Epilogue: 10 Years Later

<Gavin Forrester>

I'm back in New York, but I haven't returned as myself. As far as the public is aware, Gavin Forrester died in Barbados at the hands of the FBI. He died a hero's death, though; he died fighting, he never gave in. There were no tears for me, no tears for the criminal whose death put everyone else in a better place. The only person I can think who would cry for me, I had to leave in a hospital bed after always promising I'd never leave her. Madame Armstrong, my former boss, had made sure that I was properly disguised and then she sent me across the country to start a new life. I got a new name, a new look, but had the same personality and the same scars. That's what brought me back to New York; I had to make sure that she was still doing okay.

I'm currently seated in Gavin's favorite coffee shop from before he died. I'm in his favorite seat, waiting for his favorite drink to be made. My fingers pick lightly at the pastry in front of me as my still brown eyes travel around the coffee shop, which hasn't changed since the last time I was in here over ten years ago. People still sit by the windows, typing away on their computers and sipping on their overcomplicated drinks. The baristas still look bored and the coffee shop still smells like stale coffee beans. I exhale deeply and tap my fingers on the table.

"Hunter Davis," The barista calls out and I stand up almost immediately.

I walk towards the counter and pick up the black coffee I'd ordered a few minutes ago. No cream, no sugar, just the way Gavin always liked it. I take a sip of the bitter coffee and it burns my throat as I make my way back to my seat. I continue to watch the passerby and then a woman and her young son walk in, the bell above the door ringing to alert the barista to their entrance.

"I'll take black coffee with cream and sugar and a cupcake for my son." I hear the woman say as she lovingly ruffles her son's hair.

The barista tells her how much it'll be and then the woman takes a seat at a table just a few feet from me.

"Mommy, when is daddy going to come home?" The little boy asks the woman, who unclips her brown hair as she responds.

"He said he was on the plane the last time I talked to him, sweetheart." The woman smiles serenely, pulling her son into her lap.

I recognize that voice; I'd never forget it. It's the same soft voice that's been haunting me for the last ten years.

The woman looks up and her gaze meets mine; her sweet brown eyes immediately recognizing me as if she never forgot what we had, even after ten years. She turns away and I see her brush a few tears from her cheeks, while her son looks at me in confusion. I watch him hug his mom; his small little arms wrapping around her neck as she draws in a deep breath. Victoria, the one person I could never forget, rubs her son's back and holds him close. I turn away, too hurt to continue looking at her, even though this is exactly what I wanted for her. I wanted her to move on, I wanted her to have a happy life; so, why does it ache so badly, getting what I want? It's because I always wanted to be the one to give that to her, not watch while someone else did.

I finish my coffee and pull a pen out of my pocket, furiously scribbling something down on a napkin. I finish writing and stand up to throw my coffee out. I feel Victoria's eyes on me; they burn like a painful reminder of the life I left behind. I walk by her table and drop the napkin nonchalantly by her purse. Before I can take one more step, she grabs my hand gently and holds it close to her heart.

"They told me you were dead." She whispers, her gaze directed at the wall instead of at me.

"Gavin Forrester is dead." I whisper back, my voice cracking.

"No, he's not; he still lives in your eyes. Those are the same eyes I fell in love with so many years ago." Victoria turns and looks directly at me. "Those are the same eyes that loved me and left me. They're still yours, Gavin."

"There is no more Gavin." I reiterate, but even I don't believe that. "I have to go."

"You never did have a tendency to stay." She sighs and squeezes my hand.

I place my lips softly on the top of her hand and then take a few slow steps towards the door. The bell jingles as I exit into the late afternoon sunshine. She's doing okay and that's all I could ever ask for.

~~~~~

<Victoria Grayson>

"Mommy, I don't want to go to bed; I want to wait for daddy to come home." My son snaps as he sits on his bed, dressed in his rocket ship pajamas and frowning.

"Jonah, daddy won't be home until very late; you need to get some sleep." I sigh and push my son gently into his pillows. "How 'bout I tell you a story?"

His eyes light up and he shoots straight up in bed.

"Tell me about Gavin Forrester," Jonah claps his little hands together at the prospect of hearing about his favorite superhero.

"But we've already heard that story so many times before." I shake my head, a small smile playing on my lips.

"I want to hear about Gavin saving the princess again." Jonah crosses his arms and pouts.

"Okay, but you have to promise to go to bed after this." I relent and watch Jonah's eyes light up.

"Of course, mommy." He agrees and bobs his head up and down as he lets me tuck him back underneath his covers.

I hand him his favorite teddy bear and then lay down next to him before beginning my story.

"Once upon a time there was a prince named Gavin Forrester. He lived in a faraway kingdom where beasts and bad guys roamed the streets, but his people were not scared because Gavin was always there to protect them; he never let anything bad happen. One day, he met a princess from a different kingdom, a messed-up and powerful kingdom. He fell in love with the princess and she with him. But, the princess was under attack by the evil sorcerer, Talon Tenebris." I shudder internally when I say his name, but Jonah doesn't notice.

"Mommy," He looks up at me and wraps his arms around my waist. "I want to hear the rest of the story."

"Of course, baby, I was just getting there." I smile and brush some hair from his eyes.

Jonah nuzzles into my side and stays quiet, waiting patiently for me to continue.

"Talon wanted to kill the princess, but Gavin would never allow that to happen. Gavin always put himself in the way of danger just so the princess would survive; this made Talon very mad, however." I begin and then am interrupted by Jonah.

"Mommy, why did Talon want to kill the princess?" He asks innocently, his brown eyes looking into mine. "She did nothing wrong."

"Talon wanted her dead because he was selfish." I say simply, my hand still ruffling Jonah's brown curls.

"That's not a very good reason." Jonah comments in his small voice. "You may continue, mommy."

"Thank you, sweetheart." I chuckle and then proceed. "Talon decided that he wanted to torture Gavin, so he captured the princess and put her in a very dark, dirty tower where he thought Gavin would never find her. He didn't feed her or let her go outside; she stayed inside with just her thoughts and the occasional rat for company."

"Bleh," Jonah exclaims, his little face contorting in disgust.

"It was pretty gross." I agree and hold him closer.

"But Gavin comes to save her, right?" Jonah asks with anticipation.

"You already know how it ends, silly." I shake my head and laugh.

"I really like this story, mommy." He admits with a sheepish grin.

"The princess stayed locked away in the tower for weeks; each night and morning passing like the one before, until one day, the princess heard a commotion outside her tower. Gavin, her prince, had arrived on a horse with a few of his friends to help get the her out of the tower. Talon came out from the lower level of the tower with his magic wand, ready to kill Gavin for finding the princess once again. There was a duel and in the end, Talon's magic was no match for Gavin. The prince used his shield to block one of Talon's spells and it was sent right back at Talon, who disintegrated into a pile of dust."

"That's my favorite part!" Jonah squeals and sits up in bed. "Tell me the ending, mommy."

"Gavin climbed the tower and rescued his princess from her dirty dungeon of a room. She removed his helmet and kissed him as his friends cheered form down below. The kingdom rejoiced and the prince married the princess the very next day. They became the queen and king of his kingdom and they ruled it with kindness for all the days of their lives. The end." I finish with a flourish and turn towards my son.

There, Gavin, I gave us the happy ending we always deserved.

"I love that story, mommy." Jonah says with a yawn. "Tell it again."

"No, Jonah, you need to go to bed." I smile as I tuck him under his covers and turn off his bedside lamp.

"I'm not sleepy." He whines, even as his eyes are about to droop closed.

"Goodnight, sweetheart, I love you." I coo from his doorway.

"I love you too." He mumbles, finally succumbing to sleep.

I close the door gently and walk down the hallway towards the bedroom I share with my husband. I slip out of my work clothes and put on a pair of cozy pajamas. Before dropping my clothes in the hamper, I search my pants' pocket for the napkin Gavin left on my table in the coffee shop. My fingers brush across the rough material and I pull out the crumpled napkin that's covered in Gavin's neat, swirling script. I lightly brush the GF I had tattooed behind my ear with my fingers as I smooth out the note. My eyes dart back and forth as I read.

Dear Victoria,

All I ever wanted was for you to move on and be happy; you've given me all I wanted and more. I don't regret leaving because you got the life you always deserved, even if it wasn't with me. I still love you to this very day; I wanted you to know that because it's the only thing that makes me wake up with a smile on my face. I know it's not fair of me to say that, but it's true. I loved you before I left and I love you even now; I left you because I loved you. Maybe our story didn't end with a traditional happy ending, but it did end with being happy and that's enough for me.

Love,

Gavin Forrester, your (almost) assassin for hire

Tears stream down my face as I reread the letter over and over until every word is committed to memory. I open up my side table drawer and pulls out a box where I put Gavin's other letter and the necklace he'd given me. I put the napkin underneath the letter and pull out the necklace, my fingers running over the pendant.

Being happy is enough for me too, Gavin and it always will be.