KAIROS | EPILOGUE

"IN THIS LIFE,
I HAVE LOVED,
AND I HAVE BEEN
LOVED IN SUCH A WAY,
THAT DEATH HAS LOST ITS POWER."

December 25th, 1993

The two girls were on their way to give their friends presents for Christmas, having already opened the ones that they'd received; snow kissed the ground, coating the world in icy sparkles and crystals.

A violet scarf hid Violetta's neck, accompanied by her once blood-stained hoodie, a bomber jacket, black jeans, a black beanie, and Converse. Her fiery hair was down, cascading over her shoulders, and ending at the small of her back.

They rung the doorbell, being greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Dennison. "Merry Christmas, girls! Come on in! The boys are upstairs in their room, and Dani is in the kitchen. Dinner's almost ready."

The duo smiled, entering the home, and rushing up the stairs. The hole in their ceiling had been repaired, magically, by Violetta; laughter could be heard from behind the doorway, and the girls smiled at one another before approaching the door.

Thackery was pacing, his nerves causing him to panic as he heard the doorbell ring. "They're here, shit, what do I do?"

"Dude, why're you so nervous?" Max laughed, "You've known her for three hundred years."

"Do you think dating was a thing, back then? No! I've never even had a girlfriend, dude!" He exclaimed, exaggeratingly waving his arms in panic. He then looked to his outfit: a red and black flannel over a white t-shirt, black jeans with a wallet chain, and crimson Converse that Violetta had bought him. He'd refused to cut his hair, causing the golden strands to fall to his shoulders; his hair was down, and he'd pulled some strands behind his ears. "How do I look?"

"Dude, you look fine." Max smiled, "Stop stressing. God, is this how annoying I was when I was planning on asking out Allison?"

"Yes, actually." Thackery fired back, launching a pillow at the boy. Max caught it, laughing, before running after his new brother. The blond widened his eyes, picking up another pillow and launching it at Max, before running for the door. He swung it open, rushing into the hallway, before colliding with someone.

They fell to the ground, and Violetta released a laugh. "Jeez, Thack. In a hurry?"

"Yeah, Max is trying to kill me." He chuckled, helping her to her feet as his brother greeted Allison with a kiss. "Get a room, you two." He smiled, holding Violetta's hand in his own. Max flipped him off, before the four teens headed downstairs.

"Just in time," Mr. Dennison smiled. "Dinner's ready, and then we can open presents.

Dani whined, "But Daaaaaad. . ."

"It's ham."

"Ooh!" The girl squealed, running to the dining room and taking her seat. Thackery and Max helped bring the food out, and the Christmas feast had begun.

...

Walking her home, Thackery was building up the courage to ask her out - it'd been nearly two months since she turned him back, and they were so busy with the adoption and such, that he'd never even gotten the chance to ask her.

"Let's go to the park." He smiled, "I don't really want today to end, just yet. I'll race ya." The ginger on his right smiled, before dashing toward the park entrance. "Hey! Cheater!" He laughed, before catching up to the girl.

When he entered the park, he lost sight of her, only to be pelted in the ass with a snowball. She laughed as he spun to face her, but her expression quickly changed when he began to run after her; he chased her for five minutes, before catching up and throwing her over his shoulders.

"Drop me, Binx!" She laughed, but quickly regretted her wording when he threw her into a pile of snow. "Asshole."

"What?" He asked, feigning innocence as he shrugged, "You told me to drop you."

She rolled her eyes, a smirk on her lips as she lifted her arm for assistance to get up; when Thackery grabbed her hand, she pulled him down with her. The duo laughed, before laying on their backs and looking at the night sky.

So many shining dots, plastered on a black background. Violetta had heard that the brightest stars were the gazer's past loved ones smiling down at them, so she'd begun to search as Thackery sat up next to her.

"I didn't get to give you your present," she smiled, pulling her bag into her lap and removing a picture frame from it. She handed it to him, and his heart cried as he analyzed it; it was a drawing she'd done of him and Emily, so many centuries ago.

"This is amazing, Vi. . ." He smiled, meeting her gaze. The way the moonlight illuminated her features made him melt, and he smiled at her before slowly leaning in. It was the karios he'd been waiting for.

Violetta smiled, as well, closing her eyes as the gap between them had finally closed. Her hands found their way into his hair, and his arm wrapped around her waist. They kissed for, what felt like, forever, until they had to separate for air.

The teens chuckled, "I've been wanting to do that since I got turned back." Thackery chimed, smiling even wider when Violetta rested her head on his shoulder. "Will you do me the honor, of being my girlfriend?"

"I was wondering when you'd ask." She smiled, "Yes. I love you, Thackery."

"I love you too. I always have, and I will never stop."

"Neither will I."

"Forever and always?" He smiled, holding out his gloved pinky finger.

"Always and forever."