Korrasami 88: Arabella means beautiful and graceful. Rather ironic name, isn't it.

Al Drin Hoshizora: Next time, why don't you review the story instead of just commenting on my review response?

Alexisnwallen: Oh, well your welcome, then.

MrScourch: Well what did you want me to do, give every character there a "I did not come this far to die now," sequence? Also, considering this is (technically) the last chapter, you better hurry up on questions, then.

Antha1: He's not climbing back up because he's dead.

I am a burglar: Fine.

Js: Thank you.

Also, technically the end of the story. I just want to say thank you once more to everyone who read this story all the way to the end. I definitely consider this one of my best stories ever written.


One month later


Bill stood at the top of a bridge overlooking the city. At his side were Sir, Bob, and the Boss. The sun was beginning to rise above San Francisco.

In the month that had passed, the city was in a much better state than it had been in nearly a year. It was taking time, but the Others were curing themselves. They were driving, drinking, doing normal things.

And they'd heard that outside of San Francisco, similar things were happening as well.

"So, how long do you think it'll be?" The Boss asked, leaning on the ridge of the bridge. "Before everyone is actually cured."

"Who knows?" Sir asked, scratching his neck. His skin was still somewhat pale, but other than that, he was just like he used to be. "I'd give it a year at most. Soon, this whole 'apocalypse' thing will be behind us all."

Bill shrugged, and chuckled softly. "To think all of this happened in just a year," He said, letting out a sigh. "It felt as long as my whole life, though."

"It was a crazy year, I'll tell you that," The Boss muttered. "Before this whole apocalypse, I wouldn't of dreamed of ever being the leader of the remnants of society." The Boss' skin wasn't as pale anymore, and his blonde hair was of a more natural color now. He didn't wear sunglasses anymore, and his eyes weren't as lifeless as they once were. His shoulder had been bandaged up, and was still healing.

"You still know your name yet?" Bill asked, turning to stare at the Boss.

The Boss shrugged. "All I know is it started with an A," He said. "I'll probably have it back by the end of next month."

The Boss then turned around and started heading back to his car. Bill stopped him, saying, "Where are you going, now?"

The Boss paused. "I'm. . . going home," He said. "I haven't been there in a long time." Without saying a word, he vanished into the car. After starting it up, the car drove down the street and into the city.

Bill smirked, and turned to Sir and Bob. "So, what's it like being zom. . . Others?" He asked.

"It was boring," Bob said with a shrug. "How your daughter managed to spend a year in that form is beyond me. Beats working and paying taxes, I guess."

Bill smiled. "In that case, I think you would've preferred being an Other," He said.

Bob narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking 'bout?" He asked.

"The world's returning to normal," Bill pointed out. "That means in no time, you're going to have to get a job and pay taxes again." He felt a sort of gratification when Sir and Bob's faces paled. They just stood there, not saying a word.

"See you guys later," He said, and turned before hopping into his car and driving off, leaving the two on the bridge.

(In Bill's Mind)

"Are we seriously going to have to get a job and all that stuff?" Fear asked. "I mean, having a year off kind of felt less stressful." He noticed the other emotions all staring at him, and he quickly added, "Minus the zombies, of course."

"I say it was all worth it," Anger said, standing up on his chair. "It took time, energy, and a lot of bodies, but what matters now is that our Riley is back. Now that's a job well done."

"Well said, sir," Joy said, and all the emotions nodded.


Jill was watching TV when she heard a knock on the door. Walking up to answer it, she opened the door to find Ghoul at the door.

"Hey Jill," Ghoul said with a smile. She was no longer wearing any makeup, and was dressed in more casual clothing, her gothic attire almost nonexistent. "You doing anything this afternoon? I was thinking we could go out. Get a few drinks and stuff."

"No problem," Jill said, smiling warmly. "Glad you and Noose moved into the neighborhood."

"Well, my apartment was a pretty rundown place, anyways," Ghoul replied, shrugging your shoulders.

"Trust me, you'll love it here," Jill reassured the younger woman.

"Oh thank you, Mrs. Andersen," Ghoul said, twirling her hair idly. "I just want to say thank you for everything. It means a lot to me, really. In fact, I-"

(In Jill's Mind)

"She's mumbling again," Disgust pointed out, leaning in her chair.

"Should we smack her?" Anger asked. Sadness shushed her.

"Oh come on, look at her," Joy said, a smile on her face. "She's adorable. The way she twirls her hair like that."

Pulling a lever, she had Jill raise a finger, shushing Ghoul. The younger woman smiled nervously, and said, "Sorry. I remember being a bit of a mumbler back before the whole apocalypse thing happened."

"Oh, that's fine," Jill said, putting a hand on Ghoul's shoulder. "That just means you're becoming human again."

Ghoul smiled warmly. "Where's your daughter?" She asked, staring past Jill and into the room.

"She's next door, with her friends," Jill answered.


"Jordan, where'd you go?" Mary asked as she, George, Shelley and Rob walked down the stairs into the basement of their new home. Since the apocalypse had mostly passed, the four had figured living in the woods isolated from the city was superfluous. Thus, they'd taken all their belongings and moved into the Andersen's neighborhood. They weren't the only ones.

When they arrived in the basement, they saw Riley and Jordan on the couch, playing Left 4 Dead 2.

"Hey, I thought I told you guys to tell me whenever you were playing that game!" Rob pointed out, throwing his large arms into the air in frustration.

"Sorry," Riley said, her eyes glued to the screen. "But I was distracted by the fact that me and Jordan were about to beat your high score!"

"What?!" Rob shouted in shock, his voice causing the house to shake. "No way were you guys about to beat MY high score!" He turned to look at the screen.

There was a pause, and then Rob simply said, "Oh." Next to him, his three friends smirked.

The door nearby opened, and Arabella walked in, gnawing on a chicken leg. "Hey, where'd you get that?" Mary asked.

"Don't ask," Arabella said as she slung the chicken leg into the garbage can.

Not long after, the door upstairs opened, and the group were joined by Jill, Bill, Ghoul and Noose. The four adults all walked into the basement, and Riley's parents took a seat on the couch next to Riley and Jordan.

"So, Margaret's mom says she and her daughter are coming over tonight," Jill said. Riley nodded.

"What're playing?" Bill asked, staring at the screen.

"A zombie game," Riley answered nonchalantly. "We're playing as the zombies."

"Oh," Bill said. A silence followed, and then he asked, "Can I play?"

"Sure," Riley said with a smile. Turning to Jill, she asked, "How about you, grandma?"

"Grandma?" Jill asked, a playful smile on her face. "Well, I bet this grandma can still whoop your butt!" Grabbing one of the spare remotes, she squeezed in next to Riley and Jordan. Arabella leaned on the couch behind Riley, while Ghoul, Noose, and the other four all sat down on the floor.

Riley laughed, leaning her head in on Jill's shoulder. She wrapped her arm around Bill, squeezing him tight. "I love you, mum and dad," She whispered.

"We love you too, monkey," Bill replied, kissing his daughter's cheek.

(In Riley's Mind)

The five emotions stood at the console, all of them smiling. Joy noticed a yellow memory orb roll down the tray. Unlike the other memories, this one rolled into the Core Memory circular tray.

"And this marks the first month since we've been back to normal," Fear pointed out proudly. "If we keep it up like this, maybe we can go a whole year normal."

"I don't think I've ever been happier," Joy said, glowing brightly. After a pause, she said, "Come're, you guys!" She then wrapped her arms around the group, saying, "Group hug!"

"I'm just happy we're all back," Disgust said once Joy released them.

"It's not just that," Joy said. "I'm happy that we're all a family now. And not just our parents. Ghoul, Noose, Mary. . . we're all a family now." All the emotions smiled and nodded.

And from that moment on, they were all a family. From now on and forever.

The apocalypse was over, but that just meant a new adventure had begun. And they were prepared to take it on as a family.


The End


Phew. It was hard trying to find a way to properly end this story. Just to let everyone know, there will be one more chapter after this; not an official chapter, though.

Just want to say a final thank you to everyone. I'm still really proud of this story, which is my longest and most reviewed story I've made to date. Will definitely keep writing.

:)