True Love

Summary: What if Spottedleaf hadn't died, and she and Firepaw got together? True love finds a way...

Disclaimer: I only own the plot.

This is the last chapter

Chapter Six: The Bittersweet Gift

"You what?" I gasped. Fireheart looked at his paws. "I'm torn," He murmured, "I love you, but I love Sandstorm."

I wanted to wail my sorrows out. I had known. I had known that he loved Sandstorm as well as me, but... I didn't want to admit it. It was to horrid.

"So..." I whispered, the moonlight making my cave glow. "Who are you choosing?"

"I don't know," He sighed. His face held pain.

I sighed. This couldn't be happening. We had been so great together...

It had been so wonderful.

000

"We're sorry," An unfamiliar voice sighed, "But it had to happen."

A beautiful silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes stepped forward. She seemed a bit familiar now...

"My name is Silverstream," She said, "I am from the Starclan of the future. This will now work."

"Yes it will!" I cried, "He loves me!"

"No," She soothed, "He loves Sandstorm, and you know it."

I blinked back tears. This was so wrong.

"You are not the first cat to have forbidden love, and certaintly not the last," Silverstream murmured, her tail flicking back and forth. "Remember? I'm from the pond."

I nodded. "You're a Riverclan cat-"

"In love with a Thunderclan cat," Silverstream nodded. "Yes. And I still love him. I will forever. But that doesn't mean that I can be with him."

I looked at my paws. She was addressing me as well as herself. "But he still loves you," I muttered.

"In a way," Silverstream said in a comforting tone. "Fireheart will. But this secret can not be kept a secret for long, and the forest will be destroyed."

I looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

Silverstream looked at the pond. A handsome ginger tom popped up.

"Fireheart," I murmured.

"No," She corrected, "Firestar. That's what he would have been if this hadn't happened."

He would have been a leader...

"Spottedleaf," Silverstream begged, "You must learn. That's why Starclan is giving you a gift. A bittersweet gift."

000

I was having kits.

Fireheart's kits.

I was elated with joy. What was bittersweet about this?

That's when I saw Sandstorm talking to Willowpelt. "Yes," She purred, "They're Fireheart's kits."

My heart plummeted. Sandstorm glanced at me. She knew.

At that moment, Fireheart padded up. Quickly, I pulled him into the forest.

"Spottedleaf," He purred, "Did you hear? Sandstorm's having my kits!"

He acted like I was just a friend. A friend carrying his kits.

"I have," I murmured, "And... so am I."

His eyes widened. The happiness was drained.

"Ask Sandstorm if she'll raise them," I murmured, "Please."

000

I looked down at the single kit suckling at my side deep in the forest. She was a light brown tabby, with white paws. I had named her Leafpaw(a/n: Dun. Dun. DUN!).

There had been three, but the other two were stillborn. I stood, and picked the kit up. I then began my journey back.

000

Dustpelt gaped at me. "Spottedleaf?" He stuttered. I lay the kit down. I had just gotten back in camp when he saw me.

"Get Bluestar," I hissed.

A while later, the whole clan was gathered around. They stared at the kit.

"Who is the father?" Bluestar murmured. Silence. Suddenly a familiar voice came through the crowd.

"I am," Fireheart growled.

Bluestar's eyes were filled with shock and pain. "Is this true, Spottedleaf?"

I nodded.

"We should throw them out," Tigerclaw hissed.

"No!" Sandstorm, still weak from kitting, cried, "He's still the father of my kits. They should know their father."

"Fine," Bluestar said after a moment. "They shall stay."

000

Leafkit seemed so at home with Squirrelkit and Silverkit. It was eery.

"Thank you," I muttered to Sandstorm.

"You're welcome," She sighed. Suddenly, she spoke again.

"Stay away from him."

"What?" I asked.

"Stay away from Fireheart. You only cause him pain. Leafpaw shall never know her true mother. It's for the best."

"Why should I?" I hissed.

Sandstorm looked up at me.

"Because I love him."

000

Later in the timeline...

The forest was destruction. The bloodclan was fighting us.

I heard a yowl. "Sandstorm, Squirrelflight!"

Fireheart stood over the two ginger she-cats. They had died fighting. I suddenly saw a ragged lump of tabby fur on the ground.

"Leafpool," I whispered.

Suddenly, Scorge flew at Fireheart. I screamed as that killing blow came down on him.

Suddenly, I was in that field.

"Is this really what you want?"

"No," I murmured, "Fix it. Please. Let me die, just fix it."

"Alright," Glassface murmured, "But to repay you, Leafpool will be born. To Fireheart and Sandstorm."

"Thank you," I purred. "Thank you so much."

000

"Well, Spottedleaf?" I looked up from my stretching.

"Yes, Glassface?" I purred.

"Is this what you want?"

I thought for a moment. All those deaths were gone, everything was the way it was supposed to be.

"Yes."

000

Ta-da! Done! Don't kill me about the pairing!