A/N All I can say is that my muses pointed out that the story couldn't end with V not dieing in Evey's arms. It just didn't work. I apologize, in advance, for the amount of song in this chapter. I hope you will forgive me once you read the songs.

I don't think any of us have quite gotten over the shock. It was impossible not to grieve the loss of our hero, the one person in this country who new the slightest thing about Jaylyn and I; yet, even V knew less about us than about himself.

Evey was taking V's death the hardest, naturally. I mean, after all, she had loved him in a way neither Jaylyn nor I did. It had been less then twenty-four hours since it happened and Evey wouldn't let go of V's extra cloak, but at least she had stopped sobbing loudly. I'm not saying she shouldn't be crying, quite the opposite in fact, but at least she was doing so quietly. The heart-wrenching sobs were almost too much to bear.

Empty spaces fill me up with holes
Distant faces with no place left to go
Without you, within me I can find no rest
Where I'm going is anybody's guess

The sound of a familiar song drew me from the niche behind Barbie (You remember, the suit of armor?) where I had been hiding. Evey stood in front of the Wurlitzer, the glowing light making her look thinner than she was.

I tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is, incomplete

Voices tell me I should carry on
But I am swimming in an ocean all alone
Baby, my baby
It's written on your face
You still wonder if we made a big mistake

Jaylyn appeared beside me silently and looked at me questionably; neither of us knew V had liked this song and there was no other music source hooked to the Wurlitzer. Somehow, V didn't strike me as a Backstreet Boys fan, no matter how great the song was.

I tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is, incomplete

I don't mean to drag it on
But I can't seem to let you go
I don't wanna make you face this world alone
I wanna let you know. . .

I've try to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you what I'm going to be is, incomplete. . .

Incomplete. . .

Oh, Evey. You poor thing, you've lost so much more then we could ever understand.

"'Though miles may lie between us, we're never far apart, for love doesn't count the miles, it's measured by the heart.'" I quoted to her softly "Evey, he will always be here with us. When ever you believe yourself to be at an end, you are truly at a beginning."

I resisted the urge to hug her, knowing it would only make it worse. In fact, by the looks of things, I believe I made it worse by speaking. I left the Shadow Gallery carrying a small lit candle with a cloak thrown over my shoulders.

Standing in front of what was left of Parliament, I felt my tears finally spill over and run down my cheeks. An ex-Finger walked over to me and seemed determined to make me leave.

"You can't be here. Leave now."

"No." I replied softly

He started to pull out his badge, but my knife plunged into his gut stopped him.

"I said no. I came here to mourn one of my closest friends; I came to mourn V. Leave me be."

He fell to the ground in a pool of blood at my feet; I doubted he'd even heard all of what I said. As more ex-Fingers started to make their way towards me, I lifted my chin defiantly and began to sing.

"Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
You called out to our country
And you whispered to those in pain
Now you belong to heaven
And the stars spell out your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall you
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend never will"

I know Elton John originally wrote it for Princess Diana, but I believe it would work very well as a tribute to V. Much as it might have seemed otherwise, V truly was a candle in the wind. I just hoped V wouldn't be too offended by having a song sang for him that had been written about a woman

"Loveliness we've lost
These empty days without your smile
This torch we'll always carry
For our nation's golden child
And even though we try
The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express
The joy you brought us through the years

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall you
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend never will

Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
Goodbye England's rose
From a country lost without your soul
Who'll miss the wings of your compassion
More than you'll ever know

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And you footsteps will always fall you
Along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before
Your legend never will"

I bowed my head for a moment and closed my eyes. Please God, be merciful to him. I truly believe he meant the best for this country while using the chance to seek his revenge. He's been hurt so much, God, allow him to find peace for once and allow him to be loved as Evey, Jaylyn, and I loved him. If you find it in your heart, would you send him back to us so he can see how much he was loved? I know I ask a lot, but I do so out of love.

I looked up and made my way into the nearest tube station, wiping my eyes. It was senseless to cry now.