Rather important A/N: Okay, this is it, end of the fic. Had to bring them back for one last goodbye. ::sob:: The song is 'I Will Remember You' by Sarah McLachlan.
SKIP THE REST IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR MY SAPPY GOODBYE.
This, I think, is my last Animorphs fic. I've been trying to get inspiration to smack me in the head, but it's not quite working. If I ever get motivated enough, I think I'll finish some of my other series, but... Well, I started a 'New Ending' fic based on a rewrite of (surprise) the last book, but it's not really going anywhere. And I'm anxious to start a long HP fic. That's not much of an excuse.
I guess I'm just tired or something. I think I'm losing what little talent I had. Me wanting to write HP is not an excuse for me to stop writing Animorphs, as much as I wish it could be. But I'm not who I was when I started writing. I'd like to think I'm a better person now. I don't know, maybe I've outgrown Animorphs. That's a scary thought. I'll be 17 in September. I'll be a senior, and applying to college and stuff. In other words, outrageously busy. Even summer. We're going to California to check out Stanford. Heard it's nice.
I'm going into retirement. Maybe I'll come back some day. Maybe one of these days I'll wake up and smack myself in the head and think 'What kind of idiot am I?', but right now, I can't see myself writing anything more.
KAA is ending the series, and I'm moving on. Goodbye everyone. I'll still be around to read, I'll still love the fandom. It's given me a lot of great memories. I'll see you around. Thanks to everyone who beta-ed, who reviewed, and most of all, who wrote. It means a lot. I guess this 'goodbye' ending is an appropriate fic for my goodbyes. As the last line says, I will remember you. It's been a great ride and I'll miss it. Love yas all.
Epilogue - Parting
A long time ago I met you
And things would never be the same
I thought what we had was meant to be
Except for our Shadows from the Past
"Congratulations."
Jordan looked up the man before her. He was tall with dark hair and a beard. He seemed vaguely familiar...
"Do I know you?"
He smiled. "My name is Alexander William Johnson."
She hesitated. "I thought, maybe..."
The music started.
I will remember you
Will you remember me?
He held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"
Don't let you life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
"Tobias!" She gasped.
He simply looked at her and smiled. "Come on, this is our song."
Remember the good times that we had?
I let them slip away from us when things go bad
She slipped into his arms.
"Is it really you?"
"Yes."
"They said you died."
"I know."
She looked up. "They lied. Like before?"
"Yes."
How clearly I first saw you smiling in the sun
Wanna feel your warmth upon me, I wanna be the one
Alexander. The connection clicked in her mind. "You're masquerading as your friend."
"Yes, I am."
"But..."
"If anyone learned Alex was dead, a lot of people would have been implicated. To cover for the Alliance, someone had to become Alex, to take over his life."
"And you—" She hesitated. "What about his wife?"
"She's my wife now."
A tear dripped down her cheek, but Tobias wiped it away. "Don't cry. It's your wedding day."
I'm so tired but I can't sleep
Standing on the edge of something much too deep
"Does Jake know?"
"Yes, and Cassie and Ax and Marco."
"Why didn't he tell me?"
"Because I told him not to."
"What? But—" She stared at him, searching his eyes for a reason, some explanation, and while she didn't find an answer, those eyes did say that he had never meant to hurt her.
It's funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
We're screaming inside, but we can't be heard
"I love you." She whispered.
Love. Present tense, not past.
"Exactly. What we had, what we have, can never be. You know that, I know that. You needed to move on, and so did I. So I let you think that I was gone, so you would search for the life you deserve to have. And you did, and now you have it. You're Mrs. Lawrence Raymond, surgeon extraordinaire, and I'm just Alex Johnson, retired Alliance Colonel and elementary school teacher."
I'm so afraid to love you, but more afraid to lose
Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose
"Tobi—" He stopped her. "Alex." She amended. "There's something I have to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I have a daughter."
Once there was a darkness deep and endless night
You gave me everything you had, oh, you gave me light
She turned, her gaze sweeping across the room until she spotted the blond head of curls she sought. "Her name is Rachel."
Tobias inhaled sharply. He watch the little girl, blond and blue-eyed, in a princess-like white dress.
"How old is she?" He finally asked in a disembodied sort of voice.
"Four and a bit." Jordan answered, equally solemn.
"Is she..." Tobias hesitated.
"Is she yours?" Jordan shrugged. "I don't know. She was born about the right time, but there's equal chance she's Lawrence's."
Jordan sighed. "It doesn't really matter. I love her, and so does Lawrence. He thinks she's his, and DNA won't change that."
"Then why did you tell me?"
"Because I thought you deserved to know."
And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Tobias nodded. "You named her Rachel."
Jordan's chin trembled slightly. "For my sister. And for you."
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
The music ended once again.
"I have to go now." Tobias whispered.
Jordan kissed him softly on the cheek. "Goodbye, Mr. Johnson. It has been a pleasure knowing you."
"Goodbye, Mrs. Raymond, and congratulations on your marriage."
She watched him go. She didn't cry. What they had had been a fantastic dream, one that she would never forget, but in the real world, dreams didn't come true.
Jordan turned back to the party and to the arms of her waiting husband.
I will remember you