Ah... Hi..... Yeah, I was on the fence about posting this. I still am not entirely sure.

I wrote an epilogue... That was originally part of a deal with Forrbidden Moanz...

But.... Well, I'm in a very good mood today (Despite the fact that I got shots...), and I can't let you guys miss out on anything.

:) Love it, or not.

Read on, my chocolate bunnies...

Holly Short and Trouble Kelp lay together on the latter's bed, close and cuddling as if they had been doing it forever. Trouble held Holly's hand gently, running his fingertips along her forearm. His eyes were closed blissfully, her lavender scent enveloping his senses. He lay on his side, with Holly on her back beside him. He had imagined this situation in his wildest dreams, and now that he was in it, he felt perfect.

Holly was a bit less blissful. After almost five decades of hiding her secrets, they were finally out. Holly had mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it was a relief to shed the most burdensome mask she had carried all those years. But she knew that Trouble would never see her in the same way. And it felt awkward when Trouble had been so accepting of the news. She honestly didn't want to ruin the moment with her worries, but they still shadowed the happiness that she tried to feel.

And now Foaly knew. Holly winced at the thought. No doubt Foaly would either give her hell about it, or simply stay silent. Holly wasn't sure which one was worse.

Trouble seemed to sense her discomfort and opened his eyes to gaze at her beautiful features, clouded with doubt. He understood how difficult this was for her.

He moved his hand so his knuckles brushed her coffee-colored cheek. "What's wrong?" he asked softly.

Holly looked tiredly at him. His eyes were so caring, she couldn't help but give him the smallest smile. She cast her gaze back to the ceiling and sighed softly. "I don't know," she murmured quietly. Her hazel eyes settled back on his face again. "What do you think? I mean, about what you saw. What I wrote."

Trouble didn't answer for a moment. His eyes grew distant, fogging with the depths of a memory. "To be honest," he said after a few moments, "There isn't a word to describe what I felt." He laughed softly as regret washed over Holly's face. "I mean, I felt so many indescribable things. I felt confused, yet understanding. Sad, surprised, thankful. Relieved, even. You really scared me back then. I though I was going to lose you." His gaze became sad and sympathetic. "But you lost something greater, didn't you?"

Holly's bottom lip trembled slightly and her eyes filled again with tears. When she spoke, her voice shook with emotion. "I was so scared, Trouble. I was terrified. I didn't know what would happen and I didn't know what I was doing and I couldn't tell you, and--"

Trouble laughed and halted her speech with a finger to her lips. He wiped a tear from her cheek and whispered, "I know. I realize how hard it must have been for you. How hard it still is now." The glitter of love found his brown eyes. "You know you can tell me anything. I'm always here for you. No matter what."

Holly let out a soft laugh. "You're so cliché, Trouble," she said, a smile sweetening her voice.

Trouble smiled, too, for a moment. Then, after a hesitation, he asked, "What was it like? Knowing something that big, when we were so young? What was that like?"

Sorrow clouded Holly's features, and Trouble immediately regretted asking. But she still answered, her voice quiet and muffled with remorse. "It tore me apart," she whispered. "You saw what I wrote. What I almost became after I--" She swallowed and closed her eyes, still unable to face the overwhelming truth. She tried lamely to hide her shame by changing the subject.

"What'll we do tomorrow, when we go back to the LEP? I don't think the other officers will be very happy to hear about their Commander's 'favorite.'"

Trouble chuckled lightly. "Well, if I know Foaly, he's already told half the LEP, plus Vinyaya, who will probably leak it to every living thing in Section Eight. Or," he said when he saw Holly grimace, "he hasn't told a soul. Maybe he understands."

"Yeah," said Holly softly. "Maybe." She fumbled with her own fingers nervously as the fading sunstrips cast shadows across Trouble's room through the window.

After a few moments of silence, Trouble whispered, "Should I take you home? It's getting late…"

Holly took his hand in hers and laced their fingers together. "Nah," she murmured. "I'll make it home ok. I should get going anyway. I still have to do some paperwork."

Trouble frowned slightly. "You were in a cell for five days and you still have paperwork?"

Holly rolled her hazel eyes. "Long story."

"I see."

Trouble knew that all this chat was just to cover up the sorrow that Holly had to have been feeling. He shifted up onto his elbow so he was slightly over Holly's head. He bent down and softly kissed her. Her fingertips ran along his jaw line as she deepened the kiss, thankful for the feeling of security in gave to her. She still didn't understand how Trouble could be so accepting about everything. Ugh, there she went again, ruining the moment with her worries. But as she felt Trouble's soft lips on hers, she shed her doubts and pulled him closer, unwilling to let him go.

After a few moments, Trouble gently broke their kiss and looked deeply into Holly's wide, beautiful hazel eyes. He stroked her cheek gently with his fingertips and she smiled lightly.

"Thank you for my necklace, by the way," she whispered. "It means so much to me." She moved her head so that her nose gently brushed his.

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest. "You're welcome," he said, his voice carried out on a sigh.

Holly's eyes started to droop sleepily. "I should probably get home," she murmured.

Trouble nodded gently into her shoulder. "Mmm…I'll walk you there," he whispered. Neither elf moved from their embrace.

Holly curled up in Trouble's arms, her eyes sliding closed. After a moment, her muffled murmur reached Trouble's ear. "I love you."

A small smile decorated the male elf's face. His heart swelled in his chest. He kissed her shoulder gently and whispered, "I love you, too. More than you know."

But Holly was already drifting into a wonderful sleep, laced with passion and memory. Trouble stroked her back as he, too, fell slowly into sleep. The two elves dreamt of each other, of the happy, wonderful adventures of their love.

Cheeeeeesy. Flllluuuuuffffyy. Cheesy fluff. Fluffy cheese. Moldy crackers. Seasoned olives. Whatever you choose to have for dinner, make sure it's unhealthy. :)

Well... Yeah, I know. If you liked it without the epilogue, that's okay, just pretend the epilogue doesn't even exist. And if you liked it with, good. Great! :) :)

HASTA LUEGO!