I've really been getting into Falling Apart, so I'm just going to end this story. :) This is the last chapter. I'm really sad, but happy to come to the end of Cade's story. And this IS the END. No more. No Michael's story, no nothing.

Sorry this last chapter sucks. It got a little rushed at the end, but if I get enough complains about it, I'll edit it and make it good. :)

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Chapter Nineteen

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There were so many people, so many joyous faces, laughs and smiles. There were loads of people milling around in the huge yard, hot dogs and hamburgers cooking in the many grills, teenagers throwing around footballs and kicking soccerballs and children playing with each other. It was a perfect day, the sun shining, a light breeze blowing and no clouds in the blue sky.

I found it hard to believe that I was here.

Michael, my now eighteen year old son, was with some of the other werewolf teenagers of the Midnight, Shadow and Moon pack, kicking around a soccer ball. They were playing boys vs. girls and Michael was purposely letting Deanna, his mate slash girlfriend take the ball from him, much to the other boys' dismay. The other mated girls, I could tell, were jealous of Deanna because their other halves didn't even do that for them. But when Michael loved, he loved intently. And I was so proud of him as I watched him, at his full 6'4 height (he had shot up a year earlier) and was taller than both Tristan and me. My first child was growing up way too fast.

Then Andrea, being her bossy seven year old self, ordering around all the other girls who were listening to her every commands. Her curly black hair was in low pigtails and she was wearing a yellow sundress that complimented her flawless, tan skin. She was such a loud girl, she had to have gotten that from her father. The confident way she moved, even at seven, was not how I was like when I was that age.

Landon, at five, who was more quiet and observing like me was standing in the sidelines, watching Michael play soccer. He idolized his older brother, would do anything for him. It was lovely to watch how much Landon loved Michael. Even though Landon was just as popular as Andrea, he tended to wander off by himself more often than not. He was definitely my son. 

My eyes finally landed on the three one-year-olds, two boys, one girl, sitting on the blanket, playing with the numerous toys around them, the recieving end of the attention of at least twenty people. Werewolves loved children and albeit I was a little biased, being their mother, I could honestly say Gabriel, Alexander and Kadence were one of the most beautiful babies I'd ever seen. They had chubby, rosy cheeks and matching green eyes (Tristan's father's eyes. Gabriel and Kadence had brown hair (my mother) and Alexander had blonde (yes, blonde. Apparently my grandmother from my dad's side had blonde hair).

After the multiple miscarriages I'd had, I didn't think I'd have another child again, much less three. But I got pregnant and ended up giving birth to triplets. Tristan and I thought we had been expecting twins, but little Kadence had been hiding behind her older brothers. I was so angry, knowing after pushing out two eight pound babies out of my down there, I had to do it again for the third time.

But they were worth it. So worth it.

Speaking of the devils, as soon as they heard me approaching with plates of food, they simultaneously looked up to beam at me. "Mama!" they cried, reaching out their arms out. I looked over my shoulder at Jebadiah, who was behind me and shot him a desperate look to which he just shrugged and pointed down. I followed his gaze and saw that Caden and Darren, his four year old twin boys, were attached to his legs and were refusing to let go. Looked like we were both in major dilemmas.

Turning back to my hybrid triplets, I looked between the three of them, wondering who to pick up first. Setting the plates down a little ways away from them, I scooped up Alexander first, since he was the most whiny one and kissed Gabriel and Kadence on their heads.

"Hi, babies." I smiled affectionately at them and sat down, instantly being attacked by their excited selves. "Oof," I laughed as I was knocked back.

"Mom, they are so cute!" Deanna came up, looking a little tired by now. Yeah, she called me mom, too. She was going to be my daughter-in-law at some point, so I didn't see any problems with referring to me as Mom.

I chuckled and looked at her thankfully as she hauled up Gabriel and smothered his face in kisses. He laughed and reached around to grab at her hair that was in its ponytail.

"Mama, daddy?" Kadence asked as I was finally able to sit up. I smiled down into her beautiful green eyes and pointed over to Tristan, who was conversing with my brother and some other people.

"Why don't you go to him, sweetie?" I suggested and she beamed and wobbled (yes, she could walk, even though her brothers could not) to her daddy, the people around being careful not to accidentally step on her.

I would never be able to explain how much I abosolutely loved these children. How much I loved all my kids. I'd never be able to go on if something happened to them. I kissed Alex on the cheek and smiled at my family which included the three packs and let myself revel in the fact that everything was perfect. That I was completely, utterly happy.

When I looked back over at Kadence again, Tristan was lifting her in her arms and she was babbling away to him. He was grinning, looking at her adoringly and then his eyes lifted and he winked at me. I bit my lip to hide my smile and he said something to the people he was conversing with to come over to me.

Tristan sat down beside me and stretched out his legs. He rested his head on my shoulder after kissing me gently on the lips. Kadence crawled out of his arms along with Alexander and they went back to playing with each other.

"I still can't believe we have triplets," Tristan muttered. "No more kids, right?"

"Nope, no more. Thisis all. I told you I wanted six kids and I have them. Four boys and two girls." He looked relieved and I chuckled. "Why, don't you love children?"

"Yes, but triplets...They're a handful." Tristan laughed a little and we watched the three babies. We were silent for a second before Tristan finally spoke again. "You know...I never imagined being married to a werewolf and having five hybrid children," he told me.

I looked at him. "Yeah?"

He nodded. "Yeah. But I don't regret it at all, Cade. You're the best thing that ever happened to me. And the kids, too. I love you all so much." Tristan stared me in the eyes and brushed his fingers over my cheeks. "I know a lot of your friends doubt my love for you, but fuck this soulmate thing. I love you way more than half of these people love their mates combined."

I laughed and wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his again. "I believe you. And I love you, too, Tristan. You make me so happy."

Tristan smiled and looked over towards Michael. Deanna was back with him and they were a distant away with sprite cans, sneaking kisses. "I don't care if werewolves like having children early, if Michael gets Deanna pregnant, I'm going to be having a serious conversation with him."

"Oh come on, Tristan," I laughed.

"He has to get married first," he said, firmly. "I'm his father. I know what's best for him."

I liked that Tristan was so open about claiming Michael as his son. It made me love him even more. "Okay, you can let him know that," I chuckled.

"And Andrea can never have a boyfriend. Look at her. Look at those boys." He frowned as we watched our first daughter. "Look at how they're staring at her. I don't like it. And I'm just some human. Will I even be able to protect her like I should?"

"Don't worry, Tristan. I'm here, aren't I?" I laughed.

He pouted like a little kid. "It's not the same."

I kissed his cheek and then pointed Landon out. He was finally with some boys his age and interacting with them. "He's going to be one of those bad boys you read about."

"How do you know?" Tristan asked. "He's too quiet."

"Because he's my son." I grinned. "And Gabriel and Alexander are going to be the players. Kadence is going to be hated by all girls."

"You've planned it all out, haven't you?" he asked, gazing at me lovingly.

"No, I just know my own children very well." I chuckled.

"Cade, I love you," Tristan murmured in my ear. "I'm so glad I met you."

I leaned back against him and closed my eyes. This was my life. My husband, my perfect children. This was my perfect family. "I love you, too," I whispered.

I knew that my story had ended in my favor, despite all the pain that I had had to endure. Being rejected, abused, violated, it had damaged me in a way that would leave me forever scarred. But it had all worked out; it had led me to my fate, which was going to the Shadow Pack and becoming the person I was now. But I knew that somewhere out there, there was another girl, going through what I was going through. Having to face the pain inflicted on her by the ones who were meant to love her. But I wasn't worried - because in my heart, I knew the girl, the stranger who might live a mile or an ocean away from me, would be okay. She'd be fine and she'd come out a survivor. Because it would work out. It always did.