Here it is...the final chapter...I can't believe this story is finished. Thanks for the reviews and for reading! I'm glad that there are others out there who enjoyed this story as much as I have. Oh, and I apologized in advance for any cheesiness in this chapter. I tried really hard to get rid of it, but I have to admit that there is a reason that I should probably stick to drama or humor... Enjoy!

Rufus stood in the sterile hall, motionlessly staring at the plaque on the wall in front of him. His eyes scanned over the name etched plainly across the dull grey of the mausoleum wall. It was a plain grave, but he supposed that it suited the woman who was lying in rest behind the plaque. But then, he didn't even really know her. He glanced next to him, making sure that the person with him was holding up. He could only imagine the emotional milestone the visit to this grave was for her. After being in the hospital for four weeks undergoing extensive physical and emotional therapy, Elena was released. Rufus had stayed by her side the whole time, encouraging her and helping her. The second near death experience was apparently what she had needed to coax her out of the prison she had created for herself. She still had a long way to go, but she was making progress.

Elena pulled her long black overcoat tighter around her slight body to ward off a chill, grimacing slightly as her still injured shoulder ached. The tears began falling as the memories flinted through her mind.

"Just let it out," Rufus said softly at her side.

"I did this," she whispered. "I'm a monster." Rufus put his arm around her and pulled her close.

"You're not a monster," he whispered. "You only did what you thought was right." Elena stared at the grave.

"I don't know if I can ever forgive myself," she whispered, wiping at the tears. Ever since Rufus forced her to confront her demons, the tears didn't seem to stop falling. Elena hadn't even realized that she never cried after the accident until a few weeks ago.

"She forgave you," he said. "There in the end. Do you remember what she said to you?" he asked. Elena nodded.

"Yes," she said softly. They stood in silence a few moments.

"There is something else," he said, as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "This was with a box of things that Reno pulled from her apartment after the accident. He hid it to keep you out of trouble." Elena took the paper from him and opened it.

To my dearest friend,

I write this letter to you, to tell you the truth. The truth that I am too coward to tell you to your face. I don't know if you will ever find it in your heart to forgive me.

I am not who I say I am. I am not a doctor. In fact, I am the very villain that you seek to destroy. I am Gin.

When I met you, I knew that our destinies would intertwine in a way that would scar both of our hearts. But I was selfish. I had never experienced true friendship and you became such a dear friend to me, a sister even. For once I followed my heart, not my mind. And because of that, I fear I have destroyed us both.

Forgive me, my sister, for what I have done. I know I don't deserve it, but I ask for it all the same. Keeping this secret has torn my heart to shreds. It has sickened and tortured me, almost as much as what I have done to those innocent children. No one was meant to get hurt, except for those who are corrupt. The bombs were only to make a statement, not to kill. But I acted on false information from an over-eager insubordinate, and now the blood of those innocents is on my hands. I am a monster and I deserved to be stopped.

Which is why I write this letter to you, my dear friend. When you read this letter, I shall be no more. I shall be spending eternity atoning for the sins that I have committed. Forgive me for being the coward that I am. Taking my own life. Bit it is what I deserve. I am too horrible to deserve a death by the hand of one so valiant and true as you and your Turks. Forgive me. Forgive me so that I may have that one peace as I begin my afterlife.

Your Dearest Friend,

Merlene

Elena wiped her eyes as she finished the letter.

"Reno found this?" she asked. Rufus nodded. Elena looked up at him, the tears still falling unchecked. "Thank you," she whispered. "Not just for this, but...for everything." Rufus smiled, kissed her forehead and pulled her close to him. Elena caught her breath, still unused to his unexpected displays of affection. After so many months of numbness, being touched- feeling- was a heart stopping experience. "I don't deserve this," she murmured.

"Don't deserve what?" he asked softly.

"You. This. This feeling I get when you hold me," she said.

"What feeling is that," Rufus asked, half in jest, the other half of him hoping he would finally get to hear the words he had been longing to hear.

"The feeling that I'm home when your arms are around me," she said quietly, unsure if she could really tell him everything. It was still too soon, still too new. She still carried some of the sting of Tseng's rejection from all those months ago, even though she now knew that he never meant to hurt her. She wasn't sure if she was ready for something like this so soon after all that she had been through. Rufus sighed and held her tighter, carefully avoiding her shoulder.

"Elena," he whispered.

"No," she interrupted softly. "Don't say anything else. You've already told me how much you love me and you've done so much for me. What have I done for you? Nothing." Rufus smiled.

"This," he whispered. "Being able to hold you like this is enough for me." He lifted her chin to look up at him and tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "Seeing tears...life in those brown eyes where just a month ago there was nothing. That's what you've done for me. That brings me joy." Elena blinked a moment before finally meeting his gaze.

"I still need some time," she whispered. Rufus stared down at the petite blonde. He gently wiped the tears from her cheek.

"I'll give you all the time you need," he said. "I'll wait until the end of time if I need to." Elena laughed softly at his use of the overstated cliche.

"I doubt it will take that long," she said, smiling slightly. "But, I'm sorry in advance for the wait."

"What's this? A smile? I've seen the first smile from Elena in nearly a year. I believe I can die happy now," he joked. Elena laughed, wiping away more of her tears.

"Please, no more joking about death," she said, more serious than joking. Elena stared up at the grinning president, still wondering why he chose her, why he was doing all of this. But then, she decided to stop wondering and go with it. She didn't need to second guess herself anymore. "Just shut up and kiss me, Mr. President. I know you've been dying to do it for quite awhile," she said with a full-blown grin. Rufus stared at her a moment, perplexed, before answering.

"Why, of course, miss." And he did just that.