It had been a long day. The memorial had taken up most of it, then everyone had had their own events and wakes and celebrations of life they were hosting. Stella had invited all her students to come along with her and Leo to see her parents, but they’d all declined.
Grace had chosen to stay with Logan, Gemma and Mitch had wanted to catch up with Mitch’s parents, and Drew still refused to speak to Laura thanks to his rather silly belief that she hated him, so had decided to spend the time sitting outside her room instead. Caspian wasn’t sure if Laura knew he was there. He wished Drew would hear what everyone kept telling him – that Laura didn’t blame him.
Caspian had spent some time with Laura, talking and laughing and eating cake. After a while, she’d fallen asleep, and Caspian had decided to leave her to rest. Drew had also fallen asleep on the chairs by the door to her room. Caspian had been tempted to shake him awake and tell him to get inside and sit with Laura, but he’d opted against it.
Drew had a right to feel how he did (even if it did seem silly), just as Caspian had a right to be feeling the way he did about losing Oscar.
His heart hurt. It always hurt. Everywhere he looked, he could see flashes of red. He’d swear it were Oscar, and he’d come bounding up any moment. But then it would be someone else, and he’d turn away, hiding the sadness within.
He’d spoken to Muka and Tahiki after losing Oscar, and they too had been distraught over the news. They’d offered him a room in their apartment, and Caspian was considering taking it. He’d said to Oscar he’d wanted to go back and train with the Mariadies, and he was beginning to think it would be a good idea. Loki had even sat down with Caspian, offering her condolences and promising Caspian he’d always have open lodging with the Mariadies. She’d even told him she would personally be the one to train him, if he wanted. Caspian had appreciated it. Knowing he had Loki’s support meant a great deal to him.
Oscar wouldn’t be with him, but at least he would still be doing what Oscar no longer could. He’d be working with the Mariadies, creating a better relationship between them and the Enchanted. He’d learn their ways, just as Oscar had, and he would continue to fight for their acceptance as Oscar had wanted.
Caspian wiggled his toes in the wet sand, feeling the grains against his feet, the cool against his skin. It settled his aching heart. It allowed him to think straight.
He missed Oscar. Of course he did. He always would. But he couldn’t spend his life mourning him. He’d learned that from losing his parents. There was still too much to do. He would always regret the fact that he’d spent so little time with Oscar, and he’d forever wish he hadn’t wasted so much of that time with him worrying rather than just telling him how he felt.
But he wouldn’t dwell on that either. He would live and learn and he would spend his life making the most of each day with every person in it.
Overhead, the last of the colours began to fade, shifting to a dark blue. Caspian observed as the stars began to twinkle above, as the moon shone brighter. Then, he allowed himself to smile, just a little, at the memory of Oscar.
He would never forget the young man with the fiery red hair.
~
Drew squeezed his eyes shut at the sound of footsteps. They stopped next to him, and he stilled.
‘I know you’re not asleep,’ Grace said.
He cracked an eyelid open to see her staring at him, arms crossed.
‘What are you doing?’ She demanded.
Drew sat up, peering at the still closed door to Laura’s room.
‘Nothing,’ he countered.
‘Would you just go in there?’ She said, frustrated.
Drew stood. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. He loved her, and he’d lost her. He would never forgive himself. He knew she would never forgive him, either. He began to walk away.
Grace hurried after him. ‘You’re being stubborn. She’s not mad at you! Why won’t you believe me?’
Drew rounded the corner and quickened his pace, needing to leave the hospital, desperate to be anywhere but there.
Grace stopped, threw her hands in the air and turned on her heel.
Good. He needed to be alone.
He stepped into the elevator and rode it to the ground floor, then pushed through the double doors and out into the cool night.
~
Leo and Stella helped Laura down the hall and into Logan’s room. Fred Lain had been fast in granting Laura’s request, and luckily for Laura, she was finally able to fulfil at least one of the items on her list of tasks to complete. Leo had been surprised to hear of her list, but he was glad to be of assistance. Logan, whose eyes widened in amazement when they entered, sat up as best he could, with Grace’s help of course.
‘What are you doing here? How are you?’ He asked frantically.
Laura smiled at Logan, and Leo helped her into the seat beside his bed. It was nice to see Logan and Laura in the same room again. They hadn’t been able to talk besides through their letters since Laura had awoken.
‘I’m feeling better, so the healers said I could come see you. How about you? How are you feeling?’
Logan shrugged. ‘Oh, you know. The pain’s still there. But they’re working on a cure.’
Grace shot Laura a look that said there was much more too it, but Leo could see Laura didn’t want to push Logan. They all knew he was trying to be brave.
Leo saw the smile that grew on Laura’s face, and frowned a little, unsure what about the situation could make her react so.
‘Actually, that’s why I’m here,’ Laura said.
‘What are you talking about?’ Stella asked from beside Leo.
Laura glanced back at them. ‘You see, that letter Megan wrote for me, it was a letter telling me that if she dies, I’m to be the chief of the Casters.’
‘Whao, what? Seriously?’ Logan asked in disbelief.
Laura nodded. ‘Seriously. Which means, I have the strength and power of my ancestor chiefs.’
‘Wait… does that mean…’ Grace whispered.
Laura’s face was bright with delight.
Leo felt his heart begin to race as he understood what Laura was telling them. Stella moved to interrupt, but Leo reached for her, shaking his head. Laura could make her own decisions. She was strong and kind and, beyond all that, determined as hell. No one would get in her way.
Laura reached out for Logan’s injured leg.
‘Are… are your sure you’re up for this?’ Logan asked nervously.
Laura only nodded. Then, she took a hold of his leg and closed her eyes. Leo didn’t know what was happening within her, but he watched in amazement as Logan’s leg began to glow bright gold. Logan, too, was unable to draw his eyes away as Laura poured her power, and the power of her ancestors, into Logan’s injury.
A quiet descended upon the room, an eerie silence that was both thick and deafening at the same time. Leo could feel the temperature dropping, and he wondered briefly if that was because the Caster Chief ancestors were all there in the room, aiding Laura in her work.
Then, the gold around Logan’s leg faded, taking the cold and quiet with it, and Laura’s hazel eyes opened, the gold flecks within almost shining. She slumped back a little, and Stella hurried to her side, putting an arm around her. Laura smiled at her, nodding to whatever Stella had asked.
Then, Logan gasped. He threw back his blanket and stared at his leg. Healed, completely.
Laura gazed at him, a grin on her lips despite how tired she’d clearly grown.
Logan jumped from the bed and threw his arms around her.
‘Thank you,’ he said into her hair.
Laura squeezed him in a return hug of her own, and before she knew it, Grace was there, and Stella and even Leo joined in on the hug.
Leo caught his wife’s eye as they all drew back, and he saw the tear that escaped down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away and went back to rubbing Logan’s back.
Logan was all right. They both were.
~
/> Mitch hurried down the steps of the Alast Force station and rushed towards the hotel he’d been staying in. He could barely hold back the excitement as he pushed past the door and sprinted down the hall to the elevator.
He pressed the button once, twice, then opted for the stairs, taking them two at a time. He reached his and Gemma’s floor, then began frantically searching for the number to her room. When he spotted it, he began knocking rapidly on the wood.
‘I’m coming!’ Gemma called, frustrated.
She threw the door open, her brown eyes flashing with hindrance, her dark blond hair spilling over her shoulders, her scar making her look beautiful as always. ‘I was asleep! Oh, Mitch what-’
Mitch didn’t allow her to speak a word more, for he’d picked her up into his arms, spinning her around and planting a kiss straight on her lips. He pulled back grinning at her, and she laughed loudly as he set her down and closed the door.
‘What’s that for?’ She asked, eyes sparkling.
‘I got it! The job.’
Gemma squealed. ‘You got it?!’
He nodded. ‘They made me head of the Corin Force!’
Gemma jumped back into his arms and he spun her around again, the two of them laughing with excitement and happiness. He’d always wanted to be the head of the force. It had been his dream since he was young.
Robin had always told him he would succeed, and at last, he had.
Gemma hugged him again and again, planting quick kisses against his cheeks and lips. She’d known he had applied for the job. She’d believed he would get it. He hadn’t been so sure. But she’d continued telling him over and over, just as Robin always had, that he was made for the job. That he had to believe in himself. That he worked hard and he deserved it.
‘Have you told your parents yet?’
‘I came straight here,’ Mitch said, placing Gemma back down on her feet.
‘They don’t leave until this afternoon, right?’ She asked.
He nodded, and she grabbed their coats. ‘Then let’s hurry! They’ll be so proud. Just like I am.’
Mitch couldn’t resist kissing her again, taking a moment to admire how beautiful she was when she smiled. Then, he shrugged on his coat, and they rushed from the room.
~
Laura perched on the edge of her bed, tugging on her boots and lacing them up tight. She was allowed to walk around more thanks once again to Fred’s influence, and she planned on taking full advantage of the opportunity.
The door opened behind her and Grace stepped inside.
‘Ready to go?’ She asked.
Laura stood, nodding at her friend.
She looked past Grace, hoping to see him. Again, he wasn’t there. Grace’s gave her a sad smile.
‘I did ask. He wouldn’t come.’
Laura exhaled and turned to the window. ‘Why? What did I do?’
‘No,’ said Grace quickly, crossing the room and reaching her side. ‘It’s not about you. It’s his own stupid problem. He blames himself. He thinks he let you down. That he failed you and you’re never going to forgive him for letting you… well for letting you be the one to end Erebus.’
Laura frowned. ‘But I don’t blame him.’
‘I know. Everyone keeps telling him that. But he doesn’t believe us.’
‘Why?’ Laura asked, then shook her head, crossing her arms defensively and peering back out the window. ‘Maybe he just doesn’t like me anymore. Maybe he’s using this as an excuse.’
Grace grasped her by the shoulders and turned Laura to face her. She looked her square in the eyes and said: ‘No way. He loves you, Laura. I’m pretty sure he loved you from the moment he met you. You know he sat by your bed the whole time those first few days when he brought you back to the manor?’
Laura’s heart began to pound. She hadn’t known that at all. She toyed with her long chocolate brown hair nervously as Grace went on.
‘Do you know how slowly he rode when he was bringing you back to the manor? He was so careful with you. And every time you’ve been hurt since, he’s been by your side through it all. Even this time, he sat with you daily until you woke up. Then, I think it all just hit him and he didn’t know what to do.
But even before, when he offered to train you, it wasn’t only so you could learn to defend yourself, it was so he could have an excuse to be close to you! And when he chose to go with you to find Kane? Of course he wanted to help you, but he also wanted to stay near you, to get to know you more, and to be there for you.
He’s become a better man because of you, Laura. You have no idea how much you’ve changed him for the good. He loves you, even if he’s too stubborn to admit it or too afraid to face you. He tells us it’s because he doesn’t think you’ll forgive him, but I think it’s because he can’t quite forgive himself, and so facing you will only remind him of that.’
Laura stared into her friends green eyes, and she believed her.
She stepped away from Grace.
‘Where is he?’ She asked, her voice firm and sure.
‘Oh… um, are you sure you sho-’
‘I’m not letting this go on any longer. He can’t get away with blaming himself. I won’t let him. So please tell me where he is.’
Grace told her where she could find him, and Laura stormed from the room. She marched right to the elevator, took it to the ground floor, and left the Hospital. She made her way down the street as fast as her sore legs could carry her, heading for the Hotel. Reaching it, she stepped inside, crossed the room to the stairs, and began to climb.
She reached the third floor, a little out of breath, but stomped right up to Drew’s room and slammed her hand against the door.
There was no answer, but after a moment, footsteps could be heard. Then, the door unlocked, and began to open.
Drew stared down at her, shocked, his black hair messy and his emerald green eyes wide.
‘Ace, is everything okay? What are you doing here?’
‘No. Everything is not okay, okay? Now, you listen here,’ she snapped, pointing her finger straight into his chest, jabbing at him angrily. ‘It is not. Your. Fault. Okay? I don’t blame you for what happened. I made the decision to end Erebus the way I did. I was the one sparing you from having to do it. I don’t need to forgive you because there is nothing to forgive. And you don’t need to forgive yourself because you did nothing wrong!’
Drew gaped a little. ‘But-’
‘No. No but’s. No nothing. Listen to me. I love you, you idiot. Nothing you could ever say would change that. I loved you long before I realised it, and I love you now.’
Laura saw the way his eyes shined, the grin that slowly formed on his lips.
‘You love me?’ He whispered.
Laura’s heart quickened, and she dropped the act.
‘Of course I do,’ she said gently.
Drew began to speak. ‘The first time I saw you I knew-’
‘-The first time you saw me I was sprinting across the yard bloody and dirt stained.’
‘All right the second time I saw-’
‘The second time I was screaming into Stella’s lap.’
‘Would you shut up, I’m trying to tell you I love you too!’ Drew exclaimed, beaming at her through it all.
Laura laughed, grasped his shirt between her fingers, and tugged him towards her, pressing her lips to his. He smiled against her lips and deepened the kiss as she arched her back, fitting to him like glue to paper.
She knew she meant it. With all her heart. Because she sensed the love running through her veins like fire, stronger than any power she could ever possess. Being with him felt absolutely right.
It was exactly where she needed, where she wanted, to be. She wanted to face the unknown with him by her side. She wanted to wake up every morning knowing he was right there, with her forever. She wanted to live happily ever after with him.
And it would be happily ever after, even if it was for one day or a thousand of them. Her heart was full of lo
ve and joy. That was all she’d ever wanted. And she had it.
Epilogue
December 28th 2014
One Year Later
Laura readjusted the harness and reached high above her head for the next rock, her gloves gripping the darkened stone as she glanced for the next foothold. Spotting one, she extended her foot, pressing down on the rock to ensure it would hold her weight.
She expelled a breath and grunted as she hoisted her way up, her other foot finding purchase in the cliff face. Glancing to the sky, the breeze caught her hair, and she spotted the top of the mountain just above her. With one almighty reach, she threw her hand over the fringe, her fingers clasping around a stone sticking out from the ground.
In one swift movement, she’d lifted her left foot, securing it against the next grip, and had hoisted herself up then over the edge of the cliff. Dragging herself the rest of the way, she then rolled a safe distance from the rim and laid there for a moment, breathing heavily.
She grinned up at the clouds, her skin sweaty, her hair itching her neck. She hoped her father had been watching. They’d always dreamed of rock climbing down and back up the cliff face on the other side of Wimerack Mountain. After much training, Laura finally had, in honour of her father, made the trek alone.
She rested for a minute more, catching her breath, then sat up and removed her harness. She reached for her water and walked to the other side of the mountain, perching on the ledge and enjoying the sun against her skin.
The breeze cooled her fast, and she stared down at her old farmhouse. She’d cleared it out and sold the house six months ago, and already the new owner was happy there, working hard to get the place back up and running. It was Bill, the old farmhand, who had bought it, and Laura couldn’t have been happier to accept the offer. She lowered the price especially for him because she couldn’t think of anyone better to look after it and she knew of his hardships with money.
Plus, he never minded if she came over to visit or climb the mountain. They tried to catch up once a month so he could show her whatever new feature he’d added or ask her opinion on whatever new things he’d done. She didn’t know much about farming, as her father had, so she humoured him a bit, but she was sure her dad would be pleased with anything Bill had done.
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