Er...you know how I said at the end of the last chapter that it'd probably be a week before this chapter? Um, yeah...sorry it's 5 months later. D: I've had the worst writer's block, plus at least 10 other good excuses. xD

But anyway, thanks a ton for waiting. C: On with the end!

--

Sitting at her desk, head resting on her arms, Piper had tried not to cry. She desperately wanted to keep the tears in, but she couldn't stop herself... Her unbidden tears soaked into her sleeves, and she hated it.

This wasn't how she was supposed to act. The Piper she tried so hard to be, the one everyone knew…that Piper wouldn't cry like this. She was strong, cheerful and confident, not a sobbing mess.

But with everything that had happened in the last few months...well, that was finally enough to bring even Piper down.

She cried for the war. All of the people who had fallen. The lives that were lost, and could never be found again. She knew so many of the people who had died, and she missed them. Though she knew it was irrational, she even felt guilty. She couldn't have done more to end it all before those casualties, but it didn't change the fact that she somehow believed there was something that she could have done differently. Something that she could have done to change the outcome of it all.

She cried for her friends. Her family. She knew what she had to do now, but it was going to be hard to leave them. Fighting face to face with Cyclonis was a small task compared to the difficulty she was going to have with saying goodbye to everyone.

And she cried for her most recent confusion. How could Aerrow say that? Now? How was she supposed to feel about this?

She hadn't had thought about him like that for years, but at his confession, all those feelings came rushing back. Were those feelings even real anymore, or were they more real than ever?

…What if they were?

What would happen when she finally left? And what would she tell Stork? She never kept anything from him anymore, so even if she decided to keep this to herself, he'd know something was wrong.

Stork...

She felt horrible about considering this. She still cared a lot for the Merb. It felt like she was already betraying him in her mind, even entertaining these memories and…feelings. It made her sick.

Piper knew that she had to sort through these emotions, but the deeper she tried to delve into what she really felt, the more she felt in over her head. So she tried to think about the situation from a logical perspective. Who needed her more? Right now, probably Aerrow. He was dealing with the worst of the loneliness out of the Condor's inhabitants. But she knew that in time, he would recover. He always did. Stork, on the other hand, would probably stop taking steps in the direction she'd been leading him towards and eventually fall back into his old ways with no one around to help him along.

But even this wasn't the answer to her problem. No amount of reasoning could decide this. The solution had to come from more than just that.

What was she going to do?

Whatever it was, she was going to have to decide soon, because at that moment Stork knocked on her door.

"Who is it?" she croaked, quickly wiping away her tears and trying to get a hold of herself.

"It's, ah, me." the Merb answered, his worry apparent even through the door. "Is everything...okay?"

"Yeah… Well, no..." She sniffed. "I'm not sure. I don't know."

A pause, then, "...Do you want to be alone? Should I go, or--"

"You can come in, Stork."

After a second or two of hesitation, the door slid open and he shuffled in with an unsure expression displayed on his features. "Um...what's going on?"

She pressed her fingertips against her forehead in frustration and looked at the ground, unable to meet his questioning gaze. "Could you, maybe, give me a minute to think of how to tell you?"

"Alright."

The seconds ticked by slowly as Piper tried to get her thoughts in order, and Stork stood in the middle of the room, tapping his fingers together anxiously.

Why would she suddenly begin to have feelings for Aerrow again? She thought she had everything figured out. Or maybe...maybe it wasn't that kind of emotion she felt for him anymore. Was it possible that she was mistaken? Perhaps what she was feeling was just regret. Regret that he hadn't spoken up sooner...or regret for ever thinking that way about her Sky Knight at all.

Glancing at the pilot a few feet away from her, she felt a wave of something disgusting fall over her, clinging to her skin. Guilt. Her stomach churned.

What if she just let go of the idea, and returned to just being with Stork? That had been the plan, and it was a good one. Why give it up so easily just because someone else spoke up?

And really, how could she?

Piper looked up at Stork again. She looked up at a Merb. A Merb who, despite everything that was natural for his kind, was standing here today. He had taken a huge leap in joining the Storm Hawks, and had stayed with them to this day. He could've left. He could've easily taken off, given up, ran away. This kind of dangerous lifestyle was unheard of for a Merb, and yet he still weathered day after stressful day, conquered fears, and even enjoyed it at times.

He would deny it, but he was probably the strongest person she had ever met because of it.

Their relationship was tough to navigate, she wouldn't deny it. It wasn't perfect, and it could be frustrating. But, she realized, that's what she wanted. It was a challenge. Something to work at. Something she could cling to...because it was something that felt real.

So, she figured things out. But now, what would she say?

Finally, Piper took a deep breath and made the decision to simply come clean and tell him what had happened earlier that day. He should know. "Aerrow told me...that he saw me as more than a friend. For years. And I...I didn't want to hear it." She didn't want him to say anything just yet, so she continued quickly, filling him in completely. "And that's because...well...I thought I might sorta feel the same way." Now she was just plain scared to look at him.

She fixed her eyes on the hands in her lap. "I was just confused, and I didn't know what to do about it. But I've really given it some thought, and I've come to see that confusion was all it really was."

Unable to look up, she waited for what he would have to say.

"...Is that really all it was?" he asked quietly.

If her tears weren't already spent, she probably would've had to fight them back again. "I'm sorry, Stork. I didn't want to think that way, I just...I'm sorry."

The longer it took for him to reply, the harder it was becoming to try meeting his gaze. When she finally forced herself to look up, she was surprised to see that wasn't shocked in the slightest over her confession. He hadn't expected this, had he?

"You already knew?"

Stork didn't know what to say. He almost wanted to deny it, but he knew that the truth would have to come out eventually. So after a moment of indecision, he nodded. "Yeah. Actually, I, uh..." Cringing, he cleared his throat and lowered his voice, "I kinda...asked that he would finally tell you."

There was a shocked silence, before the storm hit.

"You what!?" Even if Stork had an answer for that, he wouldn't have gotten it in before she continued. "How could you...why would..."

Not for the first time, the Merb doubted that it had been a good idea to try all this. The anger and hurt in her eyes seemed to accuse him, and he felt incredibly small. "Piper, I just needed...you'd be better off with him. And...and if that's what you want, I won't stand in your way."

She didn't take it like he had hoped. "If you didn't want to be in this relationship with me, why didn't you just tell me?" Her voice was overflowing with so many different emotions...anger, hurt, confusion. Perhaps even betrayal. Why would he only say this now? "What, you think I can't handle it? Was this supposed to make things easier?"

"Piper, that's not it!"

She was now standing, staring him in the eye at a level height. "Then what is it? What could any of us gain from all of this?"

"Would you just listen?"

Piper fell silent at his outburst. Stork had grabbed her shoulders and was now looking hard at her.

"I care about you. A lot. Too much to let you pass up something better." He let go of her, completely uncomfortable with this entire situation. He looked down. "You'd be happier with him."

"You can't decide that." She crossed her arms. "What made you think I wasn't perfectly happy with you?"

"Do you really think you'll be content with putting up with all my problems all the time?" he argued.

"Do you really think I haven't thought about that already? I don't mind, Stork. I'm prepared to do what it takes to help you through them."

The Merb squeezed his eyes shut and growled with frustration. "But there's too much! It would be so much easier for you to just--"

"To give up on you?" she interrupted, frustration of her own clearly evident. "No. I'm not going to. Not unless you're not willing try at all. I don't want easy, I want you!"

Once again unable to easily come up with a reply, Stork just stood there, mouth slightly agape and speechless. This amazing woman, this beautiful, talented, kind, intelligent woman...actually cared for him that much. She wanted him. She chose him over someone who, in his eyes, was the far better choice, and was willing to do what she had to in order to make their relationship work.

It was too good. It couldn't be real. He almost didn't want to believe it. He wanted to blame it on mind worms, or to begin doubting Piper's mental health. His mind automatically shut down any feelings of hope for the situation.

So, when he finally tried to think that maybe this could be happening...

His heart pounded. His heart leapt up into his throat. It's not true! his mind screamed, desperately clinging to disbelief, to what he considered to be safe. Control your feelings! Think about it, you're not good for her, and your life is complicated enough without all of this!

"Stork, I need you to decide." Piper continued, sounding pained. "If you don't feel the same way, please...tell me now."

His internal battle raged for a half second longer, but that moment contained an eternity. After his own fashion, he listed all of the pros and cons to himself in order to logic his way out of danger…before his heart won out and finally defeated his mind.

It almost hurt, the bucking of all of his preconceived notions, doubts and mistrust in that one crucial moment. When this finally happened, when he allowed himself this weakness, he broke down and embraced her, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face into her long hair.

"I'm sorry..." he managed to whisper, trembling from the release of emotion.

She was a bit shocked that he would go so far as to hug her like this on his own, but it didn't take long for her to return the hug and pull him closer. Her eyes burned again, though she had been sure that her tears had been finished off earlier.

As glad as Piper was that they had cleared all of this up, she was even happier that Stork had finally had this breakthrough. Even through her own hurt, she recognized that it was a tremendous step for him. She understood what he had probably been struggling with, and it spoke of his true feelings and willpower that he had come out victorious. He'd still have trouble, but this was a good start on the right path.

And she knew that there would probably be many more times like this. They would argue. They would fight. They would have trials. She would have to go through more heartache and tears.

But without all that...life wouldn't feel right. Problems were real. Clashes happened. But it's pulling through those challenges together that brings you closer and makes everything worth it. Of course it would hurt sometimes, but pain shapes and defines you. Piper knew this, and she was ready to face it all.

She wanted Stork.

She wanted life.

OoO

Dishes clanked against each other. Chairs scooted across the floor.

No one said a word.

It was the first time in a long time that they had all eaten a meal together, and they prepared for it in silence. Aerrow and Stork avoided each other, Piper wouldn't look at Aerrow, and Finn and Junko watched the three of them, trying to figure out what exactly had gone on after their accidental eavesdropping.

They all longed for the simplicity of the years now passed. Back when they all had a mission, back when whatever awkwardness and tension that existed only lasted for a short time...back when everything was clear-cut. A lot of it wasn't easy, but as least they knew what they were doing. They had a plan. And before, they didn't have time for a mess like this. Things were resolved quickly, and lives went on.

Now...they no longer shared a common goal. They each had new paths to follow, ones that would lead them apart.

The Storm Hawks felt broken already, and they hadn't even gone anywhere yet.

Junko looked down at his plate, almost with disinterest. Usually he'd be the first to finish up, but tonight, he lacked the desire. They would only have a few more days together before Finn planned to move to Terra Vapos...why spend it like this? They should be making the best of what time they had left!

The blonde sitting next to him looked just about as lackluster as his friend, pushing his food around his plate and lost in thought...when Junko suddenly formed an idea.

Finn reached for his glass of water, but just as he pressed it to his lips, the wallop 'accidentally' nudged his shoulder, causing water to cover his chin and the front of his shirt. Finn blinked in surprise.

"Whoops." Junko said exaggeratedly, hiding a grin. "Sorry, Finn."

The sharpshooter looked up quizzically for a second, before catching on. "Oh, no problem." he replied, setting his glass down...well, upside-down, actually, on his own head.

Piper's eyes widened, but before she could say anything about cleaning it up, Finn stopped her.

"Hey!" He glared at the navigator, "What was that for, Piper?"

Confused, she let her fork drop to her plate. "What?" she asked in disbelief, not realizing what they were playing at.

Aerrow quickly lowered his head and, to everyone's surprise, was trying not to laugh. "No, Finn...don't blame Piper...that was...my fault." he managed between suppressed snickers. Then he took a piece of bread and threw it on Junko's plate. "But that...that was all Piper."

"Oh, wonderful." Stork muttered, rolling his eyes, "Not this again." Though he expressed contempt for the silliness, and he wouldn't admit it, he was actually glad they had started this up again. He was a fan of silence...but not the awkward kind.

Finally, Piper recalled the stupidity the boys had started...maybe four years ago? She couldn't remember exactly when, but it had been a while. It was one night when Finn decided they would all compete to see who could stay up the latest. Piper hadn't liked the idea, but she hated to be the only one left out. Stork had only agreed because he didn't want them to do any damage to the ship and he was sure he could outlast them all anyway.

After about five in the morning, and after at least five cans of sky soda each, they had resorted to laying around on the floor, tiredly tossing snacks and random objects at each other, saying the most idiotic things, and laughing about nothing. Even Stork had taken part in it...though, after some sleep, he had recalled his behavior with horror. Who knew that seven cans of liquid caffeine coupled with lack of sleep had that kind of effect on him? He had avoided soda ever since.

And so, this game was born. Do stupid things, and blame it on other people. Laugh about nothing and anything.

A smile slowly stretched its way across Piper's face. "Okay, so maybe I did..." She tossed what remained on Aerrow's plate to the floor. "But Aerrow! Why would you do that? Don't you like my cooking?"

Everyone stared at her in awe for a moment, surprised that she would actually go that far, before they all erupted in laughter...excluding Stork, of course, who wouldn't stoop to that kind of mindless hilarity.

"You've got it all wrong," the Sky Knight laughed, "I love your cooking! But I heard that Finn thinks he can do better!"

"Yeah, check it out!" Finn grabbed Stork's plate and arranged its contents into a weird smiley face. "See? Mine looks nicer!"

The Merb stood, giving them all a disparaging look. "May I remind you all that you're adults?" Before Finn could argue that it didn't matter, Stork continued, "And as such, I believe even you can do a lot better than that." With that, he dumped his own glass of water on the sniper's head, soaking it again. "Piper's cooking will always be better than yours." he finished, grinning triumphantly.

The laughter grew. Finn feigned a scowl. "Junko...hold the Merb down. I'll go get the sky soda."

Stork's eyes widened, and he quickly moved to the side of the table opposite from Finn and Junko. "You'll never get me, man..." he warned, tense and ready to run. "That's not happening again."

They all knew it was stupid. It was dumb. They shouldn't be laughing this hard...but they knew more than anything else that they really needed this. To be able to laugh together again, even if there was hardly anything really to laugh at. Yes, they'd have to clean it all up afterwards, but it was a small price to pay to just have fun. They needed a few more days of just acting like the kids they were at heart and not worrying about the days to come.

This dinner became their unspoken agreement to put all their sadness aside for as long as they could...

Until the day that Finn would leave.

OoO

"Here, Finn, I'll get this one for you."

"Nah, I got it. It's the last one."

Finn and Piper stood in a hallway, a cardboard box between them in Finn's arms.

The navigator's face fell a little. "Oh. Alright."

They walked together, headed for the ramp that would take them outside, to Finn's new home on Terra Vapos, with the last of what he was taking with him.

He nudged her with his shoulder. "Y'know, as many times as you probably wanted to over the years, it's not like you're taking me to my grave or anything, Piper. You can quit acting like this is the last time you're ever gonna see me."

Piper managed a halfhearted smile, eyes downcast. "...I'll just really miss you, Finn."

The blonde grinned. "I know, I know...you're so in love with me you can't stand to be away from me for more than a single day. But trust me...as hard as it must be, you'll learn to get over me, one way or another."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, 'cause everyone knows how madly in love with you I am."

Sighing dramatically, he stared up at the ceiling with mock remorse. "It's true. But alas, fate has torn us apart. I must go to be with Ada, and you'll be stuck with..." he cringed, "...Stork."

Piper laughed. "Well, you're certainly making it easier to say goodbye. Keep this up, and I won't mind seeing you leave."

"Aw, you don't have to be like that! Just because our love was never meant to be--ow!" His jokes earned him a good punch to the arm. "Geez, you're a violent woman..." he said, moving closer to the wall, "Suddenly I remember why the two of us would never work out."

"You liar. Since when do violent women turn you off? May I remind you of Dove?"

"May I remind you that I'm not with Dove?"

"Point taken."

They laughed, joked, and poked fun at each other like good old friends do, but as they walked, they subconsciously moved to a pace slower than normal, really lingering at certain places on the ship and over certain jokes. Anything to drag this last day on as long as they could.

While they hadn't been in the beginning, they had definitely become two of the greatest of friends in the end. Staring danger, death and destruction in the face countless times together tends to do that to people...but growing up can do that, too, and they had gone through plenty of both.

So they laughed. But beneath that laughter, they both knew that the other's absence would be sorely missed...

Everyone would be missed.

OoO

Though the four of them hadn't planned to, they ended up staying there with Finn for the new few days. Their excuse was that Aerrow wanted to help fully unpack and to help with things in and out of the house, Stork wanted to make sure Finn's new home was adequately safe, Piper wanted to spend time with Ada and to make sure she knew what she was getting into marrying Finn, and Junko just wanted to have a few more days of fun with his buddy.

But they all knew that if they stayed any longer, it would become harder and harder to leave...and they had somewhere else to be.

They had called around, and found that a group of Blizzaran kids on Terra Nord wanted to become the new Absolute Zeroes, since the those left in the old squadron had retired, and they needed a mentor. Someone to teach them what they needed to know, how to fight well, and how to deal with the Atmosian council. And more than that, they needed someone who knew how to keep a good balance of fun and seriousness, and apparently the Nord squadron still hadn't fully warmed up to the Blizzarans.

They needed a great Sky Knight. Aerrow needed a purpose. It fit.

So he had promised to be there...and to get there on time, they would have to leave today.

Standing outside the Condor, the five of them just looked at each other. Finn wanted to keep talking, to say something that could keep them here for at least a few more moments, but talk was all he could do the last few days, and now there wasn't much left to say.

What was left would be the hardest...

And now it was time.

Aerrow was the first to speak, though it felt weird to him that out of all the things he had led his team into...he'd also have to lead them in saying goodbye.

"Well," he sighed, "this is it."

"You're sure we have to leave now?" Junko asked, trying to hide the pleading tone in his voice.

Piper put a hand on his shoulder. "You knew we couldn't stay here forever." She wanted to comfort him, but there wasn't much she could tell him that he hadn't already been told. "We have to take Aerrow to Nord. Then Stork and I are taking you to Wallop for a few days to visit your family, then the three of us will head over to Atmosia. That's the plan."

The wallop nodded, almost dejectedly. "I know..."

"Hey, hey, come on guys!" Finn grinned, attempting to lighten the mood. "I know you can't possibly live another day without me, but I can't have you guys all depressed when you go, I'll feel bad." He gave a mock disapproving look to Stork. "That means no sobbing all over yourself, dude. That would be embarrassing."

The Merb rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to hold it back until I get back in the ship."

"Thanks, man, I knew I could count on you!" the blonde jokingly threw his arms around Stork, pulling him into an unwilling hug. Though obviously in discomfort, the Merb stiffly allowed it, his expression twisted into one of distaste.

Unfortunately for him, as soon as Finn let go, Junko pulled everyone into a big group hug. "I miss you guys already!" the big guy exclaimed, taking out his unbridled emotion, love and sadness, on his friends. Everyone felt the same...but Junko wasn't afraid to be the first, and knew how, to channel it in the best way possible.

"Me too, big guy." Finn murmured, and a moment later the hug pulled apart. He returned his grin to his face, slapping Aerrow and Junko on the back. "Now get outta here, you crazy kids. You don't have to worry about me, I've got this whole Terra and Ada to keep me in my place. You guys still have people to go and places to meet, remember?"

Piper shook her head, smiling. It didn't matter how much time passed, Finn would always be Finn. "Yeah, yeah. Won't be the same without you embarrassing me everywhere we go, but I guess I'll survive."

"See, that's what I'm talking about!"

The blonde ushered everyone towards the Condor, and they turned to face each other one last time at the foot of the entrance ramp.

"Don't any of you forget to come visit me, alright?" he instructed, looking into each of his friends' eyes in turn. "I mean, I'll be busy here, but I'm never too busy to see my old squad mates every once in a while."

"Absolutely." Aerrow agreed.

"And by 'every once in a while', you mean you want us over at least once a month to hold your hand." Stork stated sarcastically.

Finn laughed. "You've got the idea."

"We might even have to visit more often than that when he starts having kids..." Junko put in thoughtfully.

There were a few seconds of silence while they all considered this, before Stork's eyelid twitched.

"And…there goes the Atmos."

OoO

Bare walls where posters used to be. An empty bin where records were once kept. A clean floor bereft of dirty clothes. A bed that a marksman would never sleep in again.

Finn's room...was no longer Finn's.

It was just a room now. The only sign that someone had once lived in it was an odd stain on the floor, and a lone guitar string peeking out from under the bed.

Empty and abandoned...save for three friends, who sat side-by-side against one of the four bare walls.

Junko had been the first to come in, only an hour after they had left Terra Vapos, already feeling the absence of his best friend. It wasn't like they had always been together before that day...sometimes he wouldn't see Finn all day. But right now...he couldn't feel his presence anymore. He knew that Finn wasn't there. There would be no more times when the blonde would burst into the room suggesting some new scheme he had come up with, he couldn't be found anywhere on the ship getting into something he shouldn't, and Junko couldn't just talk to him anymore. He'd have to call on the radio, and while he definitely would, it just wouldn't be the same.

Finn was gone. And it hurt.

So the wallop had come to this old room, to sit and to think. To remember...there was a lot to remember.

It shouldn't have surprised him, but somehow he just hadn't expected Aerrow to enter the room too, not long after he had. There was no awkward conversation, forced out to fill up the silence, just an unspoken understanding. They had both come here for the same reason, and there was no need for words.

Moments later, they had been joined by Piper, and sympathetic smiles were exchanged. Yet, the still air in the room remained free of words or voices. The only sound that was heard was their light breathing and the regular creaking and humming of their faithful old ship. Though each was still dealing with the reality of the present, being together like this gave them a sort of peace, and they wished they had done this before Finn had left...though, it wouldn't have been quiet if they had.

The only person they were missing now was Stork, but no one really expected him to come anyway. He wasn't the type to outwardly linger on feelings of loss. They all knew he'd move on in the way he knew how, which was quietly and to himself.

But, two hours had passed since the three had sat down together, and now the silence became nearly oppressive. Things were far too quiet without Finn, they realized, but none of them wanted to be the first to speak. And what else could be said anyway? They looked at each other with a mixture of sadness and discomfort...

When Stork's voice was heard over the intercom.

Um, guys...there's a call for all of us on the radio, so you might wanna get out here.

His voice was slightly strained, like he was holding something back...hardly noticeable, except by those who knew him best. They were in the bridge in an instant.

"Who is i--"

Their answer came in the form of a wonderfully familiar, though often annoying, voice...

Hey guys! Good to know that you haven't all died of a broken heart without me yet!

"Finn!" Junko grinned happily. Aerrow laughed.

"Same here," Piper shot back, smiling, just as glad as everyone else to hear from him.

Stork shook his head. "Don't tell me you called just to check up on us..."

Come on, man, I know you're lovin' this too.

There was a little static over the airwaves, and then they heard Ada's voice through the speaker.

I'll have you know that he's done nothing but mope since you guys left, she told them, mock exasperation in her voice. If this keeps up, he'll be the one dying of a broken heart.

"Really now?" Piper wasn't surprised.

Hey, c'mon babe, give it back! They heard Finn beg in the background.

Mm, don't think I want to... Ada replied flirtatiously. You'll have to really convince me.

"Oh, get a room." Stork muttered.

...Guys, I'll call you back.

The call disconnected, ending the conversation as quickly as it has started, and the four remaining Storm Hawks looked at each other with amusement. If this kind of keep-in-contact was going to continue, with calls this often, then maybe it wouldn't be so bad...just as long as every call didn't quite end this way.

OoO

And so, the Storm Hawks parted ways. Though, understandably, they hadn't wanted to be separated, their farewells had gone better than they had expected and they were fully capable of living their new lives.

The first few years were hard for everyone...and it was harder for some to move on than others. There were unexpected trials and challenges, but in the end, their experience and willpower managed to help them through each hurdle. At one time or another, each and every one of the friends had found themselves thinking back on their time together with a whisper of regret and no small tinge of longing, but they realized that the nearly magical days of their youth in a squadron, protecting the Atmos, were gone.

As time went by, they gained new friends. Started families. Settled down a bit. But they always kept in contact and visited like they promised, and the memories of days now passed always seemed to stay in the back of their minds. Deep down, they would never let go of the years together that shaped them into the people they had become.

They made friends, they lost some, and one day in their old age, they might even forget them. But life isn't about what you have in the end, even if it's memories. It's about the people you've met, the lives you've changed, and the companions you've loved. It's about what you've done with the time you had, and the imprint you've left behind.

And with that in mind, the heroes who had given so much of themselves to make better the Atmos of their generation...were content.

--

There you have it!

Thanks a billions to my beauteous betas, Ambrel and .PhaerynTao., for all their awesomeness. Go read their work and give it love. Now.

And then thanks to everyone who read this, putting up with how long it took to finish. You're awesome!