Triumph

My body was not capable of producing tears yet I sobbed, regardless. I knew I was dying when two cold arms wrapped around my shoulders and Athena's glorious face appeared before me. I knew I was still alive when she slapped me, screamed a few profanities, and told me to get the hell out of the room.

"Athena?" I asked, once we were away from the fire, "but I saw the ashes…"

"I'm sure you did. However, they were not my ashes."

"Athena!" I lifted her up and brought her to my chest, squeezing tightly. "I thought I lost you." I'm sure she had some either sarcastic remark, or immensely romantic thing to say; in either case I did not let her. I kissed her with enough passion to probably make the rest of the castle combust.

"C'mon," Athena whispered, "I don't want the castle to collapse on us after having so recently reconciled."

"Let the castle fall," I murmured, kissing her again, and not wanting to stop for a very long time.

"Be reasonable," she laughed, pulling away again and tugging on my hand to leave. I reluctantly agreed and we met up with Aro and the others outside the crumbling palace. Vladimir and Stefan were subdued by Alec while Aro and Marcus discussed what to do with them.

Athena and I discreetly joined them. About two things were very apparent to me: 1. Marcus was still alive though he clearly did not want to be, and 2. Aro wanted to kill the Romanian midgets. Marcus winced slightly at seeing Athenodora and I, but quickly composed himself, while Aro just seemed merely surprised.

"Finally you two come," Aro said, annoyed.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," I said sarcastically, I only thought I lost my wife, and that I was going to die and then realized I actually hadn't and that it was the wrong vampire's ashes.

"So what's the problem?" Athena asked, changing the subject.

"Aro wants to kill them, I don't," was Marcus' reply.

"Don't kill them," I said, just to annoy Aro, and then more reasonably, "killing them would end their suffering, why would you want that when you could make them suffer for the rest of time?"

"Hmm," Aro said pensively, "good idea. That must be the first you've ever had."

"So the hypocrite speaks," I scoffed, rolling my eyes. Athena laughed while Marcus seemed somewhat amused.

"But what if they try to overthrow us?" Aro asked. That's when it hit everyone that we were in power now, we had won.

"Let them," I shrugged, "I'm sure that it will take them at least 3,000 years, and by that time we'll probably be bored."

"Fine," Aro said after a long time. He left to go talk with Alec and a few other gifted Guard members. Marcus slowly drifted away as well; he stood alone looking at nothing but I could imagine thinking of only one thing; that one thing he did not have.

"So are you happy, love?" Athena asked me, distracting me from my analysis.

"Happy about what?" I asked.

"Anything."

"I'm happy about winning," I admitted, "I'm happy that we only lost a few Guard members, I'm happy that you're back with me."

"Good," she said and smiled, "then I'm happy too." She held my hand and squeezed gently, "I've been happy for awhile now."

THE END

(A/N: I'm happy it's over. I must say now thank you to everyone who's reviewed, S. Meyer, and Alycone. As you know, all types of review are welcome. Oh, and just so you know, there's going to be a sequel. I don't know what it's going to be called yet but I'll try to have it up on my profile soon. Once again, thank you! ~VL)