While I was revising the original Fleeting Love – feel free to reread as a few changes were made – I decided that this story clearly needed an alternative ending for those who just can't stand to have Harry and Cedric's love die like that. As such I've written the following for people who enjoy happier endings. Some parts are the same as the original ending but I implore you to read it from beginning to end as some passages were added to connect the new ending. Enjoy!

Cedric nervously fiddled with the small black box in his coat pocket as he made his way to work. That day was his and Harry's first anniversary, and Cedric was planning on asking Harry to marry him.

He sighed, and stepped up to the elevator. 'This day is going to go by very fast,' he mentally murmured.

When Harry woke up that morning, it was to the sight of an off white letter lying innocently on Cedric's pillow. He smiled and picked it up, carrying it into the living room so that he could read it while watching TV. He turned it on and flipped until he had the FOX news.

He nearly ran into the TV to get closer as he saw the destruction and devastation on it.

"Welcome back to FOX news," the woman said, "We have a very tragic alert for you right now. An incredible plane crash into the World Trade Center here at the lower tips of Manhattan."

"It's believed at 7:37 this morning; this is just speculation right now, that three floors have been taken out, crashed into the side of the building," a man said, "Here's Owen on the scene."

"Yeah I'm on the roof of my building about five blocks south of the World Trade Center. I'm looking right now at the World Trade Center; there's a massive gaping hole um on the second tower. It's about fifteen stories from the roof. It's just it's unbelievable to look at. There's a massive hole," Owen said, sounding confused.

"It looks like something from a movie. There's a huge hole on the side of tower number one. Owen, your apartment is just a few blocks from it, did you hear anything?"

"I was lying in bed and all of a sudden I heard what sounded like a plane or something coming extremely low and then we just heard this shattering explosion, and we went to the roof and confronted by this horror that the gaping hole - I can see the south base and there are flames and papers flying out of the windows and black flames; there are flames coming out of multiple floors."

"Did it sound like a- There is one report on one news channel here in New York City that perhaps it was a jet, perhaps at 7:37 - when you heard the noise did it sound like a prop job or a jet?"

"It - it sounded like a jet. But from where I was I couldn't tell. All I know is there was something in the air that smashed the side. If it was a jet, I just don't know."

"Listening to you right now, I can hear a lot of sirens, is that what you're hearing right now?"

"Yeah, I'm going to move to the front of my-"

An incredible plane crash into the World Trade Center...

"No," Harry whispered.

He ran out of the house and jumped into his car, his heart beating profoundly and his mind racing

Cedric, Cedric, Cedric

Arriving a few blocks away from the Towers, Harry fell out of his car and ran towards the building. Sirens were filling his ears with mindless buzzing, but all he could think of, all he could see was -

Cedric!

Harry gasped as he took in the sight of the tower. There was indeed a huge hole with black smoke fuming from it and around the top of the tower. But looking to the side, Harry could see another hole where the plane flew out of.

One of his hands flew to his mouth as he choked on a sob. Tears fell from his eyes.

No, not Cedric!

He walked limply, hardly able to move with the cries that were racking his body as he imagined his lover trapped in the building. More debris fell from the sky, crashing around the tower making Harry's heart tighten even more.

Cedric, Cedric, Cedric...

Ten of the floors seemed to be demolished, and all Harry could think of was that by the time the plane crashed, Cedric would be in the elevator.

People were leaving the towers in floods, tripping over each other and screaming in terror and confusion. Medical personal had already arrived but the influx of possible patients seemed to overwhelm them.

No, no, no, no!

"Oh my God!" someone screamed.

"What's going on?" someone else yelled.

Harry barely noticed the rush of people hugging each other near the ambulances as people in the crowd noticed loved ones that had managed to exit the towers.

Cedric

Another plane zoomed overhead and rammed into the second tower causing a massive explosion.

Harry fell to the ground, screaming. "Cedric!"

There were panicked voices everywhere, circling around the young man and making his lungs tighten and his eyes sting. His heart seemed frozen and it was beating so fast, the blood was bounding in his ears.

Cedric!

Above, a portion of the first tower was coming apart, a terrible screeching sound reverberated around the area as great clouds of yellow smoke smothered the streets.

Harry got up and ran, sobbing hysterically.

Screams echoed around him as he heard another crash. The second tower had collapsed.

Cedric!

"Oh my God, Cedric, no!" he cried out, tumbling to the pavement.

"Harry? Harry!" a voice called out near him.

Harry scrambled up from the ground and whipped his head around. A sob tore from his throat as he blearily recognized a familiar face through his tears.

"Oh my God, Cedric!"

Harry ran towards the man, barely noticing his dust covered attire and scratched up arms.

Cedric wrapped his arms around Harry, smoothing down his shirt as the younger man began gasping through his relived tears.

"I love you, I love you, I love you, I lo-"

Harry was cut off as the other man took ahold of his trembling lips with his own, attempting to calm them both down.

"I love you too," Cedric whispered, breaking the kiss off gently. "Always."

Harry shuddered and buried his face in Cedric's neck. "Always."

A few weeks later found both men at home, laying on their sides in their bed with Harry's puppy lying at the end. They were carefully holding hands with their foreheads being the only other part of their bodies touching each other.

They had talked through the event that almost tore them apart and knew that only being close to each other would heal them. Cedric had told Harry how he'd gotten stuck in rush hour traffic having left late because of his nerves over his proposal. Because of this, when the first plane had struck the tower he had only just stepped up to the elevators. Harry didn't care what had saved him; he was just beyond grateful that Cedric had been saved.

"Harry?" Cedric whispered.

The other man smiled happily, eyes still closed and hummed in question.

Cedric gently took away one hand from Harry's grasp and reached into his pocket. Once he'd grasped a familiar ring box, he brought his hand and the box back to their original position.

Harry's eyes widened abruptly at the velvety feeling of the box now in between his and Cedric's hands. He glanced down at it in surprise and then looked back into love filled eyes.

"I know you read my letter, but I also know it's marked by the events that happened that day. So I want to try this again. Harry," he paused seeming to try and grasp for words. "Harry, I have never loved another person as much as I love you. The first time I saw you, I just knew you were going to be someone special to me. Every time I look at you my heart skips a beat and I can't contain the sheer joy I feel knowing that you've placed your heart in my hands. I only hope, if you accept that is, that in the years to come I can take care of your heart as gracefully and lovingly as you've taken care of mine."

Harry was smiling through his tears at this point, nuzzling his head next to Cedric's.

"So," Cedric continued with a wobbly smile. "Harry Potter, will you marry me?"

Harry laughed weakly, still crying, and whispered, "Yes."

Cedric's face lit up and he carefully took out the simple silver ring, a lone small emerald lying in the middle, and pushed it onto his new fiancé's left ring finger.

Harry quickly scooted forward and pressed several heartfelt kisses onto Cedric's lips. "I love you, Cedric."

"I love you too, Harry. Always."

Harry sighed happily. "Always."

© 2015 Inyx Dawn