Epilogue

It had been about 6 months since the whole situation with Buddy on the docks. Violet's family had decided it would be better for Violet if they didn't talk about it. Heartbroken Violet had much trouble moving on the first few months after it had happened. The man Buddy had become was not the man she loved. But as the months went on, with no communication with Buddy, she forced herself to move on.

It was hard in the beginning. She missed seeing his face every day. She missed the way his bright blue eyes lit up when he saw her walk through the door every morning.

She missed hearing him laugh at something she'd said.

She just missed him.

It was nearing Christmas and she'd been at her new job, an internship in a big office in the city, for about 3 months. She worked mostly as a temp, but she got paid decently.

There was a chill in the air through the city one evening as she was walking to the el train. She paused as she passed the block she and Buddy's little shop had been on.

Don't do it…

She took a deep breath and walked down the street until she was standing right outside of it. It was dark inside and empty. Buddy must've had the place cleared out before authorities came and found all that had been hiding in the back room. She placed her hand gently on the glass. It was ice cold under her touch. Violet breathed slowly and deeply. She pulled her jacket tighter around her body as she curled a strand of her hair around her ear – she really needed to just cut it all off. Her eyes were turned downward so she didn't notice when she walked straight into someone else on the street.

"Sorry," she apologized, bringing her eyes up to meet who ever she'd run into. She gasped when her eyes met a pair of bright blue ones.

Buddy.

He looked great.

He was wearing a pair of jeans and a jacket to try and keep himself warm with a blue scarf.

A smile grew on his face, "Violet…"

Violet blinked, "Buddy…"

They stared at each other for a moment, as a chilly wind whistled around them.

"You look really nice," he grinned, "New job?"

Violet half smiled and looked down at her outfit – a pencil skirt and a nice blouse, "Yeah… they have a dress code," she chuckled lightly, "Not quite as fun as the last guy I worked for," she bravely flirted.

"Yeah?" he asked softly, "I bet the last guy you worked for was a real asshole…" he spoke gently, turning his eyes downward.

Violet frowned, "…No more than anyone else,"

Buddy met her eyes and she gave him a small reassuring smile.

"How've you been… where've…" she stammered.

Buddy rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "Yeah… After I left… that day, I went back here," he nodded to the store, "to clear it out, then I went back underground for a few days. I checked myself into a rehabilitation center… Last time I went to a place like that I checked myself out after 2 months and just started taking Xanex whenever I thought I needed it… but I stayed the full 6 months this time," he explained, "Got a nice long list of diagnosis's…" he breathed deeply, "Bipolar disorder is the big one… Generalized anxiety disorder… acute paranoid schizophrenia…" his voice got softer.

"But how are you…" she asked him, meeting his eyes again, "…really,"

Buddy nodded softly, "A lot better than I was…"

Violet smiled, there was the answer she was hoping for.

"I'm sorry…" Buddy said after a short pause, "You met me at a really bad time in my life… and I fucked a lot up… I dragged you into my mess…"

Violet frowned.

"I'm sorry…" he apologized again.

Violet studied Buddy's face. He was a very different person. He wasn't who he'd been when she'd last seen him. He was better. A smile unfolded slowly on her face.

"Hey… what was your name again?" she smirked.

He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

She held out her hand, "I'm Violet Parr… I'm also Invisigirl, and briefly played the role of Miss Disappear…" she smiled at him.

A smile grew on his face, he took her hand, "Buddy Pine… Syndrome…"

"It's nice to meet you, Buddy…" she said softly, looking into his eyes.

"And you Violet…" Buddy wouldn't let go of her hand.

Violet could feel herself gravitating toward him. Buddy's eyes flickered between her lips and her eyes as he slowly leaned in and gently pressed his lips to hers.

There was something very lovely and familiar about the way their lips together.

They pulled apart slowly and shared a smile.

Violet looked down at the watch on her wrist.

"What is it?" Buddy asked.

"Well… in 20 minutes I'm going to miss my train, and the next one won't be for another hour," she told him.

Buddy nodded in a direction, "Well the train's two blocks over it's about a five minute walk,"

"From here yes," she smirked, "It's about a 20 minute walk from the coffee shop on 6th avenue,"

Buddy caught onto what she was saying and smirked, "You wouldn't want to go get a coffee would you?"

Violet smiled and took hold on his hands, "I thought you'd never ask,"

And with that Buddy laced his fingers with hers and the two of them started walking down the street. If they'd been looking up they would've noticed that snow had started to fall over Metroville. But they were consumed with other things. It was almost as if the last six months hadn't happened and they were meeting for the first time again, like they had all those months ago in that little shop.

And after everything that had happened, Violet smiled in knowing that even if she had the chance, she wouldn't change a thing. And she knew Buddy wouldn't either.