The very last chapter! I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 50

It took a while for Steven to remember where he was. All he could do was stare down at the body lying in front of him. His hands trembled as he moved away from the lifeless figure on the ground. He couldn't believe he'd really killed him, but the prove of what he had done, was lying right in front of him.

He killed him.

He killed Jeremy.

He wanted to look away, but it felt like his brain wasn't functioning properly, like it couldn't remember how to move his eyes or his legs.

He'd thought he would never be able to do something like this, that he would ever be able to take somebody else's life. But he just had, he'd just killed someone. How was he ever supposed to look himself in the eyes again, knowing he was capable of something like that? He looked down at his trembling hands. They were covered in blood stains.

Jeremy's blood.

He was covered in Jeremy's blood.

His whole body started to shake. He could feel the tears burn in his eyes. His stomach was turning around and he had the feeling he needed to throw up.

That's when he smelled it. The smell was very light, but he knew he smelled it right.

Fire.

Brendan

Ste came to his feet clumsily, feeling lightheaded when he did so. He looked around for the stairs, he'd completely lost all sense of direction. When he found the stairs, he looked back at Jeremy before his eyes got pulled to the gun on the floor. Without really thinking about it, he walked towards the gun and picked it up. The metal was cold in his hand. He looked down at it for a moment, before he smelled the scent again, only stronger this time.

"Brendan." His voice was hoarse, like he hadn't spoken in years. He needed to find Brendan. He made his way to the stairs and took two steps at a time. He opened the door to the hallway. The smell of smoke was way stronger up here. "Brendan," he said, louder now. No one answered as Ste tried to figure out where the smell of fire was coming from.

"Brendan!" He was yelling now, trying to figure out where he was supposed to go.

That was the moment he saw smoke coming from the stairs. Ste's heart leapt in his throat, as he made his way to them. "No, God, please no. I just got him back."

A feeling of anxiety set in his stomach as he ran up the stairs to the first floor. He couldn't lose him, not again. He yelled Brendan's name over and over again. He'd almost reached the end of the stairs when a door got opened. Ste ran the last few steps. The smoke coming out of the open doorway was thick and black. He heard loud coughing and gagging noises. Ste ran towards the figure who was visible through the smoke.

"Brendan."

Smoke filled his mouth as he said that. He coughed hard, trying to keep his lungs clean, but that only made it worse. Ste looked up at Brendan. His eyes were red and he was black from the soot.

But that was not what was scaring Ste. It was the emptiness in Brendan's eyes. Somehow that look made Ste's brain come back to life. Ste reached out and grabbed Brendan's hand. "We need to get out. Now."

He pulled at Brendan's hand and thankfully Brendan obliged. Ste pulled him down the stairs and through the front door. He didn't stop running until they'd reached the car. He let go of Brendan's hand as he looked for the keys. That's when he realized he was still holding the gun. A cold shiver ran down his spine, but he pushed his feelings away. Now was not the time to panic. When he found the keys, he opened the car, threw the gun in the trunk and closed the rear door again. He turned around to face Brendan, who was staring at the house. Ste followed his gaze and realized that the whole first floor was lightening up. The fire was spreading quickly. They needed to leave, now. He pulled at Brendan's arm. Brendan looked down at him and for the first time since they left the house, he really seemed to see Ste.

Suddenly he reached forward and grabbed Ste's shoulders painfully. "What the hell have you done?" Brendan's voice was low and raspy, his eyes shining with all kinds of emotions. "You were supposed to wait in the car."

Ste could feel the anger rise in his chest. "I wasn't gonna let you die, alright."

"Do you ever listen to a word I say?" Brendan argued back, the anger visible in his voice.

"We wouldn't be standing here now if I would've, now would we!" Ste yelled back.

They looked at each other for a moment, both of their eyes shimmering with emotions. Emotions which were too raw, too new to talk about yet. Then Brendan pulled him into a tight hug. "You could've died," Brendan mumbled somewhere near his ear.

"I know," with those words, it felt like all of his energy left him and if it wasn't for Brendan, he would've fallen to the ground. His whole body shook as everything that had happened came back to him in full force. He could feel Brendan's arms tighten around him as tears fell from his eyes.

Ste's body was still trembling lightly when Brendan pealed Ste's arms from his body and took his face in his hands. "Look at me. Steven, look at me." Ste looked up in Brendan's dark blue eyes. "I know it's tough, but this is not the time or the place. I need you to calm down. Can you do that for me?" Brendan's eyes were filled with concern, his thumbs wiping away the tears from Ste's face.

Ste nodded his head slowly, his eyes never wavering from Brendan's.

"We need to leave. Now. Before anybody wakes up," Brendan said. Ste nodded again.

"Alright. Give me the car keys." Brendan held up his hand.

Ste handed Brendan the car keys, but then he whispered, his voice trembling: "Your leg…"

"It'll be fine." Brendan pushed him softly towards the left side of the car and opened the car door. Ste got in without another word and Brendan closed it again. A few seconds later Brendan sat down beside him. Brendan glanced at the house through the window and Ste saw that the whole roof was on fire now. Brendan seemed hypnotized by the fire, he just stared at it, not moving at all. Only when Ste put a hand on his lower arm he looked away and started the car. They drove away just when the light of one of the neighbors went on. They had just made it out in time.

xXx

He didn't know where he was driving to. He just knew he needed to get away from that place as fast as he could. He felt his stomach tighten as his mind kept playing the same scene over and over again. The lighter falling to the ground, the flames reaching his brother, the eyes of his brother as he burned. And that laugh, always that laugh. His hands trembled lightly. He tried to stop the shaking by gripping the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white when he did so. He could feel the sweat on his forehead and his stomach turned around. He needed to get out, now.

He suddenly made a sharp turn to the right, so they ended up on a small bumpy road. It ended at a lake, which was shadowed by trees. As soon as the car stood still, he got out, landing on his hands and knees. His stomach tightened again and he threw up, his fingers digging into the dirt. He coughed and gagged loudly. He could feel the cold sweat on his forehead as a shiver ran down his spine. He wiped his hand across his mouth and sat up on his knees. He swallowed a few times, trying to lose the acid taste in his mouth. He breathed in the cold autumn air, looking at the sky, all the emotions he tried to control since the moment he'd put a step into that house, resurfaced. Suddenly he was screaming. A raw, painful cry escaped his lips, his hands clenched into fists. He screamed at the trees, the sky, the world. He screamed until his throat hurt. That was when he noticed he was crying, relentless hard sobs. His whole body shaking uncontrollably.

A hand came to rest on his shoulder, then another on the side of his face. He was pulled against a warm body, his head resting on someone's chest. He could feel the warmth from that body seeping through his own cold skin. His own hand dug into the fabric of the other person's clothes. He let all his emotions go, all the pain, the grief, the sadness, the anger, the worry and the fear. He let it all wash over him like a wave, as he was held tightly against this warm body.

He couldn't really tell, how long they sat there, his legs started to feel stiff and then numb, his fingers were cramped because of his tight grip on the other persons clothes, but he still didn't let go. Eventually he calmed down. His breathing slowed to its normal rate and the tears dried up. But it was only when he heard his name, that he became aware of the world around him and the person holding him tight.

"Bren," his name was spoken out softly, in a broken, hurt voice.

He loosened his grip on the other person's clothes and tried to flat out the wrinkles he had made with his hand. Slowly he pulled his head off of the chest he was lying against and looked up at stark blue eyes. Tears had left those beautiful eyes and had left wet trails on that handsome face.

"Steven," his voice was only a whisper, but it was enough to bring the tears back to the younger man's eyes. And suddenly it was Steven who was crying in his arms while Brendan held him tight. He held Steven firmly against his chest, one hand on his back, the other one in Steven's hair. He could feel Steven's nails in his back, as Steven's hands clenched in his shirt. Steven's whole body trembled in despair. Steven mumbled something against his chest, but Brendan was unable to understand what he was saying.

"What?" Brendan asked, his voice hoarse and raw.

Steven moved his hands forwards and lay them to rest on Brendan's shoulders. He moved his head, so his forehead rested on Brendan's chest and Brendan's hand slipped from Steven's hair to Steven's shoulder. Brendan could feel how Steven took a sharp breath. Steven's voice was not more than a whisper when he said: "I killed him."

Brendan stiffened, while Steven's hands dug into his shoulders. Brendan shuddered lightly as his brain was trying to process what Steven had just said. "What are you talking about?" Brendan asked, the anxiety rising in his chest.

Steven started to stammer, forming incoherent words. "I…I didn't mean to. He just… He tried to…and then…I just…I had no other choice…it just went of… and he lay there…and I just…" Steven choked on his words, unable to form coherent sentences.

Brendan held on to Steven, anguish and worry for Steven overtaking all other emotions. After a moment his hands wandered off to Steven's face and pulled him away from his chest so he could look at him. "Who? Who did you kill?"

Steven wasn't able to look at him, when he answered softly: "Jeremy."

Brendan was at a loss for words, while he just stared at Steven's face. Steven was still looking down towards the ground. When Brendan finally found his voice again, he said: "I told you to wait in the car." His words sounded harsh, but his voice was soft, filled with concern and anxiety of what had happened to Steven when he hadn't been there.

"I'm sorry."

Brendan felt like Steven was apologizing for more than just for not staying in the car.

"It's okay, it's okay. I'm here now, there is no one who can hurt you now," Brendan mumbled in Steven's hair as he pulled him back into an embrace.

"I was so scared," Steven's voice was muffled, as he hid his face in Brendan's shirt.

"I know." Brendan's blood ran cold, when he thought about what Steven must have been going through. "I'm sorry. I should have been there."

Brendan could feel Steven shaking his head against his shoulder. "It's not your fault."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Brendan trying to understand what had happened and Steven trying to control himself again. Brendan had no idea what to say or even think about what might have happened to Steven. If Steven was telling him the truth, and Brendan had no doubt that he did, then Brendan had no idea how he'd to help Steven. The boy wasn't someone who could just take another men's life and live with it. He would blame himself and the guilt would tear him apart. It would stay with him forever and Brendan couldn't help but feel responsible for that.

He was the one who had brought him into his world. In this world of violence and danger and pain. Before him Steven's life hadn't been perfect, but he'd been save more or less. Ever since Brendan had walked into Steven's world all of that had changed. He'd hurt Steven over and over again. First by his own hands, and later by his actions or actions of other's that wouldn't even have cared about Steven if it hadn't been for Brendan. It was easy to imagine the life Steven would have had if it wasn't for him. Maybe him and Doug would still be together. Or maybe Steven would have found someone else entirely. Brendan had taken that change of a save and easy love away from him.

Not that he could ever regret that, he was too selfish to let Steven walk out of his life ever again. And he knew that Steven wouldn't want him to anyway. They were in this together now. And whatever had happened while he wasn't there to protect Steven, he knew they would find a way to get through it together too.

"Steven?" Brendan asked quietly: "What happened?"

Steven looked up at him and the look in the boy's eyes made Brendan's heart clench together painfully.

xXx

Ste didn't know how he started his story, but once he'd started, it seemed like he wasn't able to stop. He told Brendan everything, from the moment he had recognized Jeremy in the shadows of the trees until the moment he had first smelled the smoke. He'd a big lump in his throat while he talked, and at certain points he wasn't able to hold back the tears. He even had to stop talking occasionally, not being able to form any words.

All Brendan did was look at him, with an unreadable expression on his face. Ste didn't know what was going on in the older man's head, but he did know Brendan was the only person he could tell this to, the only other person who would understand, who wouldn't judge him.

When he stopped talking his throat was bone dry and his hands had drifted off to Brendan's legs. Brendan was still looking at him piercingly. Ste looked away from Brendan's face and back again, wanting to ask if Brendan couldn't just say something. But instead he kept quiet. He swallowed lightly, before he looked down at his hands, not being able to look Brendan in the eye anymore.

Suddenly he heard Brendan's voice. "Are you hurt?"

Ste shook his head, looking back at Brendan. "No, I'm fine."

"I should've been there," Brendan stated again, his voice harsh.

"There is nothing you could've done," Ste said simply.

"I could've kept you safe," Brendan answered fervently, then he whispered softly: "It's my job to keep you safe."

"I'm here now. I'm safe," Ste said, eyes filled with tears again, but now because he was touched by Brendan's words.

Brendan shook his head lightly, his eyes darkening, as he looked away from Ste's face. "I could have lost ya."

"But you didn't," Ste reached up his hand and put it on Brendan's jaw. "Bren, please look at me. You didn't, okay." Ste put his hands on Brendan's shoulders and pulled him in an embrace again. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm sorry Steven," Brendan mumbled near his ear.

Ste pulled away so he could look Brendan in the eyes. "For what?"

"For everything. For pulling you into my mess, for hurting you, for all the things my brother put you through, for all the pain."

"It's okay. We are here now. No one can hurt us now," Ste whispered. He kissed Brendan on the lips softly. Ste pulled back and let his forehead rest against Brendan's. They sat there quietly for a moment, the sounds of the night surrounding them. Ste could hear the small waves from the lake flowing against the shore. In the distance there was the sound of an eagle- owl. Ste was brought back to reality by Brendan's voice.

"He is dead."

Ste didn't say anything, didn't know what to say. He couldn't say that he was surprised. The moment he'd looked at Brendan back in the house, he'd known. But knowing was different than acknowledging it. And Brendan had just told him, there was no denying it now. He sat there silently, waiting for Brendan to go on.

Brendan was staring ahead, clearly not seeing anything off his surroundings. "It was just like before. That lighter, he just let it fall. There was nothing I could do. He just stood there. All the flames, the smoke. I could only look at him, I could only stand there and watch him burn." Ste could see the tears in his eyes, tears Brendan wasn't willing to shed.

"It was the end, he said. It had to end there. He got into my head, I saw no other way. I thought, maybe he is right, you know, maybe it had to end there." Brendan took a trembling breath, before he looked back at Ste, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Then I heard this…" Brendan moved his hand and caressed Ste's face, "this beautiful thing. You saved me."

Brendan stared at Ste, as if he couldn't quite believe he was there. He ran his thumb over Ste's lower lip, making Ste shudder slightly. Brendan moved forward and kissed Ste on his mouth lightly. Ste opened his mouth and Brendan sucked on his lower lip. Ste closed his eyes, wrapped up in the feeling Brendan's lips gave him. It was like coming home.

Brendan pulled away slightly, before he mumbled: "Thank you."

Ste's eyes lit up. "Anytime."

Brendan smiled lightly, turning up a corner of his mouth. "I love ya."

Ste beamed at him, eyes twinkling with emotion. "Love you too."

It sounded so simple, those three little words, but Ste knew how hard they'd worked for it, where they had had to go through, what they had had to give up, to finally get there. And Ste knew, now that he was looking Brendan in the eyes, that it had all been worth it. Because no matter what they had been through, he'd gained everything he'd ever wanted, someone he loved unconditionally and that person loved him back, just as completely and passionately as he did. It would never be perfect, they weren't perfect, they never would be. But they had each other.

xXx

Brendan got up slowly. His legs felt numb from sitting in the same position far too long. He moved his legs slightly, feeling the blood streaming back through his veins. He reached out his hand to Steven. Steven took his hand and Brendan pulled him up. Steven wiped the dirt from his pants as Brendan walked towards the lake. He kneeled down there, his pants getting moist by the humid ground. He put his hands in the water, forming a cup with his hands. The coldness of the water left goose bumps on his arms. He splashed water in his face, letting the water take away all the salt and soot from his face. The droplets on his face dripped down into the water, making the water ripple. He looked down at his reflection. He hadn't bothered to look at himself ever since the moment he'd known Anrai was still alive. He hadn't been able to. He'd been too afraid of whom he would see in the mirror. He'd been filled with so much pain and guilt that he'd started to fear looking at his reflection. Afraid of what would be looking back at him. But he'd learned that not everything was his fault, that he wasn't to blame for everything that had happened.

When he'd learned that Anrai was still alive, he'd vaguely hoped that maybe, just maybe, he could have his brother back, redeem his brother. But he'd learned he couldn't, because his brother, his real brother had died in that fire all those years ago. The look in his brother's eyes hadn't been the same as when he was just a kid. When Brendan had seen the look in Anrai's eyes, he'd lost all hope. He would have never gotten him back. And now he'd to live with the knowledge that his brother had chosen to leave him. Not once, but twice. The feeling that he'd lost the same person twice, was indescribable. His brother hadn't seen another way out, not the first time, nor the second time. He'd just given up, hadn't been able to let go of their horrible childhood.

For the longest time Brendan had thought that he wouldn't be able to let go of his past either. That it would affect the rest of his live, every decision he made, every little thing he did. And it had, probably would till his death. But he also knew that it didn't mean that the rest of his live had to be as dark, as horrible. Just because his father hadn't loved him the way he should have, didn't mean that others couldn't. And it definitely didn't mean that he would turn out to be just like his father.

Looking at himself in a mirror formed by water, he finally knew that he could change, he didn't know how and he knew that the road to becoming a better person wouldn't be easy, but he finally believed that could be better.

His face was almost a shadow in the water, but he could see the light in his eyes. He could feel his body relaxing and it felt like the weight of the world got lifted off his shoulders. And he knew in that moment that he could finally let go of his past. There were no more ghosts of his past that could come back and haunt him. He was finally free.

Steven took place beside him, also putting his hands in the water. For the first time that night Brendan noticed the blood on them. Steven was fervently trying to rub them clean.

"Here, let me help ya."

Steven glanced at him, but gave Brendan his left hand, without a word. After Brendan had washed all the blood of that one, Steven gave him his other hand, still without a sound.

"You're okay?" Brendan asked.

Steven looked down at their hands. "Not really. But I will be."

"If you ever wanna talk about it again…" Brendan said quietly.

"I know. And I will," Steven answered, his eyes still focused on their entwined hands. "Thank you."

Brendan nodded, He washed away the last bloodstains from Steven's hand, before he let go of it.

"Thanks."

Steven splashed water in his face, with his now clean hands. Brendan moved the back of his hand over his face, removing the last droplets. He looked sideways at Steven, while he asked: "Hungry?"

Steven looked up, water dripping from his face. "I could eat, yeah."

Brendan stood up, putting his hand on Steven's shoulder for support and walked back to the car. He opened the trunk and rummaged through the mess there, until his fingers touched something cold. He placed his fingers around it and took it out. It was a gun.

He looked back at Steven, who had followed him back to the car. Steven's whole body stiffened as he looked down at the gun in Brendan's hand. Then he looked back at Brendan, a pleading look in his eyes. Brendan gave Steven a nod, before he leaned back into the trunk, took a cloth out of it and wiped the gun clean. Then he walked back towards the lake and threw the gun into the water. When he turned around he caught Steven's gaze. Brendan nodded again and Steven nodded back, now with a grateful expression on his face. Brendan walked back to the trunk and after he found what he had been looking for, he threw a chocolate bar at Steven, which Steven caught. Steven looked down at it for a moment, before he opened the wrapper and took a bite, while Brendan opened a bottle of soda and took a few sips. Then they switched. Steven sat himself down on the hood of the car, with the soda bottle in his hand. Brendan joined him soon after. They sat there, next to each other, enjoying the silence. They both looked ahead, at the lake, the moon glistering on the surface of the water.

"I'm sorry he died," Steven mumbled, still looking ahead.

Brendan smiled sadly at Steven's words. "I wish I could go back, you know. Tell him what he meant to me. I wish I could have saved him."

"I know. You always want to protect the ones you love," Steven said.

"Yeah, well… sometimes I just think people are better off without me," Brendan admitted softly.

"But they are not, now are they? Stop acting like you don't matter, you matter to me," Steven stated firmly, his eyes focused on Brendan. Brendan finished the chocolate bar, putting the empty wrapper in his pocket. He let his eyes rest on Steven for a moment before he looked back to the lake again.

"It's not going to be easy Steven, I've been this way all my life."

Steven put the bottle down and glided off the hood. He placed himself between Brendan's legs. "I know." He let his hands rest on Brendan's knees. He looked up at Brendan, with shining blue eyes. "It's okay, we'll figure it out."

Brendan leaned forwards, resting his forehead against Steven's. He laid his hand on Steven's jaw, his fingers caressing Steven's hair. "I don't deserve you."

"I think you do," Steven replied, his lips turning up into a smile.

Brendan turned up a corner of his mouth. It was unbelievable. He would never had thought he would end up like this, loving somebody so insanely, that it made him sane, however weird that might sound. He wouldn't have believed he could ever be so happy, but here he was, with Steven, the man he loved more than anything in the world. Steven made him believe he could change, that he could be the man he wanted to be. He made him believe that the world could be good again.

Brendan opened his eyes slowly. Steven had his eyes closed, his features soft. Brendan moved slightly closer as he closed his eyes again. He caressed Steven's lips with his own. Steven reacted immediately, sucking on Brendan's bottom lip. Brendan deepened the kiss gradually, while he let himself glide from the hood, landing on his own two feet. Brendan's other hand joined the one on Steven's face, cupping Steven face in his hands. Steven's hands gripped the fabric of Brendan's shirt, pulling him even closer.

They kissed, their mouths moving together in a perfect rhythm. When Steven's body started to shake in Brendan's arms, Brendan pulled him in tight, whishing he could take away Steven's grief and the knowledge of what he'd done. "Shhh, it's gonna be okay," he whispered softly.

Steven pulled away from Brendan and threw his head back. It was only then that Brendan realized that Steven wasn't crying, but that he was laughing. His body was shaking, his face broken open with laughter.

Brendan felt his mouth turn upwards in a fond expression which he quickly tried to suppress when Steven looked at him. "Why in God's name are you laughing?" Brendan grunted.

"Look at us," Steven managed to get out between laughs. "We're here making out by the lake like some goddamn teenagers. After we just-"

At this point Brendan couldn't make out anything anymore as Steven was taken over by another fit of laughter.

Brendan rolled his eyes and pushed Steven away from him as he stood up. "I don't believe this," he said.

"What?" Steven choked out, grabbing Brendan's arm and pulling him close again. "That you could ever love somebody like me?"

"You really have lost your mind, haven't you?" Brendan returned, shaking his head in exasperation. "And this time for real. As soon as we return to Hollyoaks I'm gonna seriously reconsider spending the rest of my life with you."

"Oh, and who says that I want to spend the rest of my life with you? You ever thought about that? I don't want to spend my life having to look at your moody face every morning." Steven's whole face was still lit up and a big smile seemed to be permanently stuck to his face.

"Well I guess now that we've agreed that spending the rest of our lives together is a bad idea, I don't have to bother looking for a new house." Brendan grinned as Steven's eyes widened and his mouth fell open in complete surprise. "I would close your mouth before you start catching flies," Brendan said as he turned around, walking towards the car.

Steven grabbed his arm before he could reach the car door, placing himself in front of Brendan. "Wait, what? Did you just ask me to move in with you?"

Brendan shook his head, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "No, you just said it yourself, it would never work out." Brendan took another step towards the car door.

Steven grabbed Brendan by his shirt and shook him roughly. "Brendan, god dammit, just wait." His face broke open into a smile again. "Yes, alright, yes. There's nothing I want more."

Brendan took Steven's hands and pulled them from his shirt, pulling Steven's body into his, close enough to whisper in his ear: "Now you're just making it sound like you're accepting my marriage proposal."

Steven snorted. "Small steps Bren. And who's to say that you would be the one to ask me?"

Brendan smirked, arching an eyebrow. "I'm taller."

Steven swapped Brendan's head. "That really doesn't make any sense, you idiot."

"Watch your mouth or I might just change my mind," Brendan growled, his smirk stripping away the credibility of his harsh words.

"About the proposal? Well fine, I wouldn't want to marry someone who changes his mind this quickly anyway," Steven retorted.

Brendan moved forward, grounding Steven against the side of the car. Looking down at the younger man he whispered, his voice filled with amusement: "I was talking about the moving in part."

Steven grinned again, moving his head back slightly, to give him a better view of Brendan's face. "In about a week you'll wish you'd never asked me."

Brendan took Steven's face in is hands, his mouth inches away from Steven's. "A week? I'm already starting to regret ever thinking it."

Steven moved up his arms, wrapping them around Brendan's neck, causing their whole bodies to get pressed together. "Too late old man, you're never getting rid of me now."

Brendan captured Steven's lips with his own, pushing his weight into Steven. "And who says I would ever want to?!" Steven titled his head backwards to give Brendan better access. He opened his mouth and let his tongue graze Brendan's.

When Brendan pulled back, he murmured. "We're gonna be alright, aren't we?"

"Yes, we will," Steven agreed, turning up a corner of his mouth. "We will be okay."

Brendan kissed him softly on the lips before pulling away slightly so he could look into Steven's eyes.

He took a deep breath, smiled, and said: "Let's go home."

This is the official end! But don't worry there will be an epilogue. It's been one hell of a ride. I've been writing this story for almost three years and it's been an absolute blast. I want to thank everybody who invested in this story. Every reader, follower and reviewer. You're the reason why I wanted to finish this story, even if it took me so long. So thank you! I hope you enjoyed reading it, I absolutely loved writing it!

Special thanks goes to my sister. This story wouldn't have been here if it wasn't for her.