Thanks for sticking around for the culmination of this story. Please leave a review so I know what to do for next time! Thanks again to the organizers of Resbang and my lovely betas and friends who encouraged me to finish this story. They didn't want to be written - they'd rather remain side characters - but I'm glad they finally got their story out there. Don't forget to check out xxrei42xx's art on tumblr. Peace and love, see you guys next time.


Her phone began to sing, a punctuated rhythm that was only assigned to one person, and it shattered the tranquility of the silence.

She rolled over, careful not to disturb him, and answered with a groan.

"Sorry to wake you up. I need you here."

Three parts of her were already awake - already gathering her clothes, already packing, already writing a quick note on the fridge.

One part of her asked a simple question. "Is it urgent?"

There was pause on the other end, and then the response that followed seemed to be spoken through a smile. "I suppose not."

Maybe she was imagining it, or maybe she'd known her meister so well that she could feel the emotion - the warmth - that came from her dulcet voice. "I can meet you later then?"

"Lunch?"

"Sounds good. Bye, Kim."

Jacqueline rolled over, trying to ignore the nervous, betraying, panicked beating in her chest. She'd expected something worse to happen, if not Kim's complete (and irrational, as she never would) disapproval, then perhaps a bolt of lightning to her chest for defying her born duty.

Or maybe, she really could learn to become her own person.

After all, Jacqueline thought, as she flopped back on the bed, this was what she chose, what she wanted.