Title: My Soul To Keep

Epilogue: Empty Pages

Author: Roguie/ SunSpecOps/ Danae Bowen

Fandom: Eureka

Genre: Romance, Hurt/Comfort

Characters: Jo/Zane, ensemble.

Rating: T… with a strong "ish".

Spoilers: Everything up to I'll Be Seeing You

Summary: When a random experiment goes horribly awry, Jo is caught in the center. When fate altered her life the last time, a small piece of her had died. When her friends conspire to fix what had broken, can her heart handle it a second time around? Entirely AU after IBSY.

Disclaimer: Eureka obviously doesn't belong to me, I just like to borrow the characters and mutate their inner voices. Please don't sue; my house is small, my car is useless and my dogs are pains in the arse, but they're all I have.

A/N: O.M.G. It's done. My first epic tale in years has been spun to completion. For those of you that have stayed with me through 35,000 words, well, thank you. I am currently at a total loss as to what to write, I keep looking at my notebooks and wondering what words with which to fill their pages, and instead I end up wandering just a little lost. At the very least I figured I could keep my word and have this up on New Years Eve, just in time to see out 2011. Here's hoping tonight's epilogue leaves you with a smile, and again, thank you for staying with me through it all.

A/N2: Reviews inspire my muse; I find Jo and Zane like a drug to her, but if they're the drug, reviews are the devil's whisper putting that needle in her arm. Please don't leave me hanging, and I promise in return that I won't leave you hanging.

~~~E~~~

All eyes turned to the door when Jo and Zane stepped into Café Diem. This time, however, rather than stare them down, Zane grinned proudly at their shocked expressions and looped his arm around Jo's waist. When no bones were broken, and the girl leaned into the hard planes of his body rather than pulling away, most of their onlookers lost interest and went back to their dinners; the few whose eyes remained on the duo had smiles on their faces and goodwill in their hearts.

They made their way to the back of the café where their friends sat gathered around a table, sipping coffees and beers, Eureka's newest rocky relationship likely the main topic of conversation amongst the four gathered closely together. Allison's eyes lit up as Jo and Zane approached. Her elbow met Carter's ribs and his eyes rose to meet Jo's.

"Well, would you look at that," he grinned, his distinct voice carrying through the small café.

"Not a word," she warned quietly.

"I'm just saying…"

"Carter…"

"Nothing bad, really! Just glad it didn't take four years this time."

"Four years isn't a bad thing, Jack," Allison spoke quietly, her lips curved into a disapproving frown.

"Oh, yeah, unless you want something, and then it's all, who took four years to ask me out…" He paused, swallowing as he read Allison's darkening expression, swallowing thickly before clearing his throat uncomfortably. "And I'm shutting up now. Jo and Zane… go!"

Of course the group asked what had changed her mind; she'd come full about in attitude in a few short hours. Although it wasn't an unfamiliar trait of Jo's, considering her level of anger, they were surprised it had ended so quickly.

She shrugged them off, waving her hand as they pressed then backed off, unwilling to rock the small boat they'd fought so valiantly to keep afloat. Jo's thoughts turned inwards, however, as the group laughed and chatted easily amongst themselves, welcoming Zane to their close knit family with warmth.

If she hadn't gone to Zane's when she'd heard he was missing, none of this would have happened. If she hadn't peeked through his shelves, opening the photo album that had been so familiar in her past life, she'd not have stepped back long enough to forgive.

In her old life, that album had been filled with not only pictures of Zane's family, but of themselves as well. The empty pages in the back had spoken volumes to her, bringing tears to her eyes that she now understood.

Flipping back to the pictures that weren't missing, Jo slowly became aware of the little boy in each, growing as time passed, eyes darkening and saddening visibly as he grew older, person after person fading from those pictures until only he and his mother stood, together, but with distance between them, his smile non existent.

Nobody in his life had stuck around; not his father who'd abandoned him for greener pastures, not his grandmother who'd succumbed to death. He'd built a wall against people trying to get too close, not only friends but with his mother as well; no one was allowed close enough to hurt him, close enough to say goodbye, until she'd arrived on scene and had shaken his protected world.

When she thought back on her Zane, she realized all the same signs were there, she'd just never noticed. Except for the first days when he wanted her attention, Zane never fought a thing. She kissed Carter in front of him and he quietly accepted that there may be something there. She kissed Fargo in front of him and he walked away, unwilling to cause a scene, as if he expected her betrayal. She called it off between them and he stood passively back, not fighting until she'd pressed one too many buttons, forcing a reaction. When she told him she loved him, he'd frozen solid, like a little boy with his fingers in his ears, begging her to take it back. When he proposed and she'd hesitated, all the walls she'd unknowingly torn down brick by brick slammed back into place before she'd even had a chance to gather her thoughts.

But that was just Zane. If the timeline hadn't fallen apart, taking her life with it, she would have found him wherever he'd gone to hide, they would have argued until any objection she may have had, any reason she may have seen for hesitating would be lost in his kiss and they would have been properly engaged by sundown.

Everything that made up Zane, everything that defined the cocky, mischievous young man that she'd loved without question, still existed. Except this Zane hadn't been brought into the Eureka family in time to bring down those walls. His time here had just built his defences higher as he waited to be sent away. Under it all was just a terrified little boy that expected everything and everyone to give up on him and walk away.

There were going to be fights, Jo could practically feel them brewing between them, but she promised herself silently that there would be no more threats about walking away. He'd seen enough of that in his life. It was time they both grew up and faced a future together, even if it wasn't what either of them had expected when this all began.

It was with a great sense of relief that she buried the Zane she'd been hanging onto, at last able to let go when her fingers twined into those of the man that sat next to her, his blue eyes filled with wonder at the possibility of a future filled with love. Crazy as it seemed, the Zane before had wanted her, but the Zane now, he needed her. Maybe she needed this Zane just as much to open her eyes to what she had been missing.

There was a lot of pain that still needed to be addressed and dealt with, but for once she felt like she wasn't hanging onto the past. It was hard to build a future looking over your shoulder instead of down the road ahead.

~~~E~~~

Vincent watched from behind the counter as Zane's arm came easily around Jo's shoulders, pulling her tight against him. Jo's smile was easy, lighting up the dark of her eyes as she gazed at him in what could only be called wonder. He watched the entire interaction, their unsteady first steps, and the love of their large family as it enveloped them, holding them together, giving them strength.

Things hadn't been quite right in Eureka since Founder's Day. He'd noticed but chose not to say a word, a feat that could challenge miracles, but things had been changing for the better. There was more happiness, more love, greater tolerance, laughter and fun filling the town than ever before.

With Jo and Zane finally on track, the circle was complete. Vincent grinned and waved at his friends in the corner, descending on the party with fresh drinks and finger foods, unsurprised when he was greeted warmly.

Only one loose end was left untended, Vincent thought as he observed his friends with care, and although he thought he should give it time, the words tumbled from his mouth before he had a chance to stop them.

"Just to be perfectly clear, I am catering the wedding, right?"

It was Zane that reacted the quickest, winking at Vincent and putting space between himself and Jo as he grinned wickedly.

"I'll tell you in the morning."

He didn't duck quite fast enough.

~~~FIN~~~