The last chapter! WOW! I can't believe it! I want to thank everyone who read this! It means a lot to me that you took time out of your day to read my fics. Honestly, no words can express my deep gratitude to all of you. Don't worry though! This doesn't mean that I'm going to stop writing! I have a few fics waiting in the wings, but I think I want to finish 12LofC before I start writing new stories.

It's a bit weird knowing that the 7DS/7HV saga has come to a close. It's definitely bittersweet, but at the same time, it's very exciting to focus on my other fics!

As usual, it's reply time!

The Yankee Countess: If you turned into a pile of sentimental goo in the last chapter, I assure that you will turn gooier in this last installment!

shana-rose: YISSSS!

MelodyOfSong526: It's a shame Tom and Sybil's relationship developed more off screen than on in S1 and S2, but it makes for such creative fanfic! It's both a blessing and a curse.

GoldenMiniJ-17: I went out of my comfort zone a little bit and made a deliberate choice not to add dialogue. I wanted to get more into Tom's head and I hope I did that a little better than I have in past chapters!

dustedoffanoldie: Yep! Mam Branson knows what she's talking about!

Patano: Thanks! Tom and Sybil's love for each other is blatantly obvious, but most of their acts of affection are very subtle. Although they never say "I love you" they say it in a way that they are used to, through looks and kisses.

gothamgirl28: Yay! I didn't want this chapter to be overly fluffy, just more sentimental. He did promise to devote every waking minute to her happiness! If she's not smiling, he's not fulfilling his promise!

Katie Duggan's Niece: I haven't written an "expand-the-moment" chapter in a while and I wanted to get back to that a little bit with this one. You kinda get lost in his memory bit and you forget their present situation for a while reading this chapter. There is no real concept of time in this chapter. It spans both 7 years and a brief second so time collapses.

Let's get into the chapter!

I really hope you all enjoy this last update!

o o o

Humility

Sybil

Sybil heard the small patters of feet on the wood floor from the kitchen. She looked at the clock. 9:27 PM. Sybbie should be asleep by now.

The grumpy five year old appeared in the kitchen, rubbing her eyes to try to make the room darker. Her blanket was tucked under her arm and her delicate brown curls stuck out in different directions. She pouted and shut her eyes from the light.

"Mama? I can't sleep."

Sybil smiled at the sight before her. Sybbie was truly a Branson. Perpetually restless.

"Would you like me to tell you a story love?"

Sybbie nodded fiercely as Sybil stood up from her seat at the table. She took her daughter's hand in hers and led her back to her bedroom. Sybbie crawled under the sheets at her mother tucked her in. Sybil sat on the side of he bed and kissed Sybbie's forehead. She began her story.

"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess, Princess Sybbie. She and her knights, Sir Niall and Sir Kieran-"

Sybbie tapped her mother on the hand, grabbing her attention.

"No Mama, a new story. Something I haven't heard before!"

Sybil considered Sybbie's request, but she wasn't the one who spun stories. Tom was far better at entertaining their daughter with stories that she would ever be. Sybil comfortingly rubbed Sybbie's hand in hers, about to break the bad news.

"I'm not much more making up stories. Your Da's better at telling stories than I am love."

"But Da's not home yet! Please Mama!"

It was true. Tom was working late and Sybil needed to fall asleep soon or else they would deal with a very crabby child the next morning.

"Of course darling. What would you like to hear?"

Sybbie pursed her lips in thought, a habit she had picked up from her Uncle Kieran.

"How about a story about a king and a queen?"

"What will their names be?"

"Well what are your and Da's names? Queen Love and King Darling!"

Sybil laughed. She never realized that Sybbie had picked up on their terms of endearment for each other. Although they would be very fitting names, those weren't their names. Sybil still giggled as she thought about how adorable their daughter was sometimes.

"Those aren't our names love."

Sybbie furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Then why do you and Da call each other that?"

"Is your name mo stór?"

The spunky five year old sat up and put her tiny hands on her waist. She stuck her nose up in the air and acted like the true aristocrat her Auntie Mary and Auntie Edith are and her mother once was.

"No. My name is Sybbie! Short for Sybil. Da told me."

"Well I'll use our names then. Queen Sybil and King Tom it is!"

Her daughter squealed and clapped her hands in joy. "Mama! Mama! Mama! We have the same name! Did you know that?" She stopped clapping when she realized what her father's name was. "Da's name is Tom? Why? Uncle Niall, Uncle Kieran, Auntie Máirín and Auntie Orlaith have fun names. Tom is a boring name. I like Da better!"

Sybil laughed. Sometimes her daughter said some of the most ridiculous things.

"Do you want me to tell you the story or not love?"

"Yes Mama! I'll be a good girl and listen!"

Sybil tucked her back in to bed and proceeded with the story…

"Once upon a time, in a land not so far from ours, lived a little boy named Tom. Tom longed for adventure. Growing up, his father used to tell him stores of a land across the sea. Intending to scare little Tom, his father told him that the people across the sea were evil. They slayed the people from their kingdom without mercy. But Tom was stubborn. If you told him he couldn't something, he would go behind your back and do it anyway."

"Was Tom a naughty boy Mama?"

"I don't think so. His heart was always in the right place."

Sybil continued…

"When Tom was old enough, he put on his armor and traveled to the land across the sea. Tom expected to find a barren wasteland with bodies piled high into the sky. Instead he found a world not unlike his own. He traveled across the land and came upon a dark tunnel. The adventurous side of Tom couldn't resist going in. Tom entered the tunnel and heard the voice of a young woman screaming. Worried that the woman was in trouble, Tom lit a torch and ran inside. He kept running until the light from the other side streamed in, lighting the rest of the way. As he exited the tunnel he was greeted by a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon. Unsure of what do to, Tom pulled out his sword and swung at the beast. The dragon screeched and flapped its wings."

"I'm scared! Tom's in danger!"

"A young knight dressed in full armor ran to Tom and screamed, "No! Stop! What are you doing?!" Tom yelled back at the knight "I'm going to kill the dragon!" The knight swung the sword and knocked Tom's sword out of his hand, leaving him defenseless. In his fear, Tom fell to the ground, "Filly! Heel!" the knight yelled and the mighty beast roared calmed down, obeying the knight's command. Tom, eyes wide, watched as the dragon bowed it's head to the knight. The knight reached up and stroked the dragon on its nose. "That's a good girl. Mama and Papa would have boiled you for glue, but they don't know how good you've been. When we get back to the castle, you can have a carrot," the knight said. The dragon slapped it's tail on the ground in delight. After petting the dragon, the young knight went over to Tom. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" the knight asked. Tom stood up and took his helmet off and said, "My name is Tom." The knight circled around Tom, examining him through the silts in the helmet they were wearing and asked "You're from the land across the sea, are you not?" Tom gulped. "I am." "You must be a fierce warrior to take on my pet," the knight noted, "Come to the castle and my father will make you a knight." Astounded by the knight's generosity, Tom immediately agreed and stuck his hand out to shake it, as a thank the knight. The knight took the helmet off and Tom was floored. It wasn't a man underneath the armor. It was a woman."

Sybbie's jaw dropped.

"Really Mama? A woman!?"

Sybil rubbed her daughter's forehead and placed a soft kiss on the top.

"A woman can do anything a man can do."

"The woman grabbed his chain mail covered hand with her own and shook it. "It's nice to meet you Tom. I'm Princess Sybil." Princess Sybil climbed on the back of the dragon and urged Tom to do the same. Once they were on, the dragon took the pair to the castle where Princess Sybil lived. She told the story of Tom and her dragon to her father. At first, King Robert refused to make Tom a knight because he was from the kingdom across the sea and their kingdoms were enemies. But after Princess Sybil pleaded to her father, Tom became Sir Tom."

"I hope Princess Sybil and Sir Tom fall in love Mama. I bet they'll fall in love with each other…"

"From the first moment he laid his eyes on Princess Sybil, Sir Tom was head-over-heels in love with her."

"I knew it!"

"Princess Sybil was a strong and beautiful woman, inside and out. She had a heart of gold and she always had the courage to follow that heart. Tom stayed at the castle for years waiting for her to return his love. Over that time, they had become each other's best friends. They went all across the land meeting new people, getting new ideas, and going on dangerous quests. Tom and Sybil confided everything to each other. Sir Tom cherished every moment he had with Princess Sybil. One day, Tom revealed that he loved her. Tom had told her that he had loved her for years and she was in love with him too. Sybil was scared. She distanced herself from Tom. She locked herself in her tower and did not allow anyone to enter."

"NO! She has to love him back! She has to!"

"Shh, love. The story isn't over yet."

"Sybil thought about what Tom had confessed to her. She looked deep in her heart and realized something. She had loved Tom for years. Although it was the middle of the night, Sybil went to the window of her tower and called for Filly, her dragon. She jumped on the dragon's back and flew to the small cottage where Sir Tom lived. She banged on the door until he answered. Breathless, Sybil confessed to Tom, "I thought about what you said and I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner. When I let my heart have a say, I realized that I've always loved you. Let's runaway tonight. I want us to spend the rest of our lives together." Tom swept Sybil up in his arms and kissed her deeply."

Sybbie scrunched her nose in disgust.

"Gross, Mama."

Sybil chucked at Sybbie's comment.

"Is it gross when your Da and I kiss?"

"No, because you're my mama and Da is my da. But I caught Uncle Niall kissing a lass outside of Nan's house. His mouth was all over hers. Nan told me she had to wash his mouth with soap because it was so dirty. Kissing is gross. I don't want Nan to put soap in my mouth."

Sybil laughed harder, knowing that Niall's kissing days were far from over.

"May I continue with my story now?"

"Tom quickly jumped on Filly's back and they flew away, destination unknown. They had traveled for half a day already when they landed by a patch of mulberries. As Tom and Sybil approached the mulberry bush, an old witch appeared before them. The old witch cackled and said, "I know who you two are. Princess Sybil and Sir Tom. Running away to get married. How romantic." Tom held Sybil close and spoke to the old hag. "What do you want from us?" The witch howled in laughter. "What do you want from us? HA! You should be grateful I'm trying to help you." Sybil and Tom were confused. "Help us? Why?" The witch narrowed her eyes and spoke. "You will never be married. No one in either kingdom will not help or marry you…except for me of course." Sybil and Tom looked worriedly at each other and addressed the witch again. "How can you help us?" Sybil asked. The witch grinned evilly at the lovers standing before her. "I can marry you and give you a kingdom of your own…for a small price of course. "Small price?" Tom asked. The witch looked evilly at Tom and Sybil and said, "For marrying you and helping you become King and Queen of your own kingdom, you must give me your first born child."

"Don't do it! Run away!"

"Tom and Sybil's eyes widened in horror. Was their first born child worth it? No one in either kingdom would marry them and both of them figured they would have many children. Tom and Sybil reluctantly agreed. The witch snapped her fingers and the field of mulberries melted away and was replaced by a grand castle. Days later, Tom and Sybil were married and ruled over the land as King Tom and Queen Sybil. Within a few months of their marriage, Sybil and Tom were overjoyed to learn that Sybil was with child. But the soon-to-be parents' happiness was tempered by the knowledge that they would have to give their baby up to the witch. The Princess was born later that summer and they instantly fell in love with her. She was the most beautiful baby in all of the kingdom. As the new parents sat and watched the little girl take her first breaths of life, Tom and Sybil knew that they wouldn't be able to give their daughter to the witch. They loved her too much."

"Oh no!"

"Days after the princess was born, the witch came to claim her. King Tom and Queen Sybil allowed the witch to enter the castle. The witch stormed up and demanded that they hand the princess to her at once. They stood their ground and refused to give their daughter to her. In a fit of rage, the witch cursed Tom and Sybil. "For breaking our pact, as punishment, one of you will die tonight!" Sybil gasped as Tom fell to his knees and pleaded, "Take me! Please take me! Spare my wife and my daughter! Just promise that you won't harm them! Please!" The witch snickered at his futile attempt. "What makes you think I'll keep my promise when you didn't keep yours?" With that, the witch pointed at Sybil and a bolt of lightning shot from the tip of her finger and hit Sybil in the stomach. She fell to the floor and laid motionless. "SYBIL!" Tom screamed as the witch cackled at her handiwork. Tom unsheathed his sword and charged at the witch. He rammed her though the heart and pulled his sword out. In her last dying breaths she whispered to him, "Nothing can save her…" She crumpled to the floor and died. Tom ran to Sybil's side and cradled her head in his lap. "Come on. Breathe, love. Breathe," said Tom, fighting back his tears. Sybil weakly reached up to stroke his cheek. She said her last words. "My darling husband…I love you…Please take care of our daughter…She needs you…I'm sorry…" Her hand fell and Tom watched as Sybil's eyes closed. He knew in the instant that she was lost to him forever."

Fat tears rolled down Sybbie's cheeks. Her blue eyes shined brightly through the darkness and Sybil knew that Sybbie was very upset.

"I don't like this story anymore. It's too scary."

Sybil reached for Sybbie's hand and rubbed it.

"I promise it will get better darling."

"Tom sat on the floor of their empty castle, crying and cradling his wife's limp body before the cries of his daughter pulled him away from his wife. Tom went to the nursery, eyes bloodshot and puffy. He opened the door and found a strange man in a cloak hovering over the princess's cradle. "Who are you?" Tom asked. The man looked up and answered, "A friend." Tom questioned the man further. "Why are you here?" The man answered simply and quietly, "Your wife is not dead. She is merely asleep." Tom's heart raced faster. "How do you know?" The man opened the window and said, "Seek to know no more." In a puff of smoke the man disappeared into the night. It was then that Tom decided to name their daughter Sybil, after the strongest and bravest woman he ever knew."

"Feel better Sybbie?"

She nodded her head and yawned. "Mmm hmm."

"Queen Sybil was put up into a room of her own, in a state of perpetual sleep. Days turned to weeks and weeks turned into months. Still, Sybil did not wake up. A year later, Tom and Sybbie were in Sybil's room, patiently waiting for her to wake up. Tom placed Sybbie on the bed and she crawled over to her mother. Sybbie studied her mama's face and tapped her on the cheek. "Mama. Wake. Mama." Tom pulled her off the bed and was about to scold his daughter when Sybil's eyes fluttered open. Tom couldn't believe it. She was finally awake. He was stunned. "Sybil? Love?" he asked gently. She turned her head and smiled at him. "Yes darling. I'm awake now."

"She's…awake…now…I'm happy…"

"Sybil sat up and opened her arms to Tom and her daughter. They embraced for many moments, crying tears of joy at their reunion. "Mama wake." Sybbie said proudly. Sybil smiled as more tears poured out of her eyes. "Yes love. Mama wake." After the tearful reunion, Tom put Sybbie to bed beside her mother and they talked about she had missed when she was asleep. He told her that their daughter's name was Sybbie and that she was exactly like her mother. He told her about the witch dying and the mysterious man who told him that she was still alive. He told her about the excruciating months waiting for her to wake up. He told her about Sybbie's first steps and first words. Sybil smiled at her daughter. With any luck, she would take the best qualities from her mother and her father. Once Tom was finished telling her all the things she missed while she was asleep, Sybil told Tom her dreams of the past year. She told Tom as the bolt hit her body, she could hear the witch laughing at her. In the space of a second, she felt a lifetime pass. The witch told her that she didn't have the power to kill, just put her in a deep sleep. The witch also told her that she would never be able to have children. This was the real punishment. Sybil cried into Tom's chest and apologized for being unable to carry his children. Tom shushed his wife and held her tight. Tom told Sybil that having more children was not a problem, as long as she was alive and safe. Sybil kissed Tom and hugged him tight. Their family would be safe and that all that they could hope for. And they lived happily ever after. The end."

Sybbie's eyes became heavy but she was still able to look at the doorway to her bedroom.

"Da…" Sybbie yawned loudly, "…you're home…"

Sybil turned around and smiled at her husband. He must have come in quietly when she was telling her bedtime story.

"Hello darlings."

Tom walked over to the side of the bed where Sybil was sitting and planted a kiss on the top of Sybil's head and on Sybbie's forehead. Sybbie scrunched her nose, feeling her Da's rough stubble on her skin.

"Mama told me a wonderful bedtime story…"

Tom's eyes met Sybil's, a mischievous gleam shone through his blue depths.

"She did?"

Sybbie turned to her side and tucked her hands underneath her cheek.

"Mama tells good stories…I'm glad King Tom and Queen Sybil are okay now…"

Sybil rubbed Sybbie's back, knowing that it would help her fall asleep faster. Right as they thought she was finally asleep, her last thoughts kept sleep from taking her.

"Da?"

"Yes love?"

Sybbie sighed and snuggled deeper into her pillow.

"Tom is a boring name…Not like mine and Mama's…We have the same name you know…"

Sybil held her laugh in as Tom let out a deep chuckle.

"Goodnight love."

Sybbie made a last noise before sleep finally took over their child. "Mmm…"

Tom and Sybil quietly snuck out of the room and headed for theirs. They slipped in and started to get ready for bed. Once in their pajamas, they snuggled underneath the sheets and held each other close. Sybil sighed into Tom's chest and basked in the heat of his body. The steady rhythm of his breaths lulled her into a half-awake, half-asleep state.

Time has been kind of the pair. Tom's hard muscles from his youth turned softer and the creases around his eyes and forehead became more pronounced. Sybil's body had become much curvier after Sybbie's birth. She had lost some of the pregnancy weight, but she retained most of it in her hips. Although their bodies changed, their love for each other never wavered.

Sybil stroked Tom's chest. "Did you hear my story?"

"I did. The end of it."

She stroked her stomach and her heart fell.

"I'm sorry we can't have any more children Tom."

Tom held her tighter to him and rubbed her back, comforting his wife.

"Honestly love, it doesn't bother me that we won't be able to have any more children. It's not your fault. It was just a complication of your Cesarean. As long as you and Sybbie are safe, I won't ask for anything else." Tom let out a snort. "And do you really want more little Sybbie's to be running around creating havoc?"

Sybil smiled. Parenthood was much more difficult than they had ever imagined. Sybbie was always moving, always wanting to do something. She could never sit still.

"She is a handful. Just like her father, always restless."

Tom recalled his daughter's comment to him earlier that night. "Yes, boring old Tom."

Sybil swatted his stomach and propped herself up to look at Tom's face. She saw the cheeky grin on his face. "You are incorrigible."

She leaned in close and pressed her lips to his. His lips eagerly responded. Sybil pulled away and stroked his cheek. She quietly murmured into his lips.

"I love you."

"Always and forever?"

"Always and forever."

Thank you for reading! Seriously, it's been an honor and a privilege to write for you all! I had a blast writing it and I hope you had a blast reading it. Ta-ta for now S/T shippers!