The End
Audrey's eyes swam with tears as she starred at Nathan's blood-covered body. She felt frozen, like she would never be able to move again. But in spite of this, she felt herself moving toward Nathan, unable to stop.
She dropped down next to him, looking at his blood stained face and holding his hand, holding on to him one last time. Her tears were flowing freely as the sound of footsteps approached her. Audrey felt a familiar hand on her shoulder and turned to find Duke, one hand on her, with his the other hand clasped around a hunting rifle.
Without a word, Audrey looked at Lisa, her body just above Nathan's, a gunshot wound to the heart, her hand still holding the gun, the hammer still depressed cocked.
"You… you did this?" Audrey gasped gaped at Duke.
"Audrey, please let me explain," Duke begged, bending closer to Audrey.
"You killed him!" She screamed, shoving him to the ground. "How could you do this?! What if I can't save him now?!"
"Well then, it's a good thing he's a better shot then I gave him credit for," a gruff voice said from the floor.
Audrey beamed down at Nathan, a weak smile upon his face.
Her relief consumed her as she brought her lips passionately to Nathan's, letting her love, happiness, and relief radiate into her kiss. Nathan responded in kind, his hands wrapping around her, pulling her into him.
"This would be a lot more romantic if there wasn't a dead lunatic next to you and if Nathan wasn't bleeding on your shirt," Duke said matter-of-factly. "Don't worry ambulance is on its way. Probably better if you continued this your fun after they fix all of this," he suggested, moving his hands over the scene.
Nathan slowly pulled away from Audrey, wiping away the tears that were still falling onto her cheeks. "He's right, it's probably better if we wait."
The sound of the sirens grew louder as the ambulance (don't you think police should come to the scene as well? approached the barn.
"We have time," Audrey smiled, her hands still entwined with Nathan's.
The wind softly blew Audrey's hair as she breathed in a calming breath of fresh air.
"What a way to end the day." Duke joked as he joined Audrey.
Audrey turned to face him, hoping for answers to all her questions. "Well, did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"You followed us in there with a rifle that Nathan keeps saying he would like returned, and you saved us. Why?"
Duke smiled warmly at Audrey, "Made a promise to an old friend. Promised to keep you safe. Knew you wouldn't really be safe without him."
Audrey smiled at him, gratitude welling inside her. "Thank you."
"What now?" Duke questioned, a look of concern on his face. "You only have weeks until the meteor shower, I really don't want to be around him if he loses you."
"I wouldn't let that happen," Audrey assured him. "I kept making the same mistake, pushing Nathan away. I won't make that mistake again. I won't leave him now." She promised, turning to the ambulance where Nathan was sitting. She nodded her thanks to Duke and walked toward Nathan.
"All done here, Nathan. Might be good if you came to the hospital for observation, just in case," the EMT suggested.
"I'm good," Nathan said, rising quickly from his seat.
Audrey chuckled at the worried look on the EMT's face with Nathan's quick departure. "I got him."
"I'm fine Audrey, really." Nathan assured her.
"I don't know." Audrey said slyly. "I really think you might need some overnight observation Nathan. I have some previous nursing experience and I might be able to help."
"Audrey, I'm fine. I don't need help," Nathan repeated, not understanding her advice.
"I don't think so Nathan," Audrey pushed, closing the distance between them, "I think you might need some bed rest."
"Audrey, I appreciate your concern, but I really feel fine." Nathan said, ignorant to her actions suggestions.
"Oh gosh! You are so oblivious sometimes…" she sighed, bringing herself to her toes and whispering her intentions blatantly into his ear.
Nathan's eyes widened, slowly understanding as Audrey lowered herself to face him.
"Right. Well, I may need some help changing (changing what?) tonight if you want to come over," Nathan suggested.
"Good idea," Audrey laughed, making her way to the truck.
"You know this was a wild night, guys," Duke called from behind them. "We really should go out for a drink or something, all together. It will be fun!"
Audrey continued to the truck without missing a beat as she called back to Duke, "If you follow us, I swear, I will find a reason to discharge my weapon at you."
Nathan opened the door for Audrey as she slid into the passenger seat with a smile. It had taken them hundreds of years, but finally it was right. They were together. And nothing was going to tear them apart now.
AN: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. They make my day! I am thinking about writing kind of a spinoff of this fic. It would be two stories, one Nathan/Sarah and one Nathan/Lucy sprouting off of the idea of Nathan being there every 27 years. Let me know if this sounds good and any ideas you would like to contribute.