Chapter Sixteen
Tom stood on the quarterdeck, waiting for what seemed to be a lifetime. The Captain had taken pity on him and did not put him to work. He doubted poor Tom would be much use at the moment. He had never seen a man look more anxious as Tom slowly paced from one end of the quarterdeck to the other. None of the crew or other officers would dare to approach him for they were at a loss as to what they should say to him.
Jack watched him for a moment after he gave his orders to Mr. Mowett, who had stepped in seamlessly to see to Tom's duties as well as his own without a complaint. Mr. Mowett saw Tom as well and with concern turned to the Captain. "Do you think Mr. Pullings will be all right, sir?" He asked with caution and worry for his friend. William had never once seen Tom like this, so frightened and desolate looking, his dear friend seemed to be tormenting himself with each step, forcing himself to continue as if afraid of what would happen if he stopped his listless pace.
Jack frowned, watching Pullings in his desperate pace. "We all hope so." He replied, not taking his eyes off the man. "See to your duties, Mr. Mowett."
"Aye sir." And Mowett went off, with another worried look to Tom.
Jack approached his first officer with caution. Tom was clearly doing his best to keep a strong face, but his eyes failed miserably. He was worried out of his mind, and Jack could only imagine the questions he was asking himself at the moment. "Why don't you go below Tom? Rest a bit. You're no good to any of us falling over."
Tom shook his head, still pacing. "With respect sir, I'd rather not."
"You'll go mad thinking of what you could have done, Mr. Pullings." He said quietly, smiling slightly when Tom gave him a surprised look. "Oh yes, I know. The Doctor is doing everything he can for her. If anyone can save her it is our good Doctor."
Tom looked up at the Captain, his gaze haunted with worry and pain. "If anyone can save her, sir." He said softly.
"That is not for us to decide, Mr. Pullings." He replied. "All we can do is hope."
Tom closed his eyes, tears blurring his vision and he looked away, furious to be showing such weakness here on the quarterdeck. "I'm sorry, sir." He said quickly.
"Not at all, Mr. Pullings." The Captain reassured him. "I expect Stephen will have news shortly." He said. "In the mean time, try not to lose your head."
Tom nodded, "Aye sir." He said, and he continued his slow pace.
Jack left him to it. Understanding he needed to be left alone for the time. He went about seeing to repairs of the ship until he saw Stephen emerge from the cabin and quickly made his way over to him before Tom saw him.
"Stephen, what news?" He asked anxiously, frowning at the sad expression on the Doctor's face.
Stephen shook his head, "I've done all I can Jack. She's alive, for now. But the wound is deep and infection is already setting in. There was a great deal of damage inside that I cannot repair." He sighed, shaking his head once more. "I do not believe she will last the night."
Jack closed his eyes a moment, "Poor Tom." He said softly.
"He should know Jack." Stephen said, removing his glasses and wiping sweat from his brow. "He should be given the chance to be there."
Jack nodded, "Yes. We can manage without him for the evening." He agreed.
"Would you like me to talk to him?" Stephen asked, knowing this was rather shaky territory that neither one of them were used to dealing with. If a man died word got about quickly, and while the crew had many great friends among them, none of them were planning to be married to one another.
"No. I will." Jack decided with reluctance. "You've truly done everything, brother?" He asked.
Stephen nodded, "Regretfully there is nothing more to do besides make her as comfortable as possible." He said with a defeated sigh. "She is asking for him."
"Poor man. He was so happy with her Stephen. It fairly breaks my heart." Jack glanced at Pullings once more, remembering his beaming face after Miss Corin had agreed to be his wife.
"Tragic." Stephen agreed, with another weary sigh. "I should see to my other patients." He gave his friend a quick clap on the shoulder. "Good luck." And then turned to leave.
Jack, with a heavy heart made his way back to the quarterdeck to find Tom where he left him moments ago. "Tom." He said, as he approached him. "I spoke with the Doctor."
Tom looked up anxiously. "How is she?" He asked. "Is she all right?"
"She's alive, Tom, for now." Jack said.
He closed his eyes, "Thank God for that. Wait... for now... sir?" He asked, his eyes suddenly opening again, filled with dread.
Jack had never found words so difficult to say as what he was about to tell the young man. "Doctor Maturin does not believe she will live through the night."
Tom stumbled back, as if struck. His face completely paled and he stared at the Captain in disbelief. "Sir?" He choked out, his throat suddenly completely dry.
"The Doctor has done all he can, Tom, but the wound is too deep." He sighed, finding it impossible to look at the man for the pain in poor Tom's eyes was too great. "She's asking for you Tom." Jack looked back at the man, his voice firm. "Go to her."
Tom stood still a moment, pale with shock and his mouth slightly open. With a hard swallow he nodded, and hurried off to the cabin without another thought towards anything else.
He entered to find it painfully quiet. He hesitated a moment, staring at Olivia, taking her in. She was so very pale, and so very fragile looking. Tom paused a moment, composing himself. He could not show her he was upset, he had to be strong for her. With a deep breath he crossed to where she lay in her cot. Higgins looked up and stumbled over his quiet apologies, excusing himself.
Tom sat down in a chair next to her, gently taking her hand. She was so very pale, deathly pale even. He lifted his shaking hand to her face, gently tracing the outline of her bruised cheek. He swallowed hard, near tears and took a deep breath to force them back.
Olivia's eyes fluttered open slightly, "Tom?" She asked weakly.
He quickly wiped the tears he had shed away and moved his chair closer to her. "I'm here." He promised. "Rest easy, Olivia."
She frowned, "Tom...."
"Shush now, my darling." He said softly, brushing his lips across her forehead. "Save your strength."
"Save it for what?" She replied weakly. "I know I'm dying. I see it in your eyes."
He bit his lip, looking away. "I failed you." He stated, feeling so helpless and defeated. Just hours before he had promised to protect her, that she would be safe as long as there was breath in him, and now she lay dying before him, and he was powerless to stop it.
"No. You didn't." Olivia reached out with what strength she had left and caught his hand. "Tom, I love you, and I don't want you to blame yourself."
"But it should be me, Olivia." He sighed. "I should have been the one he shot, not you." He leaned forward, cradling her in his arms. "Why did you do it Olivia?"
She gave him a weak smile, "I don't think I could live without you Tom. The only thing that kept me going here, in this time, was you. I didn't think. I acted."
"And you think I can live without you?" Tom asked, furiously. "You think I can live each day knowing what I have lost? Knowing that I will never be with you again? I love you!" He heard his voice break with sorrow and he fought to hold back tears. "I don't want to lose you. Not now, not ever." He closed his eyes, losing the battle with his own grief and wiping his eyes furiously. "I love you so much." He whispered.
Olivia struggled for breath, tears running freely down her face. Tom quickly found her some water, helping her to drink, her pain tearing him apart piece by piece. When she finally spoke her voice was barely above a whisper, but he heard every word. "I'm yours forever, Tom." She said. "Even after...." She swallowed hard, "Even after I die, we still had our time together."
He shook his head, squeezing her hand, "It wasn't near enough time."
Olivia managed a small smile, "It was time, and I am grateful for it."
Tom gave her a weak smile, wiping his tears away again and carefully kissing her, "As am I." He replied softly.
They sat silently a moment, Tom holding her, carefully, comforting her as best he could. Olivia was clearly becoming weaker and weaker and slipping away despite Tom's desperate prayers that she would somehow miraculously recover.
Suddenly, she broke the silence with a soft whisper. "I'm so afraid Tom."
Tom pulled her closer, his heartbreaking as she grew paler and paler. "Sh..." He said softly, stroking her hair gently. "I'm here." He assured her.
Olivia closed her eyes and relaxed, her breathing grew more and more ragged. The Doctor came to check in on her and Tom knew by his face that it would not be much longer. He held her close, murmuring comforting words in her ear through his own tears, and the Doctor, knowing Tom would want to be alone placed a firm hand on his shoulder and said he would return within the hour.
When Stephen did returned he found Tom holding Olivia's hand in both of his, cradling it to his forehead, his face streaked with tears. Stephen noted the pale state of the woman and silently went to check for signs of life, not wanting to disturb Mr. Pullings.
Tom however, answered his question before he moved closer. "She's gone sir." He choked out, silently weeping. "She's gone."
On closer inspection he could tell just be looking at her. He cautiously moved to Tom's side, kneeling beside him, pure sympathy in his eyes. "Tom," Stephen said, putting a hand on his shaking shoulder. "Tom, I am so very sorry."
Tom looked up, his eyes red from his tears, "I loved her." He croaked, his voice breaking with emotion. "I loved her, but now she's gone."
Stephen watched him with concern, unsure of what he could say to consol the man. "She was a good woman Tom." He said gently. "She will be missed."
Tom did not reply, he carefully kissed her forehead and buried his face in her neck, hot tears running down his checks and falling onto her now cold skin. He barely heard the kind words as the Doctor left the cabin. He barely heard the Captain come in and offer his comfort and suggest he return to his own cabin to rest. The next thing he knew he was standing wordlessly in the gunroom.
William Mowett and Captain Howard stood as he stared blankly at them. No one had any idea what to say. Mowett approached him cautiously. They had been shipmates for many years, since they were boys even, but he never remembered seeing Tom look so devastated, so lost, as if he were a different man entirely.
"Tom... Tom, we heard. Is there anything-?" He stopped, knowing full well there was probably nothing he could do. "I'm so sorry Tom." He said, offering what sympathy he could to the man.
Tom swallowed hard, finding his voice strange and strained. "Thank you William." He said softly. "Ex- excuse me." He quickly went to his own cabin, shutting the door. He felt numb, as if he were merely a shell of his former self. He was awake he was sure, but he felt in a fog, in some horrible dream.
He did not remember falling asleep, but soon Mowett gently knocked on his door and told him that they were rigging for church soon. Olivia's funeral, Tom thought, so it was real. She really was gone. It seemed so final. He was not sure what to do next. He had counted on her being there for the rest of his life, when he was away at sea he had planned on knowing he would soon be rushing home to her arms, he did not know if he wished to go on without her. Tom felt as if he would like nothing more than to lay in his cabin until death brought him to her, but he somehow managed to appear in his dress uniform on deck.
Jack was immediately surprised at how blank Tom looked. His face was pale, yet showed no emotion, none whatsoever. He seemed more like a ghost than a man, going through the motions but not acknowledging anything at all. He stood still in his place during the service, not a word uttered. He did give a slight cringe as the dead splashed into the sea. It was the look of defeat in his eyes that struck him the most, the dead look that he had never once seen in the man whom he had known from a young midshipman. It was as if something inside of Tom Pullings had died with the woman, and was now sinking to the bottom of the sea in a hammock with shot weighing it down.
The Captain invited Tom to his cabin, and he stood there wordlessly. Neither knew what to say until Killick brought in the bottle. "May I offer you a drink, Tom?" Jack's throat felt dry, he saw pure misery on Tom's face and it worried him.
"If you please sir." His voice sounded hollow, and it seemed to echo in the cabin as Jack poured the man a drink, filling the glass.
Tom stared at it a moment, then downed the glass, pouring himself another. Perhaps the drink would dull the pain and emptiness, it did at least numb his mind. Maybe if he drank enough he would not think about her, perhaps he could drink the memory of Olivia out of his mind. Her touch, her laugh, her smile, her beautiful, perfect, voice on the wind, he wanted to forget it all, make it all go away so he would never feel this pain again.
The Captain was speaking to him now, but he did not hear a word. He merely drank, his mind swirling with thoughts. No, he realized no amount of drink would take her away. Her green eyes had been burned into his memory forever, the way they sparkled when she was amused, even if she was not laughing on the outside he could always tell she was amused by those eyes of hers.
The only way to have her back was to join her. He was sorely tempted to die was well; give up his life if there was the slightest possibility that they could be together again. He squeezed the glass in his hand, staring at its contents, his mind swirling with thoughts and self-loathing.
"Tom?" The Captain's voice pulled him from his contemplation. Aubrey was watching him with true concern and pity.
"She died because of me, sir. Because of me, and it pains me sir. It should have been me, not her." He said numbly, his eyes never leaving his drink.
The Captain studied the man in silence for a moment. "Tom, she died for you because she loved you. No sacrifice could be greater or more noble, and we are all in her debt." He watched Tom studying his glass in misery. "Do not waste her sacrifice Mr. Pullings. You owe it to her to carry on with your life, living it to its fullest." Jack took a deep breath, carrying on with his speech. "There will be other women-"
Tom's head shot up at this, and for a moment his face turned quite red with anger. "Other women, sir?" He exclaimed. "Other women?" He downed his drink, wiping his mouth without the slightest thought towards manners. "No sir. There will be no other women. I loved her more than I thought I could love anyone, and I shall never love another. Olivia, my Olivia, she was the only woman I will ever love. The only woman in the world, no matter how far I search there will never be another." His words came quickly and passionately, and the conviction behind them was powerful and strong.
Tom sighed, setting down the empty glass. "But, you are right about one thing, sir. She would want me to live so that she did not die in vain." He gazed out the window for a moment at the waves. Somewhere out there Olivia's body rested at the dark bottom of the sea. He wondered about the afterlife and if she was happy there. He prayed she was for it seemed too cruel to think there was nothing. He raised his now refilled glass in toast, "For you." He whispered, watching the waves roll passed.
Darkness had fallen on Olivia. It was strange to watch Tom's miserably concerned face fade from her vision and all give way to darkness. It was confusing, disorienting, and suddenly she was no longer in her body, she was floating, all her cares seemed to disappear and she felt completely free from all mortal bonds. 'Death," she thought to herself, 'is very peaceful.'
But suddenly, it was all interrupted. Light started to invade her vision once more. Blinding, bright, florescent lights. She'd forgotten those blaring tones these past few months at sea. The ceiling was the dull tan with its blaring lights beating down on her. The telltale beeping of hospital monitors She groaned, bringing a hand to her head and seeing an IV attached to her arm.
"Livie? Liv? You're awake!" Arms were immediately thrown around her neck and she found herself staring at her three closest friends. Kate released her and Lannie announced she was going for the nurse, quickly disappearing from the room. "We were so worried!"
"What happened?" Olivia sat up quickly, looking around in a panic. "Where's Tom? Where am I? Where's the ship?"
"Livie, who's Tom? What are you talking about?" Casey asked softly. "Calm down, you're in the hospital. You've been in a coma for three days."
Olivia stared at her blankly. "No, no I've been on the Surprise for months, in the past. Where's Tom? What happened?"
"You fell Livie, you haven't been anywhere but here. Who's Tom?" Kate asked, confused.
"Tom! Tom Pullings! First Lieutenant of the HMS Surprise and the man I am going to marry! Where is he?" She demanded, panic filling her mind as her eyes searched everywhere for him.
"Olivia, we promise, there is no Tom, you haven't been anywhere. You must have dreamed it." Casey assured her, trying to calm her down and exchanging a worried glance with Kate.
"Dreamed it?" Olivia looked around, completely confused. "How could I have dreamed it?" It was possible, she'd heard of coma dreams before. Perhaps they were right, but it had all seemed so real, felt so real. What she felt for Tom was stronger than any feeling she had ever had before, and now they were telling her he was not real. How could she possibly have dreamt him up?
She put a hand to her head again as it throbbed with a headache when something caught her eye on her hand. His ring. It was still on her finger where Tom had put it. It was no ring she would have bought herself, and she remembered Tom giving it to her clear as day. She remembered the look in his eyes when she told him she would marry him, the pure innocent joy she thought was only present in innocent children.
It had to be real. This ring was proof. No one would believe her, no one would understand, but she knew it was real, Tom was real, and wherever he was she hoped, she prayed that he knew how much she loved him.
Olivia knew she would never be the same. She felt numb on the inside, as if her spirit had frozen and wilted like a flower in a winter storm. She remembered wondering if she would ever get home, and now that she was home, she wanted nothing more than to go back and feel Tom's warm arms holding her once more. Hot tears came to her eyes, as she thought of what she had lost, what she and Tom would never share.
She felt arms around her shoulders again and looked up. Kate was staring at her with concern, trying to comfort her. "Livie, what's wrong?"
"I loved him, Kate." She let out a sob, feeling as though the world were crashing down around her. "God, I loved him so much."
Kate exchanged a look with Casey, who shrugged. Neither girl had a clue what was going on but they had never seen Olivia act like this. They had seen her break up with numerous boyfriends before, but she never once seen her react so strongly. "It's okay, Livie..." Kate soothed. "You'll feel better soon."
Olivia shook her head, leaning against her friend for support. "I'll never love another." She declared with a determination that was pure Olivia. "I just want him back. I want to go back."
Casey opened her mouth to protest that this 'Tom' fellow was the product of a coma dream, but a sharp look from Kate stopped her. "Everything will be fine, Liv." Casey murmured instead, feeling rather awkward.
Olivia shook her head in denial of their reassurances. She would go on living of course, she had no choice in the matter, but she firmly felt that she be never really be happy without Tom by her side.
Perhaps one day they would be reunited and fate would allow them to be together once more. She hoped to God with all her might it would be so. Olivia knew she would wait for him, no other man would claim her heart and she would love none other than Tom. She would wait forever for just one word, one kiss, one touch, if she had to. Time made no difference to her, for time itself could not break true love.
The End
.... Or is it?
A/N: Yes I know, I'm evil (ducks to dodge the rocks being thrown at her by an angry mob) I'm sorry! I just could not bring myself to give them that happy ending just yet... Why is there a body in the past you ask? I have no idea. I don't really care! Haha. Quite frankly I never explained why she traveled in time nor did I explore the cause. I'm not a scientist gosh darn it! I just write whatever pops into my confused and morbid head! Anyway, Tom is now sad... Olivia is now sad... basically it's all very Shakespearish. No one ends up happy.
Tom: (still sobbing) I hate you! (eating ice cream)
Me: Don't eat all of my ice cream!
Tom: Why not? I can get fat if I want to now! You took away my Olivia!
Me: Oh.... Right... well at least give me the two pounds I spent on the ice cream!
Tom: NEVER!! (runs off with my ice cream)
Trust me. You guys aren't the only people unhappy about the ending... (chases Tom who stole my ice cream) Anyway, if you have any questions email or review or whatever and I'll be more than happy to attempt to explain... or just um.... say "Gee I'm sorry that was a large and ugly plot hole." Haha! Hope you enjoyed To Wives and Sweethearts... otherwise known as As the Surprise Sails! Now I have to go catch a rather emotional sailor who has stolen my ice cream! Cheers!
Ithildi Blaque: I would be happy to read a portion of one of your stories. Just email it on over to me and I'll do my best to read it as soon as possible. I'm sorry this story is over too because I really had a blast writing it. I might write a sequel. Okay, actually, I am working on a sequel but I'm not sure I like it enough to post it quite yet. It's still a baby... hehe. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the end and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for all the lovely reviews!
Sillytigerlily: Don't stick your powder monkey army on me! AHHH! (runs from the powder monkeys) I didn't actually kill her you know! She's still alive! I hope you found your lungs and I hope you don't hate me because of the way I ended this story. hangs head in shame Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. I've truly enjoyed hearing from you! Cheers!
British-luver: Haha well, she both died and survived. Only I would do something so unexplained and weird like that... I agree... my Tom comforting Olivia was rather sappy haha... don't we all just wish we had our own Tom Pullings? Seriously! Why can't I have a Tom Pullings? Haha like when my former roomie and I were watching the Princess Bride and I pointed at Wesley and went "I want one of those!" Now I want a Tom Pullings too. I have to admit I had fun writing the sweet scenes between them too (gosh I can't believe I admitted my love of sap... must be the chocolate) and I really had fun writing Tom shooting Fokes.. haha that was just plain satisfying. I remember after I finished the scene I read it to my roommate at the time and she goes "Hell yeah!" Of course, she didn't know the rest of the story and I don't think she's ever seen the movie (sacrilege! But she was out of town when it came to the theatre there so...) but it was still pretty funny. Anyway... hope you aren't to angry about the ending. Hehe but he's semi-free now eh? Go get him! Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, they made my day numerous times! Feel free to IM me anytime! Cheers!
Miss Flossy: Haha well... he was getting hitched. You have no idea how much I want to write his wedding scene. Tom's so cute when he's nervous and tripping over himself... hehe. Haha oooh Olivia in the arms of a handsome island boy... that would have been really fun to write! If I write out the sequel the way I'm thinking of it now there might be some of those lovely jealous Tom moments where we get to see a few punches thrown... that's all I'm saying for now because I'm nowhere near there yet but it's an idea I'm playing with in my mind. Well I gave you some Mowett... just a little bit. I actually added some more Mowett because I thought it'd be appropriate and it filled a hole that had been glaring me in the face since I first wrote all this out in April or some ridiculously long time ago, so I thought of you and added Mowett because your story is great and I owe you for the amusement! Thanks for reviewing and I hope you didn't hate the end. Although, you're one to talk... cough Lucy cough We both seem to enjoy killing characters. Though I didn't technically kill Olivia.... I just um... semi-killed her? Yeah... so I have some plot holes. Oh well. Haha anyway! Like I was saying thanks for the review and update your story soon!
Gina: And you thought I was evil before? Tom and Olivia never even got to have some adult fun time! I am so mean. I freely admit it. If I continue on the sequel I will be sure to allow them a little bit of fun.... Just a little mind you... mwahahaha. Anyway, thanks for the review and I hope you don't hate me too much now! Cheers!
Anyana: Haha my notes make you laugh? I always thought they were just proof of my insanity and no one really read them... wow thanks! Will Olivia's former life come back into play? Dude! You called it! Good job! I'm sorry the ending is not more positive. Okay, it's downright depressing but it leads way to a happier sequel... if I write it... I'm working on it... but as of right now there is no plot whatsoever, just a bunch of funny stuff and insanity. But I never let lack of plot stop me in the past... so there. Anyway! Thanks for reviewing and hope you don't hate the ending too much! Cheers!
Calliope-Elven-Agent: Hehe yay munchkins! No Livie in a Regency wedding-dress just yet... sorry. I feel really bad because I am itching to write their wedding you know? I keep thinking "Aww... he'll be in a uniform and she'll be all pretty and Jack will make a speech and they'll dance and it'll be so cute and la la la...." But unfortunately, that doesn't happen in this sorted tale... I have ideas for the sequel and I've started writing it... unfortunately there's no major plot in the sequel and it kind of um... sucks. So I may just banish it and not let anyone read it... we'll have to see. Hope you enjoyed (or at least didn't hate) my depressing ending too much. And thanks for the lovely reviews!
Aurien: Well, here's the next chapter, and I'm not any nicer in it. I even made poor Tom cry... how cruel of me! hugs sobbing Tom But I do hope you enjoyed the story and hope you don't hate my morbid ending! Thanks for the review m'dear! Happy reading!
MusicBoxDancer: More Stephen for you! Sadly our good Doctor didn't manage to perform a miracle and save poor Olivia... but at least she didn't really die... I was glad Tom shot Fokes too... of course... I wrote it... but hey! It was fun to write! Hope you enjoyed the chapter and hope you enjoyed the whole story! Thanks so much for all the lovely reviews, I really enjoyed them! Cheers!
Erzsbet Hacker: ACK! Don't cry! Please?? I'm sorry I had to write a sad ending but that's the way it worked out in my weird and twisted brain! Oh my... if you cry your eyes out I'm going to HAVE to put up the sequel... which means I have to do more work on the sequel... because I really really don't want you to cry!! Will it make you feel better if I say that one day Tom and Olivia will get hitched and sail off into the sunset with the many fat babies if I ever finish writing the entire series I have planed (which would surprise me because I've never finished writing an entire series in my life...) I'll say it if it will!! Please please please don't cry! Hope you aren't crying and hope you're not too disappointed in the ending. Thanks for the reviews :-)
Serena: Man I know... Tom's got it bad! Hope you enjoyed the chapter and ending of this tale m'dear! And thanks for the wonderful support throughout the story! Hope it lived up to your expectations! Until next time happy reading!
TheMusingFit: Please don't hate me. I don't like it when people hate me. Here! (hands over Tom Pullings) Do what you want with him!
Tom: Hey!
Olivia: (runs in and steals Tom back )He's mine!
(Tom and Olivia run off to make all those babies everyone seems to want them to have)
Um.... Okay.... (tries to ignore the sketchy sounds coming from the next room as Olivia has her Pullings) Anyway! Hope you enjoyed the ending and thank you so much for all the kind words. You have no idea how much that motivates me to get off my butt and edit and post this monster. Until next time m'dear, happy reading!
Archerof Darkness: I'm sorry! Now I've made Tom even more sad! But hey... she didn't REALLY die! There's still hope! Even though um... this story is over.... Hey... I said there may be a sequel didn't I? Haha nice protest signs, they are quite lovely. Anyway, I do hope despite the sadness you enjoyed this. I have loved reading your reviews and I hope this lived up to your expectations. Until next time m'dear, happy reading!
RandirienIthilienMaiden: I hope your crying was a good thing? Hehe. If not um... well... sorry? Anyway, I do hope you enjoyed this ending despite the sadness! Until next time, happy reading! Cheers!
Sleepwalking Dreamer: Wow did you hit the nail smack on the head. Good job and way to call it! She both died and returned to her time! Yes, I know getting shot in the back is not good... which is why I shot her there. I'm mean. Actually, I had a great deal of debate on where I should shoot her of if a stabbing would be better, consulting with both my dear friend Jack Aubrey (also known is Elessar Kind who writes a kick butt battle scene...) and my former roommate who studies biology and anatomy. I can't remember what all was said but I spent many nights talking to the roommate about it and IMing dear Jacky about it and this is what I ended up with. So I'm very glad you noticed... hehe. Long painful death is what I was going for. Thank you so much for the feedback and the lovely reviews. I do hope this final chapter lived up to expectations. Feel free to email me at any time! Until next time, as always, happy reading!
Wow guys. I don't know what to say. Seriously, your reviews have been awesome! I hope you all enjoyed my last chapter of this tale. Please disembark the Bean Ride of Insanity at this time. I do hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing this. I'm very tempted to give you guys a preview of one of the paragraphs I've done for the sequel thus far.... Oh heck... why not? If you read the author notes this far you're obviously committed! Haha. Anyway... hm.... (picks out a random paragraph)
There he saw her, standing in an outdoor stairway with a large bag, dressed much like she had been when he first pulled her from the water so long ago. Her hair was hardly neat and orderly, piled high on her head as if hastily pulled away from her face, and she would argue that she was hardly at her best, but to Tom, she was the most beautiful sight in the world. He felt his heart leap into his throat and all else seemed to fade away and stood there for a moment simply staring at her. Finally, he found his voice, which seemed weak and hardly his own anymore.
"Olivia?"
So that's a preview! Now... like with moves you'll have to wait until I write more of the dang thing to post it. And... if I think it's post worthy of course. Thanks again for all the kind words. I really don't know what to say.
Until next time, HAPPY READING!!!