Epilogue
"You are such a liar." Analyze says rolling her eyes at Jack.
"Jack, always trying to size himself up," Leland says coming in and patting him on the back.
"Hey, guys." He says giving both Leland and Layla hugs.
"So, who else is here?" He asks looking around seeing people he's never met before.
"Julia and Carson are talking with some of her friends, Chloe and her wife are here, but Austin and Taylor are still no-shows." He says and Leland nods his head.
"Takes Taylor some time to get out of the house." He says and they nod. The rest of them begin mingling with the other people.
***
"Taylor you look fine, we are already late," Austin says looking at her. She turns her head at him and huffs. She nods and walks out of the room. She walks down to the car and takes hops into the seat of the car. "So, wheelchair or not today?" He asks. She sits there debating.
"Nio." She says and huffs.
"I love your speech impediment." He says grabbing her hand. She glares over at him and signs that she hates it. She signs to him that she's afraid everyone will stare at her or think she's weird. "No one is going to stare. It's just a gathering with our friends, and you aren't weird. You're my gorgeous wife." He says and she smiles.
"Iee lofie dto." She says, but also signs it.
"I love you too." He says and she smiles. He drives to the place that Leland gave him and when they get there he sees there are a lot of cars. He sees Taylor trying to get his attention. We don't have this many friends. Why are there so many people? She signs looking panicked. "It's probably new friends that everyone's invited. It is also our parents and their friends." He says trying to reassure her. He puts his hand up to her cheek. "It'll be fine, come on." He says opening his door.
He walks around and helps her out of the car. She puts her arm through his to help hold her on her feet. The two walk in together and Taylor takes a deep breath before nodding at Austin. They walk in and are greeted by people they don't know. "Hi, you two must be Austin and Taylor." The woman says.
"Yes, we are. May I ask who you are?" Austin asks staring at the two.
"We're friends of Chloe's wife, Amanda. My name is Rebecca." She says extending her hand. Austin shakes her hand and then Taylor does. "This is my husband, Mike. Mike, do you wanna say hello?" She asks. He waves at them and Taylor waves back. "Mike can't talk, but he loves to show people with his hands what he means." Taylor perks up at this and signs to him. He looks down with a smile and signs back. "Well, guess you two are gonna be friends." She says and laughs.
Austin helps Taylor to a chair and Rebecca and Mike are going to keep her company as he tries to find their friends. "There you are." He hears Analyze's voice.
"Hey, where is everyone?" He asks giving her a quick hug.
"Just around, where is your beautiful wife?" She asks looking around. Normally they are always together, so she's surprised not to see her.
"She's with Rebecca and Mike, Amanda's friends." He says. She nods her head and sees her signing with Mike.
"I'ma head over there." She says and begins walking in that direction. Austin eventually finds everyone and brings them towards Taylor. She's bombarded in hugs and laughs after Chloe kisses her smack dab on the lips. Taylor signs that he has some competition.
"Oh, I do." He asks looking up at Chloe. "She says I have competition." He says at her confused look. Their close friends all tried to learn it, but because they don't use it every day it can be hard for them to understand. She laughs and looks down at Taylor and winks. "Oh, no, no and no." He says wrapping his arms around her.
Taylor begins laughing and kisses his cheek. She signs he has nothing to worry about. "Good, because I don't share." Chloe begins laughing and the group begins talking about things that have happened in the past month since they've seen each other.
"You guys want to go and see Maggy?" Julia asks thinking about her little baby.
"Yes, let's go see the babies." Layla says jumping. Taylor and Austin share a smile and Leland looks at them confused. The group begins walking down to where all the kids are. Austin helps Taylor up and Leland walks alongside them.
"What was that look you two shared?" He asks and they both look at him confused.
"What are you talking about?" Austin asks and he gives them a look.
"Am I going to be an uncle?" He asks as well as signs and Austin looks at Taylor. She smiles and nods her head. "No way." He says with a bright smile on his face.
"We will get her tonight. We go to the hospital at six, the mother didn't want any of us there. She's...different and just wanted to not deal with anything. It's a closed adoption, so once we pick her up, she's ours." Austin says with a smile on his face.
"That's awesome guys." He says and signs, as always and then hugs them both. Taylor quickly signs to Austin, I think he's a little too excited. Leland doesn't catch what she signed because she was turned. "Don't be saying crap behind my back, sis." He says and she sticks her tongue out.
They walk into the room and sees everyone's kids playing. Taylor smiles and then feels faint. She looks up at Austin and opens and closes her hand. He looks down at her concerned. He picks her off her feet and then sets her down on a kids chair. He looks at her and she holds up her hand. She takes a few breaths in and out.
The group realizes that there's something wrong and watches Taylor concerned. "Leland, can you get her a water?" He asks. Leland nods running out to go find some. "Did you take the pills this morning?" He asks and she looks up at him and thinks about it, she nods her head. "How much water have you had?" She looks up at him and signs nothing. "Taylor, you know you can't do that to your body. Does anyone have fruit snacks or something like it?"
Analyze pulls a bag of fruit snacks from the diaper bag and hands it to him. Just then Leland comes in with a bottle of water. Taylor grabs the bottle, but can't open it. Austin does and then she drinks about half of it before looking up at everyone. She signs she's fine, and they can all play with the babies and stop staring at her. "She's fine, you guys can play with the babies and stop staring," Austin says for the ones that didn't catch it.
The group nods their heads but continues to glance back at her. Once she's eaten and drank water, she doesn't feel faint anymore. I'm good, she signs to Austin. He nods his head and watches the little kids. Jackson runs up to him almost taking him in a hug.
"Uncle Austin." He chirps.
"Nephew Jackson," Austin says back holding onto him.
"Why haven't you came and seen me. Mommy said you would." He asks. Austin looks up at Layla, but she's playing with Analyze daughter.
"I've been busy, but you see me now." He says and then starts to tickle him. He laughs and wiggles out of his grasp. He goes up to Taylor. She opens her arms and he hugs her back softly. He signs to her, Good Morning.
She smiles down at him and signs the same back. Leland has been trying to teach him and Taylor can't help the smile that's on her face because of it. She looks at Austin and signs to tell Jackson that he needs to stop growing. "She says you need to stop growing," Austin says. Jackson looks up at her and shakes his head puffing his chest out. They laugh and then he's called back by a friend of his. Austin and Taylor watch the kids play with each other and Taylor wishes she had their little girl.
Taylor turns to Austin. You wanna tell them now?, she signs. He nods his head and looks back at everyone. Be prepared to cover you hears, you know Layla, Julia, and Analyze are all going to scream, you may even get Chloe to. He signs and she smiles. "Everyone, can you listen up." He says. They all look down at him. "Taylor and I wanted to let you know that we are going to be parents in a few hours, we are picking up our little girl, Analise from the hospital today." He says and watches as the scene unfolds.
Sure enough, Layla, Julia, and Analyze all start screaming causing the children to look up at them confused. They stop but then squeal. They get a ton of congratulations and hugs from everyone. Layla looks at Leland and notices that he wasn't surprised. "You knew and didn't tell me." She says smacking him. He looks down at her and rubs his arm. "And you guys told him before me." She says putting her hands on her hips. Taylor looks at her wide-eyed, she starts signing really fast and she looks at Austin for translation.
"He notices us share a smile when you guys wanted to come down here, he asked about it and we told him. Don't kill us, please." He says and she narrows her eyes.
"If I wasn't so happy I would." She says and turns back to Leland. She smacks him once more and he jumps away from her.
"Woman, knock that off." He says rubbing his arm again. She smiles sweetly and he shakes his head. "She's crazy." He says earning another smack. This time he jumps again, but picks up a child holding him to his chest for protection. She shakes her head before going over to talk with Taylor.
***
"If you guys want to come," Austin says as they are getting ready to leave.
"Of course we want to come." Layla says with a smile.
"Ok, just follow us." He says. The group nods their heads. Everyone gets into their cars and waits for Austin to pull out. Once he does he has a line of cars after him.
"Hello, she's right down the hall with a nurse." The lady says to Austin and Taylor. The two quickly walk down the hallway and the nurse smiles as they come in. Taylor sits down on the couch that's in the room and the nurse puts the baby in her arms.
"Heo." She says with tears in her eyes. Austin comes and sits down next to her putting one arm around her and other under there baby.
"Welcome to our family Analise." He says and kisses her forehead with his own happy tears. The group all smiles at them there hearts filling with joy. All of their kids either sleeping in there arms or pointing at the baby. Layla takes out her phone and takes a picture of the three.
"We are going to head home, but call us. We'll gladly come over and play with the baby." Chloe says walking up with Amanda. Austin and Taylor look up.
"Ok, see you guys," Austin says. Everyone else begins to say their goodbyes and wishing them luck.
"Have fun trying to get sleep," Analyze says and they smile. The only people left are Leland and Layla and they are happy just watching the new family. Analise wakes up and stares up at her parents. She moves a little sticking her tongue out. Taylor smiles down at her.
"Hi, baby." Austin says getting her attention. She doesn't cry just looks at them. "Let's bring her home." He says looking over at Taylor. He helps Taylor stand up careful of the baby in her arms. Taylor continues to walk with her in her arms determined to make it to the car with no help.
Leland and Layla follow behind with their two kids asleep, one in Layla's arm and one in Leland's arm. They walk to there car and put their kids in before walking over to Taylor and Austin. They give more hugs and congratulations. "You two are going to be amazing parents," Layla says and they smile.
"Tanck doi." Taylor says and she nods her head.
"We'll see you guys later. Have a good night." Leland says holding onto Layla's shivering figure.
"Alright, have a good night," Austin says with a wave. They nod their heads before quickly walking back to their warm car. Austin drives home and when they get there Taylor gets out of the car herself and uses the car to stabilize herself. "You alright?" He asks. She nods her head and goes to open the door. Austin opens the back and picks Analise up. He cradles her to him not wanting her to get cold.
He gets into the house and Taylor closes the door behind him. The two go up to their room changing into pj's and then changing Analise into hers. They then go to bed but have Analise in between them. The two look at the little miracle in front of them.
Austin lifts his head up and kisses Taylor over Analise. "I already love her more than anything in the world." He says and she smiles nodding with her head. They watch the beautiful girl breath in and out eventually they end up falling asleep.
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