The final chapter at last! Well, this wasn't done before New Year's, and I apologize profoundly for it, but I hope it was soon enough. Frey, Anne, and I thank you so much for your many wonderful reviews. Leave more! Come back later for some new stories, OK? You guys have been great!

Childhood is Forever

Chapter Six: Finality

As Frey charged, he suddenly stumbled. His slip saved his life, as Cliff's sword sliced through the air where his neck had been. Grunting with the effort, Frey leaped to his feet, swaying.

'I'm still too weak,' he thought hopelessly. 'But if I don't kill him now, Anne will—'

Cliff staggered. "You little witch," he growled. "How dare you!"

"How dare you," Anne snapped back, tossing another stone in her palm. "How dare you try to kill the man I love."

Cliff's face turned to stone. "I'll deal with you in a moment, Frey," he snarled, and faced Anne. She looked very small and frail indeed.

"No!" Frey found a stone and flung it as hard as he could. It whistled past Cliff's ear.

"I'll deal with you momentarily, boy," Cliff said, suddenly calm. "But time is running out, and I must have Anne's heart." He extended one hand like a claw towards Anne's chest and began mumbling something unintelligible. Frey shivered as he felt the evil magic build, and Anne gasped in pain.

"Frey…" she moaned. She looked as if only Cliff's power kept her standing now.

"You bastard!" Frey screamed, and charged at Cliff, knocking him to the ground. Anne promptly collapsed. Frey ran to her side.

"Anne, are you all right?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied, half-conscious.

Suddenly, a shudder ran through Frey's body. He looked down and saw Cliff's grasping fingers coming through his chest, holding his heart.

"Well, well, look who got in the way," Cliff whispered into his ear. He raised his arm so that he was holding Frey on his feet. "I guess I'll just have to take your heart instead, and your woman…"

Frey could only gasp for air. Vampire though he was, it still hurt like the blazes, and he still needed his heart.

But a flash of protective rage dulled his pain, and he flung himself forward, pulling out both Cliff's hand and his own heart. Then, quick as thought, he turned and plunged his hand into the other man's stomach, tearing it open.

"An eye for an eye," he muttered, "Your life for mine."

Cliff screamed and fell, twitching, to the dirt, trying to put himself back together. All of his spells were to no avail: The chittering demons fled as he died. His body turned to blackened dust, seared by the fires of his hatred.

Frey just let his legs fold under him. Distantly, he heard Anne screaming his name, the name he had once thought he'd left behind. He couldn't feel anything, but the next thing he saw was Anne's face close to his.

"Don't leave me!" she wept. "Please don't leave me again."

He smiled shakily. "This…is nothing. I've gone through worse heartache than this." He kissed her, not noticing that she no longer burned him. He couldn't feel it. "Just—" He coughed up blood. "Just live."

Her tears fell on his face like rain, and reflected in them he could see the predawn light.

"Won't my blood help you heal?"

"…No. It's better this way. I can't…go back. And I…don't want…to live…without you."

The sun was rising. He smiled at her again, watching the rays play around her head like a halo. Then his eyes went blank, slowly, and he sagged. He became transparent, fading away in her arms.

"F-Frey?" Anne said softly, tightening her arms around the space where he had been. "Frey! FREY!!!" Her screams became sobs of anguish as she curled up into a ball.

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She lay there for a long time, crying. When she stood, she stood straight and proud.

"I'll live for you, Rick. For you, for who you've become, and for myself. And maybe, someday, I'll see you again."

The End

KatyaChekov: Oh. My. God. That was…well, way more religious than I intended, for one thing. And thanks to Tristan, (again) I have managed to flesh out my ending. Once more, I'm so sorry for making all of you wait for so long! Leave reviews, read my other stuff, and one of these days Frey will cooperate and I'll put pictures of the characters up on DeviantArt! The link should be on my profile… Have a nice night/day/afternoon! -