A/N: Hey guys! Okay, so after 8 years and 45 chapters, this will be THE END of Surrender to Fate – Sniffles, tears. – Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me on this amazing journey. This fic became more than I ever thought it would, and it would have been NOTHING if it weren't for you amazingly dedicated readers!
Now... DO NOT DESPAIR! I ALREADY HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE SURRENDER TO FATE SEQUEL! I've grown so attached to these characters, there's no way I can leave them at this point. Now, It definitely won't be posted anytime soon, because I haven't even begun writing it. But don't worry, I have another new fic (Titled ANYWHERE BUT HERE) ready to post and that will be up in maybe 2 or 3 days!
Important question though: Would you guys be willing to suspend reality a little bit and pretend that Corrine, Melinda, Katelyn, and Rebecca are 24, 23, 23, and 21 – respectively? The new fic will take place roughly 15 months after this fic ends (So, in total, it will be 2 years since the events in Chapter 1 of Surrender to Fate began). I know I said the girls were only 18, 17, 17, and 15... But they act way too mature for those ages, and I really don't know how I'd incorporate school-type things in to the story without them being annoying. Plus, I want the cousins to be dating and working, etc. So, will that be okay with you guys?
On to reviews:
RandyOrtonxWifexx: Maybe... Maybe not! Hehehe. You'll just have to see! So, Wyatt and Chris aren't in this reality, as you pointed out. They can't be the Power of Four's Whitelighter though. And you'll see why soon :)
Daicy: You're sweet! I just feel bad when I make people wait more than a few days. You guys are amazing and I feel guilty leaving you hanging. Nope, you didn't read too much into that line ;) You assume correct – Evil laugh –
Nativeflirt: Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying my fics, for the most part. And no worries – I definitely have certain fics that I love, and then I have ones that I cringe when I read now. It happens. I'm glad you're enjoying overall, though!
lizardmomma: I had to have one of the Charmed Ones show up at some point, right? Haha. But, I didn't want it to be cliché, so I didn't want the girls to realize and have a teary reunion. Did it work? Well, you'll just have to wait and see!
CharmedOpal: Uhm... You better just go ahead and get the old granny bag – Sighs reluctantly. –
Semper Fi Witchlighter: I will happily take that Worthy Charmed Writer compliment :) You must have read my mind.. – Scans down this newest chapter...-
Whoa... Sorry for the super-lengthy author's note this time, guys. I had a lot to say! So here's a wrap-up:
This is the last chapter of Surrender to Fate, but I AM WORKING ON THE SEQUEL
I will have a NEW FIC, totally separate from Surrender to Fate that will be posted soon. It's called ANYWHERE BUT HERE. So be on the lookout!
Kindly let me know your thoughts on the whole BENDING REALITY WITH THE COUSINS' AGES thing. It will mean a lot if you help me out :)
This is important. If there are any "loose-ends" I didn't tie up that you're curious about, feel free to either mention them in your review, or send me a private message. I will either answer your question, or I will make a list of loose ends I need to tie up in the sequel. Keep in mind, after 45 chapters, I've forgotten some of what I wrote! Haha. Sorry, I feel silly admitting it. But you guys pointing out any loose ends I forgot about will help me remember and work on it.
Okay, with that page and a half author's note done... ENJOY!
...
The next morning, still exhausted and drained from the things they had learned, Corrine, Melinda, and Katelyn convened in the sunroom, sitting around the wicker-and-glass table. They were silent a long time, sipping coffee. None of them knew what to say or what to do with the information they had received the night before.
"What do you think Karen meant when she said the Elders couldn't intervene in the beginning? I mean, isn't part of their job to protect us?" Melinda finally asked, breaking the silence.
"I don't know," Corrine mused, shaking her head. "I think Karen knew a lot more than she was letting on."
"Do you think she was really a Whitelighter?" Katelyn questioned, frowning. "There was just something about her..."
Corrine and Melinda shrugged, pausing to sip their coffees and gather their thoughts.
"Is Rebecca still in her room?" Corrine finally asked, concerned.
Melinda nodded, sighing. "She hasn't come out since we got home last night."
"She's upset, I don't blame her," Katelyn replied, brushing her hair out of her face. "She had to watch her father get vanquished."
"And how are you doing?" Corrine asked pointedly, frowning over her steaming coffee mug. "About the whole... Cole situation."
Katelyn glanced down at the table, running her finger along the rim of her coffee cup. "I don't know. It's hard to read his motives, sometimes. I just thought..."
"What?" Melinda prompted when Katelyn was silent for a long time.
Katelyn shrugged. "Never mind. It's not important." She took a small sip of coffee. "So, maybe one of us should go talk to Rebecca?"
Corrine nodded, as Katelyn stood, desperate to be away from the relentless Cole questions.
"I'll go. I can relate to the whole... demonic father thing," Katelyn said with a shrug.
"Can I go?" Melinda asked, standing quickly. "I... Well, I owe Rebecca an apology."
Katelyn's frown softened and she nodded. "Of course."
Melinda offered her cousin a small smile before making her way upstairs to Rebecca's room. She knocked softly once, then harder when there was no reply.
"I really don't want to talk about it," Rebecca said firmly, her voice muffled through the door. "Please, just leave me alone."
Melinda sighed and shoved the door open. She closed it behind her, stepping cautiously into the room.
"Becca..."
Rebecca sighed, hiding her face in her pillow. "I really, really don't want to talk about it."
"I know." Melinda bit her lip. "And we won't, if you don't want to. But... I owe you an apology for my behavior."
Rebecca sat up, shaking her head at Melinda. "You were under that malice spell. You couldn't control what happened. I don't blame you."
Melinda laughed softly. "But the thing is, Carsaeus chose me for a reason. He knew I was vulnerable to the spell. He knew it would affect me more than Corrine and Katelyn. And that part is my fault."
Rebecca didn't know what to say. She remained silent as Melinda crossed the room and sat beside her on the bed.
"I haven't really treated you fairly since the beginning. And I'm so, so sorry for that."
Rebecca shrugged. "I mean, I came into your lives during a really rough period for you guys. First with Prue... I'm surprised Corrine didn't hate me more than she did." Rebecca tried to chuckle, but it sounded forced. She cleared her throat. "It was like... I was invading your space, and Paige was taking Prue's place. I get how horrible that must have been."
"Still," Melinda insisted, "It's no excuse for how we treated you. And then I was no better, with how cruel I was to you. I never listened to you, and I dismissed your abilities more often than I care to admit." She paused, taking a deep breath. "I was just... I felt so protective of Corrine, and everything you just said... And then, when Piper and Phoebe were killed, too..."
Melinda trailed off, silent for a long time. Rebecca didn't speak; she waited, giving Melinda time to gather her thoughts.
"Well, I blamed you," Melinda blurted, then winced. "Sorry, that sounds harsh. But... it was how I felt at the time. I felt like... If you had never come into our lives, if Paige had never reconstituted the Power of Three... Maybe Piper and Phoebe would still be alive. Maybe Andy and Leo would still be around."
"And," Melinda continued, barely taking a breath, "I know that's not rational at all. And it was mean and cruel of me to blame you. Because, clearly, our witch heritage has some cosmic scheme for us, some predestined path that we can't escape. So, this was all meant to be and nothing could have changed it. I get that now. But before... I didn't, and I didn't give you a chance and I'm sorry."
By now, Rebecca had tears in her eyes. She nodded, because she didn't feel like she could speak. She felt certain if she tried, she'd only end up sobbing.
"I don't know if Carsaeus is really gone or not. Or if Cole is, honestly. I don't know what will happen next, what's in store for us." Melinda paused, licking her lips. "But, I'm hoping you can forgive me and we can move past this."
Rebecca laughed, nodding. "Of course. Mel... I get it. I understand, and I had my own issues at the beginning of all this, too. I just wanted to be friends with you guys, to be a part of your clique. And then when I realized what I was... All this magic stuff..." She shook her head. "I just... I can't believe what has happened in the nine months. It's just... Unbelievable. And it took all of us a long time to adjust. Sometimes I still think I'm adjusting."
Melinda smiled softly. "Yeah, same. And I've been dealing with this my whole life."
There was an awkward pause, as if both girls were trying to decide where to go from there, what to say.
"I know you don't want to talk about it," Melinda said hesitantly. "But... If you ever do need to talk about what happened – all of it, but especially the part about Carsaeus – Well, I'm here. And Corrine and Katelyn are, too."
Rebecca chewed on the inside of her cheek and nodded. She really didn't want to talk about it, so that's all the acknowledgement she gave her cousin on the matter.
Smiling reassuringly, Melinda leaned in and she and Rebecca hugged.
"Awwww," how cute!"
"Group hug!"
Rebecca and Melinda jumped, eyes going wide at the sight of Corrine and Katelyn pushing into the room and jumping onto the bed with them.
"How long were you two standing there?" Melinda questioned.
"Long enough to make sure you didn't try to kill Bex," Katelyn said with a casual shrug.
"Hey!" Melinda cried, indignant. Corrine and Katelyn laughed at her.
After excessive shifting and yelping, the cousins managed to each find their own spot on Rebecca's bed. They were quiet for a long time, just staring blankly around the room and considering everything they had been through lately.
"So, if we survived all of this," Katelyn finally said, "do you think we can survive everything else that gets thrown our way?"
"Oh, I'm pretty sure we can," Corrine said, smirking confidently.
"Good" Katelyn replied. "Because I'm kinda digging being a witch."
"It definitely has its downsides," Melinda replied glumly, before perking up. "But it is kind of awesome, too."
"Hey, we're the Power of Four," Rebecca reminded them. "We're descended from the most powerful witches of all time. We're the embodiment of awesome."
They all laughed appreciatively at this.
"So, how about we go downstairs and make up a gourmet breakfast?" Corrine asked. "Cause I don't know about you guys, but all that demon fighting made me hungry."
"Agreed!" Rebecca said with a smile, as Melinda and Katelyn nodded their agreement.
With that, the cousins jumped off the bed and filed out of the room, chatting as they made their way downstairs.
And up in the attic, the Triquetra on the Book of Shadows glowed.
*.*.*.*.*.
The End