Title: A Proper Ending: The Machine City

Author: Carolyn

Disclaimer: I don't own them, I don't make money from it.

Category: Trinity/Neo

Author's Note: At this point, I feel the need to explain myself and what I'm doing. Since divorce it so prevalent in today's society and I am yet to experience what I would consider a successful relationship, I look to fictitious couples to give me hope. Over the past few years, "my" couples have taken a beating. After last spring, the only couple I had left was Trinity and Neo. So I decided, after seeing Matrix Revolutions that for myself and the other romantics in the world, I would rewrite the end of the movie. So there's your warning, this story will have a happy ending. If you don't like happy endings or are anti Trinity/Neo, don't read this. Reviews are welcome, but no flames please. If you aren't a romantic, I've given you fair warning to stop here. Also, since I've only seen the movie once, I don't have it memorized so the dialogue I hope follows the gist of the film but is my own.

**Set after crashing the Logos into the tower, Neo has found Trinity and her injuries...**

"I won't make it," Trinity whispered shakily, gripping Neo's hand tightly. She fought to keep the tears out of her voice.

Neo shook his head. "No," he said, tears choking him. "I won't let you go. I can't."

"You don't have a choice, Neo." Trinity drew a ragged breath. "I've had a good life. I've had you." Tears filled her eyes and wouldn't be blinked back. She's told him the truth, she had had a good life. But now, laying here, she couldn't help thinking about all of the things she wouldn't get to do, things that she'd never thought she wanted until she was laying here on the floor of the Logos, dying. She wouldn't see the end of the war, she'd never again see Zion, Morpheus, or Link. Never again would she roll her eyes at Kid's overeager hero-worship of Neo. Neo. Laying here, she was filled with an indescribable longing to do something she'd never felt was part of her destiny. She wanted to get married, to live everyday with Neo, waking up feeling safe in his arms. She wanted to have babies with him, to grow old with him.

Neo cupped her cheek with his other hand and felt the tears on it. Suddenly the Oracle's words came back to him. Why could he do things in the real world that other's couldn't? His power transcended both worlds. What was the point of being able to destroy sentinels with nothing more than his thoughts if he couldn't save the most important person in the world to him?

"I think I can save you," he said softly. "I can feel it inside me, I can do this."

"Neo," Trinity objected softly. "Don't make this harder for you..."

"It will be harder for me if I lose you. Do you trust me?"

"You know I do."

"Then please, you have to let me try."

Trinity paused, then nodded. "Okay."

Neo carefully let go of her and gently felt his way to the first rod that had punctured her. Resting one hand on Trinity's chest, he let himself reach out and feel what she was feeling. Pain, so much pain, and fear. And a tiny spark of hope. Neo gripped the rod firmly and slowly pulled it until it was free. He felt her tense from pain and heard her sharp intake of breath.

"I'm sorry, baby," he whispered.

"Keep going," Trinity encouraged, her voice still weak

Neo felt the spark of hope in her growing and refused to let that be in vain. He then pulled out the other rod which had gone through her torso. Neo felt for the hem of Trinity's shirt and carefully slid it over the wounds. Trinity gasped and he stopped.

"No," she rasped. "Keep going." She felt herself growing weaker and knew that if Neo didn't hurry, she wouldn't last much longer.

Neo nodded and finished revealing her wounds. Then he rested his hands carefully over the holes and gathered all his power. He felt it surge through his hands, into her body.

Trinity shuddered and gasped as she felt something warm enter her body. She didn't know what it was but she had the peculiar feeling that it was healing her. There was pain, lots of it, but she felt herself growing stronger again. Finally Neo stopped and passed his hands gently over Trinity's stomach. To his amazement, the wounds were gone.

"You did it," Trinity whispered in amazement. Her entire chest was sore but she was alive! Neo felt the joy flowing through her and found her hand with his, squeezing gently. He kissed her slowly, gently.

"Where how?" he whispered.

"My other arm." Neo reached over slowly and found the rod. He pulled it out, then rested his hands over her bicep. Neo stopped when Trinity reached over and covered his hand with hers. "No," she said softly. "I just need something to wrap around it."

"Trin," he objected but she shook her head firmly.

"No. It takes too much out of you, you need to save your energy."

"You do you know that?" Neo whispered, awed.

"I can feel you, what it does to you." Neo paused and Trinity could feel his indecision. "I'll be fine," she said softly but firmly. "It's not life-threatening."

Neo nodded and ripped the bottom of his t-shirt, wrapping it tightly around her arm to stop the bleeding. He scooted over and slipped his arms under her, lifting her into his arms as he stood. Trinity gasped in pain and Neo kissed her forehead gently. "I'm sorry."

"I'm okay," Trinity assured him. "But where are you putting me? My chair's broken."

Neo turned and laid her in his chair. "Rest," he said gently. "You'll be fine now."

"Where are you going?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"To the Source," Neo responded.

"Wait," Trinity tried to sit up and winced. "I'm coming with you."

Neo shook his head and reached over, gently pressing her shoulders back down. "No," he said firmly. "You're still recovering. You're not strong enough, it's too dangerous."

"What's too dangerous is you going to the Source alone," Trinity argued. "My body might be recovering but my mind is fine."

"No, Trinity. Morpheus was right. When you go into the Matrix, it takes a toll on your mind and your body." He could feel her starting to argue again so he reached out and stroked her cheek gently. "I need to do this, Trin. This is between Smith and I."

"I don't like you going in there by yourself, Neo."

Neo sat on the edge of the chair and took Trinity's hand, playing with her fingers. Finally he spoke softly. "Trin, two days ago you told me that you went into the Matrix because you needed to. I need to do this."

She sighed. "I'm scared, Neo. Smith's too strong. I don't want to lose you. I can't."

"You won't," Neo promised.

"Promise me that you'll come back to me?" Trinity asked softly.

"I promise," Neo whispered.

Trinity reached up and slipped her good arm around his neck, drawing him down until her lips met his. She kissed him deeply, then pulled back. "I love you," she whispered urgently.

"I love you, too," Neo whispered back. "Promise you'll wait here for me? Really promise, not like before?"

"Really promise." Neo kissed her one last time before he felt his way to the door of the ship.

Trinity watched as Neo walked carefully across a pipe, then turned a corner.

After turning the corner, Neo watched in shock as a large face rose in front of him.

"What do you want?" the voice asked menacingly.

Thinking of Trinity, Neo answered the only way he could. "Peace." He explained about Smith and what he wanted to do. The next thing Neo knew, he was inside, staring at thousands of Smiths. As they fought, for the first time Neo felt himself losing. He couldn't do it, he would lose. Laying in the crater that used to be a street, covered in mud, he could hear Smith taunting him.

"Why do you do it? For love? Love is just something you humans make up to give purpose to your meaningless lives," Smith sneered.

No, Neo thought to himself. He forced himself to stand up. Suddenly he could feel another strength building inside of him, like the first time he'd fought Smith as the One. The feeling encouraged him to get up, that he could do it. Neo straightened and stared Smith in the eye. "It's over," he said.

"You're right," Smith smirked as he thrust his hand into Neo's chest. Within seconds the transformation was complete. Another copy of himself stared back at him.

Neo-Smith blinked once and removed his sunglasses. "It's over," Neo-Smith repeated.

Without warning, the other Smith copies began exploding with light shooting out of their eyes and mouths.

Smith stared in shock. "No," he gasped. "No, this isn't right. It's not supposed to end this way! This is my world!" Smith was screaming now. "I'm supposed to win! I'm supposed to win!"

Neo-Smith watched as light erupted from Smith's eyes and mouth. "NOOOOOOOOO!" Smith howled as he exploded into millions of pieces. Neo-Smith closed his eyes and with his last bit of strength blew the Smith shell off his body. Exhausted, Neo collapsed into the mud. Somewhere he heard a phone ringing. Neo felt to his side and grabbed a phone. Without questioning, he brought the phone to his ear and opened his eyes as the sentinel arms which had supported him lowered him to the ground and withdrew.

"There will be peace," the Source growled. "Those who wish to be freed can be." Neo nodded and the Source sank back down. He blinked as black dots swarmed in front of his eyes, then took over as he went under. There was a wonderful floaty feeling. Neo didn't want to leave this place. Then he heard Trinity's voice floating back to him.

"Promise me that you'll come back to me?"

And his own reply of, "I promise."

Trinity. Neo fought his way back to the surface and opened his eyes. When he tried to stand, his legs went out from under him. Refusing to give in, Neo pulled himself along the pipe. It was slow and he had to stop frequently to rest. Finally, he arrived at the Logos and pulled himself up into the ship. He forced himself to make it up the ladder. "Trin!" he called. When he didn't get a response he yelled out again, louder. "Trinity! Are you all right?"

Trinity tried to stand to go to him but had to grip the chair to keep from falling. "I'm here," she called back. "I'm fine."

Neo followed the sound of her voice and jumped when she took his hand. He gathered her close as her good arm wrapped around him, grasping his shirt as she shuddered. He could feel her tears on his chest.

"You were gone so long," she whispered. "I could feel you when you were jacked in."

"I could feel you, too," Neo answered, holding her tightly. "I could feel you believing in me."

"What happened in there?" Trinity asked.

Neo kissed the top of her head gently. "Peace," he said with a smile. "Let's go home."

Trinity nodded into his chest. "Yes." Then she froze. "Neo, we can't get back."

"Why not?" he asked, stroking her hair.

"I can't bend my left arm and I need them both to drive. And you..." Tears choked her voice, but she made herself continue. "Your eyes..." she finished softly.

"We can do this," Neo assured her. "I'll steer. You'll have to be my eyes for me though."

Trinity nodded. She helped Neo to his chair and he gently tugged her onto his lap.

"Are you too sore for the seatbelts?" Neo asked.

Trinity nodded. "I think so. You use it."

"No, I'm okay."

Trinity took a deep breath. "Start the engine, then put it in reverse."

Neo did and was taken aback when it backed up. "I'm surprised it works. I was sure the crash would have damaged her."

"The sentinels did it," Trinity explained, confusion lacing her voice. "A few minutes after you turned the corner, machines surrounded the ship. I thought they were going to destroy it. But they...fixed it. Turn to the left."

Neo did and Trinity covered his right hand with hers, helping to steer.