Alas, FINALLY, the last chapter of this freaking fic. PHEW! Sorry it took so long. I was busy for awhile, then I was gone for awhile, then I was busy again...Anyhow. Read and review please. Also, I apologize to those of you who simply can't take this kind of thing, but there are absolutely disgusting amounts of mushy-gushy lovey-dovey stuff in this chapter. Especially at the end.
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Sure enough, there was Hannah, alive and well as the day she was born. A little pale, perhaps, her smile weak and her brown eyes cloudy, but alive and well.
"Hannah!" Dexter said cheerfully, almost knocking Howdy off his feet in his haste to stand up. He lifted Hannah, who barely had enough strength to sit up, and held her close for a few seconds. "You had me really worried there, you know."
Hannah was smiling more brightly than before when Dexter released her. "You're not the only one," she said. "When I woke up, Howdy was practically crying."
"Oh I was not," Howdy denied hastily, making it all the more obvious that it was true.
"We were all worried," Pashmina said, but her voice was solemn. "Oh, and by the way, Hannah?"
Hannah smiled at her. "Yes?"
"You can keep him." Pashmina turned and stormed out of the clubhouse.
"Wha-" Hannah started to say, trying to piece together Pashmina's words. Then it dawned on her. "Oh no...she still thinks...?"
Dexter was way ahead of her.
"Pashmina!" he shouted, hurrying out of the clubhouse behind her.
"Here we go again," Howdy mumbled, burying his face in his paws.
There was a brief, awkward silence.
Then Hannah said softly "Howdy?"
Howdy looked at her. "Yeah?"
"I love you, and I need to know that you know that."
Howdy looked surprised. "But you-"
Hannah interrupted him. "And I need to make things better."
"What?" Howdy looked at her, confused.
"I screwed everything up, okay? It's my fault and I need to fix it! I love you and you love me and Dexter loves Pashmina and Pashmina loves Dexter, okay? But right now things are all messed up and I messed them up and I feel like such a horrible -"
Hannah was suddenly aware that she was unable to finish what she was saying, because it just so happened that Howdy's lips were pressed to hers and she wasn't quite sure how they had gotten there. But she liked it.
---
"Pashmina! Wait!"
Pashmina kept running, but she was crying too, and unsteady, and when she started to stumble she felt Dexter grab her arm, then pull her around so she was facing him.
"Can't you just give me one chance to explain everything before you judge me?" he asked her, his face blurred in her vision by her own tears.
"You had your chance!" she screamed at him, trying to pull herself away, but his grip was strong. "I'm not freaking blind! I saw the way you and Hannah were hugging on each other back there! It's obvious you love her, so just leave me alone!"
"For crying out loud, Pashmina!" Dexter was shouting now too. "I'm not allowed to show the slightest sign of affection towards any other member of the opposite sex besides you, is that it? Hannah almost died!"
"I almost died!" Pashmina cried in between shaking sobs. "I almost died when I found out you didn't love me anymore!"
"I've never loved anyone but you!" Dexter replied. "Why won't you believe me?"
"Just leave me alone!" Pashmina screamed, tears racing down the sides of her face. "Just stay the hell away from me!" Without hesitation, she lifted her free paw and struck him across the face as hard as she could, harder than she thought possible. Immdiately, Dexter released her, and she turned to run, but then noticed there was a faint smear of blood on her paw. For a second she paused, trying to determine its source. She felt no pain in her paw, so why was there blood?
She turned around and looked at Dexter. He stared back at her, speechless, as a tiny stream of blood made its way slowly down the side of his face. When Pashmina slapped him, it had reopened a cut on his face inflicted by Howdy's fists of rage.
"Oh - " Pashmina said, putting a paw to her mouth. "Oh no, I didn't mean to..." There were still tears at the corners of her eyes, and she suddenly remembered why she had hit him in the first place. "What the hell am I saying?" she shouted suddenly. "Why should I care? You obviously don't mind hurting me, so why should I feel guilty about hurting you? Hell with it, you can go die for all I care! Just get out of my life!" She started to run away again, but stopped when she heard Hannah's voice.
"Surely you don't mean that."
Slowly, Pashmina turned. She hadn't noticed Howdy come out of the clubhouse carrying Hannah, who was now standing but resting her weight against Howdy.
"I mean it with all my heart," Pashmina replied coldly. "Or whatever's left of it."
"Pashmina, I have a confession," Hannah continued solemnly.
Pashmina gave her an icy stare but said nothing.
"This whole damn mess is my fault," Hannah went on. "For God's sake, Dexter was never in the least bit disloyal to you. It was my fault."
Pashmina's expression softened the slightest bit, but she still didn't appear ready to believe a word Hannah was saying. Howdy looked utterly surprised and a little confused by Hannah's words. Dexter, knowing exactly what Hannah was getting at, took a deep breath. If she believed Hannah, Pashmina at least wouldn't hate him anymore. But she would most definitely have it in for Hannah.
Sensing the others' surprise and realizing no one was about to say anything, Hannah continued. "That's right," she said, still looking Pashmina hard in the eyes. "It's a little hard to explain...I mean, it was really strange, the way I felt then...when I...when Howdy told me how he had lied to me, and -"
"Hold it, you're not gonna blame this on me, are ya?" Howdy asked her, a little startled.
"No, no, let me finish!" Hannah shouted, shaking her head. "All of a sudden then, I felt...well I...I was...I was jealous, I admit it. I mean, just seeing you two together -" She glanced at Pashmina and Dexter and then quickly looked away. "And feeling like such a fool for ever thinking that maybe Dexter had had some feelings for me before, and here Howdy had just told me how he loved me but then told me he lied to me too, and I just thought to myself, how could someone who loves me lie to me like that?" Tears were starting to glide down the sides of Hannah's face, and she trailed off and took a deep breath before going on. The others were speechless, all three of them gaping at her, wondering what exactly was going through her head.
"So I did it. I did something I never thought I was capable of, I...I just kissed him, and it felt so damn good, but only until I realized what I had done, how I had been so wrong, and then I just felt horrible, because I am, I hate myself, I -" She broke off, sobbing, but Howdy pulled her closer to him and comforted her.
"Don't you dare ever say that again," he told her. "It's not your fault. You're no worse than I am. It's my fault. God, Hannah, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel that way."
Hannah pressed her face against Howdy's fur, smearing her tears across her cheeks. Then she looked up at him, sniffling.
"No, it's okay," she said faintly. "I shouldn't have acted like such...such a child about it." Tears were still welling up in her eyes and as Howdy brushed them away Hannah turned her gaze to Pashmina.
"Pashmina." Hannah took a deep breath in an attempt to stifle her sobs. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. Please, I - I didn't mean anything, I only - I don't know what came over me." She looked as if she were about to choke on the tears she was holding back now. "I'm so sorry," she repeated.
It was silent then, for a brief moment.
Please forgive me, Hannah thought to herself, watching Pashmina's face closely.
Oh God, she's gonna kill her, Dexter was thinking.
Sweet, I can read people's minds, Howdy discovered. (A/N: Oh wait, just kidding.)
Pashmina suddenly realized that all eyes were on her, and she quickly turned away. Then she closed her eyes and tears began to fall across her face as well. Before anyone knew what was happening her face was buried in her paws and she was weeping.
Dexter hurried over to her and wrapped his arms around her, letting her tears soak into his fur and murmuring "Shhh, it's okay."
Then she did something that really surprised him. She drew away from him a little, looked into his eyes and whispered "How can you still love me after the way I just treated you?"
Dexter kissed her forehead gently and whispered back, "Because we always hurt the ones we love."
He pulled her towards himself again, and her lips brushed his neck. Then she looked back at Hannah and immediately noticed the awkwards looks on her and Howdy's faces. Obviously they were interested in this reestablished love but trying very hard not to appear nosy, which was hard to do since they were standing no more than two feet away.
Pashmina cleared her throat and took a step towards Hannah. She looked at the ground for a second, then back at Hannah.
"Hannah," she sighed. "We all make mistakes, and I can understand how you would have felt in that position. What matters is that everyone's okay, and everything's right again. Of course I can forgive you." She held out a paw for Hannah to shake. "Friends?"
Instead of taking her paw, Hannah leapt forward and threw her arms around Pashmina, stumbling a little because her strength had not yet fully returned.
"Thank you," she breathed, tears once again flooding her eyes but this time from joy. "You're a good friend."
Pashmina smiled, returning Hannah's embrace and then some, since Hannah's weakness required a little support.
Howdy glanced at Dexter and sighed.
"Dammit," he said, looking at his feet. "I'm sorry too. I mean, hell, I completely kicked your ass."
Dexter frowned for a second, but then he couldn't hold back a laugh. "Yeah, you did."
"And all over some dumb misunderstanding, too."
"Yeah." Dexter sighed. For a second they just stood there, unsure of what to say or do. And then the laughter just consumed them. Howdy started laughing so hard that tears were falling down his face and he had to lean his weight against Dexter just to keep from falling over. Dexter, also laughing, patted him on the back and said "Glad things are back to normal."
---
Boss had stayed behind at the clubhouse, not wanting to get himself involved in the others' ordeal. With a sigh he sat down in his armchair and stretched, making himself comfortable. In fact he was just starting to doze off when there was a knock at the door.
"You don't have to knock, ya know," he shouted. "Come on in and join the party."
The door creaked open slowly. Boss looked up over the back of his chair and saw Bijou poking her head into the clubhouse.
"Are you ze only one here?" she asked him.
"Yeah, for now," he replied. Then he thought to himself - Oooooohhh man, me and Bij, ALONE? Maybe now I can finally confess how much I -
"Hey." As Bijou entered the clubhouse Panda appeared behind her. And what's more, they were holding paws.
Boss's jaw dropped when he saw that. "B-Bij...you and Panda...?"
Bijou nodded. "Boss, there's no easy way for me to tell you this." She took a deep breath, watching the pained expression on Boss's face. "I know how much you care for me even though you've never expressed your feelings in words. But Boss, even though I care about you very deeply as well, it's not the same way that I care for Panda. I...I love him. I love Panda."
Boss slumped down in his chair, turning back around, away from Bijou and Panda.
"I knew it would come to this, something like this, eventually," he murmured, his voice dry.
"Boss, I love Bijou, too," Panda's voice came. "I love her more than anything. Please don't be angry. We love each other and we can't change that. You can't change that."
Boss stood up and walked over to them. His expression was odd; he was obviously crushed, but trying incredibly hard not to show it.
"Angry?" he said. "How could I be angry? That's the dumbest thing I ever heard."
"But Boss, you must be upset," Bijou said.
"Maybe a little," he replied. "Yeah, I gotta admit, I always thought you were the one for me, Bij. But Panda's right, I can't change who you love. I wish you and Panda all the best."
"Really?" Panda said, looking a little surprised.
Boss nodded. "All the best."
Bijou smiled and hugged him. "Merci," she told him. "That is, thank you. You're a good friend."
Boss smiled back, but as he watched the couple turn and leave him there alone, he couldn't stop a few tears from clouding his vision.
---
"So. Yer leaving tomorrow."
Hannah nodded. She was sitting next to Howdy in her own cage, smiling as she felt his fingers tracing around her ears, her chin, her paws, her side...her tail. She had almost wanted to slap him when he got there, but then restrained herself because it really did feel good. To be loved like that.
"I'm gonna miss you like hell," he told her.
"I know, and I'll miss you too," she replied. "At least we get to spend this one last evening together, right? For now, I mean. I'll be back, of course."
"Yeah." Howdy sighed and wrapped his arm around Hannah so that she was pulled closer to him. She smiled and looked into his eyes.
"Tell me how you feel about me," she told him.
"I love you," he told her. "Love ya, love ya, love ya." As he said this he tickled her and then as she was giggling helplessly he held her face in his paws and drew it into his. She willingly returned the kiss, and after a few seconds noticed a salty taste in her mouth. Then she realized it was from her own tears that had slipped down her face, tears she was crying silently because she would miss him like hell, too.
---
At the same time, Pashmina and Dexter were standing paw-in-paw on Pashmina's windowsill.
"So, bet you're glad all that's over," she told him with a smile.
"Yes, thank heavens," he replied.
It was quiet for a moment. Then Dexter cleared his throat and said, "Well, I guess I better head home. See you tomorrow." He leaned over and gave Pashmina a quick peck on the cheek, then turned to go.
Pashmina grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Without a word she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his in the most passionate kiss she had ever delivered. His paws came to rest on her hips as he returned the kiss. Suddenly there was a kind of jolt and they fell apart from one another. It became apparent that Pashmina had backed up all the way to the side of the windowsill, where the wall had stopped her.
Dexter laughed. "Why'd you move?"
"You were pushing me," Pashmina replied.
"I was?" Dexter looked embarassed. "Sorry."
Pashmina smiled. "It's okay. I liked it." And she allowed herself to be drawn into one more kiss, a good-night kiss strong enough to last them through the night.
---
"I broke his heart. I broke his heart!" Bijou was crying, sitting on the grass outside Maria's house wth Panda beside her. She leaned against him and let the tears flow.
"Hush," Panda told her. "You weren't the one for him. He'd have to learn that sooner or later, and better it be sooner. You did the right thing. He'll get over it, I promise."
Bijou sobbed. "I don't think I've ever hurt someone like that in my life!"
"It's not your fault," Panda told her.
"Did you see the look on his face?" Bijou asked, and sniffed. "Did you see how much pain I caused him?"
Panda stroked her fur and kissed the top of her head. "Don't cry. It's gonna be okay, I promise."
Bijou sniffled a little and looked at him longingly. "Thank you," she told him. "Thank you for being there. Thank you...for loving me."
Panda smiled. "I can't help it," he said.
Bijou giggled. "I love you, Panda."
"And I you," he replied.
Their lips met, and for a few precious moments they shared a kiss, one of a newfound love, something true and wonderful. Something neither of them had ever had before, and something they never wanted to let go of.
---
Boss had spent almost the entire day in bed. But he wasn't asleep. He tossed and turned restlessly, but he couldn't help feeling like his heart was shattered into a million pieces.
He closed his eyes and tried to think about other things. All the nice, good things in life. Everything he had worth living for.
It was hard to do.
And then came another knock on the door. It was very soft at first, so that he wasn't sure he had actually heard anything and he just turned over and kept trying to sleep. Then it came again, a little louder.
"Who's there?" he grumbled. "You can let yourself in."
From his bedroom he heard the front door open and gentle footsteps across the floor. Then whoever it was knocked on his bedroom door.
"Can't this wait til the morning?" he groaned, staring at the ceiling and not bothering to get up.
"Oh...I'm sorry." The voice belonged to someone he hadn't seen in a while. "It's just that I was in the neighborhood, and kind of lonely..."
Boss recognized her voice immediately, jumped up and opened the door.
"Harmony," he said.
"Boss," she said. "Long time no see."
---
So this is where it ends, with an obvious romance starting to bud between Boss and Harmony. I mean, with Bijou and Panda together, I didn't want to leave Boss all alone and sad! And Boss x Harmony is the next best Boss couple to BxB, in my opinion anyhow. I didn't know what else to put in there, but the way I ended it makes it seem like I should do a sequel. The only problem is, I don't know what it would be about, what the conflict would be or anything. So if you want me to do a sequel, tell me in your reviews and also give me an idea or two for what could happen. If no one says they want a sequel, then I ain't writing one. Plus anyhow, I have to work on my next fic now, the SxM one I mentioned before. Anywho, review please, tell me how you liked this fic overall, and if you want me to do more drama-type fics in the future (although I will continue with my humor as well, I promise!).
Your humble servant,
THE GENIE MASTER,
signing off (for now).
---
She can't tell me that all of the love songs have been written
Cuz she's never been in love with you before
Your skin smells lovely like sandalwood
Your hair falls soft like animals
I'm trying to keep cool, but everyone likes you
I want to kiss the back of your neck
The top of your spine where your hair hits
And gnaw on your fingertips and fall asleep
I'll talk you to sleep
But I'll be the one
And I will have chosen
I'm trying to keep cool but everyone here likes you
I'm not the only one
Your skin smells lovely like sandalwood
Your hair falls soft like animals
And nothing else matters to me
But she can't tell me that all of the love songs have been written
Cuz she's never been in love with you before
In love with you before
Your hand, so hot, burns a hole in my hand
I wanted to show you
-'Sandalwood' by Lisa Loeb