Upon the Midnight Clear

EPILOGUE

One Year Later

Aidan smiled as he watched Leta finish decorating the tree. Her three-carat wedding ring sparkled in the candlelight—they'd gotten married on Valentine's Day. "You know it kills me that you celebrate my holidays with me when you used to be a Greek god."

Leta shrugged. "All gods and traditions deserve respect."

She was amazing and his life had been nothing short of a miracle since the moment she'd walked into it.

Her presence was breathtaking as she crossed the distance to him and handed him a small box. "For you."

He was confused by her present. "I thought we weren't exchanging gifts until midnight?"

"I know, but this has been killing me for weeks now, and if you don't open it, I might die from it."

He sucked his breath in sharply. "Don't joke about that. I've already lost you once. I'm not about to lose you again." Ripping through the paper, he found a gold foil box that he opened.

It contained a single sheet of paper that had her handwriting on it. "July twenty-third. What's July twenty-third?"

"Look under it."

He did and what he found there stole his breath. It was the sonogram of an infant. "Is this… ?"

She beamed. "July twenty-third."

"Oh, my God," he breathed, staring at her as it sank in. He was going to be a father. Laughing, he scooped her up and twirled around with her. "I love you, Leta. Thank you so much for my life."

"No, Aidan, thank you for reminding me of what it's like to feel again. To wake up every morning in the arms of someone who loves me."

Aidan laughed as joy raced through his entire body. He was finally the last man standing. But for the first time in his life, he wasn't standing alone. He was standing stronger than ever before because he knew he had a person at his back who would never betray him. Someone who would and had died to keep him safe.

Life truly never got any better than this.

"Merry Christmas, Aidan."

"Merry Christmas, Leta… and baby."