Okay, this is it. Last chapter.

Some more time passes…

As Adyson pushed open the door, she couldn't help but think about what had happened the last time she and Phineas had entered the townhouse, only this time their positions were reversed. She had driven Phineas home from the hospital, supported him as they made their way up to the front door, and she unlocked it.

Phineas hadn't spoken to her much since he had come out of his coma. It seemed strange that he'd awoken so soon, but Adyson was not about to question it. She had cried as she kissed him in the hospital, overjoyed that he was awake. Phineas had kissed back sort of half-heartedly, and he was very quiet. The expression on his face suggested he had something on his mind.

Adyson closed the door behind them and was a bit surprised when Phineas took her hand. She looked at him, and he stared into her eyes, his own eyes shining with moisture. After a silence that seemed to last forever, he finally spoke.

"Adyson, I'm so, so sorry. I was…stupid. Stupid and weak. I ruined everything. We missed our trip, and now…"

She put her hands on his sides in sort of a half-hug. "Phineas, I don't care about that. I'm just glad you're okay." She gave him a kiss, and this time when he kissed back, she could tell his whole heart was in it. "Can ask you a question?"

"Of course."

Adyson was almost afraid to ask. "Were you drinking…because you were thinking about Isabella?"

"Well, more like I was thinking about Isabella because I was drinking, and then I couldn't stop."

"You were feeling guilty again?"

"Yeah."

"Phineas…" She took a deep breath. "I think maybe you should see a psychiatrist. To try to clear up your guilt so this doesn't happen again."

"I wouldn't worry about a repeat incident."

She glared at him. "Why?"

"Well, first of all, I am never drinking alcohol ever again. From now on, I'll stick to lemonade."

Adyson gave an amused snort.

"And second…well, let's just say that something happened while I was out, something that made the guilt go away."

"Yeah? What?"

"Isabella came to visit me as a spiritual entity in my projection of Limbo."

Adyson stared blankly at him for a moment, and then shrugged. "Okay. Cool."

Phineas sort of chuckled. "Wait, you actually believed that? Just like that?" he said, snapping his fingers.

"Phineas, in the time I've known you, you've proved the existence of the Lake Nose Monster, Klimpaloon, had countless interactions with space aliens, traveled in time, and broken who knows how many universal laws of time and space. If you say that Isabella came and talked to you in Limbo, then Isabella came and talked to you in Limbo. I can take that to the bank."

Phineas laughed. "And here I thought I sounded crazy."

"To anyone else, you would sound crazy. So, what did she say?"

He paused. "She doesn't blame me. It was her own fault."

"See? I told you she wouldn't blame you."

"That isn't why I don't feel guilty anymore, though."

Adyson raised an eyebrow. "If not that, then what?"

Phineas leaned against the door. "I finally got to tell Isabella just how much she meant to me. How much she means to me." He paused again. "How much I love her."

Adyson watched a single tear slide down Phineas's cheek. She took him by the arm. "Are you okay?"

Phineas shut his eyes as tightly as he could and nodded. "Yeah. It's just…" He swallowed. "I still really miss her."

"I know Phineas. I miss her, too." She took his arm. "Come on." She led him toward the stairs.

"Where are we going?"

"I think we both could use a little quiet healing," Adyson said as up they climbed. "I'm so glad you're okay, I just want to hold you for a while. And you are still in need of some comforting. I think this will both do us some good."

They stripped down to their underwear and shrugged tiredly into oversized t-shirts, then crawled into bed. They wrapped their arms tightly around each other, as if holding on for dear life, and shared just a few loving kisses before closing their eyes.

It was the most restful sleep either had had in weeks. They were like each other's teddy bear, something soft and warm to squeeze and draw comfort from

And Phineas dreamed. It was the last vision he ever had of Isabella. But unlike the previous times she had found her way into his subconscious, this time she was smiling.

I love you, Phineas, she whispered. Always. And then Isabella faded away, her image replaced by one of Adyson.

His beautiful wife. He was so thankful for Adyson. Phineas didn't know what he would do without her.

In his sleep, Phineas squeezed his wife just a little tighter. He made sure she wasn't going anywhere.

Phineas still mourned the loss of his best friend, and though he no longer felt guilty, he still felt that he was at least partially at fault. In time, he learned to move on, but he still thought about Isabella often. In the coming years, no matter how busy they were, Phineas and Adyson would visit her grave every other month and keep it clean, plant flowers, and remember their friend.

Phineas moved on. He and Adyson built a life, and he cherished every moment he spent with her. She was his rock, the one who gave him the strength to go on every day, and she said he was hers.

Just over a year later, Adyson gave birth to their first child, a beautiful, healthy daughter.

"What are you gonna name her?" Candace asked when she visited her niece for the first time.

The little pudgy kid was cradled in Adyson's arms, wrapped snuggly in a pink blanket. Phineas and Adyson had barely taken their eyes off the child since the doctor had brought her back in. But now, they looked at each other and smiled. "Well," Phineas said to his sister, "we thought that maybe we would name her 'Isabella.'"

Candace couldn't help but smile. "I think that's perfect."

She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger

And finally drank away his memory

Life is short, but this time it was bigger

Than the strength she had to get up off her knees

We found with her face down in the pillow

With a note that said "I'll love him 'till I die

And when we buried her beneath the willow

The Angels sang a Whiskey Lullaby…

The End

Man, every story I write, I just struggle with the ending. I guess this ending isn't too bad, but I think it could be better.

The lyrics here are slightly changed to match the story better, but they still belong to Brad Paisley and Alison Kruass.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this rather sad tale. Let me know what you thought and I will see you in the next story!

EDD17SP