Aria-

I had a few life-changing events a little over three and a half years ago. Some of those transformations are things I never imagined would ever happen. First, I reconnected with my father and found out the sister I thought was dead was very much alive and well, and that she had been living with him since birth. Since meeting her, we've become tight and the best of friends. I also reconnected with my mother and have been in close contact with her ever since.

After winning the title against my half-sister Felicia, I had more life changers. Felicia hired someone to stab me. Wyatt, my brother, and my trainers were kidnapped. My best friend Nikki and Walter were beaten and left for dead inside a house Felicia and her friends lit on fire-my home.

Finding out I had no home to go to after leaving the hospital was one of the worst feelings in the world. And it hurt to know all of Walter's imagination and hard work were destroyed by jealousy. As well as, everything Gunner and I worked hard for was all gone-including Walter's memories and all of our remembrances starting from when Gunner and I first met.

While I was in the hospital, Walter predicted I was pregnant after a dream he had. At first, I didn't believe him and told him he had too much time to think and imagine while asleep. But after insisting he was right and that I needed to listen to him since he knew what he was talking about, it hit me about a night I shared with Gunner-a night I'll never forget. After telling him I was retiring from boxing and that I had been itching to have more children, we made love the entire night like wild rabbits-using no form of birth control, like Neron insisted we do.

So, after visiting Walter, I feared the pain killers the hospital staff had been giving me were affecting the child possibly growing inside me, and I immediately confronted the doctor caring for me. Come to find out, he already knew and had been giving me meds that wouldn't affect the baby.

Again, Walter was right.

He always is...

So, after leaving the hospital, I turned the page, started a new chapter, and began doing what Walter asked that I do-not to sit and dwell on what we lost but move forward in life, focus on the future and never look back.

After leaving the hospital, I wasn't too thrilled about staying at my father's. It wasn't because of him by no means; it was because of Stacey and how I still felt a bit of hatred toward her. But since Walter insisted I needed to continue moving forward, little by little, I began giving her a chance to prove she wasn't this awful person I grew up believing her to be. And she proved me wrong-Stacey wasn't the devil I thought she was; she was an angel-a godsend.

In a surprising twist, Stacey showed me characteristic traits of herself about who she truly is, things I longed for my birth mother to show and give-love and respect, self-belief, self-love, forgiveness, attention, and how a mother should treat her children. Stacey was also extremely hospitable and helpful with caring for Wyatt and showed how much she would love Wyatt to label her as one of his grandmothers-a title she earned and one I won't take away from her.

I may not have enjoyed staying at my father's at first, but after living with and reconnecting with him while getting to know Stacey, Stella, and Braylon, I realized it was the wisest decision Gunner made for us. Not only did it assist me in getting to know them better, but it helped create a new, special bond between us. And instead of making us feel like parasites for staying in their home, they made us feel as if we should-welcomed, accepted, and belonged-as part of their family. And that's what we are, a family.

Stella and I spent a lot of time together from the moment we moved in, and the more we hung out, the more she'd ask about our mother, who she was, what she looked like, and what kind of person she was before ending up in the institution. Finally, after two months of questions, she surprised me by asking if I'd take her to see our mother.

So, I did.

And I'm glad I brought Stella to see our mother because, after their reunion, our mother did a complete turnaround. Within months and a few days after Gunner and I moved into the new home Walter designed for us, and a month before I delivered my daughter, Chloe, the institution released my mother to me. Then, six months later, after she got the thumbs up from her doctors, she moved out of mine and into her own home.

Fast forward to today and shifting my focus to the present day; if anyone were to ask how life's been treating me, I could honestly say I'm the happiest I've ever been. And I'm pleased to report my mother is doing very well and being the mother she intended to be. She's also working, has a boyfriend, and is still living independently.

As for Felicia? Well, she's still in the institution and getting the medical treatment she needs, where she'll be living for the rest of her life after being convicted on multiple charges for her crimes. And I can't be any happier never to have to worry about her committing any more malicious acts to my family and me.

Also, after nearly ten years of being together, Justin and Nikki finally married in a small ceremony in Kauai, Hawaii, two years ago. And in about three months, they'll add twin girls to their family. And I cannot wait, as being an aunt is something I've been wishing and praying for, for years.

Then there's Gunner and me. Since everything went down almost four years ago and we lost everything we owned, I'm proud to say Felicia failed to ruin everything he and I shared and our love for each other because our marriage has never been stronger. And just two days ago, I gave birth to another beautiful little girl, Mia.

While sitting on the couch, feeding Mia, my precious little mini-me, I can't help but think about how different our lives would be today had I not gone with Justin to the MMA fight he insisted on taking me to. I would never have met Gunner if I refused to go like I was first trying to do. And I would also likely still be the weak woman I had been portraying myself for all those years. I probably never would have reconnected with my father or learned about and met Stella.

"What are you thinking so hard about?"

"Everything, why?"

"Because. I've been trying to talk to you for about twenty minutes now, and since I haven't gotten a response, it had me feeling like I was talking to a brick wall. Actually, it scared me for a moment, thinking I had expired and was a ghost trying to interact with the living. But since you're talking to me, it makes me feel better that my maker is still not ready for my arrival into the abode of saints. Which tells me he wants me to finish my kick-the-bucket list. So, what was my beautiful Aria thinking about?"

"Life. And how lucky I am to have met Gunner... and you," I added, smiling. "Just think about it, Walter. Where would I be today? And what kind of person would I be had I not met Gunner? I wouldn't be married; I would never have become a boxer and won the title. I also wouldn't have these three beautiful kids and wouldn't be here in this beautiful, amazing home you designed and built for us. Twice..." I added, reminding him I'm still in awe of everything Walter's done for us. Then went on to say, "I'd still be living in that townhouse, with no car, taking a bus downtown to care for you and listen to your dirty talk."

Walter chuckled. "Yeah, but you love my naughty, filthy talk." He arched a brow. "Just think, Aria. What if I wasn't who I was? What if I was one of those boring or belligerent old folgey guys? Would you still love me?"

"Of course, I would," I grinned.

"Liar..." he groaned. "You'd despise me. You'd also ask that they find someone else to care for me." He rolled his wheelchair closer to Mia and me, and with a sparkle in his eye, he grinned while saying, "You just finally admitted for the first time that you love me. What will Gunner think about your confession?"

"That's a different kind of love, Walter..." I laughed. "Besides, he wouldn't care if he heard me telling you that because we all love you."

He rolled his wheelchair backward. "Pfft... thanks for bursting my bubble. I liked it better, thinking you loved me differently." He smirked. "Anyway, what I'm getting at is don't think about what could have been. The past is the past. And that's why we call it our past. If you continue living in the present and making it as beautiful as you are now, you'll have the best future to look forward to."

He's right.

"Thanks, Walter. What would I do without you?"

He raised his hand, waving his finger from side to side, tsking me. "What did I just get done saying?"

I shook my head, then rolled my eyes. "It's a figure of speech."

"Yeah, I know, but you should keep that type of speech to yourself. Since my time on earth is nearing its expiration date, I don't want you asking what you'd do without me. Eventually, you'll have to learn how to go on without me. I don't know how much time I have left, but I have to tell you." He showed me a mischievous grin, letting me know he was about to say something to cause my face to redden. "It scares me to know I won't be able to stare at your ravishing splitter shitters much longer in the mornings when you're cooking us breakfast. Because seeing your beautiful tushie every morning helped make my day and a reason to stay above the ground."

After feeling my cheeks heating, I looked away from Walter and down at Mia. But now they're on fire after Gunner entered the room and responded to him. "Walter? Are you talking about my wife's snapper wrapper again? What did I say I'd do if I heard you gushing about how she walks around the house in the mornings?"

Walter chuckled, then tapped his mouth with a massive grin. "Come on, tough guy, bring it on. I'd like to see what kind of damage you could do to a ninety-four-year-old man. Would you rather me talk about her peekers, or would you rather talk about planning a funeral? Not my funeral either. Your funeral..." Walter teased, looking to get a rise out of Gunner. "Because we all know if you lay one finger on me, Aria would kill you."

Gunner laughed. "Whatever."

"If that's what you think, then let's test her."

"Test?"

"You heard me. Let's see who Aria loves more," Walter pushed, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

"You're crazy, old man," Gunner replied, taking Mia from my arms and sitting beside me.

"Wussy. So you take Mia from Aria, thinking if you have her, you'll be protected. I see how you are... pussy..."

"I hardly think that's the case. If I want to hold my daughter, I can." Gunner paused and looked down at Mia, grinning before talking to her. "What do you think this old fart is up to? Because I think he's looking for a fight tonight."

"Nah. I'm not looking for a fight. I just want to see what'll happen if you were to bring me a tall glass of that high-end bourbon you bought the other day before picking Aria and Mia up from the hospital. So, what do you say? Shall we enjoy that bottle of bourbon you hid from her before she kills us both?"

The End

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and the story!🤞🤞🤞🤞

I will be taking a break and giving my brain a rest. This story was one of the hardest stories I've ever written. I don't know why, but it was and I can't believe it took me almost 2 years to finish it. So I apologize to everyone who waited for me to finish this story!

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