Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 470: Thank You, My love!

Chapter 470: Thank You, My love!

The babies had their christening when they were four months old and it was a big celebration. Talia had reached her pre-pregnancy weight by then. Her family had the good genes and she also worked hard to maintain her weight.

The kids grew up well and the boy liked his mother more while their girl loved her father. Most times, they didn’t leave them in the nursery, but the kids slept in their room. The kids started to have a perfect sleeping cycle by then and they slept through the night which greatly helped the parents.

After everything was settled , Arthur went to his doctor to do the snip, but was sent away. He went to many other doctors and everyone sent him back and they all looked terrified.

And in Rosandale, there was a bill passed that forbade married people to sterilize themselves without the consent of their partners unless there is an excruciating circumstance. That bill caused controversy, but it was passed nonetheless.

Arthur after trying to be secretive in his pursuit, learnt the influence his wife has in the world stage. He couldn’t even do a simple medical procedure without her stopping him.

How did she do that?

"You want to talk?" Talia looked at the defeated man in front of her after he returned from the other part of the globe.

"How did you do it. You’re sitting in the room all day...Iris... teach me," he lied on her lap.

Talia played with his hair. She loved his hair. That is one of the first things that attracted her to him when they first met.

"I’m not revealing my secret weapon," she kissed his cheek.

"Your computer is your secret weapon, isn’t it?" he sighed. There is no other way.

Talia chuckled. "You didn’t lean anything, Fred. You should have talked to me."

"But are you really insistent on this? You remember how much it hurt, right?"

"I forgot... Really..." she looked at him. Arthur sighed.

"Are you that opposed to having more kids, Fred? You even went to some voodoo doctor at the end of the world," she asked. She didn’t want to force him to do something he dosen’t want to do.

"No," Arthur said after thinking for a while. "I just wanted to win against you. But you got me. Every doctor refused to help me. I am proud of you, actually," he lifted his head and kissed her. Gradually their kiss deepened.

They had their misunderstandings often. They went competitive at times, but they never lost their love. They lived as if every kiss is their last kiss and that every hug is their last. And no matter how long they stayed together, they found themselves more and more attracted to each other.

-----

Five years later...

Sitting in the gazebo in the garden, Talia rubbed her protruding belly. "I think the twins are fighting," she said with a little wince. The boys in her belly are extremely naughty making her unable to sleep at times.

"Just stay in bed all the time, MaryAnn," Jerome said and Talia smiled.

"I’ll go crazy then, grandpa."

She turned to see Arthur playing catch with the kids. He is a good father. With the business expanding greatly, he is busy all the time, but he always has time for his family. The kids adore him and he makes them happy. Watching them makes her happy.

"I am very happy, grandpa," she leaned on his shoulder and he patted her back.

"That’s all I need, child... And now I can-"

"If you talk about you dying grandpa, I am going to raise my kids without telling them who you are," she threatened.

"What if I don’t care?" he asked and Talia sighed.

"Grandpa, stay alive forever..."

"Okay," Jerome chuckled. Even after becoming a mother, his granddaughter is a silly little girl.

Mum, dad, Cyrus... are you watching? I am very happy!

-----

Talia gave birth to two beautiful boys after she carried them for full term. The labour was tough on her as it lasted fifteen hours and she decided she is not going to have more children in the near future.

Arthur was happy and a little sad. He wanted one more girl, but they had three boys and one girl.

The papers wrote the usual drivel on how the Brunton curse is broken by a Sinclair. A lot of people approached them throughout the years to let them make a series or a movie about their life.

But they firmly refused.

"Our life is ours and no one can profit from it," Arthur was firm. And even if they talk about their experiences, no one will believe them anyway.

Every year on her birthday, Talia brought her kids to Cyrus’ grave and after they got only enough, she’ll tell them stories about Cyrus and they’ll listen with curiousity.

Cyril’s son will be one of those who listens to Talia’s stories. Those blue eyes of his will twinkle with delight hearing about his uncle.

"I want to be Thea’s knight!" he proclaimed one day and knelt in front of her daughter making Talia’s heart skip a beat.

"I don’t want a knight. I just want a friend. You can be my friend," Little Thea said and that made Talia proud.

There is no need for a knight, for sure. No one needs to treat another as their superior for no reason. Talia didn’t want history to repeat itself. Thankfully, her daughter is smarter.

"You went pale for a second," Arthur kissed her cheek and their boys made retching actions seeing their parent’s intimacy. They were at that age where everything is nasty and they had a lot of Whys to ask

"Yes, I am glad I had Cyrus, but I don’t wish that weird relationship on anyone else. Let that be only mine," she leaned on him.

"What a weird thing to copyright," Arthur kissed her head.

"Fred, I love you. I am so happy right now. Thank you for standing by me, darling," she closed her eyes leaning on him.

"You stood by my side too. I love you, my Iris."

He rubbed her back. Sitting on a bench, he watched their kids playing with Cyril’s kids. It was beautiful to watch. And the woman leaning on his chest...

She is the best thing that happened to him.

He saw the creek at the distance flowing peacefully. Everyone has a place that is close to their heart. For him, it will forever be that creek. And he knew it is for her too.

A story that began with the curiousity of a boy about that supposed monster at the other side of the creek, thanks to the girl’s reciprocation of the same feelings had developed into the most amazing love story that is fulfilling and wholesome.

Thank you, my love!

***THE END***