AN: This is it. The epilogue to my first multi-chapter fanfic.

I'll try to keep this short, but THANK YOU. Thanks to all you who've read this and stuck with me. thanks to all that reviewed, whether I already thanked you or you were an anonymous reviewer. You guys have been so great, enthusiastic and supportive. I love you all!

Slight warning here for some disturbing content.

This is my favourite chapter in the whole fic. I hope you all enjoy :')

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Epilogue

She's lost in my arms
Her head on my heart
And softly she whispers the words
'I...I just love you
I don't know why, I just do...'

~Five for Fighting, "I Just Love You"

11 Years Later

"Moony? They used to call you Moony?" 15 year old Teddy Lupin asked his father, flipping through a photo album and laughing at the captions courtesy of Padfoot. He was currently looking at a picture of James staring after a retreating Lily Evans in the Gryffindor Common room while Sirius and Peter laughed and mocked him, the photo moving as the boys laughed.

'Prongs being a right git while Wormtail and my gorgeous self enjoy a chuckle at his stupidity. Moony was laughing too, he'd just never admit it as he hid behind the camera like a scared-y cat the whole time' the caption read.

"Yes, we had fun with the wordplay back then," Remus commented dryly, but he was smiling, soaking in the nostalgia.

Ever since the battle ended, life had been better than ever. Remus felt a twinge of sadness and guilt that Monica wasn't there, but he knew she would have been pleased to know she helped make things better in the world.

When it was announced that the battle was over, that Harry was alive and Voldemort was dead, celebrations broke out everywhere. The first thing Remus did was look for those he loved. When he first spotted Tonks in the crowd, he nearabouts cried with relief. She ran into his arms and he held her for a long time, just savoring the feeling of happiness he felt that Tonks was still here, with him. He knew so many people wouldn't be so lucky.

Tonks and Remus wandered around in the aftermath, helping to heal the mildly wounded and helping to get the seriously injured to a medi-wizard. However, they couldn't contain their delight for long, and soon joined their friends in celebrating the victory. Later they would hear of the fatalities, Severus Snape, Colin Creevy and Charlie Weasley among them, but for the moment they celebrated. They congratulated Harry (who had his arm around Ginny Weasley) and Ron and Hermione (who were not-so-discreetly holding hands) before they went to find other people they knew.

As they walked along the second floor past Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, the ghost came hurtling out the door, floating up to them with a creepy wide-eyed look on her face. "Is it over?" she asked, "because I can feel myself fading away slowly, losing control of some of my limbs, but I need to be sure."

Both Remus and Tonks were confused by the rattled ghost, but they were pretty sure they knew what she was referring to. "Yes, the battle's over. We've won," Remus replied, for he had always felt bad for the miserable ghost.

A grin split Myrtle's face in half while tears simultaneously ran down her face. Myrtle began laughing maniacally, crying "NO! I loved him!" and shrilly screaming "He's gone! I'm free!" in contrast with each other as she fell apart, the pieces falling deeply into madness. She fell to the ground, landing there as she slowly lost her spectral glow and became human, just like Monica had.

Her leg began to spasm and seemed to stop working, the paralysis slowly working through her body as she took up a horrible, screeching chant: "Die, Voldy, die! Die Riddle die! Bleed and die and bleed and die and bleed, bleed, bleed!" Myrtle rocked back and forth on the ground as her body seemed to shut down inch by inch, working from her feet upwards. Tonks' hair transformed from long, blonde and curly to a long, straight black wave as she ran to get a medic, leaving Remus frozen at the horrific sight. He seemed unable to do anything but watch with wide eyes as Myrtle's sanity and life was leeched from her by some invisible demonic force.

Finally, Myrtle began clawing at her chest as she lay back on the tiles, sobbing and giggling in a dreadfully frightening manner, looking at Remus with a broad grin on her face as the light slowly died from her eyes. With her last amount of life, she squeaked out a message, one that chilled Remus to his bones: "The dead tell no tales."

Tonks arrived with the medic a few minutes later and Remus was still in the same spot, looking down at the young girl's sprawled but dead form. Tonks tugged on Remus' arm and led him back to the main level, where everyone was still celebrating. Remus told Tonks to celebrate with friends for a while longer before they left for home, but he himself went looking for Minerva McGonagall. He wouldn't feel like he'd set things right until he knew Monica and (what he took to be) Myrtle's wishes were being heard.

He found Minerva discussing various clean-up options with another tall wizard on the 7th floor, obviously arguing. "That's ridiculous!" she was saying. "I won't be having the dead defiled and thrown in some mass grave, even if they are—were Death Eaters!"

The man was about to rebuke her when Remus stepped in. "It's best not to argue with Minerva McGonagall," he advised. "You've never a hope of winning, I promise you that."

The man just glared as Remus looked to Minerva's slightly-smirking face. "A word, Headmistress?" Remus asked, and she nodded.

"We will bury those who are gone one by one if I have to do it all myself!" she said as a last note before walking away with Remus.

They walked down the hallway as Remus explained to Minerva his needs. "I'm sorry, Headmistress, for burdening you with this," he began. "But I won't be able to sleep at night if I don't believe someone is working on it. I know you'll be very busy, but for the sake of Monica, would you find some way to document how to pass on? Monica's one wish was to make sure that every ghost has the option of moving on if they so chose and I'm just not sure how to go about it. I would be grateful if you could find some way to get it known to the world."

McGonagall looked at him for a moment before she nodded her head slightly. "I can do my best, Mr. Lupin," she replied. "I'll let people know, and make sure it spreads. Now go home with your lovely wife to coddle your son."

And that was exactly what he had done. He grabbed Tonks and went home, where Andromeda was looking after Teddy. They thanked her and coddled their son for the rest of the night, and basically cherished every moment they spent together for the next 11 years.

His son's scoff brought him back to the present. "Wordplay, pops? More like trying to give you away, really" Teddy commented, running a hand through his currently-short-and-neon-green hair. He reclined in the beige tacky floral chair at his parents place, home from Hogwarts for the summer of his 5th Year.

"We were right proper idiots back then, it's true" Remus agreed. "But it really was all for the fun. Besides, they helped me more than I can express. Putting up with their antics and shenanigans is my part of the deal."

The two Lupin men fell silent for a moment before Tonks broke the silence, calling from the kitchen where she was preparing some Remus-made leftovers for lunch, "How's Victoire?"

Teddy lowered his head for a moment, his hair changing to brown. "I don't know," he said honestly. "She seemed like she was really into me, but she's been hanging out with Scorpius all the time lately but Rose said Victoire still likes me and I just don't know! Why does understanding birds have to be so bloody impossible!"

"I've wondered the same thing a time or two in my day," his elder said sympathetically, shaking his head.

"But I won't give up. Victoire is mine; Scorp hasn't got a chance," Teddy vowed, determination in his eyes.

"You sound just like Prongs," Remus muttered, just loud enough for Teddy to catch it.

"Prongs? That's James Senior, right? Albus and James Jr.'s granddad?" Teddy asked, curiously looking at his dad.

"Yes. By the by, I thought you and Scorpius Malfoy were friends," Remus wondered, looking at his son.

"Well, not when he's trying to steal Victoire we're not!" he exclaimed hotly, getting up to pace around the room.

"You're so much like your mum, too. Can't stop moving, the both of you." Remus observed bemusedly, placing a soothing hand on Teddy's arm.

Teddy laughed heartily as he resumed sitting in the chair, still slightly sulking. "Maybe I should just give up. Maybe she's not worth it," he muttered.

Remus studied his son for a moment, reminded slightly of himself when he first met Tonks and wondered if she was worth public ridicule and all the risks. He was just about to reassure his son that it was indeed worth it when Tonks yelled "Lunch time boys!"

Teddy smiled slightly but still looked a bit sad. Remus reached for the photo album, walking to the nearest book shelf (for there were many in their home) to put it away. While his dad fumbled with the album, Teddy spotted an old looking letter fluttering down from one of the other albums. He was reaching down to pick it up when he realized who it was addressed to.

'Ted Lupin', it read.

"What's this dad?" Teddy asked, turning the letter over and over in his hands. Remus looked at Teddy and took it from his hands, turning it in the light so he could see the front. As soon as his eyes lighted on the writing and who it was addressed to, his face went as white as a sheet.

"Oh God," he whispered, sinking into the chair Teddy had just vacated.

"What's going on?" Teddy asked, concerned that his father might be experiencing some pre-moon symptoms (for the next full moon was but 2 days away) or that the letter was a very, very bad thing.

Remus just shook his head, looking into Teddy's currently-hazel eyes as he called "Dora, can you come in here for a moment?"

Tonks walked from the kitchen, bumping into a chair on her way. Rubbing her hip, she went to stand beside her husband. "You are in need of my services?" she asked, smiling at her son. Teddy smiled back, appreciating his mother's uncanny ability to always cheer him up.

In answer, he showed her the front of the letter. "I think fate's trying to give us a hint here, Dora," he whispered as Tonks' face also sobered.

"Yeah, 'suppose it's about time he read it," she agreed, sinking onto the rust coloured red leather couch.

"About time I read what?" Teddy asked, his hair turning orange with his confusion.

"Just read it," Remus said, thrusting the letter into Teddy's hands.

Teddy glanced down at the letter, then back at his parents. After an encouraging nod from them, he opened the crusty old envelope and began to read:

Oh Teddy,

My time is limited, for Myrtle keeps getting the pages wet with her tears and she's the only person I can get to write this blasted letter for me.

I miss you a lot right now. It's been a long time since I've seen you. I know God can perform miracles, and if I could have just one day with you, that would be my miracle.

I guess I'm getting ahead of myself, hm? You probably don't remember me, do you? I don't blame you (the last time I saw you, you were still in nappies). When you read this letter, you'll be on your way to becoming a great man like your father is (maybe even greater, but don't let on that I think so). I know you'd have made me proud, had I been around. I hope you've broken at least a few rules at Hogwarts for me. That school's no fun without it, let me tell you. I hope you've been happy with your life so far and have no regrets. But most of all, I wish I could have been there to see it all and got to know you as you grew, Teddy.

Your father will explain to you who I am, I'm sure, if he hasn't already. And, as I'm sure you know, he'll make me sound better than I truly am because that's just Remus. But if I was to accurately describe myself to you, I would tell you that I am simply someone who cares. I've been friends with your father for 27 years, your mother just 2. But I love both of them dearly, and I'll always be a friend to them and especially a friend to you. Wherever I end up, I'll always be thinking of you and your family.

I died as a necessity, became a ghost to watch over your fool of a father and since you are reading this letter, I died again for something, someone I care deeply about. Really, I was just a selfish girl who did what anyone would do in the situations she found herself in. That doesn't mean it was easy. It was so hard to leave you, Ted, it really was. Your Auntie Mo-Mo, gone forever. If there's one thing I regret, it's getting to know you just to have to rip myself from your life before we could ever truly get to know one another.

I was frozen at 17 for 20 years. Trust me, not the most fantastic age to be stuck as. You can also trust that I know a thing or 2 about being a teenager. I know for a fact from watching my friends grow old that life gets better after 20, though I myself never got to live it. It may not seem like it, but for better or for worse Hogwarts isn't all there is, dear.

To be perfectly honest, I've made some pretty bad mistakes in my lifetime. I've let people take advantage of me and I've done things that were regrettable to perfectly wonderful people. I want to do my best not to let that happen to you.

Sad thing about life, Teddy, is that it's never easy. As we grow up, we learn that the one person who wasn't supposed to hurt us probably will. You'll have your heart broken, probably more than once, and it gets harder to pick yourself up every time. You'll break hearts, too, so remember what it was like when it happened to you. You'll eventually lose someone close to you and have to fake a smile and say you're fine when you're far from it. Sometimes you'll just want to yell 'cut' and redo the moment. Sometimes you'll wanna announce 'that's a wrap!' and end the show. But the truth is, things change and friends leave and life doesn't stop for anybody.

The most important thing you need to know about life is that it's all about perspective, darling. You've got to measure your life in the smiles rather than the tears. If there's not enough laughter make some, glass half full, the whole bit. You can think about life and shun the gift you've been given, or you can enjoy it and help make others feel the same. Don't be afraid of living, really living; don't be afraid to take risks and fail. That's what makes life fun.

The other thing I should mention is love. Whether you've been in love, are in love, or will be in love, it's no matter. Just know that love is always worth it. If the person is amazing, they won't be easy. If they're worth it, you won't give up. If you're ever doubtful, have a look at your parents and remember that their road was difficult, too, but without their sacrifices you wouldn't even be here. And when you feel like giving up for good, remember why you held on for so long in the first place before you decide. Anyone can give up, Teddy. It's the easiest thing in the world to do, to just not care and forfeit the fight. Holding it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that is true strength.

When your father tells you about me, you'll understand why I'm so protective of you and why you are the subject of this rush of life advice. For now (I'm fairly sure someday we'll meet again), I'll leave you with my final piece of advice: never fear death, Teddy. Everybody dies, but not everybody lives. Don't be one of those people. Hey, it's not all bad, I should know.

After all, as the great Albus Dumbledore once said, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.

All my love,

Monica Matilda Guinevere Devlin

(That's Auntie Mo-Mo, to you)

Teddy looked up from the letter, shoving the letter at his father to read as he sat in stunned and stony silence.

Remus read through the letter, laughing quietly at some points and looking agonized at others. When he finished, he turned the letter over and laughed.

"What's it say, dad?" Teddy asked.

Remus gave Teddy the letter back and he read the short sentence displayed there:

Remus: Don't shy away from my memory like a kicked puppy. I know that's exactly what you're doing, you silly git, and so do you. Teddy deserves to know who I am.

He looked up and nodded, setting the letter down reverently. He was visibly shaken by the letter, an important relic from a woman he had never met but seemed to know and love him like family. "Well, Mum? Dad? Who is she? Who's Monica Devlin?"

Remus and Tonks looked at each other, nodded, and Remus began.

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Monica knew her life was over when she opened her eyes to the purest, brightest light she'd ever seen. Wow, what a horrible cliché, she thought, having an internal chuckle about all the stories of 'going into the light' and all that rubbish.

Suddenly, a tall figure seemed to materialize from the light, walking toward her with a lazy but confident stride. His hair was longish and shaggy, and Monica jumped to the first conclusion she could gather.

"God?" she asked incredulously, clearly surprised.

"Not quite, but don't feel bad; I'm told the resemblance is quite shocking," a very familiar voice responded cheerfully.

"Padfoot?" Monica shouted, picking herself up off the white floor and running to him.

"You got it," Sirius breathed as she collided with him, gathering her into a monstrous hug. He swung her around while she laughed and then set her back on her feet.

"So I'm really dead then?" she asked, wanting to be sure.

"Yes ma'am. Let me be the first to welcome you to the afterlife," he said, chuckling as he grabbed one of her hands in his.

"Thank you," she replied joyfully, looking down at herself for the first time. She was in a white, one-shoulder wrap dress that swished as she moved. Her feet were bare and her hair was down, raven curls blowing into her face from an invisible but gentle wind.

"Are you serious?" she questioned, and they both snickered at her unintentional wordplay. "All I'm missing are the wings and I'd be an angel."

Sirius laughed, looking the best she'd seen him look in 20 years, and she took the opportunity to really take a look at him. Her favourite pup was wearing a white button-up shirt that looked quite fetching and beige pants with black converse. But the most surprising element of all was that he didn't look a day over 17, and neither did she. "I don't think God could mistake you for an angel," he replied, winking at her.

"Says Sirius Black, the king of mischief himself," she retorted, twirling away from him to skip across the room or wherever they were.

"This is true," he confessed, wandering over to her and grabbing her around the waist in a hug from behind. None of this was unusual to Monica, as Sirius had always been the most touchy feely of the Marauders.

"So… are you going to explain to me why you don't look 36 like you properly should, and why it's you who's here to greet me?" she asked, breaking loose from him again to walk backwards away from him.

"Is that a complaint?" he accused, hurt in his grey eyes and a puppy dog pout on his face. For every step he took towards Monica, she took a playful step back.

"Of course not dear," she reassured him, smirking.

"Good, because I didn't think you were a liar. I am clearly stuck here at the maximum of my devilish good looks."

Monica shook her head and rolled her eyes. "You haven't changed a bit," she mused, amused but relieved. "However, you avoided the questions. Why?"

Sirius just grinned. In a sudden, dog-like burst of energy, he caught up to Monica and grabbed her hand. "Walk with me?" he asked.

"I've nothing else to do, clearly. And if it means you'll tell me why you're being so bloody cryptic, mate, then yes I will," Monica replied, letting go of his hand to snake an arm around his waist. Sirius flung an arm around her shoulders and Monica reveled in the feeling of buoyancy after drowning in sadness for so long. Death really is a release, clichés be damned, she thought, ignoring the though that maybe it was just being with Sirius that was making her feel so free. These thoughts led to longing and painful thoughts of Remus, Tonks and Teddy, but she quickly shushed them. They're safe and happy now, she reassured herself, I did the right thing.

Monica looked towards the horizon and realized they were walking towards an exact replica of the grounds of Hogwarts, particularly the lake and giant beech tree. She was about to giggle in surprise when she felt her clothes begin to change. Where the white toga styled dress used to be, Monica's Gryffindor uniform was taking shape, black skirt appearing with a white button up dress shirt and grey sweater with her house insignia sewn on. She looked at Sirius and he had changed, too, his Hogwarts uniform taking shape around his elegant frame. Finally, Monica clued into what was happening.

"Are you doing this?" she wondered, looking at Sirius' face (which was actually a tad lower than hers, for he had not yet hit his growth spurt at 17).

"Guilty," he replied ruefully, smiling wide. "The afterlife is what you make of it. I made that white room just to scare you. However, it made my entrance epic, no?"

She laughed as they began walking on the lush green grass by the lake, sitting down against the mighty trunk of the ancient beech tree. "Yes, but don't let that inflate your head more than it already is," she warned, reclining to soak up the bright sun.

Curious as to whether she could change something in her surroundings, Monica looked at Sirius and changed his black dress shoes back into the converse he was wearing before, just by thinking about it.

She giggled, which caused Sirius to release his slightly deep (and if she was being honest, sexy) chuckle. "Merlin, I missed you Mo," he breathed, placing a kiss in her hair. "I'd nearly forgotten how often you make me laugh."

Monica smiled, laying her head against his shoulder. "I missed you too, Pads."

They sat in comfortable silence for some time, just enjoying the atmosphere and each other. Finally, Monica sighed, breaking the silence. "As much as I'm enjoying this, it's just not like you to be this quiet," she admitted. "What's on your mind?"

"Do you want the honest-but-probably-bonkers answer or the somewhat-false-but-acceptable one?" he wondered, crossing his arms.

Monica lifted her head, looking him in the face. "That should be pretty obvious, Sirius. I'd always rather be given the truth than deceived with lies."

"You," he answered simply, shocking her.

"Me? What about me?" she responded, nudging his leg with hers.

"The questions you asked me earlier. I'm trying to find a way of responding to them without royally bludgering everything up," he admitted with a laugh that wasn't quite nervous but not quite confident either.

"Well, how's that been coming along?" She asked, curious as to why Sirius Black, of all people, felt the need to censor his thoughts.

"Not great, to be honest," he said, standing up and wandering over to the water's edge. Monica stared at his back for a moment before she followed suit.

After standing beside her for a few seconds, Sirius laughed. "I can't help but think of us, James and Remus when I'm around here," he said by way of explanation for his laugh. "The 4 of us spend so many summer afternoons here, plotting schemes, teasing Snivellus and staring at the people we fancied."

Monica laughed and, seeing that Sirius really didn't want to talk about anything important, decided to play along. "You and Prongs really were awful to Severus, weren't you?" she thought aloud.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I seem to have forgotten the part where you became his best mate," Sirius retorted sarcastically, pursing his lips.

"I'm not," Monica assured him quickly. "But he really ended up doing a lot for the Order and making a positive difference by taking a lot of important risks. It must have been difficult for him to be so hated when he was really doing something so great."

"He'll always be Snivellus to me," Sirius declared with contempt, but Monica just smiled.

"I know. I wouldn't have you any other way," she said.

Sirius looked down at his feet and mumbled. "Would you really take me this way?"

Monica, who had been in the middle of dipping her toe in the perfectly-warm water, drew back in surprise. "Beg your pardon?" she asked, not quite believing her ears.

"I just… I don't want you to leave me when Tonks and Remus die, whenever that may be. That's why I came to greet you; so that no one could take you away first. You come to the afterlife at the age in which you truly felt love. You're still 17 because that was when your love for Remus truly became the forever kind of love; when you sacrificed it all for him. James is 15 and Lily is 17, but they don't mind much. Remus will come here probably looking the age he fell in love with Tonks, and Tonks will arrive looking the age she fell in love with him. I look 17 because that was the age in which I fell in love. With you, more specifically," he mumbled, turning away to walk down to the small wooden dock. Monica stared after him, confused.

After some thought, she finally realized what Sirius was trying to say, in his own way: he was lonely. James and Lily were, no doubt, off watching Harry or being lovey-dovey, Remus and Tonks would spend all their eternity together when they entered the afterlife, and Sirius didn't really have anyone else. For a person who was high-maintenance, mischievous, cagey and used to being around people, being alone like this must have felt like eternal punishment, not the afterlife. She hadn't missed the 'love' comment, either. She was just choosing not to think about it for the time being. She was going to need to sort through a lot of emotional baggage before she could reach a stage where she could love again.

Monica smiled sympathetically at the dog-man's turned back, and walked over to where he stood, placing her chin on his shoulder. "Sirius, I'm not going to leave you the second a better option comes along," she whispered, walking around his side to give him a proper hug.

He hugged her back, smelling her hair in that doggy-way of his. "I just—I'm not used to being alone," he replied simply.

Monica broke away from the embrace, holding his face in her hands. "Listen here, you silly nonce," she commanded, looking him in his sad grey eyes. "I'm not leaving you. I'm not going to desert you for Remus because he has Tonks; that's all he's ever going to want is Tonks and I refused to get in the way of that. In a way, we're both in the same boat. You're one of my best friends, Sirius; I can't think of a better way to spend my eternity than with people I love."

Sirius looked back and almost immediately his frown flipped in on itself and turned into a face-splitting grin, his eyes alighting with glee. He began to talk in a fast, energized-pup kind of way, "Really? Because wandering the afterlife alone as Padfoot hasn't been a dream so to speak, and I can only hang out with Lily and James for short periods at a time because sometimes they just can't help themselves and they get a little randy—"

"I get it, Pads, I get it!" She said loudly, trying to keep the images out of her head. "We'll visit James and Lily as often as we can, and Remus and Tonks when they get here (which will, Merlin willing, be much farther down the road), but we'll be together most of the time while I sort myself out, alright?"

Sirius hugged her again, kissing her cheek wetly. "Geeze, Sirius," she exclaimed, swatting him playfully. "Easy on the tongue if you don't mind."

"Sorry love," he replied, tugging on her curls as he ran to the water, changing his clothes to swim trunks as he went. "I'm a tramp at heart!"

Monica laughed, changing into her favourite red bikini as she ran off the dock and jumped in with a whoop, successfully drenching Sirius in the resulting splash/tidal wave. Monica ran back out of the water before Sirius could jump in and reciprocate.

"Right, I'll get you for that!" Sirius yelled, charging into the lake and splashing some water at Monica. She shrieked, running at him and as she tackled him into the water, she began to believe that Dumbledore was right; death really was but the next great adventure.

The End.

Playlist:

One Light Left In Heaven- Blue Rodeo

Someone's Watching Over Me- Hilary Duff

Life Without You- Ryan Tedder

Love the Way You Lie Part 2 –Rihanna featuring Eminem (Better than part 1, in my opinion)

Turning Tables- Adele

The Hammer Holds- Bebo Norman

I Just Love You- Five For Fighting (But Adam Lambert does a really awesome version, too)

Take a Chance on Me- ABBA (every time I hear this song I think of Sirius singing this to Monica and it makes me laugh… picture that and NOT laugh, I dare you)

AN: I'll leave it up to you whether Monica and Sirius got together (In my head they do, but I thought I'd let you guys have some control as I'm sure this story has not gone the way you were hoping/expecting).

And yes, yes I know Fred dies and not Charlie. I loved him too much to just kill him, but knew it was unrealistic to expect that out of 9 Weasleys, not one of them died. So I had to pick on Charlie. Sorry! And I also know Tonks and Remus die, alright? And a bunch of other people, probably. But in my world, they don't. End of story ;)

Also, don't get alarmed if things change in this fic over the next couple of months. I'm hoping to edit/overhaul the whole thing when I finish the books, make it more realistic and better written, etc.

Thank you all so much, I love you guys. Please Review, as always. And goodbye until my next fic :)

~AEK

EDIT: Thank you so much for the reviews guys! Each one of them made me smile and holds a special place in my heart. I worked so hard on this, and I'm glad you guys were touched (special thanks to Kate for saying Monica wasn't a Mary-Sue... I'm glad I succeeded in what I see as a vitally important part of a character... so thank you! A huge honor!). I'm so blessed to have such amazing readers... so thank you :)