Disc: I do not own LOTR

A/N: Yeah...I'm really sorry an I hope to finish this soon. I'm not sure if there will be a sequel, but it mostly depends on how I want to end this. Oh well, here is this and thank you all who have still reviewed and encouraged me to keep writing this. I promise to finish soon.

Perhaps it was the fact that they truly believed that their love would conquer all, or that they could perhaps avoid the idea of being apart, but none of them ever expected to have to say goodbye. It just seemed like too much to bear, even after all the hardships they had been through before; this was to be the worst that any of them would ever endure.

"Are you sure...that this is how it has to be?" They all looked at Celebhiril, hoping that she had some way for them to be together.

"Yes Gandalf and you know that I would change it if I could. Their story isn't over yet, and their end is not here." She explained softly. The girls had tears in their eyes and looked sadly at their friends and loves. This wasn't fair... "You will have one night to prepare, and to say your farewells. Spend your time wisely." The Sorceress slowly faded and left the group in a pained silence. All had been summoned to the remainder of Rivendell, and knew why they were there; they just didn't want to admit it.

Everyone had tears in their eyes, and no one wanted to say goodbye. Words were yearning to be said, but silence surrounded them. It was Rachel who finally stood and walked away, looking at the ground. They all watched, but none knew what to say and felt that they all needed to be alone for a while, despite their want of togetherness.

"W-well...we all knew that this might come someday. I guess that we just didn't know how soon." Holly mumbled, and watched as Tricia and the others also began to go separate ways to think of ways to say farewell to each other. She decided to stay put, and hope that they could all find peace of mind to deal. Merry had looked at her sadly before heading up to their room, he knew that she would talk with him there and could speak to the others at the moment. Now she and Boromir sat across the room from each other, silent and hurting.

"Your world, will you be safe when you return?" He looked up and decided it was now or never to try and get everything out.

"Maybe...but we know enough to survive there. We'll find our way."

"You're parents will be happy to see you no doubt. Do you think that your father will treat you differently?"

"Yes, he'll never let me out of his sight." She let out a forced laugh and then choked on a sob. The girl stood and walked over to Boromir, who looked up and saw her tears. Knowing that he was moments from shedding his own he looked away, and closed his eyes when she hugged him. Trying to separate himself from all of this, but he couldn't. He hugged her back and let his tears fall onto her shoulder. "I'm going to miss you so much..." Holly whispered.

"I shall miss you too. Remember me, and know that I will always remember you." Boromir wiped away a few of her tears and smiled sadly at her, and she returned it gratefully. Then she hugged him again.

"Thank you, for everything." Holly kissed his cheek before leaving him, alone in the room. The man stared after her and felt even more tears fall from his eyes. She had thanked him, for so small a thing as being her friend, when she had done so much more for him. Holly had saved his friendship with Frodo, been his comfort in times of despair, and most importantly she had died in his place...died. He could never repay her for that, and he couldn't even begin to express how much she meant to him.

"I know we wanted to go home, but I never thought it would hurt this much." She looked up at the stars and waited for a reply. Pippin just sat there, consumed in a pain he had never felt before. It had hurt enough when he thought that she might be killed, but now he knew that she was leaving him forever. All the hobbit wanted to do was cry, and yet he could not bring himself to do so. Rachel looked at him, and knew that he was hurting as badly as she. Her arms wrapped around him and they held each other, tighter than they ever had before, for it was the last time they should ever do so.

"Gandalf, do you know if they will be safe when they return to their world?" Aragorn had been talking to Gimli, Frodo, and the wizard for most of the night. Sam was the only one missing and he had good reason as his wife was with child (Logical, he has about fourteen altogether).

"It's their world. They know its dangers and how to survive. Yet there are no guarantees when it comes to Earth." He sighed. "They will find a way." The wizard turned to his companions and smiled reassuringly, it was all he could do for them. Each one showed the same pain, but different concern.

Their bed seemed an almost lonely place. Even in the shelter of each other's arms they felt a strange coldness. Her hand ran through his soft curly hair and let him rest his head against her breasts, listening to her heart beat. His tears had long dried but their cause remained an ever deepening dagger in his heart. He had lost her once, he didn't think that his heart could stand to loose her again. "Holly..."

"Yes?" her voice was quiet...almost inaudible even with his hobbit ears.

"Will you find another, to replace me, back on Earth?" His heart almost stopped in anticipation of the answer.

"No one can ever replace you in my heart. I may find a companion, but I will never love another as I love you." She kissed him and put her head on his chest...hoping that he understood that his love was special, and that she never would love anyone else as much as she loved him. Merry let a few more tears fall and kissed Holly a few times more, wanting to savor every moment together and trying to put an everlasting image of her in his head.

The sun was starting to rise. She had not slept and doubted that the others had either. The girl had spent the whole f the night on the balcony...he had been there since midnight watching her, but now he stirred and came towards her. Neither knowing exactly what to expect, not knowing at all what to say. Their moment of judgment and truth had arrived.