The End: Is Just a New Beginning

A/N: Well, this is very bittersweet. Hello everyone, here we are: the final chapter. I'm really happy we made it here and I think we should all treat this like a victory because this literally happened, for a rare moment, I finished something. lol.

Acknowledgements: I want to give a special thanks to my beta, Harmony Valenka Smith who stuck with me through thick and thin. Thank you so much Harmony, you are really great and you have patience that I can only dream of. You're going places, believe me. :)

I want to thank my mom for buying me my first diary and sparking a love for writing that I still am grateful for to this day.

I want to acknowledge the people in the Looney Tunes Slash community for even having a community out there for people like me that like to both read and write Looney slash.

And finally, I want to thank my fellow authors and readers. If you have ever read/reviewed/followed/favorited, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without you guys, I would be sitting at my computer on chapter one, biting my nails and struggling to write chapter two.

For all the people who stuck with me this far, you guys are saints, really. ^_^

Soundtrack for this chapter: The Reason- Hoobastank and Simple and Clean- Utada Hikaru.

To all the great people out there that make up this fandom, this one's for you...

We've got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen. – D.H. Lawrence

Four years later

The ceremony was one of the most beautiful, memorable events either had ever witnessed or taken part of. It wasn't just celebrating the result of immensely hard work and patience but also a commemoration of all the pitfalls and letdowns they had to go through together.

Bugs' graduation was special for both of them. It was one of those moments they discussed a few years ago when Bugs said he was going to give school one more chance. One of those moments, that seemed to only exist in dreams.

Daffy had always believed in Bugs and never doubted that this day would come, his boyfriend however, didn't really believe in himself. It took a lot of convincing on Daffy's part. There were many late nights tutoring Bugs and helping him get through tough exam weeks. The grey haired man was bright; he just didn't believe his future could be dependent on a flimsy piece of paper.

"I'm going to mess this up." He told Daffy one particularly grueling night of studying.

Daffy blinked, genuinely surprised by the statement before anger surged through him. "No, no. You don't get to say that to me, to anyone."

Bugs wasn't looking at him, somehow seeming to find his hands more fascinating. "What are we doing Daff? I'm not even sure I deserve half of this. You believe in me, and I'm not even sure I can be believed in."

Daffy planted his hands firmly on the desk in front of Bugs so he had nowhere to look but at him. "You are so much more than you'll ever know. God damn it. You have no idea. I don't believe in you because I think you're some saint who has it all put together, I believe in you because you're, well, you."

It took a second for Bugs' blue eyes to get that mischievous twinkle they usually had and then, with great skill, the grey haired man had Daffy in his lap.

"Aww Daffy, I'm nothing special." He whispered, burying his face in the collar of Daffy's sweater.

Daffy rolled his eyes tenderly and raked a hand through Bugs' soft hair. "You're right. You're not special, you are dorkier than me." He said which earned him a nip on his jaw.

"I mean it, though. I do believe in you, more than you'll ever know." The raven haired man affirmed.

When Bugs finally looked up and locked gazes with Daffy, taking the smaller man's breath away, all the uncertainty seemed to have dissipated and a new confidence shone in his eyes. "I want to marry you."

It was Daffy's turn to be demure. "Don't say things like that." He mumbled, trying to hide his face and swat Bugs at the same time.

Bugs reached out a hand to take one of Daffy's. "I mean it. We can go to New York and get everything done there."

Daffy straightened up to get a closer look at Bugs. He couldn't believe his ears but that didn't mean he didn't like what he was hearing. "You're serious?"

Bugs nodded.

Daffy smiled, curving an arm around Bugs' neck. "Then I have one condition."

"Anything, you name it."

"I want the biggest, flashiest wedding money can buy." Daffy smirked. He wasn't really serious, though being the center of attention at his big, flashy wedding was what he always dreamed, all he really wanted was to belong to Bugs and have Bugs belong to him.

To his surprise, Bugs didn't react negatively to his uncharacteristic request. The grey haired man simply returned to peppering kisses along Daffy's jaw line. "I wouldn't have you any other way."

Now, Daffy's chest welled up with pride as he saw Bugs go up to receive his diploma. The excitement must have been contagious because Bugs' parents and a few of his admirers (most of the school), started clapping excitedly. Daffy didn't miss the wink Bugs gave him either.

Daffy didn't even care when, before the ceremony was even officially finished, Bugs went over and kissed him in front of the entire school and whispered a 'thank you'.

After that, everything was just a blur of happy cheering and excited laughter.

Everyone seemed to be there for Bugs: his parents, his friends from the Gutter including his gang buddies (who arrived after the ceremony) and Lola, Sylvester and Taz, Porky, Petunia and Tina, Carrie and Zach who was now her new boyfriend, Daffy's father and Rianne and even Clarisse, everyone, except Sal.

It crossed Daffy's mind when he saw Bugs standing under a tree away from the others, talking quite animatedly on his cell phone that something was very, very wrong.

Bugs caught his eye and tried to smile it off but it was too late, Daffy knew something was up. He walked over to where Bugs was without giving a care that it was possibly a conversation he wasn't meant to hear.

"What's wrong?" He asked as Bugs hung up the phone with a curse.

The grey-haired man was nervously raking his fingers through his hair before balling his hands into fists. Daffy waited.

"It's Sal." Bugs said anxiously, it was a dramatic change from the smiling, happy man that was hugging his fellow graduates just minutes ago.

Daffy felt the blood leave his cheeks. He didn't want to think of the joyous older gentleman in any trouble. Sal had always been there for Bugs and the last few years were no exception. Recently, the man had been getting older and with his aging, he was also getting more susceptible to illness. The last time Daffy saw him, he looked worse for wear but Daffy didn't think it was anything too serious, though according to Bugs, Sal's ailments were mostly stress related.

"What's wrong with Sal?" Daffy questioned as Bugs took his arm and led them both further behind the tree.

Bugs sighed. "Have you ever heard of Ricky Dice?" He half-whispered.

"Yes." Daffy nodded. "He's a very notorious gangster." Then realization hit Daffy. "Please don't tell me Sal has any correlation with Ricky Dice."

Bugs nodded in the affirmative. "Unfortunately, Sal couldn't afford most of the bills the restaurant was running. He didn't want to ask me, damn that man and his pride, so he went to someone else: Ricky Dice. Apparently he thought he could pay him back before the deadline but things didn't work out that way."

"Oh my god. So what's going to happen? Can't you pay him off?"

Bugs sighed again. "It's not that simple. Ricky Dice doesn't like when people miss the deadline. The price for that is blood."

Daffy shivered. This was worse than he feared. "We have to help him."

Bugs nodded. "I have to help him. You aren't going anywhere. You're going to stay here with our family and friends and pretend that nothing is wrong while I do this alone."

"Bugs that's crazy! It's practically suicide. I can't let you do that." Daffy practically screamed. His heart was beating a mile a minute and it felt like the world was spinning a little too fast on its axis.

Bugs pinned Daffy with a stern look. "What am I supposed to do? Let you come with me so I can lose you again? Daffy these people are nothing like the gangsters in Minnesota. They won't just beat you up and leave you on the curb. If they find you, they can and will kill you. It's too dangerous."

Daffy straightened up, already resigned in his decision. "Then we'll get the police involved or we won't. Either way I'm coming with you."

Bugs looked both annoyed and frustrated. "I can't let you. I didn't want to revert to my old ways. Look at what staying on the right path has led to: my family is back together, I have you and my friends are here." He made a gesture to the group of people who were both of their entire worlds. "But this is Sal we're talking about and if I have to put my life on the line to make sure he's okay, then I'll do it."

Daffy nodded. Bugs was amazing, foolish but nevertheless amazing. It was insane, yes. But he couldn't say that he didn't understand. The older man had been like a father to Bugs where Bugs' real father had been failing. It was easy to see the amount of love and respect Bugs still held for the man, even though years had passed. "I know a thing or two about gangsters. If you won't let me help you physically, then at least let me help you in other ways. I can get you maps of the city, including the underground."

Bugs blinked, temporarily caught off guard. "Daffy, you need to be safe. I can't and won't let you do this."

Daffy leaned up to touch Bugs' cheek. "What about wanting me to be a part of your forever? We have plans you and I, remember?"

Bugs leaned in close to put his hands on both sides of Daffy's face. "You sure you want to do this? I know you built a life here. I wouldn't want to put you through anything to mess that up. Or worse, see you get hurt."

Daffy smiled. "Sal is every bit as important to me as he is to you. Whether you like it or not, you can't get rid of me." He said before leaning in closer to kiss Bugs. Before their lips connected, the grey-haired man whispered, as if he hadn't already said it a hundred times that day and wouldn't say it a hundred more in the near future, "I love you."

Daffy smirked and gave Bugs a wink. "I love you too, now shut up and kiss me."

~Epilogue~

One year later

Rex muttered to himself as he made his way through the halls of Poland Springs University towards his father's office. He was having a bad week, well a bad year and getting a call to his father's office was the only thing he had to look forward to.

He was sure the old man called him in to probably talk or kick back with him, and at that moment, nothing sounded better.

However, the look his father gave him when he entered the office was clear that it wasn't that kind of day.

The Dean stared at Rex; lips pressed into an unsmiling line and dark cobalt eyes teeming with disappointment and maybe, carefully restrained horror.

Rex nodded in greeting before plopping himself down in the chair opposite his dad. "Why do you look like you just found out mom's been reading Harry Potter fanfiction again?" He smirked.

The Dean's face did not change. "Rex, I've been informed that you were saying negative things about your students to your fellow colleagues. Is this true?"

Rex rolled his eyes. "That's all? You had me thinking someone died. Yeah I talked about my students, it's a free country, sue me." He remarked, studying his nails casually.

"Why, pray tell, would you talk to the entire staff room about them? Did you not think someone would report you?" The Dean asked incredulously.

Rex sighed as if he was genuinely getting fed up with the conversation. "I believe the real question, dear father, is do I care? The answer? Nope."

"Rex, I'm afraid I have no choice but to suspend you until further notice."

"Very funny—"

"I'm serious. I want you to pack your things."

Rex gave his father his hardest glare. "You let that deviant walk the halls completely free and yet I'm the one who has done wrong?"

"That 'deviant' has done more for this school than you have ever done. Thanks to him, we now have a fully modern, functional library."

Rex shot up from his seat. "I never thought you'd be one of those money guzzlers, but I can see I was wrong."

"It was a compassionate gesture. Now, I will not say any more words to you. Please leave."

"What about Daffy? Will he be coming back?" Rex tried to pretend that he didn't think about the raven haired man everyday. In his mind, Daffy was as attracted to him as he was to Daffy. Of course, if he was going to be suspended then the time they spent together would be very limited.

His father's voice cut him from his thoughts. "Of course, after he comes back from his honeymoon in New York."

"H-honeymoon?"

Dean Plasse toyed with a knick knack on his desk, the sudden gesture made him look ten years younger. "Yes, to consummate his marriage with the 'deviant'. Now, if I must say, I'm a bit of an old romantic myself, they do make a nice couple."

From the farthest wing, students could hear Rex cursing.

Porky and Tina, having heard all the things he put Daffy and Bugs through, cut all ties with Rex and were admittedly glad to see him go, even though it was only temporary.

The best and worst thing about life, is that it goes on, and for some people the end signifies a new beginning.

"…I think it has something to do with tomorrow, that there is always one, and that everything can change when it comes."
―Augusten Burroughs, Running with Scissors

The End

Final A/N: I know I keep saying this a lot but thank you, hopefully I'll see you guys the next time I decide to write a Baffy fic. Take care of yourselves out there, you beautiful, amazing people and remember this quote that isn't mine, when life gets tough, just keep swimming. :D