Disclaimer: I don't own Dead Like Me, just this particular story.

George's POV

Chapter 25: Epilogue

I woke up with Mason curled around me, snoring a little, and to my surprise I didn't feel panicked, or freaked out, or worried that Daisy would find out and tell Rube.

Nope. I just felt good.

Although if he's going to continue to sleep up here, we're going to have to do something about the snoring, I thought, and stretched.

"Mmm," he said. "Good morning."

"Good morning," I said. "I didn't mean to wake you up."

"Well, I hope you weren't going to try to sneak out on me," he said.

I laughed. "Not a chance. And besides, this is my room."

"So it is," he said, smiling. "How do you feel? Are you OK?"

"Oh, I feel absolutely fantastic," I said. "You?'

"Yeah, I'm all right," he said.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Or, y'know, like that bloke from Titanic," he laughed. "'I'm king of the world!'"

I laughed, too.

"Wait—you've seen Titanic?" I asked.

"Georgie, sometimes there isn't a lot of choice on the telly at 3 a.m.," he said.

"Right," I laughed.

"Wait a second … Oh, shit! What time is it?" I asked, reaching for my clock, suddenly remembering I hadn't set the alarm.

"Bloody hell, it's 10 a.m.," Mason said, and we both shot out of bed.

"Rube is going to fucking kill us," I said. "Oh, God, where's my bra?"

"I think you should go just the way you are," Mason said. "Besides, that flimsy little thing you had on last night isn't going to cover much."

"That 'flimsy little thing' I had on last night wasn't mine," I said. "Rube gave it to me."

"Shit! Give a bloke some warning next time," he sputtered. "That's disgusting."

"Oh, gross!" I said, socking him in the arm. "It was part of my costume."

"Well, then, that's entirely different, isn't it?" he asked. "You in a costume—ooh, I like the thought of that."

"Pervert," I teased. "Hurry up, we have to get going."

We dressed quickly and I washed my face and brushed my teeth and hair. Luckily, I didn't have to work at Happy Time today, so I didn't have to bother with makeup.

When we got downstairs, Daisy was on the couch, watching Dr. Phil.

"Why aren't you at Der Waffle Haus?" I asked. "It's after 10."

"I was at Der Waffle Haus, two hours ago," she said. "Did you know Dr. Phil isn't actually a medical doctor?"

"Um, no, I didn't know that," I said. "What do you mean you were there two hours ago?"

"I mean I was there two hours ago," she said. "Honestly, Georgia, sometimes you'd think you didn't understand English."

I was about to ask her if she thought Rube was still there when she held out two Post-Its. "Don't worry, I got your assignments," she said.

"You did?" I asked, glancing at mine as she handed them off. "Really? What did Rube say? Was he pissed?"

"No," she said. "I told him you two didn't get home until late after the McCullough reap because something held you up afterward. He heard the reap itself came off with flying colors, though, and said to tell you nice work."

"He did?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Huh," I said. "Thanks, Daisy."

"No problem," she said. "I figured I owed it to you."

"Oh? Why?"

"I just figured I did," she said. She turned her attention back to the TV.

"So where'd you go last night?" I asked.

"Nowhere," she said. "I was here."

My face went hot. "Oh?"

"We thought you were out with your mystery bloke," Mason said, even though he and I hadn't actually discussed it.

"I figured you did," she said. "Oh, by the way, Georgia, I borrowed your iPod last night. I couldn't sleep and it was on the couch."

Oh, shit.

My face was on fire. "Sure," I stammered. "Did it help?"

"Put me right out. I couldn't hear a thing," she said. "You've got some good music on there, by the way. Some of it's a little too angsty for me and you could do with some crooners, but all in all, it's a good selection."

"Definitely nothing I'd call rubbish, anyway," she said, pointedly, and stood up, turning off the TV.

"Wh-where are you off to?" I asked, trying to conceal my embarrassment.

"I have to get ready because I'm meeting my mystery bloke for lunch. Oh, and I still have your iPod for the time being, if that's OK," she added, and walked out of the room.

Mason and I looked at each other.

"Holy shit, I think she just apologized to you, in her own, very strange, very Daisy way," he said.

"I think you're right," I said, incredulously.

"I think she also just gave us her blessing," he added.

"I think she did," I repeated, almost speechless.

"And I think you're bloody beautiful when you're completely gobsmacked," he said, leaning in for a kiss.

When we finally broke apart, I said, "Well, then. Let's go see if you can find something to do that will completely gobsmack me."

He laughed, and I took his hand and led him back upstairs.

THE END