Epilogue

2043 – Marie's Farewell

"You ready?" Sienna asks me, standing by her bike. "You said bye to your parents? Trish and Rouge will chase us down if they haven't had their heartfelt goodbye."

I snort at her assertion. "Mum, maybe, but my mother would be more insulted than upset." I correct her, only to receive a concerned glare in response. "Yes, I said goodbye, it was all very emotional. I hated it. Come on, my gap year's wasting away." I remind her.

I could've gone straight to uni, like my parents did, but they had a tonne of advantages over me – so many more chances to grow. I want some of my own. So when Sienna asked if I wanted to join her on her ride across Europe, a journey she'd dubbed her 'Cock and Cunt Campaign of Conquest', I figured it was the best opportunity I could have to explore. Not that I'm looking to partake in the festivities... Well, maybe a little. It's not like... No, no point thinking of ancient history.

Sienna seems to accept my response, tossing me a helmet to match the leathers we're already wearing. "Okay, make sure you hold on, you're sure to be in for the ride of your life." She advises with a wink. I roll my eyes and slide on my own helmet, fastening it under my chin. "So, Unnamed are playing in France next week, figure we can make it in time. How do you feel about fucking a rock star?" She asks, starting the bike. I snort at her even asking.

"Well, I am my mother's daughter."

*

2045 - Ty's Victory

The following is a transcript from the 2045 broadcast of the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship match.

"Well, Brick, we have it: by TKO, the King of Monsters is our new World Heavyweight Champion. I'd love to say it was an upset, but with Typhon Ryker's rapid ascent through the ranks the last few years, I don't think anyone was betting against him."

"Too true, Jim, even in my career, I never saw a fighter with that level of ferocity in the ring and sportsmanship out of it. You can see his partner, Poppy Monroe, and two-year-old daughter, Rowan, in the ring with him. Ty's an enigma, for such a family man, you wouldn't believe the power he just exhibited."

"Looks like the new champ is taking to the mic, let's see if we can get the audio through for those of you at home."

"-nk you all, sincerely, for coming. It wasn't that long ago I was a street rat with nothing to my name but a slum of an apartment and a sister destined for nothing better. I think she's in the audience, so I'll move on. Even the champ has people he's afraid of. I could tell you how much this means to me, but that's obvious. No, I have this microphone because I have a promise to fulfil. I swore that when I stood at the top of the world, I'd shout one thing... And that's how much I love you, Pops. I know we kinda did this out of order, but... Not as the world champion or as Rowan's dad, I'm asking as that boy you stuck with through thick and thin. Poppy Monroe, will you marry me?"

"It's hard to tell through the noise of the crowd, Jim, think she said yes?"

"Look at that embrace, Brick, you think that's someone saying no?"

"Well, I guess it goes to show you. Champions can come from anywhere when the right person supports them."

*

2047 - Rosie's Dance

"I'm awful!" I complain as Sora chuckles at my two left feet. "I'm going to step on your toes and make a fool of myself." I argue, sitting down on the floor, a mean feat when five months pregnant. I suppose said pregnancy doesn't help, but we didn't think Rouge's treatment would be so successful so quickly.

Sora smiles and sits next to me. "Doesn't matter, none of it matters, you know why?" She asks. I shake my head and lean on her shoulder. "Because by the time we're dancing, we'll already be married, and I won't care what anyone else thinks." She informs me, placing a kiss on the top of my head.

"Still nothing from your parents?" I ask, already predicting the answer. I'm confirmed to be right as Sora shakes her head. "Fuck them, soon my family will be yours, and they can get to the back of the line." I decide, angrily.

"Well, yeah, plus Rosie Choi doesn't have the same ring to it as Sora Monroe." She jokes, jumping to her feet. "So, let's impress my new family with the best dance we can, toe-stepping included." She decides, offering me a hand up. I take it, returning to my feet and planting a kiss on her lips.

My hormones are all over, so it takes an unreasonable amount of concentration not to mount her face right here in the practice hall. Walking through the steps, practising every day, I barely notice that the days have passed and we're in the reception proper. My brother dances with my maid of honour, Andi, their girlfriend, Echo, is even more pregnant than me, so she refrains. I'm surprised she made it, but I'm glad she did.

Poppy with her husband and daughter, my parents, Marie with her girlfriend, Sienna with... Whoever it was, she ended up bringing. Andi's dad with her stepmother, Jenny. Rouge and Trish. My mentor, Maia, chatting with a distant relative. All of my loved ones are here. Sora wipes away tears of joy I didn't even realise I was shedding.

I can't believe how lucky I am.

2052 - Rufus' Reflection

Poppy's daughter, Rowan, my two, Garnet and Carmine, Rosie's boy, Crimson. Somewhere, Grandma Dani is proud of the tradition. The kids shoot at each other with water pistols, even little Carmine, whose hands are too small to wrap around the handle.

"Are you zoning out again?" My wife, Echo, asks as she sits next to me.

"Babe, you know he's got no attention span." Our wife, Andi, reminds her, sitting on Echo's lap, planting a kiss on her lips and smirking at me.

I roll my eyes, a habit I seem to have picked up over the years. The thing about women is they stick together, which leaves me having to put up with a lot of jabs. "You good with that barbecue, Sora?" I yell, getting out of the mugging by yelling to my sister-in-law, but she just waves me off. Guess she's focused too. "Well, that's my lifeline severed." I moan, as my wives laugh.

Echo and Andi look a lot different now. Echo learnt to accept her natural white hair and toned down the number of piercings. You'd almost believe she wasn't a goth nowadays, at least until you talk to her. Andi went another direction, with gorgeous flowing tattoos all down her left arm. Each of the pictures tells the story of how the three of us met. It really is stunning artwork, but my favourite are the names of our kids, tattooed on her ribs.

"Sorry we're late," comes a voice as Rowan's parents finally catch up. Poppy and Ty ended up pregnant first, not on purpose but definitely not unhappily. I blame Ty's calendar management... Echo says they were having too much fun to remember to get a new jab. "Hey, baby!" She smiles, waving to Rowan, who gives an enthusiastic wave back.

"You heard from the oldies?" Ty asks, grabbing a beer from the cooler and sitting down with Poppy. "Or are they having too much fun to remember the other generations?"

Rosie checks her watch to see any updates. "Currently in the Netherlands, according to Jenny. Amanda likes the flowers, and the others like... Everything else Amsterdam has to offer." She relays, leading to a collective groan from the rest of us. "Marie and little Alfie are on their way." She adds.

I suppose Marie gets a pass from the tradition, Rouge apparently didn't want to give her a 'red' name, so there was no reason for her to. Alfie was the result of a one-night stand on holiday in Spain. Marie never bothered following up with the guy, her reasoning was, "If he's too irresponsible to get his jabs, he's not responsible enough to be near my baby boy." Alfie's the same age as Carmine, so at least the new generation is a bit more even. I felt lost in a sea of oestrogen for a few years there.

Maybe our kids will end up with their own stories to tell. Their own adventures and heartbreaks. Personally, I'm happy right here, right now. I put my arms around my wives, and they lean into me. These two made me the person I am today... I suppose all of the people in my life did. I'm content. Sometimes I didn't think I'd get here, but I guess sometimes it does happen.

A happy ending.