A/N: Here it is, the last chapter...I'm really sorry that it's so short, I just knew this is how I wanted it to end......I hope you enjoy it!
Epilogue
She wouldn't let him go; she would never let him go. Hands were trying to prise Evelyn off Sands but she wasn't letting them win. Tears blinded her and she didn't hear the kind but urgent voices telling her they were here to help. In the end it took the touch of a small boy to loosen her grip. Nino led Evelyn to the waiting ambulance and sat beside her. Evelyn was aware of nothing but grief. It was like someone had pulled a dark curtain around her separating her from the rest of the world. It was Nino who pulled that curtain back and forced her to see the light.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Evelyn looked up and shielded her eyes from the sun. She wiped her paint covered hand on her already dirty overall.
"I'm painting," she replied as she hooked a strand of loose hair over her ear.
"Then what's that god awful racket?"
"The radio," replied Evelyn easily making no movement to turn it down. She looked over at the porch where Sands was sitting. He was wearing that shirt she really liked. It made him look like a cowboy. He was looking put out that she had not turned the music down yet but before he could come up with some insult to throw at her she turned it off completely.
"Ah," said Sands with a triumphant smile, "Much better." Evelyn smiled and put down her paintbrush. She removed her apron and hung it on a corner of her easel. Sands heard her approaching. She sat down next to him. His hand found hers and settled there.
He had only been home for a week after spending over a month in hospital. After thinking she had lost him Evelyn had been forced to endure an agonising week where Sands' life had hung in the balance but she had not been alone. Nino had been with her, his face quick to smile if he thought it would help and always ready to run any errand anyone asked of him. It was thanks to him that Sands was alive at all, the staff at the hospital had told them that Sands would have certainly died without the prompt medical attention he received. Evelyn knew there was nothing she could do to thank Nino for what he did but she vowed that if ever the boy wanted anything she would provide it and she had a feeling Sands would do the same. Even El had stayed, just until Sands had regained consciousness, then he had melted away as quietly as he had arrived. He did not even give Evelyn a chance to thank him. The look on her face when she was talking to Sands was thanks enough. When told El had disappeared Sands offered his usual blunt assessment.
"Without so much as a get well card, does he have no manners at all?" Nino had started to laugh and the corners of Sands' mouth had twitched. That was when Evelyn was sure things were going to be alright after all.
It had been a slow recovery, Nino and Evelyn had made sure of that. Sands had snapped at them but it had been half hearted. He was only too glad to be told not to move. Evelyn's ribs had healed well and she had been pronounced fit long before Sands was allowed to go home. Sands was unconscious when the doctors had been examining her so he still didn't know her secret but she would have to tell him soon. She had almost told him the day he had come round because that was the day the doctor had given her the good news that everything was ok but she decided it was more important to have Sands back to full health before he had to deal with anything else.
Not once had Evelyn woken up to Sands' screaming since the day with the cartel, but she had still asked him whether the nightmares really had gone just to make sure.
"I knew you didn't believe me," he had said and Evelyn had known it was true. Ajedrez was gone at long last.
Evelyn realised she had been staring at Sands for quite some time and he had not bitten her head off yet so she decided to continue. He was wearing dark glasses again but the funny thing was Evelyn did not mind it when he took them off any more.
"Ok," said Sands with the air of someone who was at the end of their patience, "You've been gawking at me for quite long enough now, you got something to say peaches or are you just speechless coz I'm so god damn gorgeous?" She had known it was coming and she laughed.
"Hmm," she said playfully, "Probably the latter." Sands looked surprised.
"Fair enough," he said casually but Evelyn knew he was pleased. He lit a cigarette wincing ever so slightly when he put the lighter back on the table. The smoke curled upwards.
"I love you Sands," said Evelyn like she did every day. Sands continued to smoke with only the slightest change in expression. She had expected this too. He had not told her he loved her again after his dying confession but she knew one day he would tell her again, she did not mind waiting. She was only too glad that the chance to wait had not been taken from her that day with the cartel.
"Where's Nino?" Sands asked. He had not hidden his affection for the kid as much recently.
"He's making lunch," replied Evelyn.
"I thought he was going to see his family."
"He doesn't want to," said Evelyn lightly.
"Why?" demanded Sands.
"Because he says we're the family he loves the most." That shut Sands up, for a little while at least. The kid had saved his life...again. How the hell did he keep doing that? Sands reached for his lighter again but his fingers brushed against something else.
"What's that?" he asked his hand hovering close to the object. It felt plastic, about the size of a toothbrush or something. Evelyn felt a rush of nerves, she suddenly felt quite ill. Sands fingers ran along the object, he definitely did not recognise it.
"Is it yours?" he asked Evelyn turning his head towards her as if looking in her eyes.
"Er...yeah," Evelyn said, "Yep." Sands heard the nervousness in her voice and immediately his curiosity about the object deepened. Before he might have shouted at Evelyn and demanded she tell him what it was but his temper remained passive.
"Well, what is it then?" he asked, "Something art related?"
"No," said Evelyn, "It's something I need to talk to you about."
"Oh?"
"Um...yeah," said Evelyn her hands twisting in her lap, "It's a pregnancy test." Sands' hands flew away from it as if it had burnt him.
"A what?" he asked in a shocked whisper. Evelyn found a smile fighting to break out on her face even though she was terrified.
"A pregnancy test," she repeated, "And it's positive."
THE END
A/N: That's it. :) I really hope you liked it.
Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed my story! I have loved every single one of your comments and I feel very lucky to have recieved so many. (oh, and I promise this ending was the one I had planned, it wasn't influenced by anyone...not that you guys didn't try your best ;) ).
You have all made me feel really special, I cannot thank you enough. It was a pleasure to write this story for myself and an even greater pleasure to post it for you.
Next story will be POTC...please check it out if you feel like it :).
Special thanks go to: E.S. Young: For all your wonderful comments, and your long reviews. You inspired me to post this fic and you continue to inspire me with your wonderful writing. Thank you.