"But now that that's decided," he began, "I'd really like to leave now." His words were for everyone, but he was looking at his partners. "What do you say we go home now?"

Liz and Patti's smiles grew larger, if that was possible, as Maka, Soul, Black*Star, and Tsubaki expressed their agreement.

"Sounds great to me!" Patti chirped.

"I've been waiting to hear that since day one," said Liz.

Kid nodded. "Well, then let's go home."

...

Six months later...

Kid sat at his desk, looking over reports. Thankfully, there was a lot less, now that the treaty between the witches and Shibusen had been renewed, only last week.

Six months ago, when Kid, Liz, Patti, and the others came back home, one of the first things that Kid had done, besides sending out a team to New York to deal with the rest of Franky's gang and clean the place up, was contact the Witch Mabaa directly and relay to her what had happened and what both Callisto and Sherwood von Phoenix had done. She'd been very understanding, actually, and assured him that she would send someone to take care of Sherwood; some days later, another blond, red-eyed witch came to his office, calling herself Lilliane-Hime von Phoenix, Sherwood's older sister; in a very calm and collected manner, she'd apologized for the trouble her family had caused and assured him it would never happen again, and that Sherwood was being dealt with appropriately. From the furious, blood-lust-seeking aura coming off her as she said this, Kid had believed her.

Now, things were pretty much back to normal. Liz had resumed her studies, and with some prodding and cajoling of her teachers, managed to not be failed because of her lost participation and late assignments (Kid could have taken care of that with a series of simple phone calls, but the elder Thompson had insisted she take care of that on her own). Patti had went back to perfecting her painting and drawing skills, attending a series of courses. Tsubaki and Black*Star continued on as normal, though their blossoming romance had petered out after a few months, and now they were back to good friends, and, of course, still amazing partners.

Speaking of amazing partners, Maka and Soul (their relationship still going strong) were now stationed in Russia, to look after the Shibusen Eastern European Branch, a position Kid had finally decided to fill. Maka had been unsure at first, wanting to continue focusing on her studies, but Kid had managed to convince her that she could turn it into study abroad, and with Soul also eager to go, Maka had agreed. Depending on how long she'd be there, however, she did want to return to Shibusen at least for her graduation.

Just then the door opened, revealing Liz, who had a bunch of papers clutched in her hand. "Mail's here!" she declared, coming into Kid's office.

Something that was bit different was that Liz was now working at Kid's office as a secretary, for an internship. Patti often complained that it meant they were both too busy for her now, though, again, she had her art and some other friends around the city, plus Liz and Kid tried to keep the weekends business-free to spend time with her and their other friends.

"You know," Liz began as she set the mail down on Kid's desk, "I thought I might have had a bit more glamorous a position when I signed up for this, you know? More...I don't know, advising, less sifting through mail?"

"Be grateful for the position you have," Kid said, a smile bringing the corner of his lip up. "I had to do a bit of string-pulling to get you into such a high position in the first place."

"Pssh, yeah right," Liz replied, settling herself comfortably in a plush chair she herself had ordered for Kid's office, specifically so she could be there when she brought him things. "Anyway, most of the stuff is business and politics related, but on the fun side, there is at least a postcard from Maka and Soul included with their official report."

"Well, that's nice of them," Kid answered, beginning to go through the pile.

"Mmm." Liz got up then and stretched. "Anyway, it's lunch time, so I figured I'd take my break now, 'kay? I told Patti I'd meet her at Deathbucks."

"For Patti, or to see Jason?" Kid asked in a knowing voice. Liz scowled at him, but there was a faint blush on her face.

"I'm checking up on him, y'know?" she said. "Like you did with us. And to see how Master' s doing."

"Sure, sure," Kid replied. Jason, after coming back to Shibusen with them, had stayed at the Gallows with Kid and the Thompsons for a while as he got settled into Death City. He was now working at Deathbucks Cafe, which is where Liz and Patti had worked when they were on probation, when Kid had brought them to Death City for the first time to be his partners. After working lots of overtime, doing a couple other odd jobs around the neighborhood, and saving up, Jason had recently rented a little apartment that was about the same distance from work but in the opposite direction of the Gallows. He said that he appreciated everything Kid and the Thompsons had done and offered him, but he wasn't "used to charity" and wanted to stake out on his own a little.

That, of course, hadn't prevented him from stopping by to see Liz whenever he could, nor she from going to Deathbucks for lunch almost every day to see him and occasionally eating over at his apartment.

"Anyway, I'm going," Liz said, starting to turn and go out the door again. Kid nodded — "Have a good lunch" — and looked back down at his paperwork.

A second later, however, he paused. Kid looked up, and then said quickly, before Liz had completely left the room, "Actually, Liz, do you...I mean, I think I'd like to come, too. It is lunch time, after all, and I deserve a break, too. And eating with my two favorite partners...what could be better?"

Liz, who had turned around at his voice, tilted her head to the side for a moment. And then she broke into a big grin.

"Nothing at all, Kid," she said, as Kid got up and walked around his desk to her. "Nothing better at all!"

A.N. —Well, guys and girls...this is it. The last chapter of Shot Through the Heart! I can hardly believe it. I want to thank you all so much for your support and readership and reviews over this journey...you all rock! Thanks so much!

I do have a couple sequel ideas, actually, but I'm not sure when/even if they will come to fruition. Probably set quite a few years after this, probably with the gang's kids? Or maybe a crossover story set almost immediately after this. We'll see. And, hey, if any of you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Also, I want to clarify, I actually am a TsuStar shipper, but I feel like those two would have a little more rocky romantic relationship...and one of my sequel ideas is them going on an adventure (possibly in the world of Naruto?) and perhaps rekindling their relationship. Any world I write, though, in the end they would get together.

Oh, also, the "Master" Liz mentions is the owner of Deathbucks and the Thompsons' former boss; he's a character in Soul Eater NOT!