A/N: All right, here it is, the final chapter to Endymion! If you aren't one for love scenes, you probably shouldn't finish this last chapter. Anyway, I'm currently working on a companion piece to this story called "Serenity" that will be from Endymion's POV. I don't know when that will be done, but it's in the process of being written. So... enjoy!

The moment that she had been dreading for days was finally here. The last event of the Lunar Festival had finally run its course, and in the morning Endymion would be gone.

Oh, she knew it had to have been coming eventually. The festival only lasted so long, after all. What she hadn't been expecting was that she would get so used to his being with her. From the morning that she had given him the tour of the palace and gardens, they had spent everyday together. He had sat at her side during feasts, shows, musical recitals… not to mention the few kisses they had managed to steal during rare unsupervised moments. It had been like a perfect dream, and now it was over.

Serenity stared into the mirror of her vanity, looking into her own eyes and wondering what those around her would see when Endymion was no longer her constant companion. Would she fall into a depression? Would she be able to keep up her spirits by visiting Earth more frequently? Could they even continue this romance if they went weeks at a time without being able to see one another?

Her heart felt like a weight in her chest, no longer light and free, but heavy with the impending loss of his presence.

She picked up her brush and began to slide the bristles through her hair in preparation for bed. She had only managed six strokes when there was an almost inaudible knock on her door. Confused at who would be coming to her room at this hour, she set the brush down and made her way to the door.

"Who is it?" She asked.

There was no answer save for another knock, more urgently this time.

She pulled the handle and found herself looking into Endymion's dark blue eyes. He put a finger to his lips and stepped past her into her room, closing the door behind him after he was safely inside. Before she could ask him what he was doing in her chambers so late, he cupped her face in his hands and brought his lips down onto her own. Unable to refuse herself this private goodbye between them, she returned his kiss with all the pent up desire and desperation in her heart.

All too soon he broke the kiss, but left his hands to cradle her face. "I couldn't leave without a proper farewell between us."

Tears slid down her cheeks, but she made no move to wipe them away. What would be the point? He knew as well as she that this goodbye might be the last time they saw each other for weeks. Neither of them had any certainty that they would be able to meet again anytime soon. This one quiet, stolen moment would have to last them until they could find their way to each other again.

"I wish you didn't have to leave," she whispered, leaning her cheek into his palm.

"If I didn't have duties on my own planet, I would stay as long as necessary to insure that we would never have to be separated again," he swore to her, the look in his eyes so intense that she couldn't help but believe him. She knew he loved her, he had whispered it to her often enough over the past week, but it didn't make the pain of their coming separation any easier.

She let out a sob and buried her face against his chest. Why couldn't she be stronger? It was hard enough for him to leave without making him feel like he was abandoning her. She tried to pull herself together, but the sobs grew worse, shaking her entire body with the force of them. "I'm sorry," she cried. "I'm sorry I can't see you off with a smile."

He let out a moan of anguish. "Serenity, please don't cry. I can't stand to see you in so much pain!"

He kissed her forehead, then her temple, her cheek, the line of her jaw, her lips…

"Stay with me," she begged against his lips, her hands clutching at his neck to keep him with her. "I can't bear to say goodbye twice. Please stay…"

A moment of hesitation, of indecision that became yielding when she opened her mouth to him and stroked his tongue with her own. It was only the second time they had kissed in this manner, having not had more than a brief moment of privacy at any given time. He groaned in acquiescence and slid his arms underneath her legs, scooping her into his embrace and striding across the room to her bed. They fell to the mattress in a tangle of limbs, in a mess of moans and whispered words. Her hands moved to his hair, sinking her fingers into the thick, dark tresses she loved so much.

"Endymion," she breathed as his lips moved to her neck. She tilted her head back to give him better access, and he responded by touching his tongue to her delicate skin. A gasp escaped her and he chuckled.

"I've wanted to taste your skin for so long. Now I know that you taste of moonlight."

Her eyes fluttered closed as he continued to kiss and taste his way down her neck and over her collarbone. She wanted this so badly, wanted him. It was a memory that she was certain would last her until she could see him again.

Their clothing seemed to almost melt away as they removed them piece by piece until there was nothing separating them any longer. His eyes were heavy lidded as he took her in, one hand exploring the shape of her hip as he held himself above her. "You are more beautiful than I ever could have imagined," he said in awe, the wonder in his voice almost reverent in nature.

He wasn't the only one who was staring with wondering eyes. Serenity couldn't stop herself from marveling at the corded muscles in his arms, the planes of his stomach. He was every bit as beautiful to her as she seemed to be to him. She couldn't have imagined a moment more glorious if she had tried.

"Nothing on Earth could possibly compare to you." She stroked her fingers down his stomach, and when he let out a groan she was ridiculously pleased with herself.

In order to stop her from continuing her one sided exploration, he grasped her hand in his and pinned it above her head, then did the same with the other one. When she was sufficiently still, he lowered his lips to hers and began to kiss her. It was open mouthed and hot, a duel of tongues that elicited moans from both of them. She could feel a delicious, liquid warmth pooling into her stomach and groin. It left her restless and wanting.

She traced her knee up the back of his thigh, sighing happily as it brought him closer to her body, settling between her legs. His weight was welcome, a reminder that he was really there and this wasn't just another dream. "I love you, Endymion," she whispered, gripping his hands tightly in hers. "Until the end of time."

He shuddered against her and dropped his head to her shoulder, letting it rest there for a moment. Then he kissed her again, and then again, over and over until the individual kisses began to melt into each other. At some point he released his grip on her hands, though neither of them could have pinpointed when, and the kisses began to be peppered with the sounds of moans and sighs as hands explored and brought the two lovers to the peak of pleasure again and again. Words of love mingled with their names were gasped, murmured, breathed against skin. Their bodies grew slick with the heat they generated together, and breathing became raspy and irregular. When they finally came together, she bit into his shoulder to stifle her cry and he sighed her name in response. And eventually, when they found their crescendo, they found their hands were once again linked.

Later, as they lay in each other's arms spent and satisfied, Endymion pressed one last kiss to her lips and whispered: "Until the end of time, my love."