Epilogue: 42 Days Later

As Clare led Eli down the narrow paved road, her hand entwined in his, she looked up to see beams of morning sunshine coming through the trees. The air was slightly heavy with humidity, but the mountain breeze kept the day beautiful.

"To say this day is beautiful would be a vast understatement." Eli said, eyeing Clare as she continued to lead him along. She held the glow that had taken her weeks to get back.

"It's always amazing up here. I'm just glad my parents let you come with us so you could see it." Her family went on an annual camping trip in the mountains, usually around the time Darcy was home to visit. Clare had begged her parents to let Eli come along, and they were okay with the idea after seeing how he helped her in the weeks following the attack.

"So where are we going?" Eli asked for the 504837486th time. Clare laughed.

"You don't do too well with surprises, do you?" She asked rhetorically. Eli laughed lightly.

"I do not. This better be a quality surprise I've been suffering for."

"We're almost there!" She said, seeing some marking Eli didn't recognize. She put her hands over her eyes, leading him from behind. After walking for a few minutes, she stopped him and pulled her hands away.

"This is it?" He asked, uncertain. He found himself staring at a grassy hill, about two stories high with wooden plank steps built into it.

"Not yet," Clare said, putting her hands back over his eyes as she began leading him up the steps.

"Oh joy, the greatest present that could be given, climbing a bunch of steps in ninety degree weather," Eli said, heavy on the sarcasm. Clare laughed.

"You're the one who chose to pack all black clothes."

"Don't hate on the look, it's patented." Eli said with a smirk. Finally, they reached the top, and Clare removed her hands once more. Eli's heart nearly stopped dead in his chest.

Straight ahead and all around him was like a canyon of beauty, straight out of a Renaissance painting. Below him the hill sloped back down into the clearest, bluest lake he had ever seen. It reflected the clear sky and blinding sun, causing billions of beams of light to meet it and sparkle like miniature constellations on the water. Surrounding the vast lake was a coven of mountains, circling it as if protecting its beauty. On either side of him the hill stretched on, flat like a plateau, eventually molding into the mountains.

He looked over at Clare, who watched him take it all in with curious, adoring eyes. She entwined her fingers with his and brought his hand to her lips as she held it, kissing it gently as she looked in his eyes. He tucked a lock of her now-longer, auburn hair behind her ear.

"Thank you," Was all he could say. "It's beyond amazing, I don't know how I ever doubted your brilliance," He said, a laugh in his voice.

"My brilliance? Have you seen this?" She asked with a smile, gesturing to the endless beauty.

"Quite honestly, it has nothing on you." He said, his eyes filled with a gentleness and infatuation. He began to pull her in for a kiss when her eyes lit up and she pulled back.

"Wait a sec," She said. "Do you have your switchblade?" Eli laughed.

"I hardly think it's necessary for what we were about to do." He said. Clare laughed.

"Just give it to me," He pulled it out and handed it to her. She flipped out the blade.

"I've always wanted to do this," She said as she sat down on the first wooden step that led down to the lake. Eli kneeled and watched as she began to carve into the wood. After carving for a few moments, Clare stepped back, allowing him to read it.

The moment is us.

EG + CE