Finding it

e p i l o u g e

3 years later
Looping my arm through my father's, I can see the his eyes are brimmed with tears, expressing love and radiating pride. This day was one I had no idea how I would make it through, but upon seeing my love's across the room, I know that I will--that we will; together.
          Walking across to him, the love of my life, I put into retrospect of our time together. From the morning in the strawberry fields where he blackmailed me into being his fake girlfriend, to us falling for each other for real. From the heartbreak of him lying to me and me having to find out the truth, to our redemption of overcoming, forgiving, loving, and loyalty. From our special day where he asked me a four worded question, down on one knee, in the strawberry fields where it all began--to today.
          Stunning as I may look in this dress, and with this hairdo, and with this smile, my eyes and heart are set on the one person who I will share the rest of my life with. When we are eye to eye with each other, and have exchanged our rings and have said our vows, I don't falter when asked if I take Travis Stoll to be my lawfully wedded husband; I say, "I do."

2 year later
If I had one word the describe the mornings I wake up to, I wouldn't be able to complete the task. The light from the sun shining through the windows are golden and beautiful. The quiet sound of home is familiar and soothing. The arms that hold me are perfect and warm. With those six words being only a fraction of many more adjectives I could describe my morning as, choosing one would be impossible, even despite the headache that I can feel is growing.
I shift in the bed to face the person who holds me and smile at his sleeping face. His brown curls falling into a messy halo, his eyelids hiding his blue eyes, his face in such a peaceful manor that I wonder how it can so easily change into a mischievous one. I brush a lock of hair from his face with a soft stroke of my finger tips and he stirs. With a fluttering of eyelids, his eyes meet mine. "Good morning, my love," I smile at him.
"Good morning, my one and only," he smiles back as he pulls my closer to him. I rest my head in my hands with my arms propped up on his chest, looking down at him. He stares at me and as he sighs, his smile travel to his eyes, then slip into his usual mischievous look.
          "What?" I ask him, wary of what his is about to do.
          Instead of speaking, he presses his lips to mine and kisses me. My smile broadens against his lips and I kiss his back. His kisses match mine and he pulls me, if even possible, closer to him. I place my arms around his neck and his hands find their way on my hips. Out kiss grows and changes into smaller, shorter, quicker ones—and still, each more passionate than the one before. Sighing, I breaking away for air, but he doesn't stop his lips and presses them to my neck. I gasp in surprise as he keeps going, his kisses travel across my skin. He kisses lower and when they find their way at my stomach, he smiles at it, placing kisses upon it too.
"AHH!"
          I jump at the extra voice in our house, sounding a yelp of my own. Travis' kisses freeze and he takes in a long, dragging breath in.
"My eyes! My eyes!" The younger Stoll shouts, is hands covering his vision. His yelling only making my head pound harder.
"Connor, what at you doing in our house?" Travis sighs, sitting up, irritated.
"You guys do it in the morning?" Connor gives us an incredulous look, he isn't helping my head's also growing nausea.
Immediately, I say, "We were not having--"
"What are you doing in our house?"
"I picked the front door's lock." Connor tells us.
"I don't care, I do too sometimes. Why are our in our house?"
          "Regretting having walked in."
My face reddens even more.
Travis flips off his brother.
Connor flips him off in return, "Get dressed, we're leaving soon."
We're leaving soon! My mind races as I remember the event of today-- Coming back to Camp Jupiter. No headache or nausea will stop me from seeing my friends.
          The chariot flight to the Roman camp was almost just as the first time we came, due to Miranda screaming, but there was another emotion that swelled up inside me as we set foot inside of it. Excitement and happiness are just the top of the list, but my nerves cause me to play with my ring in a nervous habit.
          Seeing a familiar head of straight brown hair and brown eyes, I smile as I recognize Alex. "Oaks, look at my watch," Travis brags, "Jealous?"
          "Why would I be jealous of a stollen watch?" Alex responds.
          "Not everything I have is stollen," My husband rolls his eyes, "even if this happens to be."
I laugh, no longer shocked to see Alex in a civil, friendly conversation with Travis. Today just brings me happiness as I see Kia and Angelo, who got together two years ago, and Railyn and Jake, who got married too seven months ago—Not to mention Angelo is planning on proposing to his boyfriend next week, and Miranda and Connor just got engaged...but we see them on the daily.
Just like old times, we all decide to go to lunch at a diner in Camp Jupiter's restaurants.
          Once seated and having already ordered our drinks, Travis grabs my hand and gives it a light squeeze. I look up at him and our eyes meet. We can do this, his eyes tell me, I love you, they love you, we should tell them.
          Nodding, I take in a nervous breath. I look at my friends each in turn. Miranda, Kia, and Railyn, girls who are just as sisters to me. Alex, Angelo, Jake, and Connor, who are just as brothers to me. "Guys," I say, getting their attention, "I'm pregnant."

09 • 26 • 18
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