A/N: Hi everyone! This is the last chapter but there will be two epilogues following after. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the making of this story and I'm glad to be able to share it with all of you. This chapter will definitely cheer all of you up! Thank you Halley for a terrific job and please don't forget to review!

Chapter 34: Do You Love Me?

Stephanie couldn't breathe. She didn't know how to. She couldn't blink, she couldn't speak, her entire body was in a complete shutdown and all she could do was stare.

She gulped hard. "D-Dan?" she whispered, her voice weak and faint. Anymore words were difficult to say as her throat clinched.

After all this time, there was hardly much change in Dan Shaw except his jet-black hair was a little bit longer and shaggier. His physique was the same, however, the good-humored gray eyes and the lean muscle built from years of playing soccer. He looked… amazing.

And that wasn't lost on her as her eyes swept him over once.

"Stephanie," he spoke, his timbre rough and husky. She always found it sexy and now having him stand before her in all his glory was enough to turn her legs into jelly.

"Stephanie, I—"Dan stopped, running a hand through his hair. "God, how do I begin?" Offering her a sheepish grin, he stuck his hands into his jean pockets. "I had everything planned and now I can't remember a single thing but that you look good."

Looking down in her oversized sweatshirt and sweatpants, she chuckled humorlessly. "Oh yeah. I'm a knockout in this getup."

"You were always a knockout," he replied softly. "Even if you sometimes never saw it."

"Do you want to come in?" Stephanie asked, holding the door out more. "It'll be a lot more awkward inside rather than out."

He laughed and nodded. Shuffling into the apartment, he took a quick survey of the room.

"I wasn't interrupting anything was I?"

"Oh no!" Stephanie shook her head. "Harper and I were just watching a movie."

Standing in the middle of the entrance, neither knew what to say next or do. It was over a year and what can one say to someone they once loved?

"You were right," Dan said suddenly. "A lot more awkward."

"Yeah," she agreed in a neutral tone. Then, "Can I get you anything to drink? You can sit."

She motioned to the empty chair by the couch and Dan, all too eagerly, settled himself comfortably. "I'm good. No thanks."

Stephanie sat down as well, staring at her hands. How long had she dreamt of this moment? How long had she planned what to say when she Dan again? But all the planning was not to be born.

"Stephanie." Her thoughts were broken as Dan quietly called her name. Gazing into his sincere eyes, she knew it was coming. The talk.

"I could start off saying I don't expect you to forgive me right away or even ever and I am deeply sorry for hurting you so much and that I'm a moron to just take off. I was wrong and I regret it. You have no idea how much I dreaded coming back, not sure what to find or if you still hated my guts or what. No words can ever express my apologies and it sounds so meaningless but it's true. I am sorry. So sorry and I wanted—"

"To find yourself," she interrupted. "It's okay Dan. Say it. You didn't know who you were and you wanted sometime away from me or us if you wanted to look at it that way. You did that and I'm sure you discover the truth that you were hopefully seeking."

"Stephanie, please, don't," Dan begged, his handsome features dropping. "Look, it was a mistake and I was stupid to leave you hanging like that. I know I messed up. I know there's a chance things will never be the same but…"

"But what Dan?" she sighed with indignation.

"I was a fool. Plain and simple. I was a fool and I was frightened. But now I'm over that fear Stephanie. In fact, looking back, I don't see why I was so afraid to begin with. And I have you to thank."

Stephanie fidgeted nervously, her breath catching as she looked into his countenance—so full of love and earnest.

"Stephanie, I love you. I love you with all of my being and I was hoping… wishing… do you love me?"

xxXXxx

Etienne's first thoughts as he grew consciousness was, am I dead?

Looking around his surroundings, it took Etienne sometime to realize he wasn't in Paris anymore. Nor 1899.

"I'm… I'm in the time to come," he whispered. He whipped his head back and shouted merrily. He was here! In the future! Where Stephanie lived!

"Stephanie…"

Glancing around, Etienne couldn't find a home close by. Naturally, Fate wouldn't be as kind as to take him where she would be. But how to find her?

Dashing down a street, he stopped in his tracks, his hands covering his ears to block out the painful beeps and honks of the horseless carriages. Exhaust and dirt plugged his nostrils as his head went for a spin. So this is the great future father spoke of? He thought. So far Etienne could see nothing that was so great about it. But he was going to remain optimistic that Fate hadn't abandoned him completely.

At full speed (and wishing he had Eros), Etienne ran down the block, his eyes searching for the familiar auburn-haired girl and mismatched eyes.

But it was fruitless. He continued to find himself at the same spot, no matter which way he took. It was a grayish looking building where Etienne had woken nearby that he failed to notice the sign that read: The Michigan Press.

Panting heavily, Etienne rested his forehead up against the wall. What was he going to do?

"You okay?"

Startled, Etienne turned around and came face-to-face with a curly-blonde and green eyes. She tilted her head sideways, interest capturing her countenance.

"You looked like you were running a marathon, honey," she said in a sweet, chirpy voice. "Lost someone?"

"Yes, yes I h-have." The usual composed Destler stammered. "Please, you must help me. I'm looking for Stephanie Larson."

Her brow frowned. "Why?"

"There was a misunderstanding, on my behalf. I need to find her; I need to speak to her."

The woman tapped her chin. "Look, buster, she's a friend of mine and I'm sorry but I cannot help you."

"What? Why?!" he demanded. "This isn't some trick, I assure you. I never wished her any pain, but I did by part of my own foolish pride and I paid the price. I don't know if she told you about me, but I love her. God help me, but I love that silly stubborn woman."

The woman looked at him oddly. She had notice something unusual about Stephanie, but decided it was best to keep her mouth shut. She figured it was probably Dan again, but this man was insistent about seeing her. And the helplessness in his voice and his eyes… her heart went out to him.

"Stephanie might hate me for doing this, but I don't care. I'm Veronica Bingley by the way."

xxXXxx

Etienne didn't know how he would ever repay Miss Bingley's kindness and help, but at the moment, he had to find the woman he loved.

Slamming the car door shut, Etienne broke out into a sprint to her apartment number. Behind that door would be his angel. He prayed that she could forgive him for all that he put her through.

His fist was raised to knock when the door was pulled opened. Etienne stumbled back, blinking rapidly as he looked into the eyes of another man. Dan…

Stephanie appeared from behind, her eyes red from crying. When she saw Etienne standing on her doorstop, she almost fainted. Is this for real? She thought.

The talk she had with Dan was long and emotional, but in the end she knew she made the right decision. She just did what Erik and Maddy had advised her to do. She followed her heart.

Etienne and Stephanie stared at each other, neither one not sure what to say. Dan watched the silent exchange and quietly cleared his throat to get her attention. He forced a shaky smile on her behalf and faced the man he assumed to be Etienne.

"Looks like the best man won," Dan said, his voice wavering but he kept his cool. Nodding his head to him, Dan gave Stephanie one last look before he walked off the stoop.

Confused, Etienne looked over to Stephanie.

"I let him go," she answered, clearly seeing the question written in his eyes. "I didn't think I would have the strength, but he's gone. I don't love him anymore."

She sniffed as tears cascaded down. "Am I dreaming?"

"No," he said at last. "No you are not."

There would be time to talk later, but for now there was only them. The way it should have been.

Taking her into his arms, Etienne pressed his forehead to hers. "Stephanie, from the moment I laid eyes on you I fell in love. Nothing in my life could have prepared me to feel the way I do about you and I almost lost you. I never want to go through that pain ever again, understand me? I love you Stephanie Larson. I love you with all the time of the past, present, and future."

She smiled, tears falling quick as she sobbed his name, and burying her face into his chest.

"I love you too Etienne Destler, as music lives on now and forever."

Cupping her cheek, Etienne pulled her to him, kissing every inch of his modern-day angel.

TBC…