A/N This was niggling at me, I felt like I wasn't quite ready to let the characters go just yet, so I did choose to write an epilogue. Hopefully making it more bittersweet. Please tell me if you think this ruins the ending, cause then I'll remove this then! (And be honest lol, I don't want this; if you think it takes away the overall feeling of the ending) Please review it, so I'll know. Thanks (:

Chapter 39: Epilogue

For the first time, in four centuries, David cried.

He cried for the inhumane desires of vampire alike. He cried for the inherent darkness present within everyone's heart. And he cried for Astrid.

The aftermath of the confrontation had not been pretty.

Paul, shaken, had quietly untied David, ignoring the pains which shot up his arm. The pain was nothing in comparison to the numbness which was coursing through his veins. Without looking at David, he left.

David understood; Paul blamed himself for not stopping what she had done. But David had known what she was going to do, almost before she had known herself.

And he had not tried to stop her, nor warn Paul.

If David had learnt one thing in his entire existence, it was that everything happened for a reason. If he had stopped her, she would only have died some other time. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it was inevitable, some day in the future she would have died, as he would in the future. No one could live forever – not even vampires.

He only wished they had had more time.

He had hidden much from her, too much. She had found out in the end, of course, but not from him; which is what he regretted above all else.

He stood as close to the window as possible. Shielding his eyes from the scorching sun, he gazed upon the ashes that were all that were left of Astrid.

For her sake, he would brave the wrath of the sun, to say goodbye.

Knowing he was alone, he sat by broken shards of glass, waiting and watching for nightfall. He didn't know for how long he stayed there, it all merged into a meaningless blur but eventually the sun's dying rays drew away, and a blankness of darkness fell.

Finally it was possible.

It was time to let go.

Set her free...

Ignoring Vlad's remains, he stood to face her ashes.

And Anastasia appeared before him.

Just as beautiful as she had been in life, she smiled at him.

Say goodbye...

He watched as she sadly gazed down at the dark earth.

This was her fate, but it isn't right...

Her eyes filled with transparent liquid. Something, which David recognised, with a jolt, as human tears.

It ran in rivulets down her cheeks, and her lips trembled, as she faced David. This was the last time she would ever lay eyes on him.

Goodbye David. I'm sorry...for everything.

Softly, she cupped her hand to his cheek. Sorry...

And she materialised back into the air.

He stayed for a moment longer, allowing the thoughts he usually concealed to flit through his mind. He smiled, as he remembered, permitting the desolation to flow through him. The pain mounted, and he welcomed it with open arms. When he thought he could stand it no more, he contemplated departing. But something was still missing, something he felt he had to do. He could never fill the empty, aching hole which would always be present within him, but he wanted to do one last thing for Astrid. He just didn't know what he should do.

He leant down to the ashes, and carefully grasped a handful. He watched as it slipped through his fingers. And it was as if, to him, it represented Astrid and her time on earth, slowly slipping away.

When the last grain had fallen, he stood, and made as if to leave.

Stop.

David was not used to listening to commands, but this time he made an exception. Slowly, he twisted round.

And she was there.

Translucent and pale, she was before him. Grainy and granular, she lifted a hand and waved at him.

I had to say goodbye. I couldn't leave it the way it was.

Calculating, she stepped forward, placing each step with care. The soft dirt remained smooth, and it hit David.

She was gone. Gone. Forever.

Yes. She smiled, as Anastasia had, with genuine care in her gaze, directed at David.

You'll be okay. I'll be okay.

Where will you go?

Away. She thought, simply.

I wish I could follow you.

No! You're place is here, David. While I cannot go on, you can. You can live. Promise me you'll live, David.

He couldn't even begin to imagine how they would live now. This had changed their perceptive on life; nothing would remain the way it had been. That much was certain.

I...I...

Promise!

He faltered and stared at her unnervingly fierce expression.

I promise.

She nodded one last time and gazed at David's face.

Thank you, for everything you did for me. Those were the best days of my life; I'll always be indebted to you.

And he reminisced everything, everything he and Astrid had every shared. Good and bad. She watched forlornly, and he knew that she too could see what he was seeing.

I didn't do anything. It was all you; I just gave you that little push you required.

She tried to smile, but her face fell, as she knew time was running out.

Farewell David, do not forget me. I'll always be with you.

She visibly struggled to swallow.

Always.

And she pressed something into his hand, smiling. She laughed one last time at his expression; I want you to have this.

And then she disappeared, melting into the earth. She became the sun, the moon, the sky. They amalgamated into one.

Astrid was, irrevocably, no more. In every sense of the word.

David was left, isolated from everything, feeling cut off from all his links, clutching this parting gift.

He looked at his clenched fist it for a long while, examining the tendons which rose to the surface of the skin; wondering what she could possibly have left him.

Gradually, he slackened his grip; until his fist was wide enough to perceive what he was grasping. David looked at it for a long while, and memories of the long forgotten and that of love clouded his vision.

There, nestled in his palm, were the remains of a crushed red rose.