I took a long time for this one, didn't I? Sorry, but I had two different scenarios in mind. One where Tara gets into the Academy, and one where she doesn't. After going back and forth, I decided on the current one. Hopefully, you'll like this ending. Please note my little knowledge of ballet comes from watching DA, so if you read something about ballet that isn't right, my apologies in advance.

And thanks again for your kind words! AC, your review prompted me to finish this ASAP. So, thank you! Looking forward to hearing what your thoughts are about the ending...

Epilogue

Tara drummed her fingers impatiently on the barre as she waited for Christian to finish up with his class. She was going to audition for a spot at the National Academy of Dance the day after. Christian had been helping her train for the past few weeks in the Center where he taught. She was really anxious for his feedback today. Even though she had been warming up at the barre for just the past hour, it had seemed like forever. At last, Christian's class was done and he walked up to her.

"Finally!" she sighed before hugging him tightly.

"If I had known I'd get such a welcome, I'd have come around much sooner," Christian joked.

"Christian!" Tara poked him playfully in the ribs before letting go.

"So, are you ready to start?"

Tara took a deep breath in. "As ready as I'll ever be."

As she practiced her moves, Christian offered her his input. As she worked on her rond de jambe, "You're rolling forward on your right foot" and later, "I think your développé can be a little higher." All too soon, it seemed to Tara, she had to leave the barre and work on the dreaded fouetté turns. She worked on it a little before frustration set in.

"You know fouetté turns freak me out. Can I just do attitude turns or something?" Tara asked Christian.

"Why don't you take a break and decide later? You've been at it for quite some time."

"You're right. I'm getting a bit tired."

Tara took a swig from her water bottle and proceeded to sit on the floor and stretch her legs. Christian sat down beside her and they both leaned against the wall. They sat in silence for a while. He then took her hand in his and said, "You don't have to do an audition this year Tara. You can wait till next year, you know, postpone till you get stronger."

"I am not getting any younger Christian," Tara said sadly. "It'll be weird enough trying to compete for a spot with fifteen and sixteen year olds. And next year, I will be a year older. I bet I will feel ancient…"

"Nineteen isn't old!" Christian protested. But he understood her insecurity. He also knew there was nothing he could say that would change her mind. So he let her rest for a few more minutes before he stood up and held out his hand to her. "Come on then, let's get going."

The moment was finally here. Tara was filled with trepidation as she held onto the letter from the Academy with shaking hands. The letter that was going to define her future! She had thought she was ready to face the result no matter what it was. After all, she had been mentally preparing for this moment for almost a year. Boy, was she wrong! She thought her heart was going to jump out of her chest as she opened the envelope. As she read the letter, tears started pouring down her face.

"Is everything ok Petal?" Kat asked with concern. "Did you get in?"

Tara just handed the letter over to Kat and walked to her bedroom in silence.

Kat read quietly. Tara had not made it to the Academy. The board had thought that even though she had nailed the artistic bit, she was weak technically. They understood that it was probably because she was still recovering from the injury to her back and suggested that if she was still keen on getting in, she should try again the next year. However, they had a proposition for her. Bearing in mind that she had been a top student of the Academy not so long ago, they would be willing to consider her for the position that had been created by Ms. Lucinda Raine leaving the company. They had not yet found a fitting replacement for her, and the temp they had hired would be unable to come back this year. Of course, she would have to go through the interview process. But she would be the top contender for the spot.

Kat walked to the bedroom to see her friend sitting on the bed staring into space. She sat down beside her and hugged her.

"Do you want to talk about this T?"

Tara just shook her head and closed her eyes. Kat didn't pressure her friend, she knew she would talk about it when the time was right.

Christian was getting ready to leave the Center when his phone rang. It was Kat.

"Is Tara with you?" Kat asked him before he could even get a hello out. He could hear the panic in her voice.

"No. Why? What happened?"

"Did you hear from her today at all?" No, it had been one of those rare days when he hadn't heard from her and when he had been too busy to call her.

"No Kat. Can you please tell me what happened?"

"She received her letter today," Kat was crying now. His heart sank then, he knew she hadn't made it to the Academy. "I tried to talking to her, but she wouldn't. And then I had to go to the studio. By the time I came back, she was gone. And she is not answering her phone… I am so worried Christian. I was hoping she had come to see you. Where could she be?"

"Have you talked to Abby yet?" Maybe she had gone over to see Abigail.

"I called her before I called you. She hasn't heard from her either."

"Let me think about this Kat. I'll get back with you soon." Christian's heart was filled with uneasiness. He called her phone several times but there was no response. Where could she have gone? He couldn't think straight. Should he wait or should he call the police? Should he call her parents? His mind was still in turmoil when Kat called him again.

"I just got a text from Tara, Christian. She says she's ok and not to worry about her. Nothing more. I texted her back, but there's been no answer."

"Thanks Kat," he could breathe a little easier now. Now that he knew she was all right. But it hurt like hell that she hadn't called him. After everything they had been through! After he had spent long hours helping her train! He headed back home with a heavy heart.

It had been a week since Tara had left town. None of her friends had still heard from her. Every day had felt like an eon to Christian. As he finished his class and headed home that evening, he was still thinking about her. She was still in his thoughts as he stepped into his apartment. And to his surprise he found her there, chatting with Ollie.

"Hi Christian!" said Ollie. "Sorry I have to take leave Tara. But you know, the Company beckons!"

Soon as he was out the door, Tara approached Christian. "Hey. Can we talk?"

"You just leave without a note, without a goodbye and expect me to talk!" Christian was furious. "You didn't even have the courtesy to call me and say where you were!"

"I'm sorry Christian. I truly am. I was in a really dark place when I heard that I hadn't made it to the Academy. I had told myself that I would be ok with it, but apparently I wasn't." Her eyes were starting to tear up and she tried to blink them away. "I'm sorry. Please, can we talk?"

Christian reluctantly walked up to the couch and sat down.

"I went down to the farm. I just needed time to come to terms with all this," she spread her hands. "I owed it to my parents to let them know what had happened. After all they had as much hope as me, if not more. I knew they would worry, so I had to convince them I'd be alright. I know it was wrong to cut myself off from you all, but I had to figure out what I wanted for myself."

"And?"

"I'd promised myself I would take a shot to get back to where I was before my surgery. I tried and I failed. I have accepted it now. So, I am going to attempt something else. I am going to try out for the teaching position at the Academy. That'll give me a chance to still be involved in ballet."

"And what about us Tara? Do you still want to be involved with me?" He wasn't angry with her anymore, well maybe a little. But what she said made sense. And he wanted to know for sure that she still wanted to be with him.

She moved closer to him. "Christian, I love you. I have never loved anyone else and I don't think I'll be able to love anyone the way I love you. It has always been you."

Then, as if he had just given up, and slowly, giving her enough time to pull away if she wanted to, Christian leaned towards her and brushed his lips against hers. It was like the floodgates opened then. They both kissed each other greedily, with all the pent up emotion of last year. Christian's hands slipped down her back to her waist. He pulled her closer, as if he couldn't bear to be any farther from her. Her hands moved to his hair and held him there, as if she too was afraid that he would pull back. She had needed this, she thought, she missed being in his arms. It somehow comforted her and pained her at the same time.

After a few minutes, or maybe just seconds they pulled apart, gasping for air. Christian rested his forehead on hers as they both tried to gather their wits about them. He was ecstatic to know Tara's feelings towards him had not changed. As if on cue, his phone rang.

"Aren't you gonna answer that?" Tara whispered.

He pulled his phone out halfheartedly. It was Raf.

"Hi Raf," he answered gruffly. "No, everything's fine. Yes, I am still good with the plans for this weekend. Ok, see you then."

"That was quick!" exclaimed Tara. "What did Raf want?"

But as soon as she asked the question, she bit her cheek. "Oops, sorry Christian. Your relationship with your dad is something we shouldn't talk about, I guess?"

Christian held her hands and said, "Tara, if we are going to make this work, there'll be no more conditions. We can't hold a part of ourselves back and expect to make this work. We shouldn't have to watch everything we say, be worrying all the time if we are saying or doing the right thing. And I expect we'll find that we don't agree about everything. We'll argue and fight, but if we want to be with each other, we'll learn to compromise."

Tara said with a huge smile, "Aren't you supposed to be uncommunicative?"

He drew her to him, silencing her with his lips. He pulled apart after a while and said, "Raf wants me to go see him this weekend. I want you to come with me. Will you?"

"I will!" She had a twinkle in her eye. "And will you come down to the farm next weekend then?"

"As your boyfriend, you mean. Hell, yes!"

"That was the right answer. And for that, I may even let you get to second base!" Christian looked at her with shock. "We do have bases our side of town, Mr. Reed!" She giggled.

Christian growled and pulled her to him. As they kissed again that night, he couldn't stop his smile. Moving forward, life may be simple and effortless with Tara, but it definitely wasn't going to be boring!