Well, this is the last chapter folks! Thanks to everyone thats helped and supported me along the way, and i hope youve all enjoyed it!!


The Gravest Peril

Chapter 9 – You Will Always Be You

A couple of days later, Aerrow finally awoke in his own bed. He'd grown so used to waking up in the infirmary for the past week that he forgot for a moment where he was. As soon as he remembered, he smiled.

Piper had let him out under the condition that he took it easy for a few days. He wasn't to train, wasn't to play fight with Finn, and certainly wasn't to fight any more Cyclonians. Aerrow had reluctantly agreed, and had received a warm smile and a hug from Piper.

He got up slowly, his chest still twingeing a little. Now he had the energy, there was one more thing he had to do.

He went into his bathroom, and looked in the mirror. He gasped. How could Piper still love him like this? His broken arm made him look weak, and the gash on his face… It ran from beside his right eye, all the way down his cheek to end near his chin. It was currently dark red, and black stitches ran the length of it. It looked awful. That was going to leave a horrible scar…

He sighed. Piper couldn't love a face like that anymore…his good mood shattered, he left his room, and went to get some breakfast


Piper was in a better mood than she had been for a long while. After the battle, Aerrow had promised to do as he was told, and he had stayed true to his word.

He'd clearly been dying of boredom though. He was very fidgety, and Piper wouldn't let him do anything in case he got hurt. She had convinced herself it was better if he did nothing and stayed where she knew he was safe.

Finn had come to see her yesterday. He had been spending quite a lot of time with Aerrow over the past couple of days, and he had asked Piper to loosen up a little on him.

Finn said that Aerrow felt smothered, and that he was losing the will to live (figuratively speaking) being cooped up in the infirmary with nothing to do. Piper had been reluctant to let Aerrow go, but Finn had pointed out that Aerrow would be much happier if she'd cut him a little slack, and Finn knew she'd do whatever it took to make her sky knight happy. She could make him promise not to overexert himself, but she couldn't keep him on such a tight leash.

So that afternoon, Piper had told Aerrow he could leave the infirmary, to which his face lit up like the sun. But she told him he could only leave if he promised not to do any training until his arm had healed properly, and promised not to play fight with the others, especially Finn. Aerrows face had fallen at this, but he hadn't actually commented. She'd also forbidden him to fight any Cyclonians until the decided he was well enough.

Aerrow had agreed, seemingly reluctantly, to her conditions, but she could see he had been itching to get out for the past few days. She had smiled, and hugged him, and was sure she had felt him blush.

She smiled at the memory. Aerrow had looked like a little kid at the seaside being told that yes, he could make a sandcastle, and yes, he could play in the sea, and yes, if he really wanted to, he could bury daddy in the sand.

She hadn't seen him yet that day. She hadn't gone to his room to wake him up, leaving him to get some much needed sleep. She knew he had been up mid afternoon, as she had heard him clattering in the kitchen.

She didn't know where he was now though. She needed to talk to him. She looked out the window. It was nearly sunset. At this time of day, there was only one place he would be…


Aerrow stood on the deck outside the bridge. It was nearly sunset. He would come here every day at sunset, and watch the sun go down. It was calming, relaxing. He hadn't watched the sunset for a week now, and he was glad he could finally see it once more.

He sighed. It wasn't making him feel any better though. He'd been thinking about Piper all day. The gash on his face still bothered him. She couldn't love him now. He knew love was supposed to be about personality and stuff, as well as looks, but somehow, he thought this would end it all. It was too big of a change. She would never see him the same way again.

"Hey Aerrow!" Piper's voice called, as she emerged on to the deck. Aerrow looked away. He knew she had been looking at him with this wound for a week now, but it felt important that she didn't see it now.

"Hey" he replied, his voice void of emotion.

"Aerrow?" Piper said, clearly puzzled by his reaction. "Talk to me, Aerrow. What's wrong?"

Aerrow sighed. He may as well tell her. It wasn't like he could change the inevitable.

"You can't love me anymore" he whispered. Piper was baffled.

"What?" she said. "But…why?"

Aerrow turned to face her.

"I look horrible Piper. This," he pointed to the gash on his face. "will scar. I know love isn't just about looks, but how can you love me when I look like this? How can anyone love me now…" He trailed off.

Piper looked horrified.

"Aerrow…" she whispered looking up at him. How could he think so low of himself just because of one small fault? "Aerrow, how could you think that?"

Aerrow looked away again, but Piper took his hand in hers, and turned him back to face her.

"I love you for who you are, Aerrow. And this," she ran her finger gently down his cheek. "this, does not, and will not, change that. You're still you. True you'll have a few scars from this, but you will always be Aerrow, sky knight, leader, and friend, no matter what."

Aerrow looked at Piper. She really was beautiful…Maybe this could work.

"I love you…" he said quietly.

Piper smiled at him, and cupping his face in her hands, she gently pulled their heads close together, until their lips brushed against each other. Aerrow closed his eyes as their lips met. He'd never felt like this before. It was wonderful. After a long while, they broke apart, gasping for breath.

"I love you too, Aerrow" Piper whispered.

Together, they turned to face the setting sun. Aerrow put his arm around Piper and held her close.

"I'm a lucky guy..." he commented quietly.

"Not as lucky as me…" Piper replied, putting her arms around him.

And together they stood, silently watching the beautiful sunset.


Finn stood, arms folded, at the window of the bridge, watching them. He smiled. He was glad to have Aerrow back; it had been hard without him.

He thought back to the day, just over a week ago, when they had found Aerrow, lying in a pool of his own blood. He thought of everything that had happened since. Piper had been devastated, but she had struggled through. She had looked after him, cared for him, loved him.

Finn knew Pipers love for Aerrow ran deep, he had witnessed that himself, and he was sure Aerrow felt the same.

He watched as Aerrow put his arm around Piper, and she embraced him, putting her head on his shoulder.

Aerrow was brave and strong, but it was hard being the leader. Finn knew this better than anyone save for Aerrow himself. Piper had to struggle on as the only girl on the condor; he could only imagine how hard that was.

As he watched the pair stand silently, watching the sunset, he silently gave thanks to whatever higher power chose to receive it. He was glad Aerrow and Piper had each other. They both needed a little support from time to time.

As he reflected over all of this, one thought summed it all up.

Aerrow was a great sky knight and leader, and he deserved someone as caring and supportive as Piper.

The sun had now set, and he watched as they turned to kiss once more. Then he himself turned, smiling, and walked away.


Aerrows father, Ash, looked down from the stars and smiled. This was the way it was supposed to be.