AN: Here we are with Chapter 42! Okay, so minor changes; this is the last part of the Future Arc. After that is a couple of more chapters and this story is done. I already have the alternate endings drafted so worry not. I'm already on my Christmas Break so I'll try to update as much as I can. Now this one is just short. A pick me up before the next chapter. Anyways, thanks to those who reviewed to the previous chapters. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

CHAPTER XLII:

HOMEWARD BOUND

2 days after the Houston Race, Celeste was sitting by the window of the family's private jet. The cars went bust so they had to take the plane to get back to North Dakota. During the last press con, Celeste announced her retirement and that Rex would be taking her place. A lot of fans cried because of that while a lot of racers congratulated her for having a good run on the racing industry. Celeste looked to her right and saw Petra looking out the window in fascination like a kid in a candy store. They may look like it but it was obvious that her parents haven't adjusted to the future that much. Celeste figured that it was just an act to spare her the issue of explaining some things. But then again, they've seen a lot of weird shit in the past that they just thought the future had a lot of weird shit.

"HEADS UP!" Rex yelled at her as he tossed her a soda can. Unfortunately, due to her being out of it, Celeste's reaction time was slow and the cold can of Pepsi capped her in the face.

"Aah! Bitch!" She muttered as she picked it up from her lap and drank it. After 2 hours and 47 minutes, the plane finally landed and the tow trucks took the cars back to the mansion while they took a cab back. When they went inside, Petra spoke to Celeste.

"Hey, Celeste, I think it would be best if we go home. Our leave's almost up." Petra said. Celeste thought about it for a while before nodding. She had nothing left here anymore anyway. Her foster parents were dead, she was retired from racing and she'd only be a burden here. In a way, the past is the only home she had left now. After cleaning herself up, she packed her things and went downstairs. Everyone seemed to be busy cleaning up so she went outside to visit her parents' graves while picking up flowers along the way. Finally, she arrived at the Knight Family Graveyard and set the flowers there.

"Hey, mom, dad. I don't know how to break this but I'm retired now. I got a lot of things to do where I'm really from now so I'm sorry I had to do it. But I hope I made you guys proud. I love you both. Good bye. I'll try to visit every now and then." She said before standing up. She gave them a salute before looking down and seeing Erasmus seated beside her.

"Erasmus, what are you doing here?" She asked as she patted his head. He gave a whine as he licked her hand.

"Yeah, I know. I miss them too, buddy." Celeste told him.

"There you are. I lost track of Erasmus before I got here." A familiar voice said. Celeste turned around and saw Petra standing there.

"Yeah, well, just saying goodbye." She answered emotionlessly. "Let's head back. Come on, Erasmus."

With that, they walked back to the Knight Mansion and Natalie approached them.

"Hey, Celeste, choose a souvenir of your racing career before most of them go to the museum." She said.

"Museum?" Petra asked in confusion.

"When a racer retires, their gear goes to museums. They can keep one part of their gear as a souvenir while the rest are donated there." Celeste explained to her. "I'll take the jacket back with me."

Aunt Natalie nodded and handed it to her before walking away. The night progressed quickly. They had dinner and now came the time for the three to say good bye.

"Do you have everything you need?" Aunt Natalie asked her as they hugged.

"Yeah." Celeste answered. Aside from more clothes, Celeste was only bringing a couple of future knick knacks with her, meaning a jar of Red Vines and her guitar, cello and violin.

"Take care of yourself back there, alright? You're always welcome to come home if you want to." Damon told her and she nodded in response. They each said good bye and headed for the newly repaired car. Just as they were about to get on, Erasmus started barking and ran up to her. Janine and Andrea gave chase immediately.

"No, Erasmus, you can't come with me." Celeste said as she patted him. But he whined and barked yet again. Janine and Andrea took his leash.

"Come on, boy." Janine said. Celeste gave them kisses in the forehead and one last pat to Erasmus before getting in the car. She completely refused to look at any of the mirrors. She feared that looking at them would prevent her from leaving so instead, she stepped on the gas and left the place as fast as she can.

"Are you alright?" Petra asked her as she rubbed Celeste's shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She answered. Her voice cracked in the middle of saying it which made it obvious that she was feeling the opposite. She made a turn to the woods and entered the anomaly. Finally, they arrived at the past and she drove straight for the former HQ. After hiding the car, they headed inside.

"Hey, we're home!" Celeste yelled out. Armin poked his head out of the kitchen door.

"Hey, just in time. Our leave's almost up." He said. It was obvious that he just woke up. He had a cowlick on his head. Celeste made a beeline for the kitchen where Eren and Mikasa were, leaving Levi, Petra and Armin to follow them.

"I trust everything was fine when we were gone?" Levi said expectantly towards Mikasa.

"Yes, sir." She said.

"Commander Smith sent word that he'd be coming by tomorrow, sir." Eren said. Celeste tinkered with something on her phone and idly listened to their conversations.

"By the way, Celeste, how was the future?" Armin asked in curiosity. His eyes showed an excited gleam similar to a child's.

"Meh, same old, same old. I raced, got hospitalized because of a stab wound, poisoned twice won all 3 races, murdered someone by accident, no biggie." She answered without even looking up from her phone.

"You murdered someone?" Eren asked in shock.

"Yes and the details are pretty much none of your fucking business." Celeste answered coldly.

"I ain't judging you, Celeste. I did the same thing years ago." He said with his hands raised in surrender. Celeste plopped her phone in the middle of the table. Armin knew she wanted them to look at it.

"I'm going to my room." She said as she stood up. Armin, Eren and Mikasa were looking at her phone like it was about to explode any moment now.

"Celeste, your phone!" Mikasa yelled after her.

"Check it. There's a picture of the ocean. That's right; I got to see the ocean!" Celeste bragged smugly. Once she stepped foot on the staircase, she could hear the trio crashing into one another as they most likely reached for her phone.

AN: Okay, I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a long time to those who are still reading this. I'm also sorry that this chapter is crappy as fuck because I'm losing my mojo here and I just found out that I failed a College Entrance Exam so I'm pretty down right now. Oh, BTW, do you guys want me to give Celeste a love interest? Tell me your answers in your reviews or your PMs. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and Thanks to those who will review, favourite and follow. Oh, also, I don't know when I can update again so I'll say this now;

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!