Epilogue      Six months had passed since Howie and Kat had gotten back together and things were going really good for them both. They were still working around their work schedules, spending as much time together as possible. They talked constantly on the phone, keeping abreast of each other’s lives while they were apart and they counted the seconds until they could be together again.     The tour had ended the night before, and while the guys had wanted Howie to spend an extra day or two with them celebrating the end of another successful tour, he had other, more important plans.    He glanced at his watch and noticed the time. Kat would be arriving in just a few minutes and he couldn’t wait. Feeling nervous, he glanced around the room one last time to make sure everything was the way he wanted it. Candles covered every flat surface and their light glowed brightly in the room’s dimness. Soft music was coming from the stereo and a fire was burning in the fireplace. He nodded in satisfaction. Everything was set, now all he needed was for Kat to arrive.       He smiled and headed for the door when he heard a car door being closed. He pulled the door open and closed it behind him, not wanting Kat to see the inside until he was ready.    He greeted her with a kiss and then he pulled a purple silk scarf from his pocket and proceeded to blindfold her. Kat giggled softly and asked him what he was doing.   “You’re just going to have to wait,” was all he said, before leading her inside. Once there, he walked her into the living room and stopped.   “Not yet,” he admonished when her hands went to pull the scarf away. Her hands fell and he smiled.   “Okay, now,” he said. Kat lifted the blindfold from her eyes and her eyes widened when she found Howie on one knee in front of her.   “Howie?” He smiled up at her and took her left hand in his right one and began to speak. “You are the light of my life. The woman I’ve always dreamed of sharing my life with. I have loved you for years, and I thank God daily for bringing you back into my life. When I look to the future, I see us together, raising our children, watching them grow and then I see us sitting on our porch, our grandkids sitting on our laps, our hair peppered with gray and our faces lined by time, but I also see the love that we have for each other.” He paused to clear his throat, and Kat felt twin tears roll down her cheeks.   “Katherine Warner, will you marry me, raise our children with me and sit on that porch with our grandkids with me,” he asked, his voice heavy with emotion.   At that moment, Kat’s smile could have outshone the sun. She looked down at Howie, the man whom she had loved since the ninth grade. His face was sparkling, maybe it was just the candlelight reflecting off of her tears, but she didn’t care. She knew when she was old and gray and telling her grandkids about how Grandpa had asked her to marry him, she would forever remember the way he looked at this moment.   “Yes, Howie. I’ll marry you, raise our children with you and sit on that porch with our grandkids with you,” she whispered.      Howie slowly slipped the ring onto her finger and then rose to seal their promise with a kiss. “I love you,” he whispered. “I love you too,” she returned.   “Always have, always will,” they murmured together as their lips sought out each other once again. And in their hearts, they knew that no matter how much distance separated them, their hearts had been reunited and would remain that way for all time.                                                                  THE END Reunion Index My Stories Main Page

~*~ Author's Note: I'd like to take just a few minutes and thank you for reading Reunion. I'd also like to thank the people on my update list, especially Sherry for giving me a nudge when I needed it. You all made this story possible just by supporting me! Thank you so much.   I also want to add another disclaimer... I realize that in the last few chapters the story line took a big swing in another direction. I just want to state that I in no way condone or wish upon anyone the actions of *Sasha*. The plot line came to me one day and I wrestled with whether or not I should put it in this story. After a few days, the story was still there in my mind and I decided to go ahead and write it. If I have offended anyone, I sincerely apologize. If you have any questions or comments I would love to hear them. You can email me at dream_a_little_dream5@yahoo.com ~*~                                                                                                                                          Dream