Epilogue

Damon Mortimer:

I slowly made my way to little Rory's room. I can't believe my little sunshine is turning five today. It feels like yesterday when she was born safe and sound in my sunshine's arms. Not a day goes by that I don't think of Emrys and everytime I look at Aurora I see her mother, there's no doubt about it that she's a carbon copy of her mother.

"Rory, wake up my darling." I whispered down to her, brushing her unruly blonde hair out of her face.

She groaned and swatted my hand away while making an adorable frown. I couldn't help but smile at her sweetness.

"Come on darling, nana's here and she made heart shaped pancakes just for you." I bargained knowing that the promise of her nana's food will get her up.Rory opened one eye and then rolled further into her quilt.

"Luke is here with auntie Roro and Uncle Ken as well as Leora and Lloyd," I said tugging lightly on her blanket.

"Will we see uncle Carter later?" She asked, fluttering her gorgeous eyes in my direction.

"Yes my sunshine. He said he had a surprise for you after your party so you need to get up and have your special breakfast so we can get going."

That's all it took for her to shoot out of her bed and run like a crazy to the kitchen where a chorus of happy birthdays resonated.

I made my way back into the kitchen seeing all the kiddos have my mum's special pancakes, chatter and laughter filling the room. My heart pinched a little that my wife was not by my side but I know she's around watching over us. We finished up breakfast and got the kids in Rose and Kendyn's car while I got all the stuff for the party in mine and mum and dad had all the food. As per Mortimer tradition, we had a small birthday party with all my siblings, nieces and nephews. Wolf had made the trip special from Ireland bringing along his little family so we could finally meet the newest addition to the family, little baby Beau. Mum, dad, the twins and Rose had flown out to see them when Beau was born while I held the fort here with Carter. It was the first Christmas we spent separately because mum refused to leave Beau and flying across the globe with five kids between Kendyn, Carter and I seemed like an impossible task for us three to handle and Alex was just quite happy to have the house to himself.

We all got cuddles with Beau while the bigger kids ran around playing in the park. Leora, Aurora and Alaia had become quick friends, it was so nice to see all the Mortimer girls get along so well together, it was just a shame that Alaia was so far away from the other two girls.

Not before long it was time to cut the cake and sing happy birthday to Aurora. It warmed my heart to see her surrounded by everyone she loved. Aj was sitting next to her and he helped her add whipped cream to her slice of cake. He was such a good brother and cared for Aurora. He still struggles in social settings and sometimes has outbursts of anger when things don't go his way but he's doing his best at school and still loves cars. For his birthday in a couple months I'm taking him to see the formula 1 races as I know he will love watching the cars and get him special access to the pit stops.

Soon enough the party was slowly coming to and end and all Rory could talk about was how her uncle Carter got her a special present and kept bugging him all afternoon. She was so impatient yet Carter never caved.

We finished cleaning up and then decided to meet Carter where the surprise would be but first we had to head home and get changed, more specifically to get Rory changed out of her pink princess dress into some leggings and wellies which was a struggle in itself but where her surprise was not princess dress appropriate.

After some struggle I finally got her changed and in the car, Aj wanted to continue playing with Luke so Ken and Rose took him home with them so the boys could play while little sunshine and I went to her surprise.

I parked the car and could see Carter waiting for us by this gate.

I got my little one out the car and she ran into her uncle's awaiting arms. He gave her a hug and swung her around making her erupt in a fit of giggles before he put her down on her feet again.

"Come on little dove." He coaxed her small hand in his as I followed them. He opened the gate and let us in, we walked further along this path.

Fields of horses surrounded us which caught Aurora's attention as she loves horses. Her and Leora started lessons last year and have loved it ever since but Aurora has taken a particular liking to them, her whole room is littered with horses and horse themed items scattered around.

Carter and I had been discussing this birthday surprise for a few months and it has been the hardest thing to keep secret which is why we didn't tell mum what we were up to. Carter led Aurora to this smaller field close to the stables we had just walked passed after speaking to the lady who was waiting for us. The lady took us into this field where Rory's present was waiting for her.

"Happy birthday little Dove." Carter chanted stepping aside for her to see the little black shetland pony munching happily on some grass. She looked back at me tear briming in her eyes and i nodded smiling letting her know that it was indeed her present. She hugged Carter's legs tightly and thanked him. He rubbed her back and brushed away the few fly aways of hair blowing in front of her eyes.

"Would you like to say hello to Biscuit?" The lady spoke softly to Aurora who had gone all shy, still clinging onto her uncle's leg.

I stepped forward and went to pet biscuit putting my hand out for my daughter to come forward and show her she was okay to stroke him. She let go of Carter's leg and took my hand. I pulled her a little closer while still petting the pony with my free hand.

"He's very gentle and super soft." I reassured her.

She came closer to the pony and put her hand out for him to smell, he gave her a little nudge, giggles erupting from Aurora at the gesture immediately putting her at ease with him. Carter had searched high and low for the perfect little pony for Aurora, she wasn't very big for a five year old so we needed something small for her to eventually build up to bigger when she is more experienced. Once Aurora got more comfortable around Biscuit, Carter and the lady left to finalise papers and to have biscuit moved to the stables where the girls ride. I stayed in the field while Aurora was chatting away to Biscuit about all the carrots he will get.

Emrys should be here to watch our little girl get her big present, to watch Aj grow into a young man, to be here to hold my hand and celebrate the little things in life. But instead I took a picture of our little girl to send in the family group chat knowing that Rose and Ken would have to deal with a quite jealous Leora on their hands, well until Leora's birthday in a couple months because Carter had already planned that both girls would get their own pony. Little Leora will have to wait before she meets her white pony named Jam. After another 20 minutes of being in the field with her pony it was time to pick up my boy and head home for a chill movie evening and a takeaway for Aj's choice as he had asked his sister nicely if he could pick even if it was her birthday and she agreed so long as she could choose the movie we'd watch.

After dinner we cuddled up on the sofa watching the latest princess movie Aurora was obsessed with and not before long I had two very fast asleep kiddos on either side of me. They were all I had left, I swore to myself after Emrys died that I would make sure they had everything and more, that they were protected and felt safe and for me to do that I had to be around more and so far I was managing alright, but I knew I still had a long way to go but with these two sunshines by my side that's all I needed to keep going.

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This is the end...

Thank you all for sticking by me for so long. It means the world and more.

The Mortimer stories are not over! We still have Carter and Alex's story to go and maybe further Mortimer members in the future!

Who's story would you like to see written?

I'm off on holiday this month so it might take a little while for me to upload the first few chapters of carter's story (I had chapters pre-written years ago but hate them now and doesn't fit the vibe that I want for the story now so have to re-write them all)

anyways, until next time

xoxo