Epilogue Part 2

It had been two years. Two years since he laid eyes on her. She no longer looked exactly the same. She grew into her features a bit more, she was less adorable and more womanly.

He laughed at her body language. Nothing else had changed. She had paused at the entrance, still very much awkward in crowds.
His companion gazed at him as if she was seeing him for the first time. She had never seen him wearing such an expression. He excused himself and walked back into the room.

Austin's footsteps slowing as he saw the wide eyed expression taking homage on Avril's face. He gazed at her line of sight, his smirk growing. They had made eye contact.

Thomas with a drink in his hand, his mind tuning out the middle aged man that was giving him an earful. His expression as solid as steel.
Avril was less composed. Her eyes two whisky coloured orbs, her mouth forming a perfect O.
Austin stepped into her line of sight.
She turned her gaze to him and smiled. Her eyes running back to where she had seen Thomas but he was no longer there.

"I was beginning to think you won't make it." Austin flashed her his best smile.
Avril giggled. Her voice had gotten a bit throaty. It added to her appeal.

"I could never disappoint you." She said.

"Ahh, words I love to hear." He teased. " Come let me introduce you to my family." He hooked her arm in his. His mood lightening instantly.
He just had to let nature take its course now.
***
Avril needed to breathe. She had stowed away to a back room. She searched around until she found the light switch. Her hands flying to cover her lips as a body came into focus.

It was him.

He sat in the corner, ankle to knee as he downed the contents of his glass.

He stared at her, almost as if he was experiencing a mirage.

"Hi." The word escaped Avril's lips. She didn't intend to say anything. Part of her wanted to exit the way she had entered. She knew that was the cowardly thing to do but she didn't know if she could face him. For the past two years, she had to satisfy herself with her imagination and now she was finally seeing him again. Her heart was overflowing.

"Hi." He returned. His gaze on the glass in his palm. His expression gave nothing away. Avril was beginning to feel like a bother.
Perhaps he forgot her. Perhaps he never wanted to see her again. She couldn't blame him. After all, she had said goodbye to him in a damned letter! Something she'd always regretted.
She turned around, her palms shaking as she turned the door handle.

"How have you been?" The question caused paralysis of her every body function.
She gazed at the door, her eyes closing as she breathed. " Fine." She said as she turned to face him.
He gestured at a chair next to his. She took it, noticing he still didn't gaze directly at her. Perhaps he was already seeing someone else. It has been two whole years and Thomas was...well, Thomas. There was no other explanation needed.

"How have you been?" She echoed.

"Fine." He smirked as he mirrored her response.

"Fair enough." She said. "I am finishing my degree this year. I have gotten an offer to work with one of my lecturers." She opened up.

"Well, I took over the company. My father is enjoying retirement with Trish." He smiled genuinely.

"That's amazing." She said. She hadn't spoken a lot to Trish since she had left that house. She couldn't deal with the reminders. But she missed them all.

"And congratulations on your job offer." He looked at her this time.

"Thank you." she lowered her gaze.

"Does that mean you will be staying out here?" He questioned.

"I actually already moved. I already have an apartment." She said proudly.
The thought of her within his reach was driving him insane. His love for her hadn't dimmed in the years that passed, but he did come to understand why she left. He knew his wrongs. He had a lot of time to ponder it.

"That's amazing news." He said. " so much has changed in these two years. " he said more to himself.
Avril considered this. A lot did change maybe that was why she found it hard to understand why her feelings for him never did.

"Something's aren't susceptible to time." She responded with a weak smile.

"Time erases everything." He countered.
Avril felt her heart sink. What else did she expect?

"Or so I have been told." He gave her a warm smile and she remembered the Thomas she knew. The Thomas she couldn't bear to be without.
She smiled at him.

"I've missed you." he shook his head and caught his lower lip between his teeth. He'd been holding all of it in for too long. He would hate himself if he allowed her to walk out of here without knowing his feelings. This was no time for pride.
The words came as a shock. Avril gazed at him. His full attention on her. He smiled again, running his fingers through his hair.

"I am sorry if that was..."

"No." She stopped him. "I missed you to." She replied honestly, feeling suddenly free. She'd spent so much time trying to convince everyone around her that she was not interested in relationships. In all honesty, she just wasn't interested in anyone who wasn't him.
Thomas started to feel a tinge of hope now. He had never stopped wanting this woman and two years later he felt nothing less.

"I don't know if I am crossing a line, especially if you're in a relationship but I have never, not for a second wanted anyone else." His facial muscles had relaxed and she could now read him.

"I am not in any relationship." She clarified.

"What about Sam?" He asked.
Avril paused. "How did you..." She stopped mid sentence. It was Thomas, she didn't want to think of the ways he had.

"It didn't even last two weeks." She confessed. "I couldn't even kiss him."
Thomas felt as if two years of worry, anger and resentment had dissipated.

"You didn't...have a physical relationship with him?" Thomas held her gaze.

"With anyone." She sighed. "I couldn't..." she inhaled, "couldn't let anyone erase the mark you made on me. I have always been yours."
He rose from his chair and kissed her then. A long lingering kiss. They both felt the passion and desire of two years ago reignite. He pulled his lips away.

"You have no idea how I have been driving myself crazy thinking about you with someone else. I couldn't bear it." He said.

"I couldn't bear it either. I have only ever wanted you." She confessed.

"I have never stop loving you, Avril." He paused. "Not even for a second, and if you allow me to, I won't give you any reason to leave me again."

"I still have my doubts..." she confessed. He nodded.

"You were right, two years ago, I didn't know what it took." He held onto her. "I was selfish, I didn't consider how my actions, my omissions would affect you." he continued. " That's not an issue now. I have had too much time with my mind and I know now." he kissed her again.

"I know, what I need to do. What I need to give and I will. I just need one more chance." he rested his forehead against hers and exhaled deeply.
Avril bit down on her lower lip. Her heart racing, her mind working ten miles a minute. She didn't know the words to express her feelings so she pressed her lips against his. What she intended to be a chaste brush of their lips morphed into a sensual dance.

***
*One year later*

Avril giggled at Thomas' nervousness. "You go out on missions that can kill you and you're not nervous but now you are?" she rose a teasing eyebrow at him.

"I don't have to worry about the crooks liking me, in this situation what if your parents decide that they don't want us dating?" He responded.
Avril laughed. "You're lucky our dad's are friends, I think thats your biggest help right now or else my father wouldn't be so calm about this."
Thomas nodded.

"Just do not mention our relationship when I was staying there." She warned.
Thomas threw his head back and laughed. "Wasn't dreaming of it." That was a mistake he would never make.
He closed his suitcase and walked over towards her.

"Do you think they will be alright when we tell them you're moving in with me?" Thomas questioned.
Avril shrugged. "Who knows?"

Thomas prayed there weren't any setbacks. He couldn't wait to have her back with him. They had dated for a year planning to move in with each other only after they were sure the relationship would move forward. He gave her time to build trust in him again. He also needed to show her how much he had changed and was willing to invest in them.
He patted the velvet box in his pocket. The whole reason he had planned to finally meet her parents was so that he could ask her father's permission to marry her.
He didn't see the point in waiting any longer.

"Don't worry, it doesn't matter what they think of us. I won't change my mind about you." Avril reassured.

"I love you." He caressed her face.
Avril blushed as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.

THE END

A/N- Because I keep getting questions about a sequel I am happy to let you know that this intended to be a three part series. Book 2 'A Brother's Mistake' is currently being written and available exclusively on Anystories! It follows Austin Cyner and yes more of Thomas and other characters!