Epilogue 2: Winter Wonderland

If you think they don't do this on the porch steps ^ you're wrong

~SiriusCatBennett

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In a town filled with rivalry, fishermen, and extravagant events, inches of snow cover the icy ground. Snowflakes are still falling, getting into the hair of two children and a dark-skinned man. One is a bright-eyed, red-faced bouncing three-year-old, hair the lightest shade of blonde and eyes the color of the sea. The other is a mocha-colored two-year-old with chubby little legs and arms and a head full of unruly curls. His eyes are brown just like his father's even though they hold no blood relation. Both boys are squealing in delight, fully intent on getting away from the growling man behind them.

"I'm gonna getcha." The man says, chasing the boys around with a big grin on his face. His son screeches, trying to run faster but with his chunky little legs, he simply falls into the cushiony snow. His layers upon layers of clothes keep him dry and warm as his father scoops him up from the ground, squeezing him tight as he spins around. "I gotcha."

The sweet little boy giggles, clinging to his father's jacket as he flies in the air.

"Unca Pop, chase me." Comes from the ground where the cherub-like three-year-old has come to a stop, a little grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye as he waits for his uncle to continue the game.

With a little groan, because Mason eats too many cookies, he sets his son on the ground and takes just a second to rest while the boys immediately start running around once again. They completely forget about being chased by Pope Heyward as they chase each other around, throwing snow at one another. The twenty-eight-year-old coroner watches them with a smile as the two flop on the ground and Aster tries to show Mason how to make a snow angel.

"He's getting so big."

Turning to look at the person who'd walked out of the house, Pope spotted one Claire Joans Routledge with a pink swathed baby on her hip. The little girl was looking around curiously, head moving around as she tried to figure out what is falling on her face.

"I know. I swear it's like he was just born yesterday. Can't imagine what it's like for you."

"I can't wait until you've had Mason for a few years. It's so beautiful watching them grow up." CJ told him, looking at her son fondly while she adjusted the one-year-old on her hip.

Mason Dakota Heyward had been adopted only three months prior, pulled away from a neglectful home. His name had stayed the same, besides the change of the last; Papa Heyward swore if his grandbabies didn't have his last name, he'd kill someone. Mason was the sweetest little boy, only becoming cranky if he didn't have enough sweets in a day. He loved his parents and there was nothing that even remotely showed he remembered they weren't his biological caregivers.

"Honestly I'm just worried about him growing up too fast."

Turning to face him, a sweet smile lit up CJ's face as she put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about that right now. Besides, they'll be better off than any of us were. Just love him, he'll be perfectly fine."

Pope nodded, reached a hand out to stroke Madison's beanie covered light brunette waves. The baby's head abruptly turned to him, looking up at him with wide hazel eyes searching for the cause of her disruption. He made a funny face which made her laugh.

"I'll try to keep that in mind."

CJ nodded before turning to look at the boys in the yard. "Boys, come on. It's time to come inside."

Two bodies popped up out of the snow, covered in the substance as they rolled over to face her. Only one got up, racing toward his father until his little arms wrapped around his legs. The other was pouting, clearly not ready to come inside.

"Moom, I don't wanna." Aster complained, slapping his tiny glove covered hands together. Snow flew off of them, rejoining their brethren on the ground.

"Well, that sucks." CJ said bluntly with an amused grin on her face. "'Cause your father needs help making hot chocolate and-" Before she could even finish the sentence, Aster had popped up and ran straight past her and through the porch and back doors. "Marshmallows are your job."

Shaking her head in amusement, CJ shared a look with Pope before they walked inside. The house was decorated for the holidays, complete with shining colored lights and a beautiful Christmas tree covered in white lights, tinsel, and ornaments. The kids' first adornments were on the tree, some handmade, and a few figurines littered the living room. Presents were resting under the tree, still unopened despite it being Christmas. The family had a deal that only Santa presents and stockings could be opened in the morning while the rest had to wait until after dinner.

Covering the walls were family pictures and paintings the kids had done. On the mantle above the fireplace there sat a piece of wood engraved with a pair of initials; a similar chunk sat in Pope's house with another set of initials carved into it. Both were from the branches that used to hold the treehouse which had inevitably fallen apart. John B had gone back when it did, cutting both of the sections out, giving one as a gift to his best friend. That's how Pope learned the story of the Tiny Cabin, over a decade after it's conception.

Baby Madi started wriggling, causing her mother to set her inside the bouncer before she continued into the kitchen. There was her husband of four years with their little boy sitting on the counter, carefully putting marshmallows inside five cups of cocoa. His father was directing him, making the toddler put them back when he grabbed too many.

"Hey, honey." CJ said, walking over to press a kiss to John B's cheek. The man responded with a cheeky grin and a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Your son keeps trying to take handfuls for himself."

"Oh, so now he's my son? Suit yourself, he's a good boy, I'll take him."

As CJ playfully reached over to lift her son off the counter, Aster squealed and John B grabbed her by the waist, spinning her around. He pinned her against the fridge, keeping her away from Aster as the little boy giggled. "Over my dead body."

"That can be arranged." Lips quirked, the two stared at one another for a moment, challenging each other, before John B leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips.

"Jesus with the PDA, I just wanted my hot chocolate." Came Pope's voice as he playfully gagged, walking past them to be diligently guided to his drink by Aster Benedict Routledge.

CJ chuckled, pushing her husband away from her as she walked to grab her own. "You're just cranky because your boyfri-"

"Daddy!"

Everyone's focus shifted as Mason screamed the word, the back door squeaking open. A blonde with a five o'clock shadow walked through the door, leaning down with a grunt to pick up his beloved son.

"There he is. Did you have fun today?"

"Yea. CC make cookies." Mason trilled, grinning up at his father. The sweet boy couldn't quite say 'aunt' and wasn't great with J's yet, so he just called CJ 'CC'.

JJ Maybank looked down at his son with glittering eyes and a big smile on his face. This was the highlight of his day: coming home from a long shift to his loving fiance and adorable son.

"Oh, yeah?" He questioned, adjusting the boy so he sat on his hip instead of his stomach. "Did you help?"

"No." Mason giggled, the word drawn out. "Benny play dinesores."

Everyone smiled at the toddler, knowing he meant that he and his cousin had played with their toy dinosaurs. The boys loved those things, even if only one of them could properly pronounce what they were called.

"He sure ate his fill, though." CJ enthused, sending her brother a broad grin before turning to check the timer on the oven. Dinner was close to being done.

"Of course he did. He's a growing boy." JJ gushed, walking over to the kitchen so he was standing beside his fiance. Leaning over, he gave the man a sweet kiss before looking down at the cup in his hand. "Well, what's this? Mason, are you having hot cocoa without me now?"

JJ held his son close, looking at him with wide eyes and a fully opened mouth. On his hip, Mason giggled wildly, shaking his head.

"No." He answered, the word once again drawn out with childlike tittering. "Daddy was."

Pope's hand flew up to his chest, looking between his fiance and his baby boy in betrayal. "You taught him that, didn't you?" He questioned, shaking his head.

"Nah." JJ replied, grinning broadly as he adjusted Mason on his hip. He looked at his betrothed with all the love and utter amusement in the world. "He just calls 'em as he sees 'em." He enthused before momentarily stealing Pope's mug to take a drink of his cocoa. "Ah. Refreshing."

Pope just shook his head, smiling at his fiance when the man ruffled Mason's hair and strode further into the kitchen to grab their own hot cocoa. He still couldn't believe that after seven years he could call JJ his fiance. And six months later - one for every year together - they would be married. Every year after that it would always be a running joke that the twin's anniversaries were only separated by a week. CJ and John B's fell on the thirtieth while Pope and JJ's was on the twenty-fifth.

No one else knew they were engaged yet. JJ had proposed early that morning right after Mason woke them up to open presents. They'd barely even had time to celebrate and bask in it since JJ had to rush to throw cinnamon rolls in the oven as their first Christmas with their son started. The Maybank hadn't been able to get the day off and had to run out right after they finished Santa presents to start his shift at the Chapel Hill Hospital. Christmas was always a busy day for the paramedics.

When JJ made his way back to Pope, the boys ran past the two of them, giggling, into the living room. The cousins plopped down on the ground in front of the tree, playing with some of their new toys as Madi bumbled happily, bouncing up and down as she watched them.

"How was work?" The man questioned, slinging an arm around Pope's waist as he sipped from a blue mug. "Did I save all your patients again?"

Pope shook his head, grinning in amusement when JJ bumped his hip with his own. "Shut up." He grumbled, thinking over his day. He'd had to work his own shift today, although it had been shorter, meaning he left later and came home sooner. Mason had spent the day with his aunt and uncle. "Pretty fascinating, actually. Did you know that people double their drinking during the holidays? We got this guy today, Robert, he had a point thirty-four blood alcohol content but do you wanna know what he died from?"

"Hmm?" JJ hummed, looking down at his fiance with affection as the man rambled.

"He was so drunk he tried to eat tinsel." Pope chuckled, shaking his head at the absurdity. "Someone clapped him on the back and he inhaled it. Totally choked to death."

The man turned toward JJ, nodding his head as if they were having the most casual conversation in the world. Truly, they were. Ever since Pope had finished school and they'd gotten a house together almost two years prior, these things had become everyday topics.

"Can we maybe not talk about choking to death on Christmas?"

The men turned, looking up to see who had spoken. Standing there, two big bags full of presents in her arms, was a giddy Kiara Carrera. She'd come through the front door so the kids were completely unaware that Aunt Kie was here, continuing to be completely enraptured in their fun.

"Kie." CJ squealed, throwing a cooking spoon in the sink as she spun out of John B's hold and lightly ran over to her best friend. Throwing her arms around her, it was only a second before the islander dropped her bags and wrapped her own around CJ, squeezing the woman tight. "Oh, I missed you."

After Kie finished her bachelor's degree in Marine Biology, she took a gap year to spend with family followed by leaving the OBX to travel. She'd been all over the place in the last four years, to over a dozen different counties, educating people and working with them to help the ocean's ecosystem. The little family video chatted constantly and the kids absolutely loved her, especially Aster; she always brought home trinkets and spoiled them almost as much as JJ did. She hadn't been home since the boys adopted Mason - which, truly, was less time than they were usually apart. Her newest project was off the coasts of Australia...where it was currently seventy-eight degrees.

"Oh, my god, I have so many pictures to show you." She told CJ, swaying them back and forth. "I saved this baby seal from a net and then his mom showed up and just- it was so beautiful, I have to show you."

CJ chuckled lightly before being forcefully ripped away from Kie. "Hey!"

"What? I want hugs too."

CJ just shook her head, rolling her eyes at her brother as she turned and ran back to the stove to pull out the ham. Every year they alternated between ham and turkey since they just didn't have the room, time, or energy to make both.

"Okay, everyone go sit at the table!" She shouted, making sure the kids could hear her from the living room. John B passed behind her, hand trailing over her hips, as he went to grab Madi. "Food's done!"

Slowly, and with a few disruptions as the children now noticed their aunt, everyone took their places at the long dining room table that took the place of the old, round, four-person table. It truthfully was used much less than the matching one in JJ's house seeing as the Routledge's ate most of their meals outside or in the living room.

Once everyone was settled, JJ and John B helped CJ get all the food onto the already placed table. When JJ spotted all the silverware skewed, some sitting partially on top of each other, he smiled, knowing that the toddlers had helped set it.

Everyone piled food on their plates ranging from olives to ham to devilled eggs. John B was seated at one of the heads, leaning to his right every now and again to help Madi eat some mashed potatoes and cranberry slices. The baby girl just babbled happily, chomping the food with all of her five teeth.

The family ate leisurely, talking amongst each other as they shared stories of the year. Kie told them all about her newest trip and they found out once she left after New Years' that she was traveling to New Zealand next. She'd also started writing that album she'd always wanted to make and already had a deal in place to get it recorded. The kids talked animatedly - as much as they could - about their gifts from Santa that the adults pretended they didn't already know about. After much pestering from the children, who'd finished before everybody else, the grown-ups ate speedily and followed the littles into the living room.

The toddlers' immediately dove for presents, happy to start handing them out while Madi sat comfortably on her mother's lap. CJ and John B were lounged out on the maroon couch that faced the fireplace with John B's arm slung over the back. CJ's legs were thrown over his as Madi bounced on top of them.

Pope got the first present, handed to him nicely from Aster. The man was sitting beside his fiance on the new brown pull-out couch, tucked under JJ's arm. The Maybank's fingers trailed over his shoulder as Pope made a show of holding onto the box tightly.

Kie got the next present, dragged over to the armchair by Mason. The sweet boy gave her a big grin as he left the barely too heavy package by her feet before running back to the tree.

Soon, everyone had presents and starting with the kids, they went in a circle opening them. JJ got new socks via his sister that knew he always wore through his too quickly. Kie got some new dress pants (date pants) seeing as CJ got a distressed call that the woman had ripped the only pair she had; John B had then overheard that conversation and bought a few pairs. Pope got a new pair of gardening gloves seeing as JJ had lost the last ones.

Perfectly fitting of the clothing theme, CJ got a new apron for work; she worked at a nice upscale restaurant on the Kook side of town. It made her feel icky but the money was good, the hours were flexible, and she'd worked there so long she practically ran the place (which came with the honor of smacking Kook's with wooden spoons if they had something to say).

John B gave a tiny cheer when he opened his: tickets to a movie he desperately wanted to show the kids. It was an oldie, Little Rascals, but it was showing for whatever reason the day after New Year. CJ was excited to take the boys as well and was really happy that JJ had noticed the theater's schedule.

The boys grabbed their identical gifts from Papa Heyward, ripping them open to reveal G.I Joes. They truly had no idea just how retro the toys were and thought they were 'so cool', immediately starting to play with them until they were reminded of the job they'd given themselves: present coordinators.

They went around like that a few more times until there was only one more round of adult gifts and the rest were for the kids. This final batch were all presents from Kie, minus the one she held from CJ.

"Oh, dude, cool." JJ chorused, looking down at the Eiffel Tower figurine. It sparkled in the light, making his grin broaden.

"I got to pass through Paris earlier this year and thought you might like it." Kie explained, a little smile on her face. JJ nodded happily, still looking at the thing, twisting it around in the light.

Paris, JJ had decided, was one of his favorite places on Earth. When he and Pope were twenty-five, four years after they got together, they separated. The slightly long-distance relationship was just really stressful, especially in the final stages of Pope getting his degree, so they decided to take some time apart until he finished school. It was really hard on JJ and so, when Kie came home shortly after that, he left with her. The two had worked and partied in France and Spain, and while they only spent a week they had off in Paris, it quickly became a favorite of his. He really wanted to take Pope there for their honeymoon.

"I love it."

After that, it was just the kids opening presents and CJ took pictures and videos as they tore through wrapping paper and ribbons. They got lots of toys and new underwear and Mason got a cool cape. Madi needed a little help with her presents but she loved chewing on the nice material headband Auntie Kie got her.

Eventually, the boys were all playing with new toys and Madison was conked out, lying peacefully on her mother's chest. CJ didn't mind at all, simply ran her hand over the sweet girl's back while JJ got her a glass of eggnog. She spent a few moments just watching her baby sleep, wishing that time would stop so she'd just get a little more while they were still tiny.

"So," Kie spoke up after a bit of time just watching the kids play. "Do you guys think you'll adopt again when he gets older?"

"Pope, what's the statistics on that?" JJ quickly spouted off while absentmindedly playing with Pope's jacket string.

"Statistically, you're an idiot." Pope responded, lolling his head to look up at him with a blank expression. However, he couldn't hide the affection on his face and JJ leaned down to kiss him softly. "I dunno, maybe."

"Kie, you're asking the wrong questions." CJ told the woman, looking away from Madison Lyra to gaze at her twin brother. "You should be asking them if they're ever gonna get hitched. You've been together for six years, I seriously can't believe neither of you have popped the question."

When neither of them spoke, simply stared at each other like they knew something no one else did, Kie practically fell out of her seat from leaning forward too far. Even John B leaned closer, hand pressed to CJ's shin. CJ's neck twisted painfully as her head turned to look at her brother head on.

"What? What aren't you telling us?" She demanded, looking between the two of them as smiles just started sprouting on their faces.

Pope finally turned toward them with a big grin. "We're engaged."

"What?" Kie's tone turned shrill, her excitement stirring the baby. Luckily, Madi fell back to sleep, unaware of her aunt's excitement. "What do you mean? Where's the ring?"

"Does he look like a diamond dude?" JJ asked, his nose wrinkling. "I proposed with a ring pop like a man."

CJ's head shook at the idiot, but she was ridiculously happy. Ever since Pope had gotten the balls to ask JJ out, she knew they were destined to stay together. They'd been best friends for so long, much like her and John B had, and that transferred over fully into their relationship. And just as JJ had told their father, he was gonna be an amazing dad. And he was. And CJ couldn't be more proud.

"Congrats, dude." John B cheered, carefully lifting CJ's legs so he could go hug them. The duo both got up, receiving giant hugs from Kie and the man of the house. CJ, who was unable to get up, was given half hugs from her position.

"I'll give you guys full hugs later once she's awake."

"Whatever, I don't care." JJ lied, lips in a crooked smile as he looked down at her. CJ just shook her head, so ridiculously happy that they were all where they wanted to be in life.

"Shut up, idiot. You're getting married."

Those words made the biggest grin appear on JJ's face. It was something that luckily wasn't uncommon nowadays, but had that added sparkle that people only got a few times in their lives. This was the second time she'd seen it in a few months' time and she loved how happy he was.

Looking around at all of her loved ones, she smiled appreciatively at her now big family. As they'd all grown, everyone had become closer, which included the parents. Heyward absolutely adored his grandchildren, the kids were with him and Pope's mother constantly. Even Mike and Anna were around all the time; with Kie gone, the rest of the Pogues filled that void and the parents loved being around the babies. They all celebrated the Fourth of July together and had barbeques often. Things were so different yet so similar to when they were kids.

John B still had the HMS Pogue, but it had been updated: a necessity of living as a fisherman. He also gave surfing lessons on the side, just like he'd wanted to all those years ago, which was big with the Tourons. They still lived at the Chateau, though now it was called the Playhouse. Same concept, but child-appropriate. The house still looked the same, just with updated appliances and kid stuff everywhere. The only big difference was the decoration of the rooms and the changing of the study. When Aster was born, it had been converted from a study into a bedroom so JJ could move rooms and when he moved out, the room was turned back into an office. For now, until Aster got older, the kids shared a room, but when that day came an extension would be built off the office and the parents would move in. Smarter to keep the kids near each other and not right next to the front door.

Everyone had jobs they loved, even if they worked hard or long hours. Pope worked as the coroner in Chapel Hill and came in to work as the medical examiner when needed in Outer Banks. JJ worked as a paramedic, meaning the two were constantly joking about their line of work as they were opposite one another. Someday in the coming years, Kie and John B would change their occupations and would be even happier about how life had gone.

As the kids played and her closest family members talked, CJ thought back to all those years ago when she and John B had sometimes needed to think about a good future in order to get through the present.

"Tell me the happy future again."

"When you and JJ turn 18, you'll move in here. JJ will work full time with Heyward, and we'll pick up more shifts. The three of us will fix up the Chateau with Pope and Kie's help. Make it real nice. Get wifi. Pope will nail his scholarship interview and school and leave the island to be a coroner. Kie will become a vet and a huge activist. They'll move from OBX but only be a ferry ride away. Eventually, we'll make enough money to start giving independent surfing lessons and I'll have more boats to work on. You'll become a chef. JJ will get his license to sell when he turns 21 and we can build a greenhouse. Then we can sell bud to dispensaries and keep the rest for ourselves. It'll be perfect."

Everything had turned out so different but incredibly similar to what they'd thought. They never envisioned Pope and JJ getting together which brought Pope back to the island. CJ certainly never thought their father would die while they were still teenagers, leaving them to move into the Chateau under strange circumstances. John B working at Heyward's for a while instead of JJ was definitely a trip. They definitely got that wifi, though.

All in all, CJ was happy. Ridiculously happy. And the only thing she could think of as she reflected on John B's words was, 'we're living it.'

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AHHHHHHH don't mind me screaming omg I can't believe this is over. This kind of fucking sucked (although I do love it) but I tried!

Okay, so there will be another chapter with some fun facts, and one with alternative aesthetics to the originals where I'll put any new ones I make. There will also be bonus chapters coming up so don't take this out of your library! We'll get even more information about events past these ones and have some details filled in about the last decade.

OMG I'm just so excited I love these assholes so much UGH

Okay ily ily ilygsm I will see you in the next chapter where we talk about the spin-off to The Strays!

~SiriusCatBennett