So this is the end of the end. Thank you for anyone who has stuck with this little story to the end. I only hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed getting out of my head and into my computer. I know this last update is a long time in the making, but I hope it was worth the wait. Much thanks to all who have liked, favorited, or commented (And I do shamelessly love reviews, good or bad, it's just nice to know someone was interested enough to let you know). On that note, I will end the warm fuzzies and smooshes here with some thanks for those that made me smile. Enjoy dear readers, the end but not the last.

Eternally, MiladyBellatrixBlack.

Special notes: Silverdrops-6593: Thank you so much! I really hope you like this last little bit and it makes you smile!

Android123: Lol! That was one of my favorite lines to write. I could just see her saying that too :D I hope you like this epilogue and I appreciate you sticking with me!

Rats xp: I'm so glad you thought it was worth the wait! This bit is the end for this tale, but hopefully not the end of the stories, I think I have another in the works.

There was a terrified shriek followed by a low moan that sent his head flying from its fixed position, buried in his hands.

"Guyyyyyy..."

He leapt to his feet and rushed to the opened window flap. Guy had started calling it that after he noticed that Eep would sometimes stand at the opening in the side of their tent and let the wind play across her face. Ever so often, she released a soft "Oh!" of contentment as she stared into the light of their world. Window.

As he reached his tent, a little body was thrust out of the opening abruptly, followed by the disgruntled face of Ugga. "Guy." she warned. "You can't let her in here. She gets underfoot and we're a little busy at the moment."

Guy seized his daughter under her arms and pulled her into his embrace, "Sorry Ugga. I didn't mean for her to get in the way. I just shut my eyes for a...it's been so long. I...is—is she okay? Is there something wrong?" His voice was tight and tiny, he was worried. And he had good reason.

In the dark of the night, he was awoken abruptly when his mate suddenly clutched his arm painfully as she gasped, "Guy? GUY!" She turned to him, panting in a whisper, "Go. Go get Mom. NOW. Go NOW!"

The man shook his head to clear the drowsiness and then realizing her tone, bolted to a seated position. He glanced down and saw Eep lying on her side, shaking and clutching her swollen stomach. Guy reached for his mate's panicked face, cupping it in his palms. She was dripping in sweat. Terrified, he whispered back, "Is everything alright?"

"I...don't know. This hurts. This hurts so bad, Guy...and there's...there's blood. Please. I want Mom. Go get Mom." Her face scrunched up and she shoved her wrist in her mouth to stifle her need to scream aloud and frighten her sleeping family.

Guy jerked himself to his feet and walked to the small bundle of furs across the tent. His little tousle-headed daughter was sucking her thumb in her sleep. Gently, he lifted her body and cradled her on one arm. He bent on one knee and pressed a desperate kiss to Eep's forehead, his heart contracting with pain at seeing her eyes filled to the brim with unshed tears.

"I will be right back. You're going to be okay, don't worry...you're both going to be fine." His words sounded encouraging to his ears but the voice that delivered them was unsure and weak.

"Say you love me."

Guy flinched at her pained murmur. He grasped her hand and pressed it flat to his chest, "Is it still beating?" Eep nodded, her fingers splayed across his heart. "Then I love you."

After he had fetched Ugga, Guy floundered around, trying his best to keep his now wide awake daughter occupied. She was desperate to get in the tent and discover why her Mama was so upset. His young progeny was the spitting image of her mother in most all ways, from her lively green eyes to her need for exploration. All except her flyaway chestnut hair, that, that was Guy's legacy. From the first moment Eep laid eyes on the squalling red faced child, she was in love and the pair were inseparable. They spent nearly every waking moment together and babe that she was, she didn't understand why she was not allowed to see her beloved Mama.

The sun rose, peaked, and fell back into inky blackness and the sounds coming from their tent only served to make him more and more anxious. Guy didn't know how Eep did it. He was exhausted. From the dark to the dawn and then day fading back into night, he struggled to make the toddler understand that Mama was okay, that the noises were just playing, that she could see Mama soon.

He clutched his hand to his eyes, taking a shaky breath. What if he was lying? It was taking too long...this wasn't how it was before. A soft hand clutched his upper arm tightly and gave it a little shake. He blinked and looked into Ugga's eyes, needing to see reassurance and hope. He didn't find what he was looking for. She didn't look reassuring at all. She looked frightened.

"Just breathe, Son. Take Oona and keep her occupied. We've done this before, remember." Ugga smiled tiredly and reached to stroke her granddaughter's plump cheek.

"But Ugga...last time it was...quicker. Is there—you'd tell me if something was wrong?" The last part of his sentence spilled from his lips quickly as though saying it fast would make it not happen, not real.

"Of course, you great ninny!" The crackled words of a cranky old woman intoned from inside, "You go on now. You're causing a fuss where one don't need to be caused."

"Gran..." Guy's ears perked at the wearied voice of his beloved mate. He waited as a pause sounded and then heard, "SHUT UP!"

Guy barked a laugh. That was his girl. "Eep, you doing okay? Do you need anything?" If he could just hear her say she was alright, he could breathe.

"No." A beat later there was a gasp, "I HATE YOU!"

Guy pressed his hand over his daughter's outer ear, the other tucked close to his chest. Trying to keep his voice soothing, he replied, "You hate me all you need to. Was that a 'no, you don't need anything' or a 'no, I'm not okay'? Eep? You hear me?" Something broke in his mate and there was the sound of pure unadulterated anguish—the desperate sound of Eep's racking sobs...and it nearly killed him.

Ugga turned alarmed, "Go! Just go! Get her to Grug," and she disappeared into the darkness of the tent.

Guy felt the tears prick his eyes and his heart lurched painfully. He called out trying to reassure his mate, "Still beating, Eep! It's...it's still... I love you." He turned his anguished gaze down to his daughter and tried to clear the lump in his throat, "Come on, Oona girl. Let's...go find PawPaw."

He clutched his tiny, frizzy haired daughter, pressing his lips to her forehead as she opened her mouth to cry out, "MmuMummu—Mama!" Her chubby little arms stretched towards the tent in a truly heartbreaking way. The wide, clear green eyes held a glint of sheer frustration. Normally, when she said 'Mama' there Mama was. Now, 'Mama' only got Da or PawPaw...that was not it was supposed to go. And Gram made her go away. And Da's face was prickly. And she was hot...and sleepy. "NO, Da! MAMA!" The little hand tried to push his chin away in reprimand.

"Oona. Shh, baby. I know you're sleepy. Da's sleepy too," he sighed as he took her hand in his own and rubbed the tip of his nose on her fingers, breathing in the comforting scent of his child. "Can we go see PawPaw? Hmm?" As he spoke, he had wandered mindlessly to the Crood family tent, hoping that by some sheer dumb luck Grug would already be awake, which would save him from having to risk a broken nose trying to wake the old owlbear from his slumber.

A tall dark figure emerged from the Crood's tent much to Guy's relief, "Everything okay, Son?" The deep voice of the family patriarch never failed to quirk Guy's stomach. It was like he was always awaiting a punishment for a crime he would never commit.

"Oona snuck in. I had—I had just closed my eyes for a moment, I swear! I was just so tired, Grug. Grug, it's taking a really long time. What...if...is—isn't there...something...anything? What can I do?" Guy's eyes were wild with worry and sleep deprivation. A hand ran through wild hair, making it stand on end.

"Well," The great man paused and hefted a sigh, "You can hand Oona over to PawPaw, for a start." Guy gratefully passed his offspring over to the waiting arms of her grandfather. "And for second, you can go plop yourself down outside your tent and get some sleep! It's been awhole day. If you don't sleep now, you'll be useless when she needs you awake."

Guy rubbed his hands roughly over his face, digging dents in his eyes with the heels of his hands, "Grug...I can't. What if something happens? What do I..." his head hung low as he put words to his concerns. "I can't. Not without her, Grug. I couldn't make it without her."

Grug gave him a disapproving glare that Guy hadn't seen since he first began travelling with the people who would eventually become his family. He stumbled back as a meaty finger poked him sharply in the shoulder, "Do you honestly think Eep would let you get away with saying that? You could and you would. But nothing will happen, so you won't. Don't give up on yourself so easily...or her for that matter. Eep would never give up on you." He nodded down at the whimpering toddler in his arms and finished quietly, "And neither would she."

Grug's words stung. Guy would never give up on any of them. Especially not Eep or his daughter. Ever. Guy squared his shoulders and set his jaw, "You can handle her here? I have to go back to Eep. She's only told me she hated me once so far."

He saw Grug grin in the moonlight, "Only once? Lucky Liyote! Ugga'd have me flayed and roasted by this time. She told me she hated me so many times when she had Thunk, I think I honestly believed it. But, well...Thunk's a big boy, you know." Grug chuckled.

"What's goin on? Is there a baby yet?" A stifled yawn sounded behind Grug and the sleepy head of Sandy poked from the tent flap. In the nearly three years since they'd arrived in Tomorrow, Sandy had lost much of her feral manner and appearance. She was becoming quite the young cavelady, lengthening in height, becoming almost lanky in direct opposition to her older brother. Her speech had finally picked up, encouraged greatly by Guy whom she still thanked daily for bringing Belt (her very best friend) into her life. The sloth hung drowsily about her waist, blinking slowly at Guy. He was missing Eep, his adopted mother, and was disgruntled at being woken.

"No, little Crispy Bear. Not yet. Oona's gonna come nap in there with you," Grug handed the two year old over to her aunt. "Can you go in and sing that song she likes? The one Eep taught you? Guy and I are going to go see your mom. Keep an eye on her, okay? And if you get too tired, wake up Thunk."

Sandy nodded, "K." She moved to walk to the tent, then slowly turned back around, "Is Eep gonna be okay?" The little girl frowned as they head a shriek from the other tent, "Cause she doesn't sound okay."

Guy knelt down and stroked Oona's cheek with one hand, placing the other on top of Sandy's "Yup. Don't you guys worry." He smiled down at Belt who gave him a sorrowful coo. "Eep is going to be fine and so is the new baby. I'll even bet when you wake up in the morning, it'll be here."

Sandy shared a skeptical glace with Belt and nodded when he grumbled up at her, "Ida know Guy. Maybe you should stop giving Eep babies...she sounds kinda mad."

Guy rolled his eyes...wisdom from the mouths of babes. "I'll see what I can do. You gonna be alright watching her?" he asked as he watched his sleepy daughter snuggle into her aunt's arms, falling into a sweet slumber.

"Yeah, I'll go sing to her and she'll be fine until you can get back. Don't worry, I've got her. You go help Eep. Tell her...tell her I said good luck. Night Guy. Night Dad." With another yawn and pat from Grug, Sandy walked back inside.

"I'll be back soon, Crispy Bear." Grug sighed as he closed the tent flap and then took Guy by the shoulder. He steered his tired son by gentle force to the fire pit where he began manhandling large logs into the hollow. He bent and, like Guy had showed him, started a small which quickly caught, becoming a warm blaze. "Might as well be able to see."

The gentle glow of fire brightened their faces and Grug sat down on a log bench next to Guy, who had flopped on the ground to curl up into a ball, hugging his knees. Grug placed a firm hand on the back of Guy's neck listening to the muffled sniffling buried under the mass of fuzzed brown hair. "Guy. Getting upset is not going to help her." He pulled until Guy's shoulder rested gently against his knee and patted his hand on top of it when he heard the child-like reply.

"I know."

"Look," Grug cleared his throat, "I'm here. With you. You try to get to sleep and if I hear anything, I'll make sure to wake you up. No matter what happens, soon, someone is going to need you. Whether in happiness or sadness, someone is going to need you to be a rock. So rest now, while you have a chance, and you can be strong later."

"What happens if I can't?" Guy replied, small and choked.

"Fall asleep or be strong?" Grug listened for an answer and received silence. After a moment, Grug harrumphed, "Well, if you can fall asleep stuffed in a log, you can fall asleep now. And as for the other part...I trusted you this far, Son, don't fail me now." Face still buried in his knees, Guy reached up a shaky hand and placed it atop the meaty one resting on his shoulder. Despite the anguished wailing in the tent nearby, after a few uneven breaths, Eep's exhausted mate finally succumbed to sleep.

"Guy? Dear? Wake up. Guy? Wake up!" A strong light hand was shaking his arm and disturbing the deepest of sleeps. One eye popped open and blinked rapidly, the burning light of morning forcing itself in his sight to make it blurry.

"Murmphm?"

Ugga's face was a hairsbreadth from his, "She's asking for you."

Asking? Who...Eep? EEP! Guy's head flew up and the clutched at Ugga's hand, crushing her fingers in his grasp, "EEP! IS...? What's? And is...? I...Ugga?"

The woman had tears in her eyes and the heavy veil of unrest shrouding her entire body. Her shoulders sagged and her voice was heavy as she replied, "Go. Go. She doesn't have much energy." Ugga sighed and tried a weak smile before sinking down next to her mate.

Guy pounced up and rushed past her and Grug, tearing off towards his tent. At the door flap, Guy steeled himself for the worst. He pressed his ear to the hide wall, straining to hear even the tiniest sound. Nothing. The thick smell of sweat and blood permeated the air around the tent. It was sickening and left the taste of bile in his throat. Eep. Eep was going to leave him. Just like his parents had. And this would be the final blow. This would kill him. Nothing could be worse...unless...he lost them both.

Taking a deep breath, Guy slowly stuck his head through the door and peered around. Eep was huddled down on a mound of furs, her eyes closed. Her face was pale and there was no trace of movement...no twitch, no flick, no shallow breath to indicate life. He...was too late. Guy felt his heart break and willed it to stop its incessant thump thumpa thump, the noise only making his suffering intensify. He pressed his palm to his mouth, partly to keep the nothing in his stomach from coming up and partly to catch the tears threatening to fall from his weary eyes. He clenched his them shut and sank silently to his knees.

Strong. No failure. He would be a rock for her. For them both. He wondered if his baby had opened its eyes and saw her and realized how loved it was before... and did she see...? Did Eep get to look into the face of her final child and smile with relief and joy before...? He was a rock. A heavy, solid rock. He would not fail her. Them. He would be strong...for her.

"...And...and this morning?" The croaked words were barely audible. In utter shock, Guy raised his face and watched as Eep's eyes fluttered open. "I could smell you." Her voice was battered, so utterly tired and weak, but to Guy it was the sound of pure unadulterated love. It was the glory of the first morning, the triumph of the first breath...and it was the song of life. "Come meet your son."

The astonished man crawled on his hands and knees to his mate in awe at every movement of her chest rising and falling, barely noticeable...in awe at the slight pulse of skin at that soft place under her ear where he would place his lips and feel her life blood surging through her. With eyes damp and lips trembling he crept as close to her as he could, drinking in the sight of his beautiful mate.

"I...have a son?"

Eep smiled tiredly, "Umhmm, put your arms out, Lum's had a hard couple of nights and he's beat." A tiny face appeared from the heap of swaddled furs clutched close in Eep's arms. He snuggled in closer to his mate and breathed a sigh of relief as he watched his new red faced son open up his mouth and utter a tiny trembling cry. Guy ran his finger along Lum's chin and let the soothing action lull his child back to slumber. Eep handed the bundle over and laughed softly saying, "Stop staring at me and look at him! He's the reason I look like something Chunky drug home."

Guy reached forward and cupped Eep's face in his hand, pulling it towards him to kiss her, "You have no idea how beautiful you look to me." He pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers, "I thought I'd lost you. Your mom said you didn't have much energy left. I thought I was going to die."

Eep rolled her eyes and attempted a half hearted punch to Guy's upper arm. With a sigh she replied softly, "Guy! I am literally out of energy. I am exhausted. I need a nap." She chuckled dismissively at her mate until she saw the serious set of his face.

Guy looked down at the wrinkled little form in his arms and felt the tears roll down his face, "I thought she meant you were leaving me." He swallowed hard and pleaded haltingly, "Don't leave me. I couldn't let you go."

Eep's fingers reached and stroked her baby's face, then splayed her palm across Guy's chest. Several drops fell to hit her forearm and rolled down to disappear among the furs. She pressed her lips to his wet cheek, soothing him and herself in the same instance. "Still beating?" she asked quietly, pressing her hand firmly into his heart.

Guy nodded and then released a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding when he heard, "Then I'm not going anywhere."