AN: We're nearing the end here folks! I have to be honest here and say I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter but I've edited and reedited so many times. I just hope I don't let you all down... Anyway, here ya go

The Beast stood tall and proud, slowly circling Johnnie as she tried to maintain her strength. The shackles around her wrists felt heavier now, her shoulders drooping a bit but she stayed perfectly still. She had to admit, she was a bit shocked he was sizing her up. She'd fully expected him to attack her immediately. Maybe not kill her right away but still make some sort of physical move. Once he'd made one full circle, he snarled at her to show dominance but she didn't flinch. She'd dealt with every personality thus far. This Beast would be no different.

"You're not afraid," he said with a dark chuckle. Johnnie shook her head.

"No," she told him, maintaining composure, "I know I could bring Kevin to the light if I wanted."

"And yet you don't," he responded, beginning the cycle once more.

"Because I now you're right," she replied, biting the inside of her cheek to keep her lip from quivering; to keep from crying. "I did hurt Kevin. Some of it wasn't my fault but the choices I made were not the right ones." Johnnie knew she had to accept her part in this. She'd been denying it for so long that she'd almost forgotten. She'd tried to move on when she should have been fighting for him.

"So, you admit you're wrong-doings?" he asked, violently grabbing her shoulders, "Then confess." Johnnie met his eyes and swallowed the newly formed lump in her throat.

"I broke my promise."

Johnnie held onto Barry's arm as they walked home that Friday, laughing at one of his lame jokes. Although her heart still yearned for Dennis sometimes, things were getting easier for her. Plus, her friendships with Kevin, Barry, Hedwig and the others kept her mind distracted enough. He hadn't reached out to her in so long anyway and she knew she needed to move on.

"Well, baby girl, I do believe this is your stop." They stopped in front of her front door and she let go of his arm, curtsying to him as he bowed.

"Oh, don't forget to tell Hedwig that World War II documentary is on tonight. It starts at seven and I will be watching if he wants to call."

"Will do," he told her, saluting . They said goodbye and she went inside where her parents were waiting for her at the kitchen table.

"How was school sweetheart?" her dad asked with a half-hearted smile.

"Fine..." she answered, setting her bad down and sitting across from them. "Clearly something is up so what's going on?"

"Look," her mom said with a sigh, "This isn't going to be easy for any of us so I'm just going to come out and say it. Your father and I have decided to get a divorce." Johnnie's heart sank. True, they never really got to see each other and argued more than she cared to admit, but she didn't think it was this bad.

"What? No... you can't do that. I hardly see you guys anyway! Now you're just going to give up and make me visit one of you on the weekends?" Her eyes went wide at the thought. "Who am I going to live with?"

"Well, that's going to be your choice. You're old enough to make that decision for yourself. Your mother is moving back to Ohio to be closer to your grandma and I'm headed dot Denver for work." Her face went stark white.

"What? No..." Her dad reached over and touched her hand but she yanked it away.

"I know this is going to be a hard change either way-"

"Hard change?" she yelled, "You're asking me to leave my friends and one of the only places I know because you can't work things out? That's bullshit!"

"Language!" her mother scolded but she didn't care.

"I can't leave Kevin. He's sick! He needs me."

"Look, we know this is hard but this is your reality now. I'm sorry it's not ideal but this is just how its going to be."

"How selfish are you?!" she screamed and stormed upstairs, slamming the door. The worst part? She didn't have the heart to tell Kevin she was leaving. She didn't tell anyone she was leaving. Not Barry, not Hedwig, not Patricia... Nobody. She didn't even risk telling the kids at school she was leaving. Instead, she wrote a letter to all twenty-three of Kevin's personalities then a letter to Kevin and stuck them in his mailbox the day she left. Each one ended the exact same way: with a promise that she would return to him again and it would be like she never left. Only, when she was finally old enough to make it back, there was no trace of Kevin or any of his personalities. His mother was dead, his house was vacant and he had vanished.

"I should have looked harder," she cried into her hands, "I shouldn't have changed my number. I should have stayed in contact... But it had been four years. I was finally over Dennis and I had my life together. I never forgot any of them and it's not like I didn't try but life just got in the way... and I'm sorry Kevin! I'm sorry..." She dropped to her knees in front of him and sobbed. The Beast was quiet as he looked down at Johnnie, the silence absolutely deafening.

"Say something!" She screamed and he knelt down to her level, placing his finger under her chin.

"The others judge you too harshly," he told her, "For you, too, are among the broken. Your choices were not ideal but it is not my place to forgive you. Only one of us can do that. It seems a few of us could use your forgiveness as well. Patricia, Jade, and Dennis especially."

"I forgive them," she sniffed and he nodded.

"Then let us once and for all decide your fate." He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, those dark, sinister irises had returned to normal and were clouded with confusion.

"Huh...?" came a soft voice as those beautiful eyes blinked rapidly. "What's going on? Where am I?"

"Kevin?" she choked out, reaching forward to touch his hand. He jerked a bit until their eyes met.

"Johnnie?" he breathed, and immediately threw his arms around her, "You came back! I've missed you so much... How long has it been?" She laughed without humor, still teary eyed.

"Too long. I am so sorry." She reached up to cup his face. "Had I stayed, maybe things would be different for you and the others..."

"But don't you see?" he whispered with an optimistic smile, "Things can only get better from here." That's when he zeroed in on her restraints. His eyes went wide and he looked up at her.

" Did.. Did I..." He looked horrified at the aspect of hurting her.

"You did nothing wrong," she assured him with a smile, pulling him in for a hug. He hugged her back, tighter this time. When his arms finally loosened, there was a shift in the air and she knew Kevin no longer had the light.

Dennis pulled back, producing a set of keys from his pocket and unlocking her shackles. Her wrists were very bruised and she rubbed them gingerly.

"The Beast is freeing you. You can go now. Some of the others don't agree but the choice has been made." She grabbed his hands and held them until he looked at her.

"You might as well put them back on because I'm not leaving your side. Not again. I don't care about our past or if you still love me. Kevin is my number one priority and I'm not moving." She crossed her arms.

"You know the things we've done... The things we're going to do and you still chose to stay?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Tell the Beast that I believe," she told him very seriously, "And that you've gained an ally."

"Who am I to argue your choices. If this is your desire, then stay but at least sleep in my bed with me instead of on the hard ground. Also, could you at least go take a shower. Your filthy..."

"Only if you come with me," she purred and he smirked, sliding his arms around her waist and pressing their lips together.

"At least then I'll know you've been properly cleaned. Deal."