The song belongs to Michelle Branch of Maverick Records.

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Epilogue I 

Will  

~*~

Its been a long, long time

Since I looked into the mirror

Will came to a few hours later. The sun was setting as he woke, sending fireworks dancing across his eyes as he tried to sit up. The world swam across his eyes as he turned over and threw up into the sand as he remembered some of what had happened. Stars appeared in the sky as he crawled slowly across the sand towards the body that lay a few yards away from him. Connor, he remembered. He recalled seeing Serenity fly across the beach, sand flying underneath her feet as she reached out for the gun. She wanted to save me, and instead she shot her husband.

I guess that I was blind

Now my reflection's getting clearer

Connor's skin looked pale in the starlight and Will could make out a bullet wound in the man's chest. The man's eyes were still opened, and Will reached over weakly to close them. Slowly he slid the lids over the glazed eyes with the tips of his fingers, closing them off from their last view of the world. He tried to pick up the corpse but he was too weak. I can't move anymore.

Now that you're gone Things will never be the same Again

Will laid his head back down on the sand, as far away from the corpse as he had the strength to move himself. This can't be happening, he thought. This must be some kind of horrible dream. When I wake up, it will be Serenity's wedding day again, and she'll get married, and everything will be wrong but still it will be right because that was what was meant to be.

There's not a minute that goes by every hour of every day

You're such a part of me

But I just pulled away

Was this meant to be? He wondered. Is all this for the greater good? He glanced at Connor. It's not for his greater good, for sure…but maybe it will be better in the end. The nauseated feeling was still in his stomach, dragging him down and making sleep impossible. The sand was rough and grainy against his skin and some of the grains had slipped into his clothes. I need to go home. I need to go home. Again he tried to pick himself up, but he was still dazed. I had a head wound… he realized. I should probably see a doctor…I can tell the doctor that the body's here…I need to go home. Leaving the body on the sand like some kind of monument to the events of the day, he dragged himself back through sunshine and wind and hurricane winds to Doctor Hinton's house, stopping to save Serenity and Kieran on the way…

I know you had to go away

I died just a little

And I feel it now

You're the one I need

"Doctor," he groaned at the front door, slumping down against it. His head knocked against it as he lost energy and finally succumbed to the sleep that had been threatening to take him again since he had woken up.

He woke up again six hours later in the parlor of the doctors home, in the same room that he had waited with Serenity and Kieran and Barnaby. Why can't we have those days back? Why isn't Serenity sleeping in my lap? Where are the winds of the hurricane?

I believe that I would cry just a little

Just to have you back now

Here with me

"Head wound," he heard someone mutter.

"Serenity…" groaned Will.

"It's not as bad as it might have been…he'll be disoriented for a few days, yes, but whatever struck him didn't strike him with that much force. The gun that you found which was supposedly thrown at him must have been thrown at a distance."

You know that silence is loud

When all you hear is your heart

And I wanted so badly just to be a part

Of something strong and true

But I was scared and left it all behind

"Daniel!" yelled Will at the top of his lungs.

               "How long has he been talking?"

               "He said something about a hurricane when we brought him in…he's been muttering names ever since."

               "What names?"

               "Um…Connor, he said…Connor and Serenity, and then Kieran…I think he may have said something about a Barnaby, also."

               "Ah… I see…"

And I'm asking

And I'm wanting you to come back to me

Please?

               "Save me," said Will.

I never will forget that look upon your face

How you looked away and left

Without a trace

But I understand that

You did what you had to do

And I thank you

               "We're working on it, son. Go back to sleep."

               Sleep…  

I know you had to go away

I died just a little

And I feel it now

You're the one I need

               Will found himself standing on the beach, the conch necklace digging into his hand. "This was for you, Serenity!" he yelled. But it was only a dream.

And I feel it now

You're the one I need

A week later found Will once more on the steps of the governor's household, the sword in his hands. He was welcomed into their home once more, a familiar face, and he waited for the governor in his parlor. He saw a light fixture and touched it, and it broke off in his hands. Much like everything else that I've ever touched, he thought dryly as he hid it in an umbrella stand.

I believe that I would cry just a little

Just to have you back now

Here with me

               "Good day, Sir, I have your order," he said, drawing the sword out of its scabbard. "The blade is folded steel, that's gold filigree laid into the handle. If I may?"

               Elizabeth looked as beautiful as ever, but everything was tainted now. His world was tainted, and the only time he could forget about everything seemed to be when he was around Elizabeth.

               "At least one more time, as always, Miss Swann…"

Here with me