AN: So my lovelies. This is the final chapter. I hope you've enjoyed the journey because I certainly have. In some ways I'm sad that this story is coming to a close. On the other hand, I'm happy to see it end because that means I could work on something else that I've neglected. Please comment after reading this chapter. I would love to hear from you. Kisses – K.

Chapter 15

Forever

Jae's Antiques was wildly decorated with streamers, balloons and a large "Congrats Grads!" banner largely contradicting the ancient décor. An array of finger food was laid out on the counter and a "Closed for Private Party" sign hung on the door.

A variety of noise emanated from the back of the store as Sam, Cole, Nick, Ian, Tonka, and Jae celebrated the group's graduation from high school. Laughing, singing and general tomfoolery proceeded to lighten the mood despite the events of the previous two weeks.

Jae fought Shota in a showdown of all showdowns. The two struggled in hand to hand combat that only lasted a few minutes. Sam found out later Shota was one of Sam and Jae's high school friends. They had all taken Brasilian jujitsu together and were at the top of their class. It was a show of punches and kicks that rained between the two as they fought for their best friend's daughter. But the fight didn't last long as Shota wasn't in as good a shape as Jae.

Jae's only reason for not killing him was the memory of Sam. He wanted Shota to think about what he had done to his two best friends by harming Samantha and he wanted it to last for the rest of his life. After pinning Shota to the ground and making him admit his defeat, Jae told Cole to play some specific memories on a loop so they would haunt his waking and sleeping dreams. Cole did this with immense pleasure and Shota was now in a mental institution for "mental exhaustion due to working with teenagers."

Despite all the evidence supporting Sam and her claims against Shota, Mary did not return to her daughter's side. Instead, she left the country to some God-forsaken land where she could live out the rest of her days as a nun.

Sam left the past quickly behind her as she prepared for graduation and the beginning of her new life with Cole. Despite the drama, she managed to be Valedictorian of her class and give a rousing speech to a room full of her peers that loved her despite their previous actions. Right before graduation, she had a run in with Rei, who hadn't attended school since the fight.

He explained that he was wrong, and he would atone for his sins any way he could. Rei also said after his father ran from the scene of the fight, he was arrested for money laundering and ethical mistreatment of his past patients. She didn't respond to his confessions or pledges, knowing not to trust the trickster again. Her words to him were to the effect of "go find yourself." He disappeared into the shadows and no person saw him since.

Cole now sat on the couch, Sam's legs in his lap, watching the room with amusement. He was beginning to be a bigger part of the group. He contributed to the conversation and he enjoyed the attention he received. He would glance around the room to those who were speaking but his eyes would always return to Sam, who was fingering her father's locket between her fingers.

"Jae!" Sam squealed.

Jae's hand flew to his chest. "You startled me, Chipmunk."

"Sorry. I just wanted to tell you something." She lifted her glass of sparkling cider. "Thank you. Thank you for saving Cole. Thank you for coming to my rescue and thank you for being, well, Jae. I don't know what I would do without you."

"Here, here!" Tonka added raising his own glass and downing it in one gulp.

Jae's cheeks blushed. "I would do it over and over. Just remember, mi casa es su casa!"

They laughed.

"I'm starving! Can we eat now?" Tonka whined.

"Absolutely!"

The boys got up and walked to the front of the store where food was waiting for consumption.

"Sam, wait." Cole said tightening his grip around Sam's legs.

She looked down at him with a huge smile on her face. "Yes, Darlin?"

He was silent as he lifted his arm and pushed hair from her face. "I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"Where do you want to go first on our little vacation?"

"I don't know. I hadn't really had much time to think about it."

Cole laughed. "How about Las Vegas?"

"Vegas. Fun! But I don't want to gamble."

"There's more stuff to do than gamble."

"Like?"

"Hotels, theater, wedding chapels."

"What?" Sam gasped loudly.

"Samantha Jones. I want you to go to a wedding chapel and marry me."

Sam stared wide-eyed at him. He wanted to get married? But they were so young and had so much life left to live. But then she thought about it. He would be the only person to understand her. He was the only one who could hold her hand and not cringe. He was the only one who never forced her into doing something she didn't want to do. He was the only one, besides her father, who ever loved her for just being her.

Cole was the one.

"Yes."

"Excuse me?"

"Were you expecting me to say something else?" she asked, tongue in cheek.

He shrugged. "A little."

"Cole Mullins!" she scolded. "After all we've been through and you still wanna say you don't know what I want to say?"

He opened his mouth but she interrupted him one more time.
"Well, I guess we have all our lives to discover each other's words because I'm not going to wait until you guess what's in my head."

Cole's smile stretched from ear to ear. His face turned beet red and he squeezed her close to his chest without saying another word. She was his. He was hers. Forever.