Here it is- the final installment of our story. I hope you like this. I told you that you wouldn't have to wait long to read the finale!! I just want to say THANK YOU. Thank you to those of you who have stuck with me on this wonderful journey (even if the story didn't go the way you wanted it to at times). For those of you who stayed with me through thick and thin… thank you. To those of you who didn't know of Elisabeth before this, I hope I intrigued you and have sparked a curiosity- please investigate more into Elisabeth and Death's tragic tale. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for staying with me for two months now… Again whether you liked it, you didn't, you like the Japanese, or German versions, thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU FOR READING!

Be sure to check out my other stories! A Repo!: the Genetic Opera fanfic is in the works!!

**HUGS!!**

And for the last time....

ENJOY!!

Chapter 20

Running

Elisabeth placed her cool, pale hand on top of her warm, wet midsection. She was so cold and the dark, sticky blood was so warm. She had grown numb from the pain, all she could feel was a small throbbing- as if the bullet had its own heartbeat, its own life… stealing her own. She opened her eyes to stare at the fluorescent lights zoom by overhead as the nurses hastily rushed her to the emergency room. She could hear muffled screams and orders.

"Call the surgeon! He needs to get down here now!"

"Has anyone told her husband yet?"

"Help me stop the blood flow, quick!"

Elisabeth felt two pairs of hands move hers from the warmth in her belly as she was wheeled into a private room. As the hands worked around Elisabeth's wound, a new wave of nauseating pain swept over her shivering body. A cry escaped her lips as the pain traveled from her midsection to all throughout her small body. Her frail, white form writhed in pain as Elisabeth tried to fight it off.

"Someone get her morphine!" one of the nurses standing beside Elisabeth cried.

"It's too late. The morphine won't be able to stop this," the doctor said. There was a flash of light and a burst of exclamations. Everyone in the room turned to see the cause of the flash. In the room were seven photographers and reporters, snapping pictures. The World's Most Beautiful Woman: Shot- not a bad headline for the morning newspapers. "Get them out of here!" the doctor shouted thunderously.

Wincing from the pain, Elisabeth drew in a quick, sharp breath. The room was filled with doctors and nurses yelling orders, several police officers had arrived to control the photographers, and Alexa was sitting in the corner out of the way, crying. But Elisabeth ignored all of this.

The horrible pain forced her to reflect on the last 35 years of her life. She hadn't accomplished any of her goals; she hadn't realized any of her dreams. Both of her children had died before their time. She had estranged herself from her mother, sister, and husband. She hadn't done anything that she was truly proud of. And for the last five years, she had been running from the only thing in her life she had left to live for. Love.

"Oh," Elisabeth cried out in a hushed whisper, a single tear escaping from her closed eyes. "What's happened…" She had given up her life. She had let others live her life for her. What had she done to herself?

Feeling a pair of eyes on her, Elisabeth slowly opened her eyes. There, standing in the doorway among the chaos in the room was her beautiful Prince. He was no longer enveloped in darkness- but rather, he was surrounded by a warm light. He no longer donned his long, black coat and black gloves, but was dressed all in white, looking like an angel to Elisabeth.

He stared at her- not in the harsh, piercing way he had always bore into her soul, but lovingly and inviting. He raised a bare hand to her, beckoning- beckoning her to leave everything behind- all the hurt, the pain, the hate, the suffering. Elisabeth sighed as she slowly stood up and stared into Death's beautiful, blue eyes. She was tired. Tired of the pain. Tired of the hurt. Tired of running- running from the only one she loved.

Crying out, she ran like a lost child into Death's open arms. She wrapped her thin arms around his chest. Hesitantly, Death slowly wrapped his arms around her small, trembling form. Could this be true? Death smiled as he realized it was indeed. Elisabeth was in his arms, embracing him. She was not afraid or fighting- she had come to him willingly… in love. He tightened his grip on her and enveloped her in a long overdue embrace. Elisabeth. His Elisabeth.

As the two pulled back to look at one another, Elisabeth caught a glimpse of herself in the window of the door. She gasped. What she saw was not the reflection she had seen that morning. Her hair had grown into wild curls and was, once again, a deep brown. Her skin was pale and smooth as it had once been. Her eyes. Her chocolate brown eyes were bright and alive once again. She looked as she had on her wedding day, 25 years ago.

She lifted a pale hand to her cheek, unable to believe her eyes. As her finger touched her cold skin, she raised her eyes to see Death's reflection standing behind her. He was more beautiful than she had remembered. His blond hair looked as if gold had been woven into beautiful, shining thread as it shone in the light, his perfect upturned nose, he was tall and lean but the shirt he wore made it known that he was strong, and his eyes were no longer icy and cold but a beautiful blue like a warm spring day.

The two locked eyes in the window. Death slowly ran a cool hand through Elisabeth's hair and placed it softly on her cheek. Wanting to know that it wasn't a dream, Elisabeth slowly turned to her Prince.

"Der Tod…" Elisabeth said, barely above a whisper.

Death quietly shushed her, placing a single, cool finger on her lips. Elisabeth's vision grew blurry as she realized that this wasn't a dream. She was here, with her Prince, the pain had gone. She smiled as she threw her arms around Death's neck. He wrapped his arms around her small waist, running his hand up and down her back.

Death pulled away from the woman in his arms and held her face in his hands. His eyes traveled along her soft features. He took pleasure in finally being able to touch her. Finally, after 35 long years. When he was finished taking in Elisabeth and all her beauty, he raised his eyes to her chocolate brown orbs.

Slowly, Death moved closer and closer to Elisabeth. His hands gently held her as he slowly closed the distance between their lips. He looked into her eyes, searching for a sign of her thoughts. He saw no fear as he had years ago, only joy. With this reassurance, he confidently placed his cool lips upon hers.

Elisabeth's body went rigid the instant her lips touched Death's. She felt hot and cold at the same time. A hot electric current seemed to fly throughout her body. It shot right down to her feet and made the hair on her arms stand up. Quickly following the shock came a cool tingling sensation throughout her body. Elisabeth had never felt such an intoxicating sensation. She had longed for this for so long but had never known how to ask for it. She shivered as Death tangled his fingers through her brown locks. The lovers wrapped their arms around each other in a passionate embrace, making up for lost time. Elisabeth's lips felt cold as they pressed against Death's. With a shiver, the lovers pulled out of their passionate declaration of love and stared deep into each other's eyes.

Shouts and cries pulled Elisabeth out of her beautiful dream. She reluctantly turned away from her beautiful Prince's warm and loving eyes to return to face the chaos in the hospital room.

"She's not breathing!"

"Her heart's stopped! Someone, quick!"

Through the hubbub, Elisabeth's eyes locked on someone's eyes whom she had never truly seen before. Herself. Lying on the hospital bed was Elisabeth- or rather, her motionless, lifeless body. She was old and withered, sad, and covered in blood. Elisabeth looked at the empty body for a brief moment.

A cool hand slowly intertwined with hers. He wrapped his fingers around Elisabeth's small fingers, holding them in a strong, protective embrace.

Elisabeth looked from her hand up to the eyes of her Prince. Death raised a cool hand and placed it on her smooth, pale cheek. His eyes were inviting and he said with a small smile ever so lovingly:

"Elisabeth…"

With that, he slowly led Elisabeth away. Away from hurt. Away from sorrow. Away from all the pains of the world. He led her to his Kingdom where he would take care of her, protect her, and love her for all eternity. For as long as the sky is blue. As long as water runs downhill. As long as the stars illuminate the heavens.

Many may pity the beautiful woman named Elisabeth. The young woman who had such a tragic life- a distant father, marriage at a young, vulnerable age, two children dead, an unhappy marriage, an affair, a murder. Many may stare at the Austrian beauty's grave in despair:

Elisabeth Amalie

Wife, Mother, Lover

1964-2009

Many may pause to look at the engraving on the tombstone. 2009. Such an untimely death. Such a young woman- only 45 years old. Murdered no less. She had always wanted a fairy tale and she died before she could ever achieve it.

While many may pity the tragic Elisabeth- don't. Yes, she had a tragic life full of pain and sorrow. But what many do not know is that Elisabeth's tragic tale did end on that sunny day in Geneva. But her fairy tale, her happily ever after, had only begun.

Finis

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