Greeting, dear readers. Well, we've come now to the end of this fic. I do thank you all for tuning in and I hope you've enjoyed the fic. I've enjoyed writing it.

I'll be working on some Let Me In fics next. After that, I will be returning to Dave and Mindy for their further adventures. And, for all you Dave/Mindy fans, just so you know, Mindy will be older in that next fic. That means, things can start to happen with her and Dave. :-D

I hope all my fellow Let Me In fans and readers like the shout-out I put in this fic. :-D

Once again, we all know I'm a hopeless review addict. Please feed my addiction by reviewing. :-D

And awayyyy we go.

The Case of the Santa Claus Strangler, Epilogue

Christmas Day had arrived, with a cold wind and flurries in the air. New York City –the city that never slept- was in holiday mode. Most travelling in the city was now simply people going back and forth to their relatives for Christmas celebrations. On the lips of many New Yorkers, was still the news, after more than a week, that the Santa Claus Strangler had finally been captured…and by a pair of costumed vigilantes, no less.

Dave was in his room, late on Christmas morning. So far, Christmas Day was going extremely well. He'd slept in –a rare treat for costumed crimefighter/high school student. He and his dad had made themselves their usual hearty Christmas breakfast. Now, he'd retired back up to his room to kick back and catch up on some stuff before the real festivities began.

Mindy and Marcus would be coming over later for dinner. He was looking forward to that. Family commitments were going to keep him busy in the coming week. He wasn't going to be able to do any patrolling as Kick-Ass. Mindy would likewise be busy with various members of Marcus' family. Thus, he and Mindy were looking forward to being able to hang out a bit

Dave was now seated at his desk, looking over some newspaper clippings. They were cut from the various daily papers over the last week, or so, and dealt with the capture of Harold Heffernan, aka The Santa Claus Strangler.

Dave arranged the clippings in chronological order. The first ones dealt with the near tragedy at the Shrine Church of Saint Anthony of Padua street party. It detailed the attempted strangulation there, followed by the wild escape attempt that climaxed with the van going into the Hudson River and Heffernan's arrest –once he'd been released from the hospital, that is.

Heffernan had been duly informed of his right to remain silent, under the Miranda Act…and had almost immediately waived them. As Dave and Mindy had suspected, once he was confronted by the police he sang like a bird and told them everything. A search of his apartment revealed he had rolls of Christmas ribbons that matched exactly those found at previous crime scenes.

An interview with a psychiatrist showed his particular condition was indeed caused by the events of seeing his mother kissing a man in a Santa suit that she'd eventually leave his father for.

Heffernan, at his arraignment, had pleaded guilty to all charges. He was now in the system waiting to see if he would be sent to a prison or a psychiatric hospital. That was on hold until the New Year.

The Chief of Detectives for the New York Police Department was being raked over the coals in all the major media outlets. He was being grilled about why his detectives had been unable to track down the Strangler, but two costumed crimefighters were. The shit really hit the fan when word got out that the police had been given the name of the suspect weeks earlier, but had disregarded it because it had not come from one of their own detectives. The rumours were apparently flying that Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl had been the ones to initially identify the suspect and pass it on to the police. Dave had heard -through Marcus- that the Mayor was livid over 'a couple of kids in Halloween costumes' being more effective than NYPD detectives specifically assigned to the job of hunting the killer. Marcus had also heard office gossip that the Chief of Detectives was seriously considering retiring from the department now.

The Special Agent-In-Charge of the Bureau team for the Strangler Task Force was even more humiliated as his vaunted team of professional profilers was essentially outdone by a guy in a green wetsuit and a girl in a purple wig. Mindy had laughed at that and suggested they anonymously send the guy a DVD for Season 1 of Criminal Minds.

Right now, Dave was arranging the cutouts. They would go into a frame that he and Mindy planned to hang downstairs. It would be the first trophy for their version of the Batcave's Trophy Room. As he was finishing, the Instant Messenger alert on his computer sounded. He opened the screen to find a video chat window with Katie.

"Hey Katie, Merry Christmas!" Dave called out happily as he brought up the volume and angled the microphone on his computer.

"Merry Christmas, Dave." Katie answered back.

"I read in the online New York Times about what happened with the Strangler. That's amazing!"

"Thanks." Dave said with a smile as he related the story of the capture.

"How's Christmas looking in New York City today?"

"It's cold and kind of gray. How's Colorado?"

"We're not there."

"You're not?"

"No. We're in Wolf Creek, Montana. We took the train up to visit my grandparents for Christmas."

"Oh, that's cool. Are you having a good time."

"It's awesome. Oh, Dave…I was wondering about something."

"What?"

"I guess you'll be talking to Mindy today, won't you?"

"Yeah"

"Can you ask her something?"

"What do you want me to ask her?"

"I was wondering if she had any relatives in Montana."

"I don't know. She's never mentioned anyone. Why?"

"Well, the other night, I was out with my family getting a Christmas tree. And, I saw a girl who looks JUST like her."

"No kidding."

"No, she was off with a boy and they were talking. It looked like he was her boyfriend, or something."

"Really?"

"Yeah, they were holding hands, they had their arms around each other, that type of thing. They were actually really sweet to see. But, they also seemed a little…weird."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, they both looked pale. And I don't know if kids out here in the Rockies are tougher than back east or something because they were not dressed for weather."

"Huh?"

"Well, it was something like fifteen degrees below freezing, and these two were outside without any coats on. They had these thin shirts on and they looked like it could have been the middle of May for them. They were just laughing and throwing snow at each other. And get this…They were both in their bare feet. And it looked like they didn't even feel the cold. Isn't that crazy?"

"Totally"

"Like I said, she could be Mindy's exact double. And knowing how tough Mindy is, I thought this girl could be a distant relative."

"Mindy's never mentioned anyone. Maybe it's some branch of her family she doesn't even know about. Did you talk to them?"

"I was going to, but then my grandfather called me over and said we'd found our tree and were leaving."

"Too bad you couldn't get her name."

"Yeah, I overheard them calling each other by their first names though. I'm pretty sure she called the boy Owen, and I definitely heard him address her as Abby."

"Hmmm, like I said, Mindy's never mentioned anyone. I'll be sure to ask her though."

"Thanks" Katie said with a smile as they continued their conversation.

Dave had just ended the video chat and signed off when he heard voices downstairs. He heard his father talking, and recognized Mindy's voice followed by footsteps as she ascended the stairs to his room. A minute later, she was knocking on the frame of the door.

"Hey Dave…Merry Christmas." She said with a smile. Dave noted she had a decent-sized box, under her arm, wrapped in red festive paper.

"Merry Christmas to you too." Dave said with a smile as he walked over to her and gave her a hug as she set the box down so she could use both arms. Mindy felt the now familiar tingle shoot through her body whenever Dave touched her. She sighed to herself as thought about all that and what it all meant.

"Sorry if I came over early."

"It's no problem. Where's Marcus?"

"He's working the 7-3 shift today. He's able to work a desk, so he offered to work as the desk sergeant at the precinct today and give someone else the day off."

"That's nice of him."

"Yeah, and he'll get New Year's off now. Oh, and get this...Once his ankle is better and he's back to full mobility, he's getting a promotion."

"No shit?"

"No shit. He took the lieutenant's test back in October, and he passed it. But, he kind of suspects it has something do with him putting in Heffernan's name to the Task Force. When he was notified about it, they 'suggested' he not bring up anything about the Strangler Case to anyone in officialdom and -especially- the media. And, as a cherry on top of that sundae of awesomeness, he's being transferred to the Major Cases Unit at One Police Plaza once his ankle is cleared to go."

"So, we kind of are responsible for his getting a promotion?"

"Oh, I think we're definitely responsible for him getting a promotion. Marcus thinks so too, just so you know." Mindy said with a grin as they exchanged high-fives.

"Cool" Dave mused. "What's in the box?" He asked as he glanced over at the bulky package.

"Sit down." Mindy said simply. Dave complied and sat down on his bed. Mindy brought the box over and placed it on his lap.

"Um, I thought we were opening presents later this afternoon downstairs." Dave said with a puzzled look on his face.

"We are. This is something extra and, well, private. I didn't want anyone else seeing this. It's between you and me." Mindy said with an unreadable look on her face. "Please?" She asked with a faint smile.

"Sure." Dave said as he began to unwrap the package. Beneath the paper was a re-used Macy's box. Dave gently tugged the top off and pulled back some tissue paper. What lay beneath rendered him speechless.

A heavy black cape lay folded neatly within the box. On top of it was a black cowl-type mask that was all too familiar to him. And, as if he didn't need further recognition about what these items were, there was the final item in the box. It was a yellow utility belt with "BD" prominently etched on the buckle. He turned to his partner and friend…

"Mindy…"

"The cape and cowl were spares my dad kept. The utility belt I brought from the warehouse floor, by that webcam." Mindy said softly.

"I can't take these…"

"Oh yes, you can. Dave, you're the only person in the world who can. You're the only person in the world who's earned it. You're the only person in the world my dad would want to have it."

"I don't understand…"

"Dave, I don't want my father's…legacy to have died with him. I don't know what he'd have done if he'd lived to see us take down Frank D'Amico. Part of me wants to think he and I'd have moved upstate somewhere and settled down in a normal life. But, the part of me that knows what he was like…That part of me knows he'd have kept on being Big Daddy. I don't think he could've stopped if he wanted too, but I don't think he'd have really wanted to though. I think he'd have wanted Big Daddy to have kept up his fight against all the fuckers you and I are taking down."

"Hold on…You're saying you want me to be Big Daddy, rather than Kick-Ass? I can't do that!"

"Not now, no. But Dave, one day…when you're ready…You CAN do that. And, I'd like you do that. I mean, that's if you want to still keep on doing this."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you still want to keep doing this…wearing a costume…going out and doing what we do? Do you want to keep on doing this like you're Bruce Wayne or something and make it a career?" Mindy asked. Her tone was mild and she looked at Dave with genuine curiosity mixed with…hope, as she awaited his answer.

"What about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want to always do this?"

"I have to."

"What?"

"Dave…From the minute my dad came up with his idea, in prison, right after I was born, he always planned on me being Hit-Girl, or whatever name he'd have settled on for me. You saw that comic he drew? He drew me into it, wearing a mask." She shook her head sadly. "Dave, my fate…my life was set the minute he reached that decision. This is who I am. This is what I am. I…I'm going to do this until I can't anymore. It's what I was meant to do. It's what I was born to do."

Dave thought for a moment. He'd seen enough now to know what that life entailed. It was sacrifice. It was pain –physical, mental and emotional. It was becoming so hardened to death and suffering you wondered if your soul was still intact. It was isolation from anyone who didn't share your secret. It was putting your mask on at sunset and wondering if you'd still be alive to see the sun rise the next morning.

At the same time though, they were heroes. They took drug dealers off the streets. They made things safe for people. Less than two weeks ago, he and Mindy had caught a serial killer who'd murdered four innocent men. Yes, what they did helped others…that made it partially worthwhile.

And then there was the feeling he had. It was the feeling of being so…alive when he and Mindy embarked on their nightly crusade. Dave felt sorry for all the regular people in the city who simply couldn't understand the feeling. He'd felt dead for those two months where he and Mindy were 'retired', but the second he'd put his costume on again, it was like a rebirth. The hard truth was…he loved what he did. He was good at what he did, and he was becoming better all the time. This was his fate. This truly was his first best destiny. He smiled as he silently gave thanks…He could think of no better destiny for him.

In that instant, Dave understood what Katie had said the night before she left. He was addicted to this life he was leading, just as Mindy was. Mindy…he'd never had anyone in his life he felt closer to, or ever expected to. They fit together perfectly. And she was planning on doing this the rest of her life…or at least until she was no longer physically capable of doing the job effectively.

And he would let her do this alone? He would let her go out night after night, to fight the battle they'd begun to take to the cowardly scum of the city, on her own, for years…decades? How could he even dream of that? This was his fight now, as well as hers. He'd consecrated himself to the mission the same as she had. They were in this…together…forever. And, he'd have it no other way

"Mindy…You'd want to be beside me, if I wore your dad's old costume someday?"

"Like I said, there's nobody else in the world who I'd allow wear it."

"I don't know when I'd feel right doing it."

"I know. When the time is right…I think you'll know."

"Hit-Girl is now more or less permanently connected to Kick-Ass, you know."

"Maybe I'll do a new costume and identity then too." Mindy said with a smile. She was relieved that Dave would one day continue her father's legacy.

"I can't wait to see it."

"All in good time Dave." Mindy said with a smile as she moved her hand over onto Dave's and they held hands for a moment, as though forging this new partnership.

Dave looked over at Mindy. She looked, he realized, intensely pretty this Christmas Day. She was wearing a red sweater with green trim. Her blonde hair hung down her back and contrasted nicely with it. He mentally berated himself. Of late, he'd been thinking these strange thoughts about Mindy kept creeping into his head. He had no idea what was wrong with him. It was like he'd been reflecting more and more how attractive she was…how well they got along…how he felt he could talk to her about almost anything (the exception being these weird thoughts he was having about her)…how they could start a conversation at seven in the evening and still be going strong at midnight. She was…just perfectly awesome. Then it hit him with the force of an atom bomb…He was thinking about how great a girl Mindy was! He felt shame course through his body. She was a kid..thirteen! She was his best friend! She trusted him with her father's legacy! How could he let his thoughts go that way? Besides, she'd always see him as the geeky guy who was into comics. One day, she'd meet someone closer to her age that she'd fall for and that would be that. Of course, he wanted her to be happy…But he knew a part of him might feel something when that happened. Oh well, he thought…At least she'd still be my friend, he figured as he vowed to push thoughts like that from his mind forever. Dave reached his arm around Mindy and pulled her into a hug.

"Merry Christmas Mindy." He said softly.

"Merry Christmas right back at you, Dave." Mindy said as she returned the hug. Then, acting on some mad impulse, she reached up and gave Dave a kiss on the cheek. It felt like she'd touched a live wire while standing in a swimming pool. Her body practically hummed like a live high-tension wire. Oh fuck, she thought to herself. How could she let herself start to feel this way for Dave? Her realization of what had been happening had come to her slowly. But now, she was starting to realize that somehow…she'd allowed her feelings for Dave to evolve beyond friendship. As if her life couldn't be fucked up any more. He was her friend…her best friend EVER. What's more, she figured he'd always think of her as just this kid who wore pigtails on her first day at his school. And, even if she could somehow ever get him to see her as a girl he could be with, once she was older, what chance would she have? That was easy, none at all. He'd dated Katie Deuxma, the hottest and most popular girl at their school. That was the type of girl he wanted -beautiful, sophisticated, etc. How could he ever look at her …some violent, insane, foul-mouthed kid and think she could be someone he'd want to be with. She couldn't see him ever doing that…and she didn't blame him either. She did feel a little sad at the idea he'd someday find someone who'd see how great he was. Not that she would deny him happiness, of course. But, it made her wish, for once, she could be someone else than what she was. She vowed to push these thoughts from her head and never tell him ever. At least, she thought, he'd still be her friend, as she tightened her hug.

So, Dave and Mindy settled in to spend a happy, if wistful, Christmas together. They realized that now they were partners in what they did for the long haul. It felt…right. Mindy watched Dave put the box safely into his closet and then lead her downstairs, for some hot chocolate, before Marcus arrived and they'd open presents before dinner. Soon, they found themselves watching something on television and cracking each other up, their mutual angst forgotten…for now. All in all, it was a Christmas where they agreed they 'tasted the awesome'.

Across town, in a refurbished penthouse, a skinny, pale looking teenager lay nude across a table, receiving blows from pair of belts, given by a man and a woman dressed in red leather. On the bed, a naked woman awaited.

The blows stopped and the young man stood up. He always needed something like this before sex. It was the only way he could get everything working…down there. He couldn't NOT do what he had to do…His dad would've been disappointed then. And, he couldn't let his dad down…not again. He'd failed to stop THEM from killing his dad before. He couldn't fail his dad any longer.

Chris D'Amico looked briefly out the windows of the penthouse. He knew they were out there somewhere. Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl…the so-called "heroes" who'd inspired so many others now. They killed his father…and one day he was going to kill them. He wasn't going to do it now. He wasn't ready. He was forming his plans. He was working on his master scheme to bring back the D'Amico mob. He'd arrived back in town only a few days ago. Soon, he'd depart again after the holidays. He'd continue his quest to learn what he had to learn to take down Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl. At the same time, he'd re-establish the D'Amico family where it should be in the underworld.

Feeling that he was finally ready for action on the bed, he turned about revealing his had black make-up around his eyes. He reached for mask on a table. He pulled it on, giving him the impression of someone with an exaggerated toothy smile. He looked at the woman on the bed. He didn't know her name. He just knew the rate he was paying for her.

"So baby," he intoned in a very nasally voice that had a lisp "Are you ready to taste the MIST of the Motherfucker?" He sneered. Oh, he was going to enjoy killing Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl…He'd like it far more than what he had to do now.

Yup, I brought back Chris D'Amico for a cameo/lead-in for the next story where -needless to say- he'll play a major part in the villainy. I hope that's enough of a carrot to lure my readers back for further adventures with Dave and Mindy.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope everyone enjoyed reading this story. I had a fun time writing it. I especially thank everyone who reviewed -especially individual chapters. Reviews are what a fanfiction writer's reward is. Thanks again eveyone. :-)