21st chapter (Epilogue)

It was a cloudy, cold day in February when Minna left the airport. Lucky for her, her passport was still valid, which meant she could avoid the wet route through the North Sea. Her anticipation could be seen clearly in her shining eyes and mostly a huge grin on her lips. She corrected the position of her fingerless leather gloves, while she made her way through the parking lot. She barely looked at the busy humans around her, her eyes were trained on the nearby forest, where she could finally speed off. Her steps were confident and the heels of her ankle-boots clicked rhythmically on the ground. In the last five years, Minna learned so much more on a personal level than in the whole century before.

Once she reached the forest, she started to run. A relieved sigh escaped her lips as she made her way past trees, bushes and streams. She knew where she needed to go and she was even more eager to hear what happened to them in the last years. A small giggle left her throat as she remembered the day, she asked Vladimir if he wanted to accompany her; something she wouldn't have dared earlier. She just informed him, that she would be visiting her friends, she didn't ask for permission. Truth be told, she knew beforehand that he wouldn't be too keen about it and probably decline immediately. He did in the end, when Minna ensured him, that she would return safely. After all, she couldn't imagine what her friends would say when she approached with him at their doorstep. She just hoped they weren't on a hunt or even out of the country.

Minna didn't stop until she saw the small cabin in the distance. A faint light could be seen through the window and with her enhanced hearing, she could hear distant chatter. Minna rearranged her clothes after the sprint, carefully spinning the golden ring under her glove and walked in human pace to the front door. She took a deep breath and knocked three times; a small smile reappeared on her face again. She could hear quick footsteps and a second later the door was opened.

The frown on Maggie's face quickly disappeared once she realized who knocked on the door. She mirrored her friend's smile and immediately pulled her in for a hug. "It took you long enough." Minna put her arms around Maggie and laughed at her remark. "I'm sorry." Once they released each other Maggie stepped aside and let Minna in. The German walked directly into the living room. She felt the warmth of the fire and heard the cracking logs, when another familiar voice forced her attention to them.

"Wilhelmina, long time no see." With his iconic smirk, Liam sat on the couch and watched the woman through playful eyes. "Minna, dear. It's so good to see you," Siobhan stood up in an instant, welcoming her in a warm hug. "It's so good to see you again," Minna answered. Maggie joined the three others and sat down on the ground next to the fireplace, Minna followed her soon after, while Siobhan sat down next to Liam on the couch. A few games and books where spread on the table in the middle and Minna noticed a new fluffy rug. Besides that, everything else appeared to be the same since her last stay.

"It's been five years, I'm so eager to hear what happened to you," Minna started and watched her friends with anticipation. "You know, you could have been here earlier," Liam answered with a grin, but Minna just smiled at him. "For us, mostly the obvious," Maggie started. "But we got news from Carlisle, his coven recently moved to Alaska to the Denali." Siobhan explained. The German nodded in understanding, it was obvious that they had to move sooner or later. "We've been in contact with them even more since the Volturi occurrence." Siobhan cleared her throat, before she continued. "As well as the Denali." Maggie jumped a little in her sitting position next to Minna and quickly got her attention through her action. "We plan to visit them later this year. If you want you can join us." Her locks bounced slightly while she smiled at the German expectantly.

Minna's smile faltered for a bit, but she caught herself quickly. Maggie and Siobhan didn't notice, but it was strange that Liam was silent and observing the whole time. Minna thought about the Cullens and the Denalis, they were nice and all but she had no desire to see them and her mate would probably be even less ecstatic about it. "Well, you know," Minna started and her eyes wandered aimlessly through the room, "it's nice and all but I," she didn't know how to explain, when suddenly Liam intervened. "Well Minna, what did you do in those past years?" He eyed her with a slight smirk, as if he saw or knew something the others didn't. Her eyes shot to the man and when she saw his smirk, she instantly began to play with her ring again. "I mean, you even got yourself some fancier clothes." He knew something, now Minna was sure, there was no way that he even realized she had more elegant clothes than before otherwise. She moved a little to sit comfortably in an upright position and sighed deeply.

"Well, Liam," she looked at the man again through narrowed eyes but his smile only widened. "I travelled more, mostly in Germany but still. I visited some cities and watched humans doing their daily routines." She redirected her attention to Siobhan with a smile. "You were right, Siobhan. I did change back in America; I just realized it when I was back home. I was more comfortable with myself, with my nature." The woman returned the smile, clearly happy that Minna was finally able to adapt to her second life. "But you still didn't join us," Liam said with a slightly amused voice and then Minna realized that he could see the ring from his point of view, if he had paid enough attention, which he clearly had. Minna tilted her head slightly, her eyes telling him that she knew what he saw. The man raised an eyebrow and leaned forward. "Maybe because our dear friend got distracted."

Siobhan and Maggie exchanged confused glances and looked from one to another. Minna sighed and rolled her eyes in annoyance which resulted in a hearty laugh from Liam. "What's going on between you two?" Maggie finally asked and looked from her friend back to the man. The latter made a gestion for Minna to answer the question and leaned back on the couch, ready to watch whatever was coming. "Well," Minna started and stroke almost tenderly over the supposedly hidden ring on her finger. "It's true, I met someone." Before she could continue, she saw Maggie drawing closer and Siobhan's eyes showed her joy in the barely spoken news. "You did?", she asked more to herself, not realizing that Minna just stopped.

Siobhan always hoped that Minna would find someone, hopefully her mate, but hearing that she actually met someone who seemed to be important to her, clearly made her day. After a short while Minna cleared her throat and continued. "Well yes. It was not too long after I got home and we talked a lot, he even showed me where he lived." She paused for a second, trying to come up with a way to explain it carefully. She knew the reputation of the Romanians and she knew full well how her friends thought about them. "Why didn't you bring him along? We would love to meet him," Maggie said and tilted her head slightly. Minna chuckled nervously, the prepared answers she made on her way there seemed to be completely erased from her mind.

"Oh, you know, he isn't really into socializing and I don't think you'd be too fond of him." Siobhan looked at the German with furrowed eyebrows. Her coven was very open minded and Minna knew that full well, they had barely any prejudice against others. But maybe they knew that person somehow. "Do we know him by any chance?" Minna was fully aware that she couldn't hide it any longer, she had to tell them at some point. She just hoped, they wouldn't judge her and her choices as Siobhan promised not too long ago.

"Yes, in a way," Minna answered slowly and put a strand of her hair behind her ear. Her eyes wandered from Maggie to Liam and finally to Siobhan and showed how insecure and afraid she actually was. "Believe me when I tell you, I was very careful." She chose her words wisely and spoke in a low voice. For a moment it was completely silent in the room until Siobhan's eyes widened in realization. "It's him?", her voice was nothing more than a whisper, her mouth still hung open as she waited for Minna's confirmation. Liam furrowed his brows and watched his friend eagerly; Maggie followed his example. The name still unspoken.

"Yes," Minna mouthed and looked down at her hands in her lap. She prayed inwardly that her friends wouldn't turn their backs on her. The silence lasted for several minutes and was nearly unbearable for the German. Her friends were deep in thoughts at the new information, Maggie was the first to speak up again. "Does he mean it? I mean really?" Her words were filled with concern and it was completely understandable for Minna. Given the circumstance that he left her without a word in America, but then again those were very difficult conditions for everyone. Before she could answer, Liam interfered. "Why don't you show us what you got there, sis?"

Minna looked at him with a thankful smile, he only called her 'sis' when he really wanted to comfort her, when he knew there was no time for jokes to brighten her up. She reached for her left hand in a slow motion. Carefully she pulled at the fingerless glove and laid it on the ground next to her; the golden ring with the red ruby now clear to be seen by her friends. The Irish women gasped at the sight of it, while Liam seemed to be pleased. With pride, Minna looked at the ring herself, a smile formed on her lips when she thought about the moment, he gave it to her.

"Is it true? I mean, is he your," Siobhan said after a short while, not sure how she should put it. "Yes, he is my mate," Minna finally answered with pride and she was proud about it, there was no need to deny it. The next thing that happened was beyond her imagination, though. Maggie hugged her from her position. "I'm happy for you, Minna." The German leaned into the hug, she mouthed a small 'thank you' and smiled happily. "We all are," Siobhan said finally. A warm smile spread on her face. "But that is just much to take in." A laugh escaped her lips and the others shortly followed her example.

"Can I see it?" Siobhan asked after a while. With a nod, Minna stood up and walked over to her friend on the couch. The Irish made room for her and the woman sat down, holding her hand with the ring on it to her friends. "It's beautiful," she said after examining the ring carefully. "You are one lucky woman," Liam said with a smirk on his face once more. "Are you happy?", Siobhan looked at her friend again after releasing her hand. Minna's eyes lit up and she smiled pleased. "More than ever." Her words were spoken in complete truth, so her friends nodded in response. "And we will never judge you for this decision."

Minna walked back to her place on the ground next to Maggie, now way more relaxed and relieved than before. She was glad that her friends knew. "I guess that is the reason you don't want to come with us to Alaska?" Minna chuckled slightly. "Yes, sorry. I wanted to tell you all of that but once we got to the topic, my prepared speech was gone." The atmosphere in the small wooden house quickly relaxed and soon they began playing a few games. Minna told her friends about the castle, the breathtaking nature and also the shapeshifters. She spared the violent past between them and the Romanians, though. She knew her friends wouldn't be too keen to hear about that. On the other hand, the Irish told Minna about their recent years, the funny discoveries they made and Liam proudly told her about his satisfying hunt near London. Minna chuckled at the thought, everyone knew how much Liam enjoyed the blood of British soldiers.

Quicker than ever, a week passed and Minna needed to get back to the airport. The Irish accompanied her to the entrance hall, just like last time. They promised to see each other in five years again. With a last wave of her hand, Minna disappeared in the crowd behind the security checks with a smile. Her friends were true friends, truth be told she had her doubts after everything they told her when she and the Romanians started to get to know each other. She boarded the plane with anticipation, she loved her friends dearly but she couldn't deny the fact that her heart yearned after a certain someone.

The smile stayed until the plane finally landed in Bucharest. She followed the humans to the entrance hall and could hardly restrain herself from just sprinting away. The pull she felt was almost unbearable but she had to be patient. As soon as she was out of reach of any human being, she sped off. Minna embraced the wind in her hair and inhaled deeply. She didn't slow down until she arrived at the old ruins. With a swift motion she entered the underground level, while her feet moved her quickly to the center of it. The warmth of the fire hit her as she opened the door, where she was immediately greeted by two pairs of familiar burgundy eyes.

The ancient vampires looked at the woman, their posture was straightened as always. Stefan stood at one of the tables, while Vladimir was next to the fireplace, both were reading books just a moment earlier. His eyes immediately darted to the woman once she entered the room, his face and body seemed blank, almost frozen but his eyes indicated his relief of her safe return. He couldn't wait to hold her close again. Minna looked at Vladimir and she smiled warmly, then her attention switched to the third vampire in the room. "How was your holiday?", Stefan asked her with a grin. His voice held a mocking tone in it that came close to Liam's. "Grand," she answered. "It was great to see them again. They'll be visiting the Cullens and Denalis in Alaska later this year." Stefan raised a brow. "Really?"

He closed his book silently and placed it on the table. With silent steps he made his way over to the woman. Once he reached her, he put an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her close to him in a sideway hug and leant over to her slightly. "I need to hunt," he whispered and she could perfectly hear the grin on his face. "You better not keep him waiting any longer." A hearty laugh escaped his mouth when he let her go, Stefan patted her shoulder and finally left the room.

As soon as the door was closed, Minna's eyes locked onto Vladimir's. He didn't move in the slightest, he looked like the perfect statue. Slowly the woman walked over to him, she put a strand of her hair behind her ear as she went down the two steps. When she reached him, she carefully took the book from his hands, while they still looked at each other. Minna placed the book on the chair next to her and turned back to the Romanian. His eyes followed her every move. "I'm home," she said smiling and took his hand, she put her palm on his and intertwined their fingers. Vladimir slowly raised his free right hand and stroke almost tenderly over her cheek. "You are home," he repeated in a low voice. His hand slowly wandered down her cheek, to her throat and back to her neck. Within a split second he pulled her into him, his lips crashed on hers and she widened her eyes in surprise. Minna couldn't deny the fact that she loved his rough but protective behavior. She smiled into the kiss and placed her left hand on his waist.

"I missed you too, regele meu," she said with a sheepish smirk on her face when their lips parted. A dark growl left his throat at her words, he laid both hands on each side of her head and pulled her in until their foreheads touched slightly. His thumbs caressed her temples in soft motions and his dark red eyes pierced into her equally dark ones. "Te iubesc, regina mea."

With these words, they lost themselves in each other and Minna couldn't wish for anything else. She was happy and finally at peace with herself. She couldn't wait to spend the rest of eternity by his side, come what may.


Well, that's it.

Thank you, all of you, every single one who came along and enjoyed the ride.

It's been great to see so many people following this little piece of words. It will always have a place in my heart,

since it was my restart to writing after 10 long years.

I hope you all enjoy the very last chapter and have a wonderful day.

Little ad: I'll be uploading a complete rewrite to my story "Romanian Hybrid" soon. Probably in 2 or 4 weeks, it's based on the original story, but some major parts differ immensely. Maybe you'd like to give it a try as well.

Besides the story "Caught in the strings of Fate", a DemetrixOC story will be going for quite a while, if you're interested.

Yours, eternally thankfully,

kusari