A/N: This is the final chapter, very short, but I have to close it somehow. I hope you all have enjoyed reading this; maybe it's opened some more people up to the concept of modern AUs. Huge thanks to all my amazing reviewers. If you have any suggestions, comments, prompts, requests or anything, please feel free to leave a review! Thank you all very much, and I hope you like this last chapter.

EDITED

Daine scribbled idly on some piece of paper at the dinner table, frowning and biting her lip as she worked. Numair didn't even know what she was working on so vociferously. But whatever it was, it seemed to be causing her a great deal of frustration because he could hear Cloud purring sympathetically by her elbow, and he could hear irritated, confused mutters every now and then, too. Eventually, she let out a groan and pushed the papers away. "This process is insane," she growled, sounding just like an angry tiger. "How am I supposed to do this, Numair? It's crazy."

"Do what?"

"I'm finally doing what you keep telling me to do," she sighed. She held up the book that was beside her – a guide to colleges and universities.

"Really? Daine, that's fantastic!" exclaimed Numair, dropping the box of rice he'd been about to fix. He rushed over to her and bent to examine the papers strewn over the tabletop. "What places are you looking at? In-state, or - "

"All local places," she said resolutely. "Don't be an idiot, Numair. If it meant moving out there'd be no chance."

Numair looked at her, surprised. "Are you sure, Daine? There are so many great places out-of-state; staying local limits your options so much." The words came out of his mouth practically of their own volition. Numair cursed inside his head. He wanted the best for her – but if she actually did leave to go to school? Just the thought made his heart pang.

"I'm sure," she replied. Her tone made it clear that the topic was no longer up for discussion. She found his hand and weaved their fingers together, though she was still distracted by the papers and guidebook. "You are far more important to me than school, Numair."

"I would feel honored, except that I know exactly how little you care for school."

Daine stuck her tongue out. Numair grinned and kissed her lightly on the cheek as she continued, pointing to the more official-looking papers on the table, which were parts of the actual applications for three different schools. "These are the places I found which looked okay," she explained. "And affordable."

"Money won't be a problem. My promise."

"Numair - "

"No point in arguing," he said innocently. "I'm not going to change my mind, so you might as well continue. What were you saying?"

"What I was saying," continued Daine, though she still looked a little vexed, "was that I found these places, right? But this process – all the crap you have to do to apply – it's insane. It would take so long, and I barely have a chance anyway, since I never actually graduated from high school."

"Don't say that. If you get Onua to write you a recommendation, and they see your job records, they'll be begging for you to come."

"Yeah, right," retorted Daine. Then she sighed, her irritation slowly dissipating as she looked at all the papers. "Numair, this is crazy. Why can't I just go to your college? Where you teach, I mean? You know the admissions people; you could get me in. And I learn so much from you, so I'd be in your class have one teacher, at least, that I'm used to, and - "

"Definitely not an option," said Numair flatly.

"Why not?"

"One, I am not allowed to influence the admissions office because I know you – don't get started on my issues with illegal things, by the way. I don't care if it happens all the time in other universities – and two, even if you did go there, you couldn't be in my class."

"Again, why not?"

"Because teachers aren't allowed to have relationships with students."

Daine groaned and glared at him. "You are so infuriating sometimes," she grumbled.

"I do my best," said Numair dryly. With an almost imperceptible smile, he shrugged, staring vaguely out the window. "That's not the only reason, though. That you can't attend, I mean."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Really?"

"Mhm."

"What's the other reason, then?"

Numair pulled her to her feet, his hands on her elbows. Daine tripped and faltered a little as she stood, but Numair was there to stop her from falling. She pressed her hands against his chest. Numair's head tilted down a little, his forehead barely skimming hers. "Because if I were your teacher," he began, the words sweeping lightly against her lips, "I think I might be a bit biased, don't you?"

"Maybe just a little," she said breathlessly. She could feel a hot rush on her cheeks, but rather than standing on her tiptoes to kiss him, Daine laid her head wearily on his chest and sighed. "Numair, you know I'd only ever go to school if you were teaching me."

"I know," murmured Numair.

"I thought about other schools, other places." Daine shook her head. "I don't want to do anything that would mean spending less time with you."

"I don't know if I should be happy or sad about that," joked Numair. Daine only sighed again, resigned, but she was smiling now, too, and she took a quick look back up at him and squeezed his hand.

"Thank you," she said, pressing a swift kiss to his lips.

"For what?"

"Just - for understanding. Thank you."

They were back in their favorite afternoon relaxation spot, the wide park with the scraggly trees, lemonade-and-iced-tea courtyard, and lush, verdant fields. A young couple walked past them, smiling, hand in hand. As they passed, a glitter from the woman's hand caught the sunlight and twinkled in their eyes. She wore a shining silver ring, complete with the small but splendid diamond in the center. Her eyes glowed as she glanced at the man she walked next to, and his gaze, too, were bright as he looked at her. Both smiled and strode past, oblivious to world around them. Numair took a fleeting look across the table at Daine, seeing that her eyes, too, were following the ring on the woman's hand. Her gaze was calm and thoughtful. "Have you ever wanted that?" asked Numair, his tone casual.

Daine simply shrugged, her gaze still contemplative. "Every girl dreams," she said at last. "Dreams of the perfect guy coming to sweep her off her feet; the guy to run away into the sunset with. Fairytale-type ending, you know. With a beautiful dress and beautiful ring to top it all off."

"What did you dream of?"

"Pretty much the same thing as that. A sort of knight-in-shining-armor deal."

"So," said Numair mischievously, "how does reality compare?"

"You mean you?" replied Daine, grinning.

"Of course."

"Better," she said firmly. "Knights are boring after a while."

"I'm glad to hear it," said Numair, warmth filling his body even in the evening's breeze. He leaned towards her, with the full intention of kissing her chastely on the cheek. But turned her head so that their lips met instead, a deep, steady kiss that Numair knew would make people stare. But he didn't mind at all. Daine's hand curled around his, her palms calloused, but smooth.

"You're more than I could have ever dreamed up, you know," Daine murmured affectionately. "Different, too, that's for sure."

"I call it uniqueness, my dear. You're the one who I am amazed that I was lucky enough to find."

"Whatever," laughed Daine.

In spite of himself, Numair looked back at the two people they'd seen, aware that Daine was following his gaze. The couple was almost completely out of sight now. Running a hand over Daine's hair, Numair tried with all his might to read her expression, her thoughts. She turned to face him, composed and unruffled. "You know I love you more than anything," she said matter-of-factly. "But, Numair - will you wait for me?"

Numair paused, giving himself the time to wrap his arm around her waist and press another kiss to her cheek, twining their fingers together too. A comfortable silence settled around them for a few seconds, nothing but the sound of distant cars and wind rushing through the grass. He kissed her ear before smiling and whispering, "Until the end of time, milady."

Daine collapsed into a very sudden fit of giggles. Her laughs resonated like clear, beautiful bells in Numair's ears, making him smile at just the sound. "That was quite corny, Sir Numair," she joked.

"That's why I said it," Numair said merrily. "Forgive me?"

Daine let out a long, over-exaggerated sigh, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She kissed his cheek, patted his head, and then settled back down into her chair and squeezed his hand. "You're forgiven," she said contentedly.