Here is the final chapter c: With the help of my girlfriend we completed it today. I'm sorry for the long wait.

Thoughts ran through Dave's mind. What was going to happen to him? Would John allow him to live?

Dirk ran quickly through the woods. He jumped over tree roots, skidded on rocks, and received smacks in the face from tree branches. He did not stop running. His brother was in deep, deep shit trouble! He knew he was! He had this feeling that if he had not left as quickly as he found out that Dave was gone. That if he did not find Dave, someone would be hurt.

"Dirk!" Jake shouted following after him.

Ugh, are you kidding me? he thought. He stopped and turned around. "What is it?"

"Dirk, you shouldn't have ran off like that-"

"My baby brother is in trouble! I am responsible for him! If something happens to him…" Dirk said, his voice broke.

Dirk backed away and he continued to run with Jake following after.

The older Strider remembered the day that their parents died. Dave, only three, did not understand it at first. He was in so much denial at that age, but Dirk raised him to be a man. Months after their parents passing in a drunk driving accident, Dirk moved Dave to a different part of Texas. A part where he could forget what had happened those few months ago.

Dirk recalled all the nights where he sat on his bed in their one bedroom apartment, grieving for the loss of their parents and for them leaving him with such responsibility. A three year old who barely knew his colors, his animals, or even understood death. Several times, Dave would ask him, "When's mommy and daddy going to come back?" or "When are they going to wake up?"

Dirk never knew what to tell him. He stared at Dave for a long time and beat around the bush. He'd distract Dave by teasing him about something then Dave would forget.

Again, Dave would ask. it became an everyday thing. So that one day, Dirk told him. "Mom and dad aren't coming back. Not ever. They're dead."

Dave called him a liar with tears in his red eyes. Big tears rolled down the toddlers cheeks and he ran to Dirk's room, holding onto a red ratty crocodile.

He hated himself. Dirk did.

After several years of teaching Dave to strife and raising him in the best way possible, even if it meant that Dave still believed in Santa at the age of 16, Dirk managed. They moved to Washington to start over after Dave was kicked out of school for beating up a kid in school. They all knew about Dave's sexuality and eventually the school kids had spread rumors that Dirk had made Dave gay. Starting over in Washington had seemed like a good idea. Until Dave met John.

There are times that Dave forgot to appreciate Dirk for all that he had done for him. He had moved him to Washington after several accusations of Dirk molesting him and for the fact of him being gay. Even before that, Dave appreciated Dirk for taking care of him even when they barely scraped by a few days without eating. It was all worth it. Even when they fought about Dirk not paying the electric or water bill. Those were memories that Dave would think about and laugh because of how he once was in the middle of rinsing his hair of soap when the water shut off. Dave stomped into Dirk's room in red towel around his waist with soap all in his golden locks. He glared at him and demanded Dirk to pay the fucking water bill so he could get all of the soap out.

The two Striders ended up on the roof and had a strife- Dave lost, but Dirk did pay the water bill that same day.

John launched at Dave and the knife slid into his stomach then out and John pushed the knife back into Dave's side. Dave felt the pain burn through him as soon as the knife exited then re-entered his flesh. He cried out loudly causing John to realize what he had done to the person he loved.

John screamed loudly, his knife dropped to the ground. His body trembled in fear and sadness. Tears burning his eyes as he watched Dave slowly fall to the ground, clutching at his middle. Oh no! No! No!

He moved close to Dave and got down beside him, placing a small, bloody hand over Dave's. "Davey, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!" he hiccuped while tears rolled down his cheeks.

Dave opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again. He whimpered softly as the pain rolled through him while blood poured between his fingers. "J-John," he whispered. "I...I love you. Don't forget that, okay?" Maybe Dave was going crazy. Maybe, just maybe, even if Dirk had arrived to stop John from stabbing Dave would have been sent to a psychiatric hospital along with John.

"Davey, I love you, too. Please don't leave! I'll fix you!" He sat up quickly and started to pull Dave's hands from his stomach.

Dave tried leaving them there because he was afraid of all the blood that would escape from his stomach, but John was stronger at the moment. He pulled Dave's hands away and saw the damage he had done. Dave's middle bled profusely and it was a mess.

"D-Davey," he whimpered, pulling Dave close to him. "Davey, I'm sorry! Don't die! Don't die! You're the only one that saves me from the monsters! Please!"

Dave was as white as paper. He felt very light headed as well. He wanted to take a nap, a long nap. He looked up at John from the angle he was in and kissed his lips softly. "I love you, John. I do…" He felt his eyelids getting heavier and heavier each time he blinked.

John whimpered then hiccuped while tears rolled down his cheeks. "Davey, please! Stay awake! If...if you die...I'll kill myself!" he threatened. "I can't stay here without you! You're my knight and you protect me from those monsters! DAVEY!" He shouted. He shook Dave a little just as he saw Dave shut his eyes. No, not yet...please not yet.

Dave smiled one last time/ "I love you," he said softly and slowly his eyes fell shut for the last time.

"D-Dave.." tears were running out of John's eyes in buckets. "Y-You can't leave! You can't! You're the only person who loves me and keeps me safe!" he hiccupped. "Dave, please I'm so sorry! D-Davey! DAVEY! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

John hugged Dave close and kissed his lips over and over again. He cried trembling and hiccuping. The only thing he truly cared for, the only person who ever really loved him, his sanctuary and solitude, was gone and it was all John's fault. He ran a hand along his freckled cheek.

"I'm so sorry. D-Dave..i know..i know I'm crazy, it's all my fault. I just wanted to try and be normal. I just wanted someone to love me. I was scared. I-I'm always scared!" John gently set dave's cooling body down on the floor and lifted the knife. This was it. There was no way he could live on without Dave. He swallowed a little a lifted it towards his chest.

"I'm sorry, dave. I-I hope..I hope you can forgive me."

His hands went back sending the knife deep into his chest. It burned and he gasped a bit letting out a strangled cry. He twisted the knife a bit. The pain was numbing, but he smiled a little. His body was giving into the pain. He laid down next to dave letting his hands move away from the knife keeping it in his chest.

"I'm coming, davey."

John smiled and let his eyes close.

When John opened his eyes, he was alone. He looked around and saw his own dead body next to Dave's. He started to wander from them. He had thought that in death, he would be happy, but he felt empty. He had no insanity now, but now he was aware of what he had done. If a ghost could cry, John would be. He wandered the woods by himself.

"Dave?" his voice echoed a bit. "Dave?" it was all he could say now it seemed. He continued to walk mindlessly around calling for dave until he found their bodies again. He sat down on a nearby stump and cried. His sad cries echoed. Was he doomed to walk the Earth alone? Was this his punishment for everything he had done?

"Why are you crying, babe?" John looked up.

Dave stood there with his hand out. He was dressed in a white suit with a red tie. "John, come on. It's time to go, babe."

John stared at him for a bit, then smiled brightly. "D-Davey! You came back for me!"

"Of course I did. I love you, John." Dave said with a smile.

"Dave, I'm so sorry.." John said. "I was scared and-"

"Babe, I know." Dave leaned down and kissed his forehead, then his lips. "It's time to go now. You won't be unhappy anymore, I promise."

"Okay, Davey~" John said taking his hand sweetly with a large smile.

The two walked into the light, hand-in-hand.

Time went on. The bodies of two boys were discovered by Dirk, Jake, Mr. Egbert, and the police. They cleaned the bodies up and had a beautiful funeral for both of them. They buried them beside each other. There were many tears by everyone that knew them. It was a lovely ceremony. Everyone would remember John and Dave Strider.