The mist swirled around my feet sending chills up my spine, as the doors reappeared. Then slowly all but two disappeared becoming mist once more. It was strangely peaceful up here, away from the world I left behind. This was death right? I'd done what I had been sent there to do and now I was going to die. After leaving Jesse that prospect seemed a lot less frightening. I knew that he'd be happy at least.
"We meet again." Madam Zara sighed softly. I allowed myself a small smile.
"Yeah. At least it's over now." I sniffed. She gave me a wry smile in return.
"No. It isn't." she replied with a chuckle. I stared at her in horror. This was meant to be over. I'd let Jesse live his life and I'd made peace with myself and….and….it was over.
And yeah, so maybe I didn't put a dent in Paul's skull. So what? I could deal. I could so totally deal if it meant that I could just forget everything. Which is weird I guess. I was so determined to live and to keep fighting. But now I'd just given up. I couldn't take it anymore. Plus Paul would probably make living without Jesse even harder. He'd remind me of it every day. This was his fault.
"What are you talking about?" I choked in shock. She laughed again, but for once she actually seemed happy. She wasn't dribbling on about prophesies and fate and stuff. She looked genuinely pleased for me.
"It seems that Mr De Silva isn't about to give up as easily as you." she informed me with a small smile. I just continued to stare at her in a daze.
"What?" I asked softly. I didn't understand a word that she was saying. I was dead. What did it matter what Jesse was feeling now? It was too late. I'd blown it. Because of my dumb destiny which he could never have a part of apparently.
"You did what I asked of you. You managed to make a him fall in love with you again. Which means –"
"Nothing. I'm dead and he's in a totally different era to me!" I cried angrily. She was making stuff ten times worse. She was making it sound like –
"You have a choice. The final choice. The one that your destiny was leading up to all along."
I just shook my head, noticing for the first time the two doors situated in front of me. Jesse loved me. I'd been the biggest bitch in the world and he still loved me. How wonderfully screwed up is that?
"He wants you back. You have the choice though. Go through the first door and you can go back to the present. Back to where you were before all this. Except Jesse will not be there and your destiny will lead you to Paul –"
"He killed me! No way will I EVER fall in lo-"
"Please let me finish Susannah. The other door leads back to 1850. And you will be able to live with Jesse till the day you both die. With no destiny involved in it."
"And Paul?"
"Will be gone. I've had enough of that little idiot to last me a lifetime." She replied in mild annoyance. I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"And I get to choose either?" I asked again just to be clear. She smiled warmly at me.
"Yes my dear. Enjoy the rest of your life. I have a feeling it will be most interesting."
I walked through the second door without a backward glance. I'd done it! I'd managed to cheat destiny using love. How weird is that? I never knew there were loop-holes in that kind of thing.
Stepping back onto the dry dirt track felt like heaven. I knew it was going to be a hard struggle. But with Jesse here I knew that everything would be okay. It had to be. Because he loves me! I picked out a familiar silhouette in the distance. Jesse.
I think it was the fastest I've run in my whole life, and yet it still seemed to take a lifetime. When I finally reached him a noticed how shocked he looked. He grabbed my hand protectively. Which is kind of strange I guess. But I guess the whole public intimacy deal is different back….well now I guess. Seeing as this is my present now. I was pleased to note that he wasn't wearing a wedding ring. He hadn't married Maria.
"Susannah what happened? One minute you were there and the next you were……" he began shakily. I smiled slightly aware that there was going to be a lot that I would have to explain to him.
"Gone? I was late for a previous appointment. It was rather unavoidable." I smiled happily.
He was here! I could barely stop myself from screaming I was so hyper. I wanted to –
Then in that moment he seemed to read my mind as he leant down and kissed me. As I wrapped my arms around his neck I felt something that I'd never been aware of before.
Hope.
Everything was going to be okay.
"Never disappear like that again." he whispered against my lips. I grinned.
"I'll try my best."
A/N: And that is the end of Stranded Sweetheart. I am seriously debating doing a sequel (as I don't already have enough going on with my other fics. Lol)
It'd be fun to follow what happens to them though. Seeing as I kind of already know. lol.
Well, I hope you enjoyed it. To all my reviewers: you have been AMAZING. I'm totally serious. I never imagined getting so much support for this. So cheers!
Now please review one more time! And I'll attempt to fit in a sequel thingy.
Thanks again folks!
Angel-
