A/N: Yayyyyyy! It's the final chapter. A warning in advance: this chapter has some serious fluff, so if you're known to be someone who can die of cringe, you can't sue me in court! Thank you for all of the reviews. Especially Je suis dementia, I can really see your enthusiasm. As always please comment! Can"t wait for the next ep of hdm!

Lyra's feet carried her to the kitchen very quickly. All she could think of was that stupid idea her head had come up with. She needed to come up with a plan to escape Cittagazze and live the rest of her life as a tribal in the woods, steering very clear of Will. Oh, what had she been thinking. Will probably hated her now. In fact she totally understood if he wanted to kick her out of the house. She quickly rummaged for the eggs, and realised to her dismay that there weren't any in the cupboard. She checked in the other ones, and realised there weren't any at all. She looked around the kitchen in a panic.

"Hey." Will's deep voice cut in through her state of mind. Lyra immediately blushed and looked away. "What were you looking for?"

Lyra had to make a conscious effort to think of a reply. "Th-there are no eggs." She said, avoiding his eyes.

"Oh, w-we'll have to go and get some more. I think there's some pasta somewhere."

"Pasta? What's that?" She asked bemused.

"You don't know what pasta is?" Will asked back. Lyra shook her head. "What do you eat in your world?" Will asked incredulously.

"Oi, there's plenty of stuff to eat. There are sausages, there are pies, there are cakes-"

"I don't need a list Lyra." Will said chuckling, "I was just teasing."

Unfortunately for Lyra she was immediately reminded of the morning, and looked away again. Will, who could very well guess the topic on her mind shifted around uncomfortably. He eventually decided to break the silence.

"Look Lyra, there's something I've been meaning to say to you."

Immediately Lyra buried her head in her hands and began a hasty monologue. "I know. I know. I haven't been the best of companions, being irresponsible and all. I lost the alethiometer and put you in danger. I'm sorry. And I know that after last night you must hate me even more. I can't even begin to apologise for this morning and my stupid idea. If you want to kick me out of here, I totally get it. But please Will. All I know is how to cook are omelets. (She still said it funny.) I promise, only a few more days and and I'll be out of here."

Will felt it necessary to break in now. "Woah woah woah. Slow down. From where did you get that misconception. I would never want to kick you out, plus it isn't my place to do so. Yes maybe you lost the alethiometer but you could never have known. It's the same with your best friend." Will wondered whether he should have mentioned Roger. Lyra was still looking away. "Lyra look at me. Please." Will almost pleaded. Lyra finally decided to meet his gaze. "I don't hate you. I'm sorry I made you think that. And you don't need to apologise for last night. I'm so sorry for everything I said to you, I haven't been through half of what you've been through."

"Y-you don't need to apologise!" Lyra squeaked. She felt a rush of affection for Will, and realised very clearly now what she needed to say to him. "I'm sorry for interrupting you earlier." There was a unmistakably long pause, but Lyra forced herself to say something. "This morning... this morning I didn't mean to do what I did. I'm sorry for invading your personal space. But I did it all for a reason." Lyra faltered here, but all she needed was the intense look in Will's eyes to egg her on. "I've never felt about anyone the way I've felt about you. I know we've only known each other for a short time but I'm sure of myself when I say this. I-I love you."

Through the whole of the speech they had edged closer and closer to each other. Will's back was against the kitchen counter and Lyra's face was inches away from his. Her confession had left him delighted and breathless, and the way his eyes were brimming with happiness was enough of an answer for Lyra. With Lyra's consent Will cupped her cheek and pulled her in for a gentle kiss.

It was unlike anything Lyra had experienced. The kiss this morning had been rushed and unsure. But this one was exhilarating and slow. The softness of his lips was something Lyra was pleasantly surprised by. She let her hands snake up his chest and looped them around his shoulders. They slowly broke apart, their noses still touching. Will shyly smiled at her.

"I love you too." Will whispered. "I love you very much." He felt stupid saying it, but nothing gave him more joy than the smile that lit Lyra's face up.

"Then it's a shame I love you more." she teased back, and pulled him in for another kiss.

They spent what seemed like an eternity, just talking, teasing and kissing. Lyra knew for sure that she had never loved something so fiercely, and she had no intention of giving him up.

Lyra and Will were walking through the Oxford Botanic gardens hand in hand, the sky moonlit and the atmosphere serene. They stopped at a bench and sat down. The same bench she had shown him the alethiometer for the first time.

"Our plan of action. I'll hand him the subtle knife, and if he doesn't give the alethiometer back, you go and sneak it out of the safe while I keep him distracted. Then we steal the subtle knife back and pretty much run for our lives. Got it?" He asked.

"Yes Will." Lyra said laughing. "You've been over it a million times!"

"Yeah..." He said. "I just don't want it going wrong. I don't want you getting hurt." His voice was soft.

Lyra looked at Will's hand and frowned. "How much does it hurt, is it still bleeding?"

Will put his hand in her lap, and Lyra gently unwrapped the makeshift bandage she had used to cover his injury. It was still a horrific sight, that was for sure, but it looked better now. She furrowed her eyebrows in concentration and carefully rewrapped in a cleaner cloth. Will looked at her admiringly and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

"It hurts less now, because of you." Lyra just rolled her eyes and met his gaze, a smile playing at her lips. Will felt an overwhelming urge to kiss her pretty face.

"Can I kiss you?" He murmured into her ear.

"What if I were to say no?" She quipped back.

He leaned down nonetheless and kissed her soft lips with a hungry urgency. He could feel her smiling into it, and his stomach tingled in delight. She ran her finger through his hair, pouring all the love she felt for him in that kiss. His lips left hers, but they were still clinging onto each other, and Will inhaled her sweet scent.

"I love you." Will said.

"I know. You've told me way too many times for me not to remember."

His good hand clutched hers and they spent a few minutes like that. In innocent silence. Both Lyra and Will would remember that moment very well when they would come to the very same bench on a midsummers day.

THE END