dedicated to @goingtocamphalfblood for the cover above❤

Epilogue: "Back In The Olden Days."

I LOOKED AT THE model over my camera. Someone, a girl who had started today and yet forgotten to give me her name-or maybe she did and it slipped my mind, handed me a bottle of water. I took it from her with a smile, mentally telling myself to give her a talk on how she was doing good on her first say.

There was a lot of commotion behind me but I didn't want to be interrupted. I could hear the yelling, the sound of a cart moving, people rushing and lights flashing all around me but I blocked them out. I always did. If someone interrupted me I was on the verge what they called a Double M- also known as a 'Macy Meltdown'.

No one, not even me, wanted that.

And I've always hated the cranky type of bosses when I was younger and now that I was one I wasn't about to live up to that. My employees, the ones who were definitely doing a lot and scrambling around me, working with the agency whose shoots were were producing today, we're doing a good job for what had been one of the busiest weeks of our lives. 

"That was good," I told her. "Probably the best one all day. But I need more from you." I needed a different angle.

The girl who had handed me the water came to take it back and she was staring at the model before clearing her throat. "How about the couch?"

My eyes moved over to what she was talking about and I smiled, nodding. "That's it. The couch." I told the model before turning to the girl. "Thank you. Take a break, hun you deserve one. I've seen what you've been doing all day."

Her face flushed red at the praise and I smiled. "Thank you Mrs. Cahill."

"No worries and it's Macy. Remember that." She scurried off and I mentally checked myself. I've been pulling a Liz since I started this- since Liz had helped me start it after I graduated from university all those years ago. It was pretty tough at first, trying to get others see what I could do with a camera but Liz had connections and she pulled me through her chain of connections to get me where I am today as a photographer. To her I was forever grateful. I made a mental note to call her later from where she was probably with Vince on some private island on the other side of the world. 

The model moved to the and she did give me what I had asked. And I could see why she was a model. From my perspective with her facial expressions to the angular structure of her face, I guess she was probably stuck into this at an early age or someone discovered her. I wouldn't even be surprised if I knew the person who had discovered her.

She was great. Probably one of the best I've worked with. In the years of doing this business, I've worked with a lot of models, actors, singers, tycoons the list went on and I knew what I was talking about. But the day itself had been going on for so long and I was kind of glad that with this last photo it was all over.

I sighed in relief when the shoot was over and smiled at her tiredly. "We're good."

She returned her gratitude with some words and a smile but I could barely focus on her when I heard a voice behind me and little footsteps. "Mommy!"

I could feel the tired smile on my face change into a wide grin as I put my camera down and turned around to face the little girl. She jumped into my arms, her curly hair hitting me right in the face but I didn't mind. I never minded. "Hey, how was school today?"

"It was good," She said, munching on a cookie that my assistant, Janice probably gave to her. "I got to look at this book and saw this thing called multi-pa something."

"Multiplication?" I suggested, biting back a smile.

"Yeah!" She nodded in excitement. "I know that two times two is ..."

"Is?" I encourage her to finish, watching her brown eyes flicker around the room as if the answer was somewhere around here.

"Four! It's four!" She laughed loudly and I held her even closer as she continued eating. "Like two plus two."

"Did Janice give that to you?" I asked her and she nodded. "Did you say thank you?" That's when she acted like she didn't hear me and continued eating. "Annabeth." I said sternly.

She swallowed and when she was about to open her mouth, I held her back at arm's length.

  "THANK YOU JANICE!"

Despite my metaphorically eardrums shattering, I shook my head and smiled. I thought I was a loud person but clearly this six year old with my genetics had beaten my loudness. I could only wish she could learn to control it but I highly doubt she would as she grew older.

"You're welcome sweetheart!" Janice yelled back.

"Where's your sister?" I asked her, looking around.

I spoke too soon, another little body colliding with mine. My hand reached out to hold her steady; she was always a little clumsy. I smoothed her wavy hair, not helping the smile that came to my face at the sight of her. "Hi mom." Lauren grinned at me, a little book with a dog on the cover in her hands.

"Hi sweetheart."

"Are we going to see Daddy soon?" Annabeth asked me with her big brown eyes looking up at mine, her voice uplifted with hope. Her eyes were a little bit darker than my hazel ones and because of a certain someone who had a problem with naming people by their eye color, some people called her Coco sometimes.

Lauren had the same eye color too but her nickname was Chocolate- due to creative yet not creative reasons made six years ago when they were born. They were fraternal twins that were so unlike each other. Annabeth was the one who dressed up to be a princess while Lauren was the one who wanted to build a fort. The most the two shared beside their physical traits were that they were picky eaters.

"Yeah but we need to pick up your brother when his soccer practice is over then we'll get on the plane. I already have your things, alright?" Lauren gave me a big smile and I returned it, putting Annabeth back on the ground and holding both their hands.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Is he coming out soon?" Annabeth asked impatiently, tapping her foot on the ground.

Her face was painted and she was wearing the team visor on her hands. She begged me this morning to put it on her quickly and I did as she asked, making her happy on the way to the stadium. She was standing on her seat as we looked down at the other team making their way to the center.

"Soon." I told her as we looked over the field and I felt a hint of nostalgia hit me. It always hit me watching any game of soccer but that didn't stop me from trying to play it a bit when I had the chance.

After my injury, my recovery hadn't turned out the way everyone had wanted. My  knee was okay but it wasn't the same. Neither was the sport I loved. I felt like I wasn't playing the sport like I once did and although I'll love soccer for as long I'm still breathing, it wasn't like it was before. It took me a while to realize this. Why my shots were off, why I was constantly frustrated with myself whenever I tried to play. When I had finally come to terms that I would never play soccer professionally, I moved onto another love of mine. Photography.

So now I had a better reason to carry a camera around my neck every time rather than just telling someone 'memories'. Annabeth tapped me on the shoulder, grabbing my attention. "Where's Laurie?" Annabeth asked of her sister, looking in the direction of where we just came in.

"Right 'ere!" Caleb said with my other six year old on his shoulders as he made his way over to us with a large grin on his face. Caleb put Lauren down as she moved to sit next to her sister, the both of them peering over the railing with bright eyes, trying to spot their father. 

I looked up at Caleb and he greeted me with a a wide smile on his face. Caleb was a face that ahd to be here today. So when he was already in England doing a signing in a city not too far from the stadium, he made sure he could make it for his best friend. On a day like today.

Charlie walked in behind Caleb as he practically vacuumed a hot dog in his mouth. Oh God. He looked so much like his father it was insane. Same curly hair just lighter like mine with vivid green eyes. He looked up at me when he finished his hot dog. "What?"

"I told you ten thousand times. Chew properly before swallowing or else you're going to choke."

"Can I have money to buy another?" He asked, ignoring what I had previously told him.

"Later." I told him and he accepted that, reaching over to grab a piece of Annabeth's cotton candy. Annabeth swatted him when he only managed to take a little bit, retracting her arm.

"You didn't ask!"

"Beth, can I have some?"

"No." She said, turning the other way. I was so ready to separate the two of them. Annabeth and Charlie were the ones that fought one another. Maybe because they both liked the same things and constantly competed to get them. Or maybe it was Annabeth's attitude or Charlie's pride but Lauren was like the glue that held the siblings together and she didn't even know it.

She shushed the both of them before Charlie could say something. "Let's see dad come out."

Charlie grumbled under his breath before taking the seat in between Caleb and I. "Mom, when is dad coming out? We've been here for like an hour."

"Now." I said, looking down at the field and pointing over.

I heard Annabeth and Lauren identically squeal when the announcer said his name throughout the large stadium. I didn't even have to hear the announcer say his name, the crowd around us cheering was well enough. I knew the stadium would be packed especially on a day like today with people sporting the team's colors on the final game of the season.

I watched number 11, walk towards the field with the rest of his team. He walked behind the goalie as they made their way to the center along with the opposing team. His head moved upward and I could tell those green eyes were scanning the stadium trying to find his family.

That's when he found me. A smile made its way to my face and I could see the grin on his face as well.

I could hear the loud sound of the stadium cheering and our children screaming along with them but I kept my eyes on Sam. Like every game he played, he tapped a hand to his chest and I grabbed the pendant hanging from my necklace that I've never taken off those many years ago.

"YES!" I could hear Caleb yell as Sam stood with the people who he had played with a years, possibly loud enough for everyone to hear. "THAT'S MY BEST FRIEND!"

I could see some of the paparazzi down near the field turn their cameras onto Caleb Romero Henderson. His identity that was well known and worldwide made him famous in ways that the guy could never imagine. He smiled down at the cameras waving. I don't think there;s been that many negative reviews on Caleb, there were a lot concerning what was going on through his head most of the time but even his close friends and family.

"Uncle Caleb shh." Annabeth made a face, reaching over to pull him down in his seat.

Caleb laughed and we waited for the moment that the teams got ready. We waited for the whistle to blow and I held my camera up, capturing the moments of Sam having one of the best times of his life, playing the game he loved.

This was Sam's last game. That's what made it so important.

He was retiring. He had to. He was 36 and he loved the game. He loved it more than anything but his own body was starting to give up on him and that was what he hated.

I noticed it first. It was two years ago and he had suffered a knee injury and was out of the season for seven weeks. Getting back into it he didn't tell anyone that his knee was bothering him but after a while I had noticed. So after a very long time to get Sam to realize what he had to do especially since he was at the age of the typical soccer players retirement he decided to do so.

And I could tell that this was one of the hardest things he could ever do.

He felt like he was giving it all up: the fame, the sport and more. But he didn't just have this-soccer- under his belt. He had other stuff. Way more stuff than we had originally thought that linked in to his profession.

But more than that, more than what would happen in the future Sam was going to leave behind something that the world of soccer knew he would. A legacy.

He was that soccer player. The one little boys and girls had hung up in a poster in their rooms. The one when people saw him, they would get him to sign whatever they had in their hands or ask to take a picture with him. He was the one who was a record breaking player, philanthropist, sponsored by so many companies and loved by many.

His legacy here wouldn't die and our kids were something to remind him of that. Charlie, the 10 year old beside me could be just as good as his father, possibly even better. He looked up to Sam especially in the respect of playing just like him.

I remember the first time Charlie ever scored in a soccer game and Sam was there to see it. Charlie had said, "I did it for you." and I remembered the look on Sam' face at those words. They hit him as much as it hit me.

But Sam wasn't just giving up the biggest part of his profession for the sake of his health but he was doing it for us too. I knew that. Soccer was a big part that sometimes kept him from being in his kids' lives and he wanted to experience it all.

I just hoped that despite letting it go, he would still be at his happiest. My hopes were possibly confirmed when I snapped a picture of him shooting the ball right before it had gone into the net. Unlike most soccer players, Sam didn't do his victory run over to the corner where he would at most slide to his knees, basking in the glory with his hands on his face and his team running behind him. Instead, he ran over to the side of the field where we were, his arms up and pointing at us.

Annabeth and Lauren were cheering and Charlie stood, leaning over the railing with a wide smile. "Yes dad!"

And in that moment I realized how proud Sam was of himself when the people he loved were proud of him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mom?" Charlie yelled and I could hear him running down the stairs before I saw him with the soccer ball in his hand.

"Yeah?" I leaned against the counter, waiting for the same question he's been asking for the past couple of days.

"Can I have a cellphone?" He begged.

I thought about it like I usually did before coming to a proper conclusion. "No."

"Please!" he begged, dropping the ball and moving over to me. He looked up at me with wide green eyes that when he was five worked on me all the time but now that he was ten, I learned not to fall for it.

"No."

"What are we saying no to?" Sam asked as he walked into the kitchen with Lauren on his shoulders.

He spun around in a fast circle, making her laugh loudly before setting her on the ground. Annabeth came trudging in behind her and they both took seats at the counter, grabbing pizza slices from the boxes. Annabeth took a veggie one and Lauren took one with plain cheese.

I tore my eyes away from them as Sam stood next to Charlie, eyes flickering between the both of us. "What's going on here?"

"I want a phone and mom won't let me get one."

"For the last time, you were born in this country, you were raised in this country-why is it that you three can't say mum?" Sam asked.

"I like mom." Lauren told him.

"Yeah, mum sounds weird." Annabeth agreed.

"I just want a phone." Charlie mumbled.

Sam looked over at me before walking over to the twins, putting himself in the middle of their chairs beside the island. "How long has your brother been asking for a phone?" he asked Annabeth.

"Three days, four hours and twenty six minutes." She said, picking the cheese off the pizza to save for later. It was funny. Annabeth had been stuck on the concept of time for such a young age while Lauren struggled with it. On the other hand, Lauren was a reader. She loved reading and was the type to run away from the dolls and head straight into a bookstore. Especially whenever Caleb came over.

"Really?"

"Yeah." Lauren answered, taking small bites.

Sam moved away from them, walking back over to Charlie and me. He looked down at Charlie. "Why do you want a phone?"

Charlie looked down at the ground before looking back up at his dad. "Everyone has one."

Sam chuckled. "That's the worst reason to have something." He sat down at the table, facing the girls.

Charlie looked like Sam had just told him the weirdest thing in the world, rushing over to him. "What? Why?"

"Because you're following a trend."

"What's a trend?" Lauren asked.

"A trend is something that everybody is doing." I told her, kissing the top of her head.

"And none of you are going to tell me or your mom that you want something just because everyone else is has it, got it?"

"Yeah." Lauren and Annabeth said in unison.

"Whatever." Charlie mumbled, taking a seat on the other side of the island, looking disappointed.

I looked at Sam who was already staring at me as if to say 'what are we going to do with him?' He tore his eyes away from my gaze, taking the pizza Charlie was about to put on his plate and putting it back in the box. He picked up the boxes and started moving towards the living room.

I could already hear Lauren whine for the food, instantly grabbing her plate and rushing after him. Annabeth was already on their path but Charlie stayed behind, glancing at me. "What's dad doing?"

I put a hand on his shoulder, giving him a small smile. "Let's go see."

Sam was kneeling on the ground, my laptop in his hand and connecting it to the flat TV perched on the wall. Annabeth and Lauren were already on one couch eating away and Charlie settled on the other, his soccer ball in his hands. "What are we watching?"

I sat down in between the girls as Sam flashed Charlie a smile. "Want to see how your mom looked like back in the day?"

I shot Sam a pointed look but when the girls chimed yes, I exhaled loudly. That's usually how we would get Charlie to forget a situation- move his attention to something else. Sam grabbed the laptop sitting down beside Charlie and Annabeth as the screen lit up with a video of me when I was eight running past Andrew with a soccer ball.

"Is that Uncle Drew?" Annabeth asked with wide eyes, and pizza sauce on the corner of her lip.

I wiped it off with a napkin, nodding. I talked to Andrew almost everyday of the week and the kids loved him almost as much as Caleb. Out of all of my friends, I was pretty sure Andrew was the person I was forever going to stay close too despite us being in different places. He was happy. He lived in America with his own family but I made sure we saw him at least five times a year despite living in England.

Sam moved the mouse over to a different scene and I could see a picture of Jon Ming, Andrew, Austin, Jacob and Brandon from ninth grade along with Drake on the soccer team.

"Mommy, why are you the only girl?" Lauren asked.

"There wasn't a girls team so I had to be in the boys team." I explained.

"That sucks." Charlie said, sitting up. 

"Not really," I admitted. "Wasn't a big fan of girls when I was younger."

"But mom, you're a