Catch 22

Epilogue

2 years later

"What a fucking night, boys!" Calum yelled excitedly as he came off stage and collapsed in a heap of limbs across the green room sofa. The boys mumbled sounds of agreement and he looked back surprised by their lack of enthusiasm until he saw the knowing looks covering their faces. He quirked his eyebrow as Ash gestured back in the opposite direction.

"Was it a good one?" A feminine voice asked from the corner.

Calum's head snapped over to where the noise had drifted, his grin somehow becoming even more wide at the sight of her.

"Row!" He said excitedly, standing to his feet and clambering towards her, his lanky legs and arms struggling to keep up with his desire to take her in his arms. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be home resting!"

His voice was sweet and elated though she, knowing him as she did, could hear the hint of apprehension and worry for her being out and about given her current condition.

He reached her finally and his arms slid around her, the distance between them small.

"Doctor said I'm all good, it's your last show of the tour, you were close to home, plus someone wanted to see there favorite uncle." She said, a smile playing on her lips as he became aware of the gentle tugging on his right leg.

"Cope!" He said excitedly, bending down and scooping up the three year old. He lifted her into the air, tossing her slightly before catching her once more and resting her against his hip, kissing her cheek. "Where's Kate?" He asked, wondering if his sister in law was around as well.

"She's on a date." Rowen smiled to him.

"Same guy?" He asked, knowing Kate had been getting close with a sound guy Rowen had set her up with for a few months now. She nodded and he felt his lips twist into a smile. Kate was great, she deserved someone to be good to her after all she had been through.

"Cal come home." Copeland said in the sweet way of a toddler, drawing his attention back to her and she rested her head against his shoulder, her eyes wide and hopeful and his heart lurched.

"Yep! I'm coming home tonight bug! Gonna be home a while too, we gotta wait for your cousin yeah?"

"Max come soon." She said with a nod and he grinned, glancing back to Rowen, her hands fallen over the large curve of her stomach only a week from her due date. The rings on her left hand shining even in the dim lighting of the backstage room.

"That's right bubs, Max is coming soon. You're gonna be best friends." He told her, hiking her up on his hip as he grabbed the bag he'd packed before the show, his suitcase was waiting out on the bus, he'd been planning to make a quick getaway. The past two months away from Rowen with their first child so close to arrival had been hard on him and he was ecstatic at the thought of being home with her for a bit.

Max was their miracle baby. They weren't supposed to be able to have kids, what with all Rowen's medical complications, and yet here they were only days away from getting to meet him.

He called a quick goodbye to the boys, promising they'd be some of the first to know once Max had made his debut.

He stepped out of the arena and headed for the car. It occurred to him as he put Copeland into her car seat that this was what he had always longed for. A woman he loved deeply and a family of his own.

He was grateful that both he and Rowen were healthy, that they had each other to ensure they stayed that way and make sure they were taking the appropriate precautions for life with a single kidney.

He helped her down into the passenger seat and kissed her quickly, running around the car to climb into the drivers seat and head home with two of his favorite girls.

•

"Hi bubba." Calum cooed to his son.

The tiny boy, only a few hours old opened his eyes, only for a second, his brown eyes identical to his fathers searching blindly for the sound.

"Hi Max. You hungry?" He asked as the infant smacked his lips and Cal turned to look at Rowen, her eyes closed and her face peaceful in her exhaustion.

He didn't have the heart to wake her.

He bounced the boy slightly hoping to keep him content for a bit longer at least to give her as much time as possible to sleep. It had been a long day for all of them but holy shit was it worth it.

He hadn't expected becoming a father to make him feel so...complete.

Of course he'd come to love Copeland in the nearly three years he'd been with Rowen but as much as he loved her it was different when the baby was his own.

A shuffling sound from the bed drew his attention and he turned around.

"Hi mumma." He said, shooting a soft smile over to Rowen as she gingerly sat up.

"How long was I out?" She asked rubbing at her eyes.

"Only about an hour. Think he's hungry but I wasn't going to wake you if I didn't have to." Calum said to her as he stepped forward and sat down softly beside her, passing her the baby.

She brushed her fingers over his forehead and settled him in her arms to try to feed him. Calum bent forward and pressed a kiss to the side of her head.

"Can't believe he's finally here. He's so perfect." She whispered to Calum as Max's eyes fluttered closed. "I never thought I'd get this. I don't deserve it." Her hand raised and she wiped at the dampness just under her eyes.

A pain vibrated in Calum's heart.

"Yes, you do."

"I've always been surrounded by pain and tragedy. It just seems a little surreal that for the past few years things have been so good." She breathed an honest sigh.

"I love you, Row. You're everything good to me. Look at Max's face and tell me he's not proof of that."

She had to smile then because who could deny it.

"I love you, Cal. Forever."

An: enjoy this cute as shit epilogue

Just FYI Rowen was never going to die, Cal was.

I didn't think we were all emotionally stable enough to handle that today on top of the Calm release so instead you get Dad Cal bc I am me and it's cuuutttteeee

Check out Wherever You Are which should begin regular updates tomorrow!

Ily,
Sav