Chapter 30
The sun began to set, and now the Valley had been coming out of the warm haze, and into a cooler spring like temperature. The events of the day had cooled off, and everyone resumed their daily routines.
Jun was walking Lok, Yuki, and Yumi to the village entrance, while Sapphire sat beneath the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, playing various notes on the guitar. She had long said goodbye to Lok, Yuki and Yumi, who had to make their way back home to their families, while she and Jun were going to leave in the morning. The Masters were doing their own thing, and Sapphire needed to go to Peach Tree, in which she stayed...
While she watched the sun set, she felt something hit the tree, and two ripened peaches hit the ground. "Figured you might want one." Twisting her neck to the right, she saw Tai Lung hobble towards her, leaning heavily on the walking stick. Sapphire smiled, picking both up off the ground, and biting into one peach, while holding the other one out to him as he made it on his knees beside her. He smiled at her in a gesture of thanks, and took it from her, and took a hearty bite. "How long have you been up here?" He asked, as she put the guitar to the side.
"Not long... Lok and the twins just left, and Jun's walking them to the entrance."
Tai Lung raised a brow. "That boy has been doing an awful lot of walking lately. He'll be as thin as a stick by the time he gets home..." they both laughed as they finished up the peaches, but it was more strained and awkward. Spitting the seeds out to the sides that they didn't accompany one another, the seeds rolled along the ground. "You're leaving tomorrow then..." He said, he's paws clumping together in a tussled hold.
Sapphire glanced at him. "Yes... but it's only for a little bit."
"And why is that?"
"I..." She looked away, propping her head up with both paws, elbows balancing on her knees. "My mother she... needs to know about what has happened..." Sapphire's adoptive family was never told about Tai Lung's relations with her. It was all hush hush right from when they adopted her. Sapphire found other ways to distract them; guitar sessions, walks with Jun to vent out and rant, songs, dances, and she planned on it staying that way. But that was when she, alongside everyone else, thought that he was defeated, gone off the face of the earth, dead... non-existent. "I was going to write letters, and keep her updated, but I got so worked up, and then with Tigress-"
"Completely understandable..." He interrupted, one of his paws settling on the back of his neck. "But I think you need to think about this a little further than just telling her about me."
"What would that be?"
Tai Lung inhaled through the nostrils, which enlarged greatly. "Sapphire, look at me." She did. "Whatever you choose, whether or not you want me in your life, I will support that."
What? "Of course I want you in my life."
"But is that your heart, or your brain talking?"
The young leopardess just rolled her eyes, slightly vexed. At who? She wasn't sure. "What's the difference?" Apart from one hanging in my chest, and the other sitting in my skull, she thought.
"Well if you think about it," Tai Lung buffed his claws on his chest. "Your brain is based on the logic side of things, on what is the smarter decision to make. Your heart..." The same paw he was buffing the claws on slowly planted itself at the spot over his heart. "It entwines emotion into your actions. What you feel to be right..." His other paw found one of hers, and he held her close enough for him to whisper, even though no one else was around, "my heart tells me to pray this child isn't going to be a girl."
Sapphire frowned. "Tigress' cub? Why?"
"I don't want to get attached to it if that's the case. After losing all that time with you, and made time to be in Tigro and Lotus'..." he shrugged a little. "I guess it's just out of guilt if the cub gets everything you missed out on."
"Don't feel bad about it, doing so will hurt the child when she- if it is a girl- grows the realize that it has no memories with you..." He gave a little 'hm', uncertain, before she looked back out to the sunset, while he watched her.
"I want to be in your life Sapphire... it's the only goal I have left."
"What about... Luna Lao?" She had small ounces of information about her, mainly from the box she was left with; there was a pictures, the message, the song piece, her name... the fact Shifu knew her, and always thought of her after Tai Lung was sent to prison. "Don't you want to find her?" She always had the assumption he would.
Tai Lung frowned. "I have no intentions on finding her." There was a hint of pain in his voice. "With what I have done tore us apart. I feel that... her decision to leave you that orphanage, and not tell me, was to narrow our chances of seeing each other ever again."
"Do you... think you would ever find love again?" Sapphire asked quietly.
Slightly taken aback from that question, he found the moment to shake his head. "No... no, I don't think I will. No one knows what the future holds for me... But right now I'm living this moment... and the time taken to lead up to it. It was a stroke of luck the Master's came to Bao Gu... that you and Tigress got so close... I owe it to her." He grunted slightly when he leaned back against the tree, rubbing the back of his neck. "I owe it to Po, Shifu, and the other Master's to help at the time, to get you a family you deserved, who care for you... and telling me that you were safe."
Sapphire nodded. "I always will be."
"Even if I continue to be involved in your life? That's what I'm concerned about. My brain and heart say two different things. I want to follow my heart... but after what had happened..." he gestured at his patched wound, while simultaneously bandaged arm. "I need to know if you'll be okay if I take this step."
"I will be!" She sat up straighter, her paws collected into fists on her lap. "I want you in my life. You made the effort, you can back out now..."
"I won't..." Tai Lung chuckled at her firm expression as he crossed his arms. "I'd be a fool... but I'm curious about what your adopted parents will feel about the situation."
"My adopted parents?" She choked slightly on the last word, and her paw moved up to massage her throat.
"Yes..." He spoke with uncertainty when he saw her actions. "What is it?"
Sapphire eyed the ground, her brows knitted together sadly. "Jun and I only have my adopted mother and her sister... he passed away a few years ago." Tai Lung's heart sank. She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Still a bit tender, the tree caught him from falling when she pushed against him. "I can't have my heart broken a second time..." Her speech was muffled, but sounded teary. "Don't ever leave me..."
Tai Lung's face hardened, shaking slightly. "I'm not going anywhere, I can assure you that..." He whispered firmly, his head tilting close enough until she couldn't pull away. "I'll be right here." At first nothing was said, until he heard a small whimper, and then a small, meaningful sentence came from his lips for the first time. "I love you sweetheart."
She pulled away from him, eyes glazed over as he cradled her soggy cheeks. "I love you too... Daddy."
At dawn, Jun and Sapphire were standing in front of all the masters, whom were all aligned outside the Hall of Heroes' entrance. There was a gentle breeze lapping around them. "This isn't going to be a long departure." Jun said with a soft smile, hoisting one of his bags on his back, while the other was by his feet. "We just gotta go home and..."
"We understand your reasons." Shifu spoke with authority, as she stood as straight as he could with the crutches.
Woo folded his arms. "Before you leave... I must apologize to both of you."
"Huh?" Sapphire and Jun looked at one another unknowingly.
"Well three of you. By judging a scroll by it's cover and... assuming you were not what you lead us on to believe." He then focused on Sapphire. "You and your father helped out a lot." Woo didn't seem too happy these bitter words of defeat were coming out of his mouth, but everyone watched him with wide smiles. "I must thank you personally, on behalf of the Master's Council."
Sapphire blinked, readjusting her bag strap while Tai Lung, who stood by Po with Lotus on his shoulders, raised a suspicious brow. "Well... we accept your apology Mr. Woo." Jun bowed. "I hope we encounter again one day."
"Feelings mutual." Woo nodded into a bow in return, but he seemed sincere about that.
Tai Lung stepped forth, opening his arms. Sapphire immediately fell into his arms, but Jun gave out a surprised yelp when she pulled him along, and the two were encased into the hug. Jun was stiff with shock, eye wide, and mouth agape. "Safe trip you two..." when they pulled apart, Tai Lung gave Jun a warning look. "I know you're a good kid... look after your sister, alright?" He asked, folding his arms.
Jun grinned. "I think it's the opposite in this relationship. She looks after me. But I'll keep her out of trouble... dad?" Tai Lung's warning expression cracked slightly, and copied Jun in his contagious grin, that was until Sapphire punched the lion playfully on the arm. "OK OW!" Everyone laughed.
When it died down, Sapphire took a deep breath and looked at each Master with an equal amount of time. "We'll see you soon then..." Her gaze was fixed on Tigress and Po, who smiled at her. "Thank you... for everything," she moved forward swiftly, and found herself in a tight hug with Tigress, giving time to take his son off of his shoulders, in preparation of Sapphire's hug. She gave an equal amount of time to the other Master's, who in turn whispered their own little goodbyes and good lucks. When she reached the twins and Chang, she knelt down and scooped the three of them up in a group hug. "Look after auntie Tigress for me, 'kay?"
"OK!" Tigro said brightly, nestling into the crook of her neck. She ruffled each of their heads once they pulled apart, before facing Shifu at long last. It took a second or two, but she hesitantly opened her arms, and held properly into the embrace.
"Be safe my dear..." He whispered, patting her back. "The doors will always be open for one of my own here." She nodded into the hold, eyes threatening to leak again when they unhooked each other. She smiled at him, before putting a fist to palm, and bowed to him, before she stood and backed away the same time as Jun, who had went around doing his own fair share of hugs.
Picking up their belongings, they set off down the stoned declivity, waving back at the Master's until they were no longer in sight. Nothing was exchanged between them through the Valley as the villagers were waving Sapphire off. It wasn't until later, when they had their fill, and they were surrounded by bamboo shoots that Jun asked if she was alright.
"Yeah." She said with a shaky laugh, pulling a photo out of her pocket. "I'm just... relieved everything worked out."
"With Tigress and the babe?" Jun inquired.
"Yeap... and with dad." They both smiled down at the contents of the picture; Tai Lung and Sapphire standing side by side; she was smiling straight at anyone who was looking at the picture, and he was looking down at her, a sense of pride in his grin, the walking stick just cut out of the picture.
Jun smiled and took hold of her paw. "Proud of you to go through it all with a leveled head baby sis... most of the time." She laughed at his comment, "but you don't need to tell Mom on your own. I'll help ya with my own aspect." She smiled up at him, before tilting her head to the side knowingly. "What's that look for?" He asked uneasily.
"Nothing... just counting a blessing to have a best brother in the world."
"I knew you'd warm up to me at some point-" He beamed down at her, before she tackled him to the ground, catching him in a noogie. "ACK! OK LOOSEN UP!" He yelled, laughing all the while. They didn't hug (too many emotional hugs happened in such a short space of time). Instead, he slung his arms around her shoulder once they were standing again, and they made the journey back home.
Epilogue
Tigress was taking massive breaths as Po stood down beside her, taking her paw in both of his. Her other paw was on her stomach, clothed by a white cotton shirt, which had grown that little bit more closer to the end. Jasmine came in as fast as she her enlarging abdomen allowed her, sitting down to soak the rag. "Just keep going with the breathing darling, you're doing great..." Woo suggested to get another midwife as Jasmine 'wasn't in the condition to work' but she was helping in her niece/nephew's delivery not matter how far she was into her pregnancy.
Her contractions had been coming and going the last day or two, but nothing was coming about until she felt a terribly strong kick that morning. Sapphire, Jun, and Lok waiting outside, seeing Tai Lung had sent word that it was nearly time... Yuki and Yumi sent their apologies for their absence; their excuse forgotten by the pain that was over taking her. "Where are the boys-" she managed to rasp out before wincing a little on the medical cot.
"Lok's picking them up from school." Po informed her, caressing her paw with his thumb as her head arched back, eyes staring intensely up at the ceiling. "Just focus on your breathing and-" he was cut off by her crying out slightly as she clutched her stomach, as he edged closer to her.
Shang parked himself in front of of Tigress after scrubbing his paws. "OK Tigress, when I saw so, I'm gonna need you push as hard as you can." Tigress nodded, her breathing slow and timed as Jasmine fixed the blanket to base at her hips. Beads of sweat were collecting on her forehead, which Jasmine saw to immediately with the damp rag. "OK, push!" She leaned forwards, eyes shut tight as she pushed with all her might. "That's it... good, ok..." She feel back a little, to notice that extra pillows with stacked behind her while she was leaning forward. She looked at Po as she squeezed his paw, and he tried to not focus on his current state of pain.
"You're doing great kitten, just focus on your breathing." He kissed her forehead gently, bringing her paw up to his mouth so he could kiss that too. "I love you..."
Outside of the room, Jun leaned against the wall, and Sapphire sat by them, but she was focused on her father, who was on the other side of her, while Shifu was listening intently along with Viper, Crane, Mantis and Monkey, all ears to the door. Woo was there too, with a small parcel in his grasp as he watched the door with obvious worry. Tai Lung was still using the walking stick, and Shifu was still confined to the crutches.
"Please don't wear out the floor." Sapphire said to Mr. Ping and Li, folding her arms as she looked out into the space. Watching them pace back and forth was making her feel a little bit sick.
"I'm trying not to..." Li continued on the movements while Mr. Ping stopped, staring straight at the door, wringing his paws together in agitation.
"Oh I hope she's okay..." The goose mumbled worriedly. "She has been in there an awfully long time..."
"She'll be fine." Shifu ensured, although there was still some uneasiness in his voice.
Tigress yelled out in pain from one particularly nasty contraction, and Jun's knees went a bit wobbly while everyone winced a little. "That sounds like it hur..." he caught his words by slamming his paws over his mouth when everyone stared at him with a strange expression. "... I am not going to finish that sentence!" He added quickly.
"Don't." Sapphire and Viper said in unison.
"Almost there Tigress! Just keep pushing." Shang instructed slowly.
Tigress roared as she lurched forward. "Hrghnnn ughhhhhh!" This particular push lasted about ten seconds, before she had enough, and she fell back onto the stack of pillows behind her again, sweating profusely as Po took over the wiping of her forehead while Jasmine stood to Shang's excited expression, getting the towel ready. "I'm hardly pulling it back in Shang!" Tigress managed to rasp, causing Po to chuckle a little.
Jasmine smiled at her. "That was amazing darling! Another one of those and it's out. I see the little one's head!" Shang nodded enthusiastically. He should be acting more professional than this, but this was his sister's child he was delivering, he couldn't contain the excitement.
Po helped her sit up again. "On three- one, two-"
"THREE!"
...
...
There it was.
A shrill scream, a cry, and eventually a sniffle. Everyone could feel their hearts leap into their throats... Tai Lung was the first to snap out of the trance, to stand and shake Jun to attention. "Get Li, Ping, and the children!" Jun nodded quickly, and rushed out the door. Tai Lung's eyes was still on the cloud of dust Jun left, ears flicked with the anxious wait...
Some pillows were removed so Tigress could lie down better.
"Po..." she whispered, looking at him, her chest rising and falling almost dramatically as she tried to catch you normal pace. He didn't look at her; he held her paw, but he was focused on something else. The little black and white ball was turned away from him after his cut the umbilical cord, and then there came swishing of water, an occasional hushing from Jasmine... and before she knew it, Po hoisted her up a little bit better, and a little bundle was in her arms the third time.
Tigress could feel her breathing grind to a halt, while glancing up at her husband, when he pulled the opening in the blanket a little bit more. "It's a girl... congratulations." Shang wiped the sweat of his own forehead, giving a satisfied exhale. Jasmine clapped excitedly, almost ready to cry.
Outside everyone was cheering and clapping, as Tigress held her head in her paw tiredly, eyes wide.
Sapphire was standing, paws wrapped around one another against she chest as the rest of the Furious Five were in a large group hug, chanting the word over and over, while Tai Lung kept his attention to the door, sinking onto the bench. Woo looked at his actions strangely, before turning to Shifu, and congratulating him on his new student. "You mean grand-daughter." Shifu corrected, the corners of his mouth rising at the word as he turned back to face the door. Jun and Lok went ballistic and joined the Master's in their celebration while Sapphire hung back.
"Dad?" Sapphire leaned in to see his expression better, while everyone as distracted with their own celebrations. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine..." he spoke rather bluntly. "I just need to catch my breath..." Sapphire's paws pulled away from her chest, wrapping in time to hold his paw.
"It's alright... remember what I said?" She whispered, squeezing his paw. The tightness brought him to attention, and he nodded slowly, before shifting his eyes back to the door.
Po's left paw found their way to his mouth, catching the gasp before it could be released. "A girl..."
"I can assure you Po she has a clean bill of health." Shang nodded reassuringly alongside his wife's words. "We'll let the twins in a while." Jasmine and Shang reluctantly moved out of the room to tide down the others, while Po and Tigress looked down at the little bundle in awe, as she continued to wail in his wife's arms.
Her little face was every stitch of her mother; the same markings were faded, waterlogged from her first bath. Her tiny paws were poking out from the opening of the blanket where they could see her head from, waving in the air as she continued to cry. A tiny mouth, even tinier fangs, dainty whiskers, and eyes that remained shut. The only that wasn't her mother was her white fur, a large black spot surrounding her right eye and her black paws...
There was a muffled noise beside him, and he looked up to see tears streaming down Tigress' cheeks, as she looked down at their little miracle, covering her mouth to cut off the noise. "Heyheyhey Ti..." he held his wife's cheek. "Why are the waterworks running?" He chuckled, his own were threatening to break. "It's my job to be the softer one..."
She tried to laugh with him, but she almost choked on the attempt. "To think I-" She shook her head and turned her head away from him when she saw his face drop.
"Don't think about it..." He stood and sat beside her on the bed, causing it to creak slightly. "Just look at her... our baby girl..."
She passed him the bundle, and he immediately held the child to his chest, as he kissed her forehead. "We finally did it." Bringing her closer to his face, Po hummed a little tune, which seemed to sooth the baby. "She's beautiful... she's perfect."
"I guess you're just complimenting your own appearance sweetheart, 'cos she looks just like you." He got a little chuckle out of her that time.. "I'm so proud of you..." they looked at one another, and shared a simple, but loving kiss, and gazed back down at their new little treasure.
"Mama?!" They simultaneously turned to the door, to see their sons, and their three grandfather's look in. Tigress nodded at them, and they moved in, leaving the others stranded restlessly outside behind the closed panels. Tigro and Lotus ran to her and eyed her worriedly. "Why are you crying?" Tigro asked, noticing the tear stains on his mother's cheeks. "Are you okay!?"
"You're mommy's a little bit sore boys..." Mr. Ping knew the boys had a decent idea about how a baby was born, so there was no beating around the bush.
"But she's also so happy your little sister is here." Po added, while Tigress wiped her eyes and the twins gasped excluding Shifu, Li and Mr. Ping, who just smiled gratefully at the words they already hear. Li Zhan picked both of them up, and sat them on the bed. Tigro and Lotus crawled up the length of the bed, nestling into their mother as they gazed down at the new edition once Tigress had her back in her arms.
"She's so cute!" Tigro said excitedly, before he leaned in. "Hello there..." He whispered, almost afraid to speak any louder.
Tigress exhaled lightly, and as Lotus was wordlessly caressing the child's delicate cheek. In turn the baby stirred, and her eyes slowly opened for the first time. The previous little family of four gazed down, and then looked at one another in amazement. "What is it?" Mr. Ping urged, his wings in tightened fists. Po looked up at his fathers, and Master Shifu, and said, before looking at Tigress, who was totally bowled over. "I think we have a name..."
The door opened, and Shifu ushered everyone else in. They immediately walked up the Tigress' bed side, eagerly awaiting for them to speak. Tigress was understandably tired, but smiled at them, as she turned the gurgling bundle towards them. "We'd like you to meet..." They closed in just as Po moved pulled the blanket back a bit more, to reveal their daughter's face. "Amber-Jade Tigress Ping." The twins grinned excitedly.
"Or AJ for short." Po added. There was a chorus of aw's and ahh's. It was quite fitting; each eye took up of her parent's eye colors; her left was flared with the brown, fiery passion her mother bared, while the right one was graced with the loving, caring shade of green graced by her father.
"You finally got a name!" Mantis laughed.
"She is so cute I can just eat her up!" Viper cooed.
"Definitely a Tigress stunt double." Crane said in awe.
"Yeap," Po chuckled. "Only took until we looked at her. The ones we were pending on just don't match up with her now."
"Is this..." Chang began, before Monkey nodded.
"This is Po and Tigress' new baby..." Monkey told him softly, before looking around to see the ecstatic faces of every other Master... while Tigro and Lotus were glowing with pride. Remembering the dream he had on his travels, he recited it again, changing only one word. "We gotta make sure she becomes the best warrior she can be..."
Shifu soon took hold of the new baby, mesmerized by each movement, each sound, and cradled her close. "Whatever you would've picked she will wear it with pride." Sapphire gazed down as the squirming bundle, her heart growing larger in her chest. Watching Shifu interact with the baby in such a simple gesture, yet it was so sweet.
Mr. Ping cried once he had hold of his grand-daughter, as were all the others. One by one they got to hold and cradle the little being; Li, Crane, Viper, Monkey (while Mantis smiled down at her, making little noises to catch her attention from his shoulder). Chang and the twins were sitting on the bed, happily watching each Master hold little AJ. When it came to Jun once Sapphire passed her to him, he just stared until everything was blurry...
"Are you... crying?" Lok asked, though he was ready to do the exact same.
"No!" Jun said defensively, before he bowed his head slightly. Everyone laughed, before Lok turned to Woo. He passed the parcel Tigress, which revealed the same locket that she received a few days before.
"She's going to be an amazing warrior." AJ let out an excited 'ah', rising her fists towards him, to prove his statement as she settled into Tai Lung's hold, and once she was in his arms, she was completely mute.
"Tigress Jr would've suited her more I think," he joked, rocking her slightly, before she made another song of vowels. "Hello little one, aren't you a little beauty..." He chuckled, looking up to see everyone smiling at them. He smiled back, before moving back down at the child.
Po and Tigress then caught their attention. "We have also decided who her Guardians are gonna be." Monkey, Crane, and Viper were out of the question. Viper was already granted the female guardian duties twice (to the twins), and Monkey was granted the honor to guard Tigro (as he had asked Po and Tigress to be Chang's), and Crane was Lotus'.
"Who?" Asked Shang.
"You and Jasmine." Po said, while Tigress nodded beside him. "For everything you have done in the time you were needed the most..."
Jasmine turned to face her husband's, absolutely ecstatic. Before he could get excited about it too, he stopped, and turned to Tai Lung, who wasn't really listening; he was just fixed on AJ, as was Sapphire. "I think I know someone else who is more deserving of that title..." Tigress smiled at him.
"Are you sure?" She inquired. Shang nodded. "Alright... Tai Lung."
"Hmm?" He looked up, obviously zoned out.
"You're now AJ's guardian."
"What?! Shang-" he turned to the male tiger, who just smiled. "Are you sure?"
Shang reached out to him, and soon his only niece was in his arms the second time. Looking down at her precious little face, he replied to the Snow Leopard's question. "I have never been so sure in my life Tai Lung... after what you have done to prove yourself of my trust, and the valley? I believe so. Besides," hanging one paw over AJ, she tried reaching out for it while he turned to finally return her back to her Mother. "I can be the favorite uncle." he gives Tai Lung a playful smirk, who just rolled his eyes and smiled back. Tigress immediately held AJ close to her chest, when Tigro and Lotus crawled back up to her sides, and watched on excitedly.
"Hey doctor, I think there can be two spots for that." Mantis piped up, as they began to leave the room to let Tigress rest. Tai Lung slung an arm around his daughter, and guided her out the door while Jasmine took a seat. "You forget I'm here too..." The door closed, leaving Tigress, Po, their three children, the three grandfathers, and the guardians together in the medical room. Shaking her head at them once they were out of the room, Mr. Ping caught her attention by making little cooing noises to AJ. She placed the locket close enough for AJ to see it, and the grabbed hold of the chain, shaking it around freely while the charm was trapped in Tigress' palm.
"You're gonna be a heart stopper, my precious little grand-daughter!" Mr. Ping held his head in his wings, while Tigro and Lotus laughed at his sentence. "Oh I can't wait for her to make her debut to the Valley! Free noodles for all!"
"She'll be worth the wait..." Li wiped a tear away, and placed a firm paw on Tigress shoulder. It wasn't until she faced him with a neutral gaze that he spoke again. "We're so proud of you Tigress... she is beautiful."
"I am part of the equation you know." Po argued with a childish pout.
Tigress rolled her eyes while still looking a her father in-law. "And who was it that did all the hard work?" Po opened his mouth to argue, before closing it slowly.
Shifu chuckled. "This little one will realize how much she meant to you for everything you both have done..."
The feline blinked once towards her Master to register what he had said, before realizing her two sons were ready to snooze on either side of her, exhausted from all the excitement so early in the morning. Her daughter made a little sound, staring up at this being that had brought her into the world. "Indeed... but some details will be spared." Shifu nodded slowly, before he placed it in front of Jasmine first, who bowed as best as she could, and then at Tai Lung, who put a fist to a palm, and bowed, smiling happily.
Finally, placing his paw on AJ's forehead, when she sat in his hold again, he closed his eyes. "I baptize thee Amber-Jade Tigress Ping..."
However, as he pulled his paw back slowly, and it gave AJ the time to latch her little fingers onto one of his. He froze, and stared into her eyes properly, bright and alight with love.
All he could do was smile.
The End.
It's so weird saying that now... can't believe this story is finished!
I hope everyone liked it. Seeing it was the end, I figured I owed it to everyone to make it a nice long finale.
Please review, and I will see you all in my next new stories/updates!
Ciao!