Well, I did plan on this fanfic being shorter than one I've done before, and it is; more like a short story really. This is the last chapter, a little happy ending for all of you Darklina fans. Thank you all so much for the support I've gotten while writing this, whether you left a review or just read it while you were bored. It means a lot to me that you liked my writing so much. I can't wait to write more for you in the future! :)

Alina

"So?" Genya asked, waving her hands around dramatically. "What do you think?"

I examined the room around me. The Tidemakers and Inferni had worked so hard to save as much of the Little Palace as they could after the fire. Part of the ceiling was being repaired as we spoke and some of the rooms had been lost for good. Much to my dismay, this included my room. The room I was moving into now was...bringing back memories.

It was the room that I had stayed in during part of the war: the chambers that had belonged to Aleksander, when he had been the Darkling. The black silk sheets of the bed had been replaced with ones of pure gold and the furniture was pure, gleaming mahogany. The walls were still carved into the exquisite scene of a mysterious forest, branches and vines intertwining beautifully. And I had asked that they keep the ceiling the way it was, despite Genya's many suggestions of a picture of a radiant sunrise above my head. But I liked the deep black obsidian and the pattern of glittering stones made to resemble a night sky.

"I love it," I said truthfully, smiling at Genya. "The furniture you had them bring in is very nice and so is everything else."

"I'm happy you like it," she replied warmly. Then she fidgeted, fingered the sleeve of her now-crimson kefta. "Um, Alina? Now that you have your power back, are you gonna...?" She looked to me to finish.

I shook my head. "I'm not going to lead the Second Army, Genya," I reassured her. "I gave that job to you and David and Zoya, at the end of the war. I want it to stay that way."

She cocked her head. "Then, what're you going to do?"

"Stay here," I answered confidently. I had already thought about this and was sure of my decision. I was done leading armies and living as people's saint. "Maybe teach young Grisha. Help you in any war, in any way I can. The usual jobs of a retired saint and a returned Sun Summoner."

"And what about Aleksander?" she asked. The name stumbled out of her lips, unfamiliar and strange. I knew that he had told her it, but it was unnerving to hear her say it.

I glanced down at my hands, calling my light, and let the sunlight dance between them. I had missed it so much. I could never give this up again. "He'll stay with me," I answered. I didn't add anything else.

She understood. Smiling slightly, she dipped her head in agreement. She walked across the room to the door, about to leave. Before she could, I hurried to her and pulled her into a quick hug. She immediately hugged me back. "Thank you—for everything," I mumbled into her shoulder.

"You're my best friend, Alina," she replied. She pulled back and flashed me her vibrant grin. "I would do it all again in a heartbeat." Then she turned away, and this time I let her go.

I stood there for a few minutes, alone in that wonderful, vast room. The walls loomed over me and there wasn't an echo of a sound. I pulled my blue kefta tighter around myself. It suddenly felt much too lonely in here. Striding in the direction Genya had left, I swung open the door and stepped out into the narrow hallway. Servants and workers who were repairing the palace hurried past me as I made my way through the halls. I had to climb up a flight of stairs and search my mind for the familiar path I'd taken many times before. But I soon found the right hallway, and the right door, standing all by itself at the end of the corridor. I opened it and snuck inside.

There was, of course, no one there. But that was okay. I passed the door that led to the bathroom, the bedside table, and the bed, all of which were still intact. This was one of the rooms that the Grisha had been able to save. I stepped out onto the balcony and the evening breeze ruffled my hair. Sighing, I leaned with my hands on the railing, the air cool on my skin. Below, the forest whispered and sang soft lullabies in the wind. I had missed this. Even standing there alone made me feel better than I had before.

The quiet sound of footsteps warned me when Aleksander was close. He slid his arms around me from behind and I felt the strong weight of his chest against my back. "What're you doing out here, all alone?" he asked, his dark hair soft on my ear.

"Nothing," I sighed, relaxing into him. "Wishing that things hadn't been like this."

"What do you mean?"

I ran my finger down his arm. "I never wanted other people to be affected by my choice," I admitted. "And now they've almost lost their home, because of me. Because of us. I didn't want that and I still don't."

He paused. His arms began to slip away, just a little. "Are you saying that you...don't want me anymore?" he asked hesitantly.

I didn't answer. When his arms threatened to pull away entirely, I turned around and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. His gray eyes held mine as I pulled him in close. I combed my fingers back through his hair and his eyelids slid shut. Leaning in, I touched my lips to his, a light tease that awakened a burst of that connection inside of us. I meant to pull back after a short second, but he moved closer, kissing me deeply. It was slow and certain, a constant flow of power gliding back and forth between us.

I didn't even have to think when I began to summon. Sunlight glowed around us, a golden cascade that shimmered in the afternoon air. I felt him smile against my mouth and tendrils of black ink snaked over me, tickling my skin and making the light dance. The light and darkness pulsed, lit up by the force that bonded us together. We broke apart and I allowed the sunlight to fade away. His darkness dissolved too, leaving the sinful whispers of night behind it.

Aleksander guided a strand of hair behind my ear with his fingers. "Do you remember when I told you I wanted to ask you something here?" he asked.

I thought back and nodded. "You acted like it was important," I said slowly.

"It is," he admitted. His fingertips grazed my ear. "I want to ask you now."

"Okay," I mumbled, not really listening. His thumb was rubbing back and forth over my cheek, clouding my mind until all I could think about was his touch.

He chuckled and slid his thumb down over my lips, a seductive caress that made me gasp sharply with pleasure. "You're not listening to me at all, are you?" he asked mischievously.

"I'm just...distracted," I managed. His thumb was resting on my lower lip. I took hold of his wrist and kissed his thumb, then bit down gently to taste his skin.

He watched what I did, his gaze misting over with desire. When I kissed him again, a steady path down from his thumb to his wrist, he swallowed hard. "Damn," he muttered. "You're making me forget what I wanted to ask you."

"Do you want me to stop?" I asked against his skin.

"No," he answered quietly. But then he bent his head toward mine and whispered, "close your eyes."

I bit my lip to snag a smile and did as he told me. I felt his hand slip away from my grasp. There was a shifting of movement as he stepped back, then another sound, one I didn't recognize. I couldn't figure out what he was doing. His voice came again, and it sounded...anxious? "Okay. You can open your eyes now."

I opened my eyes—and inhaled a quick breath, my hands coming up to cover my mouth. I stared at him, overwhelmed by the surge of emotion that welled up within me. Tears pricked at my eyes and his image swam in my vision, the image of him on one knee in front of me. Something small and exquisitely lovely sparkled in his hands.

"Alina," he said, a smile warming his words. I understood then what he felt when I said his name, because I felt it in that moment. It washed over me beautifully and unraveled something inside my heart. "Will you marry me?"

A little sob of happiness escaped me. I couldn't speak; I nodded, a grin spreading over my face. When I felt the cool smoothness of the ring slip onto my finger, a sweet shock leapt down my arm. I was his, now more than ever. There would be no more nights spent alone, no more empty days, no more fear. He was here and that was all I had ever needed.

When he stood, I flung my arms around his neck and kissed him, because it was all I could think to do. He let out a small sigh of bliss and I threaded my fingers through the silken hair at the nape of his neck. His fingers found the front of my kefta, expertly undoing the tiny buttons. He pushed the fabric away and slid his arms inside, one hand warming the small of my back through my thin white shirt. I felt his other hand slip under my shirt, whispering circles onto my stomach and tracing my ribs. A wanting noise came from my throat. Pulling back, he touched his forehead against mine. My eyes fluttered open, my heart speeding from his kiss and his touch. I looked at him, at the way the wind mussed his black hair, tugged at his clothes.

"Moi lyubov," he murmured, smiling at first, but with a touch of seriousness. "I want to spend the rest of my eternity with you. You've given me everything I've ever needed. Now I need to do this for you." He took my hand and fingered the ring glittering in the sunlight. "I'll make you happy. There won't be one day that you'll wish for something else, someone better. Every day, I'll take care of you."

"Aleksander," I whispered, overcome by how much I felt for him.

He closed his eyes and drew me to him, his body flush against mine. He buried his face in my neck and when he spoke, his voice held unbelievable emotion. "I love you."

"I love you too," I breathed back, and he relaxed at the words.

He held me close as the sun inched down toward the horizon, a golden flame in the sky. Once, I might have thought a happy ending like that wasn't possible, not with him. But there were many things that I had thought were impossible once; a Tailor rising to be the leader she was meant to be, or a lonely saint regaining her power, or a boy finding his way out of the dark.

There would be more challenges, that I knew, and more nightmares to be fought away. But I wasn't backing down.

There was nothing more to be afraid of in the dark.

THE END

P.S. If you enjoy love stories like this (and the movies Frozen and Rise of the Guardians), you'll like my new fanfic, Shiver. Also, there's a chance that I might write a short sequel to What We Had; it would be about as long as this. If you think I should, or have any ideas, let me know :)