A/N: Wow! Fifty-three chapters, 135,000+ words later, and here we are.


"Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody, not greatly in fault themselves, to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest.

I purposely abstain from dates on this occasion, that every one may be at liberty to fix their own, aware that the cure of unconquerable passions, and the transfer of unchanging attachments, must vary much as to time in different people. — I only entreat everybody to believe that [everything happened] exactly at the time when it was quite natural that it should be so, and not a week earlier." — Jane Austen, "Mansfield Park"


Riley went over to the Forbes house to make amends with Caroline.

She paused on the sidewalk in front of the house, thinking. She was still angry with Caroline for making her choose between Klaus and herself. It was incredibly unfair and in that moment, Caroline had deserved not to be chosen. But now Riley just wanted to be friends again with her cousin. She didn't want to fight with Caroline anymore about this. Riley didn't regret being with Klaus, but she hated that her and Caroline had been so estranged lately. But often, doing the right thing doesn't equate with doing the easy thing.

She took a deep breath, let it out, and walked up to the front door. But Riley had only stepped onto the top of the front porch when the front door opened to reveal Caroline.

She put her hands on her hips. "I was wondering how long you were going to stand out in front of the house for."

Riley laughed. "Good thing I didn't pause there any longer then, huh?" Caroline nodded and Riley continued speaking. "Can we talk for a moment, C?"

Caroline nodded again. "Sure. Let's go inside."

"Actually, let's stay out here," Riley suggested.

"All right," Caroline said as she stepped out of the house, onto the porch, and closed the front door behind her.

"Are you okay, Ri?" Caroline asked. "Since your — Since Lewis…" She trailed off. Caroline wasn't sure if she should bring up Lewis's death to Riley. She hadn't really seen her cousin since that morning when Lewis died, but they hadn't said much to each other then. Actually, the two of them really hadn't spoken since Riley woke up after being captured and tortured by the hybrids. Things had been tense between them when they had parted that morning — Caroline had wanted to bring Riley home, to get her away from the Mikaelson mansion, but Riley had refused.

Then Riley had made the impossible decision to not let her father live anymore.

She could see the logic behind Riley's decision. And in some ways, she admired her cousin's strength. Caroline wasn't sure that she would ever have been able to be that strong and to make that kind of a decision.

Riley nodded, slightly. She took a deep breath before responding. "Yea, I'm okay. It wasn't the easiest decision to make. Or one of my favourites. But it was necessary. I know you and your merry band of friends may disagree, since you're always trying to kill Klaus; he could have been a powerful ally for you."

Caroline didn't know how to respond, or even if she could, so she did something that at least made her feel better. She stepped closer to Riley and wrapped her arms around her.

Riley hadn't meant to spit that last part out at her cousin; she was still bitter about so many things, and she was beginning to lose her grasp on her patience.

"I'm sorry."

Caroline pulled away from the hug, shaking her head. "You're not wrong, Ri. We haven't been discrete in our desire to kill him."

They fell silent for a moment. Riley was unsure of how to restart their conversation. She had come over to the Forbes house with the explicit intention of speaking with Caroline, but now she couldn't find the words.

But Caroline, always direct and hating silences, immediately asked the hard-hitting question. "How can you have feelings for Klaus?"

Riley didn't think about an answer, she just said the first thing that came to her mind: "He's always been there for me when I've needed him."

"I just don't get it," Caroline said. "He killed so many people: Elena; her Aunt Jenna; Tyler's mom. And he turned Tyler; he's daggered all his siblings, several times. He even killed his own hybrids. He is responsible for so many deaths and so much destruction. How can you be in love with him?"

Riley sighed softly, trying not to turn this into another argument. She and Caroline have had this similar argument way too many times. "Caroline, we've all killed people. None of us are completely innocent when it comes to that."

"But this is Klaus, Ri!"

"No, there are no buts here, Caroline!" Riley raised her voice a bit. She had come there to apologize and to seek some kind of reconciliation, but now she realized there was something else that she wanted to say other than 'sorry'.

"Look, I know that you and everyone else probably think I'm crazy to care about him, but I do. I care about him. I can't change that and I won't. But I also haven't forgotten that you're my friend, C. You are my family, and you know that I would do anything for you. I won't put anything else above that and he knows that. But I also will not stand by while you and your friends — and anyone else, for that matter — continue with your attempts to kill him."

When Riley finished speaking, there was another moment of silence between the two cousins.

Caroline sighed and spoke first, breaking the silence. "Look, I was really mad at first, when you started spending time with him," she said. "I'm not gonna lie. It was disgusting and I knew you deserved so much better. But you're right. None of us are perfect. If you trust him, and if you care about him, then I guess we don't really have anything to worry about."

"What?" Caroline's words shocked Riley. She hadn't expected her cousin to be so understanding.

"You're right, Ri. We're friends; we're family. And I will not let Klaus of all people come between us." Caroline scoffed as she said Klaus's name. "But I trust you. And I trust your opinion of him. So if you can see something in him that makes him worthy of having you around, then I believe that that something does exist too. Even if it is deeply, deeply buried."

Riley chucked at her second 'deeply.' "Thank you, Caroline," she said. Caroline held out her arms again and Riley hugged her tightly, so thankful that she had the most understanding friend and cousin in the world.

"You know, Nik really is the most honest person in town. He's never lied to anyone. If he hates you, he tells you so. If he wants you dead, you know. He's very simple that way."

"You mean unlike me, because I've tried to deceive him several times now?"

Riley shrugged and smiled, not really answering. "He's just very careful with his words."

Caroline scoffed and then laughed. She knew Riley was right.

Riley left the Forbes house and walked over to the Grill. She definitely felt better after everything was laid out on the table. She knew that there would still be some awkwardness; she knew that the people of this town would never forget about all the pain Klaus had caused or been a part of causing. But Riley appreciated that Caroline was trying to understand. She knew Caroline would never willingly want to spend time with Klaus — she knew there would never be any cheesy double dates between Klaus, Riley, Caroline, and Tyler— but at least Riley wouldn't have to worry about her only family left hating her forever. (If Caroline could at least be tolerable of the relationship, Aunt Liz would definitely be favourable of it.)

Riley arrived at the Grill, walked inside, and found Matt and Rebekah sitting in a booth together, holding hands on top of the table. She smiled to herself; Rebekah and Matt were completely oblivious to anyone except each other. She only watched the new couple for a moment before walking over to another booth halfway across the Grill and joining Klaus.

Moments later, Caroline walked into the Grill. She saw Riley and Klaus and walked directly over to them.

Riley saw Caroline making her way to them and she gave Klaus a look. "Be nice, Nik."

He mocked being offended. "I'm always nice."

"You're never nice." Riley shook her head.

"I'm nice to you," he replied as he grabbed a hold of her hand, raised it, and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

Klaus smiled, realizing how far he had come with Riley. He had felt like a fish out of water when he first started spending time with her; he was awkward with her because deep down, handling a woman with respect was unknown to him. It was something he had never done before, but it was something he had wanted with Riley. And it was something he worked at and strived for. He wasn't perfect, and he knew he'd make mistakes; but he trusted Riley, and their feelings for each other, enough to know that she would help him. Or at the very least, he could trust that she wouldn't leave because of his miserable shortcomings.

Caroline stopped when she was standing next to their table. "Riley, Klaus," she said as a greeting.

"Caroline," Klaus said with a nod to Riley's cousin.

Caroline spoke to Riley. "Mom and I are having a proper, sit-down dinner tomorrow night. Every so often, she becomes aware of her deficiencies as a parent and sets up one of these dinners for us. It's at seven and we'd really like for you to join us." She paused to sigh. "You are, of course, welcome to bring Klaus, if you'd like."

Riley smiled when Caroline choked out the 'of course'; everything after that was spoken through Caroline's clenched teeth.

"Thank you, C. I'll be there."

Caroline didn't miss how Riley only spoke for herself; no mention of Klaus. She smiled at her cousin. "Great. See you tomorrow."

Caroline turned and walked away from the booth. She walked through the Grill, going to leave, but paused when she saw Rebekah and Matt in another booth.

"I need a drink," she muttered to herself.

Caroline sat at the bar and had only taken the first sip of her drink when Matt walked by. She reached out and grabbed his arm. "Not you too, Matt. Seriously?"

"Just chill, Care."

"What, is the whole world coming up Mikaelson?"

Matt scoffed. "I can't speak about any of the other ones, but Rebekah is pretty great." Caroline froze in her seat. "I wasn't planning on spending time with her, but it kind of just happened."

"When were you going to tell me?" Caroline demanded.

"I don't know. We just started talking and one thing led to another." He shrugged. "I don't know. I was waiting for the right time, maybe. But I really like her, Care."

Caroline just blinked and nodded, deciding to say nothing. Matt walked away. She needed time to let this concept sink in: Rebekah, the Original, was dating Matt Donovan.

Just wonderful!

Caroline had a lot more she could say, but she didn't want to have Matt angry with her.

She was still sitting at the bar when Riley and Klaus left.

"Probably going back to his place," she muttered to herself.

Caroline knew she sounded cynical, but she caught the smile on Riley's face as she left with Klaus. She may not be completely accepting of their relationship — and she probably never would be— but she did love seeing her cousin smile. She hadn't seen Riley smile like that in years.

Caroline stood up a few minutes later and made to leave the Grill, but found her way blocked by Rebekah.

"What do you want, Rebekah?" Caroline crossed her arms.

"I heard what you said to Riley and Nik. And I also heard how you said it, Caroline."

"So?"

Rebekah huffed in frustration at the baby vampire. "You really don't see how amazing they are together, do you?"

Caroline rolled her eyes. " 'Amazing' is not the word I would use…"

"That's because you are so blind to what is right in front of you. You know, Riley has spent her entire time in this town being compared to you, or always coming in second to you, Caroline."

"What?" That was not anywhere near what Caroline expected the Original to say.

"And Nik was never first-choice, either — not with our parents, not with Tatia, the original doppelganger. But now, with each other, they are first-choice. They understand that part about each other."

Caroline froze when she heard Rebekah's words. It felt as if her body had seized up and she could barely form a coherent thought. It totally caught her off guard. She felt knots form in her stomach and she swallowed the lump that was suddenly in her throat.

She knew all about what it felt like to be the second choice, or to never even compare to someone else. But Caroline had no idea that Riley had gone through that while in Mystic Falls. And she certainly had no idea that people were comparing Riley to Caroline, or expecting Riley to be like Caroline.

"They really do have an amazing relationship," Rebekah continued, pulling Caroline from her reverie. "They are drawn to each other because they balance each other out: she is quiet and he is not; she's reserved and he's extravagant; she is smart but some-what impulsive, while he is pensive and methodical; she is simple and uncomplicated, and he is indulgent and lavish; Riley has the kindness that Nik has long-since abandoned, and Nik makes Riley stronger and braver. And the most surprising balance: she is pessimistic, but he shows her the beauty in everything. They love each other, even if they don't yet realize it. And sure, they bicker a bit, but I think they actually enjoy bickering.

"Riley challenges and frustrates Nik. He does the same to her, too. He knows he can give her everything she wants as well as show her things she has never even dared to dream. Her light is what he's attracted to; it may not shine as obviously bright as your light, Caroline, but it exemplifies something Nik hasn't had in over a thousand years — his humanity."

"You think Riley can restore Klaus's humanity?" Caroline felt highly skeptical about this.

"No. That sounds terribly clichéd. But he has been a little less hurt and angry and venomous since Riley has been around."

Caroline could see Rebekah's point. She would never admit that to Rebekah, though.

Ever!

But Caroline could see the similarities between Klaus and Riley, from loneliness to not fitting in to even their parents. They both had emotionally-distant mothers growing up. (That was something Caroline could also relate to.) Riley's father abandoned her and then killed her, while Klaus's father thought of him as a monster. Obviously, Klaus's parents took things to an entirely different level, but the understanding between them was the same.

"I'm going to borrow one or two of Riley's phrases, so forgive me if I get them wrong." Rebekah smiled to herself before continuing. "Caroline, you need to chill out and calm down about them. And maybe even be delighted to see their happiness. They deserve to be happy."

"I'll never agree to that about Klaus, but you're right about Riley; she does deserve happiness."

"Agree to disagree about my brother?"

Caroline sighed. "Fine." Apparently Caroline was squelching arguments with people all over today.

Without saying any more, Rebekah turned on her heels and left the Grill. But Caroline stayed rooted in her spot; her thoughts prevented her legs from moving.

Caroline thought back to the time when Klaus 'fancied' her. She knew, right from the beginning, that she would never give in to his advances. For Caroline, it wasn't even about the fact that she loves Tyler. She does, but that was never the Klaus-and-Caroline issue; as Elena showed, you can love more than one person at the same time. Caroline knew she could never have anything with Klaus because when she looks at Klaus, all she sees is her and Tyler almost being sacrificed, why Tyler became a hybrid, sire bonds, the reason why Stefan returned to his ripper ways, and the deaths of Jenna, Alaric, Elena, and now Carol Lockwood. Caroline looks at Klaus and all she can see is death and destruction and torture and manipulation.

Riley knows what has happened — Caroline had personally told her cousin all about who did what (good and bad) — but unlike Caroline, she has the clarity to see past the actions to the underlying motivations because she wasn't present when the deeds happened.

It wasn't that Riley could see deeper than Caroline; not at all. It was because Riley didn't live through all that. Riley came in during the aftermath. She was able to separate all that from Klaus and see what was beneath. She was able to see past Klaus's rough, evil, rude, temperamental exterior and see him. The real Klaus. Riley could see past all that to the things that Klaus kept buried and hidden — his emotions, his feelings, maybe even his humanity, if it still existed. Caroline had seen glimpses of it, she was sure. Riley could see these things that Caroline and her friends couldn't because she was an outsider. And because she was new.

Riley had the detachment, too, because she never knew Jenna or Alaric, and she wasn't around when everyone's main goal was to kill Klaus.

Caroline couldn't see past the past; she couldn't see past Klaus's actions. No matter how hard she may have wanted to, she just couldn't see beyond the bad. Unlike Caroline, Riley is not hindered or boggled down by the past.

And for Klaus, Caroline could see that Riley must have been like a breath of fresh air. She was someone who actually wanted to get to know him. She knew what he had done, but she was still willingly to hear or see his side. And even better, Riley wasn't afraid to scold Klaus, or try to push him that extra bit.

Caroline was beginning to better understand the relationship between Riley and Klaus.

Riley is strong, opinionated, and stubborn, but she represents something else entirely in Klaus's life.

She's the first person in possibly all of his existence to accept him all he is, flaws and all; she never tried to change him or make him act differently. She may argue with him occasionally when he does something she doesn't like, but she never asks him to do something that isn't Klaus.

And she understands him. Riley is broken, too. Not in the same way, and not to the same extent, of course, but she's still broken.

Caroline suddenly imagined them as two sections, roughly half, of one stone. They'd fit together perfectly to create a beautiful, smooth, oval-shaped stone, but separately, they were hard, sharp, jagged pieces. Each piece is a complete entity on its own. But together, they form something wonderful, marvelous, and even a little surprising.

Caroline knew that the things that attracted Klaus to her were also present in Riley, but they manifested themselves in different ways. Despite her serious and sarcastic and even caustic actions, Riley is spirited and lighthearted. Riley is a pessimist, but she tries to be optimistic; she tries to see the good in things, but she has been burned and hurt too many times.

Klaus finds joy with Riley. He's able to show her things she's never dreamt of. And he gets to relive those things through her reactions.

Riley and Klaus had a beautiful yet complex friendship that eventually grew into romance.

Caroline smiled to herself as she walked out of the Grill. She could see that now. It took time — and maybe a little force — but Caroline could finally see all of that now.

She knew she wasn't ready to have a girls' night with Riley and learn all the wonderful details about Klaus — that would take a lot more time, if it ever did happen — but she was ready to not shudder or cringe at the idea of the big bad Hybrid Original with her cousin. And for Caroline, that was an important, huge step forward.


And now, let's have some final thoughts from Riley herself to wrap things up.


I had an incredibly odd encounter with Tyler. Granted, most of my encounters with Tyler are odd, and somewhat awkward, so this really shouldn't have come as a surprise to me. But I like to think that I'm not cynical enough to not ever be surprised by people and things.

Anyway, after some major convincing, I managed to persuade Nik into letting me walk over to the Forbes house for dinner with C and Aunt Liz. He offered to drive me, and then insisted, but I declined. I wanted to walk.

We had talked about C's offer, but we both decided that Nik wouldn't accompany me. I'd tackle the milestone of Nik and I having dinner with C and Aunt Liz some other time.

I was still about a block from the Forbes house when Tyler approached me on the sidewalk.

"Hi Tyler." I had decided to try and play nice with him.

But he skipped the pleasantries and went straight to his point. "You need to be careful, Ri."

"I always am. But thanks?" His statement of apparent concern for my safety was unexpected. But I could guess the direction this conversation would take.

"Klaus killed my mother. He destroyed my life. I want nothing more than to figure out a way to kill him myself. And I won't stop coming after him just because you're with him."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at his words. "You're not telling me anything I don't already know." I knew the feelings Tyler had for Nik were at least equal to those that Nik had for Tyler. They both wanted each other dead.

"I know we were never friends — I know you hate me — but I still care about what happens to you, Ri. And this… relationship," he seemed to struggle with the word, "or whatever it is that you have with Klaus is incredibly unhealthy."

I sighed. "First of all, I don't hate you. I never have. We haven't bonded very well, and we both seem to rub each other the wrong way sometimes — okay, most of the time — but I don't hate you. We just got off on the wrong foot, I suppose. And secondly, I don't want or need your opinion of my relationship with Klaus." It felt odd to have a heart-to-heart with Tyler in one breath and still snap at him with the next.

I tried to side-step him, but he reached out and grabbed my arm as I moved past him.

"You don't get it, Riley," he said. "I think you're getting yourself into something that you won't be able to get out of."

I jerked my arm free from his grasp. "What are you talking about now?" I glared at him as I crossed my arms.

"Look, this sire bond is strong. I should have realized it was never broken, but I guess I just wanted it gone so badly that I actually believed I had broken it.

"Sometimes," he sighed before continuing, "Sometimes, through the sire bond, I can read his thoughts and feel his emotions. It's not like were telepathic or anything; I only get his thoughts or emotions when they're intensely strong. Like when you had been taken by the hybrids. Klaus knew that they were responsible. He had figured it out, immediately. So he came to me, first, to force me to tell him where they were hiding out. But I couldn't help him, Ri; I didn't know where they were. I couldn't help him find you."

Tyler looked so torn over his lack of knowledge. If he had been anyone else, I would have probably hugged him. But Tyler and I don't have an it's-okay-to-hug relationship. So I said nothing.

"But when Klaus grabbed ahold of me, as if to shake the truth out of me, I could feel how scared he was to lose you. He kept thinking 'again, no, not again.' It was like we were linked, or something. He was completely devastated. And I could feel that. I could feel all of that."

I opened and closed my mouth, but no words came out. I couldn't speak. I didn't know what to make of Tyler's disclosure. Finally, I found some words. "Why are you telling me this?"

"He's not going to let you go, Ri. If anything ever happens to you, if you ever want out—"

I shook my head as I cut him off. "It's not like that Tyler."

"Did you know what wolves mate for life?"

Now I was getting a lesson in animal biology? Tyler was all over the map today.

"No, I can't say I remember that from Animal Planet."

He rolled his eyes at my sarcasm. "Once a wolf chooses a mate, they stay with that mate for the rest of their lives." I was still confused as to why he was telling me all this. "Hybrids are werewolves by birth who were turned into vampires. That means our wolf instincts and habits don't disappear, Ri, they just get merged in with the vampire stuff. They get heightened."

"So?" I was getting exasperated; I think I had reached the limit of my Tyler tolerance for the day.

"So, if Klaus has chosen you, Ri — and it sure as hell seems like he has — then you're stuck with him. For the rest of your life."

I wanted to chuckle at Tyler's simple view on things, but I refrained. His 'for the rest of your life' sounded so melodramatic; Caroline seemed to be rubbing off on him.

I shook my head. "You're wrong, Tyler. I could never be 'stuck' with him. And besides," I said with a shrug, "That is just fine with me, because I cannot imagine ever wanting to be with someone else."


After a delicious dinner and just as she unveiled the wonderful dessert she had bought for us, Aunt Liz strongly suggested that I spend the night there, in what I guess was technically my old room — or was it still classified as my room?; I had been spending every night with Nik since before Lewis had kidnapped C and held us both in the basement of the uptown apartment building. She knew she couldn't forbid me from going back to Nik's. But she asked, and since we had enjoyed a wonderful evening, just the three of us, I agreed. I sent a text to Nik, letting him know not to expect me.

The three of us sat around the table and chatted long after we had finished our dessert. It was incredibly nice.

After we had cleaned up, we said good night and all went into our separate rooms.

I walked into my bedroom, closed the door, and turned on the light. I jumped when I saw Nik lying on my bed. My hand flew to my chest and I could feel my heart beating rapidly from the fright.

"Not expecting me, love?"

"No," I replied. "What are you doing here?"

He stood quickly and flashed over to me, standing close to me and letting his hands rest on my hips. "I wanted to see you," he said. "I don't like the idea of you sleeping here tonight."

I nodded. "It does feel odd. But you couldn't wait another eight or nine hours to see me in the morning?"

"No," Nik replied with a quick kiss.

I sighed, pulling him closer and kissing him back, wrapping my arms around his neck in such a way that allowed my fingers to play with the necklaces that showed at the back of his neck. All thoughts were soon forgotten as his hand began travelling up under the hem of my shirt, allowing his fingers to explore the skin of my stomach. I broke away from the kiss and took one of his hands, leading him backwards toward the bed. I watched Nik's eyes darken slightly as a hungry smile spread across his lips; it caused my stomach to tighten in anticipation.

I turned and pushed him down onto the bed. I climbed on top of him and straddled his stomach as I kissed him softly and slowly.

He gripped my hips again as I began peppering his jaw with kisses. I moved back to his mouth and teased him by pulling his bottom lip with my teeth. We were both surprised by the unexpected groan this action pulled from him.

He used my shock to flip us over, covering my body with his, and I rolled my eyes at the alpha male gesture. But I quickly forgot all that when he began trailing kissed down my neck, stopping to nip in places, which caused me to gasp.

He was kissing his way back up my neck when I spoke. "I want to leave Mystic Falls for a while."

He picked his head up and looked at me. "Really?"

"Yes. But only for a little while." I pointed my finger at him. "I still want to finish high school here, as previously stated."

He chuckled, more at my action than at my words.

I had been thinking about it throughout the entire day. Even though things were smoothed over with Caroline and her friends, and even Aunt Liz, I knew they all still needed time: time to adjust; and time away from Nik wouldn't hurt, either. And truthfully, I needed time, too. I needed to get out of this town, even just for a little while. After everything that had happened since I moved here, I needed some time where I was separated from Mystic Falls.

"Wherever you want to go, I'll take you," he said.

I smiled. I knew he would agree to take me anywhere. Since I had never travelled, he had so much of the world to show me and so many things he — hopefully — wanted to share with me.

"I don't know," I replied. "I told you; I've never been anywhere, so I don't care if it is just outside the state or off this continent. It really doesn't matter to me."

It was odd: I had spent most of my childhood dreaming of getting to travel and see the world. I even had a list made of the places I absolutely had to visit. But ever since Nik and I had our first 'proper' date — the dinner where we played 20 Questions (even though I never let him ask that many) — when he told me that I should see Tokyo and I gave him a small sample of the litany of places I wanted to see, that list had somehow morph from what I wanted to see to what I wanted him to show me or where I wanted to go with him.

He thought about where we should go for a moment or two as if it were the most serious idea he's ever had to ponder over. I loved that. It made me feel important and wanted.

Then he smiled. "Well, love, I know of the perfect place to start."

My smile grew wider, and I pulled his head down to bring his lips back to mine.

I didn't let him tell me where he was thinking of because, honestly, the location didn't matter. It was just a name. I didn't care where we went. I just wanted to be anywhere other than here. And I wanted us to be together. That was all that mattered.

Everything else was just frivolous and unnecessary details.


The End

A/N: I cannot believe this story is over.

I will try not to blather on here too much; I just want to thank everyone who has read "Jagged Pieces." To those who have been reading since the beginning and read every update as I posted, thank you so much for bearing with me on this story. And to those who have joined along the way, I cannot thank you enough for starting to read this story and then sticking with me. Especially to those who've started reading this in the past few months — what a monster read that must have been.

Thank you!

Every time I received a message saying someone had followed, favourited, or reviewed, it brought a huge smile to my face and only further encouraged me to carry on with this story and to make it hopefully as good as I know you deserved. I can never express my gratitude enough — words fail me — so I'll have to lamely leave you with a simple 'thank you.'

Thank you for taking a chance on me. "Jagged Pieces" is the first story I've ever posted. And it has been quite the learning experience. I have loved every moment of writing this story, and I hope you've been entertained enough not to turn away out of boredom.


And now, I ask one thing of you, dear reader:

Please leave a review. Let me know that you think.

Tell me your thoughts on the story, or the ending, or just whatever. What were your favourite parts? What were your least favourite parts? What did you find memorable? What did you find horrible or cheesy? Or horribly cheesy?

This may be the last chapter, but that doesn't mean the reviews have to stop.

Let me know. I want to know everything!

I'll even offer one myself; it only seems fair, since I'm asking for your opinion. I won't tell you my favourite moment, but I will tell you my least favourite thing about this story: I hate the first few chapters.

The first four, at least. I think they are terribly written and I don't know how I have so many readers because the initial chapters, which should grab the reader's attention, are terrible. You all must have high tolerances for bad writing. Or incredible patience to shift through the bad to when it gets not-as-bad.

I've tried to rewrite them, but the bad just doesn't go away! It's permanent. And sticky, apparently.


Okay, now it's your turn!

And while you do that, I now get to go and do the mind-blowing thing of changing the status of "Jagged Pieces" to 'complete.'

How did that happen?!