Disclaimer: For the last time, I don't own Lost. So, yea.

A/N: Thanks for joining me in the final installment of Gypsy Queen. This chapter is short, so, as a special treat, I'm also including a slight preview of the prologue for the sequel to this story. Tada! On with the show!

Epilogue/Prologue

The walk back to the beach was an uncomfortable one for me at any rate. Michael and Walt were walking side by side, as if afraid they might get separated again, and everyone else was shooting me looks that I couldn't quite interpret, so I chose to ignore them as best as I could.

We pressed on for hours by my urging; I was fearful that Karen might possibly come after us in the night, and I didn't think I could handle the stress. Jack seemed to be feeling slightly foolish, especially when I showed him several short cuts that could've been taken on our way to the 'others' stronghold if Jack had only let me lead in the first place.

We reached the crash site the next day, in the morning, and were instantly greeted by a procession of survivors, all shooting me wary looks.

When Jack and Sayid were telling the tale of what had happened out in the jungle, Mr. Eko wandered over where he was immediately accosted by the resident island tough girl, Ana-Lucia, demanding to know what had happened. Michael and Walt wandered off somewhere where they could talk and do a bit of father-son bonding and the twelve other survivors, among them the kids Emma and Zack wandered away and became, basically, one of those island residents who never did or said anything of importance.

As for me, I decided to take a walk. I headed back into the jungle, deep in thought, thinking on what I should do now, for I couldn't go back to the DeGrootes even if I wanted to now, not after what I'd done. But I doubted that anyone would let me stay. I was dangerous.

I'm not sure how long I had been wandering aimlessly when I came upon Locke, skinning a boar, presumably for a sort of celebration for the return of Walt and a welcome party for the newcomers.

Locke heard me approaching and looked up. He smiled when he saw me.

"Hello Alex." He said.

"Hi." I mumbled in reply.

"Jack told us what you did." Locke told me.

"Really?" I asked, not really interested.

"Yea, he told us that they could never have come back alive if it hadn't been for you." Locke smiled and the corners of his eyes crinkled.

"Really? He said that?" I asked, caught between flattery and bewilderment.

Locke's response was a nod. My heart was suddenly feeling a whole lot lighter.

"You told me a while ago that it wasn't possible for you to start a new life on this island. I think you've already started it without knowing it."

Needless to say, I left Locke feeling a whole lot better. As the sun began to go down, I wandered to a space just off the beach and knelt down. My hands touched the soft earth. My fingernails dug into the ground and brought up a bit of earth, which I lay aside.

I kept up this process of digging until dark, and I could see the faint light of a bonfire through a gap in the trees. Finally, I came upon what I was looking for. A soft, silken golden fold of material. I tossed it up out of the hole and clambered out myself. I filled the hole back up so no idiot could fall in and then I grabbed the dress from the ground and headed towards the nearest bonfire on the beach, which was mercifully empty.

I stood, staring into the depths of the fire for a long minute, before I threw the dress into the fire. I watched the fire consume my old dress for a while, before heading towards the water to wash my filthy hands. When that task was accomplished, I just stood and stared out at the ocean until I heard soft footsteps approaching. I didn't turn until a southern drawl spoke from behind me.

"Nice work on rescuing half a camp, Princess." It was Sawyer, holding two paper plates filled with what appeared to be the boar that Locke had been skinning earlier in the jungle.

"What do you want, Sawyer?" I asked. Despite my tone, I really didn't mind Sawyer being there at all.

"Thought you looked hungry." He stated. I looked at him in surprise. This was the first time I had ever witnessed Sawyer doing something so thoughtful.

I took the plate he offered with a gracious smile and sat down beside him to eat. It was the best boar I had ever tasted.

We sat like that for a few minutes, just sitting and talking, until I noticed Sayid's form sitting in solitude by a nearby campfire. I excused myself and wandered over to him.

I sat beside him, but didn't speak. It was Sayid that said the first words. "You did well, in rescuing all these people."

"Luck was on my side." I responded.

"Look, I'm really sorry about what happened between us. It wasn't my place to misjudge you." Sayid said.

I was a bit surprised by his forwardness. I was silent for a moment, before saying quietly, "A while ago, Locke told me that everyone gets a new life on this island. I figure he's correct."

I leaned forward, my eyes looking into Sayid's intense dark eyes. My lips locked with Sayid. When the kiss ended, I whispered, "I don't know a Gypsy DeGroote."

That ended our conversation. I leaned against him, contemplating my life from here on out. I think Locke was right. I did start all over.

Prologue

A month had passed since Walt had come back, and he was taking great care not to disturb the residents of the island as he set about taking a stroll around the island. But, unfortunately, his quietest was not enough as he walked by the tent his rescuer shared with Sayid.

Alex's blonde head looked out from the tent. "Walt, what are you doing?" She hissed. "Michael's gonna go berserk if he finds you gone again!" She hissed.

Walt knew it was true. It had happened only yesterday, when Walt had gone off to the caves to fetch some water.

Walt opened his mouth to respond to Alex when he was interrupted by a strangled yell coming from up the beach a ways, too close for it to be Michael. Curious, Walt ran towards the sound. Swearing colorfully, Alex took off after him, with the now-awake Sayid bringing up the rear.

A/N: Well, that was a short preview to the sequel of this story, with the title Unwanted Identity, which will be posted as soon as Marauder's Meet Princess is complete, so I have no idea when. Well, please review this story one last time! So, good bye all Gypsy Queen fans!