Saving A/N for the end. Enjoy!

Several weeks had passed since Prince Kei's attack, and since Sakura had started filling in for Syaoran while he recovered from his injuries. The fire opal was a huge help in speeding the healing process, and she was so grateful to Sylvia for having found the stone in the first place.

She was a little peeved that the arrogant bastard of a prince had gotten away without many injuries, but after Meiling had told her of the curse Syaoran had put on him-to turn into a goose every time he sneezed-she had been secretly pleased. It was humiliating and terribly inconvenient, and a whole lot of other things-like hilarious. His retainer had warned him not to mess with the gods, but he didn't listen, and now he was paying the price.

Sakura stared at the village from where she stood on top of the little mountain at the edge of the forest. They were a couple of weeks into Spring, so flowers were blooming and the trees vibrant and blossoming.
Deep down, she resented the village people. Some of them had turned their backs on the god who had cared for and watched over them for so long, and that made her furious.

They had burned her house down and treated her cruelly for years, but she couldn't find it in her heart to hate them for that, because she knew that she was a being they couldn't comprehend. She accepted that. But as soon as they dared to turn their backs on Syaoran, who had watched and guided them for hundreds of years, she refused to forgive them. They had betrayed Syaoran and so they deserved the worst punishment possible.

That was how she felt.

She started her way forwards towards the village, steeling her resolve.
She would not forgive the few people who had threatened harm upon Syaoran, but she could forgive everyone else. They had taken no part in trying to slay their god, so they shouldn't be judged.

The market was lively with the spring sunshine warming the air. Children ran around playing together, and Sakura smelt freshly baked bread as she passed the bakery. There were lots of colourful clothes available for purchase and beautiful hats and materials too.
It seemed everything was going well.
She walked through the streets, checked on newborn babies and their mothers, and watched children play with their friends. She smiled.

She had learned how to hide her presence, and thus was not seen by any of the village people. She walked among them, listening to the chatter around her.
She sat in the village square for a while until she heard the desperate cries of a mother.

"Please, my daughter is dying! Please help her, someone!"

Sakura spotted the hysterical woman and recognised her as one of the many who had tried to kill her and Syaoran.
She felt angry. Angry that she would dare to even ask the god she had betrayed for help.

"God has abandoned my child!" she cried.

Sakura stood. Everyone's life would someday come to an end. It was not up to a god to save everyone's life. If it indeed happened that this child was meant to pass away so soon, then Sakura would make her passing more comfortable with as little pain as possible.

She made her way to the house and found the little girl resting in bed with a high fever. Sakura sat down beside her and was surprised when the little girl opened her eyes.
They seemed to lock with hers.

"Are you a goddess...?" the child rasped.

Sakura felt sadness pinch her heart. Those who were close to deaths door could sometimes see beings from the other side.
She smiled softly at the little girl. "Yes."

"Am I going to die...?"

Sakura didn't answer because she didn't know. Instead she reached out and smoothed back some of her damp hair from her forehead.
"Shh, just rest now...it's alright." Sakura soothed her, and the child's eyelids began to droop.

Sakura watched as the child slept. She leant in and gently kissed her forehead as if the child were her own, and she stood.
She left the house and continued wandering around the village for a while, watching the people from afar.

Then, she stumbled upon a familiar area. She stared down the street for a long time before she gained the courage to step forward. Slowly, she walked to the place where her house had once stood, and her eyes widened upon seeing the sight before her eyes.

It was a stunning garden, full of bright colourful blossoms and a stone fountain with intricate carvings along the edges, while the centrepiece was of a woman holding her child close.
There was an arch with climbing roses crawling up it, and beneath it was a stone bench to sit on. It was a beautifully designed area.

"So, you finally came."

Sakura looked up with shock as Syaoran stepped out from behind the fountain.

"Syaoran? You should be resting! What are you doing out here...?" she fussed.
"I'm well enough to take a stroll." He frowned.
Sakura sighed softly and relaxed.
"You were waiting for me to find this place?" she asked.
He nodded. "I've known about it for quite some time. It was built for you."
"For me?"

He gestured to the metal plate on the front of the fountain. Sakura stepped forward, finding there were words carved into the plates surface.

-For the Goddess who watches over and protects our children and mothers'. May she find this garden to her liking, and bless our children with her love-

"They're planning a fertility festival in your name." Syaoran added.

Sakura didn't know what to say or feel. It was all so much to take in.
Syaoran watched her softly, reading her emotions carefully.

"What's going through your head?" he asked softly. "You're not angry. I'm surprised."

Sakura reached out and touched the cool stone. "It's beautiful..."

"The villagers made this because they realised who you were and felt terribly guilty for what they did." Syaoran said nonchalantly.

Sakura's eyes widened, and then she burst into a fit of giggles.
"I'm willing to bet that was your doing."
He looked away. "I may have had something to do with it."

"Thank you Syaoran." She smiled softly. "I'll visit this place every day."

He smiled softly and seated himself on the edge of the fountain, and Sakura joined him.

"We've been through a lot in this last year, haven't we?" he murmured.
Sakura nodded and rested her head against his shoulder.
"Yeah...I'm kind of grateful I got tossed into the lake-I wouldn't have met you, otherwise." She said.
Syaoran chuckled. "We would have met."
"You think so?"
"I know so."

Sakura smiled. She really did love him. She wondered if they'd have still fallen in love if they had met under different circumstances but dismissed the thought. She was sure she would have fallen in love with him anyway, no matter how they had met.
She realised Syaoran had gone very quiet and she looked up to see he seemed to be deep in thought.

"Syaoran?" she called his name.
After a moment, he turned to her. "Sakura...would you bind yourself to me?" he asked.

It took several seconds for Sakura to register his words and their meaning.
The intimate act was almost the same as getting married. Neither would be able to live without the other.
She found herself speechless, and for a moment Syaoran thought she wouldn't say anything.

"Yes." She whispered.

He smiled and leant his forehead against hers for a moment, and then kissed her softly.
"I love you." He whispered softly, making her cheeks turn a pretty pink.

"Mummy, mummy! Look-the goddess is sitting on the fountain!" a little girls voice startled the pair, and they froze.

"Yes honey, the statue of our beloved goddess is beautiful, isn't it?" the girls' mother smiled.

"No!" The child whined, "I mean I actually saw her with our god!"

"Oh really? Were they happy?" The mother asked as she steered her child away, most likely thinking that her child's imagination was running wild.

"I think so, and..."

Sakura and Syaoran both blushed. They'd been caught by a child because they had let their guards down.
Sakura giggled, "Oops."
He smiled and stood, holding his hand out to her. "Come on-let's head home."

She took his hand and walked with him, heading back to their home they shared.

…

-Many Years Later…-

Warm sunlight bathed the meadow Sakura was sitting in, stray petals fluttering about in the wind. Sitting in her lap was a little girl who looked no older than four, with soft wavy auburn hair falling past her shoulders and pale skin. Her little hands were busy making what looked to be a flower crown.
Sakura watched her daughter tenderly. She was a sweet child with a loving heart towards all life. She was always cheerful and energetic, much like Sakura had been in her young age.

Sakura wasn't sure how many years had passed since she had bound herself to Syaoran, but the villagers who had tormented her had long since passed away, leaving behind a new generation. The fertility festival was to be held later that evening in her honour.

During the time that had passed, stories had arisen about her and her generous heart, about how she had forgiven the town for their horrible attitude towards her but invoked her wrath when some turned on their god. She wasn't sure where the story had started, or how, but it served as a reminder, much like the curse on the prince that had caused quite a bit of gossip among the citizens when they found out about it. The memory still made Sakura laugh.

It had been during the coronation ceremony when it happened. Something had caused him to sneeze, which had triggered his transformation into a goose. Many had been baffled and confused, while others had thought it was utterly hilarious. Some had been horrified, shouting that their ruler was cursed-they weren't wrong, either. It served as a humiliating reminder not to mess with the gods.

The young girl lifted her head and turned her attention to something else. Sakura followed her line of vision and spotted Syaoran approaching.
Her daughter stood and ran over to Syaoran, who lifted her into his arms with ease. Sakura stood and walked over with a smile on her face. At long last, she had found happiness with their little family.

So, this was the final chapter. I've had it written for a long time now (i tend to finish writing stories before I start uploading them, or I wait until I've written ten chapters and then start uploading). I'm quite happy with this chapter even though it's short, and I believe there are some things I definitely need to expand on or explain better, so at some point I will revisit this story to sort out those issues. Won't be anytime soon though. If you do have questions about the story, feel free to message me, I'll try and answer them as best as I can.

As always, HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed, at any time, and to those who stuck with me all throughout the story. I know it's not a very long story, but I still enjoyed writing it, and I hope you enjoyed reading. I'd love to hear what your thoughts are :) and, as always, constructive criticism is welcome. I believe some of my weaknesses include world building and describing some things, or scenarios, so they make proper sense. Any advice on how I can improve that is welcome. (Just don't insult me. And by insult i mean calling me things like stupid lol, not that anyone has recently)

Errm, well, I guess this is farewell for now. Or, you can head on over to my new fic, Unwilling, which has been sitting on my hard drive since 2015 screaming for my attention, and/or you can head over to The Betrayal!

Catch you later, you amazing human beings!