Yea, I know that the story ending was kind of a cliffie (Just like Halo 2's ending) so I wrote you guys a little Epilogue. Have fun - it'll be up next week.

Brigid smiled as the sun glinted off the horizon, setting over the beautiful forest that surrounded her. Her artificial eye tracked a few movements from the birds that few in and out of the tree line, but she no longer had to search for patrolling banshees. A soft breeze swept across her skin and she gave a soft smile as the sounds of laughter echoed up to her balcony.

"This seems familiar," a warm voice said from behind her as a pair of strong tanned arms wrapped around her waist.

"A little," Brigid replied, one hand resting over the ones locked around her. "Hard to believe it's fifteen years since that day."

"Almost sixteen," he replied, "You're getting old, Brigid my girl."

"So are you Michael," Brigid replied. They stood like that for a few minutes, the sounds of laughter still echoing up. "Did you ever think we'd end up here?"

"I didn't think we'd end up out here," Michael said, "But I knew that we'd be together." He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Though I imagined more kids."

"Two isn't enough?" Brigid asked.

Michael looked down at her. "Brigid, I'm a Carias, we can never have to many kids, and we have one daughter."

Brigid smirked, "Not for long."

It sunk in and Michael laughed, spinning Brigid and kissing her gently as he wrapped his arms around her in a hug. "Only you would tell me like that." Brigid kissed him again and they looked over the balcony. " Ja'naço will be happy he's going to be an uncle again."

"I think he likes kids," Brigid said, "Speaking of kids. Sarge's granddaughter was born three weeks ago and Jo just had her baby."

"That's good," Michael said, "Did she and Kyle decide on a name?"

"Yeah," Brigid said, "Cole Matthew Hentington."

"I guess everything turned out the way it was meant to be," Michael said, "In one way or another."

"There's always loose ends to tie up Michael," Brigid said, "Because the journey never really ends." She gave a sad little smile and ran her fingers over the smooth skin of his neck. "Will you make sure Marianne gets to bed?"

"Sure," Michael said, kissing Brigid's neck. "I'll see you when you get back." Brigid nodded and walked downstairs and out the back door to where Ja'naço was romping with Marianne.

" Ja'naço, if you fall on my daughter I will end you," Brigid said.

"Don't know what you're saying," he said as the little girl clambered on his back. "She's winning."

"What do you expect?" Marianne asked, her brown eyes twinkling. "I'm my mother's daughter."

"And a fierce warrior at that," Ja'naço said as he set her down and they lay on the grass. "One day I'm sure my children will be terrified of you." Marianne smiled and Ja'naço ruffled her hair as she flounced inside, giving her mother a kiss on the way. "I hear congratulations are in order."

"Can I hide nothing from you?" Brigid asked.

"Never could," Ja'naço replied. "Are you planning to go to the memorial opening on Earth?"

"No," Brigid said, "There's no need to open up old wounds and besides, none of our forces are going to be mentioned." He stood and Brigid approached him as he strapped his shield on.

"Walk with me a bit," Ja'naço said, scooping her up in his shield as he did in the old days. "I'll walk you as far as the village." The two old friends chatted as Ja'naço walked, humans had come to settle on Ithil and the new Science Center had just been opened under Pasada's supervision so that the different races could advance technology together and share different ideas. Human children now played alongside Sanghelli and Grunt younglings, though their parents still often held contempt for what the previous generation had done, old scars were slowly healing. Ja'naço and Brigid parted ways at the edge of the village.

"Send my regards to Ke'lidash," Brigid said, Ja'naço replied with a wave and Brigid walked down the path to a row of even white stones that glowed ethereally in the dimming light. She found the memorial she was looking for and sat down next to it. "I still miss you Kulase." It was the only words she needed to say. It had been five years since his death and the great war, friends and family had been torn apart, but she could still smile when she thought of what had been gained. Brigid looked up at the stars and felt peace for the first time in many years, letting go of old pains in the promise of new beginnings.

Ok - the last sentence is corny, but in the end its my story. All characters except mine belong to the guys at Bungie. Let me know what you thought.

~Verya