A/N: Here it is; the last chapter. Thank you so much for sticking with me, and for all the support you guys have given me. It really boosts my confidence.

I don't have a problem admitting that a lot of things scare me. Thunderstorms scare me. Monsters scare me. Cruella scares me, even though I never met her. Maleficent, cats, and vacuum cleaners all scare me. (What can I say? I'm a tiny dog and there's a lot of things out there I will never stand a chance against.)

But all of those things combined would be nothing compared to how scary it is to watch my human dying again.

One would think it would be easier the second time. Carlos is technically still dead, so it's not like I'll be any worse off if he dies again… right?

Wrong.

I can't do it a second time, I know I can't. I had already given up before Carlos appeared. If we can't save him this time… it will break me even more than I already was before.

I can't go to another funeral, I can't watch our friends fall apart again… I can't do it.

I walk to Carlos, a constant stream of whines escaping me as I avoid the adults trying to shoo me out of the room- again. I lay beside my human, again, my head resting against his chest- again- as I wait for some sign of life to return to his body- again.

I'll only get one chance at this. One chance to make it all okay again. It's a lot of pressure, and a part of me is mad that Carlos is putting that all on me. But the other part of me also knows that if there was any way he could have done this without upsetting me, he would have. This is the only way to fix things. To fix us.

But no matter how much I tell myself we're going to be okay, I keep feeling more and more afraid. The terror keeps growing, and growing, and eventually it just sort of takes over me. I don't really take in anything that happens for a long time, until I find myself in Jay's arms with no idea when he picked me up. He's just bouncing me like Carlos always did- does?- and muttering words that are for his benefit as much as mine, a lot of "it will be okay" and "he'll survive, Dude, it'll all be okay, I promise."

I cling to him for a long moment, terrified I'll blink and find the same broken Jay from before in front of me. The same broken Jay, the same broken everything.

My heart beats like an obnoxiously loud drum from the Auradon Prep marching band, and I find myself unable to think about anything but how hard it is to breathe.

The only thing that breaks through my panicked haze is the realization that it's time to attempt to bring my human back.

But I'm so afraid to try. If I lick his face and he doesn't stir, that's it; that's my last hope shattered forever. If I stay as I am now, I'll be terrified, but I can cling to that last bit of hope even if it will be marred by the uncertainty.

But I also know if I wait too long, my choice will be made for me. Everything will go back to how it was before, and it'll all be my fault.

I think of Carlos and how brave he was. Or is, if this works. How much he went through and still kept soldiering on, until the end of it all. How he came back, for me, to try to fight again, because he loves me so much.

Carlos would do the same for me in an instant, even though he'd be just as terrified as I am now. I can't fail him.

So I work up all my courage, leaning next to my human, and lick his cheek once, twice, three times. I think of how much I love him. How miserable I was without him, how much I want to be a family again with him and Jay and the others. How I can't live without him another second.

As soon as I pull away, Carlos takes in a gasping breath, and I let out an ecstatic bark as I attack his face with more kisses. Next to me, Jay gasps, and immediately pulls Carlos into his arms, tears forming in his eyes.

And this time, they aren't tears of grief.

Carlos is okay, and Jay is okay, and I'm okay. Or, we will be. The world is finally as it should be, and I can breathe again.

As Carlos wakes, a faint sound of something like pain escaping him, I whine and nuzzle his face, snuggled cozily between my human and the one he loves.

—

I've never been to a hospital before now. (Well, I guess maybe you could count the vet Jay brought me to. But in a way, you can't. Because now that's been erased from reality. Carlos and I are the only ones who will remember it. So in a way, I've never been at all. But in a way I have.) It doesn't take me that long to decide I don't like them. They're bright and loud.

But I wouldn't think of leaving for a second, because I'm lucky I was allowed here to begin with. Dogs aren't usually welcomed in places like this, and it was only Carlos insisting he needed me as his therapy dog- and Ben and Fairy Godmother backing him up- that got me here.

It's weird to think of myself as a therapy dog. I've already been one to Carlos since we met, but having a title for it is just… strange.

Having a title only makes me that much more determined to do my job better this time. I failed Carlos before- I can't afford to again.

I barely let Carlos out of my sight once we get settled in one of the rooms. When no one is around, I explore every corner to make sure nothing is waiting to jump out and attack. I dutifully inspect each and every visitor who arrives, sniffing them thoroughly before letting them see my human. I sit in Carlos's lap when doctors and nurses examine him or talk to him. When he gets upset I let out a little bark to get his attention before he gets overwhelmed.

At first all the visits are from doctors who specialize in the human body. But when they find the remnants of dark magic inside Carlos, they bring in those doctors Ben talked about that specialize in minds and problems like sad-sickness. Doctors we never knew existed, and who could have helped so much if we only knew sooner.

Once they start asking questions about how Carlos got here, Carlos breaks down, and I growl protectively until Carlos hushes me through his own tears. It's bad enough that Carlos is exhausted from the effects of the spell on his body, has trouble breathing even though the doctors say he's not in danger anymore, but for them to get him all upset is more than I can stand.

Eventually Carlos calms me again, and looks down at me rather than any of the humans as he answers their questions, explaining what he did to try and end things. "It was a death spell," he says as a big fat tear lands on my nose. "I put it in my water bottle, so it wouldn't be all at once. But once I… you know. Once that happened, Dude saved me with True Love's Kiss." He gives me a tearful smile and presses our heads together. "There's a lot of different kinds of love, you know? And he couldn't stand the thought of me… leaving."

One of the doctors, who I can't see from my position, starts talking. "You tried to take your own life," she says, and Carlos nods silently. "Would you do it again given the chance?"

Carlos shakes his head again. "I couldn't do that to my friends," he says softly. "I thought, before, that I'd be helping them if I did it, but then Dude saved me and I saw…" He trails off. "I wouldn't hurt them that way. Not again."

Quietly, the doctor tells Carlos, "I believe you. But I still worry about your mental health; the Isle has left a lot of scars, and I'd like to admit you as my patient."

Anger flashes over Carlos's face. "Now you care," he says bitterly, scratching my chin to give himself something to do with his hands. Then his face softens and he sounds more tired than anything. "I know you couldn't stop it; no one but King Beast could. But none of you spoke out when he created the Isle."

"No," the doctor says, a strange tone in her voice. It's not regret, but it's something close. "I didn't. None of us did."

"Then you were complicit in this." Carlos holds out his arm, where, above his elbow, there's an ugly, red scar. From what, I don't know, though it goes without saying that Cruella was involved. "You helped make this happen. How can I trust you to make me better now?"

The doctor hesitates, and then says, "when you first came to Auradon, nobody trusted you because you were a VK. But most of the people you know have learned to work past the mistakes you made before with the wand, correct?" She pauses to take a breath. "I don't expect your trust right away. Just a chance."

Carlos sighs. "I can do that." He holds me closer to himself. "Do I have to stay in the hospital, then?"

"Yes," the doctor says. "But before you ask, your dog can stay with you. I don't think being separated would benefit either of you right now."

It's a small comfort for both of us. Carlos isn't happy about having to stay in the hospital, which means I'm not happy either, but we have each other, at least.

"Does this mean… do you think I'm crazy?" Carlos asks the doctor, pausing in the middle of scratching my ears. Pain enters his voice.

I only have a vague idea what 'crazy' means. To me it means a maniacal axe murderer, or a puppy-skinner. Someone just… deranged. But to Carlos it apparently means a lot more. 'Crazy' is, from the sounds of it, something he's feared being before. I don't know anyone else terrified of being an axe murderer. There must be more to it than that, something I'm missing.

"'Crazy' has too many different meanings to be a useful word," she replies, confirming my suspicion; humans must have a lot more uses for the label than I do. "It can mean anyone who's sick, or it can just mean someone experiencing psychosis, or someone so far disconnected from reality that they are dangerous… or a million other things."

Carlos swallows hard. "I guess what I mean is, am I insane like my mother? Or am I going to be?"

"No." The doctor's voice is firm. "You are nothing like your mother, and what you're experiencing doesn't make you a danger to anybody like she is."

(I could have told them that, if they'd asked me.)

Carlos's eyes fill with tears, but he doesn't say anything more despite the obvious pain he's in. For my part, I cuddle closer to him and turn around, so I can watch the doctor and make sure she leaves before she causes my human any more distress.

Because I'm Carlos's therapy dog now, and I have a job to do.

—

Carlos's- our- friends come to visit a few hours later, after Carlos has taken a nap and looks better than earlier. Though not completely better, not yet. It will take time for the effects of the spell to wear off. There's still some of the dark magic inside Carlos, still trying to stop his heart. There isn't enough to succeed, but there is enough to make him exhausted and to make it hard for him to breathe. It could wear off in a few hours, or it could be weeks.

Everyone is told to be careful not to wear Carlos out any more than he already is, so they won't set his recovery back. Carlos looks ready to nod off already, even though he's just woken from a long enough nap to make me jealous, but he stays awake for the sake of his friends as they come in one-by-one.

Ben comes in first, and he wastes no time before apologizing. "I'm sorry," he says, quiet and guilty. "I should have told you help was available. This all could have been prevented…"

I tilt my head, because it sounds all too familiar to me. I guess Ben would feel at fault no matter what, then. Even though there was nothing he could have done. Even if Carlos knew about the doctors, he would never have sought them out on his own.

See, Ben may be the nicest and most understanding of all the Auradon teens, but he still doesn't understand the Isle sometimes. He's too privileged to consider that Carlos really doesn't, and probably never will, trust adults to help him. He would get it if someone told him, but it would never occur to him on his own.

You only learn these things from being there yourself, or from spending all day, every day with someone who has.

Carlos lies back on a stack of pillows, petting me where I'm snuggled comfortably against his side. "No," he says, shaking his head. "You couldn't have known. And I don't think I would have taken your help anyway. I didn't tell anyone but Dude until yesterday. After that I only told Jay, and only a little of what was going on."

"I shouldn't have needed to be told to tell you," Ben argues. "It was obvious you all were scarred. I should have seen how deep it went. For all of you. It was obvious you needed it."

"Oh, please don't say that," Carlos says, swallowing hard. "Do you have any idea how hard we work to hide our scars? Don't say it was obvious they were there. Hiding your weaknesses is practically the first thing you learn on the Isle after walking."

Ben looks uncomfortable and starts to fidget the way I do when I've been inside for too long. "Still. Carlos, I'm sorry. We'll all be here to make sure your recovery goes smoothly, okay? We'll make this right, I promise."

Carlos smiles thinly. "I don't think anyone can make it smooth, but thank you, Ben." He lets out a sigh, pulling me to sit on his tummy, which I know means he's about to get scared-sick again. I straighten protectively, staring at Ben. I like him a lot, because he's the reason Carlos and I met to begin with, but I won't hesitate to growl at him if he makes Carlos upset.

But just as I start to practice my mean face, Evie comes in, and Ben says a quick goodbye to Carlos before hurrying out the door.

—

Seeing Evie is strange.

It's strange to see her hugging Carlos like he never died. Strange to have her petting me like she doesn't see me as just a painful reminder of Carlos's death.

I continue keeping close to Carlos, barely acknowledging when she pets me in greeting, because if I'm honest, I'm still a bit upset at her. Well, not really "at her" anymore, since it's not the same her. But I look at Evie, and I just remember how hurt I was, how she ignored me when I really needed her, and…

Well, I guess our roles are kind of reversed now, in a way.

Still, even as I keep my distance, I have to give her credit for what she has done, and still is doing, for my human. She took care of him on the Isle more than anyone, even more than Jay. And I will always be thankful to her for that.

(What if, a little voice inside me asks, what if she had never come along? Would Carlos's sad-sickness have gotten to be too much before we even met? What would have happened then? Would I have ever had a chance to save him?)

"What happened, C?" Evie asks, bringing me out of my thoughts. Her voice is so sad, so little, so broken.

(I think it's what my voice might be like, if I could still talk.)

Carlos struggles to find words. I struggle to find the right way to comfort him. Evie struggles to keep herself put together.

We all have our own little battles in this, I guess.

Carlos looks at me for a long moment, and opens his mouth before shaking his head. "I can't, Evie, not right now. It hurts too much still."

Evie looks shattered, but she nods and presses a kiss to Carlos's temple. "I'm sorry, C," she whispers.

"Not as sorry as me," Carlos replies, tangling his fingers in my fur. "Nobody'll ever be as sorry as me."

He's wrong, because I am.

—

Mal doesn't do emotional stuff (even though I know she feels it, just like the rest of us do). It's kind of nice in a way, a nice break from the tension of tonight. She just sits by Carlos's bed and asks if he's okay, if he will be okay. Once he confirms he is, she nods and goes quiet and just keeps us company.

She tells me stories about how she and Uma used to mess with Cruella, which makes me happy beyond words. I approve wholeheartedly of any attempts to knock Cruella down a peg or two, even if it will never, in a million years, equal what she did to Carlos.

Does Mal know, I can't help but wonder, exactly how far Cruella went? That it went so far that beatings aren't even on the list of the ten worst things she did?

I think she has an idea- I think all our friends do. But I don't think any, even Jay, know the whole truth. They just have an inkling.

I don't think I even know the whole truth, really.

Only my boy knows. And we all know how good he is at keeping things from us.

—

Last of all is Jay.

Just like the others, it confuses me a little, unsettles me, to see him act like nothing happened. For him, nothing did happen. Well, something happened. He still saw Carlos almost die. But the something I remember didn't happen for him now.

This situation is like one of Carlos's logic problems, and it make my head hurt a bit trying to think it through.

But it makes me happy in a way to see how all of our friends are okay, or mostly okay, now. They aren't falling apart anymore- they're mostly healthy teenagers again like they should be.

But like with the others, it's all too easy to remember that pain in Jay's eyes. When Carlos died, it was like a part of Jay did too. Even though Jay has that part back now, I keep remembering him without it.

I let Jay scratch behind my ears- too hard again, just like before he learned how I like to be pet- before turning my attention back to Carlos. He's getting sleepy again and I don't think he'll be able to listen to much of whatever Jay's about to tell him. I just hope it's nothing too important. If it's something Jay has had to prepare for, and he tells Carlos only to find him asleep… he may give up on trying again.

"Hey, C," Jay murmurs. His voice sounds scratchy and rough- from having cried, I learned in those terrible months we erased. He sets a hand on Carlos's forehead, brushing the hair back out of his eyes. His mouth opens and closes a couple of times, like he's trying to say something but can't, before he finally whispers, "I'm glad you're okay. I'm so glad you're still with us."

"Me too," Carlos whispers back, reaching out to grab Jay's hand. "I realized… I don't want to leave after all. I want to stay."

None of the others touched Carlos, maybe a little worried he wouldn't want to, or that they would hurt him. With the others, Carlos didn't reach out, just accepted the lack of touch- but Jay has always, always been different in Carlos's eyes. Carlos loves Jay's touch.

Jay takes Carlos's hand, smiling, and then looks away for a long while.

I remember Jay saying, "I loved him," and realize he wants to finally say it to Carlos. But I can't let him do it. (Emotions are hard things to deal with sometimes, even good ones, and my human is already so exhausted. If he's this sick from all his emotions already, the last thing he needs is more of them.)

So I look at Carlos, seeing his eyes starting to droop, and then turn to Jay, bringing my body to full alertness to signal that he needs to leave soon. Jay nods at me, accepting my order without a word.

In silent understanding, we both move closer to Carlos, myself on his belly, and Jay with one arm around Carlos in a loose hug.

"Jay?" Carlos murmurs sleepily, fighting to keep his eyes open. "I, I just… I wanted to say thank you. And I'm sorry. I'll get better, I promise. For all of you guys."

Jay fidgets and shakes his head. "You don't have to be sorry, Carlos. And don't get better for me, okay? Do it for you."

Carlos smiles sadly. "I'm not a good enough reason," he says matter-of-factly.

I wince. It's a painful reminder to me that even though we've fixed things so he can live, even though he won't try to kill himself again, he's still just as sad-sick as before.

Jay looks just as pained as me, and is about to protest, but Carlos's eyes finally slide closed. I stretch out to make myself look bigger so Jay won't try to wake him.

"It's okay, Dude," Jay says softly, holding out his hand in surrender. "He can sleep. I won't push things."

I nod and turn to watch Carlos fall asleep. Jay does the same, watching his chest rise and fall just like I have ever since the library. Both of us need the reminder that he's alive.

Jay sets a hand on Carlos's chest, swallowing hard as he feels the strong and steady heartbeat under his hand. That soft expression comes over him, the one that makes it clear that he loves Carlos (almost) as much as I do. (Almost. I know it's not a contest of who loves Carlos the most, yet I can't help but make it one sometimes. I want to scream it, want to tell everyone I love him the most of anyone.)

He looks between me and Carlos, and then smiles, petting my head. "Thank you for saving Carlos, Dude. You're such a good boy… I could rub your belly every minute for the rest of your life and it still wouldn't be what I owe you. You brought him back to me, man, that means more than I can say… just… thank you." Tears fill his eyes. "I love him." He looks surprised to have said such a thing aloud, but doesn't take it back; in fact, he repeats it. "I love him. And when he gets better, I'm gonna tell him."

I like that idea. Carlos loves Jay, and he deserves Jay's love. The more of it he gets, the better, I think. It's not that love makes everything better, but it helps, and sometimes I like to imagine myself just gathering all the love the universe has to offer and throwing it over Carlos like a warm blanket.

I lick Jay's hand to signal my approval, and he smiles, petting me. "Yeah… that would be nice, huh? You'd have two daddies." He chuckles to himself, and then looks down at Carlos. "I have to go, huh?" he mumbles, looking at me. I nod once, and he sighs.

"I'll see you tomorrow, C. Every day till you get to come home." He keeps his hand over Carlos's pulse for a minute longer, and then slowly removes it, like he's scared Carlos's heart will stop again if his hand isn't there. (Even though the two aren't related.)

"I already know you will, but I gotta say it, Dude." Jay covers the top of my head with one hand. "Take care of him. Please. He's important and… he needs you right now." And with that, he turns on his heels and walks out of the room.

I stay in bed with Carlos, watching him and then settling down with my thoughts. I lie on top of my human, resting my head on my front paws.

Jay is right. I already planned to take care of Carlos; I'd give my life to protect him. Because I'm a therapy dog now, and that means taking care of my human no matter what the cost.

I wouldn't have it any other way. Because Carlos is alive, and the doctors will find a way to cure his sad-sickness and scared-sickness eventually. He'll get a happily ever after, even if he has to spend years fighting for it. He'll have me, and he'll have Jay, and all their other friends too. He's one of the smartest humans on the planet and I know he can do anything he sets his mind to. One day, he'll get better, and he'll get everything he could ever want or need. I know he will. Someday, somehow.

And as for me, I already have my happily ever after.

I'll never have to spend another minute without my human again- what more could a dog like me want?

A/N: And with that, we have reached the end of this tale. But don't worry- there will be much more to the story. I already have at least two sequels planned, one of which will show Jay's part in all of this. Stay tuned! And thanks again for taking this journey with me!