Life and Other Four Letter Words

Come What May - Epilogue

Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
I want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day I love you more and more

Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I love you, until the end of time

Come what may
Come what may
I will love you
Until my dying day

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you

And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out this song,
I'll be there by your side

Storm clouds may gather
And stars may collide
But I love you, I love you,
Until the end of time

Oh, come what may, come what may
I will love you, until my dying day
Oh come what may, come what may
I will love you, I will love you

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place

Come what may
Come what may
I will love you
Until my dying day

-Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor, "Come What May"

italics = the flashback in this chapter (you'll understand when you see it)

Two weeks later, Callista Evans sat on her bed in her apartment, arms wrapped protectively around her stomach.  She was thinking of the last night she had seen the man she loved, when he had returned to his own time – where he belonged.  There was a pregnancy test on her bedside table, and she was waiting for the changes she was almost positive it would bring.  She was certain that, if she was pregnant, she would take the Angel of Destiny up on his offer… and maybe even if she wasn't…

Callie watched Chris go through the time portal with tears in her eyes and a deeply rooted fear in her heart.  What if I really can't live without him? She wondered.  What if I was right about being pregnant?  I should've seen a doctor like he said…  The portal closed and the Angel turned to her.  Callie tried to be friendly, but all she could think was, It's his fault!  She knew it was irrational, but she couldn't help it.

"Callista," the Angel began.  "I have been instructed to give you a choice."  Callie stared at him blankly.  "In two weeks, I will return to you.  In that time, if you have decided you wish to follow Chris, I will provide a way for you to leave."  Callie was shocked.  The possibilities were endless, and yet…she would be giving a lot up, if she left to follow Chris.  Twenty years was a long time.

The Angel could see her indecision clearly on her face.  "As I said, you have two weeks to choose," he repeated.  "Use them wisely.  This is a rare choice We put before you.  Chris's arrival here has changed your destiny and you helped him to right a wrong.  But this is no light reward we place before you.  Think long and hard on your choice, Callista."  Before Callie's astonished eyes, the Angel disappeared.

Callie had indeed thought long and hard about her decision, and the results of this test were likely to be the last piece of information she needed.  She had already spoke with her father, had discussed it with Chris's family, and had even given her boss the two week's notice the day after Chris's departure.  She was completely terrified.

She knew Chris loved her, but she feared he wouldn't want children.  Perhaps he had found his fiancé from the future – Bianca.  If I go to the future and he won't have me… what's left for me? She wondered.  Still, she didn't have much of a choice.  Obviously, she couldn't go around saying an infant was the father of her not yet born child… a beep from her watch interrupted her musings, telling her it was time to check the results.  With shaking hands, Callie lifted the cup from the desk and looked.

No, no, no… she thought desperately, and restraining the urge to break into tears, said out loud distractedly, "Looks like it's time to tell Piper she's a grandmother."  She threw the pregnancy test into the trash and walked to her car.  Soon she was in the Halliwell's driveway, parking the car and advancing on the front door.  She rang the bell quickly looking at her feet nervously.

Piper opened the door and Callie had enough time to look up from her feet and say, "Looks like you're a grandmother," before breaking into tears.  "Oh my god!" Piper exclaimed.  "Leo! LEO!" She shouted, and Leo ran down the stairs.  "Piper!  What's wrong?" he asked.  Piper ran a weary hand through her hair.  "We're grandparents, that's what." 

Leo stared at the crying woman on their doorstep, wide-eyed.  At this point, Phoebe and Paige ran in from the conservatory.  "Callie?!" Paige exclaimed.  "What's wrong?"  She ran over to the younger girl and guided her inside.  "Come on, come on, sit down."  Callie wiped the tears from her eyes and gave a laugh that sounded more like a sob.  "Piper's baby is having a baby, that's what." She replied.  Phoebe and Paige exchanged a shocked look.  "Callie… you…"  Callie sighed and tried to get herself under control.  "Yeah," she said.  "For four weeks…"

Piper sat next to Callie and offered her a hug.  Callie took it without hesitation.  "So, do you think you're going to take the Angel's offer?"  Callie nodded slowly.  "It wouldn't be fair to my baby if I didn't even try…"  Callie shivered.  "My baby.  That's going to take some getting used to."  Paige gave Callie a hug from the other side.  "Let me be the first to offer you my congratulations."  Callie grinned.  "Thank you, I'm glad the baby's great aunt is looking forward to meeting her."

Paige looked stunned.  "Great aunt??  I'm going to be a great aunt…" she lay back and thought about that for a minute.  "Okay," she said after a while.  "The baby gets to call me Auntie Paige.  There'll be none of this 'great aunt' business."  Callie laughed, wiping her last tears from her eyes, and turned to Phoebe.  Phoebe offered her a gentle smile.  "I'll be overjoyed to meet that great niece of mine," she said.

Piper raised an eyebrow.  "What makes you think it'll be a niece?" she asked.  Phoebe rolled her eyes.  "It'll be a Halliwell, won't it?"  Piper looked smug.  "So are my little boys," she said.  Phoebe laughed.  "Give up while you're ahead – it's a girl."  Piper gave a snort of disbelief, but didn't respond.

After another half hour of happy discussion, Callie announced it was time for her to leave.  The sisters disagreed with her, but Callie insisted, and so she soon returned to her car.  For a while Callie just drove around, appreciating the view of the city she knew, and then she returned to her apartment to meet the city her children would know.

The Angel of Destiny was waiting there; as she had known he would be.  She gave him a tense smiled as she entered her apartment, and wandered around until she was certain she would explode from the anticipation.  "Well?" she finally demanded.  He watched her passively.  "What have you chosen?" he responded.  She hesitated.

"I choose… Chris.  And the future."  He nodded, and made the same gesture that had taken Chris away.  The portal through time opened, and she stared at it apprehensively.  Slowly, she gathered all her nerves of steel and her resolution, and stepped through the portal to her future and her love.

END OF LIFE AND OTHER FOUR LETTER WORDS!

*gasp* I… I… I finished a story!!  I can't believe this!  It's not natural! This doesn't happen with me!  It's… just not possible!  I…wow.  *speechless*

Okay.  Now that I've regained the power of speech, I would like to thank EVERYBODY who reviewed.  Clearly, the power of reviews is underestimated.  It is no coincidence that story I finish is the one that gets consistent reviews.  There will be a sequel to this story… there's really no way I can leave you there.  It shouldn't take too long to make a sequel, people, so don't be scared.  I would hate to deprive you of Callie and Chris – not to mention the delightful sproglet Callie is carrying in her "cookie jar" at the moment.  Oh, but I am going to have too much fun with that kid…

Reviews:

DrewFullerFan4Life:  I'm very glad you liked it so much!  I hope you'll enjoy the sequel too.

piper+leo4eva:  I know it is.  Isn't life unfair? =)

Melly1:  Well, at least you have the comfort of this epilogue. ^_^

Anarra:  Will do, thank you, and I'm glad you've enjoyed this so much – I have too.

PomegranateQueen: Yeppers.  I guess we'll just have to see about the rest… that was just creative writing and sad Callie, no miscarriage.

Zodiac:  Y'know… the title of evil genius suits me just fine.  I'm glad it came as such a surprise – it had to be my favorite part of the plot!

I'm so pleased with the story, and I hope you all enjoyed the conclusion. ^_^  I hope to hear from you again next story!

Ally