revenge under the stars

EPILOGUE #2

12 years later

KIMBERLY

"Ares!" I shout, in warning. "Don't push your sister into the lake."

"Mummy!" my daughter yells laughing hysterically, running towards me. I smile as I lift her up in my arms.

Cole wraps his arms around my waist from behind and I grin. "Ares, why are you throwing Tatum into the lake?" he asks before walking over to the lake and scooping our son up, who was frantically trying to get out of Cole's grip.

"It's a joke," Ares exclaims and Cole jumps in with Ares in his arms. When they swim to the surface, Ares glares at Cole. "You getting in or what?" Cole calls out.

I grin at my husband as I look down at my daughter. "Do you want to go in the water, honey?"

She looks up at me and smiles. Her eyes were as blue as Cole's and her brunette hair was pulled in two pigtails. "Yes mummy." she squeals and I smile as I walk into the lake. When I reach Cole and my son, Cole wraps his arms around my waist and Ares grabs onto Tatum's hand as he holds her close. "I won't let go of you, Tate." he smiles and my heart swells.

Ares was seven and Tatum was five. There was only a two-year age gap between them but Area always acted like he was five years older. He was so overprotective of her.

I glance over my shoulder at Cole and I kiss him softly. "Tyler and Georgia are coming soon." he tells me. "With Atlas."

I grin. "Atlas is coming. Who wants to go see him?" I say to my children.

Tatum rips her hand away from Ares as she swims to me. More like paddles, and I grab her into my arms. "Let's go!" she squeals, jumping up and down. I swim out of the lake and I lift her up. "Tatum's in love with Atlas." Ares sing songs to her.

She turns bright red. "No I'm not."

Cole and I share a look. She definitely was. She had an adorable crush on him and it definitely irritated Ares every time Tatum would ask to hang out with him and Atlas.

Ares groans. "Tate don't follow me and Atlas around. Find your own friends."

She pouts and Cole lifts her up into his arms. "You don't talk to your sister that way, Ares." Cole warns.

It was precious seeing how much control our little girl had over Cole. If she pouted her lips and gave him those puppy dog eyes, he would give her anything she wanted.

Guilt washes over Ares eyes and he walks over to Tatum and Cole puts her down on the ground and Ares hugs her. "Fine." he huffs. "You can hang out with Atlas and I."

She beams at him and hugs him tighter. "I love you ares."

As much as Ares tried to be tough and emotionless, he was a softie at heart and it was also shown with Tate.

"Alright Tyler and Georgia should be here soon. Why don't we set up the fire?" I ask.

"Dad and I will get the sticks." Ares says. Tate tugs on Cole's shorts. "I wanna come! I wanna come!" she pleads. Cole grins down at her and lifts her up. "Of course you can come, angelface."

She smiles widely and Cole sends me a wink. Ugh, watching him be a dad made me want to have another child but I couldn't put myself through that pain again. Ares and Tatum are enough and I love them more than I could ever describe.

Cole kisses me softly. "You'll be okay here alone?" he asks and I hear Ares gag in response.

I drop onto my chair and I grab my book that was resting on my bag. "I have some reading to do." I say and he smirks at me.