I never expected this story to be so short, but here I am, with the last chapter. I think this is the first time that I've ever wrote a chapter, and posted it almost immediately. Meaning, within ten minutes or so. But also, I'm just getting back into writing, so please excuse the slight messiness about this, because I tried my best, and I hope you all like the conclusion to this story. :)

At Last, The Puzzle Falls Together

New York, USA, January 1, 2105

The cold weather was biting, and Tessa found herself walking down the streets of New York, bundled in her layers of sweaters and jackets and gloves, heading back to her small apartment in the heart of the city.

She stepped around the people. walking in the streets when there were no oncoming cars to avoid getting trampled, and buried her hands in her pockets, looking down to the pavement.

But she didn't look up to see that two boys, no, two grown men, were doing the exact same thing, and they ended up all falling into a pile in the middle of the street.

She felt herself getting pulled to the sidewalk, and looked up to see two hooded figures, both looking at her, their faces shadowed by the angle of the moon in the sky, and the dimness of the street lamps.

But it wasn't hard to make a guess about who the two were, specially when she saw the reflection of the bright lights of the moon off of the thinner figure's hair when a gust of wind blew through, pushing his hood back slowly.

Yet neither of the men had asked her if she was okay yet. They only watched her with guarded stares, as she finally met their eyes.

And still, no words were exchanged, but the slightly taller one kneeled down to her, reaching out to take her hand and bring her up to her feet.

"Forgive me," the thinner man murmured, a touch of a British accent in his voice as he released her hand. "We weren't looking."

Her reply was barely audible as she gaped, and she felt the eyes of both of the other on her, the stare wide and unbelieving. "I... That was my fault. I apologize."

"Don't," the other young man laughed, "We were simply awestruck by your looks. There's no need to be ashamed. Especially since, as you might care to know, that we all here remember those three past encounters."

"You don't age," he added, drawing his eyebrows together. "Every time I see you, every time I remember you, forgive me, but every time I dream of you, you're always the same age."

Tessa sighed, running her hand through her hair, "It's a curse and a blessing. I don't suppose you two know anything of... The Downworld?"

"Of course we do!" they exclaimed in unison. "Like the Tavern we were at years ago... Ten, was it? That or so. We know about it, though I doubt we are supposed to."

"Will is sort of drawn to trouble," James said, referring to the now nicknamed boy he was standing next to. "And I follow him around to make sure he doesn't get killed."

"Jem is right," Will smirked, sticking his hands into his pockets. "For twenty five years now, he's followed me into werewolf dens, vampire hotels, faerie parties, the works."

"It's been a long ride," Jem agreed. "But it's worth is all the time." he turned to Tessa. "I know this is improper, but do you mind us asking, how old are you?"

"I can't give you the truth," Tessa sighed, her eyes downcast as she avoided eye contact, ashamed at her actions. "For the truth is never true in the eyes of someone who lives in a dream, as I do."

"I'm sorry for asking, then," Jem apologized, his cheeks turning flushed in the night air. "Sometimes I act so young, I have to remember my age and my manners. I'm sorry if I've offended you."

"Of course not," she said, quick to assure him of the obvious. "I very much enjoy company. You see... I'm sort of lonely nowadays. I don't know many of the people that I used to."

"You know us," Will cut in, looking up at the sky, bright stars and dark clouds looming over them, a blanket of depth and eternity. "Can I buy you a drink? It would be nice to get to know you some more, after all these years of our occasional run ins."

"I would like that," she smiled, and each young man returned the gesture. "Do you know of any good places around here?"

"There's a couple in the Towns," Will suggested, and Jem grimaced, but followed Will dutifully as he began to lead the way, though he wanted for Tessa to catch up to their pace. "I know one that's not usually that busy. Have you ever gone into the Towns? I'm assuming that's why you asked us if you know of the Downworld."

"Oh... I know of it," she said, not sure what they knew and what they didn't, and afraid to accidentally reveal anything. "And you two surely do. Do you have any connections to the place?"

"We're purely curious mundanes," Will replied, shrugging with an aura of confidence.

"You're a purely curious mundane," Jem corrected, rolling his eyes. "Don't drag me into your labeling."

"And who's the one who's never had a girlfriend, James?"

"... That's not a fair point!" he exclaimed, blushing when his personal love life was mentioned in front of Tessa. "I just haven't found anyone that I'm really interested in yet."

As they approached the Downworld Towns, they passed a couple of ifrits sitting on the curd, sneering at them as they walked by.

"Mundane trash," one muttered, and Will's eyes glinted in the moonlight. "They're risking their lives, coming here."

"We have a very good time here," Will shot back, turning around with an equally nasty sneer of his own. Tessa saw the ifrits back away slightly. "And there is no business of mine that you have to include yourself into."

"Will, Will," Jem sighed, tugging on his friend's sleeve. "It's not worth trifling about. Can't you just leave them be and not pick a fight with everyone you see?"

"I can't help it! The started it!" he complained. Yanking his arm away, he stormed down the street, disappearing into a small Tavern on the edge of the street.

"I suppose we had better follow him," Jem said to Tessa, who stood slightly in shock. Her head spun, and she felt dizzy, but pushed it away when Jem called out to her. "I'm afraid I don't know the answer to this question, though I feel like I should. What is your name?"

"Tessa."

"Thats very fitting. And it's a beautiful name," Jem smiled, starting to move towards the Tavern that Will had disappeared into. "I suppose we had better go after him quickly before he makes a mess of himself. He's always been this way, for reasons I don't know. It worries me."

"I'm sure he has a reason. Doesn't everyone?" Tessa replied, as they walked through the small wooden doors, and saw Will already at the bar, chatting it up either the bartender. "And he's no different from others, is he? I mean, he's only human."

"We all are, Tessa, we all are," Jem whispered, sitting down on the stool next to Will, and Tessa on the other side of him. "Anything in particular you would like?"

"A light drink is fine," she answered, clasping her hands together. "I'm not really big on drinking."

"I'm not either, and I never have been. Will, on the other hand, is a different story. He comes home drunk and disoriented. That's why I've taken to following him around sometimes."

"I can hear every word you're saying, James," Will chided, resuming his conversation with the bartender.

"I know, William," Jem laughed, signaling the waiter over to order a fizzy lemonade for both him and Tessa, while Will took care of himself. "I was just wondering if you would like to give a little of that amorous attention to our female companion."

"Of course," he said, elegantly stepping from his chair and slipping an arm around Tessa's waist, more for show than anything else. "Now, my darling, we all need to get to know each other. It's been far too long, and I've been dying to learn about you my entire life. Believe me when I say this. There's something about you that I can't get out of my head. I think it developed the first time I saw you. I don't even know how I remember it, but I was five years old. Do you remember that?"

"Of course I do," she laughed, taking a sip of the drink placed in front of her. "You were very young. And your personality was something not hard to read, but intricate all the same."

"That's what I always say," Jem added, tipping his head to the side. "Do you live around here? If I may ask, of course. There is no reason to feel pressured into telling us anything you don't feel comfortable telling us."

"I move around a lot," she admitted. "Though I have an apartment And I travel the world. London has to be one of my favorite places. It was the best time of my life, I'll admit."

"Its getting late, and it's almost two," Will said, his hostile personality gone, and in its place, a kind and caring one. "Perhaps we should walk you home?"

"There's no need. I don't need to be anywhere. And it's certainly nice talking to you. You two remind me of two other people I used to know very well."

"Well, whatever the case, I don't want to keep you. I mean, I gladly would," Will smirked. "But I hope that we will meet again, preferably soon. Gaps of five years or more between seeing you is much too long. Do you have a cell phone, perhaps?"

"I do," Tessa laughed. "I would be happy to give you my number, and vice versa."

So, outside the Tavern, they exchanged phone numbers, and promised to meet up in the near future, as the boys were planning to stay around New York for a while more, and it was Tessa's hometown.

When they finally said their goodbyes, standing in a triangle shape on the sidewalk, it was quite obvious that no one wanted to let go, to forget what had happened the past night.

The wanted to remember, and so they did.

As the moon fell and the the sky brightened, they stood together, eyes never leaving the face of one another. Slowly, as the earth turned on its axis, the puzzle pieces were falling together, creating the beautiful picture that lay unspoken between them.

The End

I know that this story is only four chapters. But to be honest, I started out loving it. And I really still do, but I don't see any more directions that I could have taken this piece of writing without making it seem like overkill. I wanted it to be a clean, crisp finish that leaves your mind to imagination.

Hopefully, you enjoyed this last chapter, and if you did, leave me a review and tell me what you think of both this chapter, and this story as a whole. I love to hear your thoughts.

Also, be sure to keep an eye out for more updates, and some new stories as well!

~Jillessa Heronstairs~