him, Kit ended up taking care of cleaning up vomit from two grown men all weekend and said never again.

"Dad." She gave him a stern look. "No poison."

"It'll be a light batch." He suggested glancing at Luca for help. "I don't have the illegal ingredient, so it'll just be a bunch of liquors mixed together."

"A light one isn't as bad, Kit," Luca offered.

"See?" Stone prompted her.

"No, Luca." She gave him a look, then turned to Stone. "No Dad. No poison, weak or otherwise, have some beers or something."

"Fine!" Stone stomped off like a spoiled child, and Luca started cracking up.

"It's not funny," she warned him, but he kept laughing anyway. "I said stop!"

Instead, he picked her up and hauled her over his shoulder.

"Luca, put me down!" She demanded even as she laughed.

"Your wish is my command!" He started marching to the lake.

He's caught the girl's attention, and they were squealing and laughing as they ran toward their parents.

"Luca!" Kit was laughing too hard to sound stern. "You better not throw me in the"-

...and she hit the water with a splash. She popped back up to the surface and shot him a scolding look.

"What? You said put you down."

"I'll get you!" She lunged toward him; the girls were now in the water and racing for him.

"Get him, girls!" Kit cheered them on.

Luca dramatically fell backward into the water as the two girls lunged at him.

"Gotcha, daddy!" Lissa was squealing excitedly.

"Oh yeah! We'll see about that!" he scooped up the little girl in his arms and started whirling her around like an airplane. Then he drove her gently into the water. She cheered and squealed as she popped back up, shaking her wet red hair wildly.

"My turn!" Loni was running to him, holding her arms out. She was older, so he tossed her higher.

"Me, me!" Lissa was begging for her turn as soon as Loni hit the water.

He scooped her up a second time; since she'd gotten more confident, he tossed her higher this time. She landed with a big splash and came up squealing with excitement.

"My turn!" Loni was running to him again.

He'd do this over and over for long after his arms tired out. Then later, he'd be so sore he wouldn't be able to move them. Kit decided to spare those arms on that day.

"Watch this, girls!" She climbed up on the dock, walked to the end, and then jumped gracefully off the dock into the water.

"Good dive, mom!" Loni was cheering her on from the water.

"I want to try that!" Lissa was climbing up the dock.

"I'll help you, Lissa!" Loni swam over to help her and then took her hand as they climbed up together.

Luca swam over and wrapped Kit up in his arms.

"I love you." He said with a grateful smile on his kissable lips. His dark hair was wet and slicked back, and so sexy like that. She leaned in and kissed those lips, and he happily kissed her back, his hands entangling in her wet hair.

"Mommy! Daddy! Stop kissing and watch me!" Lissa demanded loudly.

They reluctantly parted and Kit giggled softly as Luca rolled his eyes.

"We're watching you, baby," Kit promised as they turned to watch her jump off the dock.

"Nice dismount! Ten stars!" Luca swam over and high-fived Lissa,who started doing a little show-off dance on the dock while Kit watched adoringly; she was Luca's girl.

"Air Loni is up next. Ladies and gentlemen!" Luca was using a mock announcer voice and making her laugh as Loni stood at the end of the dock.

"Daddy!" she scolded him sounding very much like Kit. "I'm concentrating!"

She dove in and landed quite gracefully; why did she have to grow up so fast?

"Beautiful landing!" Luca encouraged, and Loni beamed proudly, as she bobbed in her water.

"Let's see you jump, daddy!" Lissa yelled out.

"Yeah!" Loni chimed in.

"I don't know if you're all ready for this," Luca said cockily as he joined them on the dock.

"We're ready for anything!" Lissa replied in that same tone.

He ran to the end and leaped off; the resounding splash was huge. Both the girls were cheering and yelling.

Lucky had come running off the dock into the water after seeing everyone else do it.

"Go, Lucky, go!" Loni cheered happily.

"Got room for one more?" Andre came out of his trailer in his trunks, holding a towel.

"Of course, come on in, Uncle Andre!" Loni said sweetly.

"You probably can't jump higher than my daddy!" Lissa taunted.

"Lissa!" Kit scolded as Luca laughed out loud.

"Oh yeah! We'll see about that!" Andre raced off the end of the dock, making a huge splash that both the girls squealed at.

Kit knew that they'd all be starving after this, so she made her way out of the lake to get lunch started. She wrapped a towel over her shoulders and stood there for a moment. She was gazing at everyone out in the water, playing and having a blast. Her heart was full of love.

"You'd love this, wouldn't you?" She whispered the words into the air, knowing he heard them. She could feel his presence strongly on days like this.

"It's exactly what you wanted them to have. Time to build these amazing memories with your grandchildren. They have it because you gave it to them. You set all of this in motion."

"I can never thank you enough for that." She choked up a little; even after all these years, his loss was so profound. "I just wish you could be here with us."

"I love you, Leo."

**

Later in the evening, Andre and Luca were sitting on the dock. It had cooled down some, and the breeze off the lake felt great. The sky was just starting to turn pink as the sun set.

The kids were exhausted, so Kit and Carly were settling them in with a movie so they could rest, as they promised smores a little later.

"I think I got one!" Andre's lines started to jerk, and Luca watched as he pulled in a decent-sized crappy.

"What do you think?" Andre asks.

"Let's go for a bigger one," Luca suggested.

Andre nodded and tossed it in the bucket; tomorrow, they'd clean them all and have a huge fish fry. Tonight, they were honoring the tradition they started after Leonardo had died. Every year they try and find him a big fish, one he'd be really proud of. Then they'd toss it back into the lake for him.

Luca grabbed a beer from the cooler and tossed one over to Andre. He caught it quickly and popped the tab.

They sat quietly until Luca's line jerked, and he reeled in a giant bass.

"That's the one!" Andre said approvingly.

"For you, dad," Luca tossed it into the lake, and they felt a slight breeze right and exchanged glances.

"I knew he was here," Luca said. "I can feel his presence sometimes."

"Me too."

"He'd be proud of you, Andre." Luca said squeezing his shoulder. "You and Carly did thing and now you're both great parents. Twins too, I can't imagine."

"Thanks, Luca." Andre replied, "we always worry if we're doing it right, you know? Nice to hear that."

"You're doing great," Luca assured him.
"Your timing, on the other hand, needs some work."

"At least you weren't in the act. Let's not forget the Christmas Eve wine cellar disaster," Andre reminded him.

"Why bring that up? I finally stopped having nightmares!" Luca scolded. "You and Carly did not need to be impulsive in my restaurant's wine cellar."

"Oh, stop! It wasn't that bad," Andre scoffed.

"Andre, you were wearing a Santa hat." Luca shuddered at the memory.

"Room for two more?" Carly and Kit walked up to join them.

Carly had a bottle of wine, and Kit had some glasses.

"Always." Luca moved over, and Kit sat next to him as he tucked an arm around her.

Carly poured them each a glass of wine.

"To napping kids!" Carly held her glass out.

"Here, here!" Kit agreed with a healthy sip.

"How boring are we to be toasting to sleeping kids?" Luca asked.

"We're getting old, brother," Andre said as he patted his back.

"I hope that means the Santa hat is retiring." Luca quipped.

Carly turned five shades of red, and Kit burst out laughing.

"In all seriousness." Carly composed herself. "I love that we do this every year. I love you guys. To us and this never-ending bond, we have."

"...and Goldie makes it sappy," Luca smirked, and Kit swatted at him.

"I mean it!"

"He knows. I love that we do this every year too. You guys are the best, and we love you too," Kit smiled warmly.

"Let's never stop. No matter how crazy life gets," Andre said.

"That's a promise." Luca agreed.

"To the man that brought us all here and keeps bringing us back. To dad." Luca held his glass up, and they all clinked and drank.

They all sat silently as they stared out at the lake. All of them are lost in their special memories and moments. Luca and Andre still had poles in the water, but the fish weren't biting.

"I can't believe it's been ten years," Kit mumbled.

"I know," Carly sighed sadly. "I wish he was here."

"He is," Kit said, and Luca squeezed her close. "In his way."

One of the twins started crying, and Carly got up to attend to them. Andre joined and they walked up to their camper together.

Kit rested her head on Luca's shoulder as they sat on the dock. The sky had started to darken as night was creeping up on them. They sat comfortable and content in silence with each other. He kissed the top of her head, and she snuggled in closer. Luca noticed the line start to stiffen as his bobber went under.

"Reel it in, Cricket. One more for dad." He handed it to Kit.

She grabbed the pole and pulled in a big walleye, his dad's favorite.

"For you, Leo," she tossed it into the lake.

"He'd be saying, of course, Kit caught me the best fish," Luca chuckled.

She smiled softly, her eyes misty as she gazed at the lake.

"He bragged about you a lot too." She nudged his side. "He was so proud of you."

"Because of you. You gave us that time, Kit."

"I just opened the door; you walked through it."

"You kind of kicked me through it."

"Yeah, I guess I kind of did. I love you, Luca." She lifted her head, and he leaned down to kiss her softly.

"I love you, Kit Kat."

The wind started to pick up, and she shivered as she stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to check in on the girls. Give you your moment with him." She squeezed his shoulder.

He smiled gratefully; she always knew what he needed.

He sat there on the dock, staring out at the waves.

"Ten years, dad." He shook his head. "I can't believe how fast time just slips by."

"I love Kit and my girls with everything I got. I try and savor every moment, every second, with them. I'm so grateful for what I have. I never forget; I have you to thank for it."

"Thank you for telling her not to give up on me."

He sat and stared ahead and the lake; the waves lapped lightly in the breeze.

A single tear slid down his cheek.

The squeaky sound of the trailer door opened from behind him. "Daddy, it's time for s'mores!" Loni called out.

"Coming pumpkin!" He called back

He looked out at the waves one more time as he stood up.

"I love you, dad."

"You were bigger then the whole sky. You were more then just a short time."  TS

Thanks sooo much everyone for all your wonderful support and comments through this story! It meant the world to me! You all are the best! This is the first draft will undergo an edit at some point, but for now I'm very happy to mark this complete!! I loved telling Kit and Luca's love story but also their own personal journeys too. It's bittersweet to end it I'll miss them so much!

I hope you enjoyed the story and the epilogue!