A/N: Well, here it is, the last chapter in the story!! Can you believe it? Hehehe well, I hope you like it, and I also hope that you liked the rest of the story. I had lots of fun writing it, and I really do apologize for taking so long to complete it!! Anyway I want to thanks EVERYONE who took the time to read and/or review this story!!! You guys are wonderful!

Disclaimer: Hmm well, I'm still the same, broke, teenaged girl I was for the entire writing of this story so please don't sue me now that the story is over. I don't own anything in here that isn't mine though mostly everything is from my crazy imagination!!!

Summary: The last chappie! Hmm what shale I say about it??? Well, it's a bit strange but I hope you still like it! I threw it a weird "encounter" I hope it wasn't too far out there ~_

***It's the last chappie so if you haven't R/R before this is your last chance `- ***

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The world was a glow. A blurry halo encircled a young woman's face... a familiar young woman's face. My mother's face. Suddenly, a man appeared over her shoulder, smiling... my father.

"Isn't she the prettiest baby?" He gently asked.

My mothers smile grew even larger at his words, "Yes, yes she is." She replied.

I could only stare at them... no words would find me, yet I felt no need for words. I was perfectly content... life was wonderful.

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of bright light. The comforting scene was gone, and the world was now dark and cold. I was five years old and very much alone... except for my cruel uncle. I was standing by my self in a graveyard, two freshly churned piles of dirt extending out in front of me... my parents graves. This day had always haunted me, but now I was there, reliving it again.

I kneeled down upon the hard ground, and burst into tears. Why? Why me? Why had God done this to me? I, more then anything wanted them back. Never again would I be able to hug them, never again would I be kissed by them and told, "I love you", never again would I see their smiling faces, looking back at me, never again..

Another blinding flash and I found myself looking around a crowded cafeteria. I was in high school, my freshman year to be precise. My friends were blabbing away about boys, homework, teachers... pretty much anything and everything. Yet, today I was out of the loop. I sat at the end of our table, which was strange, as I was normally the center of the conversation. I was staring off into space, giving myself goosebumps as I thought of the previous night. He had been drunk... drunker then he had been in a long time. I couldn't sleep, worried that if did I wouldn't wake up. I heard his screams from down below, his hollers. I heard him banging about, cursing, and yelling. Suddenly, I heard him howl my name, and I knew I needed to run, run away fast. I heard him began to climb the stairs, banging as he went, shouting my name once more. I hurried over to the window, quickly, and silently climbing out into the grass... thank god it was late May, and warm. I quickly sprinted to the only hiding space in our open field of a yard... a towering Oak tree, which in times of need I would climb to the very top and wait out my uncles crazed bouts of drunkenness...

The bright light flashed again. This time I found my self on graduation day... all alone. My friends were all hugging and kissing their mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters... but there was no one there for me. The only person I had in the world was at home, getting drunker by the second. I felt a deep sadness welling up inside of me. Why God, why me? I wasn't sure how much longer I could handle it... I hated being alone, unloved, while everyone else had dozens of people who were so proud of them and their accomplishments. No one was proud of me. No one was there to tell me I was doing well, to complement me, and even worse, to tell me that they loved me... that was only a phrase. A phrase I longed to hear. I felt tears building up in my eyes, and I quickly turned and ran....

There was no flash of light after this scene. A white haze engulfed my view. I felt a lingering feeling of sadness... suddenly a face appeared. It was Danny. He looked so upset, so despaired. I could see tears forming in the backs of his eyes. She's dead, some one was saying. I knew then why he was sad... and, I knew who was dead. No! I'm not dead! I'm perfectly fine! I tried to shout out, but he couldn't hear me. Suddenly, more things came into focus around him and his face... he was in a white room, filled with chairs. There were people around him... the children. I had never seen such upset looks on their faces.

"Why?" It was Audrey, "Why did God do this to me?"

I recognized that sentence, that look and that feeling. My heart shattered. How could this have happened... especially to them! They had already lost a mother once...

"Yes they did," A soft voice interrupted my thoughts.

I blinked; trying to find the source of the tone... and suddenly the waiting room was gone. A beautiful woman dressed in white, with long golden hair, stood in front of me. She wore a peculiar smile, and she was looking directly at me.

"Maria," she began, "Do you know who I am?"

I shook my head, in such shock that words would not find me.

"My name is Patricia Easton. I was once Danny's wife."

Her words hit me hard, and suddenly I felt guilty. My nerves began to tingle all over. Why is she here talking to me? Is she angry with me for marrying him? Oh Lord, what does she want???

I heard a light, airy laugh, causing me to re-focus on her.

"Maria, I am not angry at you for marrying him! In fact, I am most grateful to you for saving his life and the children's." Her face and tone suddenly changed to more serious, "Though, something tells me, their lives weren't the only ones saved"

My thoughts suddenly began to un-fog, and I found myself able to speak.

"B-but... it's because I married him that I'm dead now."

Patricia began to laugh once more.

"My dear, you are not dead! You are just in a coma, which you will wake up form in..." She paused, looking upward, "exactly 45 seconds."

"45 seconds?!" I was desperately confused.

"Yes... so let me speak before it's too late," She gave me a knowing look and then continued, "You are a wonderful person, Maria. Whether you realize it or not, God has blessed you. You had a very hard, loveless childhood, my dear, but God has made up for that by giving more love as an adult then any one person could ever understand. I don't think you will ever really understand how much Danny and the children love you... but you should know that it is beyond infinite."

She paused, and we shared a few seconds of silence together. I began to puzzle over everything she had just told me. I was confused as to what she was getting at, yet at the same time I yearned to understand. Sensing her eyes on my head, I looked up.

"Your confused as to what I'm getting at," She said, "Well, let me just say this Keep your face to the sunshine, and you will never see the shadows"

With her last words everything suddenly began to spin, swirling together. And, with a bang, my eyelids flew open. The dreamy sensation I had felt seconds earlier was gone. Everything was crisp and clear. Trying to get a better view of my surroundings, I attempted to sit up. An immense pain shot threw my side and I was forced back to my pillows, gasping. I suddenly heard a low chuckle coming from my left side. Showily I turned my head, my eyes coming to rest on Danny.

"My love, I'm afraid you won't be able to bounce around as usual for a little while. It's not everyday one gets shot."

I found myself breaking into a grin. He could always make a joke of things... yet, I could still see a smudge of worried relief in his eyes.

"Am I to gather," I began mischievously, "that you weren't even a tad bit worried about my life?"

"Not at all my darling!" Suddenly, changing his expression, he leaned over and placed a light kiss on my forehead, "Knowing how strong you are, I knew you'd pull through."

*~*~*~* Around 2 months later *~*~*~*

It was nearing sunset, and the sky was a beautiful golden pink. Spring had just arrived, and the air smelled fresh and full of life. The entire family was enjoying a lovely Sunday evening together, sitting on the back patio. The sound of a lawn mower buzzed lazily in the distance. I slowly lay down the book I had just finished reading aloud to everyone.

"That was a lovely story, Mommy." Audrey commented, baby Emily letting out a coo in agreement.

"Yes." I smiled as I looked around at the family, all of whom were there. I was amazed as to how much the world could change in such a short time. This time last year... I would think, or this time two years ago...

I looked at the children, thinking about how much they had grown. Amanda was 18 years old, and two months shy of her high school graduation. She would be headed off to college in no time... she was planing to study Child Development at the Pennsylvania State University. Zach and Hillary were also not far from graduation. They were in their junior year, and were ready for a spring of college visits. Hillary was looking into a career as a Marine Biologist, and Zach was looking forward to studding Business. The younger ones were still in Middle School or below, yet they too seemed to be growing up so fast

A loud yawn awoke me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see a sleepy group of children.

"I think it's time for bed." I softly spoke, and was not at all surprised when the children did their best to convince me, through their yawns, that they were not tired, and that they should be allowed to stay up later. Nevertheless I was able to get them inside, up stairs, teeth brushed, pajamas on and into bed within one hour... that was, excluding the older ones who were able to put themselves to bed later.

I was thrilled when my moment alone finally came. The sun had almost set, yet there was still la blue-purple haze cast over the deep sky. Whoever has been mowing their lawn earlier had finished, and now only the sound of birds nesting in the hedges around our lawn filled my ears. I was standing in the late evening air, on the balcony outside our bedroom. The crickets had begun to chirp once more, and I was consumed by the sweet smell of blossoming flowers. I was so much in my own little world, that I was completely oblivious to Danny, who practically startled me to death when he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Hello, I see you weren't expecting me." He whispered in my ear, after I had jumped in his arms.

"You know," I began, "It would be really nice if you wouldn't actually try to scare me."

I heard his lovely chuckle fill me ear.

"And where, may I ask, would the fun be in that, hmm?"

Laughing, I turned in has arms to face him, wrapping my own around his neck.

"Darling, you never cease to amuse me." I said, smiling up at him.

"You know," he began mischievously, "It was a night just like this that we first kissed... do you remember?"

"How could I not?" I mused.

"Oh, I don't know. It's just that this past year has been so hectic... I thought that maybe the memory decided to hide it's self?"

"Hmm," I smiled as I spoke, "You know, I think it might have. Perhaps, you should remind me?"

"Oh, that sounds like a good idea to me." Danny whispered, as he slowly bent over to place a soft kiss upon my lips...

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FIN!!! Oh, wait, I forgot... And they lived happily ever after... The End.

Hehehe... well I must say, I never thought this story would end! It only took me 7 months and 2 days to write it! Anywho... I would be really appreciative if you could leave me some last reviews... reviewing the story as a whole. That would be really great... and thanks once more to everyone who read my story! I'm really grateful to you all... thanks ^_^