A/N: Wow, it's done!! Thanks again everybody, especially Ginne... loyal fan, I like it! haha. Thanks again!

EPILOGUE

Five years later, Corey and Topher walked with her hand strung through the crook of his elbow. They were walking slowly through the graveyard, on their way to visit Christopher and Elizabeth Tilney’s grave. It was the 20th anniversary of their deaths, and the two of them were on the way to lay the flowers they were both holding near the gravestones.

It had been a rough few months after Bill was arrested. The statute of limitations on the Tilneys murder had run out, so there wasn’t anything they could charge him with there, but he was put on trial for abducting Corey and killing both Jerry Sundet and Jamie. His attorney attempted the insanity plea, but the jury didn’t buy it, and they had him locked up. It had helped Corey immensely to know that he was locked away and couldn’t hurt her anymore, but it took her awhile to feel completely safe.

Topher hadn’t had it any easier. In fact, in Corey’s opinion, he had a lot more to deal with, considering he had found out that the man he considered to be his father had killed his biological parents, and even more than that, was psychologically unbalanced. But with time, and counseling, they had both come to terms with their ordeal. Of course, being together helped both of them. Every time Corey could feel the memories of that day creeping back into her mind, all she had to do was have Topher wrap his arms around her. The one and only good memory she took from that day was the protection she’d felt when Topher had taken her away from Bill and whispered to her that it was all going to be okay, that he was there to protect her. That protection meant everything to her.

They came to a stop in front of the graves, Corey leaning her head against his shoulder. She felt him sigh and look at the headstones for a moment before tossing his flowers down. Corey followed suit, and they stood there in silence for a few more moments.

“C’mon,” Topher finally said, tugging on Corey’s hand and leading her away. They walked back across the grass to the car, keeping quiet until they got inside and Topher started to drive away. After he pulled onto the freeway, he reached over and took her hand.

“What time do you have to be in class tomorrow?” he asked. Corey had decided to go for a law degree, and was in the middle of her second year of law school. She leaned her head back against the car seat.

“9,” she replied. He squeezed her hand and glanced over at her.

“I love you,” he said. Corey smiled.

“That was random,” she commented.

“I know… I just wanted you to know that.” She squeezed his hand.

“I do know that. And I love you too.”

“Good.” His fingers drifted down to the engagement ring circling her ring finger, and he ran his fingertips over the gold band and diamonds.

“I finally asked Ellie about being my maid-of-honor,” Corey informed him.

“Oh yeah? What’d she say?”

“She cried.” Topher laughed.

“I knew it.”

“I can’t believe we’re getting married in less than two months.”

“I know… I feel like we’ve been engaged forever.”

“That’s cuz we have,” Corey said with a giggle. “One year, four months, 8 days and about 2 hours.” Topher laughed, shaking his head.

“Well that is long time.”

“Yes it is. Especially when it’s spent waiting to marry you.” She leaned towards him and kissed him on the cheek. Topher pulled to a stop at a red light and smiled over at her.

“Y’know… we’ve been through a lot, and it hasn’t all been happy… but I wouldn’t change a thing.” Corey smiled back at him, reaching over to push a curl off his face.

“Me neither.”