A/N: This is it guys – the last of the story. Thanks for reading! It's been a pleasure to get your reviews and I hope you enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I want to especially thank everyone who drew fan art for the story (take a look at my profile for links!) as well as my lovely beta Lady Noir for her corrections. So here you go, and I'll see you around!

PS: Have you guys heard the news? Jonathan Stroud has announced on his website that there's a new Bartimaeus book coming out next year!

"I think this is it."

The simple observation was made with a resigned sigh as a tiny lop-sided house emerged from the impenetrable shadows of the street. It was hard to tell by the light of the sliver of cloud-choked moon, but Kitty was fairly certain it was even smaller and shabbier than the Hyrnek's previous residence. Not that the family couldn't have afforded better – after the uprising, the government had offered to replace the Hyrnek's burnt out home with whatever they wished, but it seemed the family preferred the comfortable squalor they had always lived in.

With a curse, Kitty tripped up the front steps, nearly unbalancing the djinni behind her whose fingers were firmly entwined with her own.

"You'd think they'd have picked an address with streetlamps," she muttered, rubbing her knee.

"That'd be too easy," her companion replied lightly, steadying her shoulders, "This is just the first trial you have to overcome for the honour of seeing the Hyrneks. Next is the fire-breathing dragon, and then you've got to face old Grandmamma in mortal combat."

Kitty rolled her eyes and carefully continued her ascent, blindly feeling out each footstep before moving forward. She paused with her hand on the doorknob and turned her head in an attempt to discern the djinni, invisible in the darkness.

"We're almost finished," she said quietly.

Behind her, Bartimaeus sighed dramatically and she imagined him rubbing his eyes in a great show of weariness. "Do we have to do this? We've had a long day – a long few days. I bet the Hyrneks would understand if we skipped out on them just this once."

Kitty secretly agreed; the past week had almost been worse than the two preceding it. Every moment of every day it seemed there was interviews to be given, rubble to restore, inaugurations to preside over, speeches to be made, explanations to be had, gatherings to attend – everyone wanted a piece of her, snatching away at her time until she found herself run ragged. She seemed to have developed a permanent migraine that constantly jack-hammered away between her eyes until her brain threatened to liquefy and spill out her ears. She was in desperate need of some peace, quiet, and time alone.

Well…She snuck a glance over at her dark-haired companion, maybe not completely alone.

"Cheer up," Kitty said, trying to sound optimistic, "This is our last stop, and then it's back to the Other Place. You can wait a few hours, can't you?"

"Waiting is something I've never been particularly good at," Bartimaeus grumbled. "And who ever heard of two spirits being invited over for dinner? What exactly do they plan on feeding us?"

"Aren't you curious?" Kitty teased.

"Seems like they're just trying to delay our departure," the djinni huffed, "Obviously the poor souls can't do without us."

"Well, you can't blame them for that," Kitty said easily, swinging the front door open and gesturing Bartimaeus inside with a chivalrous sweep of her hand.

The front hall of the Hyrnek household was even darker than outside, and infinitely more silent.

"Anyone home?" she called tentatively. There was no answer.

She wandered further inside, wondering if this was the wrong house after all.

"I think we've been stood up," said Bartimaeus, sounding quite affronted. She felt a stir of air as he reached past her for the lamp on the side table, but on a sudden whim she caught his arm before it reached its destination.

"You know," she murmured playfully, reeling him in by the wrist, "This is the first time in ages that we've actually been alone together for more than three seconds."

Bartimaeus' bare feet scuffed softly against the carpet as he allowed himself to be dragged forward. "Hmm, so I'm not the only one whose mind's been wandering."

She couldn't be certain, but she thought she detected a hint of a laugh in his voice. It was dark – too dark – to distinguish the djinni's features, and so instead she reached up to read his expression with the tips of her fingers. Feather-light, they skimmed over the slant of his eyebrows, down the ridge of his nose, traced the upward curve of his lips.

"Stop smirking," she warned him upon completing her tactile translation, and then promptly leaned in to taste said smug expression.

Against her lips, she felt his smile widen.

"You know," he murmured, resting his forehead against hers, "I'm not sure this is what the Hyrneks intended when they invited us over."

"Shhh."

Kitty let her eyes fall shut. Her fingers tightened in his hair, pulling him closer. Suddenly it didn't matter that her back ached, or that her shoes were pinching her feet. Such trifles were lost in the upwelling of happiness and relief that threatened to spill over into an upwelling of giddy laughter. She stumbled backward, drawing them further into the house.

"Surprise!" a chorus of dissonant voices suddenly called out.

It was at that moment that the lights flipped on, and the room was shot through with unrelenting white radiance.

For one scary moment, Kitty was certain she was having a heart attack.

The Hyrneks' kitchen was packed with people, and every single one of them wore identical expressions of awkward astonishment. Rebecca Piper stood near the door, finger still pressed against the light switch, her mouth frozen into a little round "o" of shock.

"…Surprise what?" Bartimaeus squeaked out. Kitty cast a sidelong look his way, reddening at the sight of his suspiciously rumpled hair.

"Erm…a going-away party. We wanted to throw you two a celebration before you left for the Other Place," said Piper, nervously twisting a lock of hair around her finger. "We didn't mean to, uh…interrupt."

"Never mind all that," Mrs. Hyrnek bustled forward to their rescue, "Take this, dear." Kitty immediately found a large plate of chocolate cake shoved into her numb hands.

"Thanks," she said weakly, poking the spongy brown slab with her fork. The tension in the room finally broke and the guests set to chattering brightly amongst themselves and devouring Mrs. Hyrnek's cake.

"I told you we should have stood them up," Bartimaeus whispered, sliding closer once all eyes were no longer on them. Kitty took the opportunity to smooth down his hair and saddle him with the inedible human dessert.

"It's our own fault for not cluing in earlier."

"Hello, you two!" Kitty turned to see Nathaniel pushing his way towards them, an uncharacteristically silly grin plastered over his face.

"Enjoying the party?" he asked wryly, "I swear I tried to talk them out of it."

"If only you'd succeeded." Kitty moaned, "I can't believe we didn't notice a room full of this many people."

"And all packed in like a tin of sardines too," said Bartimaeus, "It looks like pretty much everybody is here."

Kitty followed the djinni's gaze to where two thin, dark-haired young people spoke quietly in the corner.

"The Kavkas," she said in surprise. She hadn't expected Karl and his sister to attend.

"Maybe I should give this to the old boy," Bartimaeus gave the chocolaty lump on his plate a dubious glance, "Poor kid could use the extra calories."

"Well, at least he's recovering," Kitty pointed out, "He looks a lot less peaky now that he's been reunited with his sister."

"Ironic isn't it? Not three weeks ago she coordinated your assassination, and now here our friends are serving her coffee and chatting away amiably."

Kitty shrugged. "It wasn't Mia's fault, really. She did it to protect someone she cared about. I might have done the same thing in her position."

"Now let's not be overly generous here. You're a humanitarian, and she's some kind of covert super-spy."

Kitty might have contested the djinni's statement, but at that moment something caught her eye.

"Well just look who's here," she said almost under her breath.

Perched on the edge of a fraying couch cushion was a rail-thin, red haired young man, looking rather overwhelmed by the pulse and energy of the party around him. Kitty drew closer, pulling Bartimaeus along behind her.

"Well," she announced, "Just look at you! All living and everything."

James Bostwick glanced up with a start, flushing deeply.

"Ms. Jones!" He leapt clumsily to his feet, red wine slopping over the rim of the glass in his hand and spattering over his trousers.

"Still the same as always, I see," said Bartimaeus dryly. Kitty was more charitable.

"Good to see you up and at 'em," she said with a smile, "That amulet is really something else. Everything alright? You've still got all your fingers and toes?"

Bostwick nodded uncertainly.

"You're lucky your body was so well preserved. Nat wasn't quite so fortunate, and you could have turned out even worse. For all we knew the procedure would've turned you into a…how did you put it again Bartimaeus?"

"A ravening monster of Frankensteinian proportions, held together by an unholy union of putrefied flesh and black magic?"

"Yes, that was it."

Bostwick gulped. "Well I'm glad you did it anyways, even if there was potential for danger. Thank you. And not just for my life – for everything. Zaba, Farrar, Nouda, the magicians…" the youth ran his fingers nervously through his red hair and smiled shyly. "You really are a legend Ms. Jones. I can't believe you were with us that whole time we were investigating your murder!"

Bartimaeus coughed conspicuously. "Ahem, I believe I was involved in this little incident too!"

"Of course! You have my thanks as well Bartimaeus. Without your help I'd never have lasted as long as I did."

"Now there's an understatement," the djinni muttered.

"So then," Kitty asked, "What are you going to do now?"

"Well," Bostwick shifted his nearly-empty wineglass from hand to hand. "Ms. Piper did offer me Farrar's job, but I fear I'm not really cut out for that sort of thing. They really ought to have someone competent in charge of the Police Department, don't you think? So the position is going to be taken over by someone else." His eyes strayed reflexively across the room and fell upon a head of long, dark hair.

"Nathaniel?" said Bartimaeus, "Wow, it sure didn't take him long to get his finger back in the metaphorical pie."

"He's asked me to become his assistant," said Bostwick. "I know I'm not much, but Mr. Mandrake's convinced he can make a proper magician out of me."

"Nat does have his talents," Bartimaeus allowed, "Just promise me that if you do get the hang of things, you won't turn into some sort of maniacal, Machiavelli-wannabe, okay? Magic seems to have that effect on people."

Their conversation was interrupted by the clear ringing chime of a spoon against a wineglass.

"Can I have your attention everyone?" Piper called out. The room fell silent. "As you all know, Kitty and Bartimaeus are going home tonight. Since this may be my last chance for a long time, I'd like to thank them for their aid in our fight against the Czech Empire. Without your help, I doubt anyone would have lifted a finger to resist the invasion."

A round of applause broke out among the party guests. Piper lifted a hand to quiet them and continued.

"With Mr. Mandrake's assistance included of course, I don't think anyone's done as much for Britain as the two of you. Kathleen, my only regret is that this latest entanglement has cost you your life – or at least, your life as it once was." Piper smirked. "But you seem to be making the best of it."

Kitty shot Piper a red-faced glare, but the Prime Minister just continued with a wink. "On behalf of London, on behalf of Britain, I'd like to formally express our gratitude. I assure you that you will never again be summoned against your will, or forced to comply with someone's orders. So, good luck with your life in the Other Place. You've earned a happy ending."

There was another round of applause, and then a good hour of shaking people's hands as they came up to thank Bartimaeus and Kitty personally. By the time people began trickling out into the night with waved farewells, Kitty was completely exhausted.

"Well, that was nice," said Mrs. Hyrnek as the last guest was ushered out the door. "There's nothing like a party to break in a new home properly."

Bartimaeus heaved a sigh and threw himself down on the couch in a sprawl of limbs. "Sure it was. Now could someone please bring out the chalk? I don't think my essence can take much more of this."

Kitty, too, was beginning to feel an uncomfortable cramp in her essence. Three weeks was a rather lengthy time for a summons to last, and the effort of holding a form together was wearying. Nathaniel obliged, helping Piper roll back the rug as the Hyrneks gathered supplies together. Soon a flowing circle of runes was inscribed upon the floor, and Bartimaeus stepped carefully into their midst.

"Well," he said breezily, "It's been fun you guys. Be sure to call us up the next time the world needs saving."

"No doubt we'll be seeing you again soon, then," Piper joked.

Nathaniel stepped forward. "Take care," he said fondly, raising a hand to begin the ritual.

"Hey, Nat…" the djinni interrupted, shifting awkwardly, "Before I go… Well, I wanted to say something to you back when you dismissed me and I thought you'd died, and now that it turns out your alive I'll kick myself if I don't say it." He took a deep breath and looked the young magician in the eye. "You're an okay guy."

He offered his hand, but Nathaniel bypassed it in favour of a brief, one-armed hug.

"You're not so bad yourself," he said, "I'll be seeing you around."

With candles lit and farewells said, Nathaniel began the dismissal. As the last syllables of the incantation rang out, Bartimaeus turned to Kitty.

"See you on the other side," He said with a wink, and then he was gone.

There was a moment of quiet as Nathaniel wiped the sweat from his brow and regained his breath. "Now that just leaves you," he said to Kitty.

She laughed at his worn out expression. "Don't worry, I'll just use the pentacle we already have." She drew her foot across the boundary, smearing the chalk symbols. Then hugging both Piper and Nathaniel in quick succession, she sat down in the centre of the circle.

"Summon us again soon," she ordered, and began the backward phrases of Ptolemy's Gate.

Wisps of soft, white mist collected at the edges of the pentacle as she spoke, rising until she was completely obscured from view. When the smoke cleared, the pentacle on the floor was empty, leaving only cool breeze and the dull ring of magic.

It was only Piper and Nathaniel left in the room, and the silence bore down heavily in the wake of the recent chaos and excitement.

Piper leaned over to blow out a long wax candle, and began to gather up the magic paraphernalia that dotted the Hyrnek's floor.

"So," she said, "How long until they get bored silly and beg us to summon them back here?"

Nathaniel smirked. "Who knows? They do have each other there after all."

"Hmm, I suppose you're right. It sure took them long enough to get together, didn't it?"

Nathaniel gave a monosyllabic sound of agreement, paused, and cleared his throat. "Hey, Rebecca," he said, "Once we've got things cleaned up in here, how about dinner?"

Piper hid a smile in her sleeve. "I'd love to," she replied.

oooooooooooooo

The rhythmic flow of the Other Place was a welcome relief. The rippling energies of my homeland passed through me and around me as I waited there, Ptolemy merely a small lone figure amongst the vast formlessness that spread to infinity in all directions. A moment or a year later – it was impossible to discern one from the other in this timeless place – the loose patterns of the swirling mist were shaken to pieces by the thunderous echo of magic.

'Bartimaeus…Bartimaeus…Bartimaeus,' my name was called three times. It struck me then that this was exactly how our adventure had begun that fateful Christmas Eve, those three words echoing out over the empty expanse, in search of me. Time had turned around – we'd come a full circle now, and it seemed appropriate that it was ending where it had begun.

Suddenly, Kitty was there.

She was looking this way and that, attempting to peer through the hanging fog as she tucked tangled brown curls behind her ears. Her dark eyes lit up as she spotted me, and I caught her in my arms as she rushed forward. In this land of circular, unstructured time I was no longer alone, and Kitty was the only one I wanted to spend eternity with.

"I'm home," she said, and she looked so happy I had to kiss her.

A flurry of flustered activity rolled through the mists, and a stir of disembodied voices rose up in a scandalized chatter. Ancient spirits were such gossips.

"Hey," said Kitty, taking my chin in her hand and turning my head back toward her, "Don't mind those incorporeal voyeurs. We have more important things to concern ourselves with."

And indeed we did.