Hi.

To be perfectly honest, I never really expected to finish this story. I'm really glad I chose to though. I know I haven't been the most frequent of updaters, and I thank all of you who stuck with this. I really love all of you, and writing this story has been one of my favorite things to do in these past three years. You wouldn't believe how many times a review has brought a smile to my face on a rainy day.

You are all perfect, so without further ado, I give you the final installment of A Different World.

Gwen let out an unintelligible groan as the high pitched beeping suddenly starting filling the room. Even behind her closed eyelids, the world seemed unnecessarily bright, and she momentarily considered turning over and burying her face in her pillow.

Except… this wasn't her pillow.

A quick surge of alarm flew down her spine, eyebrows furrowing as she took in the uncomfortable scratchiness of the sheets and the strong sterile smell lingering in the room.

Slowly, she opened her eyes a fraction, nearly blinded by the harsh white light bearing down on her. She blinked a few times, and then opened her eyes all the way.

Her vision quickly began to clear, and the brightness of the florescent lights overhead seemed to dim. Blinking twice more, she took in the small cracks in the ceiling tile above her and the sunlight pouring in from the window. Turning her head to the right, she saw a few machines piled next to her bed, one with her heartbeat filing across the screen.

Ah… Hospital.

Shuffling a bit in her bed, she managed to turn her head to the left, shocked by the young teen sleeping in one of the chairs. Her eyebrows shot into her hairline, voice hoarse as she whispered, "Duncan?"

His eyes squinted shut for a moment, before they both opened groggily, one hand coming up to rub at his face. As he put his hand back down, he seemed to freeze upon noticing Gwen's stare, and he croaked out, "Gwen?"

She could only smile in response as he bolted out of his chair and kneeled next to her bed. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, letting it linger there for a moment before bringing it back to the bedspread. Her looked up at her face and said with a tremor, "I thought I lost you."

Confusion crossed over her face for a second as she thought back on her memories, trying to understand Duncan's words.

And then it all came back.

She remembered the agony of having that knife slice through her like paper and her father leering over her with livid eyes. She remembered inching desperately towards the door on her hands and knees as her mother screamed upstairs. She remembered… dying.

Her breath hitched as the panic set in, limbs suddenly tense and palms sweaty. Oh God, oh God, oh God, no.

"Whoa, calm down," Duncan exclaimed, reaching up to caress her cheek. "You're all right, Gwen. You're in the hospital. You're safe now."

Gwen's hand flew up and snatched at his arm tightly, leaving small crescent shaped fingernail indents on his forearm. Her eyes locked with his, and she felt her heartbeat slowly decrease, accompanied by the retreating of the frantic beeping from the monitor.

Gwen leaned into his touch, tears beginning to form.

"Hey, it's all right. You're all right now, Sunshine." Then the tears really did begin to fall down her cheeks as she smiled softly at her friend. Duncan leaned down and half-hugged her, careful of her injuries, and buried his face in her hair. His grip was strong and comforting, and Gwen clung to his back with a ferocity drowning men couldn't match.

She sniffed as he pulled back, and she wiped away her tears with the back of her arm. He stills holds onto her hand, his thumb lazily stroking over her knuckles as she stared at him.

"What," she paused, clearing her throat, "What happened?"

Looking down for a moment, he answerd, "I heard you scream over the phone. I didn't know what happened, so I drove over to your house as fast as I could. When I got there…" He swallowed, closing his eyes. "When I got there, I saw you unconscious on the floor and I kind of… lost it. I attacked your dad and-"

"What happened to him?" Gwen interrupted, fingers tightening around Duncan's.

"He's in jail. My dad's working out the trial already, and after that he'll end up behind bars for attempted murder."

The words rung in the air, settling into Gwen's heart and digging in its claws. Murder.

"Tell me more," she demanded.

"Well, it wasn't too long after that that my dad arrived. He… I think he knew I needed him. The paramedics loaded you into the ambulance and you've been here since. There are more technical terms for it, but… you lost a lot of blood and had a bit of internal bleeding. The doctors were pretty worried about you for a while. But you pulled through." He smiled at her, true and unguarded.

Gwen nodded, staring down at the loose thread in her blanket. She mumbled in a low voice, "What about my mom?"

She looked at Duncan again, and saw him bite his lip. "I'm really sorry, Gwen. But she… she didn't make it."

The tears welled up again, but Gwen simply shut her eyes and shook her head, hair flowing behind her. She stayed silent for a few minutes, letting her grief wash over her.

When she looked up again, her eyes were red and tired, but she reached out and gently touched Duncan's face. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for saving me."

Duncan's hand reached up to touch the back of hers and said, "I could say the same to you."

Gwen pushed herself up, arms wrapping around Duncan's neck as he pulled her close to him. He breathed in the smell of raspberry shampoo and licorice, clutching at her tightly.

"Never leave me again," he demanded, voice strong with emotion.

Gwen pulled back, eyes shimmering with tears and promised, "Never."

They stayed like that for a while, exchanging smiles and tears, hearts soaring and Gwen could still feels the butterflies in her stomach that she had felt on the first day they met.

Later, Duncan bashfully asked, "I was thinking that, uh, maybe, you'd like to move in with my family?"

Gwen couldn't help how her smile widened as she asked, "Really?"

Duncan snorted as he joked, "Well, I do live in a mansion."

Gwen let out a silent chuckle, before inquiring, "You sure your family's okay with that?"

Duncan looked out the window in the door of the room, spotting his father talking adamantly on the phone. He smiled fondly. "Yeah. My dad actually suggested it."

Gwen smiled again, eyes crinkling up as she said, "Awesome. I want a Jacuzzi."

Duncan laughed, eyes falling over Gwen's face again. His face softened as he said, "You have no idea how glad I am to see you smile again." He brushed a stray piece of hair off her forehead. "And I kind of think I love you."

Gwen almost started crying again, but instead just kissed him, lips meeting slowly as Gwen dug her hand into his mohawk. It was warm and soft and comforting and safe and above all, it was Duncan, and that was what made it perfect.

She pulled back and breathed out, "I love you too."

I hope this makes everyone happy. :)

Again, I'd like to thank all of you, as these past few years haven't been the easiest, and you all made it worthwhile.

Please review!