Disclaimer: Do you see me holding up a sign saying "Chrissy P"? No. Meaning me no own the characters. Also, I don't own the plot. That was graciously given to me by 3rdDeath. I've just twisted and turned it around to fit me more. Hehe. Also, the title is borrowed and tweaked a bit from the great song called The One Thing I Have Left. For those who have read my previous works, you might recognise this. :sweatdrop:

Warning: Talk of and attempt of suicide, and rated thereafter. Also incestuous feelings. Meaning romantic feeling between family members, here brothers. Lastly, angsty Eragon. We never see much of him, so he certainly deserved to be in the warning XD

A/N A special greeting to those who want to know what SK will be posting next. Sadly, I have yet again nothing finished. I know, I know, I promised to tell you here what was up for posting next, and it doesn't look like I'm delivering. But! Yes, there is more. I have two, if not three stories that I'm close to completing. The earliest I will have the time to post one of these fics, if I even finish one :cough: is one or two weeks from now. I really hope I will have something done and post-worthy by then.

But enough about that, on with the fic! I hope you enjoy and don't kill me after reading it. :sweatdrop: As always, this is dedicated to 3rdDeath for giving me this plot to play with. And thanks to everyone who reviewed, faved or put this story on alert. And an extra thanks to those who read this.

The End; Option Two

Can't Take Who I Am

Eragon had never been so nervous in his entire life. Murtagh hadn't come home to dinner, but Selena had told him that he would be back soon. And Eragon could feel his insides turning by the mere thought. For Eragon was finding himself too deep into something he knew he couldn't get out of.

Selena had talked to him at dinner, telling him then that they wouldn't pressure him into talking, but that she encouraged him to do so when he was ready. He could see the pain in her eyes though. She yearned for answers, answers he was nowhere ready to give, but she hadn't pressured him. And for that Eragon was glad. But Selena's eyes had also told him that he should talk to Murtagh. His absence at dinner had told the brunet the same. He knew he needed to, but he dreaded it. How could he talk to his brother after all that had happened?!

The outer door creaked softly open. Eragon felt himself stiffen as he heard his mother greet Murtagh. He couldn't hear more of their conversation, but could guess what they were saying. And it made his insides turn even more.

Slow steps travelled down the hallway. Eragon held his breath and buried himself deeper into his soft, large sweater as the footfalls came to a stop outside of his door. He clenched his eyes closed and forced himself to breathe again. Then the knock came.

"Yeah?" Eragon said hesitantly.

The door opened soundlessly. Keeping his eyes closed Eragon could only hear someone enter. The door softly clicked shut. The silence that followed seemed to stretch on forever. Then, finally… hesitant footfalls coming closer. The bed dipped softly. The brunet struggled to keep his breathing steady. Then he felt himself gathered in a warm embrace. His resolve shattered.

Eragon buried himself deeply into his brother's chest. No sound or tear came from him, but inside he was crying a river. Eragon had simply nothing left to shed.

"Kiddo."

Eragon bit his lip. He hadn't been called by that name in so many years. Murtagh really had come to talk, just as he had foreseen.

"How are you?" The gentle murmur floated into his ear.

Eragon chocked back a laugh. They were going to be there for a long time.

"Fine." Eragon answered quietly.

Murtagh sighed heavily.

"I know you aren't fine Eragon, but that was not what I was hinting at." Murtagh paused. "Who do you like kiddo?"

Eragon felt the blood in his veins freeze. He had forgotten to write that, he remembered. And how much of a relieve that was! But… now he had questions to answer, questions he'd hoped he would never have to answer.

"It's not important anymore." He whispered.

"I'd say they are." Murtagh said thickly. "You went and… for them. Just for them. It has to still hold some importance to you."

"So what if they do?!" Eragon grumbled. "I'm over it. I'm done with them, and that's final."

"Who has hurt you so much that you'd rather swear it off than talk to them?" Murtagh asked hoarsely.

Eragon nearly opened his mouth to shout the name, but fortunately managed to keep it shut. He couldn't say it, not after all he had been through.

Suddenly feeling uncomfortable Eragon began to try to squirm his way out of his brother's arms. Murtagh only strengthened his hold. Eragon clenched his eyes shut in frustration.

"Who, Eragon?"

The dark tone sent shivers down Eragon's spine. Never could he remember having heard Murtagh sound so angry. It was almost ironic that it was himself he was angry at, without even knowing it.

"I can't…" The brunet replied finally.

Murtagh growled.

"Of course you can, you just don't want to." The older male said coldly.

Eragon desperately tried to bury himself deeper into his sweater, his mind, anything to get away from Murtagh's question. Oh, why did he have to come from a family of stubborn asses?!

"You – I, Eragon… I need to know." Murtagh said throatily. "I need to know that I won't loose you because of this."

Eragon felt his eyes begin to burn again. It was becoming too much. He needed to get away! He couldn't stand it anymore. His tries to escape doubled. But Murtagh held on just as firmly.

"LET ME GO!" The brunet screamed.

"Quiet down Eragon! We -" Murtagh said tightly, and an almost punch to the jaw cut him off from whatever he had been about to say.

But no matter how much he twisted, kicked or turned, he wasn't getting away. Eragon could feel the panic rising even more.

"Eragon, Eragon calm down!!"

"NO!"

Eragon managed to free his hands and started to hit every part of his brother he could reach.

"Stop. Eragon, STOP!" Murtagh nearly yelled.

"Let me go!" Eragon sobbed as he still continued to hit his brother. "Please. I don't want to talk about this."

"You have to someday!" Murtagh said loudly.

"Who died and made you my shrink?!" The brunet exclaimed in a voice caught between frustration and pain.

The older managed finally to capture Eragon's hands and held them tightly to his chest. Eragon tried and tried to get them free, but Murtagh was simply too strong. The brunet proceeded to sob in frustration.

"Kiddo." Murtagh murmured softly. "You're hurting, and I can't stand to see you in that state. Why can't you let me help you?"

"Since when did you care?" Eragon nearly screamed.

Murtagh stiffened.

"I've always cared about you. Whatever made you think otherwise?" He asked almost grimly.

Eragon didn't answer.

"Eragon, I do care about you. Always have, and always will." Murtagh paused with a sigh. "That's why I can't let this go."

"Murtagh, I… I can't tell you." Eragon whispered.

The hazel eyed brother sighed tiredly.

"Don't you believe me, is that why? I'd step in front of everything, anything to save you Eragon. You're my brother." Murtagh said uncharacteristically softly.

Eragon felt a blush strain his cheeks painfully. Murtagh was speaking directly into his ear. He couldn't remember the last time they had been so close. But it didn't matter.

"I just… I can't Murtagh."

Murtagh's face hardened in a second. He dragged Eragon up from his hunched position. The brunet shook as Murtagh's hazel eyes glared into his own. There was barely a centimetre between their faces and, Eragon gulped, their lips. But that centimetre didn't stay for long.

The brunet's eyes widened beyond imagination as Murtagh claimed his lips in a bruising kiss. His face was caught between growing pale and blushing even harder, making everything even more uncomfortable for Eragon. He stayed motionless, unsure and clueless to what Murtagh's motives were. But he already knew that it was safer to stay silent than to get his hopes up.

When the older pulled back Eragon sucked in a greedy breath. The kiss hadn't lasted for long, but it had stolen the breath right out of his lungs. Murtagh, who was panting softly, seemed to be avoiding his gaze.

That thought hurt him. Murtagh had to be mortified. So Eragon didn't wait for another opportunity. In a desperate try, Eragon managed to finally release himself from Murtagh's hold and quickly ran out of the room. Murtagh called his name after him, but the brunet ignored it. Eragon didn't care where he ran, as long as he did so. He was so confused he didn't even grab a jacket. He didn't look back, but could clearly hear Murtagh's distressed yells. No, the brunet just continued to run.

And, as he ran, his mind awoke. Thoughts and questions began to circle inside his head. Why did his brother have to be so stubborn? Why did he have to act like he cared? Didn't Murtagh know that Eragon knew he didn't?! And why, oh why had Murtagh kissed him?? Why?!?

Tears began to fall freely from his eyes, but the brunet didn't care anymore. His sides were beginning to sting, and his lungs screamed for a proper breath. So, when Eragon couldn't run anymore, he tripped and fell down onto the grassy ground below him. Breathing hurt, but not breathing hurt more. The crying had given him hiccups and his cheeks were icy cold with tears. Nothing mattered anymore.

Eragon slowly got to his feet. Everything was hurting. Nothing even made sense. But one thing was for sure. He needed to get home, even if that was where Murtagh would be waiting for him. He felt cold to the bone, and maybe because he had forgotten to bring a jacket but a part of Eragon doubted it. Maybe his heart was so crushed that it had let out all the iciness and wrongness that had been inside of him? Maybe that was the real reason he was so cold?

But it didn't matter. He needed to get home. And, if he was lucky, Murtagh would be out looking for him, making it possible for him to slip inside and lock himself in.

A half hour later Eragon could finally see the house. It was mostly dark, but the clock wasn't much so Eragon figured Murtagh was most likely out looking for him. Walking inside, not bothering to remove his shoes, he quickly ran into his room. The brunet exited a few minutes later and then stepped into the kitchen. He began to make a short process of the drawers, hurryingly looking for the object he needed. He had a plan now, and he was planning on seeing it through.

Five minutes and a good search later he was no closer to finding what he was looking for. Annoyed to no end, Eragon desperately tried the cabinet under the sink. He and his brother had bluntly told their mother that they were never stepping ten feet in its general direction if they had to. Eragon wasn't sure why, it wasn't even dirty, but somehow it just seemed wrong.

And it was there he found them. A broken and relieved smile grazed Eragon's face as he pulled out the first knife he could find. It was a normal kitchen knife, but it was sharp and it would do. The teen quickly put everything back in its place and then ran out of the house again. He wasn't doing it in there, no, not again.

He stood; ready to get going when he heard it, his name. His name spoken in such a manner it could only be one person.

"Eragon."

Murtagh had come home.

Murtagh was panicking. He had looked everywhere he knew Eragon would go or liked to go, but still no sign of him! He had tried to call a dozen times, but Eragon never picked up. And, after hearing the same message for the nth time, Murtagh had had it.

The older brunet angrily hit his fist into the wall, his phone clutched in the said hand. It hurt and it lifted the cloud from his mind for a blissful minute. It was then Murtagh thought of another possibility. One and a half hour had passed, Eragon could have gone home. And with that thought, Murtagh sprinted down the road he had come. Thankfully he wasn't far from the house, but the run seemed endless. Finally he jumped over the fence and nearly kicked the door open. He was met with silence.

Murtagh was about to punch the wall, scream, do anything, when he heard it. A soft scuffling. And it was coming from the kitchen. Unable to wait anymore, he walked as quietly as he could to the doorway and peeked inside. And there he was, Eragon. And to Murtagh's rapidly building horror he was holding a long and sharp kitchen knife.

"Eragon."

The brunet stiffened. Slowly he turned around.

The first thing that hit Murtagh was the redness of Eragon's eyes. Then it was the red cheeks and fingers. Eragon had actually left without his jacket, the idiot.

"Eragon." Murtagh repeated gently. "Put down the knife."

Eragon's grip around the handle tightened. His hand was shaking now, both of them were. Murtagh gulped.

"Eragon, please." Murtagh begged. "Whatever's going on, we can talk about it."

"I'm tired of talking Murtagh." Eragon murmured. "Please, just go."

"No. I'm not leaving until I know what's going on!"

Eragon bit his lip.

"Why do you have to know everything? You can't help me this time around Murtagh. Please just… just leave."

Murtagh shook his head stubbornly. No way in hell was he leaving him. He knew what Eragon was going to do then. And he wasn't going to allow that to happen. He was not going to loose his most precious person.

"I can't Eragon. You're my brother. I'm not going to stand back and let you -" Murtagh cut himself off.

He couldn't even say it, let alone think it.

"I can't go on Tag. I can't." Eragon said tearfully. "It's just too much."

"No. You can, and you will." Murtagh stressed. "I won't loose you!"

The younger sobbed once, softly.

"We can't all get what we want." The brown eyed teen murmured.

Eragon then lifted the knife. Murtagh ran forward but before he could even reach his little brother the knife had hit its target. Eragon screamed.

Murtagh felt his knees shake, and he could do little else than to catch Eragon as he fell to the floor. Blood slowly began to appear, then more surely. The first drop hit the floor as Murtagh screamed.

"No, no… NO!"

Eragon coughed, a small spray of blood leaving his mouth. Murtagh continued to shake his head, murmuring the word no like a prayer. As if, if he said it enough what was happening before his eyes would disappear, wouldn't happen… wouldn't be true. If he just held on long enough Eragon wouldn't be dying from a knife stabbed to the chest.

"Why Eragon, why?" Murtagh sobbed.

He could feel the tears rising, falling, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore.

"I told you Murtagh, it became too much." Eragon whispered.

Blood was straining him again. For the first time in his life Murtagh could feel the red liquid cling to his clothes, to his skin.

"Kiddo." The word was uttered brokenly. "Don't. Don't die, please. I can't live without you."

And Murtagh was telling the truth. He didn't know when, and he didn't know where… but somewhere down the line he had fallen in love with his brother. He had chosen to ignore it, and now he couldn't help but to regret that with all his might.

"Sorry Tag, looks like you're going to have to." Eragon coughed.

Murtagh shook his head.

"I love you, you damned fool." Murtagh growled. "You can't do this to me!!"

"Even if you really did Tag, it's too late."

Tears fell onto Eragon's face, but the brunet didn't even seem to be registering them. it was probably due to the tears his own eyes were leaking.

"I love you too Murtagh, I really do… And I'm sorry." Eragon's eyes were beginning to close.

"Don't you dare to die!!! Don't you…"

Eragon just winced and coughed.

"Don't die until you say you believe me… and mean it." Murtagh sobbed. "I love you damnit."

He realised he had lost the battle. He was loosing his baby brother, the one person he had sworn to protect with his life. The one that was dying in his arms.

Eragon opened his eyes then. Their eyes remained locked for a short second. Then Eragon smiled.

"I believe you." He whispered. "G'night."

And then he stilled.

"NO!!! ERAGON!!"

Murtagh's scream echoed inside the small house. His head fell to rest on top of Eragon's. His shoulders shook as he continued to sob his heart out. His one love, the only one he had ever really cared for apart from his mother… was dead. Gone. Never to wake up again. Murtagh screamed again.

There he stayed until he could no longer cry. His tears were gone, but his heart still cried. It had shattered beyond repair. Murtagh dragged a hand roughly over his eyes. Then he gazed down at the still form in his arms. With a shaking hand he properly closed the brown unseeing eyes.

"G'night Eragon."

Murtagh lay Eragon down on the floor, careful on how he laid him. Then he harshly yanked the knife out of Eragon's chest. A soft sob left him. If Murtagh hadn't know better, he could almost had sworn Eragon was sleeping. He kissed the soft brow one last time before standing straight. He gazed at his brother one more time before marching out of the room. He marched into his own bedroom, grabbed a small jar that had been standing beside his bed for the past few days and marched into Eragon's room.

It was oddly quiet inside of it. Too quiet. As if it too was morning the loss of Eragon. And there, on top of Eragon's bed lay another note. Murtagh picked it up, but he didn't need to read it to know what it said. A soft drop of water hit the paper then and Murtagh smirked painfully. Seemed he still had one more tear to shed.

A few minutes later and there were two notes clutched in his hand. The jar was thrown aside as Murtagh shakily began to leave the room. He entered the kitchen just as his vision was starting to get blurry. He fell to the floor just beside Eragon.

And as he drew his last breath, Murtagh's hand was gently cradling Eragon's.

Several days later a woman in her early forties stood in a graveyard. A double tombstone stood before her, the earth before it still brown and new. Her back was straight and her brown hair whipped around her face as the wind played with it.

A sad smile entered her face as she laid down two roses, one for each name. Tears were silently falling down her face, but she had gotten used to it now. Ever since she had gotten home to find the police at her doorstep bearing the news of her sons' demise.

Selena took a shaky breath. Suicide. She had lost both of her children to suicide. But she had understood once she had read their goodbyes. She just wished it had ended differently. Both of her children had been hurting, and yet she hadn't seen it, not in time. And so that hurt and sadness had taken them both away from her.

Selena laughed brokenly as she couldn't help but to smile. They would never know, but somehow she had known. She had known what had been going on with them, but she had only realised it later. It had been as clear as the day, but she herself had been unable to see exactly what it had been.

Love. Both of her children had loved each other. And that love had hurt them both and taken them to their end.

"Boys, I hope you are happy up in heaven." Selena whispered. "And I hope that you finally get your chance to be together."

Then Selena brushed away a tear that had been about to fall. With a last glance she turned around and began to walk home. And with only the wind as a witness, the stone read:

Eragon Rider & Murtagh Rider

Beloved sons and friends

You are loved and will forever be missed. We hope you both are happy up in heaven with your loved one.

End of The End, Option Two

A/N That's it! The end. The final ending of this story. Please don't kill me. :ducks away from sharp flying objects:

As I've said the entire time, this is just an optional ending. One of a million other ways this fic could have ended. You can just forget this one and continue to live happily with the previous one. And as you may have noticed, this chapter started the same way the other did. But if you look closely enough, you'll notice a few tiny changes. Such as how much time goes by and Eragon's reactions.

Also, it was so hard to write this chapter, so I'd appreciate not to get any angry comments or flames because of it. No matter how much it pained me to write this, this is a fic for a dear friend of mine, and I always deliver. Flames will also be ignored. Writing this will no doubt have helped me grow, and later I will be able to write something simular, but maybe without crying so much. Heh.

Thanks again to those who read this. It means a lot. And I hope you review, even if it's to tell at me for making you cry so much. But hey! They kind of got a happy ending right? I mean, up in heaven:sweatdrop:

Anyway. Thanks for sticking with this fic. I hope to see you all again soon:waves: