Four Years Later
The sun shone like spilled gold over the Vincent estate grounds, kissing the emerald gardens and the cobblestone paths. A breeze stirred petals through the air-white blossoms, like soft falling snow. The sky above was painted in the pastel blush of afternoon, and laughter danced through the warm summer wind.
Two children-a girl with Sam's stormy eyes and Max's silver hair, and a boy with Lucien's deep navy gaze and Noah's wild curls-ran across the grass, barefoot and glowing.
"Papa Noah!" the little girl sang, tugging on the hem of his shirt. "We have a surprise for you!"
"Yeah!" her twin brother added, holding something behind his back. "You gotta wear white!"
Noah blinked in confusion as he set down the scroll he'd been reading. "White? I haven't even-wait, what kind of surprise?"
The girl giggled. "A really, really big one."
The boy added, "You have to get dressed! Now!"
With a confused smile and a curious heart, Noah followed the two toward the private quarters. He laughed as they pushed him inside, threw white fabric at him, and practically sat on him until he changed into a sleek, ivory-white suit-simple but elegant, tailored to his lean frame.
And then they blindfolded him.
"No peeking!" his daughter ordered.
He chuckled. "You two are too much like your Mummy."
"Which one?" his son grinned.
"All of them," Noah replied warmly.
They led him out, one holding each hand. The air changed-he could feel it, even blindfolded. The warmth, the hush, the faint sound of a soft melody being played in the distance.
Then the blindfold fell away.
Noah gasped.
The garden had been transformed. A long aisle of white petals led to a raised altar beneath a blooming arch of roses and moon lilies. Lanterns floated midair, drifting lazily like stars held by hope. Every face he loved was there-Queen Anderson, Papa Miller, Elias and Leo. James and Oliver stood arm-in-arm, beaming. The triplet friend group grinned proudly in matching suits. Even the guards wore crisp uniforms with silver lining.
At the end of the aisle... stood Sam, Max, Silas, and Lucien.
Sam wore an ethereal cream-colored robe, his eyes shining with unspoken love. Max stood beside him in velvet navy, regal and proud. Silas looked like a prince out of myth-cold on the surface, warm in the eyes. Lucien stood still and calm, like the sea before a storm, holding a ring box.
The priest waited behind them, gentle and smiling.
And in the softest voice, Sam called out-
> "Noah, baby... go. It's time."
Tears filled Noah's eyes instantly.
He didn't realize how much he'd wanted this until this very moment. Every pain, every secret, every bloody war-all of it had led him here.
His mother stepped forward, eyes glossy but proud, and took his hand.
"I've never walked anyone down the aisle," she whispered. "But I've never been prouder."
He smiled through his tears. "Thank you, Mama."
Together, they walked down the path as the music swelled-slow, sweet piano and violin.
At the altar, Sam stepped forward, eyes locked with his.
"You came," he whispered.
"I always would," Noah replied.
The priest raised his hands. "We are gathered here, not in the presence of gods or kings, but in the presence of truth. Today, we join five souls already bound by destiny, sealed now by love."
The children came forward-his son carrying the rings, his daughter scattering petals around their feet. Everyone chuckled softly when she tripped and caught herself with a giggle. The audience sighed in adoration.
The priest nodded.
> "Noah Anderson, do you take Sam Vincent, Max Enigma, Silas Enigma, and Lucien Miller as your bonded mates-your husbands, your protectors, your heart?"
Noah's voice trembled as he said, "I do."
> "And to the four standing before him: do you take Noah, in every past and every future, to be yours?"
Max answered first, voice steady: "I do."
Silas followed, quiet but certain: "I do."
Lucien placed his hand over Noah's: "I do."
And Sam, with his eyes full of tears and love: "I always have. I do."
The rings were exchanged-five in total. Each unique. Each with one word engraved in the inside: Ours.
The priest closed the book.
> "Then, by the power of your bond and the oath of your hearts... I declare you married-husbands, mates, family. You may seal your vows."
And they did.
Noah kissed Sam first, tender and reverent.
Then Max, fierce and warm.
Silas next, slow and soul-deep.
Lucien last, long and steady like the pulse of fate itself.
The crowd erupted in applause, laughter, and joyful tears.
The twins ran forward, wrapping their arms around Noah's waist, squealing.
"Daddy!" cried the little girl.
"Dada!" shouted the boy.
Max joined them, lifting his son in his arms.
"Say it louder," Max laughed. "Let the whole damn world know."
"Mummy!" the little girl called as Sam picked her up.
"Papa!" the boy cried, clinging to Lucien.
Silas leaned down beside Noah and whispered, "We finally did it."
Noah smiled through his tears. "We're finally home."
Behind them, the world paused in awe.
The five who changed the mafia world-who fought through blood, secrets, and shadows-stood side by side, no longer afraid. Loved. Chosen. Whole.
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The End