VERY IMPORTANT AUTHOR's NOTE!!
As mentioned in the Acknowledgments, Ramiro will be receiving his own story. However, according to the timeline in which it takes place this Epilogue will be mentioning Ramiro and the ending of his story indirectly. In other words, you'll already know the overall ending to his story but without any details.
If you'd prefer to not read the epilogue to avoid this (although I'm sure you would have forgotten by the time his story comes out), you can skip to the last page where I'll summarize the main points of this chapter.
Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy this chapter because it's certainly one of my favorites!

5 years later

The aroma of Paella wafts around the kitchen, the sizzling of the shrimps in the pan filling the noise alongside the sounds of cutlery and pans clanging together. Matías lifts the pan up, stirring the seafood before tasting the sauce accompanying it. Just before he can go for seconds, Rosalyn enters with grocery bags hanging from her arms.

"Hey! No double dipping mister!" Her voice rings out as she places the packets on the marble island counter. After moving to Spain, San Sebastián,
Rosalyn picked up the language of the country and began speaking it fluently. It was a wonderful thing for the both of them as Rosalyn could finally speak to Matías in his mother tongue.

"I wasn't going to." Matías replies coyly, placing the pan down and leaving the spoon on the side. He wipes his hands down on the black apron attached to his clothing before walking over to his wife. Matías still found it mind blowing how he could officially call Rosalyn that- his wife. While they've only been married for a year, he knows that they're a forever kind of thing.

Their wedding was small. With them not having many people to invite it was intimate and quaint... They had simply invited Audrey and Caleb, Mason and Samantha and Ramiro and his girlfriend. Enrique was there too, along with a few other members like Keva and Bruno. A few friends they've made here in Spain were there too and it was wonderful having everyone they appreciated in one place to witness such a memorable moment. Rosalyn and Matías had settled with a wedding on the beach where they got to say 'I do' with the golden sand between their toes and the salty air blowing Rosalyn's long, chestnut hair around her face. It was a beautiful day. Even Mia and Olivia were there for Rosalyn eventually got back in contact with her mother and explained her story. Details- like the murder committed- were left out and it was a good thing...

"Where is Catalin?" Rosalyn asks, raising an eyebrow at her husband as she begins to unpack the items she bought at the store. Assisting his wife with unpacking the packets he replies: "He's taking a nap in his bedroom. Apparently school was exhausting today."

"Well with the way he runs around with his friends I'm not surprised he's so tired. Also, did you see how Josie performed during her dancing recital?" Rosalyn throws over her shoulder as she puts milk in the fridge, before she laughs to herself. "I'm still stunned that Audrey put her in ballet instead of hip-hop."

"She's only six amado. Maybe she'll grow up to hate ballet."

"I think Audrey would actually prefer that." Rosalyn snickers.

After leaving America, Audrey gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who they named Josie. She- just like her mother- has ginger hair but took the blue eyes from her dad. Josie is also mischievous like her mother but quiet like her father. She is a cutie that Rosalyn loves to spend time with whenever Audrey and Caleb come visit- which is every year. It's also nice because with Catalin only being two years old, Rosalyn is still new to the mothering thing and Audrey often helps her out and eases her mind.

Matías set up his own mechanic shop and finished his studying while Rosalyn completed her studies too, going on to become an editor for one of the major newspapers in the city. With their monthly incomes, savings, and the amount Enrique gave them when they left the gang, they never have to worry about finances. Which helped them a lot. With Rosalyn falling pregnant three years after leaving Oregon, she wasn't yet established in her career and wasn't earning nearly enough to support a child. Neither was Matías. However, savings had served in their favour. Along with that, Rosalyn was attending therapy. Still is. And she is making progress... the therapist turned out to be a friend of Enrique- his cousin, actually, which is why he recommended her to Matías in the first place- so Rosalyn could speak about everything, from the murder she committed to how she joined a gang, without fearing that her therapist would rat her out. It was a good thing because Rosalyn wouldn't have been able to make the progress she's made if she was forced to leave out all those details which was what she was struggling with in the first place.

It was hard at first though- bringing up the past. Rosalyn had to start from the very beginning- which meant speaking about her father- and then tell her story. There were many days she came home weeping from having to relive the emotional distress of the memories but it was worth it because she's made more progress than she ever thought possible. No longer does Rosalyn resent her brother, hate her reflection or mourn the loss of her innocence. No, now she is a woman who has polished her armor and stands tall- strong- and says: "This is what I've been through and I'm okay."

There's scars she'll always have and wounds that will never fully close- you don't ever forget what it's like to take a life- but she no longer looks at them in disgust.

And Matías is proud of that. Proud of how Rosalyn has decided to choose the road of healing and work towards bettering herself. No longer does he have to witness her drinking herself into oblivion or cutting her wrists on the bathroom floor. And it is all he ever asked for- seeing the woman he loves have hope.

In a way, he knows a large portion of the hope was planted by Ramiro. He changed Harley before they left America. And still, whenever they see him- which is as often as possible- he still continues to give Harley hope. Ramiro, too, found his happiness after his sister's death. He fell in love with a beautiful woman who managed to grab the heart of the man who closed himself off to love. And they are happy. Which makes both Matías and Rosalyn happy because Ramiro deserves to find companionship after losing his family.

It still hurts when they think about Katalina. Matías especially. He misses her every day and never fails to think of her laughter, or smile or wild black hair. He even went as far as to name his son after her- Catalin, he had decided. They hoped their son would be as bold and as loving and as passionate as the woman they once knew.

Along with that, Ramiro is successful in the gang. He never left and is still running things. In fact, he extended the gang all the way into New York and is bringing in millions for Enrique. He's making both his parent's and his sister's legacy proud.

After the gang pushed the Slithers out, they moved to Florida where Cyrus managed to set up a new base and start from scratch. As far as Ramiro knows, the gang is doing okay... they aren't big or powerful like they once were but they are running a small town in Florida and are still as violent as ever. Persephone left the gang, leaving Cyrus heartbroken. Or so Ramiro heard via his sources and conveyed the news to Rosalyn.

She had nearly called her brother and asked him if he was okay. But she has no interest in opening a new can of worms and bringing back old shadows. Her brother is in the past and that's where he'll stay. She cares for him- as a sister should- but things are better this way.

"How was Christina?" Matías asks, referring to Rosalyn's work colleague who she is very fond of, while digging around in the grocery packet.

"She's alright... she invited us to join her and Eric at the steakhouse on Friday."

"That sounds perfect! You know how much I love their fo-" Matías slowly trails off, picking up the baby clothes for a newborn that were thrown in the packet. One is blue and the other pink- both too small for his two year old son. Staring at the items in confusion, his eyes zone in on the stick in the packet and he retrieves it before snapping his gaze to Rosalyn. She's leaning against the counter, hands wringing together in front of her as she smiles softly.

"Is this... is this what I think it is?" Comes Matías's wavering response, heart thundering in excitement. Rosalyn glances at the stick in his hands and then meets his gaze, a glossy sheen covering her eyes and she chews on her lip.

"Yes. I'm pregnant."

At first Matías just blinks at her and then he's tossing the clothes and pregnancy stick into the packet and pulling Rosalyn into his chest. He cups her cheek, pressing his lips against hers and pulling back with a wide grin. She stares up at him, a grin so big it makes her cheeks hurt making an appearance.

"I'm so excited. Fuck!" Matías laughs, throwing his head back and stroking Rosalyn's cheek with both his thumbs. "We're going to have another baby!" He exclaims, picking his wife up around the waist and swinging her around. She squeals, giggling like a lovesick teenager before Matías places her back down on the ground. Pulling off his apron, he rubs his hands together. "We need to start brainstorming names. If it's another boy I like the name Timothy... do you like Timothy? I think it's a classic name. And if it's a girl then I think Dais-"

"If it's a girl I already know what I want to name her." Rosalyn interrupts Matías and he looks over at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah? What name do you have in mind, amado?" He smiles, pulling his wife to him by the belt loops in her jeans. She offers an angelic smile, placing her hands on his chest.

"Carla."

Matías stills, before he swallows hard. "Carla?" He repeats and Rosalyn nods.

"Mmh-hmm." She hums, cupping her lover's face in her hands. Matías purses his lips, trying to contain his tears. Rosalyn laughs. "Hey, don't cry babe."

He laughs, a few tears leaving his eyes. "I'm just thinking how happy Carla would be to hear that. She would be so honored." Matías replies snd Rosalyn kisses his cheek.

"I know..."

"I'm so happy I'm having a family with you. And thank you for wanting to name our child after my best friend."

Blushing, Rosalyn leans in for a kiss. "I couldn't have asked for a better husband. You also don't need to thank me for that. It's a beautiful name after all."

Life isn't perfect. It can't be. You have to go through bad times and sometimes they last long... but they're worth it. Always. Because when you get to experience happiness, it'll be the most profound and exhilarating experience ever. Rosalyn and Matías suffered for so long, going through dark tunnel after dark tunnel but today they've reached the light. And there will be more tunnels ahead of them, and it'll be hard and will test their determination and perseverance once more but now they know that there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Always.

"Mama," a voice suddenly rings out and the couple pull apart to see Catalin standing in his pajamas and gripping a toy car to his chest. He has a love for all things cars just like his parents.

"Hello angel." Rosalyn says, walking to her son and picking him up. He wraps his arms around his mother, hugging her in greeting. He looks exactly like his father- the black hair, the dark skin tone and the freckles dusting his nose. The only thing he really got from his mother was the hazel eyes. But still, Rosalyn can remember thinking he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen before when she carried him for the first time.

"I'm hungwy." He pouts and she chuckles.

"Okay. Go to daddy so I can dish up." Handing Catalin over to Matías, she brings the food to the already set table. They all take a seat, Catalin between his mother and father and Rosalyn dishes up for him, making a point to add extra shrimp to his plate. They all eat, laughing and talking like a family should.

Thing's are okay. And Rosalyn and Matías realise that it is indeed true- if it is not okay, it is not the end.

•••

SUMMARY OF THIS CHAPTER:
If you decided to skip this chapter then here is the summary:

Harley and Danté have taken on their new names- Rosalyn and Matías.
They're both living in Spain, San Sebastián and Matías owns his own mechanic shop (after he finished his studies) and Harley is an editor for one of the big newspapers in the city (after she also finished her studies).
They've been married for the last year and have a two year old son named Catalin (he's named after Katalina).

Their wedding was small and quaint and was on a beach. The guests who were there were- Ramiro, Enrique, Keva, Bruno, a few other gang members, Mason, Samantha, Audrey and Caleb as well as some of their new friends from Spain. Olivia and Mia were also there as Rosalyn managed to speak to Olivia about what happened (although she did leave out certain things like the murder of Frank).

Audrey and Caleb have a daughter named Josie and Audrey often guides Rosalyn when it comes to parenting. They visit every year while Ramiro visits as often as he can.

Rosalyn started attending therapy- her therapist is Enrique's cousin so she was able to talk about everything, including the murder she committed and her joining the gang. While it was difficult for her at first, she's made a lot of progress and is much stronger than she thought she'd ever be. She doesn't hate her brother, or herself and she's working on who she is everyday. Matías is proud of her for finding hope and is happy that she's healing.

The Kings have extended their influence all the way into New York thanks to Ramiro who is still in the gang and continuing his parent's and sister's legacy.
The Slithers moved to Florida, taking control of a small town and continuing to use violence although they're nowhere as big or as powerful as they used to be. However, Persephone left the gang and Cyrus heartbroken in the process. Or so Ramiro has heard from sources. While Rosalyn worries for her brother, she makes no attempt to reach out for him because she feels certain things are better left in the past.

While Rosalyn and Matías talk about their day while unpacking groceries, Matías finds baby clothes and a pregnancy test in a grocery packet. When he asks Rosalyn about it, she reveals that she is pregnant. After a moment of celebration, Matias begins discussing that they should start brainstorming names. However, Rosalyn reveals that she would like to name their child Carla- after Matías's best friend- if the baby is a girl.
After a tearful moment, Catalin comes into the kitchen expressing his hunger. As a family, they have dinner together where Rosalyn and Matías realise they are finally happy and content with their lives.

•••

Phew. While that summary gives no justice to the emotions and symbolism in this chapter, it covers all the important points.

Using Harley and Danté's new names felt very foreign to me... it felt like I was introducing new characters and I guess, in a way, I was because they're no longer the same people you read about in chapter 52... they've grown and improved. However, I hope the new names didn't deter you from appreciating their happy ending and admiring their improvements.
This epilogue is very dear to me because I'm so proud of Harley and Danté.

Also, this marks the end of their story... I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have and keep them in your heart forever!
Thank you for reading!
I love you all.

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