*sniffle* *sob* Here we go...the last chapter. The epilogue, if you will.

*funeral march music*

I...I just...I just can't. Just read the chapter! *wails* *runs from the room*

Ben POV

"Good game, Ben!"

I grinned and high-fived Ian as he jogged over.

"Who would have thought that your new body was good at soccer?" he asked me rhetorically.

"Not me, that's for sure," I chuckled. "I didn't even know what it was or how to play before I came here!"

My team had just won the game, although Ian had been slightly hampered because he had Wes on his shoulders the entire time. Wanda and Celeste had just watched, cheering the teams on.

There were a few faces missing in the crowd as the game ended, but only one in particular that I noticed.

"Hey, I'll see you guys later," I said offhandedly to the others, grinning as Wes and Ian began to wrestle on the floor, completely not listening. "I've got to go…do this…thing."

"Oooooohhh, this thing," Ian said knowingly, propped up on one elbow. "I see. You're not, like…going to see someone special, are you?"

Okay, maybe he WAS listening.

I stuck my tongue out at him as I left, even though it wasn't very mature.

I headed down the tunnel, thinking in wonder about how much had changed, how much had become right.

Petals had healed from the illness. The serum had saved her life. She was completely vibrant and healthy now, and since I hadn't seen her in so long, I took great joy in catching up and spending time with her. No one understood me quite as well as my sister did, and I delighted in being able to spend time with her and be with her again.

Celeste, Wes, Ian, and Wanda had become my extended family. I was constantly spending time with them, reading to Wes (who sometimes read back to me—he talked now. Not very much, but he'd definitely found his voice at last), helping Celeste with her hair and clothes (although I wasn't very good at it; she preferred helping me with mine), laughing and talking with Wanda, and playing games like soccer with Ian. They all accepted me, and we were just as close as before, perhaps even closer.

Everyone in the caves seemed to accept us now, even those who hadn't previously. Maybe they hated us less because we were more human than we had been before, not stealing bodies this time, but each of us having our own. And NO one could hate Petals. She was just naturally lovable. But our friends and family grew steadily to more than we'd ever had on any of our planets. Petals and I both loved it. We loved having such a feeling of friendship, acceptance, and community.

And then there was Sunny.

I turned the corner and saw the familiar light next to the gorges. My pace quickened eagerly. I knew who would be there.

"Sun-ny," I sang, and I heard her familiar giggle.

I stepped in and frowned. "Hmm…I wonder where Sunny is! She's missing!" I called out in a loud, teasing tone.

There was another giggle, and then silence.

Then something dropped down on me from above. Enough to make me stumble, but light enough that my new muscular body was easily able to handle it.

Sunny wrapped her arms around my neck, giggling.

"Well, there she is," I smirked, and then easily flipped her over my head. She shrieked, but I caught her, holding her in front of me.

"That never works," she grumbled, pouting.

I laughed, and we both sat down next to the gorges with the light shining on us.

"So," she said at last. "Petals and Jamie, huh?"

I growled, and she laughed.

"How on earth did they get away?" she snickered.

I sighed. "They didn't. After I found my sister, killed her, killed Jamie, resurrected them both and killed them again, I finally decided…" I sighed again. "I decided that it was all right."

"Well, then, Ben," she said, and her tone was very approving. "I'm proud of you. That must have been rough. The whole paternal/older-brother-instinct-thing must have been really hard to squash."

"I didn't," I grumbled. "It's still there. All I can do is suppress it…somewhat."

We were quiet for a long time. "That'll be an interesting relationship," she snickered.

Then she sighed. "You know, Ben, I'm so glad that you came back."

"It's thanks to you that I did," I reminded her, smiling.

She sighed. "When I thought you'd left me….it was horrible. It was more painful than I can even…" She didn't finish.

Guilt washed over me. "Sunny, I'm so sorry," I whispered. "I never meant to—,"

"My point is," she interrupted, "that I had to. After you telling me that you loved me…I knew that I had to."

I hugged her as tightly as I could. "I do love you," I murmured. "I didn't realize it until that moment, but I truly do."

Her smile was dazzling. "I love you, too," she whispered, and then we were kissing again, and it was more wonderful than the first time, all the more dazzling and beautiful because there were no tears and panic and heartbreak under the surface.

When we finally pulled apart, she sighed and shivered a little. "Do you ever…do you ever wonder if you did the right thing?" she whispered, and then the words were tumbling out of her mouth. "I was so scared that I did the wrong thing, bringing you back. I knew that you wanted to leave, and I thought you would be mad at me if I brought you back, and I didn't know if—,"

I interrupted her. "I know that I did the right thing. I know that this body is the right one for me. Do you want to know how I know?"

She looked up at me, her eyes wide and green and gorgeous.

"This body was made perfectly for me," I told her. "Every aspect of me."

I put my arm around her, in the same position that I had before I left, when she had poured her heart out to me and cried into my shoulder. She hadn't quite made it before, like two puzzle pieces that didn't match. But that was in Ian's body, where Wanda was the only one who really matched properly.

Now, in this new body, she fit perfectly into my side, my arm completely comfortable around her, as though it had been made exactly for this purpose, to comfort her and hold her. She understood at once, grinning up at me.

"Love you," I whispered.

We were perfect for each other. Sure, I was concerned about what problems Jamie and Petals might cause. Celeste and Wes would certainly cause more trouble, and their adolescence would be a challenge. The other humans might come back and cause war. There were some few problems, but we could cross those bridges when we got there.

My world, as of right now, was as perfect as a world can ever get.

Of course there would be problems. Sometimes problems can ruin your today.

But as long as you still have your hopes for tomorrow, everything will turn out all right in the end.

THE END! THE REAL END! AT LAST!

Wow. Wow, wow, wow. This has been such a huge journey for me. I want to take a moment and thank every single person who reviewed. It meant so much to me, all of you. I really enjoy your support, and I'm so, so glad that you all liked my story.

And I'd be sad and sobbing right now if I didn't know one thing.

Plans for a sequel are in motion as we speak! AHA! HA HA HA! A TWIST!

I hope you enjoyed this story. Could you review for it one last time?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Hostfanatic is out for the last time…until next time! So make sure that you keep up with me so that you'll know when I start my sequel!