DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to Skins.

Author's Note: Ah, the end of another story. I'm kind of insecure about writing in general because I rarely finish stories so the fact that I finished this Skins fan-fiction is pretty awesome. A couple of people asked me whether Effy was going to show up in this story and at first I didn't want her to because she's such a complicated character and I thought that I wouldn't really be able to write her I found that this last chapter would be a perfect opportunity to bring her in quickly so I really hope I did her justice. Thanks so much to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed and favourited this story. The Skins fandom is pretty awesome and I'm so happy that I decided to write this story when I first got the idea. Anyway, here's the last chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 8

I took a deep breath, steeled myself and rang the bell. Eventually the door opened and a tired-looking dark-haired girl was revealed, "Maxxie." she said in a bored tone, clearly expecting me.

"Hey Effy. Long time, no see. How've you been?" I asked, giving a smile and trying to be good-natured. Like with Tony, you never understood what was going on in Effy's mind. She and Tony were uniquely special in that way. Effy looked unimpressed by my attempt at small talk and cut right to the chase, "He's here but he's sleeping. He only got home a couple of hours ago so no, I'm not waking him up for you."

Only got home a couple of hours ago? It was nine in the morning… Please don't tell me he was out getting smashed all night. I thought, knowing that in this case I was probably right.

"Is he alright? Was he feeling sick when he came home this morning?" I immediately started asking questions. He wasn't stable enough to be taking drugs or drinking lots of alcohol. I remembered the last time he had gone out by himself in London and I had found him completely confused in an alley puking his guts out. "Can I at least come in and see him? Just to make sure he's okay. I won't wake him up."

Effy gave me a strange look and seemed to be analysing me. "Fine. Whatever. Just don't disturb him." she stepped aside and I quickly rushed up the stairs, to his old room. "Not there, that's my room now." Effy said, knowing that I was at the door of Tony's old room while still standing downstairs, "He's in the one to the left of the bathroom." I turned to the door she had said he was in and gently knocked before entering. He was lying asleep in the bed, looking tired and ill.

I sat on the edge of the bed and stroked his hair a bit, whispering, "Hey Tony."

"I said don't wake him up." Effy said, suddenly appearing in the doorway, "Do you want tea?"

I looked up at her in surprise at her offer, "Yeah, thanks."

She walked away before turning back to me to gesture that I must leave Tony and follow her downstairs. She made quick work of putting on the kettle and collecting two mugs and teabags. I took a seat at the kitchen table, "Where're your parents?" I asked, wondering why they hadn't said hello to me like they usually did.

"Dad's left. Mum's off somewhere, drowning herself in her own tears because she can't stand her life anymore since I've started fucking it up."

I stared at her, stunned at her casual tone of voice. "What? Why'd your dad leave?"

"Mum fucked his boss so he left and mum lost it when Tony arrived looking like he did right after the accident." She said all of this while pouring the newly boiled water into the two mugs.

"I'm so sorry Effy."

"About what?" she asked, turning to look at me.

I was slightly taken aback by the question and the irritated tone with which she said it. "About your parents…"

"Wrong answer." She said with even more venom. "What goes on between my parents is none of your business. What is your business is Tony. You were supposed to look after him and you didn't. Instead he's even worse now."

I was completely stunned now and very embarrassed because I knew that she was right, "I… I tried to look after him. And I did, for a while. But everything got messed up and I couldn't take it anymore. And then he just left."

She sighed and it seemed some of her anger had disappeared, "My brother is the best person I've ever met. He observes people and sees things in them. He's the only person in the world who can read people almost as well as I can. Whatever happened in London that you think he caused…it wasn't his fault. He just took the blame for it because he was the only one who knew it was going to happen anyway and warned you before it did."

I tried hard to understand the meaning of her words but I couldn't concentrate properly. Everything was still so confused. Even more confused now, after having talked to Effy. Suddenly, the silence was interrupted by a cellphone ringing. Effy grabbed her cellphone from the table and answered it, "Yeah? What is it, Cook? No, you idiot- well that's too bad, isn't it?" She put down the phone abruptly and walked out of the kitchen, ignoring me.

She made her way across the hallway and was about to leave the house when I called out, "Effy? Where're you going?"

"Out. Look after Tony…if you can." And then she left and I was alone with my messed up thoughts.

I finished making the two mugs of tea and made my way back upstairs to Tony. I pulled up a chair and sat right next to his bedside, sipping my tea and waiting for him to wake up.

It took a couple of hours but eventually he mumbled something sleepily, moved his legs around and cracked open his eyes.
"Maxxie?" he asked, seeing me sitting in front of him and watching him intently. His voice was thick with sleep and cracked slightly.

"Tony. Finally." I said, moving from the chair to the edge of his bed to be nearer to him.

"What're you doing here? Where's James?" he shifted and sat up in bed.

"I don't know. He moved out of the flat. Haven't seen him since he left about a week ago." I said, reaching out a hand and stroking his hair. He still looked really ill but my touch seemed to calm him down a bit.

"I'm sorry I fucked up everything, Maxxie." He said quietly, "I never said sorry about that."

I smiled and shook my head, "It doesn't matter Tony. It wasn't your fault anyway. It was mine. Like you said, I had…feelings for you- still do."

"So you're not mad at me…?" he asked tentatively.

"No Tony. I think I need to say sorry to you actually." I took his hand in mine and gave it a squeeze, "For being so horrible to you… and for not letting you kiss me on the roof."

My last few words made his eyes open wide in surprise, "What? I shouldn't have tried, I didn't want you to cheat on your boyfriend, I just wanted you to admit your feelings for me."

"I cheated on James anyway. I was in love with you all that time but I still kept James around."

"So you whole-heartedly admit that you're in love with me?" he gave a small smirk.

Instead of answering, I grabbed his face and pulled him towards me for a kiss that I knew we had both been waiting for a very long time. When he finally pulled back, I said, "I don't know how the hell you knew back then already but I'm in love with you, Tone."

He grinned at the confession and I realised from his happiness that he had been waiting for me to say that since he had arrived in London.

"I need you Maxxie. I thought I'd be okay here with Effy but I've lost control." he said quietly, the grin on his face not having disappeared but just slightly lessened.

I nodded my head. Of course he needed me. It was what he had been telling me for ages. And I needed him too. We weren't any good on our own anymore, we needed each other. "Come with me back to London. Come and be with me." I said, pulling him in for another quick kiss.

"You want me to replace James in your flat. In your life."

I shook my head fervently, feeling high on Tony. But this time it was different, being with Tony no longer made me feel confused. I was only happy, there was no guilt or frustration anymore.

"No, Tone, come and be with me. There is no James any longer. I-we- don't need James or anything else. The only thing we need is each other."

A/N: Let me know what you thought, especially of Effy! Thanks again for reading! And if you're interested, go and check out my Glee fanfiction and my story on Fiction press. Have a wonderful day/night! -Cloey :)