La Fleure qui est Belle

Epilogue

“He’s grown
into a handsome boy, son.”

“I still
say that you’ve spoiled him rotten.”

“Well, he
had to spoil someone; he wasn’t around to spoil you.”

“At least
I’m a responsible father.”

“Ouch, that
hurts…Aah! Ok! I get the point!style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Didn’t I already apologize?”

class=GramE>“Grandpa!” A small
bundle of cotton and lace leapt into Eric’s arms, making him grin.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> For all of his badgering all those years ago,
he really was proud. He had grandson who
was now six, and a granddaughter who, at four, believed that she could climb
her grandfather much the way she could a tree. He laughed.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Kaoru, too, had been a wonderful addition to
the family. She managed to run the
house, be a mother, and keep himself and Kenshin on their toes all the time,
something that was quite difficult.
She’d also brought father and son closer together than they’d ever
been. Eric realized, after much
reasoning, how much of an ass he’d been to his only son.

During the
first few years of their marriage, before Franc had been born, Kenshin still
saw his old lovers. Eric couldn’t
understand how Kaoru put up with it, and she told him that he’d never be able
to. He just didn’t have the capability,
but it was alright. He’d accepted his
son for who he was, finally.

As their
marriage progressed, Kenshin had come to love Kaoru.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> If he didn’t pursue her with the same fervor
as his lovers, it was understandable.
The love he had for his wife was deeper than that, part of it being a
long-lasting trust and companionship that he had been unable to find anywhere
else. For her part, Kaoru both loved him
and was in love with him. It had made,
thought Eric, for some rather noisy nights in the Himura manor; but the results
were young and vibrant, and running around on the lawn in front of their
parents. Kenshin stood behind his wife,
arms around her waist, which was growing again.
Eric wondered if the child would be a boy or a girl, and then found that
he didn’t care. He was already blessed.

“Come on,
father,” coaxed Kaoru, hooking an arm through his.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> “It’s getting late.”style='mso-spacerun:yes'> She smiled as they headed inside the manor,
the children running ahead with Kenshin on their heels, screaming and laughing
all the way. Ten years ago she’d been in
a smoky dance hall wondering about the direction of her life, and here she was,
the lady of a manor and a member of a wonderful family.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> She paused in the doorway to turn and look
across the grounds, and felt Kenshin’s arms encircle her waist again.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The setting sun lengthened the shadows of the
trees and turned the distant roves to gold before sinking below the horizon,
and still they stood there, the breeze whispering through the grass.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The sky had darkened to a deep purple-blue
that was dapples with stars before they turned and closed the door on the
summer night.

That’s the end,
folks! There will be no more, and there
will not be a sequel, so please don’t ask me if I’m planning on one.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

ALSO, I will not be
writing any more, PERIOD, for a LONG TIME.
PLEASE don’t ask me two write more; please don’t tell me you’re
expecting more, because you’ll only be let down.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I
QUIT.

HOWEVER…style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

CONTEST!

For anyone who wants to, you can either write about Kenshin
and Kaoru's wedding night, or about Kenshin with one
of his lovers. R-rating or above, if
above, please tell me in the first line.
The best five will be added to the fic as "outtakes" of sorts.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Deadline May 13!