A/N: So this is the final chapter. I've had mixed feeling about this story. The heavy subject matter of this story was kind of difficult for me to write. I appreciate everyone who read this story while I was posting it or reads it in the future. I hope that it lived up to your expectations. I would appreciate any reviews. I've always had a difficult time writing endings so feedback would be welcome.

Chapter 12: Here I Am

The nurse had told him that Liz was outside in the garden. Kid adjusted the visitors' badge clipped to his shirt and went in search of his friend. She was sitting on the bench where they had first met, her long blonde hair was down reassuring him he would be talking to Liz. She was writing in a journal, mouthing words as she wrote them down on the page.

Kid sat down next to her and waited for her to finish jotting down her thought. She looked up at him and gave him a strained smile. "Hi there," she greeted casually.

"Hi, Liz. How are you doing?" From a glance down at her journal he noticed that her usually neat penmanship was shaky and jagged.

Liz shrugged as she closed her journal. "Taking it slow. I still have nightmares about Justin, but I'm told that's a normal symptom of PTSD." The last few words Kid had said in unison with her.

He nodded his head knowingly. "I've been having nightmares too; about Noah."

Liz chewed on her lip as she glanced at him and then away. "Sometimes I have nightmares about you."

Kid felt like the air had been knocked out of him. He turned his body to fully face her. "Why me? What did I do?"

Her eyes widened when she realized that he had misunderstood. "Not like that. I mean I have nightmares about you being taken or hurt." She paused for a moment and swallowed hard. She was wringing her hands the way Crona did when he was upset. "It was my fault Noah took you. I'm sorry, Kid."

Kid took her hands in his stopping her repetitive movements. "Why would you say that, Liz? That makes no sense. You didn't do anything."

"Exactly, when you backtracked I didn't go with you and I should have."

He breathed out heavily but it wasn't quite a sigh. It broke his heart that his friend thought she was somehow responsible for his pain. "If you had gone with me Noah might have hurt you. It was better that you weren't there. Please, do not take the blame for this when it rightfully belongs to Noah."

Tears started to stream down Liz's face. Sobs burst past her lips in little bubbling sounds. Kid hugged her closely and she buried her face in his shoulder. He felt the wetness of her tears soaking through his shirt and although he felt for his friend a shiver went down his spine at the thought of the mess she was making. For a split second he considered shifting her to the other shoulder so that at least it would be a symmetrical mess. The thought was quickly dispelled at her renewed sobs as she clung to him.

"Why am I… such a coward? I let you go by yourself… and I couldn't help to…. protect Ms. Marie… Why am I so… useless?" Liz said between sobs.

"You aren't useless," Kid told her sincerely. "You've been through a lot, Liz. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Ms. Marie wouldn't have wanted you to put yourself in danger."

Liz's sobs slowly quieted but he still held her tightly. He didn't want her to think for a second that he didn't want to be there comforting her. Kid knew that he'd been neglecting his friends recently and he wanted to make up for that.

It was several more minutes before Liz pulled away, wiping her eyes, and looking a little embarrassed. Kid pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her. As she wiped her eyes she muttered something about how only rich kids had handkerchiefs. He couldn't help but shake his head at her observation.

"Do you know when you'll be getting out of here?" Kid asked carefully.

Liz shrugged. "Not really. I have an evaluation next week but it's no guarantee."

Kid could tell that although she tried to sound nonchalant that she was hopeful. "Would you like me to be here for you after the evaluation?" Visiting once wasn't going to make up for his recent absence. He had to fully commit to being a good friend and be there for her whenever she needed him.

"I would like that." Liz let out a breath of what sounded like relief. This reassured Kid that he was headed in the right direction.

Maka had heard about the incident but couldn't really believe it. She sat in her room at her computer and looked up the news clip. A reporter was in front of the camera talking about the case of Noah Eibon. Behind her Noah was being led up the courthouse steps. A figure that Maka recognized as Gopher quickly approached pushing through the crowd of reporters and onlookers. He pulled out a gun causing the crowd to panic. In the chaos he shot Noah in the head then himself.

It all happened so fast Maka had to play the clip again to be sure of what she saw. She was relieved that Noah was gone for good and that Kid would not have to go through the long drawn out court case. Yet a part of her felt pity for Gopher. He had also been one of Noah's victims. He had been brainwashed and manipulated into doing the things he had done.

She was trying to sort out her conflicted feelings when there was a knock on her door. "Maka, honey," her dad called. She rolled her eyes at the term of endearment. "Kid is here to see you."

Maka closed the video and got up, careful of her newly healed and cast-less leg. She opened the door and her dad stood there looking concerned.

"Do you want to talk to him or do you want-"

"I want to talk to him," Maka replied before her dad could finish his question.

Her dad nodded in understanding. "I'll be in the den if you need me. We can make up a code word or a signal if you want."

Maka laughed nervously. "No, that's okay."

"Alright." As he walked away Maka almost wanted to call him back to keep talking so she wouldn't have to go face Kid. She had no idea what he was there for. There were too many unknowns.

Kid sat in the living room waiting for Maka. He reached over and started to organize the books on the coffee table. He had planned in advance what he was going to say to Maka but now that he was there the words seemed ill-chosen. A part of him wanted to leave now before he saw her. Fortunately, the rational part of his brain made him stay.

"Hi, Kid."

His head jerked up from his task of book organizing and he saw that Maka had entered the room. Panic rose in his chest and his breath caught in his throat. He felt guilty sitting in front of her. He had shut her out and never gave her any reason for it. Apologies bubbled up but got tangled and dissipated on his tongue. "Hi," was all he could manage.

Maka sat down on the opposite side of the couch. It felt like there was a canyon between them and even though he wanted to leap over it he knew that for both of them he would have to carefully and slowly build a bridge over it. Silence grew between them as they waited for the other one to speak first.

"I'm sorry," Kid said finally in a small voice.

Maka turned to him with a confused frown. "Why are you sorry?"

"I'm sorry for pushing you away. I guess I was still too raw and I…" It was harder than he thought it be would to open up to her. All of his instincts were telling him to put the wall back up, but he barreled forward hoping that it would be worth it. "I didn't feel worthy to be close to you anymore. I'm not the same person who was your boyfriend."

She moved closer and Kid had to look away. "Kid, none of us are the same people we were before the trip. But no matter what happened there you're still worth just as much as before."

Kid shook his head. She wasn't understanding. "Maka, Noah…he… he raped me." His voice broke as he said the words. Shame colored his cheeks and tears stung his eyes. This was it. She would try to be kind. Maybe she would even still want to be his friend but they would never go back to being boyfriend and girlfriend. He couldn't blame her.

A hesitant hand reached out for his. When he didn't pull away she gripped his hand tightly. He looked from their intertwined hands up to her face. Tears had started to roll down her cheeks. He felt guilty for making her cry. It hadn't been his intention to make her feel bad for him. "Is that why you broke up with me?" she asked slowly.

"I think so," Even though I didn't know it at the time.

"I'm here for you," she stated with determination. "I've always been here for you, because I love you. And you let me know when and if you want to start our relationship again. I'll wait."

Kid squeezed Maka's hand as tried to hold back his tears. Could this really be happening? She was actually willing to wait for him. "I don't know when I'll be ready," he warned. "It could be a while."

"Then I'll be your friend right now, if that's what you need."

Six months later…

Kid stood on Maka's front porch, his hand poised before the doorbell. This was his first date with Maka since the camping trip. Somehow he was even more nervous than he had been on their first date. Everything was different now and he was afraid that she would decide they were better as friends. She had waited so patiently and he didn't want to let her down.

He mustered whatever courage he had and pushed the doorbell hard before he could change his mind. He flinched at the muffled sound of ding-dong that could be heard behind the door. A few seconds passed before the door opened to reveal Maka's father. Kid braced himself for the lecture that usually preceded all of his dates with Maka. But it never came. Spirit merely frowned, then stepped aside for Kid to enter. "She's just finishing getting ready. You can have a seat while you wait."

Kid watched him closely, wondering when it would come: the usual "if you hurt my daughter…" speech. Instead all he saw was Spirit screwing up his face in such a way that made him look constipated. In fact, it was a bit comical. Trying hard not to laugh took his mind off of his nervousness for the moment. Strangely enough it was what he needed.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." Kid turned to see Maka walk out into the hallway. She was wearing a flowy, blue dress that came down to just above her knees. His breath hitched when he saw her and suddenly he felt even more unworthy than before. He couldn't help but think that she deserved someone better.

Kid got to his feet and she greeted him with a hug. "It wasn't long at all," he assured her.

"Let's get going."

Maka seemed cautiously excited as they left the house. She was practically bouncing out the door, but he could tell she was restraining it best she could. Kid started tapping his fingers against his thighs as they walked to the car. One, two, three, four-

"Are you okay?" Maka had stopped and turned to him, looking at him with concern.

Kid swallowed hard. Anxiety caused his palms to sweat and he tried to subtly wipe them on his pants. "Yes," he lied. "Why do you ask?"

She glance down at his hands knowingly. "You tap your fingers when you're anxious. It's okay. You don't have to be nervous."

"I want this date to be what you're expecting. This isn't like when we dated before, but I know that you want it to be." He let out a sigh. "I don't want to let you down."

Maka pulled him into an intimate hug. He returned the hug, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "I know that this is going to be different. But I don't care where we go or what we do as long as I'm with you."

Kid breathed out shakily as they let go of each other. "I think I can do that." He was still nervous but he felt like the pressure to make the date perfect was relieved. Perfection was a beautiful thing but trying too hard would not be helpful in that endeavor.

"Then let's get going. I got my dad to lay off the lectures but I still have a curfew."

They walked to the car and left for their date. They both knew it wouldn't be easy starting again but they also knew it would be worth the effort.