EPILOGUE : IF YOU FEEL IT

ONE YEAR LATER

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA

WILLIAM "BILL" HARDING RESTS ON A HILL OVERLOOKING THE OLD THORTON TURNED HARDING RANCH, his final resting place marked by a double headstone. The space beside him waits for Jo, ensuring they'll be together for all eternity. Fresh flowers adorn the grave, remnants of Willow and Jo's last visit, when they'd cleared away the storm-dusted stone and replaced the faded blooms with vibrant clippings. Bill's surrounded by legends—a stone for Aunt Meg nearby, whose gravy Tyler's only heard about but still mourns missing, and a little one for Mose not too far from her.

Tyler knows he shouldn't feel nervous standing before the grave, not with all he's stood before, but the etched words feel all too humbling and intimidating: Beloved Husband, Uncle, and Storm Chaser Extraordinaire.

"Mr. Harding, Bill," Tyler starts, taking off his hat and holding it in front of him, a sign of respect, "it's an honor, sir." He shifts, standing a little straighter. "I'm Tyler. Bout time I came up here and met you. I read all your stuff, you know. Thought you were the greatest damn chaser to ever walk this earth..." His lips twitch into a smile. "Well, until I met our girl."

Their girl. Willow Mae Thornton.

The past year with her has been extraordinary, watching her take the storm-chasing world by, well, storm. Javi, Kate, and Willow have taken their company—the Twister Disruption Analytic Research Collective, T-DARC for short—to unimaginable heights, with the Tornado Wranglers right by their side.

(Boone still loudly insists there's no way in hell T-DARC is a better name than Tornado Wranglers, but he still can't hide his grin when the name sprawls across a hefty grant check. Kate and Willow return from New York, still having met with the NOAA board, with triumphant smirks, boasting about all of their "cash money".

Willow promises him later that Tornado Wrangler is, still, much cooler and reveals that under her blazer, is their infamous 'not my first tornadeo' t-shirt, proudly boasted about as a direct partner to T-DARC in their review meeting.)

Lilly, Willow, and Javi bring to life multiple prototypes of drone data collection, a modification of Cairo equipped with PAR-like sensors, allowing it to scan tornado funnels mid-flight.. Their taming experiment still gets endless love and attention, with new models and numbers worked day to day under Kate and Willow's careful guidance—and Tyler's steady help on the days he joins the lab team. Dani and Dexter end up with a more than equipped setup for their off-weather days, the informational videos benefiting from Willow's weather girl expertise.

("At least the whole thing was worth something," she says with a smile as she encourages Boone to upload their model into the video during the editing process, their clearest representation of a tornado to date.

The first comment thanking them for a video that can assist with a teacher's seventh-grade science lesson makes her grin with pride, knowing they just may be inspiring the next generation of chasers.)

And Willow shines front and center on the Tornado Wrangler channel, her bright smile and laugh a constant highlight of every vlog as they tear into the eye of each twister. Tyler is always at her side, as they chase storms and make history together.

Tyler can't help but smile at the thought of her. "If you could see her out there now—calling the shots with Kate—it's a hell of a sight. I ain't ever met anyone like her. She's a whole storm herself."

He loves that woman more than anything in the world. She's changed his life, completely and irrevocably, in the same way she swears he's changed hers.

As he crouches down in front of the stone, he settles onto the grass, finding himself sitting on level with Bill. It feels more natural this way, less like a formal visit and more like a conversation—like they're at the dining room table or maybe in those old, comfy armchairs Willow loves so much. He can almost picture it: the rain pouring outside, the party moving indoors, giving him just enough time to get the affirmation he needs. The thought makes him grip the brim of his hat a little tighter, grounding himself in the moment.

"So, I've got this question to ask her," he starts nervously. "And I've got everyone else on board." He pauses, a grin spreading as he thinks about the past few weeks. "Sapulpa gave me the toughest time if you can believe that. I'm a little afraid she might talk Willow into running off to Vegas and getting hitched with her if I don't move fast enough." He laughs softly, shaking his head. "You're my last stop. Figured I'd get her old man's blessing before I ask her."

The wind picks up slightly, rustling the leaves above him in a way that feels almost intentional, like an invitation to continue.

"I think you'd like the plan," Tyler says, his tone softening as he speaks. "Two weeks from now. Sunday dinner. You know how much she loves it—everyone crammed around the table, food piling up, and all the stories flying. I'll wait till she's busy sneaking Brisket scraps under the table, and then I'll get down on one knee. That dog of hers eats better than I do half the time, but hey, she's got a big heart like that." He chuckles, thinking about the scrappy mutt she rescued. It was during a chase together, a dog stranded on the side of the road in the middle of a storm. She'd refused to leave without him, and Tyler couldn't say no.

"And everyone's sure she'll say yes," he says, his voice steady but not entirely free of doubt. He wants it to be true, wills it to be true, but there's still that small part of him—quiet but persistent—that worries. Maybe he's pushing her too much, too soon. Maybe she's not ready for this step, no matter how ready he is.

(And then he remembers the house, the one they've made a home together, with a green-wallpapered bathroom and a fridge littered with photos and magnets from all over Tornado Alley. How fast she had been all-in, even caught so off-guard.

He hopes she'll say yes.)

He hesitates, his throat tightening. "You know, she didn't talk about you much at first," he admits quietly. "But when she did, there wasn't any doubt—you and Jo were the greatest things in the world to her. She loved you something fierce. Still does." He glances at the ground, his hand absently brushing the brim of his hat as he gathers his thoughts. "She wouldn't want me to ask her without coming to you first."

"I know she's your little girl," Tyler continues, voice entirely soft, "and no one's ever gonna be good enough for her. Nobody could be good enough for a woman like Willow." He's known that since the day he met her. "But I swear to you, I'm gonna try. Every single day, for the rest of my life."

He exhales slowly, feeling a strange mix of calm and anticipation as he finally says it aloud. "I'm going to ask our girl to marry me," he declares.

He leans forward slightly, as if sharing a secret. "Javi said it seems real soon, but I think you'd understand. Jo told me you proposed to her after three months." A small smile touches his lips, the memory of that conversation clear in his mind. "Hell, I could've asked Willow just as fast. I've known since the day I met her. But I got spooked, you know?"

Tyler chuckles at himself softly. "Jo swears I'm the only cowboy you wouldn't have run off, but I still gotta ask." He shifts slightly, lifting his eyes to the stone with quiet determination. "So here I am, asking if there's any way you could give me your blessing..."

The world falls into a quiet stillness, the kind that stretches out and fills the space between breaths. Tyler waits, patient and steady, for something—some sign, some click of fate, or maybe even something cosmic, as Willow likes to call it.

The wind finally stirs again, soft and subtle, rustling the leaves of the tree above him. It's not the tallest tree, still young in its years, but there's a strength in its beauty. Its long limbs reach outward, draping gracefully over the grave, their shadow casting a soft, protective veil over the stone. The branches sway gently in the breeze as if reaching out to embrace the world. Wisps of dandelion fuzz are carried off on the wind, drifting lazily into the horizon like a quiet affirmation, delicate and certain.

"Hoping that was a yes," Tyler murmurs, rising to his feet with a small, grateful smile. He places his hat back on his head, tipping the brim toward the stone. "Thanks, Bill," he adds softly.

Willow is on the front porch when Tyler heads back toward the house, leaning against the column with a rag in hand, wiping away the grime from whatever Jo has put her up to inside. It's a familiar sight—Willow always finds herself roped into some task, big or small, whenever she's around. Jo's a busybody, always bringing work home, and she encourages Willow to do the same whenever she drops by for a visit. They bond over it, huddling around machines at what should be the dinner table, tinkering with gadgets while the rest of the world carries on without a care. Tyler watches them with a mix of fond exasperation, knowing he's more of an observer than a participant in their world of brilliant chaos.

As Tyler approaches, Willow looks up, her eyes bright, and she reaches out to him. He takes her hand, letting her pull him gently toward her.

"Hey, cowboy," she greets him, her voice soft, with a playful lilt to it. She leans up, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips. When she pulls back, her thumb grazes his cheek, her eyes searching his with that quiet tenderness that always makes his chest tighten. "Everything okay?"

"Everything's perfect," Tyler replies, his fingers running through her hair with a fondness he can't quite hide. His smile mirrors hers. "Just getting to know your old man," he adds with a grin.

He glances back toward the hill where her family rests, his eyes lingering on the tree that still sways gently in the breeze, its long limbs casting shadows over the graves. The tree seems to move with a quiet grace, almost as if it's waving them off. "Y'all got him under a real pretty tree."

Willow laughs, soft and light, her cheeks flushing with a touch of pink. "Oh, that?" She gestures toward the tree, a little embarrassed. "It's actually a willow tree. Kind of silly, right?"

No, not at all. Tyler smiles, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, that velvet box burning a hole in his pocket. "Kind of perfect, actually," he replies.

He knows for certain now that, somewhere, beyond the clouds, Bill is smiling down on them with his blessing made clear. 

Five days later, the plan falls apart. They're in the middle of a storm—the wind howling, the ground trembling beneath their feet as the twister roars through the field, leaving only dust and chaos in its wake. Willow stands beside him, her hair wild from the wind, her grin wide as the storm barrels forward. She's fearless, and Tyler can't help but stare at her, as always, captivated by the way she becomes one with the storm.

The words slip out before he even realizes it—the two-word question something wistful against the howling wind. His heart races as he watches her, mesmerized by the moment, by her.

He doesn't even get to finish the unexpected delivery of his long-prepared speech before she throws herself into his arms, her "Yes!" echoing into the vast Oklahoma skies.

As he kisses her, the wind still howling around them, the ring on her finger, the plan in ruins because he put his foot in his mouth again around his pretty girl, he guesses...

Well, if you feel it, chase it.

THE END.

—AUTHOR'S NOTE

OH MY SWEET BABIES.

i thought it was fitting since tyler so disrupted willow's plans in the beginning that his love for her would disrupt his.

and with that, willow and tyler live happily ever after. i may do a few bonus chapters (certainly a kate x willow x tyler one), so if there is anything in particular you would like to see of them, let me know and I just may be around.

i know I said this in my last note, but I am so so so grateful for you all. This has been my first finished fic in a long time and I have loved every minute of it. Willow has brought me so much joy in such a tough time in my life and while I am sad to let this story end, it's been a hell of a ride. I hope you loved it and thank you for all of your positive comments and support. It means the world to me.

dedicated to the two who have been locked in from the start @Amberrose78and @AkarisX777. while there are many more recently that I could name, these two have been giving me feedback and comments from the start to the point I was solely putting out the fic from them. you two are amazing and I adore you so much. thank you.

thank you for reading and I love you all bunches,

kari