When Kankri and Cronus were both back at school, their relationship brought on different reactions. Meenah grinned and said to Aranea "I told you so!" Horrus and Mituna smiled and Meulin grinned and started signing about a shipping chart. Then she started signing to Nepeta. It took Cronus awhile to adapt to actually hanging out with a group of kids that weren't delinquents, but when he did it all became so natural.

Other kids in the school made fun of them. At first Cronus just punched them until Kankri got him to stop being so violent. And Mheena threatened the next group to tease them. She wouldn't tell Kankri what she threatened them with though. And when he asked she just grinned and said he didn't need to know.

Karkat wasn't sure how he felt about it all. He was happy for Kankri of course, he got a great relationship that worked out. But it was hard to place his emotions on the whole thing. During lunch one day, instead of going to eat he went and sat in a tree on the school property. Most kids ate inside since it was practically winter now so there wasn't anyone else there. He sighed and stared at the clouds through the branches.

"Karkitty?" Karkat jumped and looked down. Nepeta was staring up at him from the ground. "Are mew okay?"

"I'm fine." Karkat said. He turned back to the clouds and sighed. He jumped when Nepeta grabbed his arm. How did she climb the tree so fast?

"Mew're sure? Mew don't seem fine." Karkat sighed.

"It's just…why couldn't it have worked out for me too?" he said. "Gamzee didn't quit his gang. And he just got…" Karkat sighed and covered his eyes with his hands. "I just wish it could have been different. But then we wouldn't have moved here and Kankri and Cronus wouldn't have met. Which would suck. But…"

"Are mew jealous?" Nepeta asked. Karkat shook his head.

"It's not that. I just wish I could have done something different maybe to have made things better. For me and Gamzee. But, I'm pretty sure it's too late. At this point I don't think I can change him. I think he's too far gone." Karkat closed his eyes and sighed. Nepeta tapped him on the shoulder and he looked at her. "What?" Then Nepeta hugged him.

"It's okay." she said. "I mean, maybe it isn't with that thing, but we learn from our mistakes and you just have to keep pushing forward. But don't forget about your mistakes or push them too far behind you or you'll just make them again. You just have to keep them in the back of your mind and never forget them. And if you make that mistake again just keep going and keep trying. I'll be here to support you. I promise. And you know I'm being serious because I've stopped using cat-puns." Karkat stared at Nepeta in surprise. After a few seconds he hugged her back.

"Thanks. You're a great friend." he said.

"Um…I…"

"What?" Karkat looked at Nepeta and noticed she was blushing.

"If—if you want, I can be more than just a friend…or…" Nepeta buried her face in Karkat's shirt and kept mumbling while Karkat processed what she just said. Did she just ask me out? I'M the one she likes?! Karkat looked down at Nepeta. He had to answer. He couldn't just leave her hanging like that.

"Nepeta…" He pulled her face out of his shirt, which she was still holding.

"What?"

"Close your eyes." Nepeta did and Karkat leaned forward and kissed her. He heard Nepeta gasp but she didn't let go of him or try to push him away. He hugged her again and stroked her hair. "Thank you."

During lunch Kankri and Cronus walked around outside after they'd finished eating. Kankri had started to like going on walks, despite his bad experiences with them. He and Cronus were holding hands, always Cronus holding Kankri's left hand in his right. Eventually they sat down on a bench and Kankri stared at the clouds. Then Kankri looked down at his hands and noticed Cronus was rubbing the scar.

"Sorry." he said. Kankri shook his head.

"It's fine. We're not going to forget the experience so easily." Kankri always talked lots, except for when the subject of that night was brought up. Then he would be rather quiet again.

"Do you remember wvhat you said to me the first time wve had science class together?" Cronus asked. "You can't get through life sulking awvay from wvhat you don't like and trying to take the easy wvay out evwery time."

"Oh, yes. I had been lecturing you about your effort in that class. And I must say that your class effort has improved greatly. It is quite nice that you now participate in activities and you seem to enjoy the class now. This makes me happy because now that you are enjoying the class you will most definitely do better in it and therefore your future looks much brighter than it did when we first met."

"Yeah." Cronus said, nodding. "I'd been thinking about that, the night you got that scar. I realized I wvasn't going to get you just by hoping and just wvaiting. I actually had to do something by myself."

"Just promise me you won't do something so dangerous ever again." Kankri said. Cronus leaned over and kissed him.

And the fanfic is done! Yippee! Did you all like it? I hope so! I've got more fanfictions to post, so be ready!

Thanks for reading! Love you all!

"I promise."