"I wanted to use the purple one!" I protested with a pout that usually works. William rolls his eyes and kept the purple paint for himself. "Shut up, you still love me," he mumbled and took out the paintbrushes. "Sadly," I sighed and William glared at me. Of course, I'm joking. We were on the hill where we marked each other, it became our little spot. As well as the beach spot where William took me years ago. Aisen insists that once a month we go to that exact beach location.

"Daddy, stop saying bad words!" Aisen quickly scolded referring to the words shut up. His hands were already messy with brown paint. Today we decided to paint on the hill but of course, William had to be competitive and say that we aren't allowed to see each other's paintings until the end and Aisen gets to decide which is better even though he's in the competition.

"Sorry, sorry," he apologized, already caught up with the painting just as I was. After we got an hour to ourselves at the hospital four years ago, the doctors came in and did their check ups and all that medical stuff. The only way we got an hour to ourselves was because Erin scared the doctors and stopped them from coming in sooner.

William was back on his feet after four days of healing completely. The major relief was that my parents were gone. Jayden took the responsibility that day to burn their dead bodies. It took a toll on him for a couple of weeks but eventually, he got over it. Before I still loved them. After they tortured me, I still loved them. Then they hurt William so badly though, that was the final straw and I completely despised them.

I'm thankful that they're gone. And as much as it makes me sound like a bad person, I'll never admit it out loud but I'm happy that their death was a painful one. The pack was so happy for us when we announced Aisen's presence. Of course, we had to explain to them why it was kept secret and they were so supportive after everything.

Enrico and Zaire kept in touch. It's just a couple of phone calls and pictures but it's better than nothing, especially because they're not ghosting us. Bradey and Erin hit a bumpy part after Enrico visited because Erin fully didn't believe Bradey was over him. It had been so long but Bradey got the closure that day at the hospital. None of us knew what happened to them in that hallway, but it's ended.

Jayden and Renee stop hiding a couple of months afterward. It was so difficult to watch, no number of announcements William and I made, the hate wouldn't stop. It hurt them badly but that didn't stop them from staying together and doing their duties to the pack. Jayden made Renee stronger like William made me stronger.

As for Rieka and Evander, they kept in close contact. We'd visit them or they'll come over. They weren't allies, they were family. Luis. Oh, Luis, he resigned shortly after I talked him into it. He deserved it, he served that packhouse for decades and he finally deserved the break. "Aise," William warned when he was about to put paint all over William's white shirt. "It makes mommy laugh!" Aisen defended, laughing at him himself.

"Boys, stop," I sighed. My painting was nothing much, city lights from a rooftop. Being beside William has been challenging but I have to say, I'm proud of myself. It feels like I was meant to be this person. So many people that we have saved and helped made it so worth it for everything. Of course, I can't do it without William but that's why we're such a great pair.

After finishing the touch ups, I put the brush into the water. "Alright! Time is up, show me!" I commanded. William and Aisen look at each other and nodded, silently communicating. "Turn it," I whined, actually curious to see what William painted since he was so concentrated on it.

William finally turned around the canvas to allow me to his beautiful artwork. My painting falls from my hands as I studied the detailed words painted neatly on the canvas. No fucking way. "William," I whispered, my heart was beating so hard in my chest.

"This is a joke," I assumed though I really didn't want it to be. "No," Aisen declined with a grin on his face as he turned over his painting. I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth at the sentence continuation. My eyes watered and I looked at William as he slipped his hand to his back pocket to pull out the small black box.

William painted the words Will You Marry Me? Across his canvas in white paint with a lavender purple background. Aisen's painting consisted of the word Please with a smiley face and below it was three figures that were supposed to be the three of us. On my hand though was a ring.

"Everest," William's eyes were on mine as he stood, his other hand gripped my waist to help me stand as well. "Yes, say yes," Aisen whispered to me, trying to be secretive as possible. William gets down on one knee, ever removing the eye contact with me. "Everest, I know this is crazy and all...some would say irrelevant since we're soulmates and already have a little angel but I've always wanted to get married someday. I love weddings actually and at times when I mentioned it you didn't hate the idea at all so...here I am.

According to fairytales, you only get your happily ever after when you marry the prince. You want your happily ever after, you deserve your happily ever after with me and Aisen. There's so much to say but throughout the nearly five years, every day you remind me to be so grateful because if I didn't have you beside me this world would be burning. You saved me, Everest. You found me broken and without knowing it your love glued me back together-"

"Tell her that she's the best mother in the world too!" Aisen interrupted. I just want to squish him in a bear hug. "I was getting to that, little guy. He's not wrong. You're such a good mother to Aisen that it blows my mind away. I don't know how you do it, how we do it, but you're the reason I'm good at it. I promise I'll love you forever, I promise I'll always fight for you and I promise I'll never stop trying to be the best for you, for both of-"

"Hurry up, daddy, it's getting boring now," Aisen interrupted once again. I laugh and wrapped my hands around William's neck, bringing him on his feet again. "He's so impatient," William huffed and finally opened the black box.

"Will you marry me, Everest?" William finally asks.

I think the answer is pretty obvious.