The Sweet

Author: I want to take this time to credit Nickelback and Avril Lavigne for the lyrics to their songs "Happy ending" and "So far away". Enjoy the conclusion!

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"Just hold on Runt, hold on for me, just this once. After all the things we've been through, all the times we dodged death, and all the beautiful memories we have shared, please. Hold on. Just hold on, so I can make more beautiful memories……with you" Rita thought to herself.

The streets and signs of the midnight fallen city blurred past Rita's jasmine eyes in a blur of neon lights and blackened steel. So many lives, so many creatures, so many things existed behind those dark alleyways and steel buildings. Rita's mind was focused on one thing in particular, a person, a life, a life that is worth crying a billion tears over. A person named Runt.

"I've been a crummy friend to you buddy and I know it, just please, hang on so I can make it up to you" Rita said.

This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

Rita had sung many songs in her life, singing about her feelings, her pride, her desires, but never about Runt. Oh how that dog filled Rita's heart with joy, oh how she felt her tiny heart pound away in the fluffy white confines of her furry chest. The gray cat ran faster and faster. Rita's paws ached as her arms and legs felt shot, yet she pushed herself forward, she pushed herself for him.

That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

Egypt, Poland, France, Salem, Transylvania, Antarctica and a thousand other places Rita could barely remember or name. The cat smiled as tears formed in her twinkling jade green eyes, remembering fondly of the day she first met Runt. Rita had been dumped into the pound by her former master, and behind a wall of concrete, a voice called out to her, Runt's voice.

"I remember it like the back of my paw. Always the optimist that big lug, he loved humans just as much as I hated them, I don't think I ever heard him once say anything bad about anyone. I thought he was a cat, and he thought I was a dog (laughs) he still thinks I'm a dog……I'm almost there Runt, almost" Rita said.

On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

Suddenly, the alleyway came into view, Rita's heart raced with unbridled happiness as she ducked into the corner and threw her gray arms open to embrace her beloved canine friend.

"Runt?" Rita weakly asked.

There was no one in sight. Not a sign, not a trace, not a speck of Runt's existence except a bloody white rag sinking into an ice-cold puddle. Either Runt got up and walked away, or someone came and took him. Rita's furry knees started to shake with fear.

"Hi Rita" Runt said.

The cat's cut ears perked up as Rita gasped, she turned around and saw Runt standing right behind her. Standing on all 4 paws, looking firm as can be, even with that red scarf lacing along his dark peach colored fur. Rita was so scared a second ago, she thought……she thought……

So far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know

I wanted
I wanted you to stay

"Oh thank goodness Runt, I thought you" Rita said.

"Wait Rita, definitely wait please" Runt asked.

The small gray feline halted in her furry footsteps, a bit surprised by this reaction from Runt. Rita slowly nodded and stood still, watching runt ever so dearly. Runt sighed and hanged his head.

"I'm feeling much better Rita, but you still made me feel bad inside, definitely, definitely bad. That shiny man that told me you were going to do something bad to me, he was right, definitely right" Runt said.

Rita simply nodded and weakly rubbed her eyes, remembering Taron's little "warning".

"I tried to tell you about those mean doggies, I really definitely tried Rita but you seemed happy with them, even if you were happier with them then with me. I'm sorry those doggies hurt you. I definitely wanted the best for you Rita, I always have" Runt said.

"Oh Runt" Rita whimpered.

"I know I'm……dumb and slow, I definitely know that. I know I don't always understand the things you're saying, and that I get distracted really easy, and I know that makes you mad sometimes. I don't want to make you mad Rita but my head……my head doesn't go as fast as yours, I definitely know that" Runt solemnly said.

Rita crossed her legs and sat down, listening intently.

"But I always try, I always definitely try real hard to help out. I know you save me from bad things Rita, things that I can't see or don't know about, and I've done the same for you. But, no matter how scary things got, I always knew we'd make it Rita, sometimes I like to just jump right into some bad people just to hear you sing your songs after we escape at the end. I definitely care about you Rita, and it made me feel sad when you left me" Runt said.

The tiny female cat clung to her ears and sobbed at the memory of those horrible things she said as Runt continued.

"I felt mad, definitely, definitely mad. I really wanted to stay mad at you Rita but……I couldn't, I just couldn't. I've had so much fun with you that no matter what bad stuff that happens between us, I don't want to stop having fun with you. I want to keep going around the world and finding new stuff to chew on, and new humans to play with, until we find a big nice home where we can play all day forever, definitely, definitely forever, with you Rita……with you" Runt said.

"Runt, I'm so sorry, sorry I ever treated you that way. You don't know how long I've wanted to tell this to you, how long I wanted to tell you. Can you ever forgive me?" Rita begged.

"I can't forgive you Rita" Runt said bluntly.

Rita's heart suddenly felt like it had been split in two.

"Because I love you" Runt said.

Rita's eyes nearly burst out of their sockets as she ran towards Runt and wrapped her arms around his big furry chest. Runt smiled as he felt Rita bursting with tears into his fur, hugging him so tightly and crying the very essence of her heart out with a compassionate cry.

"I LOVE YOU RUNT" Rita sobbed.

'Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
'Cause I'm not leaving you anymore
Believe it
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go
Keep breathing
Hold on to me and, never let me go

Suddenly Rita grabbed Runt by his big, floppy brown ears, embraced her snow-white lips into his face, and engaged in a passionate kiss with Runt. The dopey dog's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree before slowly closing and returning the heartfelt gesture. Rita and Runt smiled as they locked their lips into a kiss of eternal love and simply basked in each other's warmth. Rita's whiskers made a soft smack as she gently pulled away from Runt's lips, Rita giggled softly.

"That was nice……definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY nice Rita" Runt said.

"That was spectacular big guy, and it's all thanks to you. I never would have had the courage to open my heart, until you gave me yours" Rita said.

"Rita, your such a silly dog, definitely silly, you always had it" Runt replied.

Rita simply smiled at that beautiful statement and kissed Runt on the lips once more, she gently cradled her paws onto Runt's back, carefully making sure she didn't touch his scar. Runt giggled as he felt Rita's paws secure around his floppy brown ears like they were saddles.

"Okay Rover, let's hit the road, it's time go home" Rita said.

"Gee Rita, where's that?" Runt happily asked.

"Where ever we are Runt, as long as were together" Rita answered.

Runt woofed in happy agreement and shot off like a rocket, running and flexing his paws as he raced into the rising sun. Rita smiled and kissed Runt's furry cheek and giggled as she held on tight to her slobbering lover. The gray cat sat up and spread her arms out like wings and closed her eyes, Rita sighed as she felt the wind beneath her arms as she and Runt raced off…….

…….Together.

Taron smirked "I knew those two would get back together. Some people, as they are, are just meant to be. It's fate".

THE END!