A/N: Alright. Last chapter. Of the WHOLE story. Sigh. It's been a great long journey. And I'd do it again. I just wanted to make clear that the D.C. chapters are not all the same day. Or even the next day. We'll say the trip was about 4 days. But, it's D.C. so the majority of it would be educational stuff. Anyways, here it is. Yeah, another song is in this chapter. Last chapter was kind of spur of the moment inclusion of the song. But this one has been set for this for weeks. I do not own it. But it is amazing. And I think it works really well with the story.

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---: Why do you find it complicated?

Chapter 7: The Long Road Home

~Gordo~

Call me crazy, but I believe her. I want to believe her. I need to believe her. She's the only person that'll ever make me feel perfect. And she's the only person that'll upset me as much as she does She's the only person that will make me forget to breathe. She's the only person I need. Let's face it, I'm her Konstantine.

We're at the dreaded airport again. I'm standing next to Jack and Lizzie and her roommates are ahead of us. As much as I want to tap her on the shoulder and ask her to sit next to me, I can't do it. It's still too difficult with us. At this point, maybe we both need a little space from each other. To recover from all of this.

Jack and I take our tickets and find our seats. The plane set up is different than before. There's two aisles. And three groups of seating. Two sets of two and a set of three in each row. Jack and I are in the group of two and Lizzie, Rachel and Kate are in a group of three right next to Jack. Who wanted the aisle.

Rachel and Lizzie were talking and I pretended to be listening to whatever Jack was talking about. But, I just couldn't concentrate on the present. It still didn't seem real.

And because I'm still the same Gordo, I don't have those nerves of steel. I can't just walk up to Lizzie and tell her everything's okay. Not only because it isn't, but I couldn't say it even if it was. It took me years to tell her I loved her for the first time, I just don't have the courage to put it all on the line again.

But she needs to know. I know she's hurting. I hate it when she cries. I hate it when I make her cry. I can't even think of a time when I made her cry prior to all of this. I don't like it. I just screwed up. She just screwed up. We're human. It's allowed every once in awhile.

I only want to protect her and make sure she stays happy. Was I too concerned about keeping her happy that she became unhappy? Is that why she cheated on me with...come to think of it. I don't even know this guy's name.

There's only one thing that will sum up all of my feelings. One thing that will make her see that she still is the only one.

I grabbed my notebook and tore out a piece of paper. Clutching my pen, I began to write the lyrics I had known for years. The only ones that would work now.

I finished quickly and thought of where to go from here. Lizzie had fallen asleep and I didn't want to wake her. She was close enough though. I fashioned a paper airplane out of the note and aimed towards her tray table. I prayed that it would get to her. Gliding through the air, it poked her arm and fell right in the center of the table. It didn't even wake her up.

"Jack, I need to go to the bathroom." I said a few minutes later.

"I'm getting up." Jack got up and let me out.

~Lizzie~

The rustling of people beside me stirred me awake and I saw Gordo walk towards the bathroom. I followed him until he entered the stall. I refuse to cry anymore though. I've cried the past four days nonstop and I'm not going to cry today. Nope. Not me.

"Did we get drinks already?" I asked, turning to Rachel.

"I think we're getting them now." She pointed over to the stewardesses with the drink cart. Good. I'm thirsty.

"M'am, what would you like to drink?" The cart was now in front of me.

"A coke please." My drink was handed to me with a napkin and a bag of pretzels. I set the items on my tray table and stopped short. What's a paper airplane doing on my tray table. It said, "Open" on one of the wings, so I opened it.

"This is for you, McGuire:

^ Tonight it's very clear

As we're both lying here

There's so many things I wanna say

I will always love you

I will never leave you alone

Sometimes I just forget,

Say things I might regret

It breaks my heart to see you crying

I don't want to lose you

I could never make it alone

Cause I am the man who will fight for your honor

I'll be the hero that you're dreaming of

Gonna live forever knowing together

That we did it all for the glory of love

You keep me standing tall

You help me through it all

I'm always strong when you're beside me

I have always needed you

I could never make it alone...

Cause I am the man who will fight for your honor

I'll be the hero that you're dreaming of

Gonna live forever knowing together

That we did it all for the glory of love

It's like a knight in shining armor from a long time ago

Just in time I'll save the day take you to my castle far away...

I am the man who will fight for your honor

I'll be the hero that you're dreaming of

Gonna live forever knowing together

That we did it all for the glory of love ^

We ended our relationship on an airplane, could it be started again on one?"

"Jack." I whispered over to Gordo's and my neighbor.

"Yeah?" He looked at me quizzically.

"Can you do me a favor?"

"Depends. But I'm listening." I smiled and made my offer.

~Gordo~

I opened the door to the little cubicle of a bathroom. I hardly ever have to go on flights, but when you gotta go, you gotta go.

I started back towards my seat, not really paying attention. I gazed down the row I was seated in and stopped. What's going on?

My gaze went past Jack's current position to his old one. Next to me. It wasn't empty though. She saw me coming and stood to let me in.

I sat down in the seat and watched her. Waiting for some sort of movement.

"We've been through a lot, Gordo."

"Yeah, we have." I don't know where this is going.

"Yeah." She nodded. And bit her lip. I hate when she bites her lip. It only makes me want to kiss her even more. And since I haven't in a long time, I really want to kiss her. "But this is probably the hardest test we've been put through. And I'm really sorry that I was the reason for it." She continued.

"I know you are."

"And I want you to know, I think it was a good test for us."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I've learned a lot from it. I've always felt that I wanted to love you forever, but now I know, that all I'll ever need is your love."

"I only need you too, Lizzie." I responded, pulling her into a hug.

"Gordo, wait I'm not done." I pulled away from her, but kept my arms around her. "I don't want to go back to where we were." WHAT? "Don't look so scared. I just think we need to start slow. Start over."

"You had me worried there. Starting anew sounds good to me."

And she kissed me. "Better than Jenn?" She whispered playfully afterwards.

"No contest. What about Florida boy?"

"What about him?"

"I believe someone is avoiding the question."

She laughed. "You could take him on any day. You are my knight in shining armor, after all."

A/N: Now, clicky clicky over to the Inspirations chapter. REIVEW!