Hi, everyone! We're finally here! The ending! Yay! *jumps around* I can't believe we made it this far. I can't believe I made it this far. I can't believe it! XD
I was going to include an epilogue, but I thought the ending was perfect the way it is. Thank you all for reading and reviewing. ^_^ I'd like to specially thank my friend, darkgirl11, for supporting me and giving me ideas and just being there. :D Thank you, thank you all. I wouldn't have done it without you. 8D
Well, onto chapter seven! I still can't believe that we made it to the end.
True to 5's words, as soon as the sun rose the trek home began. With them was Null, faithful to his promise. 7 couldn't be more happier. Though she was also a little worried. She was worried about the others besides 1 not accepting him. What would 6 and 8 think? What would 2 think? He already had a good idea on how Null would be, so maybe meeting him in person might convince him. 7 spent the entire trip trying to distract herself from what the others' reactions to Null. She knew she had nothing to worry about, but she still wanted to be prepared.
Null on the other hand didn't see anything to be worried about. He was looking forward to meeting 6 and 8, including 1. He wouldn't admit it, but he did want to meet 1. Even though he and 7 were no more, he still wanted to see him for himself. Null knew living under the same roof as 1 was going to be hard, he would make it work.
The group spent their trip talking. They told Null about the library, although Null admitted he'd seen the library, but only the outside. Everyone guaranteed he would love the library from the inside. The twins couldn't wait to show him their favorite books and show them things they wrote. Null in turn was looking forward to all that. Having 7 tell him about everyone gave him an idea of how each stitchpunk would be prepared him for meeting them.
"You should show 2 your blueprints for the catapult," said 7. "He would love to see it. He and 5 can build it."
"And I can help them build it," quipped Null. 7 chuckled.
"You nervous?," asked 9.
"A little bit," replied Null.
"You'll be fine," said 5.
"I know, I know," uttered Null.
3 and 4 flickered to him. Null couldn't understand them, so he turned to 7 for translation. 7 shook her head and chuckled.
"They're saying that you have nothing to worry about," she said. 3 nodded to him, smiling.
"4 is saying that you should be yourself when you meet everyone," said 5. Null snapped his head to him, stitched brows raised. Figures he would understand them, having lived with them for so long.
"You're going to be fine, Null," assured 9, patting him on the shoulder.
"I hope you're right," said Null, breathing in a sigh.
3 and 4 meandered ahead of the group. They looked over their shoulders, optics flickering. Null, again, looked at the three, waiting for them to provide an answer. It was 5 who spoke this time.
"They're saying we're almost home," he said. Null nodded in appeasement.
"Well, I'm glad we're going home," spoke 7. 9 turned to her.
"Oh really?," she quipped.
"Yuh-huh," chimed 7, nodding.
"Really?" 9 quirked a brow. "You sure you don't want to change your mind? We can tell 2 that we found a note left by you and Null explaining your departure."
"Nah, I want this," said 7. She glanced up, not in alertness, but in wonder. "Maybe it'd be nice to go out there and see uncharted lands." Her expression became wistful. "But for now, I want to stay with Null in our home." She caressed his cheek and kissed him on the lips.
"Yeah, just you, me, and maybe a little ankle-biter in the future," said Null.
"Maybe," retorted 7, raising a brow. Null smiled.
The library was soon in view. 3 and 4 ran ahead of the others, stopping at the gates to wait for them to catch up. When they were close to the gates, Null suddenly felt a surge of nerves rise up. It wasn't like how he would take 7 home, or wait for her to come out. This was his new home now, and it was too overwhelming to process.
"You okay?," asked 7. Null snapped out of his thoughts and looked at 7.
"I don't know how to feel," he replied. "Here I am at the library and...I don't know. I guess it just hasn't hit me yet, that this is my new home, I mean. You know?"
"It'll take some time," said 7.
"Yeah," uttered 5.
"You're going to be fine," said 9.
"I hope you're all right," blurted Null, optics locked on the the black iron gates. A second later, he let out a breath and announced, "I'm ready."
"Of course you are," said 7, smirking.
The six stitchpunks entered through the gates. Null looked on at the grass in the garden area. As he passed by it, he saw droplets of dew dripping down each blade. It was fascinating how life was retuning to the earth. In a few years more and more grass would cover most of the Emptiness. Null turned his attention to the library's open doorway, and was surprised to see a stitchpunk standing on the top step, as though waiting for them. He wished he knew who he was. Was this 2 or 1? He couldn't remember, and 7 had failed to describe him to Null.
The grey stitchpunk felt 7's hand grasp his. "That's 2," she whispered.
"Oh," said Null. At least he knew who this stitchpunk was. But meeting 1 still left a tinge of dread in him.
2 was sauntering down the steps, using his cane to carefully balance. He was greeted by the twins who hugged him immediately. The elder chuckled and hugged them back, giving 4 a pat on the head.
"Hey, 2," said 9, wrapping his arm around him.
"Hello to you too, 9," replied the elderly stitchpunk. His optics rested on 7, who was also glad to see him. "Oh and I see you found 7."
"Hi, 2." 7 waltzed over and embraced him. As soon as the two broke the hug, the white stitchpunk looked back at the crowd. "I'd like you to meet Null."
"Who?" 2 uttered. 7 splayed her arm at the stitchpunk she was presenting.
Null, who had visibly gone unnoticed, threaded his way towards the throng and stood before the elder. Neither knew how to respond, so Null did what he did best; be himself.
"Hi," said Null. "I'm...I'm Null. I...I'm—"
"My significant other," interrupted 7, flinging her arms around his waist. The smile on 7's face told him that she meant it and was happy to admit it. This was when it all hit 2 like a freight train that this was the mysterious someone 7 snuck out to see.
"Oh, so, you're... Oh!" 2's face showed genuine surprise. "Well, Null, it's good to finally meet you."
"It's nice to meet you, too," replied Null.
"Come in, come inside," said 2 hospitably. He slowly turned back and started his ascend back up the stone steps.
"Here, let me help you," said 5, gently grabbing 2's arm. The elder thanked him and the two made the trudge up the steps. Null took the moment to take in the library's ruined magnificence. This was his home now, so he had to breathe in every detail. Still, it was better than any other place.
"Tell me," said 2, once everyone was inside, "how did you two meet? Let's find a place to sit, these old limbs can't take any longer." He added in exhaustion.
The group found a spot near the fountain to sit. 2 took a seat on a hardback book. 5 and 9 both took seats on a broken column. The twins sat on the floor. And 7...she chose to sit on an overturned book with Null by her side. They were about two jump into conversation when they were visited by a certain striped artist.
"Oh, 6; come join us," said 2 cheerily. "We were about to start. We have a new friend coming to live with us." He motioned over to Null, who gave him a shy wave, all while trying to appear friendly.
6 looked at Null nervously. It was always hard for him to warm up to strangers. He felt uncomfortable, fumbled over his words and just made it embarrassing hair everyone. Nevertheless, 6 ambled up to Null, still trying to look bold. He looked at Null, nerves overtaking him. He grabbed at his key as he always did when he was nervous.
"I hear you like to draw," said Null as a start. Luckily that got 6's attention.
"Um...y-yes," said 6 nervously.
"Think you might show me your drawings some time?," asked Null.
6 fiddled with his key, optics darting from left to right. "Eh...eh..eh..." He closed his optics, gripping his key tighter. "Um, I'd...like...to," he finally blurted out. With that, he sidled over to 4 and took a seat next to her, grasping her arm for security. 4 smiled and flickered to him to calm down. She turned to Null and flashed him an answer.
'He'll be all right,' she told him, and Null didn't need anyone to translate for him.
Another set of footsteps could be heard. 8 emerged from behind a stack of books. He looked around at the group in confusion.
"What's going on?," he asked, brows furrowed. His optics finally spotted Null. "Who's he?"
"This is Null," said 7. "He's...my..." She looked down, somehow embarrassed to explain him to 8.
"I'm," said Null, "I'm her special friend. Her significant other." This surprised 7. For him to announce himself like that openly, it was something unexpected. Null himself was even impressed.
8 looked at Null as though he had trouble seeing him. A few raised brows later it hit him. "Oh," he uttered. The way he said it alerted everyone that he understood what was happening. Appeased, 8 joined them; walking over to 3, he sat her on his lap. 3 flickered something to 8, which he understood, but Null didn't. Maybe it was something flattering.
"So," said 2, looking at Null, "care to tell us where you've been all this time?"
"Here, there," replied Null, teasingly. "Though, I've been searching for the right place to call my own...after my human died." He glanced down at the marble floor. 7 gently touched his shoulder, smiling. Null turned to look at her. 7's smile was inviting, letting him know that everything was alright. The grey stitchpunk gave a tiny nod and continued.
Null told them all about his human creator and his young son, who he was close friends with. He told them about Robert's disappearance and Timothy's death. Then Null explained about how he left his old home to find a new life. Then he jumped to the part where he met 7 while trying to escape the beast, the Stag. This grabbed 2's attention, and he asked him what it looked like and where it came from. With 7 backing him up, Null was able to tell him and everyone how he and 7 had been tracking it. Then 9, 5 and the twins shared their insight. Going back to yesterday, they told 2 how they ran into 7 and Null while escaping the Stag. What put 2 over the top was how they killed it: luring it into a trap and catapulting a heavy projectile at him. Then came the part with the Fly, the Stag's companion. It amused 2 how Null tied it to a string to take it to its lair. What interested both 2 and 8 was when they found its lair and the new beast, the Crawler.
"It reminds me a lot of the Seamstress," said 8, recalling the night he was attacked. The memory made him shudder.
"Well, you don't have to worry about that," said 7. "We set the house on fire." She rested her head on Null's shoulder. "The Crawler's dead, that's all we've got to say."
"Aww, don't be so modest, 7," said Null. He looked over at 3 and 4. "You two were great, too."
4 nodded her head while 3 flickered a thank you to him.
"Really?," said 8. 3 nodded and smiled.
"Null, you should show 2 your catapult," said 5. He turned to 2. "It was incredible. You should take 2 to your old hideout, or we can bring it here and use it in case a beast comes here."
"I'd be delighted to see this catapult," retorted 2.
"Eh, well, I was thinking we could build a new here," replied Null. "Seeing how I'm going to be living here."
"Don't you what your old catapult?" 9 asked.
"Nah, not really," answered Null, shaking his head. "I say out with the old, in with the new. Why hold on to the past when I can make a new start elsewhere?"
"Interestingly said there," said a new voice.
Everyone turned and saw 1 standing before them. He looked like he was unpleased to see everyone here. Though he always looked that way, it was hard to tell. His optics rested on Null, the latter of whom blinked in confusion. Seeming how almost everyone was here, Null conclude that this was 1. 7's old flame. Seeing him here gave Null a nagging tug plucking at his chords. 7 also shared Null's discomfort. She'd completely forgotten about 1 and how he remained unmentioned this whole time.
"1," said 7. "We...uh...how long have you been standing there?"
"Enough to hear," replied 1. "I see you've had quite the adventure."
"Yeah," said 7, chuckling awkwardly.
The air around them became tense. Somehow being here was making 7 feel more uncomfortable. Having him and Null face to face made her desperate to run out of the room immediately. She was hoping things would go alright, and not break out in a fight. 1 stood, keeping his composure, but on the inside he was probably seething, loathing Null.
"Boss?," quoth 8, raising a stitched brow. 1 glanced at 8 for a minute before looking back at Null and 7.
"Weren't you going to leave, 7?" 1 asked in a sarcastic tone. "With him?" He darted his optics at Null.
"Oh, um, we...," stammered 7. "We...changed our minds."
"I changed my mind," uttered Null, standing up abruptly. 7 looked at him, pupils wide, mouth agape. Having him stand up for himself impressed blew her away. "I wanted to leave with 7, but I decided on staying after learning how important her family really is to her."
1 looked like he was losing his patience, which was always. "So," he said, "you're staying?"
"That's right," retorted Null.
1 quirked a brow. Null blinked.
7, feeling the tension increase, decided to break it and change the subject. Standing up, she spoke. "Well, that's enough introductions for one day." She clasped Null's arm. "We have a lot we've got to do, like, say, building that catapult?"
"What?" Null quipped.
"Yeah," said 7, "you said you wanted to make a new one, why not start right now?" She forced a smile, as though trying to convince him.
Null looked at her and then at 1 and back. Confused at first, Null got the point and jumped in on her suggestion.
"Right," he said, uncertain. "2, 5; wanna lend me a hand?" He looked over at the one-eyed stitchpunk and the elder for backup.
"Sure," said 5, standing up. He gave 1 a wary glance before walking over to Null. 2 followed them afterward.
1 sighed in frustration. He turned around and strolled away.
"Um, boss?," said 8.
"Go back to whatever you were doing," replied 1 without turning over. 8 looked on, confused and somewhat worried.
Almost everyone milled about, back to whatever activity they were formerly doing. 7 was the only standing, well, except for 9 who chose to stay.
"Are you alright?," he asked.
7 shook her head. "...No."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Again, 7 wasn't sure what to say. Something still didn't feel right. Maybe talking about will help her fell better, like 9 suggested.
"I guess I'm still trying to process this," said 7. "I...Null's going to be living with us. 1 reacting the way he did...I guess I should've expected it. But..." She trailed off as though she'd forgotten something.
9 decided to speak out. "5 told me about you and 1 being...a couple."
"That was a long time ago," rasped 7.
"Still, he was pretty shaken up when you yelled at him," said 9. "I guess he thought you and him still had a chance."
"He was wrong," retorted 7.
9 eyed her quizzically, as though expecting a better answer than that. 7 took a breath, reining in her temper.
"When we met it was like he was another person," she said. "I don't know what it was. Was it his smile? His voice?" She smiled softly, remember that the fond memories. She shrugged. "When we had to leave the Scientist's home, we started to see different sides of each other that we didn't know. I no longer saw 1 as that kind gentleman, but as a totalitarian. I tried to reason with him, but we hasn't having it. He wanted to keep us locked up; I wanted to fight back. You can't make things better unless you do something." 7 walked over to the broken column, sat down on the floor with her back against the column.
9 sauntered over and sat beside her. 7 rested her chin on her knees, looking at the floor despondently.
"I snuck out one day and came across a Cat Beast," said 7. "I fought it, but it managed to scratch my back. I knew I wouldn't last another minute out there, so I beheaded it and ran back to the cathedral. 1 saw me when I came running through the entrance. I knew he was upset. 2 patched me up"—7 moved to the left, showing 9 her reddish patch over her number—"that's how this ended up here." She said it as though it were no big deal. Over the years, she's learned to accept the patch as part of herself. "We got into an argument that night. I told him he either fights back or stay in the dark. But 1, of course, proud leader as he is, told me that if I wanted to fight beasts, I wasn't welcomed in the sanctuary.
"Greatest decision I made was when I left that night with the twins. I couldn't leave them there and let him poison their minds. It was better if they stayed with me. I no longer had the weight dragging me down. I was doing something. I chased the beasts away from the library. When I'd go on my patrol, I'd see them lurking around near the cathedral, so I'd lead them away from there to save them. I held no grudge against 2, or 5, or 6, maybe not 8; but I was still furious at 1.
"If you're wondering, no, I didn't not want anything to happen to him because it would come back to haunt me. I didn't want to see him die without at least reconciling, that's why I was so devastated when he sacrificed himself for us. When he resurrected I thought I'd have a chance to break things off on friendly terms. But...the day never came and I eventually forgot about it and I was happy to move on like that: without talking to 1. Then, well, you know what happened. I met Null and here we are now."
7 hugged her knees. Her optics gazed down at the floor, already overwhelmed from the talk. She had just opened up to 9 about her past and something still didn't feel right. She vented enough, but something was missing.
"Maybe you should go talk to 1," said 9, "let him know what you think."
7 looked at him like he had offended her. "It's a bit too late for that now, don't you think?," she retorted.
"No, not at all," replied 9. "If anything, this might help you finally let go of that tension you've been carrying."
7 looked away, furrowing her brow. "I don't know."
"Look," said 9, "if this happened to me, I would want 5 to tell me before I found out from someone else. It's more fair that way. I don't blame 1 for reacting the way he did—and I'm not condoning his behavior—but I am saying that he might've wanted you to tell him first before he saw Null."
"I did tell him," spat 7.
"You shouted it out," reminded 9. "I don't think that counts. I think maybe you should've explained it to him carefully before exploding like that."
7 didn't answer. 9 raised a brow confusedly.
"Well," he said, standing up, "it's entirely up to you. Do you still want to keep this weight dragging you around? Or do you want to let go?" He looked at her one last time before leaving. "It's up to you." He sauntered away, still worried but also confused.
When he was out of sight, 7 sat there, seething. Did she really have to say it? She was already with Null. But she still felt unsure about this. Maybe what he said was right. She didn't want him to be right but he was. The feeling would never go away, so she might as well talk to 1 before she regretted it. She got on her feet and went on her way. 1's room was in a corner of the library on the east wing. She knew he might be there, so she prepared herself for the upcoming talk.
7 walked past a mountain a books near the fountain. She saw the curtain that was used a door. Feeling fear cripple her, 7 took a breath and ambled up to the makeshift room. Once she stood before the doorway, she was already regretting it. Maybe 1 didn't want to talk to her. Maybe he wanted her to leave him alone. As enticing as that sounded she needed to speak to him before it spiraled out of control. She pushed back the curtain and peeked inside.
"1?," she said. No response. She saw him sitting on the makeshift bed. The way he sat made 7 think he wasn't in the mood for conversation, but she wasn't going to put this off for another minute.
"Listen," she said as she waltzed up to him. She grabbed the thread spool and dragged it over to 1's bed. She sat on it instead of joining him on the bed, thinking it more appropriate this way. "I...," she stopped short. She needed this to sound right. This was her only chance and she was not going to get a do over. "I didn't know you still felt that way."
1 turned his head away even though he wasn't looking at her. Maybe it was just as overwhelming for him as it was for 7.
"When I left I finally felt free," she said as a start. "I was making a difference. I was killing beast after beast. That was who I was—who I am." Her optics closed, sighing. "I wasn't going to be able to do that cloistered up in the cathedral." She opened her eyes. "I think you sending me away actually was a good thing."
1 glanced up, pupils wide. "What?"
"I know it sounds absurd, but if we hadn't broken up I wouldn't have realized what I was made to do." 7 sounded genuinely happy. She sucked in a breath. "Look, I'm not in love with you anymore, 1. I still like you as a friend, but...that relationship we had was dead a long time ago. It always has."
The elder stitchpunk wrung his hands. "I guess I always thought there was a chance," he said. "Of course, that was just me talking. I never thought what you wanted, and that was wrong. I was only caring about what I wanted and what would make me happy." He looked away for a moment. "I'm sorry," he forced out, optics closed.
7 looked down at the floor, frowning. Sadness swept over. She never thought this would ever happened. She only imagined it happening, but now that she was here it all seemed surreal. But talking to him was making it easier to get the tension off her shoulders.
"I'm sorry, too," she said. This convinced 1 to look at her again. Hearing her apologize made him think he was imagining it, but she was speaking it truthfully. "I'm sorry, 1," she repeated, "for not telling you about this earlier. But...you caught me off guard and I lost my train of thought. The moment was gone and everything was all over the place."
There was a deep silence between them. Eternity stretched on as 7 pondered what to say next.
"I'm happy for you," said 1 suddenly. This grabbed 7's attention once more and 1 couldn't help but smirk. "I am happy for you, 7. I guess it only took a moment to think to realize that. Here I was about lose my temper, and now, I don't want to do any of that anymore. If I tried to break you two up, it wouldn't matter. My behavior's no better than it was now."
7 mentally worded her next sentence. "I'm...I'm glad to hear this," she said. She wasn't sure if saying this was right or not, but she said it and she couldn't take it back. "It'll all be okay. Soon before you know it, you might move on as well. Who knows? Maybe you'll find someone else."
1 chuckled. "I'd like that to be true," he said. 7 smirked.
"Well, whatever happens, you'll always have us to back you up," said 7, standing up. "And everything will be okay, 1."
She turned around and walked towards the doorway. 1 spoke up before she could leave.
"7," he said. The white stitchpunk looked over her shoulder.
"Yes?"
"I hope Null takes care of you," he quoth. "He seems like a nice fellow."
7 chuckled. "He's great. Never met someone like him before."
"And I wish you both the best of luck." 1 said.
7 nodded and exited the room. Now that that was over and done with she wanted to find Null. Since she made up that catapult building excuse she might as well find them outside. Making her way towards the entrance she saw them out in the courtyard. Null was with them, and so were 5, 2 and 9. 7 walked down the stone steps. Null was the first to notice 7 and left the group to greet her.
"Hey," said Null.
"Hey you," said 7.
"So...what happened?," asked Null, concerned. "How did 1...?"
"We talked," replied 7. "He didn't want to talk at first, but after a while he did. I told him that I didn't feel that way towards him anymore. I thought talking to him was going to be hell, but I actually felt better. Having to tell him what I really think. He didn't want to admit at first, but he eventually gave in. And it actually helped. I don't feel regret anymore. I don't need to. 1 and I finally got what we both needed: closure."
Null smiled. "And that's good," he said. "You don't need these unresolved issues holding you down."
"Well said," replied 7, smirking. She flung her arms around him and kissed him.
"So," said Null once they pulled away, "think he'll be alright?"
"I'm sure of it." 7 looked at the gate, like she was trying to find something no one else could see. "What do you think is out there?"
"I don't know," retorted Null. "But whatever it is, we'll find it, or it will find us."
"You're such a dreamer."
"The dreamiest."
7 let out a laugh. Null wrapped his arm around her waist. 7 rested her head on her shoulder. Over by the garden, 2, 5 and 9 were busy with the catapult. 9 looked at them curiously.
"They're going to be happy together," he said.
5 glanced up. He looked over at Null and 7. "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah," replied 9. "I can feel it."
"You feel like lifting this board?" 5 retorted. 9 chuckled and walked over to them.
"You're right about that, 9," said 2. "I don't remember seeing 7 like this. I really think she's found her true love."
"Who would've though?" 5 reiterated. 2 shrugged, smiling.
Null and 7 walked past them, hands intertwined.
"Hey guys," said 7. "We're going out for a walk."
"Don't take too long," said 2.
"Or run off." 5 interjected.
7 chuckled as she and Null ambled towards the black iron gate. Ignoring their joke, the couple walked, arm in arm, seeing their future brighten.
Now that we're here, I'd like to get a few things out of the way. First of all, this is the final chapter of "The Seventh Wheel," we all know that. Writing this provided an outlet for an idea I'd never thought would be possible. Second of all, will I be writing more to this? I don't know. A sequel would be nice. Some oneshots, prequels. The possibilities are endless. So keep in mind that this is the final chapter, and that's all that matters. Third of all, having some hints of 1x7 was just part of the plot. Revealing it later was just to display drama and excite the viewer. But yeah, it was suppose to show a side to 7 we never expected. *chuckles*
I'm glad to have you all by my side. :-) Until next time.