Ok guys this chapter is dedicated to you (and Alan Rickman), for those who haven't given up on this story, who have hoped that I would update and who will read this and stay with this story to the end. I have had so many plot bunnies jumping around this story but I hope you like this. I owe it to you to give you an ending worth reading so I hope you like it.

I don't own the virals, just this storyline and Lavender.

So here you are, two steps ahead and staying on guard
Every lesson forms a new scar
They never thought you'd make it this far
But turn around (turn around), oh they've surrounded you
It's a showdown (showdown) and nobody comes to save you now
But you've got something they don't
Yeah you've got something they don't
You've just gotta keep your eyes open

"Come on Tory this can't be so hard," Shelton whispered, nudging her forwards.

Tory snorted. "Says you."

"Yes says me, you are worse than him."

Tory glared at him, before walking forwards, to this showdown.

Tory heard Shelton and Hi run off, no doubt to the lounge room, so they, Chance, Lavender, Jason and Madison could make sure Ben and her wouldn't kill each other, but wouldn't be so close to hear what was said.

Ben stood in front of her, hands on his chest, looking over her shoulder, on guard. Tory felt like she should be offended he felt like he need to be on guard with her, but she knew deep down she couldn't blame him, she was on guard too.

"What are the chances Hi is making bets on how long it takes us to kill one another?' Tory asked, needing to break the stifling silence between them.

"I give him five more minutes before he breaks and asks Shelton," Ben replied, glad not to be the one to talk to first, even if he knew he should have.

"I'm sorry," they said at the same time and both looked away.

"Let's sit, this is weird," Tory motioned towards the chairs in which she sat only three days ago with Shelton, Madison, Ella and Lavender. A few hours of talking Shelton, at Tory's request, called Hi so Tory and him could talk about everything and like Shelton and Tory, everything was forgiven, but took a while for them to talk Tory and Ben into talking.

"I'm surprised you agreed to talk to me," Ben spoke up, making eye contacted for the first time.

"I was surprised you agreed," Tory smiled sadly. "We both screwed up didn't we?"

"We did," Ben agreed, "and then I said something I should never had said."

"NO you shouldn't have said it, it hurt worse than anything I've very been through," Tory said softly. If they wanted a fresh start, really wanted one, they need to be honest.

"I knew that when I said it but I was so mad Tor and I wanted to hurt you. After everything you lied about the gamemaster and other virals and the threats. I mean the Gamemaster is what set me of but when you mentioned Chance and Lavender I lost it. It hurt to know you trusted them more than us, even though now I sort of understand. I don't agree but I understand in a way. You only wanted to protect us and you knew we wouldn't be able to think clearly, especially after the threats. For you to do it you need to think clearly and we wouldn't have helped, after everything we wouldn't have coped with it. In way it was better it happened this way through I wish it never happened at all."

"So do I. I'm sorry and I hope you can forgive me."

"I can if you can forgive me."

Tory smiled.

#####

"Its been two hours, surely they have sorted everything out?" Shelton said nervously.

"They have a lot to sort out," Lavender said softly. After hearing what Shelton and Hi had to say about everything she was a lot nicer to them, and even to Ben to a degree.

"I know but I'm half worried they are still gonna kill each other."

"We only kill each other days that end in y," Tory commented as she and Ben walked in.

All eyes turned to them, nervous to see what was going to happen. All of them knew the whole future of the virals and honouree virals in Jason, Madison and Ella's cases, rested on this. It was tricky getting them to agree to this so all were nervous.

"Ok maybe we can change it to once a week, even if Ben and Lavender are coming to our school and I'm sure Ben will get on my nerves."

"More like you will get on mine."

With that interaction alone sighs went out through the room.

******Read the next chapter. Final one of the series.******