Author's note: I just saw this movie a couple days ago, and though I loved the way they ended it, this ending also came to mind as a possibility. I don't own any of the characters or storylines.

"I'm here," Nick called to her across the bed. "I'm right here." He was staring down at her, laying next to his unconscious body. He didn't notice the figure standing opposite him.

"Nick?"

He finally looked up to see her, brown hair cascading over her shoulders, eyes glowing in the irridescent hospital room light. "Annie," he breathed.

"What's happening?"

"I'm not really sure how to describe it," he replied truthfully.

"Are we . . . ?"

"Dead?" he finished. "No. We're kind of . . . in limbo, I guess, between life and death."

"I'm sorry Nick; I'm so sorry." Her face fell to her hands.

"Hey, you got me here."

"I wanted to do one good thing." As her spirit spoke to his, so did her body say the words out loud.

"You did; you saved me." They were the first words his body had uttered since calling her broken that night in the woods. His spirit reached across their bodies laying helplessly on the bed before them, and she stretched out a hand to meet his. Their fingers barely grazed as Nick felt himself being pulled backward; he couldn't explain it. At first he fought, pulling himself back toward the bed. But it got harder and harder, and he eventually succumbed, disolving into nothingness.

He opened his eyes and pulled a sharp breath into his lungs. The air stung and made him cough, wrenching his insides. He sat up against a wave of pain and nausea. "Nicky?" His mother grabbed for his hand.

"Annie," he sputtered. "Where's Annie?"

Against a clear blue sky, a white plane buzzed around in a circle, did a loop-the-loop, and landed on the dirt just behind the small boy flying it. He took two steps and picked it up. "Hey, are you supposed to be out here by yourself?" Nick handed the plane back to the boy.

"My sister was supposed to bring me," Victor responded.

"Well, how can I bring you if you sneak out without me?" Annie finally caught up with Nick. "I'm not as agile as you," she commented, punching him in the arm.

"I don't know--you beat me pretty good," he returned.

"I still didn't shoot you in the stomach." She leaned over a bit, pressing on the scar left from removing the bullet from her abdomen. Her eyes closed against the pain, and she bit her bottom lip.

"Are you okay?" Nick laid a hand on her shoulder, but didn't patronize her by trying to rescue her.

"I'll be fine." She straightened and touched his elbow.

"Hey Annie," Victor called, beaming from his place at the cliff.

"Hey Little Man," she smiled, opening her arms. He raced into them, but was careful not to hurt her. She kissed the top of his head, and looked up at Nick. She'd been allowed a second chance that she didn't deserve; she'd been given grace, and the oppertunity to change who she was. And never again would she see her life as expendible. With an arm around her brother, and her hand clutching Nick's, the three started back down the path.