V studied the sheet of names he held in his hands. It was a list he complied of who could be Evey hiding. It had taken him most of the day to quickly cross off all names expect the last one he was currently watching. He stood on an apartment building's flat roof, looking out at a building across the street. He noticed how the stone was now a rose pink and soft orange color. He turned toward the west and took a few moments to watch the setting sun; London was ablaze in colors of red and orange. Not to be distracted V went back to his business, placing the sheet into his pants pocket that he exchanged for a pair of binoculars. He zoomed in on one of the apartment's windows; he could see someone moving behind the shear curtains but couldn't see any details of who the person really was.

V lowered his binoculars sighing, "I suppose a closer look is in order."

V quickly rushed across the roof towards the nearest fire escape. With all the other V's running around London in his uniforms he graciously sent to all of London, he was having an easier time sneaking around. If he was noticed, which he hadn't yet been, he could just brush it off as a pretender in a mask. He rushed across the empty street towards the other side. He climbed up the fire escape to the roof then back down the other side's fire escape, keeping him self pressed to the building's wall and shadows. V slunk in a perfected silence, thru the metal grating he could see a figure walk out of the window he was watching, they now stood on the fire escape alone. V slowly moved trying to get a better look at who it was.

'Evey, is that you?' V thought to his self, hope rising in his chest.

Evey frowned at the black shadow that had surprised her. "Bloody cat" she muttered at the now purring feline. It stood on top of the railing staring at her with bold green eyes and jet black fur. It softly let out a 'meow' coxing Evey to come to him, Evey did go to the cat, smiling and petting his head. "And who might you be Mr. Cat?" Evey scratched under the cat's chin as it purred even more.

Evey giggled slightly as the cat rubbed its face more into her hand, forcefully trying to be rubbed more. She noticed a collar on the cat; she ran her hands around it till she found a silver tag. Holding the tag in her hand she couldn't help but laugh, "Vincent" Evey laughed. "Could this be any more bloody ironic than it already is with all the V's in my life?"

Evey amused her self with Vincent till it became completely dark outside. She went inside and was partially followed by Vincent. He sat in the window frame, letting out a rather loud meow. Evey shook her head as she laughed more. "Sure, sure. I'll give you a treat Vincent."

Evey went to her fridge and pulled out a slice of cheese and ham. She walked over and held it out for Vincent, he purred then snatched it away out of her hand. He jumped out on to the fire escape, pausing for a moment to stare at Evey. Then he was gone back up the fire escape, it looked to her to the roof to eat his treat. She smiled and pulled herself back into her apartment fully. "I wonder what color eyes V has?"

V sat on a slanted roof; he was up rather high looking out over London. His cloak rustled around him as a cool breeze came in off the ocean miles away. He heard a bell ring out into the night air, adding to the atmosphere. "Well Evey it looks like you have eluded me quite well." V stood up giving one last gaze over the city. "I do hope your well, where ever you are." V sighed at the defeat of not finding Evey. The last name was just another woman, just another red herring that lead him to no where.

V walked up the roof, taking his leave from his failed search. Thru the shadows he slipped back to his home, The Shadow Gallery. Once there he stood in the center, just listening, listening to nothing. The sound of his breathing beneath the mask grew loud in his ears; he held it, the silence permeating his whole body. V let the air out of his lungs and slipped off his hat. He walked to the make up room, placing his hat away, and then taking off his cloak, hanging it back up. He sat down in the old wooden chair, looking into the mirror he slipped off his mask, then his wig. Placing both back on to the wooden head they would rest on till he needed them once more.

V sat there, looking at his face in the mirror. A face he knew but didn't recognize stared at him. He touched his face knowing it was his but still it remained unfamiliar. At Lark Hill he had forgotten all that he was before there. He did retain all of his knowledge on how to speak, how to read, what his likes and dislikes were. He remembered it all, expect who he was, what his life really was. He didn't know his face; he could only imagine what it looked like before the fire. There were no mirrors in his cell or anywhere at Lark Hill that he could have looked into. Only memories of blurred images of what he could make out in the metal dish they severed what could never be called food to him.

He leaned his elbow on the desk, rubbing his head with his hand. Another head ache was pulsating right behind his eyes and forehead. Behind that mask of burned flesh was a face, a face he couldn't remember no matter how hard he tried. There were people who reminded him of faces he once knew. It was a constant torment that he had to live with each day. Knowing things but not understanding them. Why did one person make him feel he knew someone like them once before. Who was he? What did he do? His mind raged with so many questions it became a boiling stew inside of him.

He yelled as he stood up, breathing hard, feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. He looked at himself in the mirror; he looked like a wild animal. V's eyes were dark with red rings around his pupils, permanently discolored by the chemicals that that had saturated the air the night of his escaped. It seemed like he had no eyes, no eyes at all. His skin was red and covered with white scars from the 3rd degree burns. He could suppose he was lucky it was still all surface damage. He still could see, speak clearly, and hear just fine. He still had a nose, a chin, teeth, and cheeks. What he didn't have was hair, it was all burned away never to grow back. Still even if he counted his blessing he was too marked to ever want to show his face.

V quickly grabbed up his mask and wig, putting them back on. Now only an ever smiling mask was staring back at him. He took a moment to realize what he was doing and felt pathetic.

"Your acting like a god damn child." He scolded his own reflection.

Evey stood in front of her kitchen wall, staring at the calendar. She held a red marker in her hand and crossed an X over one of the boxes. Her gaze locked on to the next box, "Tomorrow's the day." There was a red circle drawn around the date of November 5th on her calendar, a reminder of him and her promise she still had to keep.

Evey sat down on her couch, turning on the TV to wind down for the day, trying to not get too worked up about seeing V tomorrow. Idle thoughts passed thru her mind, how was he, what has he been up to, well besides the outfits of him he had shipped to almost everyone one in London. Was he well, did he miss her, what would she say, what would he say? Evey fell mellow but her mind was ravaged with so many questions. Her stomach growled under all the internal stress she had, she ignored the pain, just staring at the television.

She felt too wired to even try and sleep; she just kept watching whatever caught her eye. The hours passed and Evey finally gave in, passing out on her couch with the TV still on. The next day she awoke with the sun bearing down on her face. She opened her eyes slowly, trying to adjust to the light. She turned her gaze to the TV; the five o clock news was on. Evey sat up staring at the clock in the bottom of the TV.

"Shit, I over slept!"

Evey dashed towards her bathroom rushing to get into the shower. She started hurrying to get clean but then slowed down till she stood still under the hot water. "I'm really going to see him again. Today is the day, his day." She closed her eyes letting the water soak into her every pore. She drowned and washed away all of her worries and any fears she might have still retained. When she exited the bathroom she was calm and collected. She went to the bedroom to dress; there was no longer a need to hurry.

Lying in his bed V stared at the ceiling. "After this I may no longer know or enjoy the comforters of a bed. After this your vengeance shall be fulfilled. Your vendetta finished and you shall be no more. Death awaits you today; shall you embrace it or shy away?"

V rolled over looking at the copy of his self that just spoke. He stood in the doorway between his room and the hall to the Shadow Gallery. "I have no fear, only regret of a life I can't live." V replied feeling the calm before the storm.

The other V kept staring at V thru the mask, "Good, because there's no going back. It's time."

V rolled back looking up at the ceiling. "I know."

V showered for the last time, he got dressed for the last time, he placed on his mask and wig for the last time, and made his bed for the last time. V ran his hand over the fabric, pressing it flat and neat. His chest grew heavy as he looked over his bed; he bent down and smelled the comforter.

He stood up and closed his eyes for a few seconds, "I'm sad to say that I will never get to smell the scent of love on you. The smell of passion will never stain these sheets. For that I am sorry, we both will not know of such joy." He left his bedroom for the last time.

The rest of the day V spent time in each room, making each article neat and taking the time to enjoy the image of it, he took his gloves off, feeling the texture of each object beneath his fingers. He was saying goodbye to his home in his own way. Saying thank you to each piece of art, each piece of music, each bit of his home one last time. Today he would pass it on to Evey, the future was hers now, his world was about to pass into yesterday, with him along with it.

He ended with his last goodbye in Evey's room, the time for him to leave was fast approaching and she still had not come. He did not cry, he did not morn, he just sat there, looking at her bed. There was an unnerving calm running along in his body. He didn't dare think finally now where he was going to end up after all was done and over with. Would heaven open their gates to him? Would hell swallow him whole? Or would he simply slide away into nothing? He didn't dare let such thoughts twist at him now. For this was his last day, a fact he knew all too well. He just hoped he wouldn't die all alone with no one to care for him.

Evey entered the gallery; there was only a deafening silence that filled it. She didn't see V anywhere but she knew where he was. She strolled over to the Jukebox, feeling the smooth metal under her fingertips. She knew what song she wanted to hear, what song would bring him out of her room. It was in that moment she could feel his emotion in the air, that it had become its own unique scent, a whisper in her ear. She closed her eyes and breathed it in, carefully listening to its words.

Sadness filled her that she didn't visit sooner but she wouldn't allow herself to do so. She forgave him but part of her still couldn't, she hoped in time she could forgive him fully. She hoped in time she could get closer to him, to the man behind the ever smiling mask. All she needed was time with him, today was her first step towards that. After what would happen today was all said and done, she would give him the time. She would ask to stay with him once more, to want to grow closer to the man who was her friend, her betrayer, her love, her everything.

She opened her eyes pressing down on the plastic keys. The Jukebox clicked and the song came to life. She stood there, awaiting him to enter the room. She listened to the song, to the sound of a chair creaking as someone stood, and then to the sound of foot steps growing closer to her. She looked at the Jukebox feeling his gaze once more on her. V was now there in the room with her.

"Now you say you're lonely, you cry the whole night through." A woman's voice filled the air.

"I miss this song" Evey finally spoke.

V felt a heavy lump rise up in his throat. There she was, standing once more in front of him. Her hair was still cut short, her skin was still a natural glow, her eyes strong but not weary looking. V bit down hard on his lip as she now looked at him. He felt strangely nervous as her eyes bore on him now, a stunning change since the once timid and scared Evey he first knew. She was a whole new woman, a woman of his making.

"Well you can cry me a river,"

"I, didn't think you'd come" V felt his skin prickle as he spoke; he felt like a young boy trying to speak to his school yard crush.

"Well I said I would."

"Cry me a river."

V felt embarrassed has his face felt hot, "ahh" he breathed out. His gaze drifting from her, he was trying to shake this sense of the butterflies dancing in his stomach. "You look well."

"I cried a river over you."

"Thank you" Evey softly replied.

"May I enquire as how you avoided detection?"

"Now you say you're sorry, for being so untrue."

V could feel his hands tighten as well as every other muscle in his body, as her eyes locked still fast on to him. Her voice was the most wonderful sound he had heard since she left. "A fake ID works better than a Guy Fawkes mask."

"Ahh, hnn" he sighed with relief and almost laughed but held it back. "I must confess every time I heard a siren I, worried about you."

"I'd worried about my self for a while, but then one day I was at a market. And a friend, someone I worked with at the BTN got in line behind me. I was so nervous that when the cashier asked me for my money I dropped it. My friend picked it up, and handed it to me. She looked at me right in the eyes, didn't recognize me. I guess what you did to me worked better than I imagined."

"Well you can cry me a river, cry me a river."

V took a step back feeling shy and slightly ashamed, but what he needed to get done pushed him back ahead. He lifted his head and looked at Evey feeling still an arms length from her. He wanted to close that gap so badly now, he needed to before it was too late.

"I cried a river over you."

"I, have a gift for you, Evey, but before I give it to you. I'd like to ask you something." V took a breath; his chest was at the verge of shaking. "Would you'd, dance with me?"

"Now?" Evey replied slightly shocked. "On the eve of your revolution?"

"Oh, a revolution with out dancing is a revolution not worth having." His heart felt like it was beating too fast for its own good, his ears in tuned to whatever she might say next.

"I'd love to."

V let out a breath he didn't even noticed he was holding. His face burned as he took a step towards Evey and the Jukebox. "You, wouldn't mind if I make the musical selection?"

Evey smiled slightly and took a step back. "Not at all."

They chatted, both feeling scared and worried, but comfortable as they slowly danced together. Both had their emotions running high, yet only one knew what the real plan of action was, the other was following down an unknown path. Even if this was their last night together neither could have been happier to just be there, in that blink of time. It was their inch, an inch they would have and never give up. It was in that inch they were no longer alone.