Faith, Hey its good to see you are reading my other stories too. Evil cliffy huh, well here's the last chappie and I hope u survived the waiting. This is another story I finished, now I only have two more to go. Thanks for ur support Faith!

Mystique, Thank you for the applause, maybe at the end you can give me a standing ovation….haha just kidding. Don't worry about the cliffies thee will be no more cliffies in this story cause this is the last chapter. For now I am not planning to write another TR / LOTR crossover, I have two more stories to finish and that's what I want first. Even so, thank you so much for supporting me during the entire story!

Chapter 11, There is only one man who truly understands Lara Croft.

All she managed to see was her mother's smile, then the scent of jasmine faded. Lara opened her eyes, looking up at a beige colored ceiling. Her eyes scanned more of the room and Lara started to recognize it. It was her room, the bed she was lying in was her bed, the window she was looking through was her window, the butler that was standing on the left side of her bed was…

"Hillary…?"

The butler only smiled.

"I'm not dead?"

Lara moved her shirt up and looked at her stomach. The stab wound she had there was gone, only a scar was still visible. Confused she looked at her butler, but Hillary raised his shoulders and seemed to be just as confused as he is.

"No Lara thank god you're not dead."

"How long have I been here?"

"Almost a week now."

"Bugger…I need some tea."

Hillary already was on his way to get her some tea.

"No Hilly, I'll get it myself." Lara objected.

"Lara you need to rest, I'd be more then willing to get you some tea."

Again Lara objected "I'll be fine Hillary." She said as she slowly stepped out of bed,

In her pajama's she walked out of her room. Hillary held out his arm, Lara accepted it for some support. Together they walked downstairs. Lara's eyes widened in surprise, right there in the hallway all of her friends were waiting for her.

Legolas, Aragorn, Gandalf, Van Helsing, Kurtis, Kosa, even Frodo and Arwen were present and off course Bryce had already thrown himself into Lara's arms.

"Bloody hell Lara, its good to see you again."

He was making it hard for her to breathe and Lara immediately pushed him away…gently.

"It's good to see you again too Bryce," Lara looked up "all of you."

"It's good to see you too Lara." Gandalf said.

As usual his smile was occupied with his pipe.

"Thank you Gandalf, but there is one thing that's bothering me."

Arwen immediately stepped forward.

"Elfan healing Lara, I managed to heal the wound for about eighty percent, I'm afraid I can't do anything about the scar."

Lara smiled "That's okay Arwen I already have a collection so another one doesn't bother me."

Hillary cleared his throat. "So, are you all staying for dinner?" he asked.

Lara did her best to stop herself from laughing.

"I'm afraid we have to go back, perhaps another time." Gandalf said.

"I understand Gandalf."

Arwen paced towards Lara, in her hand she was holding the same necklace Aragorn was wearing. Arwen put the necklace around Lara's neck.

"If you go on an adventure again, wear this necklace, Aragorn and I will watch over you."

Lara smiled and together the women shared a short hug.

"Thank you Arwen."

Aragorn was right behind Arwen and took Lara in a firm hug after Arwen stepped aside.

"I'll miss you Aragorn, you've been a wonderful friend."

The strider smiled at her.

"Don't worry Lara, as long as you wear that necklace, I will always watch over you."

"Then I'll always wear it." Lara replied with a wink.

Aragorn stepped back to his wife and offered some space for Gandalf. Gandalf placed his hands on Lara's shoulders, she already saw a smile that was trying to find its way through his beard.

"You too have been a great friend Gandalf." Lara said.

"It was a real pleasure to have been at your side Lara Croft, as a warrior and as a friend, I hope our next meeting will be in much better conditions."

Lara wrapped herself around the sorcerer and gave him one last hug.

"Are you all leaving?" Lara asked

As an answer Frodo and Legolas paced forward.

"Just us." Frodo said. "If you keep having nightmares don't wait to ask for my help…I am the only one who knows exactly what you're going through."

Lara smiled at the Halfling. "Don't worry Frodo, I will." She said and placed her hands on his shoulder.

"Lara…"

It was Legolas.

Immediately Gandalf cleared his throat and motioned everyone out of the living room. Bryce didn't seem to take the hint. Hillary was kind enough to drag him out.

"What?" Bryce said confused.

"They need some space Bryce." The butler said and closed the door behind him.

Lara could have sworn she saw a very jealous look from Kurtis. No time to stand still by that as Legolas grabbed her hand.

"Lara, you can come with us if you like…"

The tomb raider managed to show him a small smile.

"I'm sorry Legolas, but I can't. Coming with you means I have to give up everything I hold dear in my life. Bryce, Hillary, adventuring, I just can't do that…"

Lara moved her hand to his cheek and moved his head up so that they can look each other in the eyes.

"But that doesn't mean I won't think of you, I will always think of you Legolas, you have won a place in my heart."

Her head moved forward to give him a small kiss on his cheek. Legolas barely managed to smile.

"So you've chosen for Kurtis then."

For a moment Lara could yell at him. His words made her angry from the inside but she pushed the anger aside.

"I've chosen for no one, not for you not for Kurtis not for anyone. I choose for freedom and the freedom I want in my life does not need a man to love, all I need is a good friend. And that Legolas are you as well as Kurtis."

The elf grabbed Lara's hand and placed a small kiss on it.

"If that is what you desire, I will be nothing more then a good friend Lara, even though my heart tells me different."

"Thank you for understanding Legolas." The tomb raider replied "now let's go back to the others."

Together they walked to the hallway, Gandalf, Frodo, Aragorn and Arwen were already waiting for him.

"Legolas I'm afraid it is time to leave." Gandalf said.

"I know Gandalf." The elf replied and joined his friends.

Lara saw Legolas kept his eyes on her until there was a flash of light. Lara covered her eyes and when she noticed the light was gone she moved her hand away. There was no sign left of them anymore.

"Well, I think I just start making dinner." Hilary said and found his way to the kitchen.

"You don't mind us to stay Lara?" Kosa asked.

"As long as Mr Van Helsing can act like a gentleman I don't see why you can't stay."

Lara aimed a sarcastic look at Van Helsing.

"Haha very funny Lara…"

Lara smiled at him and turned to walk upstairs. She decided to get a good shower, its been a while since she last had one.

Later that day, during dinner.

"You are a wonderful cook Hillary." Kosa said after they all had finished dinner.

"I have to agree." Van Helsing said.

"Thank you gentlemen." Hillary replied on his turn and started to empty the table.

"So Mr Van Helsing, are there more demons to fight in this world or was Mr Russel the last one."

Van Helsing leaned back in his seat and smiled "I'm afraid there are much more scumbags like Russel on the planet, it actually never stops, just like there will always be tombs to raid for you."

"Fortunately yes…"

"I heard you run into quite some demons yourself, maybe you should take me along sometimes." He joked.

"I'm afraid that is no option, I work alone and if I would take someone with me it most likely would not be you."

"I had the pleasure ones." Kurtis said.

"Me too." Kosa said as well.

Van Helsing narrowed his eyes at Lara.

"Something tells me you don't like me that much."

Lara raised her eyebrow "No, I don't like the type of man you are, arrogant, rude, that's just no way to treat a lady." She said sarcastic.

"Then start acting like a lady, maybe then I might be a nicer man."

This discussion could last for ever and Kurtis knew that, so to stop them he cleared his throat to get their attention. Lara turned her head to the Lux Veritartis member.

"Yes Kurtis?" The tomb raider said as her lips curled up in a smile.

"You sound like a married couple."

Both Lara and the demon hunter smirked at his words. For a few more seconds they looked at each other then Lara changed the subject.

"So Kosa, shall I have Shugrave fly you back to Africa?"

"I think I prefer a normal flight instead of Shugrave's way of traveling." He replied laughing.

"I think you made the right decision Kosa."

"Who's Shugrave?" Kurtis asked.

"Shugrave always brings Lara to far ends of the world." Bryce said "If you're American you don't want to meet him, after Alex West betrayed her Shugrave has sworn never to trust an American again."

"Bryce…" Lara said sounding a little bit angry.

The tech dove himself deeper into his seat and tried to apologize but Van Helsing cut him of.

"Who's Alex?" he asked.

"A long story which I am not going to tell you." Lara said and stood up from the table "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some business to do."

She didn't seem to happy with Bryce his words, Kurtis noticed this and followed Lara to the library. She had seated herself behind her desk, her feet crossed and resting on top of the desk. In her hand was a picture of Lara and her father, her fingers were slowly trailing over the picture. She noticed Kurtis entering but did not move her eyes from the picture.

"Lara…" Kurtis said softly.

"Yes Kurtis?" the tomb raider replied and finally removed her eyes from the picture.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't like to talk about it Kurtis, I hate to bring back bad memories."

"So I've noticed…" the Lux Veritartis said.

He leaned forward on the desk and slowly slid the picture from her hands and replaced it by his hands.

"Lara I need to know what you feel for me."

The tomb raider locked her eyes on Kurtis, she knew he would ask this question sooner or later, it was best to tell him the truth.

"I care about you Kurtis, a lot. But just like I told Legolas, I've chosen for a life that has no space for love, only good friends and you are a good friend Kurtis, I'm sorry if I disappoint you but that's my decision."

The look in his eyes stayed the same and so did the grip of his hands. It seemed that he had already expected this answer and all he needed was Lara's confirmation.

"I respect your decision Lara, and I understand it. But it pains me if I stay here so I'm afraid I must go now.""

Lara let go of his hand and walked around the table. She gave Kurtis a hug and a kiss on his forehead.

"I know Kurtis, but please remember that you can always ask me for help, that's what friends are for."

He smiled "I know Lara." He said "you take it easy for a while."

"I will, don't worry Kurtis."

"Alright…" he said as he walked to the exit of the library. "Goodbye Lara."

"Goodbye Kurtis." She replied and watched him disappear.

She sighed, maybe she did need someone to love in her life. But not an elf or someone from the Lux Veritartis. No, she knew where her heart truly belongs and it had hurt her a lot when Bryce mentioned his name during dinner. Maybe that's why Kurtis asked Lara about her feelings for him. She couldn't help but feel a little guilty because she still has feelings, as well for Kurtis as for Legolas. But it just didn't feel right to her, she needs a normal human being in her life. A man who understands who she is and even though it sounds almost unbelievable to her, she knew that one man was no one else then Alex West.

Yep that's it, that's the end. I hope I didn't disappoint you with the ending. Maybe when I find time and when I finished my other stories, I might start a sequel to this one, but I can't promise you anything.