Forget Me Not

Epilogue

Things will work out - maybe just not the way you plan.

-Rick Riordan

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One Year Later

Aria and Ezra smiled as the camera flashed. They were holding each other, looking as happy as ever. 

"Okay! Now the kids!" The photographer waved Jem and Daisy over and began to pose them next to their parents. It had been a couple years since they had any family pictures taken, so they felt now was the right time. Aria's hair had grown some since being cut short to her shoulders. Jem decided to let all of his piercings close up, besides his nose ring and single earlobes. Daisy's hair was to the middle of her back, and Ezra looked as perfect and gorgeous as ever. They were the perfect image of the perfect family. Jem was now 18 and finishing his senior year at the high school. Daisy was about to turn 16 in a few months and in the middle of her sophomore year.

Daisy was extremely involved in extracurriculars. She joined the debate team, she was the head of the yearbook club, and she played softball and volleyball for her school. Her grades were As and Bs and she always, always made time for family. Being the daughter of Aria and Ezra, she was stunning and had boys chasing after her at all times. But she only had eyes for her boyfriend, Zaine. They started dating seriously last spring when he asked her to the Spring Fling dance. He was a good guy who both Ezra and Aria approved of, especially since he made their daughter so happy.

Jem was working part-time at the cafe by home, taking creative writing classes at the local community college once a week, and very involved in all English electives and clubs at the school. Marvette was just one year behind him and they were still going strong. 

This would be their last family portraits together before Jem left for college after this school year. 

"Perfect. Now just the kids?" The photographer managed the family through pictures, taking at least a hundred. 

"You are all set! Its's always a pleasure taking pictures for you guys! You can pick up the flashdrive of the edited pictures any time after 3 p.m. Monday...I just need the weekend to sort the good from the bad and fix the lighting."

"Thanks so much, Penelope, we appreciate it, as always!" Aria hugged her photographer and started out of the building with her family. 

"So...I'm thinking the Bistro for lunch?" Ezra suggested, raising his eyebrow at Daisy. 

"Sounds fine to me!" Aria agreed, turning to Jem. "Sound good to you guys?" 

"I'm always down for the Bistro." Jem nodded, and as if on cue, his stomach growled, making them all laugh. 

~          ~           ~

Ezra was finishing his dish while Aria was in the bathroom when a tall young man walked up to their table. 

"Fitz? Ezra Fitz?" The man asked incredulous, his face breaking into a smile. And seeing his somewhat-familiar face was enough to bring back the memories. Ezra had been able to recover most of his memories, and the longer he was with Aria, the quicker and easier it was to remember certain things, certain people, certain memories...

"Noel Kahn?" Ezra asked, not jumping out of his seat to shake his hand, because he knew the things that Noel Kahn had done...specifically to Aria. 

"Your book was good stuff, man. Must've earned you a pretty penny." Noel sniffed, pulling a chair up to the table. Jem and Daisy shared an uneasy glance at one another. 

"Yeah, I guess you could say that...is there something you need, Noel?" Ezra asked, not quite anticipating where this conversation was going.

"Uh, yeah man, there is." Before he continued his sentence, Aria was making her way back from the bathroom.