… hi. So, I realized that it's been almost three years since I first started this story and another two since I last updated. I know none of my reasons could possibly make up for the wait, nor will this chapter, but I am sorry. The truth is that I kept forgetting about this story, but my e-mail tells me that quite a lot of people have started adding this to their story-update thing. Okay, so I know that I promised I'd finish… and I have! This is it. The last chapter… well, then the epilogue. I really don't remember any of the characteristics I gave Persephone. I really don't remember a lot of the plot twists I had in store or the ending I had planned. So I re-read it, and came up with this. The first half was written around the last time I updated.

I think my major problem is I just have a short attention span and I just lost my attention for this story. Again, I must apologize. Thanks to everyone, though. Everyone who reviewed. Everyone who didn't. Cheers!

--

Chapter Eight: So Long Shots

It was a month since Clopin had convinced Persephone to give him a chance. Their first date had been horribly awkward, with Clopin attempting to impress Persephone and Persephone trying not to make a fool of herself. After laughing off the awkwardness and admitting to not knowing what to do, the date went fine.

They continued to see each other over the next month. What surprised both of them was how little their relationship had changed.

It was also two days until Esmeralda and Phoebus's wedding. After receiving Clopin's blessing personally, Esmeralda wanted to get married as soon as possible, in case Clopin and Phoebus decided to end their unsteady truce. Unfortunately, Phoebus's family disapproved of him marrying a gypsy, so they were not going to be at the wedding.

"Clopin, could you please blow out the candle?" Persephone asked as sweetly as she could muster. She was lying beside Clopin, whose head was leaning against the wooden headboard with a book balanced on his chest.

"No, chérie," he told her, almost absentmindedly. He was attempting to cram all the information he could about gypsy weddings in his head. It had been a long time since he preformed a wedding. Usually he was off in some far distant land and one of his brothers preformed the ceremony.

Persephone moved so she was on her side, flush against him, making Clopin look over at her rather sexily before turning back to his book. Despite several attempts made by Clopin, Persephone had refused to have sex with him so soon into the relationship. Regardless, they still maintained sleeping in the same bed. She rolled her eyes and put her face right up to the book, since her glasses were on the bedside table. "That's not English," she stated firmly.

"Great observational skills." Clopin teased. "But no, it's not in English, it's in Hungarian."

"You speak Hungarian?" Persephone asked him, shocked. Over the past month, she had started to learn the little facts about Clopin. One of the many things that struck her was how many languages he could speak. She herself could only speak three (although she was getting better in French), English, Greek and Latin.

Clopin looked over at her exasperatedly. "Yes, I obviously speak Hungarian. My Tante lives in Hungary. May I just finish this chapter? Then we can do what you want to do."

"Splendid, I'm glad that you're so excited to snog me. Blimey, You really know how to show a girl that she's special." Persephone said as she moved away from him. She crossed her arms over her chest and laid down with a huff.

Clopin leaned over and quickly pecked her on her cheek before returning to the book. "You don't want that, you want to go to sleep."

Persephone blushed and glared at him. "So what? I'm really, really tired!" She informed him as she shifted so her head was resting on the pillow more comfortably. "I have to work all day and stuff." She pouted.

Clopin smiled at her and shook his head. "Go to sleep, Persephone," Clopin said soothingly as he reached one hand over the bed and stroked her long, mused hair.

Persephone let out a loud yawn again and shifted so she was closer to Clopin. She rested her head on his arm and closed her eyes. Within moments she was asleep.

Clopin looked down at Persephone and turned back to his book. She still hadn't admitted any feelings to Clopin that she may have. Clopin didn't particularly mind not knowing. It was better than knowing that she felt nothing for him, if she felt nothing for him.

On occasion, she would bring up Greece to him. Sometimes in a joke 'you'll-miss-me-when-I'm-gone' type thing and others her being completely serious and wanting to talk about it. Each time Clopin tried to get out of it and so far he had succeeded.

He knew that she had enough money to leave. Between her earnings at the pub and her horse, Mac, she could leave the next day.

Yet she chose not to. So far she had given no inkling to when she was leaving and Clopin couldn't work up the courage to ask her, dreading the answer.

Clopin sighed. He wasn't going to get any more reading done tonight. He closed the book, blew out the candle and closed his eyes.

--

On their way to way to work the next morning, Persephone noticed the amount of work people were putting into Esmeralda's wedding. "Wow," she muttered.

"It's down to the wire," Clopin commented as he laced his fingers through Persephone's. "It's very much a team effort," he said as he waved his free hand to the people who were setting up candles, hanging crepe paper and putting up banners.

"Evidently," Persephone commented as she pulled Clopin out of the Court. "Thank God I have to work. I'm rubbish at decorating." She commented off-handedly as she dodged a stray cat.

"I'm sure that's not true, chérie. You have excellent taste." He told her, talking about himself.

"Huh?" Persephone said as she looked up at him.

"Me," Clopin responded shortly as he puffed up his chest and looked entirely too proud.

Persephone rolled her eyes and laughed good-naturedly. "Aww, love, some would beg to differ." She told him. She looked up at the look of indignation on his face. "Hey, not me! I think I have very good taste," she said as she stuck her nose in the air.

Clopin laughed and stopped once they reached the small pub. "I shall pick you up in a mere matter of hours, mon chérie." Clopin informed her. He then leaned down and kissed her quickly, before prancing away.

Persephone watched him prance away until she couldn't see him anymore. Once he was out of sight she sighed and turned into the pub. She walked towards the bar, exchanging small pleasantries with the regulars. "Bonjour, Jacques." She called out to her boss, who was standing at the other end of the bar.

"Bonjour, Seph! I didn't think you'd be in today, what with the wedding just around the corner!" Jacques responded as he poured a glass of water. He set down the large metal water pitcher and walked towards Persephone. "This came for you," he said as he reached into his apron pocket and pulled out a heavy envelope.

Persephone peered at him and took the envelope. "Who could be writing to me?" She asked to no one in particular.

"Someone in England." Jacques responded. "I looked at the return address!" He informed her with both hands in the air at Persephone's accusing stare.

Persephone looked down as she turned the envelope in her hands a few times. She took a deep breath and looked at the return address. "It's from my parents," she told him as her shoulders slumped. She stared at the envelope for a long minute.

"Why don't you take the day off," Jacques offered. "I'm sure you are stressed with the wedding in a matter of days and you've put in more than enough hours these past couple of months."

Persephone looked at Jacques gratefully. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and hurried out of the pub. She made her way down the busy streets of Paris before she cam to a stop just outside the gates of Notre Dame.

Clopin was performing for the children, who were happily clapping along in time with Clopin Junior. Persephone smiled at the sight and leaned against a nearby wall. Clopin always looked much younger when he was performing.

She loved the performing that all of the gypsies did. She found it new and intriguing. They cared only about their art and each other. It was an odd, bohemian style of life that Persephone had never even been exposed to as a child.

Persephone didn't want to leave anymore. She was happy in Paris and Greece was a far ways away. She was beginning to-

Persephone shook her head. She didn't want to think about her emotions. She was always taught to follow her head and not her heart. That following ones heart would do nothing but leave them in a world where she would have no money, no prospects and no opportunities.

"Cherie!" Clopin called from the other side of the square. He gracefully dodged the people

"Hello, Clopin," she said drearily. The heavy parchment was clutched in her small hands.

Clopin raised an eyebrow and snatched the letter from her. "What's this, then?" He asked, holding the letter above her head.

"Give it back!" Persephone demanded, attempting to pull his arm down to retrieve her letter. Unfortunately for her, Clopin was something of an acrobat, twisting out of her grasp; he jumped onto his covered wagon.

"Now, now, I'll give it back," he promised. "After I have read it." Clopin ripped open the envelope and read the letter with much protest from Persephone. His face fell as he read each word. Once he was finished, he looked down at the young English girl, her eyes shooting daggers at him.

He jumped down and handed her the letter. "How dare you!" Persephone yelled. "How dare you read my personal letters."

Clopin at least had the decency to look sorry when she glared at him. "I apologize, Cherie."

Persephone stalked off with a huff. Once she was a fair distance from him, she sat on the edge of the River Seine and unfolded the letter.

Persephone,

William has informed your mother and I to your whereabouts. I am quite sure you expect us to come after you. However, we will not give you the satisfaction. I will no longer put my reputation on the line as you lark about with Gypsies.

Your sister has graciously stepped in to take your spot as William's wife.

From here on in, you may no longer consider yourself a Martin. You are no longer a member of this family.

Steven Martin

Persephone stared at the letter in shock for a moment. She heard footsteps come up behind her. She glanced back at Clopin. "He disowned me."

"Is that not what you wanted?" Clopin asked gently.

Persephone stood up and dropped the letter to the ground. "I didn't want to be disowned! I just… didn't want to get married to the man they chose."

"You hate your parents!" Clopin exclaimed.

"I hate my mother! I love my father… and my brother and sister and now I'll never see them again!" Persephone cried, her arms hanging at her side.

"But this is what you wanted!" Clopin yelled.

"I don't even know what I want anymore! Did I want my Father to disown me? No! Do I want my sister to marry William? No! You just don't understand." Persephone pushed past Clopin and ran down the cobblestone street.

Clopin sighed. He was really starting to get tired of Persephone's mood swings and mixed emotions.

--

When Clopin got back to Persephone's cart in the Court of Miracles, he was shocked to find her packing. "What are you doing?" He asked, dreading the answer.

"I'm leaving." Persephone responded shortly. She looked up at him and sighed. "Look, Clopin, the fact of the matter is I have to continue on my way."

Clopin looked at her in shock. A lot of different emotions were flying around in his head, though the one that hurt the most was heartbreak. "You can't leave."

"I have to, it's time," Persephone said as she tightened the straps on her suitcase. "Look, I know that you care for me-"

"I love you," Clopin interjected.

Persephone sighed again and took hold of her bag. "You think you love me, Clopin, but you can't."

"Why not?"

"Because you don't even really know me." Persephone concluded. "I need to leave for a while. I don't know if I'll ever come back, but I might." Persephone gently pushed Clopin to the side. "I have to grow up. I can't do that here with you always looking out for me."

Clopin merely stared at her.

Persephone shook her head and walked over to Mac. She tied her bag to his saddle and walked back to Clopin. "I'll never be able to thank you enough for what you've done for me." She said softly. "You've done more for me than anyone I've ever known."

"Then stay," Clopin pleaded, grasping her hands in his. "Stay for me."

"I can't." Persephone gently pulled her hands out of his grasp. With a sigh, she leaned up and pressed a kiss to his mouth. "Tell everyone I say goodbye. Tell them I love them and I'll miss them."

"Tell them yourself," Clopin said harshly, crossing his arms over his thin body.

"I can't. I'm not very good and saying bye." Persephone said with a weak smile. "I'll miss you most," she whispered, pressing a hand to his face.

Clopin refused to say another word. With a sigh, Persephone pulled herself up onto the saddle and left.

Clopin walked away from the wagon in a daze, tears rolled slowly down his face, yet he barely noticed. She had left him. Without any sort of warning. With out any sort of provocation. She just upped and left like the last two months had meant nothing to her.

Maybe they didn't. Maybe she actually had no attachment to Lucas or Chantal or the Court of Miracles.

Maybe she had no sort of attachment to him. That was the one that truly hurt. Clopin shook his head and wiped the last tears from his eyes.

"Get a grip on yourself, Clopin," he scolded himself. "After all, she said she might come back. All she needed to do was grow up a little more. Besides," he added. "You have people to lead. Don't get your head all messed up because of some English girl."

With that, Clopin gave a final sigh and walked over to where his fellow gypsies were constructing the pew for Emeralda's wedding.

--

Don't worry guys, there will be an epilogue. At least, there will be one soon. As soon as I quit the job that made it impossible to finish this thing. But I'm handing in my resignation in the next two weeks.

Hell, it'll probably be up before then.

Once again, I do apologize. Life and new interests got in the way. I hope that not everything was forgotten. And I know I left this chapter on a bad note, but I think we can all figure out how it's going to end.

Cheers.