Dreams of familiar faces lingered in the back of her mind, but they were too weak to recall fully. Elizabeth could only tug at them faintly as she tried to return completely to the world of the living. It took all her willpower, but she once she was able to begin to process the rest of the room, she found Meyrin pressing a cold cloth to her forehead.

"Ugh," She groaned. Elizabeth tried to push herself up only to be pushed back down by Meyrin.

"You've already worn yourself out enough as it is. Leave it to the Young Mistress to be too busy to notice her own fever."

"Fever?" Elizabeth managed to choke out the word.

"Yes, thank God it wasn't something worst. You'd march yourself to the grave while insisting you were fine, oh so fine-" It was around that point, Elizabeth ignored the rest of Meyrin's ranting. What had been going on last night. Ciel had woken her up for some reason, then Uncle Vincent and...

Green eyes went wide as the memories hit her will full force.

"The arsonist!" She leaped out of her bed, riding the adrenaline rush from before. "I have to talk to Uncle and-"

"And do what?" Meyrin stepped in front of her and blocked her path out, "I have strict orders to keep you on bed-rest until you're fully recovered." It was during moments like these Elizabeth was reminded of Meyrin's combat prowess. She managed to hold back a curse as she climbed back into bed.

"Fine," She huffed as she settled herself in, "Can you at least grab some files from study though?"

"Young Mistress-" Meyrin started again but Elizabeth wasted no time laying out her case.

"Look there's no way I'm going to relax unless I have at least some work nearby. The sooner you accept that, the sooner I'll calm down."

Meyrin was obviously not satisfied with her reply, but didn't argue, "After you take a nap, I'll see what I can nab."

"Thank you, Meyrin..." Elizabeth could already feel her eyelashes grow heavy again. A fever, huh? That made her feel better about how off she had been since the Diviny case. She hadn't grown soft just yet. She really was a Midford after all.

I'm still their daughter.

A few hours of napping and studying her list of poisons, and Meyrin came to tell her Uncle Vincent had come to visit her. Usually she was good at staying composed, but she couldn't hide her excitement as he came to sit by her bed.

"How's the household gone on without me?"

"We're still standing surprisingly enough," He snarked back, laughing gently to himself, "Rachel is certain you should quit investigations for a month, and Ciel is certain he say this coming a mile away."

"Sounds like them," She sighed, as she positioned herself more comfortably so she could face him, "You know me well enough though. There's no way I'm missing this one."

Uncle Vincent's constant pleasant smile began to harden ever so slightly, "You realize the odds they're the ones you're looking for are slim at best."

"I know. That doesn't mean I'm not going to take the case anyway," She smoothed her words out as if they were silk, covering all the strong emotions ready to burst forth, "I've been dying to get out anyway. If it helps me with the Midford Case, then it helps. If it doesn't, it doesn't."

He looked hardly convinced by her words, but didn't challenge them either. For all his reputation claimed as more silver-tongued than the devil, Elizabeth liked to think she was gaining on him.

"As I mentioned last night, an arsonist has been plaguing the Queen. A surprising number of Her Majesty's important projects have gone up in flames. While there hasn't been much evidence to point towards a specific culprit, she is certain this is intentional."

"Any idea what these projects are for?"

"Likely military related," He clasped his hands together. "I was planning on visiting the site of the latest incident tomorrow, but if you're still interested I might be able to put it off for a day."

"I'm your partner, aren't I?" Green eyes sparkled with excitement, "I just want to hope that I might be able to bring justice. Is that so bad?"

Uncle Vincent looked at her with a strange mixture of pride and pity, "If that's the case, I should leave you to rest. You'll need to be in top shape for this."

"Will do." She was unlikely to get much sleep now having a taste of the case, but they didn't need to know that. She was sure that this would heal her more than any coma everyone seemed determined she undergo would.

As the future Watchdog, she would come alive with a new case to hunt down.

A.N. I really hoped it would never have to come to this, but I'm sorry to announce that I'm putting Swordswoman of White on an indefinite hiatus.

I know I said I would finish everything I started, and it hurts doing this, but I feel this is the best course for both of us. Not only is it a multi-chapter fic (which I am not as adapt at) but it very plot-heavy and outside my comfort zone. I'm a character gal and I really only came into this with a few ideas about possible scenes and the like.

My interests have drifted further and further away into new territory. I really want to stick with this fic because I love the possibilities opened up, but I have been working on the last chapter for literally months, and this is all I have to show for it. It's not fun anymore, instead it's a responsibility. You deserve a writer who doesn't write like it's a chore and only updates over a year later. I deserve better than to write a story out of obligation and have unnecessary stress in my life. Honestly this story deserves better than what I can offer it, and I've just have had to accept that.

So I have to say that this is the end. I might come back later, but I don't want to keep your hopes up for no definite reason. I hope what little time we shared together was fun.