Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown.
A/N: Is it possible? After 7 long months, Kreepi Spicer returns with the final chapter? No . . . . it can't be! But it is, and she has the last chapter of this story.
What's this? She's even started writing the third story to end the trilogy entitled "Destiny," and has the first chapter written down on paper, ready to be typed? The world is truly coming to an end!
Well, here's the end of this story. Enjoy it, because next weekend, and I do mean next weekend, "Destiny" well be here.
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Father immediately began flipping out. "Chloe, what is wrong with you? You won! You don't have to stay!"
I showed a small smile. "I know I don't have to. I want to."
"You don't know what you want. You're a child."
I couldn't stop the retort slipping through my lips. "You seemed pretty sure you wanted Mother before you were 18."
Mother stepped forward. It hurt slightly to look her directly in the face; her face was fully set with grief. "That was different. That was love."
"Do you think," I said slowly, wondering if I was going to regret the words that were about to come out, "that I don't know love?" I glanced over at Chase. His face was still calm, and his smirk was still in place. I noticed that as I looked at him, he raised an eyebrow questioningly in my direction. Well, I thought, whether or not he loves me, I love him, and I'm not going to let them stop me.
Father moved to the seats, and untied everyone, while Mother spoke. "You don't love him."
"I do too."
She sighed. "Chloe, as much as you say to yourself you do, I swear to you that you don't! And even if you did, he doesn't love you. He just wants you for his plan."
I shook my head. "I don't care whether he loves me or not. I love him, and that's all I care about." I turned slowly toward Chase, and said menacingly, "And, if I marry you, you're not allowed to hurt anyone in my family, and Omi, Rai, Clay, and Ashley. Is that understood? You are to let them go, and never involve yourself into their lives ever again."
Chase nodded. "If that is what I have to do to please my fiancée and have her marry me, than I shall be willing to oblige."
I looked to everyone around me. All the people he had hurt . . . they were now family. They had come to rescue me, even though I didn't care. Even now, when I was telling them of my plans, they still seemed intent on rescuing me. But I didn't want to be rescued. I didn't want to grab the life raft that had been thrown out to me.
I continued observing my surroundings. I noticed that I stood in between my family, and Chase. In between Xiaolin and Heylin. Good and evil, nice and mean, kind and cruel. I was in between it all, and I wasn't allowed to be there. There was no neutral.
I took a deep breath, and smiled at my family. With a tiny wave, I turned my back to them, and walked to the man I loved.
The man who didn't love me.
The man who I would force into loving me.
Even if it meant not having the life I wanted, I didn't care. I just wanted him now. And I was going to get him. My life was going to be bad, I knew that, but if it meant actually having a life with him, I was willing to give it up.
I reached Chase, and grabbed his hand. Turning around, I faced my family. And sadly, they all turned away from me. All of them but my mother.
"Chloe, you're making a mistake."
I nodded. "I probably am. But I don't care. Let me make my mistake."
My mother sighed. "If you're sure, I'll let you. But I'm not staying here to watch." And along with the others, she turned toward the exit, and walked out with all of them.
That wasn't what I was expecting, but I dealt with it. I married Chase, and began a horrible life. I forgot all about the feeling of betrayal that my family gave me, only because I knew I had betrayed them back. And now, I wonder if my parents know what I'm going through. If they know what my life has been like since they left. And when I'm not wondering about them, I'm wondering if my life will get any better.
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A/N: Done. Really bad last chapter. I think everyone except Chloe and Chase were OOC, but whatever. Coming next weekend: Destiny, the final installment of my trilogy!
Sorry the end was short!