Hey guys! Anabelgem14 here with the epilogue to The Dark Side of Life. I hope you enjoy it. Without further ado, the finale.

Dez pulled up to what he assumed was the right house. Macy's parents had given the address through a text message, and it was supposed to be a surprise for Macy. Otherwise, he would have double checked with her.

He'd planned on taking her back to Miami for spring break. She hadn't stayed in Miami since she left last summer. It was the spring break of their senior year, and they were itching to get out. Macy had plans to go to Miami Community College, and she and Dez had been discussing on whether to get an apartment together or to have her just move in with him. Personally, Dez was a fan of the first option.

Macy was also turning 18 today. It was all she'd been talking about since the new year, and Dez had the perfect present. He'd already cleared it with her parents, and if Macy agreed, he was planning on taking her to the Tattoo Palace and getting the tattoo she wanted. After Macy's parents okayed it, he stopped by the hospital and asked them if he could take a picture of the drawing. He had it in his pocket now, ready to pull it out when the opportunity was right.

He jogged to the door, and gave two swift knocks. He heard footsteps, and then the door swung open. Mrs. McCallister stood, wiping her hands on the apron she had.

"Dez! We just got done with Macy's birthday breakfast. She went upstairs to change. We told her we were going out today. She should be down in a few minutes."

Dez smiled, then stepped inside. "Thanks, Mrs. McCallister."

She lightly tapped him on the arm. "Dez, it's been almost a year now. I think we can be on a first name basis. Heck, you could even call me Mom if you want to."

He laughed. "If it's okay with you, I think I'll stick with Tiffany for now."

He heard Macy come down the stairs. "Mom? Who's at the door?"

She was putting in an earring, but when she saw him she dropped it and almost fell down the stairs running so fast. She flung herself into his open arms.

"What are you doing here?"

"It's somebody's birthday today. Duh." Over time, he'd returned to his crazy self, but it was just dialed down a bit. Macy looked up at him, and then over to her mom, who'd plucked the earring off the step and was waiting to hand it back to her.

"Well, yeah. Are we going somewhere today?"

Dez nodded. "We are going to Miami. And you are going to be there all week."

Macy's eyes grew wide. "No way!" She looked between him and her mom, and then she grabbed his shirt and hauled him up the stairs. "Help me pack! I want to leave, like, five minutes ago."

Tiffany laughed, and Dez could only hold on for the ride.

Macy couldn't stop squirming in her seat, and by the time they got to Miami, she'd already listed around 40 places where she wanted to go first. Sonic Boom, the cliffs, the Shack, the beach, the mall.

Dez tried to calm her. "Macy, we have a whole week. We can do whatever you want. But there's somewhere I want to take you first."

Macy whined. "Why? This is my birthday and I want to do what I want."

He smiled, pulling into the Tattoo Palace parking lot. "I thought you always wanted to get a tattoo."

He watched the realization hit her, and then he pulled out the piece of paper. She looked up at him, and then down at it, and then at her wrist, which had a few bracelets on it. She looked down at it again, and then slowly slipped the bracelets off, throwing them into her purse.

"Let's do it."

Not surprising to Dez but surprising to everyone else in the shop, Macy said it didn't hurt that bad. Granted, only Dez had known what Macy had gone through. But still, many of the artists were impressed that a "tiny blonde chick" could handle pain better than a few grown men.

Dez still felt like he had to hold her other hand through the whole thing, though. He wouldn't want Macy to be even close to pain. He might be overprotective, but oh well. Better safe than sorry.

"Now that that's done with, where would you like to go, my Queen?"

Macy thought for a minute. "I guess Sonic Boom."

The drive was uneventful, mostly filled with Macy reading the information from the after-care instructions sheet the tattoo artist had given her.

By the time they got to the Boom, Macy was getting excited to see Austin and Ally again.

"Austin, I told you not to touch my book!"

"But Ally, we're boyfriend and girlfriend. I should be allowed to touch it if I want to." Even though they couldn't see the couple yet, they could already tell that Austin was pouting.

"Austin, you can touch my book when pigs fly."

Austin had his arms crossed, leaning against the counter dangerously close to Ally's book. When they saw Macy, Austin came over and gave her a hug. Ally was busy pulling out a present from under the counter. "Macy! How's your birthday been so far?"

Macy smiled and graciously accepted the present from Ally. "Best ever. Dez pulled the wool over my eyes for sure." Ally hugged her tight, while Austin and Dez were saying their hellos.

"Can I see your tattoo?" Macy nodded and handed her present to Dez. She pulled back the wrap they'd put over it to reveal the freshly inked skin.

Ally closely inspected it, and then nodded in approval. "Very nice. Now open your present." She looked to Austin, then leaned in. "He signed the card, but we all know guys only attach to our gifts."

Macy laughed, and then pulled the tissue paper from the bag. She pulls out a gorgeous blouse, one she'd sent Ally the internet link to in one of their many IM conversations.

She smiled at Ally. "You know me so well."

Austin laughed. "I helped pick it out."

The girls shared a look, then both leaned over and punched Austin in the chest. He feigned hurt, and then reached over and pulled Ally into his arms.

"Austin! Not when I'm working!" He ignored her, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"What kind of world is this if I can't kiss my wonderful, beautiful girlfriend whenever I want to?"

Ally craned her neck to look at him, and then said, "A realistic one."

He let go of her, but grabbed her hand, almost at the same time that Dez grabbed Macy's good one.

Dez looked around the store. "It's a Sunday, Ally. You and I both know there's no business on Sundays. So why don't you close early, stop by wherever Trish is working right now and the five of us go out to an early dinner?"

Ally started to protest, but after a meaningful look from both Austin and Macy, she sighed and nodded. "Okay. Let's go."

"So where are you guys going to college? Austin, are you even going to college? Or are you going to move out to LA?" Macy asked, taking a sip of her lemonade.

Austin stared at Ally as he answered. "I'm not decided yet. Jimmy Starr has already told me I have a spot out there if I decide to go. But there are things here that aren't in LA."

"We have, like, 2 months of school left. And then 2 months of summer. You better decide soon."

Ally blushed. "Where are you planning on going, Macy?"

"Actually, I just got my acceptance letter to University of Miami yesterday."

She looked excitedly at Dez. She was planning on telling him over the phone on Monday, but now seemed as good a time as any.

He looked over at her with wide eyes. "Really? Mace, that's awesome!" He pulled her into a hug, and whispered to her. "I got mine yesterday, too."

She gasped, and looked to him. "You didn't even tell me you were applying there!"

Dez smiled. "I guess I'm just really good at surprising you. And I have an even bigger surprise for you tonight." Macy was unsure, but she was more curious.

The meal was spent mostly talking about graduation and summer plans. Trish made a goal to hold a steady job until the end of the summer, and go to the community college. Ally was sort of reserved in talking about where she wanted to go for college. Dez figured it was because she wanted to be wherever Austin was, and he knew Austin was waiting for her to decide. They were at a standstill.

Austin picked up the check, and Dez threw in a twenty. Ally put a ten on the table for a tip, and Dez helped Macy up from the table.

"Ready for the best part of your birthday surprise?" She nodded excitedly.

She was less than excited when he made her put on a blindfold. She didn't stop talking the whole way, and Dez was glad she couldn't see him laughing at her.

He pulled up to the destination and went over to help Macy out of the car.

"Are you ready?" He asked dramatically.

"Dez, you know how impatient I am."

"Trust me, I know."

"So can I take it off?"

He sighed. "If you must."

She ripped it off in a hurry, and, taking in her surroundings, immediately brought her hand to her mouth to stifle a gasp.

He'd brought her to the cliffs, and all of Miami was lit up. Macy had never seen anything so beautiful. She could see everything, all the way to the beach, and could see a lighthouse shining dimly in the distance. She knew it was going to be pretty but she had no idea it would affect her like this.

He stepped up next to her. "Happy birthday, Macy."

She had to force herself to tear her eyes away from the skyline and look up at him. He'd grabbed a blanket from the backseat of the car and held it up in question. She nodded. She grabbed a corner and helped him spread it on the rough ground.

Macy stared off into the distance. Dez looked at her. "You're awfully quiet."

"I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"Life."

"That's pretty general."

"How in the world did we find each other? We never would have crossed paths if I hadn't been in that awful situation. I guess it's true that there aren't any rainbows without rain. I don't know why God sent me to you, but I'm so glad he did."

Dez pulled her into his side and kissed the side of her head. "I love you, Mace."

Macy kissed him in an answer. Dez immediately remembered the last time she kissed him like this. It was right before they left for the mall, when he'd pushed her against the door. He felt the urge to do it again.

He lay back, and she came to rest on top of him. His hands ran up and down her back, and she could feel how hot his hands were through her shirt.

She pulled back, and he craned his neck to kiss her neck. She moaned softly. "What are we doing?"

He breathed out, and then brought his head back, resting it on the ground. "I don't know. I'm sorry."

She nuzzled her nose into the crook of his neck, her breath making his t-shirt move with it. "Haven't I already told you not to apologize for something you meant to do?"

"I don't want to make you do something you don't want to do." He felt her all around him.

She kissed up to his ear, and then whispered. It was something he hadn't thought about since the incident with John, and it gave him cold chills. Immediately, he thought back to the trip to the candy store, and then the first kiss that followed. The bet. The suckers. The note she left on the nightstand.

"I win."

And there you have it. The Dark Side of Life is finished. I have another multi-chapter in the works, but it might not be up for a while. Review or PM if you want me to let you know when it's up.

I'm glad you could come along for the ride with me. God Bless.

Until Next Time,

Anabelgem14