Aww no! The last chapter, the finale, the epilogue, the last leg! This is truly the end of it, and I would like to thank all of the people who followed it, favourited it, read it, and most importantly - the ones who reviewed. You are all amazing, each and every single one of you. You are my inspiration, and my heroes, thank you so much, especially to JamesK19.

Chapter 8

He ran. He ran and ran until his lungs left like they were withering and dying, then kept going. Trees flew past him, his breath and energy leaving him in short, rapid white smoke trails. He panted, throwing his body into motion. Don't think about it, don't feel it – well that sounded eerily like Frozen. God's sake... His legs mutinied, and he stilled, falling to the forest floor, ignoring the uncomfortable pine needles prickling along his bare skin. When his muscles stopped trembling, he got back up and walked painfully back to his car. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He lost his train of thought when he saw a familiar girl sat on the hood of his Mini. His fists balled, remembering how she'd ditched him a few nights ago, but loosened seeing the strange openness on her face.

Slowly, he limped over, sitting down as well, an unwelcome but needed warmth as he lowered himself over his cooling engine. "Nice shorts," Rebekah offered, but Jake didn't respond, not even to smile. The vampire's own smile drooped.

"I'm sorry about the dance," she said, and the teen stiffened, still not saying anything to her. "Would you believe me if I told you I was possessed by my Mom?" She asked, and Jake's right eyebrow spasmed while his mouth twisted into a grimace, quavered slightly. God, do I look like I care Rebekah? He thought desperately.

Beside him the vampire sighed. "Not that much," she murmured sadly, a small sliver of guilt spiking him when he realised he'd spoken aloud. The sat silently for a few minutes, and then, Rebekah gently wrapped her hand around his slightly bigger one. Jake sighed, leaning back to rest along his windshield, taking the vampire with him, and closed his eyes.

"Oh look, it's starting to rain," he whispered, a part of him impressed when his voice didn't wobble, as the swarm of emotions turned into a hurricane, fighting to the surface, battering through the last of his defences.

Rebekah frowned, up at the sky. "No, it's not," she grumbled, and Jake's mask cracked.

"Yeah it is," the teen's voice quivered, tears welling up, dribbling down the side of his face, trickling around his ears. He tried to swallow back the block in his throat, breathing shallowly through his nose, tears leaking faster than before.

Rebekah glanced at him from the corner of her eye, not saying anything, knowing it would only do more damage. She had managed to make up with Sarah, lying through her teeth about the dance, and the girl surrendered the latest gossip from her cafe job, her trademark ramblings a lot more significant when the Martin name came up. The Original sighed quietly, far too quietly for the crying human next to her to hear, her still, cold heart clenching painfully. She knew his pain, a pain that had overwhelmed her centuries ago, resurfacing recently only to turn into rage. Rebekah watched as he cried silently, eyes squeezed shut as he shut out the world, and doing nothing but rub her thumb over his knuckles soothingly.

"I still don't see why you want to do this," Jake fought the urge to glare at his Uncle as he turned around, knowing it would only bring trouble. Alex stood proud and mighty, scowling down at the teen.

"We have too much stuff for one car," Jake argued, and the steel face in front of him hardened, sending his pulse skyrocketing. "I pretty much know the way, and I'll be following you the entire time, why can't I drive my car?"

Alex took a step forward, and Jake's feet stuttered back, though he kept an eye on the looming man. His Mom wasn't there to stop him anymore. "I'll... I'll be behind you, and it's not like there's anywhere else for me to go." Alex's gaze refused to soften, and Jake's heart pounded in his chest. "We're leaving Friday, right?" He asked, still wary of how his Uncle's hands were balled into fists. Alex nodded, not moving away, but not moving closer either. Jake nodded as well, eyes snapping to his feet as he darted back into the safety of his room. "I'm gonna... go pack and stuff," he mumbled, blinking, trying not to look at Alex. Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap!

"Just as long as you're not crying like a baby," Alex countered, and Jake fought to swallow the bitter pill in his throat.

He stumbled inside, closing the door gently and pressing his head into his hands hard enough to see grey static clouds, begging his heart to slow down. Finally, he straightened, only to come face to face with a picture he used to love. His bottom lip trembled. No Jake, you know what Alex'll do if he sees that. He forced himself to take deep breaths and grabbed his phone off the desktop. Hey, can we meet up? He texted, praying for a quick response.

Sure, whereabouts?

He sighed happily, and replied: That creek I took you to last week, before sneaking out, hoping Alex wouldn't notice.

If he did, Alex didn't move to call him back, and Jake let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, and started his car. The creek was a small one, a few inches deep though the water was frozen at the edges this time of year, a mile or so after Wickery Bridge that had yet to be discovered by Mystic High students wanting to hang, party or get high. Tough luck kids, it's my spot... at least for a few more days. He sighed at the thought, before realising it. Shit, I do that a lot don't I, huh?

Jake wasn't surprised to see Rebekah already waiting for him, turning as he pulled up. No car? Well, I guess running is faster – no speed limits. "Hi," she said softly as he sat down beside her. She watched his face carefully. "How're you doing?" She asked, and Jake shook his head, rubbing a hand over his face.

"I don't want to talk about that," he muttered, words slightly muffled by his hand. Rebekah frowned.

"Then what do you want to talk about?" He smiled at her confused expression and fell back onto the wet, cold grass. The vampire wrinkled her nose, grumbling when the teen gently tugged on her arm, but allowing herself to be coaxed down to him, resting her head on his chest as he rubbed her arm, twining their fingers together.

"I just want to relax," he whispered quietly into her hair, knowing she could still hear him. In the hush, Rebekah stroked his side slowly, and a question burned on the tip of Jake's tongue.

"Were you actually possessed by your..." he took a deep breath, "Mom?" He didn't need to see her to know the Original was scowling.

"Don't laugh!" She snapped, no real force behind it and Jake chuckled, forcing Rebekah's head to bob uncomfortably. His laughter grew sparse as Rebekah's silence reigned.

"What happened to you that night?" He breathed out, squeezing their joined hands when she winced.

"Mother turned Alaric Saltzman, and made a weapon to kill us all." She spat out bitterly, though Jake thought he heard a worried tone underneath the poison.

"Mr Saltzman? The history teacher?" Jake repeated and Rebekah nodded.

"It means I'm leaving town," she murmured into his chest, and Jake glanced at her. What a coincidence.

"I'm leaving town too." He declared, and Rebekah looked up to meet his eyes.

"No, you don't have to come too," she said, and Jake pulled a face at her.

"No, as in I'm leaving town as well. After my Mom ... and all that, Alex is moving us to Fort Lauderdale."

"Fort Lauderdale?" She echoed, and Jake nodded. Florida?

"My grandparents live there, and so we're going to as well. There not like Alex," he assured her, "no, they're more like my Dad, so that's always a plus." He licked his lips, looking at her. "So when are you headed?" He asked.

"Tomorrow probably," Rebekah responded morosely, looking back at him. "You?"

"The day after," he whispered, a new pain beginning in his chest. I don't want to leave her.

The vampire gulped, sitting up properly, and Jake followed her. "So this is goodbye," she whispered, staring out over the water and not at him. Calm down Rebekah, you knew this was going to happen sooner or later. She thought. Yes, but not this soon, another part of her mind wailed.

He smiled sadly, eyes watering. "I guess it is," he said just as gently. He moved to get up and Rebekah let go of him. No...

He smiled down at her, pulling on her arms so she stood with him. "What, no goodbye kiss?" He teased, and she smiled wetly.

"You don't deserve it," she told him, watching as he pretended to weep, willing herself not to break down. She leaned over, threading her hands through his hair, one curling at the nape of his neck. Their lips met, soft and warm in the winter air, slow at the start but speeding up as the intensity grew. Remember this Jake, so remember this, he couldn't think of much else, too absorbed by Rebekah hand tracing down his back slowly, circling around the hem of his jumper, jumping when she touched bare skin. He tried not to moan, he really tried.

Rebekah let him go, watching as he gasped for air, hair mussed, eyes shining and pupils dilated, lips looking red and abused, grinning victoriously at his appearance, knowing she probably looked similar. He cleared his throat, pulling his jumper down self-consciously. "Keep in touch, yeah?" She said coyly, deeply proud as he opened and closed his mouth a few times before nodding frantically.

Slowly, he sauntered back over to his Mini, his grin wiped off his face as he looked back sombrely. "Goodbye Rebekah," he murmured, and she nodded, watching as he got in, looking back at her through the windshield, mouthing 'bye' which she returned, and starting his engine.

She stared up at the sky after he left, as if it would reveal a hidden secret. "What do you know?" She said to herself, looking up at blue, unbroken skies. "It's raining." She whispered, and blurred away, leaving no there to witness her tears.