AUTHOR'S NOTE: THIS IS IT!! Guys, we did it! After all these years and we finally came to the end of the series. I just want to take this time to thank each and every one of you for everything that you have done for me. You guys gave me an escape when I needed one and you all became my best friends. We laughed, we cried, and honestly, I am and will forever be grateful for each and everyone of you. You guys have supported me endlessly through my writing journey and I will never forget it. From the tattoos to the fan videos to the manips made -- you guys are a DREAM COME TRUE!!! You guys are hardcore, badass, loyal, and THE BEST READERS IN THE WORLD. No one even comes close to you, you guys have made this series what it is today and it's BECAUSE OF YOU that it ever got to this. You guys had the series trending on Twitter -- THREE TIMES, you guys began the fandom within fanfictions with all your creative artwork and I will never, ever forget the times we fangirled together and freaked out over the chapters to come. LIKE HELLO?? It's been years and you're still here. MY BABES. Putting everything to "rest" makes my heart swell, I'm crying writing this. You guys made writing my dream and hopefully one day, it will become a reality. You guys made this come true for me and I will always be here to support each and everyone of you. I LOVE YOU!!! THANK YOU TIMES A MILLION!!!!

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"Come on... come on," Justin switched lanes on the road as he waited impatiently for the other line to answer.

Nothing.

"Fuck," throwing his phone aside as he continued to swerve out of the way, he ran his fingers through his hair ignoring the sting from his busted knuckles.

He was numb, exhausted, and torn apart inside, fighting the demons that told him to run away. This was it, he knew it -- he felt it, and nothing could save him from what was going to happen next.

They spent years fighting for their lives, protecting what they thought was important. The money, the cars, the power, it meant nothing when you didn't have the person you loved standing next to you.

They knew that now.

He knew that now.

But it was too late.

Ending the call, Justin looked up at Officer Martinez. "I got to go."

"Like hell you do, Bieber."

"You can take me out in cuffs right now, but it won't stop me. I did you a favor, don't forget that."

He scoffed in disbelief, putting his hand up to a fellow officer to stop him as he began to take his handcuffs out too. "Do you understand what you're doing right now?"

"Yeah, and it's a risk I'm willing to take. You defend your men when you have to, you protect them, right? That's all I'm trying to do. Me and you, we aren't that different as you'd like to think we are."

Pressing his lips together, locking his jaw, he stayed quiet.

"Make sure you take her to the hospital."

Shaking her head, Kelsey stepped forwards, "Justin, no. Where are you going?"

"Look at me," he grabbed her face, "I'll be back, okay? I promise."

But promises were always meant to be broken.

"Please don't leave me," she whispered, tears forming as she wrapped her fingers around his wrists in hopes to keep him close. "Not again."

"I love you,"

Frowning, she closed her eyes, leaning up pressing her forehead against his. "I love you too."

Lifting her chin, he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her softly allowing his lips to linger on hers for a while longer before pulling away, looking Martinez in the eyes, "take care of her."

Turning, letting his fingers slip through hers, he walked out the door, rushing over to his car.

"Come on,"

Forcing herself to oblige as Martinez took her by the arm, she reluctantly followed to the cop car waiting outside. Sitting in the back seat, she looked out the window as they pulled out, the sounds of the sirens drowning out her thoughts.

"Please God," Justin murmured, so softly, it was barely audible. "Please."

Parking without taking out the key, letting the ignition run, Justin pushed open the door before slamming it shut behind him as he neared the garage where the door was open. "What the fuck are you doing?"

Looking over, John sighed, turning away from him as he pulled together the guns they had stashed away. "How many times am I going to be asked that question?"

"You're not thinking clearly," he shook his head, one of many trying to get through to him. There was no way they could survive this way. There was too much going on, too much on the line.

"Yes, I am."

"What the fuck happened to you?" Bruce countered from the back, his eyes taking notice to Justin's disheveled appearance.

Looking at him aggrieved, Justin pushed his hand through his hair, "Tanner Evans."

Everyone turned to look at him, "wait, what?"

"Evans?" John questioned.

Nodding, Justin looked at him. "Yeah, turns out he's Delgado's brother. Been playing Kelsey all along. Some shit about revenge on the bastard, can you believe that? Kid's fucking delusional."

"That's what happens when people only know one side of the story," Bruce interjected. "Is she okay? Did he hurt her?"

He turned towards Marcus, "I called Martinez before heading there. That's why I left."

"You let the cops take over?"

"What else was I supposed to do? We were drowning and I have enough blood on my hands and with this shit going on, we can't afford anymore. I couldn't do that to her again and she was even close to doing it herself."

"Jesus."

"Kelsey?" Marco asked, dumbfounded.

They knew Kelsey as someone who was anything but violent, she didn't see any point of it. Either you worked things out or walked away. You never hurt anyone. You were always the bigger person. You turned the other cheek.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he wiped his hand over the front of his face, "yeah. I think it finally got to her.. Everything that she's been through, it's a lot for anyone to handle."

John shook his head, "that girl's been through hell and back, I'd want to shoot the fucker too."

Hearing him speak, Justin stood toe to toe so that they were the only ones in vision of each other, "you should be with Carly right now. Let me handle this."

"What kind of man would I be if I just sat back and let you all take care of a situation that concerns me too? This is about all of us. He didn't just do it to me."

"The only reason you're in this mess is because Landon wanted to get to me. He did and now he's coming after everyone else too. This is all just a game to him. He already got the prize."

"He doesn't have shit," John spat angrily. "What did you do when this was Kelsey? Did you just sit back and say fuck it? Or did you fight?"

"Look where that got me!" he snapped, hands flying in the air as frustrations pooled out of him like a broken faucet. "Look at the mess we're in. Kelsey was a target and Carly's in the hospital fighting for her life, and for what? For what, John? Because we were too selfish to stop."

"No." Shaking his head, John laughed humorlessly as he looked at him as he jammed his index finger into his temple, "you let yourself get inside your head. You let everyone else determine your life and your future. Leo didn't know shit about Kelsey or the relationship you guys had. Her father didn't, hell, they didn't either at first." He gestured towards the others, "no one did, but me." His hand rested on his chest, "I saw it."

He smiled, and Justin felt his chest constrict. "Do you remember when she came here and everyone was so hell bent on getting rid of her? They wanted to kill her, but you didn't want to. You kept an eye on her and somewhere along the way, you fell in love with her too. I told you that you cared about her and I could see it in your eyes, you didn't want anything bad to happen to her and knowing she was going into this with you, the risks were extremely high. You were so fucking scared because the last time you gave a fuck about someone, they died, but that girl was safer with you than she ever was without you."

"She gave you something to fight for. Before her, you had no regard for your life. You didn't give a fuck about anyone or anything; you didn't care if you lived or died. You would've been dead a long time ago fighting those demons in your head and everyone else around you had it not been for her."

"You cut yourself off from the world and then Kelsey came around and suddenly you couldn't handle it. You didn't want to feel anything and she made you feel everything. Stop running away from it. It's time we put this shit to rest. We've all fought for our lives; fought to stay alive, fought to see another day and somewhere along the way we found a bigger purpose. We need to take that and fight like hell to keep it."

Reaching over and taking a gun into his hand, he looked at the metal, feeling the weight beneath his fingertips, "I don't know about you but Landon doesn't deserve to live and he certainly doesn't deserve anything else we've fought for."

Looking around the room, they bathed in the silence, the air thick with spoken truth. This was the beginning of the end and he knew it too.

Reaching over and grabbing his own gun, Justin snapped the receiver closed.

"Let's go."

-----------------

"We're here."

Looking up, Kelsey blinked away the sleep in her eyes. Her body feeling as if it had been run over numerous times. Sometimes she wished it was all a dream and she'd wake up in her bed, waiting for Carly to get out of the bathroom. Nodding, she took off her seatbelt, opening the door before stepping out into the cold air.

Her heart hurt.

"Is she okay?"

He shook his head, "I know as much as you do."

Looking at Martinez, Kelsey bowed her head once more before turning as she began to walk towards the emergency room entrance.

She felt eerie. Something was off.

Pausing, she turned to look at him, "why did you come?"

He looked back at her, slightly dumbfounded. "Excuse me?"

"Why did you come? It's clear you don't like him, probably even wish he was dead." She looked him right in the eye, every ounce of compassion she's ever had gone within seconds.

He didn't say anything for a few seconds, just staring at her as she spoke.

"You do, don't you?"

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Look, I get it. He's done some bad things, but wouldn't you rather he take out the bad guys then for you to have to deal with them?"

"He's still one of them."

"He's just a guy that was lost for a very long time. He's done some unexplainable things, I know that, but I'm sure you have too. We're not innocent, nobody is. We've all done something we're not proud of and if you weren't so God damn ignorant, you could see it for yourself. He's trying to change, to do better for himself. Give him the chance to prove you wrong." Turning, she continued her way towards the hospital, "thanks for saving me," she waved, "now go to Hell."

Walking down the corridor, Kelsey felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. It was different, she could feel it as she got closer. Everything was piling up and it was only a matter of time before it came crashing down. "Excuse me, can you tell me which room Carly Risi is in?"

"Are you a family member?"

"I'm her sister."

"Can I have ID?"

"Half-sister," she immediately corrected herself. "I'm her half-sister."

She narrowed her gaze, typing on the computer slowly coming to a stop. "Half-sister?"

"Yes and I don't have my ID on me. Please, it's been a long night. I just have to see her."

Typing away at her computer, she scrolled before typing some more. Pausing as she stared at the screen, she looked back up at Kelsey. "It looks like she's in surgery."

"Surgery? For what?"

"Kelsey?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Kelsey rushed over to them. "Prince, what happened?" She held onto his shoulders for support, "where is everyone? Where's Carly? They said she's in surgery?"

Holding onto her, he shook his head, "her heart gave out, they're doing an emergency C-Section. The boys called Justin and they're on their way there. You look hurt."

Closing her eyes, Kelsey sucked in a sharp breath. Her entire body went into shock, every emotion she could possibly experience piercing through her veins.

Breaking through the barrier of her lips, she began crying, collapsing into his arms. Clutching onto his shirt, she sobbed endlessly.

"Are you okay?"

"No, yeah -- well, no." Carly exasperated as she paced the floors of her room.

"Carly, what's wrong? You're freaking me out."

"I'm pregnant," she blurted.

"Oh my God,"

"I know, I know -- me of all people, can you believe it?"

"Have you told John?"

"No, not yet. I want to wait for the honeymoon. I want to make sure we're settled before I spring it on him."

"How far along are you?"

"About four months."

"So that's why you've gained weight. I was thinking it was just the sex."

Gasping, Carly laughed, "shut up!"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," she smiled big before lifting to her feet, wrapping her arms around Carly's neck. "I'm so happy for you. I'm gonna be an auntie, I can't wait!"

"Yeah you are," she smiled too, clinging to Kelsey as she hugged her back. Taking a deep breath and letting it out, she whispered, "do you think we're gonna make it?"

Kelsey remained quiet for a moment longer before nodding, "yeah. Yeah, we are."

-----------------

Parking the car, Bruce killed the engine. It was quiet, no one saying a word as they stared off into the distance. Landon and his men were on the dock, passing crates among each other as they counted them in.

One of their guys, Jeff, stood outside the entrance, guarding it.

Another, Kellen, was on the other side of the dock, watching.

Justin turned to Bruce, "where are ours?"

"Right behind us."

Turning to look out the back window, he saw another two trucks behind them. Getting out of the car, he walked around to the back, opening up the trunk. Inside were a series of black duffle bags filled with guns and bombs.

"McCann?"

"Only the best."

Justin rolled his eyes, handing him two hand guns as they all began passing them along to each other making sure they each had enough and not too much to carry.

Pulling on his mask, Justin turned to look at them all as they got ready to cover their faces with one too. "No holding back tonight. There's no negotiations, no playing games - we're doing this until we're the only ones left standing."

"It's time we finish what we started."

As they all got ready, it was like they were back in the woods three years ago.

They thought they had it all figured out then, so much pent up anger at the world - at themselves, but the truth was, they were just kids confused as to why the world treated them like shit.

They all came from a broken home, a broken life, a place where nothing made sense. Why was their life like that but not everyone else's?

They all had something to prove to everyone who left them, who ever doubted them and who made them feel like they were never good enough. It was the reason why they turned to one another in the first place - they all found a purpose within each other.

When one fought, they all fought.

One suffered, they all suffered.

And through it all, they became a family of their own.

"We have to get rid of the guards, once that's done, we go in and release the smoke bombs. They won't have much time to react before we take them down," Bruce stepped in, speaking loud and clear to reach each and every one of them.

"Dante and Carlos will take the side, Marco you'll take the opening. Justin and I will handle Landon, Marcus stay and take cover."

He nodded, waiting to take his place.

"What about me?" John questioned as he stepped closer, awaiting his position.

Not looking at him, Bruce strapped a gun behind the waistband of his pants, "you're going to stay here and keep a lookout with Marcus."

"What?" he spat, taken aback. "No, there's no fucking way. I'm not doing that."

"I didn't ask you," he looked up now, "Carly's going to want to see you when she wakes up, I can't risk putting your life in danger."

"And what about Justin?"

"Justin's not the one not thinking properly right now, it's you and I can't have you fucking this up for us."

"I'm doing this for her!" he barked, the veins in his neck protruding.

"I'm not going to ask you again," Bruce spoke abruptly, "you're going to do as I say and that's an order."

Justin squeezed John's shoulder in comfort before pulling away.

"You really want to get married?"

Staying in place, he gave him the side eye. "Justin."

"I'm just saying," he put his hands up in mock defense, "you still have time if you want to run. You know, if you changed your mind -- did you change your mind?"

John chuckled, "you afraid I'm gonna forget about you or something?"

"Fuck off," he reached over, shoving his shoulder back. "I'm just saying it's not too late."

"Justin,"

"Yeah?"

"I'm getting married."

He smiled, "fuck yeah, you are."

There was silence for a while in which John took a moment to himself before turning to face Justin, "I'm sorry."

He furrowed his brows, "for what?"

"Everything."

Shaking his head, Justin reached over, grasping onto John's shoulder as he gave it a squeeze. "Don't do that, it just wasn't my time. I'm happy for you, you deserve this man."

"You're going to get it too, you know."

"What?"

"Your happy ending."

"Do you think it's smart to leave John behind?" He questioned as they walked away from him, leaving John in the car.

"He'll be fine."

Rolling on the rest of their masks, they all lined up ready to come in from both sides.

Standing on the left, Justin waited as Marco, Conner, Johnson, and Adam stood to his right watching as Bruce led the way with Marcus, Manny, Don, Carmine, and Carlos.

Holding his gun near to his chest, Justin looked at Bruce waiting until he gave him the go to start moving in.

Taking a deep breath, Justin counted to three in his head closing his eyes for a moment as everyone's faces flashed before his eyes like a scene in a movie - Kelsey, his mom, Jazzy, Jaxon, his dad, the guys - his life then and now.

So much has changed and yet so much was still the same.

"You don't have to hide your feelings." John walked inside Justin's room, closing the door behind him. "I can see it in your eyes. You care about her and I know this is killing you inside. I know it's eating you alive inside that you couldn't have saved her sooner but you have to realize that you didn't have control over this."

Justin shook his head, "I should have just told her the goddamn truth about Jen. If I would have, none of this would have happened." He scolded bitterly.

John sighed. "Even if you did, you know he would have found another way to get to her. You're not a superhero Justin. You're a human being just like everyone else."

He looked away from him. "I shouldn't have let her get into that car."

"No," John snapped. "You shouldn't have but what's done is done and you can't change it Justin but I do know what you can do."

He swallowed hard, licking his lips, waiting for him to go on.

"You can make sure she alright and you can comfort her because that's what she needs most right now. She doesn't need you beating yourself up over this. She needs someone to be there for her and we both know that someone here is you."

Opening his eyes slowly, Bruce nodded before Justin turned his head, signaling Marco first.

Pulling off the tab, Marco threw it onto the ground and watched as it rolled down to their feet.

Looking down, the guard pushed his eyebrows together in confusion before realization hit and he looked up at the exact same time the smoke bomb blew.

—————--

"This is bullshit," John grumbled as he leaned back against the car, watching the area making sure no one got in or out.

"It's for your own good, they're just trying to protect you."

"I don't need protection!" he snapped, "what I need is to kill that motherfucker myself."

"Look," Marcus turned to face him, "I get it. We're all fucking pissed. What happened tonight wasn't supposed to fucking happen, but it did and I know you want to be the one to end it all, but it's better off this way. Let them handle it. You've been through enough, so has Carly."

"She would understand."

"Would she?" he crossed his arms, looking at him.

"Yes, because I wouldn't do something unless it was the right thing to do." He shook his head, taking in a sharp breath through his nose. Closing his eyes, he allowed the cold air to build a fort around him. "She's the only thing I have outside of this mess. She keeps me sane."

"I always pinned you to be the sane one already, are you holding back on us?"

"Shut up," he mumbled, trying hard not to smile. "She just.. She gives me something to look forward to everyday. We were supposed to start the first day of our lives together today, away from this mess and now.." exhaling, he licked his lips pulling his bottom lip into his mouth. "It's fucked."

Thinking to himself, Marcus looked out into the scene before looking back at him. "Do you want me to take you to the hospital?"

John looked at him before nodding, "please."

"Come on," he gestured with his head behind him where the car was parked. "Let's go." Turning, he walked over to the car, opening the door before sitting inside. Blowing air into his hands as he rubbed them together to cause friction against the cold air, he began patting his pockets to feel for the keys. Pushing his brows together, realization sparked once he turned to see that John hadn't gotten in the car yet.

"Shit."

————

Running in, Marco quickly wrapped his forearm around his neck pulling his back against his chest while covering his mouth with his other hand. Forcing his neck the other way, he heard it crack before his body went limp. "Go!"

Pulling off the tabs to the bombs, we threw them all into the dock, commotion heard as they all came to realize something was going on before they all bombs blew seconds later, covering the entire place in smoke.

Rushing inside as the others followed behind, Justin shot one of the Snipers in the leg as they fell forwards, cradling the open wound. Kicking him in the side of the face, Justin pushed him onto his back before shooting him in the chest.

There was no time to waste.

Turning to come face to face with Xavier, Justin smiled before pulling his hand back and knocking his fist into the side of his face just as his gun went off at the same time. Falling into the ground, Justin grabbed his wrist forcing it into the ground before slamming his own elbow into his nose, watching as it began to bleed.

Sitting back, Justin cocked his gun, shooting at him before standing to watch as someone else neared him.

Bruce dodged his gun seconds after he came in, using his fists to create a story as he took two on at the same time. Dodging a kick from one, he stood up straight slamming his foot into their stomach before turning and punching the other in the face.

Grabbing him by the back of his head after, slamming his face into the side of a wooden crate before grabbing his gun again, Bruce shot the other before hitting him with the handle of the gun, knocking him out.

Feeling his face throb from the power behind the fist of another, Marco spit out blood before raging forwards taking them by the back of the neck and forcing their head down into his knee before swinging his own fist into the side of their face, throwing them into the ground.

Gunshots were heard as the Snipers began to retaliate, Bruce and Justin moving to hide behind the crates as they peered over the corner to shoot out at the other side before taking cover once more.

Looking over, Justin saw as John came over the corner holding two guns. "Fuck," he cursed, looking at Bruce who looked as though he had seen a ghost, his own fist slamming into the ground beside him.

"Go!" he yelled at Justin just as he stood, surfacing to join John as he held his arms up, shooting both guns at the same time.

A series of shots were heard as they each hit several people along the way, multiples coming out as both sides fought, John sure not to miss a single person. The adrenaline coursed through his veins, invincible in the moment as all he could think about was Carly and their unborn child.

He needed to see her again, to get back to her; to save her, to hold her, to keep her away from all this pain and all this agony.

He promised her a lot of things and he wasn't about to turn back on them now.

"John!" Marcus was heard screaming as he rushed in from the open back, falling behind a wall to dodge a bullet as he peeked around the corner watching as both John and Justin tag teamed the area.

Taking his gun out, he pulled the lever before turning, shooting out into the other crowd.

"Mr. Rivera, how kind of you to join us," Landon spoke as he approached the other, guard down as he let himself stand free of a weapon at hand.

"Fuck off, Mathews."

"I'm not surprised Evans didn't kill you," a voice emerged.

Looking over, Justin locked his jaw as he saw another approach him. "What did you just say?"

"You can't think we didn't know what was going on. Of course, we let him do his own thing, but I must admit, it was quite interesting to see it all play out."

"Who the fuck are you?"

"Look, man, I'd be pissed too. Knowing the enemy was closer than you expected, laying in bed with your girl all night?" he tisked, shaking his head in mock horror.

Walking over to him so that they were toe to toe, Justin lowered his gaze. "I'd watch your mouth if I were you."

"Cole was a pussy, not surprised you ended up burning him alive. I must admit, that was pretty good. Evans was an amateur, anyways."

Grabbing him by the neck, Justin clenched teeth, eyes flashing. "Who are you?"

"Cameron," he smiled before bashing his forehead into Justin's, blindsiding him as he stumbled back a bit. "And it took you long enough."

Punching him in the jaw, Justin dodged the other hit while grabbing Cameron's fist before hitting his own into the side of his head. Falling to the ground with him as they fought to gain control over the other, Justin lost possession of his gun somewhere amidst the fight.

"It was time we settled the bone in the other's yard," Landon sneered with arrogance, his attention solely on John's, "it was only a matter of time before you came running too."

"Fuck you."

"Why don't we settle this fair?" he raised his arms, "put your gun down."

"So your men can come in from the back?" He laughed, "nice try."

"They know I fight my battles on my own."

"That's funny considering they suck your dick every chance they get." Cocking his gun, John shot as Landon pushed him back throwing him to the ground, his gun falling from his grasp. Standing up immediately and lunging forwards, John had his hands around Landon's throat, squeezing.

Lacking air, he grasped onto his wrists in an attempt to pry his hands away. Twisting his hand away, hitting him in the gut, John doubled over in pain before charging forwards, throwing Landon to the ground as he began hitting his face repeatedly.

Reaching over to grab his gun, Justin grunted as Cameron kicked him in the face; the gun flying even farther away.

Looking up just as Cameron was about to punch him in the face, Justin rolled over so his fist hit into the ground instead before pushing himself up off the ground. Landing a solid punch against the other's mouth before an uppercut, giving him enough time to go and grab the gun into his possession.

Just as he turned to face him, Cameron grabbed onto his gun, fighting to pull it away from him.

Grabbing John by the throat, pushing him off, Landon reached into his pocket right when John took his gun. Turning to face one another as Cameron and Justin fought for control of the gun, a finger on each trigger; a completion of three shots were heard going off at the same time.

Eyes widening, Justin looked down between them to see blood pouring out before looking up at Cameron to see him stumbling backwards, falling to the ground. Looking over, Justin glanced just in time to see another body go down.

Everything stopped around them, almost like they were frozen in time as he yelled out at the top of his lungs, his entire body falling numb. "NO!"

There was chaos and then there was nothing, nothing but blood and a body lying on the floor.

With both sides coming to a halt, the air had shifted; suffocating everyone.

Pulling himself up, he began pushing himself through, his heart practically beating out of his chest as he came face to face with them, the color on his face draining. "No, no, no, no," moving down to his body, he felt his eyes burning as he pressed his hand against the open wound on their chest.

"Hey, stay with me. Come on," he urged desperately, the beating of their heart met against the palm of his hand. He was still breathing, that had to be a good sign, right?

Blinking tiredly, John looked up at him, shaking his head. "It's okay."

"John," he laughed humorlessly before retreating to look at the others, "someone call 911!" He barked the order, "now!" Turning back to him, he held onto his friend - his best friend hoping somehow to bring him back to life. It couldn't end like this.

This couldn't be their end.

"Come on, man. We need you," he whispered, applying more pressure to his chest, trying to stop him from bleeding out. "Carly needs you, your baby needs you. Don't go. Stay with me, it's going to be okay."

If anyone deserved this, it was Justin - he was sure of it. He pushed countless times even when they didn't want to go after anyone. In his head, he was selfish and throughout the years he had done nothing but damage.

He deserved to lie there with the bullet inside his chest, fighting to stay alive. Not John. "What the hell are you all doing just standing around?!" he bellowed out as he saw no one moving, "call an ambulance! Someone fucking do something!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, tears forming.

"Justin," Bruce mumbled, staying quiet. He knew it was too late, they all did.

"Bruce," he pleaded just as John groaned, his fingers grasping onto Justin's shirt causing him to look back down.

"We won." He coughed up blood, "we're free." The strain in his tone was apparent as he forced himself to speak through the pain, voice barely above a whisper. "We did it."

"No... no, this doesn't mean anything if we can't go through it together."

"But we did, we did it together."

"No."

"It means every.." he paused, choking up blood. "Everything to me," John coughed once more, his eyes falling shut before opening back up again. "We fought so hard. We lost so much, and now.. We can have it all back. We can have the life we've always wanted."

"Yeah, we, as in all of us, John. We can't fucking do this without you, I fucking need you. You're my brother."

He shook his head.

"Our life doesn't work like that," with his voice barely a whisper, his body slowly began shutting down. "We can't always get what we want, but we can always fight like hell to keep it."

As John stared up at his long time friend, he knew the trouble Justin would have when accepting this and the pain he would endure because of it. He knew him better than anyone and the moment things go south, he blocks everyone out, cutting off all contact and falling into the depths of his dark mind and he'd be damned if he died letting him stay that way.

"Don't shut off your emotions, let yourself feel everything. Let yourself live. You deserve it, you all do," he peered up at the other guys as they loomed over him in a circle. "Let yourself be loved, let Kelsey love you. Don't push her away anymore. Be happy, take care of yourself and take care of her. Promise me."

He shook his head. Squeezing his eyes shut as he laid his forehead to their hands, Justin took a deep breath, praying to God he wouldn't take away one of the most important people in his life. He had lost so much already, so many people, and the thought of losing John made him sick to his stomach.

He gave him hope when he didn't have any, chances to improve himself when people gave up on him. Whenever he gave up, he was there to pull him back up again, to remind him that he wasn't alone in this.

He was never alone. He had Kelsey.

Wiping away the tears that fell with the back of his other hand, Justin nodded, looking at him through red eyes.

"Take care of Carly," John whispered, squeezing his hand as best as he could, "take care of each other. Promise me."

"I promise."

John died that night and a part of everyone died that night, too.

He was the peace in the group, holding them together when they were all falling apart. He was there to make sure they thought things through, that they all used their heads. He was the brains, he was the heart.

Anyone who knew John knew he was a man of his word, a man of honor.

As everyone stood around the open grave where they settled his casket into the ground, Justin stayed quiet.

He hadn't said a word to anyone that day.

Kelsey stood by his side, tears falling silently down her face as she held onto his arm, knowing that there wasn't much she could say to make anyone feel better.

Walking over to them, Prince welcomed the guys back, catching sight of a missing person. Looking at Bruce, he could see the look in his eyes and suddenly he felt sick. "Fuck."

Looking up as she saw them all walk through the double doors, Kelsey gasped as she shot out of her seat, running over to Justin and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Holding onto her, he breathed in her scent, John's words circling through his head. Let yourself be loved, let Kelsey love you. Don't push her away anymore.

Pulling away after a few seconds, she covered her mouth with her hand seeing the damage left behind as cuts and bruises covered his hands, arms, and face; blood all over him. "Justin.." with shaky hands, she reached up, touching his face as she traced the open wounds with her fingers.

He closed his eyes, leaning into her soft touch. Taking in a deep breath, he opened his eyes, looking down at her.

Licking her lips, she slowly pulled away before taking a step back, glancing behind her to see Bruce, Marcus and Marco standing behind him, Prince off to the side. Furrowing her brows, she looked back up at Justin, "where's John?"

Looking into her eyes, Justin stayed silent. His heart hurt and his body was numb. He wanted to break down, he wanted to turn it all off and become inhumane. It helped him heal; he didn't want to feel anything.

But he couldn't do that anymore, not to her, and certainly not to himself.

Her heart completely shattered at the silence that followed as she began repeatedly shaking her head, stepping backwards away from him as she looked at them all. "No," was all she whispered.

"Kelsey.."

"No, no, no," she whispered, "no. Please, God, no."

"We tried everything we could."

Closing her eyes, she sunk to her knees, crying out in pain as she held onto herself. She knew there was a chance that this could happen to any one of them, their life always had a risk, but she never fully prepared herself for it.

Crouching down in front of her, Justin remained silent as he reached over, pulling her body into his arms as she cried into them.

Clinging onto his shirt, she sobbed into his chest.

John was the first to believe in her, to make her feel welcome.

He was the older brother she never had, always willing to help her in her time of need; to give advice whenever she needed it. He never once judged her or made her feel small. He lifted her when she needed it and consoled her when things got tough.

Their world wasn't for everyone and he always made sure she was okay and taken care of.

He put his trust in her and brought her the man she loved. She would forever feel grateful for the time they had together.

Sliding her hand down his arm to lace their fingers, Kelsey squeezed their hands together as she laid her cheek against his shoulder.

Turning his head, Justin looked down at her before leaning in pressing his lips against her temple. He wanted to make sure she knew he appreciated everything she was doing for him even if he wasn't exactly vocal about it.

He didn't want to stop, he wanted to keep going. Just like he had promised.

Glancing up, he caught sight of Carly standing at the other side of the grave, holding her son in her arms.

He was the spitting image of his father.

She was stronger than most of them during this time, which was fairly surprising given the circumstances, but she knew John would not want her to crash. Not when she had a son that needed her now more than ever.

Standing in the doorway, Kelsey stayed quiet as Carly slept. How was she supposed to tell her best friend that her husband died?

It sounded so surreal to her.

Just the other day they were running around preparing for the wedding, buying any and everything she needed in order for it to be perfect.

Everything was normal.

They were happy.

"Carly --"

Laying back against the pillows propped up behind her back, Carly leaned her head over to the side, a small sigh parting past her lips, "he's gone, isn't he?" she whispered.

Tears engulfed her eyes as Kelsey stood there, baffled; not knowing what to say. "I'm so sorry, Carly. I'm so so sorry.."

She didn't say anything as she turned her head to face forwards once more. A silence followed and Kelsey didn't know what to say or do after that.

John was the love of her life, a love you get once in a lifetime.

"Excuse me,"

Turning, Kelsey apologized as she stepped out of the doorway to let the nurse in as they wheeled in a clear cart and soon realized her son was laying inside, all bundled up; fresh and new to the world that was chaos.

She wanted to protect it like she knew John would.

"He's beautiful," she whispered as the nurse checked Carly's vitals before writing something down in the chart and going back over to the baby.

Carly laid in bed, stretching her arms out for the nurse to lay her son in them. Closing her eyes, she turned to look down at him before pulling the baby close to her chest. She pressed her lips against his small forehead, staying quiet.

It was always a possibility that this could happen. They knew it and they weren't in deniable about it, they just always hoped.

Hoped for a better life than the one dealt to them.

"I saw him in my dreams," she swallowed through the lump in her throat, breaking the silence. "It was either him or the baby.." Opening her eyes, she looked up at her, "he chose the baby."

She kept to herself as she tried to figure out how exactly to live in a life without him. How she could wake up every morning knowing that he wasn't there to kiss her, to hug her when she needed it.

He made her feel beautiful when she was at her lowest.

He loved her despite her flaws.

He loved her and now he was gone.

"How are you feeling?"

"What do you think?"

"Carly—"

"Do you remember what you said to me?" Carly raised an eyebrow as she stopped folding her laundry for a second, looking at her. Before Kelsey even had the chance to answer, she spoke up instead. "You said everything would be okay. Do you remember that?"

Pulling her bottom lip into her mouth, Kelsey nodded, feeling her eyes water. "I'm so sorr—"

"Stop telling me you're sorry!" she screamed, throwing the basket to the floor, "stop telling me that you wish you could take it back. Stop telling me that you're here for me" Pushing the items on top of her dresser to the floor, she aimed for the lamp next to her bed as she chucked it against the wall. "Stop telling me that everything is going to be okay! Just stop because nothing you say is going to bring him back. He's dead, okay? Dead!" As her bottom lip begins to tremble, Carly shakes her head as the guys rushed into the room as soon as they heard her outburst.

Wrapping his arms around her, Justin pulled her back against his chest in hopes to calm her down.

"No!" she screamed, "let me go! Let me go!" she cried as Kelsey sobbed into Bruce's chest once he took her under his arm.

Falling to the floor with her as she clings onto his shirt, Carly shakes in his arms, "he's not coming back."

Standing at the foot of the grave, the minister looked down at the Bible in his hands before glancing up at everyone else. "We are gathered here today to honor the life of friend, brother, and husband, Johnathan Rivera..."

Looking out into nothing, Marcus drowned the sound of the minister's voice as he began to talk.

"It's my fault,"

Carly turned to look at him, eyes red as she sniffled, wiping her eyes. "What?"

"I was supposed to watch him. I was.. But he.." shaking his head, he looked at Carly with red eyes. "I'm the one who should be sorry."

"No," she whispered, wiping her face as she approached him. "It's not your fault."

"Yes it is, I promised I would watch over him and I couldn't even do that. If I had just kept my eyes on him like I was supposed to, none of this would have happened. He would still be with us." Crying, he covered his face.

Grabbing his wrists, Carly shook her head once more. "It's not your fault," looking around, she caught sight of Kelsey. "It's no one's fault. He wouldn't want you guys blaming yourselves." Sighing, she let out a deep breath, "I'm sorry I'm such a mess."

"You're not a mess," Justin cleared his throat as he approached her, "we are."

Laughing through tears, she wiped her eyes, looking up at him. "Thank you," she whispered. "For taking care of me and the baby, I know John's looking down on us — all of us."

John always worried about others, putting them first above everything else. He never once let anyone fall behind, no matter how tough it got.

He always saw the good in the bad.

He never gave up on them, despite some of their failures along the way.

"Before we continue, is there anyone else here this afternoon who might like to say a few words?"

"I would,"

Turning, they all saw Officer Martinez standing there.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Justin questioned as he pulled Kelsey behind him, her fingers wrapping around his arm; tugging gently.

"Justin," she whispered.

"Let him talk," Bruce interjected as Officer Martinez walked through to the front. Taking off his hat, he pressed it against his chest.

Gesturing for him to take his spot, the minister took a step back.

He cleared his throat. "Johnathan Rivera was a good man, one hard to come by in a world like this. I know he tried his best to escape, to do better for himself and for those around him. It was clear. He loved his family and despite the things he's been through, he never once took it out on the wrong person. He tried as we all do to navigate in a world difficult to sometimes understand. We all mistakes, I know I have some I wish I could take back and I know if John was here right now, he would want you all to go home tonight with your heads held high. And I hope, despite all that we have been through together, you can forgive me for it all."

Silence followed as they all looked at him before Bruce walked up to him, extending a hand. "We want out. Truce?"

Lifting his hand, Officer Martinez nodded, enclosing his hand around Bruces. "Truce."

Hate.

It was a strong word, one we use often.

It can consume us, pull us down under until we're suffocating beneath the weight of the world and our emotions combined.

Life isn't fair, it never was.

Not everything is handed on a silver platter and we fight back at the universe for the card we have been dealt.

Why me?

Why us?

Why this?

Why now?

It was easy to hate something, to blame your failures on others instead of taking blame for it ourselves. We all make mistakes; some that teach us, some we can't take back, and some that change us forever.

Sometimes we hate ourselves in the process of life, of figuring things out. We blame ourselves when things don't go our way.

Sometimes we have to lose in order to gain.

If there was anything John had taught them, it was that no one was invincible. We all fall down sometimes.

But it only counts when we pull ourselves back up again.

He would have wanted that.