A/N: *sniff* I can't believe its really over! But never fear, the sequel is on its way!
Coming soon to a computer near you: "Turning Back", the last story in the Emperor's
Dagger Trilogy. Hope to see you there.
And now for the promised (and much deserved) thank yous!
Huge thanks to:
Serpantina Malfoy (who has an AWESOME name! ^_~)
KHT
Leuca
Lily
SuziBeAn
Lily Lupin the first
Mei Leng
Wanda
Airlian
Lily82
Lelattha
Sakura Lupin
Idria
Bean3
NotSure
Much love, thanks, and chocolate frogs to these fabulous people who reviewed several
times:
Star Gazer17
Brooke Kenobi
SilverPhoenixWings (I love you so much chica! Thanks for being an awesome friend!)
K-da-great
Just_a_girl_56
Chocolate and roses and a Nimbus 2000 for those special and much-loved reviewers who
really support me and help me be a better writer:
---Shadow Phantom: Hey girl! You have always been one of my best reviewers. Thank
you so much for your feedback! It really helps me to stay with it. Much love!
---Shadow Graffiti: I love you. Seriously. Did you know you were my very first reviewer
for this story? You encourage me so much, reminding me to keep at it and stick with it. A
very serious thank you and a very hyper happy dance!
---Britz: Honey, I know you haven't reviewed this, technically, but ff.net hated you
forever and you emailed about it, so it's the same thing! You are a wonderful reader and
an even more wonderful friend. I love you!!! REALLY!!!!!!! Thanks for being there for
me, for more than just fanfiction….*wink*
THIS STORY IS DEDICATED TO STAR*DUST AND SIERRA CHARM!!!!!
~~~Star*dust: If it weren't for you this story would be nowhere. Period. End sentence.
Seriously, think about all the stuff you've helped me with, all the times we've imed or
even *gasp! The horror!* Talked on the phone (or in person, for that matter) about this
story and many, many others? You keep my writing alive, and I just want to thank you
for doing that! *gives unwanted hug…oh just get over it!*
~~~Sierra Charm: Darling! How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…can't count that
high! Same goes for you as with s*d, without you guys this story, as well as all my others
(and there are enough, aren't there?) would be nowhere. (well…there might still be a
trillion alternate endings…but we won't get into that right now.) THANK YOU SO
MUCH for everything. Love you a million times over!
*Sniffles* Well, this is it, folks! See you in the sequel….
Epilogue:
New Beginnings
Several people glared at the young woman as they left. She glared back. It wasn't her
fault if the infant had cried as the plane landed.
The child was beautiful. Anyone would agree, even the disgruntled passengers who had
to listen to him scream. His soft tufts of hair were a shimmering auburn and his eyes were
a deep, warm brown that reminded one of chocolate. The boy was wrapped in a meager
blanket, betraying his mother's financial status.
His mother was also beautiful. And young…young enough for many older matrons to tut
disapprovingly. The mother didn't care. They didn't matter in the scheme of things. But
her son mattered.
The airport was huge. It took her several minutes to get oriented. Her first stop was a
restroom. She waited until everyone was gone. She didn't take even a moment to bask in
the solitude she loved. She carefully placed her son on the counter, securing him in the
blanket.
Reaching into her carry on bag, she pulled out a long, thin stick of wood. She looked at it
for a moment, remembering. Then she took one end in her left hand and one in her right,
closed her eyes and gritted her teeth.
And snapped it.
The child began to wail at the top of his lungs. She picked him up and whispered
soothing words, then tossed the two uneven halves of the stick in the waste basket just as
another lady entered, scowling at the howling infant and its much-too-young mother. The
child continued to wail as its mother carried it out of the airport and into New York City
to begin a new life.
The child's name was Charlie. His mother's name was Grace. They were beginning a life
that would require them to run for evil for the rest of time. Grace had left her family,
never turning back.
And she never intended to return.
Coming soon to a computer near you: "Turning Back", the last story in the Emperor's
Dagger Trilogy. Hope to see you there.
And now for the promised (and much deserved) thank yous!
Huge thanks to:
Serpantina Malfoy (who has an AWESOME name! ^_~)
KHT
Leuca
Lily
SuziBeAn
Lily Lupin the first
Mei Leng
Wanda
Airlian
Lily82
Lelattha
Sakura Lupin
Idria
Bean3
NotSure
Much love, thanks, and chocolate frogs to these fabulous people who reviewed several
times:
Star Gazer17
Brooke Kenobi
SilverPhoenixWings (I love you so much chica! Thanks for being an awesome friend!)
K-da-great
Just_a_girl_56
Chocolate and roses and a Nimbus 2000 for those special and much-loved reviewers who
really support me and help me be a better writer:
---Shadow Phantom: Hey girl! You have always been one of my best reviewers. Thank
you so much for your feedback! It really helps me to stay with it. Much love!
---Shadow Graffiti: I love you. Seriously. Did you know you were my very first reviewer
for this story? You encourage me so much, reminding me to keep at it and stick with it. A
very serious thank you and a very hyper happy dance!
---Britz: Honey, I know you haven't reviewed this, technically, but ff.net hated you
forever and you emailed about it, so it's the same thing! You are a wonderful reader and
an even more wonderful friend. I love you!!! REALLY!!!!!!! Thanks for being there for
me, for more than just fanfiction….*wink*
THIS STORY IS DEDICATED TO STAR*DUST AND SIERRA CHARM!!!!!
~~~Star*dust: If it weren't for you this story would be nowhere. Period. End sentence.
Seriously, think about all the stuff you've helped me with, all the times we've imed or
even *gasp! The horror!* Talked on the phone (or in person, for that matter) about this
story and many, many others? You keep my writing alive, and I just want to thank you
for doing that! *gives unwanted hug…oh just get over it!*
~~~Sierra Charm: Darling! How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…can't count that
high! Same goes for you as with s*d, without you guys this story, as well as all my others
(and there are enough, aren't there?) would be nowhere. (well…there might still be a
trillion alternate endings…but we won't get into that right now.) THANK YOU SO
MUCH for everything. Love you a million times over!
*Sniffles* Well, this is it, folks! See you in the sequel….
Epilogue:
New Beginnings
Several people glared at the young woman as they left. She glared back. It wasn't her
fault if the infant had cried as the plane landed.
The child was beautiful. Anyone would agree, even the disgruntled passengers who had
to listen to him scream. His soft tufts of hair were a shimmering auburn and his eyes were
a deep, warm brown that reminded one of chocolate. The boy was wrapped in a meager
blanket, betraying his mother's financial status.
His mother was also beautiful. And young…young enough for many older matrons to tut
disapprovingly. The mother didn't care. They didn't matter in the scheme of things. But
her son mattered.
The airport was huge. It took her several minutes to get oriented. Her first stop was a
restroom. She waited until everyone was gone. She didn't take even a moment to bask in
the solitude she loved. She carefully placed her son on the counter, securing him in the
blanket.
Reaching into her carry on bag, she pulled out a long, thin stick of wood. She looked at it
for a moment, remembering. Then she took one end in her left hand and one in her right,
closed her eyes and gritted her teeth.
And snapped it.
The child began to wail at the top of his lungs. She picked him up and whispered
soothing words, then tossed the two uneven halves of the stick in the waste basket just as
another lady entered, scowling at the howling infant and its much-too-young mother. The
child continued to wail as its mother carried it out of the airport and into New York City
to begin a new life.
The child's name was Charlie. His mother's name was Grace. They were beginning a life
that would require them to run for evil for the rest of time. Grace had left her family,
never turning back.
And she never intended to return.