Ten years later…

In one very early morning, Candy just came back home from her late night shift in the hospital. She cleaned up and went to check all the children Sean, Angie, and Adams. They were sleeping. She kissed them one by one and went to her own bedroom couldn't wait to snuggle under the comforter joining her husband.

But the bed was empty, she found her husband in the office room, standing next to the window, looking outside.

"Neal," Candy called her husband softly so not startle him. "Nightmare?"

Neal turned around, smiling seeing his wife was back home. "No, I'm fine. You're home, my darling?"

Candy nodded, relieved.

Neal showed her the card in his hand. "We have a dinner gala tomorrow night. I almost forgot."

"Right… another honor for you…," said Candy, smiling. "For what is it again? Bravery at the battled field? Work in the war veteran foundation? No... you got those. Ah, I remember for the work to support prosthetic limb research and to make it accessible to war veterans."

Neal just grinned, nodded.

"Good job, dear," said Candy. "I've been waiting for this one."

Candy looked at her husband who walked comfortably towards her without a stick, his legs were leveled from the adjustments they made in the shoes. "Suzanna also said that she likes the prosthetic legs your researchers made better than any she had been using. She and Doug will come next week to try the new limb they're designing for her. We can hear more of what she thinks."

Neal grinned again. "Thank you, Candy."

"Thank me? This is all the result of your own hard work, Neal." Candy laughed. "Nothing to do with me."

"Wrong!" Neal said softly, pecking her cheek. "I won't be able to go this far without you." He sat on his chair and pulled her to his lap. Resting his face on her neck, his mind wandered to the dark memory in the distance past. "At that time, if you really had left me, not even Jim would have been able to save me." He looked deeply into her eyes. "I can't live without you."

"Me neither."

Neal looked again into her eyes. She doesn't understand, Neal thought. It's not just words. He truly wouldn't make it without her.

He thought about what happened ten years ago where he left her in the train station [1]. He painfully wanted her so badly and decided to switch train and went back to see her. He was so nervous in the train he could die but he figured he'd die anyway from living without her. No words could explain how touched he was when he found her still sitting on the bench in the train station. That was the first time he saw hope and believed that she truly meant it when she said she wanted him.

Neal took a deep breath and hugged her.

"What?" Candy whispered.

"Nothing. I love you," said Neal softly.

"I love you, too Neal," said Candy, smiling. "Oh, yesterday Sean said you're a better soccer player than his friend's dad. I told him, of course, your daddy was a soldier in the great war."

Neal laughed. "He was just excited because we won." He grinned. "Oh, there's something else."

Neal picked up an envelope with his false right hand and passed it to Candy.

"Jim is promoted to colonel. Look."

"Another promotion!" exclaimed Candy, whistling in awe. "Jim is blasted straight to the top."

"He is," said Neal beaming, toying Jim's card with his fake fingers. "I woke up early to call and congratulate him. Guess what, he said he's considering leaving the army and joining the Parliament." Neal grinned.

"Oi! Jim is going to politics!" exclaimed Candy.

"He might. And if he did, I would back him." Neal grinned mysteriously.

"Since when you become so political Neal?" Candy lifted her eyebrow.

"We all are brothers, right?" Neal chuckled "I can't let my brother fight alone!" He laughed. "Anyway, I want to attend his promotion ceremony. Can I?"

"Of course! Why you asked?"

"Maybe you shouldn't go…" He squeezed her arm. "London is so far away. I don't want to overtire you," said Neal. He bent, kissing the slight bump in her tummy which carried their fourth child. "I also want to attend Bob's graduation, Christopher's confirmation, company meetings, and other business related stuffs."

"Busy!" said Candy, kissing the tip of her husband's nose. "I want to go. Five of us go. I want to see Bob, too. I want to know how tall Christopher is now, and of course I want to meet Jim, Agnes, and their children. Our kids have been asking when they can go camping again with them!"

Neal lifted his eyebrow, debating.

"I want to drag Bob out this time," said Candy, grinned slyly. "He's done with school. No more excuse with studying to collect distinctions like what he's been doing! And Neal, I want to match Bob with Lady Amelia's daughter. Your mother said Lady Amelia asked about Bob. And I do think they look cute together!" She giggled.

Neal laughed. "Fine, we all go." He glanced at the clock. "But now you should go to bed."

"I don't think I can. I'm too excited! I want to call your mother to ask for Lady Amelia's phone number."

"Oh no! Now is five o'clock, you should get some sleep first. That's our agreement in order for you to keep working while you're pregnant." Neal rubbed her belly. "If you can't sleep, I will make you sleep." He grinned.

"Well then… now I want it." Candy grinned back. She looked at him. She never felt so rich with happiness ever since she's with him. "I love you, Neal." She kissed him.

"Love you too, Candy."

And so… They live happily ever after.

- THE END-

Thanks for reading.

o

Part 2 is based on a book "Light and Darkness"by Wendy Lawrance, (ISBN 1905378475). Jim is based on the character "John Grainger" in that book. Of course, all faults and deficiencies belong to mine.

I mean to dedicate this story to World War One soldiers who suffered and their families. It's 100 years ago, 1914-1918… Now is 2017.

O

THANK YOU

For everyone who reads this story. Thanks for following and favoriting. Your support means more than what I can put in words.

Thanks for your support to Neal and concern for his well being. In the beginning of Part 2, the visitor counter plummeted nerve-wrackingly low, much lower than I predicted. Had I known that, perhaps I would not have written this! ;O It's a good news though in a way... it means you all care about Neal. Thanks for being sad with Neal and happy when he's happy again.

Hugs to all Neal's supporters out there.

O

Thanks for the reviewers:

Sabrina: What can I say... without your support this story probably won't finish. Thanks for being a friend during the difficult time. I can't express it enough. Thank you, Sabrina.

Vialsi: Yeah, perhaps, I should have written more when Neal and Candy were together again in the last chapter. I'll do that if I wrote another story again :D Thanks for the input! Many thanks for reading my Candy-Neal stories :D

Kikita7R: That's such a touching review. Thanks for including me as part of your day! Thanks for the feedback and letting me know that you like how the ending was. I saw many of your reviews in my past stories, too. Thanks so much for the support!

Jharolay Rosie: Thanks for reading this before you go to bed! Wow! Thanks for the kinds words. The story is over. We'll meet again... in your stories! :D Can't wait! Thank you!

o

REMINDER:

Bob: Sid's brother

Christopher: Chris' son

[1] Candy cried in the train station thinking about Neal: Chapter 34