Disclaimer: I own only Amelia Waldorf-Bass, Katherine Archibald, and Jackson and Daniella Humphrey. All other recognisable characters and places are the property of their respective owners.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please read the A/N at the bottom when you’re done. Also, sorry about the shortness of this update; it’s more Epilogue than proper chapter.

Chapter Twelve: Yours and Mine

The Met steps were crowded, but Mia and her friends had managed to stake out their own little patch of concrete.

As Mia spooned some yoghurt into her mouth, she watched the people chatting around her; the cab’s jamming up on the street, and the pedestrians hurrying from wherever they had been to wherever they were supposed to be. Everyone was in-between something. In-between places, in-between people.

If there was anything Mia had learnt over the last two and a half months, it was that she had been like those people too. She had spent year’s in-between her mother and her father, happiness and sadness, childishness and maturity. And now it felt like she’d emerged from that strange place where no one is quite where they’re supposed to be. Her parents had been united and she no longer had to move between them to get equal time with each; she was happy with her life and everything that was happening in it; she had left childhood behind her.

Sometimes, when she couldn’t sleep, she’d lie awake and remember what she’d done to get her parents to fall back in love with each other. How childish the whole plan had been. If she had been honest in the beginning and made Chuck and Blair just talk to each other, things would have been different. Maybe they’d still be talking things over now, but at least they wouldn’t have wasted two months. Or maybe she had done the right thing. Maybe the only way to get her parents to talk, was to play the game and make them see each other again.

Mia shook her more philosophical thoughts from her head when she felt someone brush against her arm as they lowered themselves to the step beside her.

When she turned to look, Mia wasn’t really surprised to see Jack. She’d spent a lot of time with him, and Ella and Katie over what had remained of the Christmas break after New Year. She’d been telling the truth when she said she wasn’t trying to avoid him, and she didn’t think avoiding him would help her make up her mind in any case. He was always on her mind in some capacity anyway; attempts at avoidance would be pointless.

But had she made up her mind? She thought so…

Jack turned to meet her eyes and a crooked smile appeared on his face. He reached out, picked the apple off her lap and took a huge bite out of it.

Mia scowled. “Don’t you ever have your own food?”

He laughed. “Sure, but stealing yours is more fun.”

She rolled her eyes but turned back to her yoghurt without further protest. “Your mother would be ashamed of you.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Jack nod in mock sadness. “She already is, Mia. She’s saying there’ll be no one to carry on the family name if I don’t find myself a girl and settle down soon.”

Silence descended between them, slightly awkward, slightly tense, slightly wary…slightly hopeful. All of the emotions they’d experienced when conversation had inadvertently turned to this topic over the break.

Mia bit the inside of her lower lip and then opened her mouth to speak, but Jack beat her to it.

“Who’s that guy Ella and Katie are talking to?”

For a moment, Mia wanted to call him out on his avoidance methods, and turn the tables on him, but she looked down towards where the steps met the sidewalk and frowned. “He’s in a St Jude’s uniform. Shouldn’t you know who he is?”

Jack ignored her jab. His eyes narrowed and, when Ella giggled coyly at something the boy had said, he leaned forward and even began to push himself off the step.

Mia reached out and grabbed his wrist before he could get off the ground. “Leave her. He’s not doing anything wrong and it looks like she likes him. Besides, Katie is with her. She’s not prone to acting rashly.”

Jack grumbled and tore a chunk of the apple out with his teeth. “Katie’s a girl.”

Mia’s jaw dropped open and she turned to smack him in the shoulder. “What’s that supposed to mean? Just because she’s a girl, she has to have you looking out for her all the time?”

He shook his head. “Katie is family, and Luke and Andrew aren’t old enough to look out for her well-being yet, so the job falls to me.”

She rolled her eyes, knowing that, while Jack might not know who the boy was at that moment, he certainly would by the end of the day. “Men,” she mumbled under her breath.

Jack tried to be mature though. He cast one last, long look at the girls and the other boy before turning reluctantly back to Mia.

He drew a breath and took another bite out of the apple, chewing slowly. Once he’d swallowed he said, “So, how are your parents? They’re still on that honeymoon, right? Where did they go again?”

Mia couldn’t help but grin. “They’re great. And yes, they’re still away. They decided to give Tuscany another try. Mother didn’t let Daddy take a separate car this time though. Anyway, they get back early next week, but they called me last night, telling about how much fun they’re having. They sounded happy, and you know, they weren’t even faking.”

“I’m glad they’re happy. I’m glad you’re happy.”

Mia nodded. “Me too. I haven’t felt this happy in a long time. There’s just one thing that would make me happier than I’ve ever been.”

“And what’s that?”

She stirred her spoon through her yoghurt and turned to take in his face. “You.”

Jack didn’t say anything and Mia began to feel sick to her stomach. The butterflies were still there, but suddenly she wondered if he’d given up on her. Could he have moved on already?

She hurriedly continued, “I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it all, just like I said I would. I…I won’t lie. I went back and forth a lot, not because I wasn’t sure about what I felt, but because I wasn’t sure what I felt was best for us. I do like you, Jack. Nothing has changed, but I’m worried that if we do this, then we’ll stop being friends. Sure, your parents are still friends. Nate and Jenny are still friends. Hell, even my parents are still friends, and they’ve all been together for years…but we’re not them.”

When Mia stopped talking, both she and Jack were silent again. This silence was longer than the ones previous. Mia could tell by the slight furrow in Jack’s brow that he was thinking hard about what she’d said, but she still had the feeling that she was going to empty the contents of her stomach onto the steps.

Finally, Jack refocused and met her gaze. “No, we’re not them. We’re stronger.”

Mia frowned and shook her head. “What do you mean?

Jack took her cool hand and held it between both of his warm ones. “I mean, that our parents spent half their time fighting and breaking up with each other. We’ve almost never fought seriously, and when we have, we’ve always made up soon after. We think the same way, we move the same way, we feel the same way. We’re beginning with a stronger base than our parents had, all we have to do is build on it.”

A smile started on Mia’s face and she squeezed his hand. “What’s with the foundation metaphors? Are you turning poet?”

Jack laughed but said seriously, “No, actually, I’m thinking of going into architecture. What do you think?”

Her smile widened. “I think that’s a great idea…so long as you design me a magnificent house in the Hampton’s.”

He grinned and acquiesced with a bob of his head. “Sure, why not? At least I know you can afford me.”

She gasped. “You’re terrible, Jack Humphrey!”

Jack laughed lowly and leaned in towards her. His gaze dropped to her mouth and then back up to meet her eyes. “Maybe, but am I yours?”

Mia giggled and then nodded eagerly. “Yes. I’m yours and you’re mine.”

Jack sighed. “Finally.”

He bridged the distance between them and kissed her tenderly, and Mia smiled because, at last, everything was as it should be.

- The End -

A/N: And that’s all she wrote, folks. (sigh) I’m really kinda sad that this has ended. Sure, I’m proud as anything for what this story has accomplished and the love this story has received, and I don’t really want it to end yet…

BUT! It doesn’t have to! That’s right. I have a few ideas related to these characters that I’m going to see if I can develop into strong plots. If I do, I’ll post them. There is one project that should be up really soon, which some of you lucky reviewers already know about. I’m not going to mention anything specific here though, just in case it doesn’t work out as well as I would like.

Guys, seriously, this has been great. I’ve have been flattered and overjoyed at the kind words you’ve all had to share. I’m just glad you’ve enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it, and I’m so glad you fell in love with Jack and Mia (Mack! Hehe) just like I did.

I’d really appreciate it if you leave a review each for the road. Let me know what you thought of this chapter and the story as a whole. I was going to ask for your fave character, but something tells me that Jack would have won hands down.

Thanks so much for everything!

Be safe.

- Marie