A/n: sorry I totally forgot to update I had the chapter written but I've been really unorganized lately. ANYWAYS! I AM SO SORRY! THANK YOU FOR PATIENCE!

NOW

THE

FINALE!

-Rared 

(this is unedited btw sorry) 

. . . . . . . 

Tam POV

The district market is split into three parts; The Public, The Private, The Rich. The Public section had anything you could buy legally. A lot of working and middle class elves shopped here, because it had food, supplies, clothes, and toys and farming animals. Usually, the crowd is mothers and fathers and their kids, running around buying and making quick deals. The Private section had anything you could buy "legally". A lot of shady business goes down there, and there's always a handful of cops patrolling the area. Even with the police, a lot of deals for items that are "dangerous" or "out of control powerful" are sold there. The atmosphere is quiet, and children are rarely seen there. It's also the best place to buy herbs and medicine, so a lot of nurses or doctors were seen down there too. The Rich section had anything you could buy if you are wealthy and a well known elf. Cloaks, robes, crowns, diamonds, and so much more. If you're a cameraman for a celebrity oriented magazine, this is where you'd go to find the stars.

Keefe had found a place right next to The Public row. The tenant building was squashed two other apartments, and there was a small plaza in the middle. Clotheslines hung high up in the air and I could tell that there were a lot of families. Must be why Keefe bought this place; it'd be cheap. Poor families lived here. And most of the elves of color (A/n: I have so much beef with Shannon Messenger's representation with elves and skin tone and I rant about it for hours lmao).

We were room 214 on floor 3. There was no money for elevators so we climbed up the stairs, entertaining ourselves by teasing each other about how scared Keefe was of the rats and me the spiders. Floor 3 was filled with little children and new couples. The kids ran around us, smiling and giggling and chasing each other with ribbons and fly swatters. The hallways were narrow, so I wasn't surprised when a little girl bumped into my leg, almost knocking the both of us over.

"Sorry, Sir!" She exclaimed. "Are you new here!?"

She swung back and forth, her little teal dress swirling with her. Her eyes were electric blue and her hair was a curly brown. Her skin was a glowing tan, a few shades darker than mine.

"Yeah, we're actually a little lost." She brightened up. "We're looking for room 214. Do you know where that is?"

"Yes!! That's next to my house!!" She squealed a bit and slipped her hand into mine. "I'll show you!"

"Perfect." Keefe smiled at the little girl.

"Wait, I have to get Tylo." She turned around and called, "TYLO! WE HAVE NEIGHBORS!"

A boy who looks just like her runs from an unseen corner and stands next to her. Tylo looks up to Keefe, "Do you have kids?"

"Tylo!" She elbows him. "Manners!"

"Sorry, Mida." He looked back up at us. "What's your room number?"

"They live right next to us, idiot." Mida rolled her eyes at him. "They're lost though. We have to show them to they're room."

"Oh okay!" He grabs Keefe's hand. "Let's go, then."

Mida and Tylo sped around, dragging Keefe and I with them. They dashed around corners and skipped down the hallways, all the while we stumbled to keep up. The floors creaked and groaned and the wallpaper had peeled off the walls; it was clear no one had remodeled it in a long time. Still, it felt so roomy and cozy. I could imagine living here and feeling at home.

They skirted to a stop at a rusty orange door with the numbers scratched out fainty, '214'.

"Well, this is your house." She examined the door, "Do you have a key?"

"Yep." Keefe searched his pocket and pulled out a copper key. He then slid it into the lock, and jerked it left. The satisfying click sounded through the hallway, and he twisted the brass knob. The door creaked open.

"You can knock on our door if you need anything." Mida said, patting my hand. "Have fun!"

Mida and Tylo scrambled to their house and slammed the door shut.

"This is it." I said, anxiously.

"I'm gonna open the door all the way now." Keefe said, slowly inching his hand to the knob.

"Oh God." I mumbled.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing, just worried."

"Worried about what?" Keefe smirked, "Scared to see a...sPiDeR?"

"I am not afraid of spiders!" I protested. Then, added, "You're scared of rats!"

"Am not!" he sighed, "You know what, let's just get this over with."

He swings the door open, and we enter.

The loft couldn't have been more than 1,000 square feet. It was dusty, and there were three rooms; two bedrooms and a bathroom. There was a living room next to the kitchen, but no table. It smelled strange. The bedrooms were empty and the only things completely intact were the bathroom and kitchen, both tiled and the kitchen had a stove, sink, and coverless cupboards. It was shades of light blues for the paint and it was chipping off. There were a few loose tiles. The windows were barred. Besides that, it was normal.

"It's perfect." I gasped. "This is so much better than I thought it would be."

"I mean, it's no palace." Keefe shrugged. "But most of the stuff we need we could probably buy with the money my...Lord Cassius gave to us."

"Yeah..." I spun around once to get a full view of my new home, "What should we fix first?"

"First, I think we should get our stuff. Then, get a home crystal for this place." Keefe said, "I think we should either start with the bedroom or the kitchen. Whichever one seems to come naturally."

"Good idea." I take one last longing look at our new home, and turn my crystal to my old home.

. . . . . . . .

"YOU HAVE TO TAKE ME THERE!!" Linh squealed, hearing the news of our apartment.

"Will you keep it down!?!" I hissed at her, packing up my things.

"Sorry!" She helped fold my clothes carefully, "But I wanna see your house!!"

"You can see it later." I rolled my eyes.

"P l e a s e." She begged, "I can help with everything!"

I sighed loudly, "Call Keefe."

After ten minutes of Keefe and Linh chatting it up about school, Linh got what she wanted.

"Thought you could get rid of me, huh?" She frowned. "Not so quickly, nuh uh."

"Whatever. Just grab some bags and let's go." I sighed.

. . . . . . . .

We traveled through different crystals, and when I got to the tenant building, Linh wasn't the only person there. She brought home Marella.

"Wow, I hope you don't contract rabies from living here." She sniffed.

"Thanks, Marella. I love the house too." I said and rolled my eyes.

"Hey, let's not be mean." Linh said, putting her hands in between each other. "I brought you here so you could help with the setup of everything."

"I'm a girl." She deadpanned.

"A girl with massive muscles." Linh added.

"True. I could beat Tam in an arm wrestle." I glared at her, and she sighed, "Whatever. We brought a lot of stuff. Where do you want it?"

And then commenced a furniture moving montage.

It was hard work, and we only got the bare essentials placed, but it was worth it. Linh worked with dusting because she had the strength of a dead mouse, Keefe hung out in front of the mirror and flirted with his reflection, and Marella and I worked on the house. After it, me and Keefe settled on the couch and they left.

"You tired?" He asked as I curled up next to him, softly nodding, "You're so cute."

"I'm going to bed." I mumbled.

"On the couch?" Keefe raised his eyebrow.

"Mhm." I said into the pillow.

"I'll sleep with you, then."

"Keefe." I yanked on his sleeve.

"Tam."

"You're also cute." my hand fell from his sleeve and to his kneecap.

"Night, Tam." He rubbed his hand into my hair and down my back, in methodical strokes.

"Night, Keefe." I fell into a deep sleep, where I dreamed of the person beside me. In demoralizing work days and sleepless moonlit nights, I would recall this day. The kids, the furniture, the smell of the house, Keefe. I would roll over and look over to the boy who changed it all. I thought of this day when there wasn't anyone left in the day to reminisce over the memories. I turned to the other side of the bed even when Keefe wasn't there to meet my gaze. Keefe changed everything. With a flick of his wrist, I was falling for him. With a smirk, he tore me apart. With a flirtatious comment, I was brought to ruins. God, I loved him. No, I love him. I always will, and I think I always did. Deep inside my heart, where no one's ever been, I know it. And that's enough for me.