Spider Monkey

Chapter One Hundred + Eight - Epilogue

-- Five Years Later --

Most mornings Hedley was up before Carl. He simply needed less sleep then he did. So if they went to bed together, Carl almost always woke up alone. Which was why it was truly a pleasant surprise when he stirred and still felt his body pressed against his.

It was a marvellous opportunity to awaken and look at him. Carl watched Hedley take in slow deliberate breaths that moved his muscled chest up and down. The 'N' on his pec was mostly covered with dark hair and the scar across his belly from Alpha's knife was a pale pink. The happy trail of hair from his belly button and down into the sheets below was always a sight to Carl, never getting old in their now six years of marriage.

As usual Carl was curled up against Hedley's side, his chin resting on his shoulder and Hedley's arm wrapped around his back. He had his own pillow but he rarely used it, always claiming to get a better nights' sleep when he was pressed to Hedley's bare skin.

Carl lifted himself up slightly on his elbow to properly examine the beauty which was his husband. The sharp jawline, relaxed brow, the four day old stubble that was quickly forming a beard. The scars. They would never go away but Carl didn't mind. They told a story. They reminded everyone who saw them that Hedley was strong. That he was a fighter. That he was the hero that won a war when he was only nineteen. That saved a little girl from three men when he was only twelve.

Carl swore that he'd fall in love with Hedley all over again every single time he looked at him.

Memories of their life together flashed in his mind like a movie.

Through the thick and thin, the good and bad, the love and heart.

His thoughts were interrupted when Hedley moved, pulling Carl closer while snuggling deeper into the pillow. Carl smiled at his husband. Simply having him so close and so warm, it makes Carl want to melt right back into the land of sleep.

After all these years, Hedley still loved to touch. Lacing their hands together, a hug, a kiss, a tender caress of the cheek.

Carl closed his eye, happy and peaceful.

He breathed in Hedley's scent deeply as he slumbered on. He smelled like earth, oil and rain. But under that was a hint of something that was uniquely him. Carl was addicted to the scent. He could taste it whenever their lips meet. He breathed him in again and as usual it made him dizzy.

When Carl opened his eye once more, he saw Hedley now awake and looking at him with a sleepy smile.

"Hi."

Carl smiled back, "Hi."

Hedley wrapped his arms impossibly tighter around his husband, giving Carl's forehead a gently yet firm kiss.

"You slept in late today." Carl said, his hand stroking small circles on Hedley's chest.

"Mmmhmm," He responded sleepily, and Carl noticed his eyes drooped closed again, "Maybe we could spend all day in bed."

Carl chuckled, shaking his head, "If only."

"Why not?"

A crying infant suddenly filled their ears. 

Then a second cry of another infant soon followed.

"There's your answer." Carl said before getting up. "I'll get them, you get the bottles?"

Hedley got himself up with a groaning stretch. He got himself dressed in his sweats and t-shirt before going downstairs to their kitchen, getting two bottles ready. When done, Carl came into the room with two crying babies - one in each arm.

Their twin daughters.

Shy of a year old. Daryl had found them during a run, their mother was bitten and locked them in the closet with a note on the door. That was four months ago and they soon fit in nicely with their little family.

Dark hair on their heads, thin eyes, tanned skin, wrinkled noses and chubby cheeks. When they open their eyes, dark brown orbs look back and when they smile, the whole world lit up around them.

Their names were Elizabeth Lori Grimes-Dixon and Caroline Merle Grimes-Dixon.

Elizabeth was longer while Caroline was fatter. They loved story time and being held by their grandpa Daryl.

Carl gave Caroline to Hedley - who cradled her gently - and the two new fathers began to feed their baby girls. The crying stopped and the two men just watched their babies eat.

"I still can't believe we're parents." Carl whispered, not wanting to disturb his daughter eating.

"I know." Hedley whispered back. "It's like a dream."

"A good dream."

"A great dream."

Hedley leaned over to give Carl a sweet kiss.

A perfect start to their rest of their lives.

The End :3

(( Notes : It's done. I can't believe this book is officially done. I am so grateful for everyone who read and enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. Hedley Dixon is one of my favourite OCs and he will be forever in my heart. If you didn't know, I am autistic and I hate how the media portrays us as weak smartasses who love the piano and are little skinny straight white boys. So I tried to break the stereotypes with Hedley - giving him a strong body, a witty, kind and caring personality and him being autistic is not a flaw or weakness but something that just makes him uniquely strong. He is a hero and he's protective and powerful and everything that the media does not portray as autistic but he is. And I love him.

Autism comes in different shapes, sizes, colours and identities.

I hope someone learned something from this fanfiction and maybe even opened people's eyes to what Autism actually means.

And to everyone who comments regularly and makes my day just by commenting, thank you so much for all the love, support and kindness. It means the world. And please share this fic if you want to and spread nothing but love. It's what Hedley would want you to do. :3

So ... goodbye and hopefully I'll see you all again soon xx :3 ))