Wow! Thanks for the amazing response to last chapter guys!
Shout out to:
*xBravex-Thanks :) I know, but thanks for that too!
*nosferatufan-Thank you! I know :/ It's because all my new writing is 3rd person and I was getting mixed up :P I'll edit better but thanks for pointing that out!
*Serena Sterling-I know, I know :,( It was just her time, she needed some peace. Thanks :)
*Tesla424-I know :( But thank you, that's so sweet :)
*wildanimal1- :)
*Bre-I know :(
*SimplyTxylor-I hate it too :P I'm sorry you sobbed..sort of :P No, really, I hope you're functioning again!
I just want to say a huge thank you for the support and I know, it sucks i'm finishing this up but it's best this way :) And of course, RIP Erica!
..
Ashlee's p.o.v
We drive home in the Camaro, because Scott, Peter and Derek came after me in it.
It's quiet as we drive, but that's understandable after everything that's happened in the past week. I lean my head againist the window, looking at the colours racing by as the sun starts to set and the darkness kicks it's way in. Derek's no longer a wolf, he's human again and dressed. He sits in the back with me, his hand on my knee gently. Peter drives and Scott sits in the passenger's seat. This is going to sound morbid, I don't really care, but Erica's carefully laid in the boot.
We weren't going to leave her there.
She's coming with us. She's coming home.
We're burying her at home. Beacon Hills.
I want to cry, mourn and grieve but honestly? I'm out of tears. I can't so much after the fight, after we'd won. I haven't cried like that in a long time. I blow out a breath, filing through a thousand and one thoughts. Derek hears me and squeezes my knee softly. I put my hand over his, squeezing it back. I feel my eyes sting with tears and i'm surprised I can produce more. But hurt like this is rentless, that loss, that pain. For all I know, I could still cry buckets if I let myself.
"Come here." Derek says, using his grip to guide me towards him. I move closer to him until i'm curled up againist his chest and his arms around around me, cradling me close with protectiveness and comfort. "I love you." He says again. I look up at him with a weak smile.
"I love you too." I say. Scott and Peter both glance back at us but neither say anything. Scott does reach back and find my hand with his, squeezing it and rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand. I let him hold my hand because it's helping comfort me as well as Derek's embrace is.
..
When you think of coming home, of having some kind of reunion, you think happiness, right? Smiles, laughter and all-round happiness? That's not what happened when we got home.
It took one look at us for the pack to know something was wrong. In fact, some of the wolves would have felt that connection snap when Erica died. Derek gets her out right away, not wanting to leave her in the back for too long. I have to look away from him and her because it's too saddening. Mom looks at me with apologetic features.
"Oh, baby." She says sadly, coming over to me. She takes my face into her hands and brings out foreheads together. I didn't think I could, but I start to cry again. I let her hold me, whisper comforting words. "I am so sorry Ashlee."
"I know." I sob. "Me too."
"It's okay, everything's gonna be okay baby, I promise." She soothes me. The pack are greeting the others, seeing I need some time to calm down and see my family before hugging them all I see Tyler. I sniff back my tears for his sake and he runs over to me. I lift him up, hugging him tightly.
"Oh, I missed you so much baby." I say, trying to stop the tears from shining in my eyes where he can see them.
"I missed you too." Tyler says, hugging around my neck tightly.
"I love you Ty, you know that, right?"
"Yes. I love you too Ashy." He says. I smile even though I feel horrible on the inside. Tyler pulls back from the hug but I keep him in my arms as I approach the pack, accepting condolences and hugs from them. It's Boyd's hug that's the most heartbreaking.
"I..i'm really glad you're okay Ash." Boyd says and his voice is shaky with his own tears.
"I'm sorry Boyd." I whisper in his ear as I hug him. "I'm so sorry. I..I-I tried." I say, starting to get upset again.
"I know, it's okay." He says, rubbing a hand up and down my back softly.
"She loved you." I tell him, my voice breaking. Boyd pulls back to look at me with swimming eyes. "She did, only you know in what way, but she did love you." I say. Boyd smiles sadly, turnign away so he can wipe the tears from his eyes before they fall in front of everyone.
I hug Stiles and John tightly, reveling in the embrace of my extended family.
"Derek?" I pull back when I hear a familiar voice call out Derek's name. Cora swallows loudly from her position on the driveway. I glance at Derek because I know he would have told her to get the hell out of trouble's way with the vampires looking for her. And she didn't listen. Cora sees Erica and I can feel, practically hear, her heart drop. "Oh my god." She says, putting a hand over her mouth. She runs over to her older brother, hugging him tightly but being careful of Erica. Derek finds a way to do both.
"You're safe now." He tells her. "I promise you, you're safe." He assures her.
"I'm sorry." She whispers, her own eyes tearing up.
"Don't apologise, this wasn't your fault." Derek tells her. Cora pulls back from Derek and looks over at me. She rushes over and hugs me too, whole-heartedly. I let Tyler down so I can hug her back properly.
"I'm so happy you're okay." She says sincerely, hugging me tightly. I nod.
"I'm glad you're okay too." I reply, biting back those pesky tears that keep trying to sneak up me. "What about your family?" I ask her, pulling back so I can look at her. "Are they safe?" I ask her.
"Yeah, they are." Cora nods. "And they're thankful, and they send their best wishes..to you both." She says the last part in a whisper, talking about me and Erica. I squeeze her shoulder and soon we're hugging again. I know it must be hard for her to be back here, and to blatantly disobey Derek too, but it's obvious that Cora needed to come all the way here for herself, not just for us. "I'm so glad Derek has you." She says in a quiet whisper that only my jaguar ears are meant to hear.
"Me too..I love him, so goddamn much." I tell her. I feel her smile and she hugs me tighter, me doing the same to her.
..
After being able to get cleaned up, shower and change, the pack stand in the woods together. We're huddled together, close, drawing comfort from each other as we all stand around Erica's grave. We wanted to do this for her right away, put her to rest as soon as we could. For her. Because she deserves it.
"I uh..I know it's corny but Erica really liked it." Lydia says. And she begins to sing.
Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
Allison joins in with her, taking one of Lydia's hands in her own.
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see
I start to sing too, looking at Scott to join in too. And he does.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
A hand slips into mine and I look at Derek with a soft smile. When he sings as well, his voice comes out husky but smooth like honey at the same time. It's beautiful.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Mom and Cora pass around bonquets of violets, Boyd tell us it's Erica's favourite flower. We all sing now, kissing the flower and placing it over her grave one by one.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will shield and portion be
As long as life endures
When it's my turn, I kiss the flower gently, placing it with the others' ones even gentler.
Yeah, when this flesh and heart shall fall
And mortal life shall cease
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun
When it falls quiet again, I kneel down beside the over-turned dirt.
"I love you sister." I say before standing again. Derek says his own goodbye. The other's follow suit, it's the last part of the ceremoney. I squeeze Derek's hand tightly and he squeezes him back. I have to say, i'm grateful there's no spiral with Erica, i'm glad that part is already done. So now? Now, this pack gets live a normal life. Well..as normal as Beacon Hills can get.
..
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One more chapter? A look in the future? I don't know yet :) But I feel like I need one ore chapter to finish this fic up! Favourite, follow and review!
