Well, I believe this is my sixth chapter or something crazy like that today, soo... go on and read it, you don't need to be reading this Author's note!! XD (though, kudos if you do!! :D)

I do not own Storm Hawks, they are the property of Nerd Corps

PIPER

I willed myself to calm down, to stop crying, and eventually I did, but how long it actually took to stop crying... I don't think I'll ever know.

I blinked several times and at first all I could see was red, but then as my vision became clearer, I noticed that my nose was in the soft fiery strands of someone's hair, my chin resting on their blood stained uniform.

Wait a second –

Fiery hair?

Blood stained uniform?

Pulling away gently from the person's embrace, I whispered, "Aerrow?"

When the person turned their face towards me, I would have jumped for joy if it weren't for the fact that they still held me in their strong arms.

"Aerrow." I whispered again as I broke my gaze from his shining emerald eyes to wrap my arms around him and bury my face into his shoulder. I didn't care how bloody it was, it was Aerrow, and… and….

He was alive.

"How?" I murmured into his shoulder as he began to rub my back lightly.

I could almost picture his smiling face as he said to me, "I still have places to go, things to see, people to live for."

Now, I was smiling myself, and I reluctantly let go of Aerrow, fearing that if I did, it would just be a dream that he would really gone.

Pulling out of his embrace, I smiled up at him, and touching his cheek I realized that I wasn't dreaming, and that Aerrow was real.

But that also meant that the still flowing blood was real.

Almost as though he could read my thoughts Aerrow said simply, "Don't worry, he only nicked my chin."

Looking closer at where the blood was originating from, I realized that what Aerrow said was true, although the knick was pretty big. I would almost call it a gash, but it didn't seem to go very deep.

My mood turned sober though because I realized how close I had come to losing someone I cared about again. I wouldn't be able to stand losing anyone from our team, but losing Aerrow would have been the WORST.

Sensing my change in mood Aerrow asked me, "What's wrong Piper?"

I looked up at him with sadness in my eyes and I said, "I almost lost you Aerrow – for good."

I looked down at my feet which suddenly seemed very interesting to me, but Aerrow tilted my head back up so I'd have to look at him and he said, "But you didn't Piper, and that's all that matters."

Sighing, I managed to stand.

Crossing my arms, I took a few steps away from Aerrow and I mumbled, "What about next time Aerrow?" Turning around to look him in the eye I asked, "What if I lose you next time?"

"You won't."

"Or how about the time after that Aerrow? Will I lose you then?"

"Piper…"

"Or what about the time after that? How do I know I won't lose you again?"

Turning my back towards Aerrow again I said softly, "Almost losing you was bad enough, but what if someday I actually lose you Aerrow?"

I could feel as my eyes begin to water again, and no matter how hard I tried to keep the tears down, one managed to escape.

I heard a sigh come from behind me before I felt a spark of heat rush through my hand.

Before I knew it, Aerrow had whirled me around so that I was facing him. His hand that wasn't holding mine reached up to my cheek and wiped away my rogue tear as he said, "You won't."

Blinking to hold back any more threatening tears I managed to choke out, "How do I know for sure?"

"I promise you'll never lose me, that's why."

"Y- You promise?"

"I promise." Aerrow whispered reassuringly as he leaned in closer to me, and his lips gently brushed my cheek.

All I could do was smile up at my greatest friend in the world. For the second time in the same day, Aerrow had left me speechless, and I was beginning to like the feeling.

"Come on," Aerrow said as he wrapped his hand around my shoulders before leading me to the door. "I'm pretty sure we managed to land while I was 'dead'"

Managing a small laugh I said, "We should probably make sure no one else got hurt; and bandage you up. That would be a good thing."

Aerrow nodded, but before we walked through the door, I remembered that the Dark Ace was still unconscious on our hangar bay floor.

Stopping, I asked Aerrow, "What should we do with him?"

Aerrow stopped, looked at me, and at the Dark Ace before saying, "I think I know exactly what to do with him."

Well, did you guys like this chapter? I tried to through in a bonus fluff chapter after all of the cliff hangers and suspense I put you through in regards to if I killed Aerrow or not...

Well, I believe there's one more chapter, and then this Story will have come to a close.

Crimson Fox4