A.N. The final chapter of Destiny's Choice, a closing tale of Jak's search for peace. I thank you all profusely for the support and praise that you have given this story, without you it would have come to nothing so once again, thank you. For those of you with an interest this chapter does contain references to Jak 3 but mainly focuses on the events of Jak 2 and this game. Enjoy.

The Visionary

Chapter Eleven- Ever After

Keira's bed beckoned her the moment that she was back in her apartment, the mere sight of her soft mattress and pillows enough to remind her that she had not slept but for a few fitful naps in almost two days, more than long enough for fatigue to build. She had not Jak's stamina when it came to these matters but was determined that when he returned, and he would return, she would be ready for him. A coffee later she headed for the shower, washing the dust and sweat of over two days from her skin and hair, revelling in the feel of the warm cascade. It was only as she emerged that she remembered most of her things were now split between the palace and the apartment above Daxter's bar.

No matter, she would only entertain one guest and he would not mind how she dressed. She pulled on a warm, heavy bathrobe over a white vest and underwear, the light blue material of the robe soft against her skin as she settled into a plush, comfortable chair by the window. Her eyes scanned the deserted roads slowly as she waited for any sign, another coffee in her hand to stave off sleep. Beside her a radio quietly droned with repeats of Ashelin's announcements, her voice speaking in a calm, measured pace that soon overrode the caffeine coursing through her system.

By the time the constant repeats were broken by Ashelin's voice ringing out from the palace gates sleep had long claimed her and she rested, curled up in her chair as her coffee lay cooling upon the windowsill. She slept straight through the rising sound and then ceasing of an engine tone outside followed by a quick, congratulatory conversation from below as Sig met her visitor. Even his engine was not enough to wake her as the thick glass of her windows muted the sounds of his exit and so it was that when he entered that was how he found her.

A smile flitted across his features as he saw her there, her locks of emerald hair falling loosely over the side of the chair, the sunlight spilling in through thin net curtains to pick out the soft shadows of her face. Despite his heavy boots he was noiseless as he scooped her gently up into his arms and moved toward the bed, exhaustion keeping her from waking as she burrowed unconsciously deeper into his chest, his familiar warmth. Laying her in place upon her bed he took a moment to simply admire her as she slept, delicate hands curled daintily under her chin as he let her sleep on, she had earned her rest, she had earned a lot more to him. It would have been so easy for her to simply walk away when he had been first taken to the palace and a hundred other times, but she had stayed, for him. God how he loved her for that.

As he turned away from the bed he caught sight of himself in the full-length mirror that stood against the wall, the sight bringing a grimace to his lips. The fight had stayed with him, his shirt tattered and burnt to little more than rags, his gloves bearing flecks of debris and worse, his boots the same, he knew that he probably stank of battle as well, sweat and burning o-zone mingling in an unpleasant cocktail. Stripping off he moved into her bathroom, tossing everything but his trousers and undergarments into the trash rather than the laundry, they were good for little else. He sighed as he stepped into the shower and the hot water ran gently down his back, a soothing sensation that undid most of the knots in his muscles, working to ease the tension that had built up for so long.

As he the water collected in rivulets over his muscles he remembered that she lay peacefully upon her bed not five paces from where he stood beneath the shower and let a smile cross his face. It seemed as though washing the dirt of the battle from his body also washed away the pressures it had put on him, letting him ease away from the combat that his mind had been in constant readiness for. For the first time since he had left this room he let himself relax, totally, letting his guard drop as he allowed his ears to listen only to the sounds of the water against the enamel. For too long they had strained to hear the engine tones of approaching danger or the whispered words and quite steps of an assassin.

He took his time as he cleansed himself, a luxurious fog of steam rising around him as a layer of condensation built upon every surface accompanied only by his slow breathing, each one almost a sigh. As he stepped from the shower he towelled off briskly, tying his hair back into a rough ponytail rather than bother bullying it into it's swept back locks, a sudden need for comfort rising in him and melting away the drive and energy he had displayed for so long. For decencies sake he pulled on the clothes he had kept before moving from the room, pausing in the door for a moment to watch her as she slept still. His eyes fell upon the chair that he had found her in and with the same noiseless ease with which he had moved her he silently manhandled the chair until it was within reach of the bed, settling into it's leather embrace with a grateful sigh.

He watched her carefully as she slept, the slow, steady rise and fall of her chest beneath the robe, the tiny, unconscious movements of her eyes and hands as dreams or some other force guided her in sleep. Later he would take her in his arms and kiss her, and hold her, and make love to her as they celebrated their freedom, his freedom, but for now he felt something he had not felt for so, so long. He felt content. At this moment though, everything was right in his world and he could sleep, knowing that he would not be awoken by the sound of gunfire, or of angry shouts, only by her touch and her voice. With this pleasant prospect ahead of him he let his head roll to the side to rest against the blue dyed leather and was soon as deep in sleep as she, the pair silently sleeping off the ordeal that they had faced together.

Four Years Later

The Senator's War as it had been dubbed was not the last trouble to confront Jak and tear him from her arms but always he returned to her side. The cityscape changed over the years, Ashelin's wise hand at work as the air cleared and the buildings cleaned, even dead-town brought back into the fold once it was drained. The reconstruction work was still on going and everywhere throughout the city cranes and construction zoomers rose above scaffolding as finished buildings gleamed in the summer sun. Jak's influence had only grown with time, every crisis in some way calling upon him to remedy it and he had accepted eventually at least some of the accolades lain at his feet. However he still pointedly refused the throne or any real fame, settling into a role overseeing the training of the new recruits of the Haven Guard.

A generous salary and endless favours to call upon had granted him a newly built house by the racing stadium, a spacious, three storey affair with a flat-roof that held a lovingly tended garden, the cleaner air of the area allowing flowers to bloom in their neat beds. Below it his bedroom showed how little his tastes had changed, no trace of pretentiousness in the fine but functional furnishings, light blues and whites decorating most of it. In accordance with his wife's tastes the main feature was a magnificent king-sized, four-poster bed. But this was a Saturday and Jak had long ago squashed the idea that six days out of seven away from Keira was an acceptable situation so upon this and every weekend their home was a secretive cottage in the Haven Forest.

The setting was ideal, straight from every fantasy tale, surrounded on all sides by unspoilt forest, jungle plants dotting the riverside as it wound it's way past the tranquil setting. Two floors of logs with a balcony over a porch, a sleek, powerful zoomer parked close by it nestled within a grove of tall, broad leafed trees that provided a shaded canopy. As the morning broke sunlight filtered through to cast streams of light through the glass, balcony doors, picking out motes of dust within the bedroom as upon the large, king-sized bed the couple began to stir.

Keira's slim frame rested against his muscled chest, his arm curled protectively around her waist. Time had done little to her features, still soft and beautiful, her eyes as bright as ever, contentment radiating from her as she lay with him, a small, lazy smile on her face. It had done little to him either, maturing his face a little and a choice of his own shortening his hair to a more manageable length, the mane now a sharp, controlled sweep of locks, the green tint at his forehead and temples lengthening to streak his whole head. They lay together in silence, none of the love that they bore for each other having lessened in their three years of marriage as they shared their presence, watching the shapes of birds flit from tree to tree as the forest animals switched shifts.

She turned slowly, lying against him as her arms circled his torso, her hair splaying out across his chest as the taper of her elven ear settled against his heartbeat, listening to the steady, soothing rhythm. His muscled arms surrounded her slowly, wrapping around her shoulders to pull her up to his lips.

'Keira.' He spoke her name softly, years of peace taking the edge from his voice, it's tone still deep and bass but no longer as dangerous as it had been.

She had shut her eyes as he claimed a kiss from her lips and opened them slowly as he spoke, smiling as she shifted to lay across his chest, her eyes still on his. 'Hmm?'

'How's my son?'

She smiled slowly, contentment radiating from her as she took his hand in hers and guided it to the low mound of her belly. 'Your daughter's fine Jak, she's still asleep.' Four months ago they had been ecstatic to find that they would be parents, nothing had changed since then but for the small banter as to the nature of their child.

One of his hands stroked her cheek slowly before moving to play gently with her hair as he looked down at her. 'You're going to be the most beautiful mother in the world, you know that don't you.'

She pressed a kiss to his palm, 'And you're going to be the best father in the world.' They shared a moment of happy silence before she spoke again. 'Have you thought about when we're going to tell dad?'

'I was thinking of announcing it at Daxter's wedding next month, hopefully Samos'll be happy enough with the occasion to only level one city block.'

She giggled quietly at the smile that crossed his face and swatted his shoulder playfully, 'You be nice.'

She suddenly shivered as a spark ran the length of her spine, a tingle that hit every nerve with a blossom of pleasure, she closed her eyes and sighed blissfully for a moment before she returned her gaze to him, a smile on her lips as she watched his smirk. Ever since he had learned to cast white eco from his body Jak had been a truly magnificent lover and setting her body to trembling had become one of his favourite hobbies. He leaned over and pressed a slow kiss to her lips, massaging them gently with his own.

'I'm always nice, Keira, you should know that by now.'

She smiled at him as the memory of the eco in her body tingled through her, her arms wrapping around his neck slowly. The dizzying thought that she had this to look forward to every morning for the rest of her life spiralled through her mind and she sat up, sitting astride his lap.

'Shut up and kiss me Jak.' He obeyed with relish, enclosing his wife in an embrace as he leant in to taste her lips once more, knowing that for the rest of his life she would be his and that nothing, no-one would ever come between them again. His life had never been a fairy tale, he had fought and bled and almost died countless times through it's course. But right now, with her in his arms, happily ever after had finally come true.

The End

A.N. There you have it, an ending that I hope meets all of your expectations. Again I thank you all for your support, those of you such as Curiosity Inc and Lady Xiu Mei Pheonix have been the force that kept this story going and so my special thanks to you, I could never have finished this story without your honest critiques and reviews. The Haven Hero teaser is posted as the next chapter but for now please tell me what you thought of it and let me know if I did a good job of bringing this story to a close.

Go with God

The Visionary