4 years later

I pick up my bag, slinging it over my shoulder and quickly slipping my heels on. I do a quick once over in the mirror before smiling in satisfaction and making my way downstairs. Yes, I'm still living with my mother even after all these years. However, I won't be for much longer since Alex and I are looking for a nearby apartment to take residency in. And yes, Alex and I still together; going stronger than ever to be honest. We're both officially done with studying, him working with Ryan in Rosewood Hotels and me, going into philanthropy as I always dreamed to while using my linguistics to do so. We've had a rollercoaster of a ride together but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. I love Alex even more than I could ever imagine.

Along with that, a lot has changed. Nina and Martin are still going strong, traveling whenever holidays come around. However, we're still close with them. We spend most of our free weekends with them, laughing like we used to. Cole is in Boston, studying biology while Rachel stayed behind to study teaching like she had originally said. However, they're no longer together.

"We just weren't fit for one another." She had said.

Rachel tried denying it but I knew she was heartbroken from the split. They really cared about each other. Thalia doesn't speak much to us. All we know is that she majored in psychology, taking the top of her class. After high school, the Elite and Rebels disappeared; the idea no longer in existence. I never heard from any of them again except for Kelcy; we spoke quite frequently actually. She ended up finding an attractive boyfriend while traveling in China. They seemed pretty serious. I haven't heard anything on Tyler and James, nor on Megan but I do know that Ashleigh ended up in the IT department with her amazing computer skills. Dylan and Courtney stayed in town but we never see much of them. Dylan and Alex never reconnected and I think that was because there was too much hurt in the relationship for them to move forward. They both grew apart and they couldn't really grow closer again. Logan's become a multi-millionaire at the ripe age of twenty-two and is a successful businessman alongside his father. And Chris.... well, he's doing football and he's really good at it. I haven't said a word to him either but I have my sources.

When I reach the bottom of the staircase I walk towards my front porch and open it up, only to see Alex with his hand in mid-air about to ring the doorbell. He looks at me in surprise first before his mouth falls into a grin.

"You look stunning." He tells me, eyeing my appearance. We're going on another date tonight and I'm excited about that. College took a lot of our time away from each other with all the work. He hands me a bouquet of white roses and I smile at them.

"You look handsome." I respond, noticing the extra effort he put in today. Alex is still the same attractive man I fell in love with and I couldn't be more grateful that neither of us have drifted apart. He chuckles, smirking at me with amusement.

"I always look handsome." He teases and I roll my eyes, heading back inside to put the flowers in a vase. He trails after me as I pull one out of the kitchen cupboard and fill it with water before placing the flowers inside. I dry my hands before looking up at him with a smile. He rounds the counter, slowing wrapping his arms around my waist. My heart begins to beat erratically and I feel my breath hitch in my throat as he stares down at me. After four and a half years, he still has the same effect on me. He can still make me drop dead with that charming smile of his.

"Are you ready to go?" I ask him, struggling to keep my eyes from straying to his rosy lips. They stretch into a smile and I fail, my eyes briefly flitting to them before I snap them back up to his chocolate swirls. They're gleaming with amusement and I know he's teasing me. He leans forward, our nose inches apart, and whispers: "You look really nice in that dress."

I laugh a little before pecking his lips. "Thank you, Alex. But c'mon." He drops his hands from my waist and I grab one, dragging him out the front door and to his car. Alex, like he had originally said, still has the same car as he did in senior year. He refused to get rid of it as he realized he first loved me in it. So, here it is. Still going strong.

"So where are we going?" I ask him curiously. He smiles.
"Well I have dinner reservations at your favorite restaurant." He tells me and I gasp.

"Thai Chai?" I ask and he nods, chuckling at my reaction. Thai Chai is this really fancy Thai restaurant that sells the best dumplings I have ever eaten in my whole life. I grin.

"Did I mention I love you?" I ask and he throws his head back with a chuckle.

"Yeah, but I don't mind hearing it again." He responds as I giggle.

"But, I have a surprise for you first." He winks and I groan, slapping a hand to my forehead in frustration.

"When are you going to realize that I'm not very fond of surprises?" I ask incredulously and he gives me a naughty smile.

"We both know that you're lying." He counters and I respond by sticking my tongue out at him. We lapse back into silence and my mind wonders as to what he has in store for me. Alex still loves surprising me no matter how much I claim to hate it, and he seems to enjoy watching me grow antsy.

Jerk.

However, when we pull up outside of a very familiar building, a smile makes it's way onto my face along with my eyebrows scrunching together. He parks his car in the all to familiar parking lot before climbing out, coming to my side and opening the door for me. I step out and I cast him a curious glance as he locks his car. He sends me a mischievous smirk before grabbing my hand.

We begin our walk to the building and I can't help but reminisce over everything that has happened here. While been at university, mine and Alex's time was taken up largely which meant less visits to Sunny Smiles. However, I tried to come every now and again. Alex pushes the door open and a new receptionist sits behind the desk. I've met her the few times I've come. The room is still the same- yellow walls with artwork from the kids hung up.

The receptionist casts us a beaming smile as we walk in. "Hello Alex and Sophie." Simara greets us.

"Hey, Simara. Can we speak to Kathy please?" Alex asks and the receptionist nods before ringing the office phone. Lucy is still working here but she does a lot of missionary work lately which meant that Kathy took the place of being in charge.

Not a second after the receptionist puts the phone down, Kathy comes bounding out of her office with a large grin on her face.

"Alex! Sophie!" She exclaims, pulling us both into a tight hug. I laugh into her shoulder before she pulls back.

"How are you?" She asks, pushing her glasses further up her nose. She still looks exactly the same. Not even a different hairstyle.

I smile. "Great and you?"

"Good." She grins. "Come. The kids are so happy you're visiting us." She instructs and we follow her to the garden. I notice familiar faces although none of them are three or four years old anymore. Now they're actually seven or eight.

"Everyone! Look who's here!" Kathy calls, catching all the kids attention. The minute they recognize us they belt towards Alex and I, jumping onto us in tight hugs. I laugh as I give them all tight embraces.

"Hello Lea." I say and the blonde girl gives me a wide smile. I notice a few of the children are no longer here and I take that as a good sign for them been adopted. Alex and I catch up with all of the kids, answering their questions and asking them some as well. It's so strange to think about how I used to look after them when they were small and here they are; big and gaining independence.

"Sophie!" Henry calls out, catching my attention. "We've made a little show for you." He tells me after I've finished my interrogation.

"A show?" I ask with a frown.

"Yes! A show!" Zenzi says enthusiastically.

"Come on." Henry tells me, tugging at my hand. I cast Alex and Kathy a smile and they laugh at me, Kathy shrugging. I take a seat on the grass as all the kids stand in a horizontal line, a coloured piece of paper in front of their feet. I call Alex over and he comes to take a seat beside me as the kids begin singing.

They're so awfully off-key that I can't help but smile in appreciation. Children are so generous. They all dance, doing the robot and I laugh at the cuteness before they all grab a partner and start prancing around hand in hand. My eyes stay glued to them, never leaving the beautiful scene before me. I can't believe they made this for me. It's so adorable. They all smile as they dance, thoroughly enjoying the little show they're giving me. They all fall back into a line, for what I presume is the ending, before picking up the A4 pieces of coloured paper that were resting in front of them. One by one, they each hold it up. Each piece of paper has a letter on it and I try to piece them together to form a word, frowning as I do so.

W I L L Y O U M A R R Y M E ?

I read before I freeze, my eyes widening and my heart beating so loud that I think that it's about to pop out of my chest. My gaze finally rests on the man in front of me who is down on one knee, holding a box in his hand while he wears the most nervous smile I have ever seen. I was so engrossed in the children's performance that I didn't notice Alex stand up and move to the end of the line.

I push myself up on shaky legs, hoping that I don't look as emotional as I feel. I slap a hand over my mouth as I hear pictures being taken by Kathy.

This was all a setup.

I step closer to Alex, pausing right in front of him. He lick his chapped lips, his hands trembling slightly and his eyes having a glossy sheen.

"Will you, Sophie Cooper, make me the happiest man alive by marrying me?" He gulps and I sniffle. I want to wake up next to Alex every morning, kiss him every chance I get while being able to hold him in my arms. I want to be able to confess my love to him every night and day. I want to spend the rest of my life with the man I love more than I could ever fathom.

I nod my head, Alex's eyes widening.

"Yes?" He asks and I laugh, nodding my head vigorously as tears fall from my eyes. I've never felt so happy in my life.

"Yes, a billion times, yes."

Everyone cheers around us as he slips the ring onto my finger before pulling me into his arms. He presses his lips against mine passionately and I kiss back with as much force, knowing that these lips will forever be mine.

Oh my gosh... It's finally over😭 I feel so incredibly emotional right now. Thank you for all your support. I love you guys so much. I hope this was the ending you wanted and that you enjoyed every second of reading it.

The Q&A will be up soon so make sure you get all your questions in. After that there will be 4 bonus chapters. As much as I recommend you reading all 4, I particularly recommend reading 3 and 4 if you want to understand more about Courtney, Dylan, their child, Logan and Thalia. You'll gain a lot of insight into their lives so you should definitely check them out for a better understanding.

Until then, I love you all! Thank you for supporting GC! I still can't believe it's over.

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