Disclaimer: See Chapter 36.

Note: This is the final chapter everyone. I hope you're strapped in and ready for this. I want to say thank you to each and everyone of you that has read, reviewed, followed, favorited, and overall enjoyed the story. You guys are totally amazing! Really, I have no words for how amazing you all are. So, onwards and upwards, lets ride this train to the end! I'll see you at the bottom!

Understanding In A Car Crash

Cody pushed the door open silently and slipped his shoes off. He shut it slowly, his hands shaking and mind racing. He wanted nothing more than to run back outside and jump in his car and chase Roman, but he knew it would do no good. Roman had already taken the job in Iowa, he already had a new place, he was already moving on. Cody sighed, the tears starting to fall fast and hard. His breathing was ragged, almost gasping out for each breath as he reached for the suddenly heavy weight of the keys in his pocket. He pulled them out, clutching them tight in his hands as he hiccupped. He felt pathetic just standing there crying. He'd lost Roman and he wasn't going to get him back.

"Cody?" Drew asked sleepily, walking from the kitchen. An ankle length black robe covered him, a mug of steaming coffee in his hand. He stopped dead, unable to get past just how devastated Cody looked standing there. He hurried to set his mug down on the coffee table and walked over to Cody. He cupped the smooth cheeks in his hands and tipped the tear stained face up so that their eyes could meet. "What happened? Cody, what's wrong?" he questioned, beyond worried and suddenly awake. His heart thumped hard in his chest when Cody let out a choked sob, more tears falling.

"H-he's leaving Drew," he gasped, finding that the tears just refused to stop. "He's moving to Iowa. He's leaving this all behind." He trembled in Drew's arms as he was wrapped up in a hug. "I didn't… I didn't get the chance…."

Drew closed his eyes, feeling more hot tears sink into the shoulder of his thin robe. He didn't know what to really say. He was honestly in shock that Roman was ending it like this. He had no words to help comfort Cody. Instead, he stood there, giving Cody a moment to calm down. "Look, we'll take tonight to calm down. You can go talk to him tomorrow. Things will work out."

Cody let out a bitter chuckle, one that caused his entire body to shiver in cold. "No, they won't," he breathed out, pulling back and looking up into the shock filled dark blue eyes. "This was him saying goodbye Drew…. He's leaving in the morning." He was silent for a moment, thinking over his missed chance. "This as the only chance I had."

"Then go now Cody. Go tell him. I'll even drive you," Drew nearly begged, his eyes trailing down to the fading pink marks on Cody's neck. He paused, instantly knowing what had happened between the two. He sighed, his body deflating. His heart truly ached for Cody and his pain. "Cody…."

"I can't stop him. He's got a job and an apartment already. It isn't going to matter what I say, he's not going to stay here," Cody went on, wiping the burning tears from his face. "I can't lay all this on him before he goes either. He wants to start over, I won't stand in his way."

Drew rubbed his face roughly, groaning at Cody's stubborn nature. Once he opened his eyes again, he was alone. He looked to towards their rooms, barely catching Cody as he walked out of sight into his room. He shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn't understand how either of them could just walk away like they were. The loved was still there and strong between them.

Cody shut his door before he walked over to his bed and fell heavily, face first into the pillows. He rolled to his side, bringing the keys still in his hand up to see them. He traced the edges of Roman's well worn house key, his heart thumping hard.

His thoughts consumed him and he played the last year over in his head. He'd been through a lot with Roman; from waking up to him in the hospital to saying goodbye that night. From day one, he knew there was something about Roman that had him, something that attracted him to the Samoan. It wasn't until that kiss on what would've been their anniversary that he realized that it was more than a simple attraction. He'd loved him, even when he hadn't realized it, he'd loved him deeper and harder than he'd ever loved anyone.

He felt a slow, burning tear slide down into the pillow as he pressed a kiss to the cool metal. This was the closest that he was going to get to kissing Roman again. He laid there, remembering every touch, every embrace, every last moment that they'd spent together. Honestly, he really wanted to go and tell Roman everything, just lay his cards on the table, but he knew how much stress that would put on Roman. He didn't want that. Even if Roman did give him one last chance, they would still be separated but hundreds of miles. He'd done enough to Roman, he didn't want to add that kind of pressure.

Blue eyes closed, Cody's free hand coming up to wrap around his ring, the night playing over his is mind. He'd worn it without thinking and Roman had seen it. He'd seen the surprise and confusion in Roman's beautiful grey eyes.

He yawned, smiling as his mind played out the different, happier endings to their night. He didn't realized when he'd fallen asleep or when his day dreaming had turned into the wonderful real feeling dreams of the night. He didn't want to leave that happiness.

Cody didn't wake until he heard neighbor's lawnmower going. He groaned sitting up and rubbing his face. He could feel the dried tear tracks under his fingertips. He looked around the room bleary eyed, wondering what time it was. He looked at his bedside table, the digital numbers on his clock reading that it was late morning.

Blue eyes widened as his heart jumped up into his throat. He stumbled out of his bed, rushing to grab the keys from the night before and his own car keys from where they were hanging in the living room. He wasn't going to stop Roman from leaving, but he was at least going to tell him how he felt before he left. He'd made that conclusion when he'd woken alone from his perfect dreams.

Drew poled his head around the corner, almost smiling as Cody threw the door open and ran out, leaving behind his shoes. He wasn't going to chase the other man, knowing it would do no good. He knew Cody was dead set on seeing Roman at least one more time. He wasn't going to get involved, he'd done enough of that. He hoped things went well between them as he walked over and shut his door.

Cody drove as fast as he could, thanking the heavens above that he wasn't seen by a cop. He pulled up to the house, his heart pounding when he saw the empty driveway. His chest ached, he was too late, Roman was already gone.

He took a shaky breath, turning his car off. He opened his door and got out, shutting it gently as he walked up to the door. He tried the handle, hoping that maybe Roman was just getting a few last minute things and that he would be back to lock up. His heart sank when the door was locked.

The silver key slid perfectly into the lock, turning smoothly before the door swung open. Cody looked in, the entire house looked exactly the same, minus a few missing things. Roman's books that were once arranged on the bookcase in the living room were gone, the 49er's throw blanket that was always on the back of the couch, also missing.

He shut the door and continued through the empty house, his heart pounding at being there alone. He looked over at the dining room table, his heart pounding even harder. His eyes fell on the large photo album.

He slowly walked up to it, his fingers sliding over the black leather cover. He opened it slowly, looking over the photos inside, the stack just a little bigger. He smiled, sitting down in his same spot as he flipped through them, the top ones newer. He smiled at the ones of Seth and Dean, truly happy for them. He found a few of him and Seth, both being goofy as usual and then a few of Dean and Roman. But it was the ones of him and Roman, all though they weren't touching in them, he could still see the love between them. He felt a shaky sigh leave his throat as he shut the cover, knowing if he kept going he'd only be in tears again.

He stood, walking into the kitchen, his fingers gliding along the clean cabinets, the many memories flooding back of him and Roman preparing meals together, even the burnt beginnings. He turned and walked back towards the living room, looking at the couch where their first heated kiss had taken place on New Year's Eve. He smiled at the memory.

His legs carried him down the hall, peeking into his old room, now bare with only the bed and dresser. He sighed, shaking his head as he kept walking, his hands shaking as they rested on Roman's bedroom door. "Roman," he breathed, turning the handle and easing the door open. The same tropical scent rushed over him, the room also bare, leaving only the furniture and bed.

Cody swallowed hard, walking over to his and Roman's bed. He sat on the edge, falling backwards as he played the night of their intense love making over and over again. He eased up onto the bed, laying exactly where Roman had. He curled up, his hand running over the mattress lightly.

He couldn't see anything but those beautiful grey eyes, how intense and expressive that they had truly been. Cody could feel those large, soft, warm hands on him again, comforting him, soothing him, pleasing him. He really cared about Roman. He'd only wished he'd realized it before he'd went out with Drew.

He'd known that Drew would never measure up to the live he had for Roman, but he'd hoped to lie to himself, wanting desperately to cling onto the only thing he knew. He knew it had been selfish but he hadn't been sure if he was ready for that kind of jump. He still didn't know the last three years of the history him and Roman had shared and he was scared of falling that hard again. He didn't know if he could handle that.

Cody laid there for what felt like hours, just breathing in the same scent that he loved so much. His eyes were closed, his heart slowing as he wished over and over again that this was just a bad dream, that he was going to wake up in Roman's strong arms and all of this would be a bad dream.

When he lifted his head from the mattress, the sun was pouring into through the windows. Cody sat up, thinking that he couldn't just lay there in Roman's empty bed feeling sorry for himself. He knew he looked pathetic just pining for Roman to come back. He stood, thinking that a drive would clear his head, that the wind in his hair would help clear his mind, or at least make things a little easier to handle.

Cody turned down onto a road that led out of the city, taking him out to the back roads. He smiled, his window rolled all the way down, wind blowing through his hair. The radio was turned up, blasting a rock station in his ears as he drove a little faster. He slowed at a stop sign, realizing that the road felt so familiar. He slowed to a stop at the next stop sign, something inside of him telling him to pull over.

He did just that, putting his flashers on before he shut the car off and got out. He looked around the empty intersection, wondering why things looked so familiar. He didn't take the back roads often and he wasn't sure he'd even taken this one before.

He wasn't far from town. He could still see it in the distance when he looked back, but it was far enough away that it was a lesser used road with little traffic. He stood there, walking around the shoulder. He wished he could understand why he felt like he needed to be there.

He cocked his head to the side, looking over the bent stop sign, wondering why no one had come out to fix it. It was then that a thought stuck him. He'd overheard Seth and Roman talking months before about how the stop sign that the SUV had halfway run over after nailing them still was bent and no one had gone to fix it.

Cody stiffened, realizing that he was right where him and Roman had wrecked, where his life had turned upside down. Where he'd lost everything and was sent back three years. His breathing increased as he looked around, the roads bare, the breeze gentle in his hair. He groaned, breathing in the flowery smell of wild flowers that mixed with the heavily salted air.

He paced the length of his car, his mind racing with thoughts. This was where it truly began. His eyes followed the ground, as he walked around the passenger side of his car, hoping that the movement would calm him down, or at least get him to stop thinking.

A glint in the bright sun was what made Cody stop. His eyes narrowed, brows furrowing as he took a tentative step closer. He squatted down, slowly, gently reaching out and touching the hot metal. His fingers brushed some of the loose dirt away, before he lifted the necklace chain up into the light.

Cody's face twisted in confusion as he brushed the dirt off of it, his lower lip sucked into his mouth for him to gently chew on. Once he could see the simple chain his eyes widened, the thought striking him that it was Roman's necklace. He didn't know how he knew that, but he did and he also knew that it was him that had gotten it for him.

He stood, leaning back against his car. His hands moved over the still clasped chain, wondering how it had survived almost a year outside in the elements without either getting completely buried or found. He closed his eyes, holding it to his chest, the gentle breeze rustling his hair.

Cody gasped, suddenly able to feel the wind in his hair, the music blasting in his ears, his heart racing at the thoughts that it would just be him and Roman alone for two entire weeks.

Cody felt his hand taken in Roman's. He smiled as he sang a little louder, looking over to see the wide smile on Roman's lips. He could feel the air whipping around his hair, messing it up. He didn't dare think of how messy Roman's would be when they made it down to the coast the way it was whipping around in it's ponytail. His heart jumped when those grey eyes looked at him.

He couldn't help but smile at Roman as that pink tongue was poked out at him, listening to Roman's deep laugh. He looked out the windshield, their car slowing as they came up on a stop sign.

"Ready for our vacation?" Roman asked, giving Cody's hand a gentle squeeze.

Cody felt his heart do a flip as Roman's grey eyes met his.

"I know I am."

Cody smiled brighter, nodding. "You think your students can handle you being away?" he asked, one brow rising, smirking at the devious look on his lover's handsome face.

"Summer break. No students, no class, no work for two weeks. Just you and me and the beach." Roman said, looking from one side to the other before heading back down the open road. "You sure you can give up that time for me?"

Cody couldn't help but roll his eyes. He'd give up anything and everything for Roman. He nudged Roman in the side. "Yeah, I think the store'll be okay for two weeks. Damien and Kofi can handle it," he teased back, smiling brighter at the happiness he could see radiating out of those grey eyes. "Just me and you?"

Roman nodded, looking over at Cody one more. "Yeah, me and you babe," he said, looking up, his face dropping into a look of panic.

Cody's face fell, his mouth opening to ask what it was that had Roman looking so scared. He didn't get the chance because just as his mouth opened he felt the sudden impact on his side of the car, crunching the side inwards. His vision went black, his body wracked with nothing but pain as the glass around him shattered and the car crunched over and over as they flipped and turned. He felt his body being thrown around, the side of his head smashing into the doorframe, making it hard for him to hold onto consciousness.

He couldn't see, only feel the pain that was slowly causing his body to go numb, his mind unable to focus on anything as he became still, the car coming to a rest. He knew he was upside down, but that was all he knew. He heard Roman's voice as he hung there lifelessly. He wanted to call out, tell Roman that he was okay, that he was there, that they could still go on their vacation, that he loved him. His mouth didn't move and his mind went blank and everything went black.

Cody stood there shaking, his stomach becoming too upset for him to stand any longer. He fell to the ground, his stomach churning just a little more causing him to vomit into the grass. He heaved a couple more times, his head starting to throb with pain.

"I love you Cody," Roman whispered, rubbing his nose against Cody's as they laid in bed, their bodies wrapped around each other. He moved in closer, pressing a gentle kiss to Cody's lips. "Now and forever."

Cody smiled, closing his eyes as he curled into Roman's chest, his fingers playing over the taut muscle. "I love you too Ro," he breathed, closing his eyes in happiness.

Cody's eyes shut, his head pounding harder.

Cody pulled Roman over to the hill, smiling as the other man followed with closed eyes. "Wait for it," he whispered, taking Roman's hand in his. "Now." He looked down at the hill, the train below just coming into view at the base of the hill. He looked over into Roman's widened eyes, a smile on the tanned lips. "This is my own personal getaway place. I wanted to share it with you."

Roman smiled, looking down at their laced fingers, his eyes slowly moving up to Cody's blue eyes. He was thinking about the kiss the two of them had shared earlier in the night. He tugged Cody closer to him, pressing a kiss to the corner of Cody's mouth. He looked from one surprised eye to the other. "Go out with me?" he asked almost breathlessly, swallowing hard.

Cody stood there, heart pounding. He smiled softly, turning his body to face Roman's completely, taking his hand back. He wrapped his arms around Roman's neck, pulling him in closer, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. He felt a bolt of lightening shoot through him as his fingers moved up to tangle in the short ponytail. "Yes," he answered, his lips brushing against Roman's lightly. "Yes."

Cody could barely breathe, his hands coming up to clutch the sides of his head, the pain nearly unbearable. His eyes were screwed shut, his body shaking uncontrollably.

"Look at me Cody, I'm right here. I love you. I don't care what anyone says, I'm not going to stop loving you. Forget what my father said today. He doesn't have to like it. This is my life, this is our life together," Roman growled, holding tight to Cody's shoulder's, his eyes pleading for Cody to believe him.

"But I don't want to mess this up between you two," Cody murmured, biting his lower lip. "I don't want to be the reason you two stop talking. You and Sika are best friends too." He felt Roman's hands tighten on his shoulders, Roman's eyes darkening.

"I don't care what happens. I'm happy, he's not going to take the one thing in my life that's completely irreplaceable."

Cody couldn't help but push out a small smile, leaning into Roman's chest. "I love you too Ro," he answered finally, shaking his head. "Promise you won't hate me for this later?"

Roman's once dark look brightened. "Of course not. This is my choice Cody."

Cody howled, his eyes snapping open, his brain on fire as all of his previous memories slipped back into place, every last moment in the last three years he'd been missing. He heaved one more time, falling forward onto his hands as he choked on the acid that came up this time, the clear fluid tinged with blood. He coughed a little lighter, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

He was still as he panted, trying hard to catch his breath. After a few moments he eased back to a sitting position, his eyes closing. He leaned back against his car, still breathing hard. His mind was reeling from everything, all the returning memories, the pain, the hurt, the love, the tenderness he'd shared with Roman. He could see how him and Drew had ended, the way Evan and Roman had separated, the cat and mouse game of innocent flirting between Dean and Seth.

He could see Dean in the shop at least once a week finding more books for Seth, Seth with small bruises and unexplainable injuries. He could hear the conversations he'd had with each of them, his last argument with Drew, the last conversation him and Roman had had before the accident. Cody's eyes opened, fresh tears falling.

He didn't even know what had caused them or why they were flowing so freely. All he could think about was how he'd been the last year. He was almost disgusted with himself. He'd treated the man he loved more than life itself like garbage, dragging him along through the dirt and muck of his confusion. He sighed, rubbing his face with one hand, the other still holding tightly to the chain.

His legs were shaky as he stood, his hands clutching at the metal exterior of his Toyota. He gasped for air as he struggled to get into the front seat, resting heavily into the material. His heavy body sunk into the seat, his arms lifeless beside him, his head lolled back as he tried to catch his breath.

Mentally, he was too overrun with everything that he'd been through the last year, how he'd hurt Roman without meaning to, how much love he had buried deep inside him that he'd pushed away, completely afraid of it. He hadn't understood those feelings.

His free hand rose to his neck, clutching the beautiful ring under his shirt, a smile touching his lips. He could only think that Roman had wanted to take the relationship to the highest level, to ask for his complete and undying commitment. He pulled it from under his shirt, his blue eyes looking over the beautiful cursive inscription on the inside.

He looked down at his console, his eyes falling on his phone sitting in the cup holder. He reached for it, his hands shaking. He didn't know if Roman would even want to hear from him after everything he'd done to him. Cody wanted to at least apologize and tell him that he remembered, that they could at least be on better terms than before he left.

He was beyond disgusted with himself and his actions, but he could look past that for now. He needed to speak to Roman, tell him that he'd move up there with him, that they could start over again, that his love had never changed.

Cody scrolled through his contacts, smiling when it fell on 'Ro'. He hit the call button and held the phone to his ear, smiling softly. This was his chance. Things would be right again. He knew they would.

His face paled before he hung up and tried again. His heart started to pick up speed in his chest, his breathing increasing as he tried the same number again and again. His body shook with fear as he let the phone fall from his ear into his lap, tears once against filling his eyes before they silently fell from his eyes. He knew Roman had been serious about moving on, but he hadn't expected him to go so far. He leaned forward, unable to hold back the scream of anguish that ripped through him, the tears falling hard as he heard the message play over again from his lap.

We're sorry, the number you have dialed has been disconnected or is no longer in service. Please check the number and dial again.

~Owari~

(A/N): Yes, this is the end. I hope you guys have enjoyed it as much as I have. Oh, I do have some extra tissues if you need them. I'm thinking about doing a sequel, would you be interested in it? (Because I would really like to write one.) As always, thoughts are great! I will be taking some time off to regroup and work on some of my other stuff that's kinda fallen to the way side. So I won't really be gone, just working on some mini projects. I'll be back May 15th though. Cookies to whomever knows why that day is special! So, thoughts, feelings? I want to hear them! As always, onwards and upwards loves! Title is Understand In A Car Crash by Thursday!