so here it is....the epilogue to The Moment I Said It!! I really liked writing this story...i hope everyone who read it enjoyed it as well. Let me know what you think!!!

Disclaimer: sigh...wishing i owned something....

5 years later

A young woman, about 25, lay in the hammock, the dogwood blossoms falling slowly around her to the ground. She was immersed in her book, as the spring sun hung low in the sky. As she swayed back and forth, the sun caught the glimmer of her wedding ring on her left hand. On her right hand sat his purity ring. It was warm for March, and she was enjoying it before the April showers came.

As she marked her place in her book, she absentmindedly rubbed her swollen abdomen. She smiled when she felt the little flutter of kicks at her touch. She still had 5 more months to go, and then she would welcome a little life into the world.

The silhouette of a young man, about 25 years of age as well, came into the backyard, carrying two glasses. She saw him coming and made room for him to lie down beside her. He put the glasses on the table underneath the tree, and sat down next to her. He kissed her once on the forehead, once on the lips, then proceeded to kiss her swollen midsection twice. She laughed lightly as the little one inside of her gave his/her response to their father.

"Hi, my angels," he said softly, as he settled down beside her.

"Hey daddy," she said, lacing her hand through his, as he placed his other hand on her stomach. They lay there in a comfortable silence, just taking in each others presence.

She let her thoughts wander elsewhere, taking her back 5 years ago, to the day that allowed her to start over and to become a wife and mother.

"What are you doing?" she inquired.

He did not say anything, but instead dug around in his pocket for something.

"Something I should have done a long time ago."

He moved to stand in front of her, as she shifted on the hammock to face him.

He took her hand in his own, and started to speak.

"Miley, I regret everything I said to you that made you leave 5 years ago. I knew the minute after you left that I had just made the biggest mistake of my life, letting you go. Since I knew that there was no way that you would ever take me back, I threw myself into my music, shutting myself away from the world. I refused to date anyone else, and had a hard time getting out and about. My brothers were constantly worried about me, and they thought you were the one who split us up. Once they figured out that I was the one who screwed up, they were even more on edge. They noticed my change in behavior, and at first blamed my diabetes. But they eventually figured out that I was spiraling downwards in depression. I went to a psychiatrist, just for them, and made them believe that I was getting better. But I wasn't. You are my first love, and my only love. If you didn't show up last night, I wouldn't be here right now."

"I was planning on doing this before we got into that huge fight, so Miley Rae," he got down on one knee, "will you give me another chance to be in your life again?"

"Will you marry me?"

He produced a small box from his pocket, and opened it. Inside was a beautiful princess cut white gold diamond ring.

She looked at him once, looked at the ring, then back at him.

She uttered one word that would change both of their lives. FOREVER.

"Yes."

As she came out of her thoughts, she became aware that he was now rubbing tiny circles on her belly, as their child was being restless, and a small smile came to her face.

"What were you thinking about?" he asked her, looking her in the eyes.

"Oh nothing," she said, giving him a brief kiss, "just the day that changed my life for good."

"And what day would that be, my lovely wife?"

"The day you asked me to marry you, in your backyard, underneath the honeysuckle tree, on the hammock. You gave me a chance to start over. You've given me the chance to be a wife to an amazing man. You've also given me the opportunity to become a mother in a few months. I couldn't ask for anything more."

"Well, you also gave me another chance to be with such an amazing woman. Had you not come to my balcony in the middle of the night, all this might have never happened. If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn't have let you go 5 years ago. But right now, I wouldn't trade this moment, lying here with you, for anything else in the world."

She kissed him long and full, both of them laughing when they felt their child kick, breaking the tender moment up.

"So, I've been thinking," she said, "about names."

"Admittedly, so have I," he said, and she chuckled.

"Well, what do you think for a girl? I like Sadie Marie."

"Sadie Marie Grey. That has a nice ring to it. I was thinking Tiler Paige, and we would spell it T-I-L-E-R. It's unique but not entirely different."

"I like your choice. Tiler Paige Grey." she smiled.

"Okay, now what about for a boy?"

"I like Jesse, or Zak, spelled with a 'k'."

"What about Brandon Thomas?" he suggested, and her eyes lit up.

"Ooh, I like that. Brandon Thomas Grey."

"So it's settled. Tiler Paige for a girl and Brandon Thomas for a boy." he kissed her softly.

They lay outside in the hammock until well after the sun goes down, each of them silently thanking God for second chances.

love it? hate it?

xo