It was daytime. I could tell that much from the bright light coming through my eyelids. I heard murmured voices in the background. I groaned slightly, cracking my eyes open. The voices immediately stopped.

I opened my eyes fully to see Isa and Ced, standing by the door to my room. Isa sees my eyes open and her face lights up. She walks quickly to my side, kneeling down.

"God, Tala. I'm so glad you're okay. I was so worried. Ced said he had found you passed out in an alleyway, and I thought you were dead. And then he brought you back, and you were alive, but you wouldn't wake up, and I was so worried," she said in a rush, close to tears.

I tried to push myself up to a sitting position, and winced immediately. Oh yeah. I forgot I got stabbed in both sides. Tears start to leak out of Isa's eyes, and for some reason, my throat starts to sting and my eyes start to water and before I know it, we're both crying, leaning our foreheads against each other.

"Hey, hey," I say through my tears. "It's going to take more than that to take me away from you. I've only just gotten you back," I say soothingly, and through her tears, Isa giggles.

Finally, we pull apart. I glance around the room, to see that Ced had left. My focus goes back to Isa, and I can't help but smile because she's here to stay. No one is taking her away from me this time.

"Are you okay if I slide in with you?" Isa asks hesitantly. I nod, gritting my teeth and scooting over a little so Isa has enough room. She lays down next to me, and I turn slightly to look at her.

She leans over to me and before I know it our lips meet. It's a soft, slow, gentle kiss.

Isa pulls away slightly, just enough so that we can breathe again, but still so close.

"I missed you so much," she whispered. "I was so worried, worried that I'd be dead, that'd I never see you, or Ced again. And and when you reached me, and, and oh I shouldn't have left you behind, and and you wouldn't wake up and I was so worried I was going to lose before..." she trails off.

"Before what?" I ask, confused.

"Before I could tell you that I love you," she says, looking deep into my eyes, blushing. I feel my face heat up, and I know I'm turning red too.

I think about it. All the time that we've spent together, the times that I've made Isa laugh, the kisses and hugs and just being together. And without having to question it, I answer back right away. "I love you too, Isa."

___

A/N- you know, that would be a good place to end the book. But no. I'm not ending it here, because why would I? I've fallen in love with Isa and Tala, and they still have more of their story in front of them! So even though this seems like an ending, it's not, so don't worry!