Okay, so I know what you're all thinking... "Sugar! YOU'VE BEEN GONE FOREVER!" And yes. Yes, I have. :/ But I'm here nowz! :D And this is the last chapter of The War Hawks. :'( But worry not, dear readers! I have some amazing ideas for some awesome multi chap stories! :) I'm just not sure which one to use as of now... Now, ON WITH THE STORY! :D

Waaaaaait. Disclaimer first. :/ I own none of the characters! Or the wings! Or the poem "Death" by Emily Bronte! Just the plot line. :)

~L~

My body is a cage that keeps me from dancing

with the one I love.

~L~

Amy looked around at the congregation of people gathered for the memorial service. Ian stood at her right. Dan stood at her left. Both of them had bandages all over their bodies.

Dan had been stupid enough to actually go and try to fight them. She had been furious and wanted to punish him until he begged for mercy, but the look on his face said it all. He had already been punished over and over again when he had to watch his comrades die in front of his eyes.

As for Ian, after he found out that Julianna had given her life to save him, he blamed it on himself. Everyone had told him over and over again that it wasn't his fault, that she wanted to die for him, but every time he saw the pain in her friends' eyes, he felt guilt beyond comparison. The only thing that made him feel better was the fact that he could still be with Amy on the earth. Someday, maybe he could even see Natalie again.

After they had jumped out of the plane, she had been sent back to England to wait until Isabel returned. That would never happen, though. Isabel had been destroyed in the blast as well as the rest of the Vesper army... and the War Hawk army. They had won Pyrrhic battle.

So as Amy gazed at the people around her, she realized that they were the lucky ones. They were the few hundred survivors out of a mighty eight thousand warriors with hearts of gold.

The director stood up in front of the congregation to speak, but the words came out as a blur to her. Her mind couldn't seem to make sense of the speech that their leader was presenting them with. It was because there were no words to say. There wasn't anything anyone could say or do to bring back these valiant souls. They were gone forever. So as those that had died lay in silence for eternity, couldn't they be silent for a few minutes to honor them? What could anyone possibly have to say that could make anything better? What could anyone possibly have to say that could be worthwhile? So her brain blocked out the petty noises. She made her own silence.

Ian could sense her thoughts and emotions and turned an understanding gaze toward his Seraph. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a sideways embrace. She leaned into him but kept her eyes on the ground in front of her.

Before she knew it, the director had finished speaking, and the Seraphs whose Guardians had been killed came to the front of the gathering. The number of them was astonishing. Nearly half of the congregation had came forward. They held each other's hands, and the rest of the War Hawks went to them and put their hands on their shoulders. This was a symbol of everlasting friendship and a comforting gesture. Amy's heart broke for these weeping women who were alone now because of a war that they hadn't even wanted to get into.

Suddenly, a thought popped into her mind. She wondered if it came from her own head because it was unlike her, but it was even more unlike Ian. The look on his face told her that he had thought it, though. He swallowed hard and worked his jaw. She could tell that he was fighting himself inwardly whether to do what he wanted to do or to preserve his dignity. The latter choice soon faded, and Ian pushed his way to the middle of the crowd.

Everyone had their eyes on him, and he felt heat traveling up his neck to his ears and cheeks. He wished he could sink back into the crowd. No. He had to do this. This was something that he had to say. This was something that he had to remind people. He searched the depths of his memory for the poem he had in mind and took a deep breath.

" 'Death! that struck when I was most confiding

In my certain faith of joy to be -

Strike again, Time's withered branch dividing

From the fresh root of Eternity!

Leaves, upon Time's branch, were growing brightly,

Full of sap, and full of silver dew;

Birds beneath its shelter gathered nightly;

Daily round its flowers the wild bees flew.

Sorrow passed, and plucked the golden blossom;

Guilt stripped off the foliage in its pride;

But, within its parent's kindly bosom,

Flowed for ever Life's restoring-tide.

Little mourned I for the parted gladness,

For the vacant nest and silent song -

Hope was there, and laughed me out of sadness;

Whispering, "Winter will not linger long!"

And, behold! with tenfold increase blessing,

Spring adorned the beauty-burdened spray;

Wind and rain and fervent hear, caressing,

Lavished glory on that second May!

High it rose – no winged grief could sweep it;

Sin was scared to distance with its shine;

Love, and its own life, had power to keep it

From all wrong – from every blight but thine!

Cruel Death! The young leaves droop and languish;

Evening's gentle air may still restore -

No! the morning sunshine mocks my anguish -

Time, for me, must never blossom more!

Strike it down, that other boughs may flourish

Where that perished sapling used to be;

Thus, at least, its mouldering corpse will nourish

That from which it sprung – Eternity."

Everyone looked at Ian for a long time. He swallowed and felt his face grow even redder. "Look, what this poem is saying is that death doesn't last forever. People always say that when someone you love dies, you're never going to see them again." -Ian's voice faltered on the last few words- "But I believe that there is no such thing. I believe that someday you will see them again. You will hold them again. I believe that death can't stop love; it can only delay it for a while."

"So don't lose hope. Don't just waste away in your sadness. Take heart! Where are you, women of courage? Where are you, women of hope? Live the life that your Guardians and thousands of others gave their lives to save! Dry your tears! We have a reason to be happy! We won the battle! The valiant beings who have died today have not lost their lives in vain!"

Silence ensued Ian's noble speech. They just looked at him for a long time. Suddenly, someone near the back started to clap. Then another person followed suit. Soon the whole crowd erupted in a deafening roar of applause.

~L~

Drew, Abbigale, Amy, and Ian stood into the woods next to Carter's memorial. A new addition had been added to the site. Now a small statue of pure white, marble wings stood proudly next to it. The inscription on the base read, "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." It was one of Julianna's favorite quotes, and her friends figured that it'd be what she'd want.

Abbigale dug into her pockets and pulled out Julianna's half of the broken heart necklace and hung it on one of the wings like Carter's was draped over his stone. Drew couldn't help but remember a moment early on in their friendship that he'd taken for granted.

~flashback~

Julianna stood before him in the choir loft and gave him a sideways look. "Drew, I need to ask you a question," she said quietly.

He quirked an eyebrow, encouraging her to continue. She looked down at her fingers, suddenly becoming sheepish. "Would you... would you cry if I died?"

Her question caught him off guard, and he looked at her in surprise. "Why do you want to know?"

She shrugged. "I was only curious."

The look in her eyes said differently, but he didn't question her. Instead, he focused on answering her inquiry. He thought for a moment, looking off into the distance and looked back at her when he was finished.

"No," he said. "No, I don't think so."

His friend smiled at him with an almost imperceptible hint of disappointment and hurt in her expression. "Okay," she said in a voice that seemed to sweet to be hers. "I was only wondering."

~end flashback~

It was only now that he realized that she'd known what she was asking. She was perfectly aware of her fate, and she wondered whether he would miss her, whether he would regret her death. In the nonchalance of the moment, he had answered wrongly. He had been untruthful. He registered this as he felt the hot liquid of sorrow roll down his cheeks. He smiled, though. He smiled and was happy because he knew she could see him now. He wiped the tears from his eyes and looked over at Ian and Amy.

The latter looked like she got hit by a bus, and the former looked like someone had just killed his new puppy. Drew wondered whether it was only because of the fact that they shared emotions that they were both so sad-looking.

"If it weren't for me, we wouldn't even be doing this right now," Ian said finally.

"No. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have gotten distracted, and you wouldn't have been so mortally wounded. I'm the one at fault."

"Hey, neither of you are at fault," Abbigale said. "If it weren't for Ian, Amy wouldn't be alive right now, and if it weren't for Amy, Drew wouldn't be alive right now."

"But she didn't have to die," Ian protested.

"If she hadn't, Austin would have died for nothing."

The Kabra thought of this for a moment and shut his mouth. That was, after all, what part of his speech had been about.

Abbigale sighed after a moment of silence and said, "I wish I could stay here with her all day, but standing around won't help the wounded heal and the strong clean up after the battle. We should go soon."

The other three agreed with her and turned to leave. When they were a few yards away, Abbi suddenly stopped in her tracks and ran back to Julianna's memorial. She bent down and whispered, "You had better keep your promise. I'll be listening."

As she ran back to the group to take Drew's hand, the wind blew stronger than usual for a second as if confirming that Julianna had heard.

~L~

A Week Later...

Ian stood in front of Amy at midday. Hundreds of other Guardians stood in similar positions with their Seraphs in a large field at the edge of the camp. The was a soft murmur of words being exchanged between lovers floating in the air above their heads. The Lucian looked at his Seraph for a long time. She had a pained expression on her features, and this alone made him ache. They had both known for a good five days that Ian was going to leave for a bit, but that didn't make saying goodbye any easier, even if it was only for a little while.

"How long will you be gone?" Amy asked.

"I don't know," he replied. "A few months. A year at the most."

The redhead sighed and rested her forehead on Ian's chest. He wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her as close as two beings could be. He tipped her chin up so she was looking up at him and pressed his lips to hers. He breathed her in through his nose. He wanted to be sure that he remembered exactly who she was – what she smelled like, what she looked like, what she tasted like.

Their kiss lasted only a few seconds before they broke apart. "I'll be back to you as soon as I can," he whispered to her.

"Why can't you take me with you?"

"I don't want you to be in harm's way."

She rolled her eyes. "Ian, I think I've been more than in harm's way. I fought in a battle, for Heaven's sake! With the Vespers!"

"I know, and I hated every second that you were in danger."

"Ian, please don't leave."

"Don't worry. I'll be back before summer comes around again," he told her encouragingly.

She sighed and broke from their embrace. "At least tell me where you're going."

He gave her a mischievous grin. "I can't tell you. It's a surprise."

"Ian," she said with all seriousness in her tone, "don't play that with me."

He sighed and looked up into the heavens as if begging God for some sort of divine strength. "Do you trust me?"

She paused before answering. "Of course I do."

"Well, then trust me on this. You'll know soon enough. I'll come back for you and take you with me, okay?"

Amy sighed heavily and ran her fingers through her hair. "Alright," she said finally.

He smiled triumphantly. "Good. I promise I'll hurry, Amy."

She couldn't help but smile at her Guardian's stupid grin. "You had better, Ian Kabra."

Ian stole a quick kiss from her lips and turned to take a running start into the sky. Before he took his first running step, though, he turned back to her with an even cheesier grin on his lips.

"One more thing before I go, love." -Amy quirked her eyebrow- "'Take care of my heart, for it will always be with you.'"

She burst into laughter and smacked him playfully on the arm. "You did not just quote Twilight!"

He laughed along with her and turned to run. As he did, he looked back at her and shouted, "Please do, love! Please take care of it!"

With that, his powerful wings launched him into the air, and he disappeared into the cerulean oblivion in a few minutes. Amy watched the sky long after he was gone from sight. She stood there along with so many other Seraphs until the sky grew dark and then long after that, wondering to herself whether he meant what he said.

She put her hand over her heart and felt the steady beat of it beneath her flesh. She knew that somewhere out there, Ian's heart was beating at the exact same time with the exact same rhythm. She understood his words then. Their hearts beat as one. Their fates were intertwined forever. He had told her to take care of herself, for that was the only way she could take care of him.

She smiled to herself and looked up at the velvet, sequined sky. "I promise," she whispered.

~L~

Oh. My. Word. I can't believe it's over! :'( I mean, I'm going to write an epilogue, but for the most part, it's done! D: Did you guys like it? Tell me what you thought please!

Oh, if you guys are wondering what a Pyrrhic battle is, it's a battle that was won but at a great cost. Like, it was so great a cost that you're not even sure if it was worth it.

**** PLEASE READ! ****

Okay, so I'm going through a crisis! I want to change my pen name, but everyone already knows me as SugarQueen8490. :/ What do you guys think? Should I change it or keep it the same? I mean, I have some really cool pen names in mind. Please tell me in a review or PM or something!

With lots of love,

~Sugar