The Light in the Darkness

Spoilers: All of Haven Seasons, especially 4x13 The Lighthouse

Disclaimer: I own the backstory, not the main characters

After arranging with Gloria to have Audrey transported to The Grey Gull near sunset that following day, the others sat around the fire just listening to stories. Nathan and Duke told stories of Audrey during her time in Haven, Jennifer told stories of her own childhood while Phoebe and Leo told stories of a young Mara. Duke and Nathan smiled as the tales of a young girl who was determined to tame a unicorn no matter who told her it was impossible.

"Phoebe," Jennifer looked at her grandmother, "when we save Audrey and Mara is lost to the Light, will you be returning to Darcadia?"

Phoebe nodded and took Jennifer's hand, "yes and because our realms run in different times it is doubtful I will ever see any of you again. You have been exposed to this world so long that you shall age as they do just as Audrey shall in the coming years, decades for us are centuries for you. A day could be years so no visitation is possible between us."

Jennifer nodded and sighed, "guess I should have expected that." She leaned into Duke and he kissed her head as he shared a look with Phoebe. "I found my family only to lose it..."

"Dear child you have a family," Phoebe smiled at Jennifer. "You have claimed Audrey as your mother instead of Mara, Nathan has claimed you as a daughter and this man beside you…he will not leave you. You have a family and while half may return to another place, half remains beside you."

"Don't forget you are Lady of Light," Leo spoke softly as he poked at the fire. "You can call on us and we shall arrive if you are ever in need. Just because my mother can't return to this realm again so that ours is safeguarded doesn't mean others of our family cannot."

Nathan touched Jennifer's arm, "you're part of Haven and a part of this family."

"Yeah," Duke chuckled and pointed at Nathan, "I mean, your dad is my friend. He practically will torment me for everything we've done or will do so I really need help in fending him off."

A smile filled Jennifer's face, "more than happy to help with that Business Man."

"Mother, why don't you tell about the time Mara felt the flutters of her heart for the first time." Leo took a sip of the wine Duke had pulled out that evening. "I believe it was that patrolman's son during her first century."

Phoebe chuckled, "yes, Mara thought she'd found her match in a patrolman's son, the man patrolled the eastern board of our kingdom. His son joined him for the first time at the Tower, Mara was so young, perhaps six or seven of your years here. She insisted that Tobin Ortus was the one for her, at least until he dirtied her new dress and from that moment on she refused to speak to him ever again."

Nathan smiled and took a sip of beer, "when you speak of Mara before her…turning, as I guess you could call it, it's almost like hearing about Audrey."

"It is that you are." Phoebe pulled her cloak around her tighter as she stood back. "Their souls separate only when Mara accepts William, Audrey is all Mara before he turned her. Audrey is Mara's Light while Mara herself is the Darkness."

"I guess I'll have to tell her about her childhood." Jennifer smiled as she looked at them, "about her real past like she's always wondered about."

The evening turned into day and that evening they were greeted by Gloria and the paramedics with Audrey on a gurney. Nathan has discussed at length what they needed to do and Gloria, despite the weirdness, convinced Benson to turn Audrey's care over to her. So they slowly woke Audrey with a slightly longer enchantment of what Jennifer had been using before.

Audrey opened her eyes and found Nathan looking at her, "Nathan…"

Jennifer moved into view and in her hands was a small crystal, "we only have about an hour and it's hard to explain but we may be able to beat Mara without removing her from your head."

"If that's possible why didn't you think of it days ago?" Audrey sat up with Nathan's help.

"Well it kind of came to me last night, it's a long story but basically you need to beg for Light to accept you."

Audrey gave her a look that could only be described as 'what are you going on about'. "Light?"

"Yeah, see where we're from it's all Light and Darkness. Remember Phoebe explained it yesterday, about the difference between you and Mara and the whole Darcadia place." Jennifer sat beside her on the chair, "I know it's a lot of faith-based but if you stand outside during the sunset and think about the idea of Light…it comes to you. You like sunsets don't you?"

Nathan smirked, "one of her favorite things to watch." He pushed Audrey's hair out of the way and she smiled at him. "This maybe the only way to beat Mara and if not, they made the decision…we all have to sacrifice you to stop Mara. Don't make me do that Parker…don't make me keep that promise."

Audrey nodded, "explain more of this to me Jennifer so I don't do anything that could allow Mara to escape."

For what seemed like half an hour before sunset the two women sat talking, joined by Phoebe halfway. Duke and Nathan stood with Leo and Trevor just waiting before Audrey stood and walked over to Nathan, he pulled her gently to the side away from the others.

"So, as crazy as it sounds do you think you're up for this?" He looked at her and she smiled, "it's not the normal crazy you're used to."

Audrey took his hand and held it, "I feel her with every moment, getting stronger." She looked up into his eyes, "if something happens in the middle of this, forget the mists…shoot her Nathan. When she's there talking, it's like I see out of her eyes…my eyes. I want the last thing I see to be you, promise me that."

"Parker…"

She shook her head, "promise me Nathan, that even if I can't say anything or do anything that the last thing I'll see as you. I love you and I know this is hard on you, just like with the barn but," she moved in closer and leaned her forehead against his, "I'd rather my death come from an act of love rather than vengeance."

"I love you Audrey Parker." He took her face in his hands and watched her smile, "I promise. If you'd asked me a month ago I would have said no but I understand the risks now and what's at stake." He pulled back and let his hands slip to hers. "But this will work…"

"We can hope." She moved away from him and over to the edge of the water where Jennifer and Phoebe stood waiting. "I'm ready, despite her growing strength."

Phoebe nodded, "focus on the sunset as it hits the water. Feel the Light and think of it, of what it means and ask it's acceptance. Allow yourself to hear it's melody and give a melody back."

She moved back as did Jennifer, both waiting as Audrey watched the sun. Jennifer moved to Duke and he held an arm around her as Nathan joined them. Trevor and Leo stood beside Phoebe, waiting for the melody to be heard.

"Curses and darkness I have caused, heedless of the suffering. My heart is black, lost to Darkness and hatred." Audrey's head lifted up as she watched the sunrise and sang softly. "I don't deserve your Light, your goodness and beauty but I ask you, accept my own suffering. I am alone, with nothing to hold me except my past crimes." She looked down at her hand to see the darkening of her stones. "I beg of you, forget the source and save the cursed. Save the innocent who will know the pain, keep them in the Light and safe from harm on this very day…" Audrey stopped and turned to look at Nathan, tears on her eyes as the stones of her ring became black.

Phoebe spread her arms out across Leo and Trevor as Jennifer moved in front of Nathan and Duke. The sad face turned into an evil smirk. "Mara…"

"Trying to expose me to the Light, won't work." Mara twisted her hand and a flame appeared in it. "Now you all suffer for…" the flame was extinguished by a sharp sound.

They all watched as Mara crumpled to the ground, a bullet wound on her chest. They turned to see Nathan holding the gun, he let it drop before moving over to Mara as did Phoebe and Jennifer.

"Mara there is still a chance to find acceptance in one's final moments." Phoebe cradled Mara's head and looked into the blue unsteady eyes. "Beg the Light for acceptance."

She gave a small smirk, "never, I am…Mara of Darkness."

Jennifer looked at Nathan as he took the woman's hand, hoping for a trace of Audrey. She put a hand on Mara's head, "Audrey lunis."

She gasped, if not for the pain but for something else. Unsteady eyes seemed to search around before settling on Nathan. "Nathan…"

"I'm here Parker." He kissed her hand, "I'm here."

"Light acc…ept me." The words died on her mouth as her eyes closed and her chest stilled.

Duke and the men watched as the two women and Nathan sat there mourning over a dead woman. Nathan released her hand and placed it on her chest, ignoring all the blood that surrounded her. A hand on her head, he kissed her forehead gently before standing, pulling Jennifer with him. Duke instantly took Jennifer in his arms, aware of her silent tears.

Phoebe slowly released Audrey's head and stood, her blue gown covered in a red stain from where she'd cradled Audrey to her. Tears lined the woman's face as she looked at Nathan, she placed a hand on his arm. "I am sorry that you were forced to kill her, our attempts at saving Audrey were in vain. I admit I should have tried harder."

"There's nothing anyone could have done." Nathan looked at the woman before him, "Mara had to be stopped and Audrey knew that."

Phoebe nodded, "there is little doubt Audrey's name will ever be forgotten in Darcadia. All will know it was she who fought Mara and won the battle, despite dying of battle injuries. While ages will pass and she will be forgotten here, she will never be forgotten there."

"I'd like to keep her body here, bury her in Haven." Nathan looked at his hands as the chill of the night hit them for the first time in years. "She saved Haven and ended the Troubles, I think it's what she'd want."

Leo nodded, "and that she shall have." Duke and Jennifer moved inside as Trevor brought Gloria around to collect Audrey's body. Nathan walked beside her covered body to the ambulance where she'd be taken to the morgue.

A/N: The Troubles are gone...(running and hiding now), anybody want to comment because I promise this isn't the end. There are a few more chapters left.