Chapter Twenty-Four: Goodbye...Forever.

"This is bull shit!" Clay yelled.

"Clay." Sonny said firmly. "This is something that has to happen, you almost died."

"But I didn't, I'm fine."

"Honey, try to understand where we're coming from." Olivia sat bedside him.

"How could I possibly understand?" Clay stood up. "Your ripping my whole life apart and your telling me that the decision is final, I have no say in anything!"

"We're trying to protect you, Clay. We're trying to protect everyone."

"I don't need protecting, I'm not a baby!"

"What about Brett, Noah and Josslyn?" Sonny looked at him. "What about Austin?"

"Do they need protecting?"

Clay didn't say anything.

"I can't protect them, if we're still here, Clay." Sonny looked at him.

"Just because you leave doesn't mean the war will stop, what about Jason?"

"They don't want Jason, they want me."

"When are we leaving?" Clay crossed his arms.

"Tomorrow night, we'll meet on the jet at seven."

Clay looked at his dad once more before shaking his head and walking out the door.

"What are you doing here?" Austin smiled. "You should be resting."

"I wanted to see you." Clay half smiled, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"I'm glad, but you really need to rest." She said pulling him down onto her bed.

They both laid on her bed, snuggled close.

He kissed her shiny brown hair and then smelt her intoxicating smell. God he was going to miss her.

"I'm so glad your okay." She said rubbing his chest softly. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"You would be fine." He said holding her close.

"No, I wouldn't." She laughed. "I was a wreck when you were in the hospital."

"Your strong, Austin. One of the strongest people I know, you can get through anything."

"I'm not so sure." She said.

"I am." Clay kissed her head, again. "Your incredible, Austin Morgan, and Beautiful."

"You really have to start taking it easy, Clay." She looked up at him.

"I will, but right now just lay with me and let me compliment you." He smiled. "It relaxes me."

"Well." Austin kissed him. "Then, please continue."

"Clay?" Liam looked up from working on his jeep. "Didn't no you were stopping by."

"Sorry, I didn't either, but do you think we could talk for a minute?"

"Yeah, sure." Liam said.

"I need you to look after Austin for me." Clay told him. "My dad's making me leave for a little while."

"Does Austin know about this?" Liam asked.

Clay shook his head. "No, and please keep it that way."

"I think you should tell her, Clay."

"No, it'll be to hard."

Lian didn't say anything.

"Just please, watch out for her, make sure she's okay, be there for her." Clay swallowed.

"Are you sure?"

"I just want her to be happy." Clay shoved his hands in his pockets. "And she won't be happy with me."

"Okay, I'll will." Liam said. "But Austin's not the kind of girl that likes to be protected."

"Do the best you can." Clay smiled, thinking of how stubborn Austin is.

Liam nodded.

Austin walked into her room, kicking off her shoes turning on her TV. She picked up the clothes that scattered her floor and picked up a pen that had fallen off her desk.

That's how she spotted it. A letter with her name written on it, sitting on her desk.

She grabbed it and opened it thinking that it was from her parents, or maybe from Clay.

Austin,

I hope you know how hard this is for me to tell you. I hope you know that

I love you with everything I have and that I would never leave if I had the

choice. Please don't be mad at me for not telling you in person, I knew that

if I saw your face again, I would have to run away with you because I would

never leave you. People say that young love never lasts, but my love for you

is something that will never change, it doesn't matter if I'm seventeen or

seventy. I don't want you to wait on me, though. I want you to find someone

else and be happy. I want you to have a normal life away from the mob, I want

you to be the successful women, that your destined to be. Your destined for

greatness Austin Morgan, I'm just sorry I won't be there to see what that greatness

is. I have faith that you'll get over this and meet someone that will love you the way

you deserve to be loved. I have no doubt that you'll change many more lives the way

you have changed mine. By the time you read this, seven o' clock will have already

passed and I'll be gone, but please remember, I will always love you, no matter what,

I promise.

Love,

Clay

Austin felt tears streaming down her face. She looked over at the clock, it wasn't seven yet. She had time to stop him.

She grabbed her keys and ran downstairs and out the door, not even stopping to tell her parents where she was going.

She drove like a crazy person, flying eighty down the roads to the airport. Austin knew right where to find them. She had flown with her dad and Sonny so many times on their private jets she could get there blindfolded.

It was five minutes until seven when she screeched onto the runway. She saw a limo and the jet. Then she saw him, getting out of the limo and walking to the jet.

She got out of her car, not even closing the door.

"Clay!"

Clay turned around and saw her running towards him.

"Austin." He took off in her direction, meeting her half way and catching her in a tight hug.

"Please don't leave me." She whispered.

He pulled back and cupped his hands around her wet face. "I'm so sorry."

"I'll wait for you." She said. "I love you, Clay."

"I know you do." Clay said trying not to cry.

"I don't want you to leave." She hugged him again.

"Me either." Clay said, now with tears coming from his eyes.

He rubbed his thumb across her tear stained cheek. "You saved me, Austin Morgan."

She closed the gap between their lips and kissed him like she had never kissed him before. This was their last kiss.

Clay seperated their lips after what felt like hours, and then turned around seeing his parents watching.

He kissed her wet cheek one more time. "Be happy Austin, I want that more than anything."

Clay whipped the tears out of his eyes before turning and walking onto the plane, leaving Austin, crying on the runway.

"Honey, are you okay?" Olivia asked as the plane took off.

"I just left the best thing that I have ever had." Clay moved past her. "I don't think I'll ever get over that."

A/N: Awww...poor Clay and Austin!:( Some of your are going to kill me for breaking up the perfect couple, but if it didn't have some drama and heartbreak, then this story would be kinda boring. Lol. Next chapter will be the last in this story, but don't worry the story of Austin, Clay, and Liam are far from over. Stay tuned for next chapter and you'll see what I mean. Thanks for reading and please review!:)