This is it.

The final chapter. I hope it lives up to your expectations (probably not)

I'm sorry I couldn't finish it the right way, but I felt guilty leaving it unfinished for so long that I just decided that this was the best option. I tried to squeeze in everything I had planned for the last few chapters into this one short chapter. I'm likely forgetting a thing or two since it's been a while since I watched the movies, so please let me know if I need to change or fix anything!

You'll probably notice that my writing style has changed. I write in present tense now so it's more difficult for me to write in past tense. I guess that's what happens when you wait too long to finish a fic xD I've also been more active on AO3 (under the same name.)

Thank you for sticking with me this long, it's been one heck of a ride!

xxxx

Sometimes things don't work out the way we expect or want them to, and other times they work out surprisingly well.

I never imagined that I would be here in the human hospital again now, but this time is different than when Ellie had treated me after the fire.

This time, I'm waiting for Will to wake up.

I have so much to tell and show him.

I'm even sitting like a human in one of the chairs, waiting patiently. Will has been like this for a long time, ever since the Gen-Sys building mysteriously disappeared and he'd been found in the rubble of the fire.

Yet I'm still determined to wait no matter how long it takes. Caroline told me about her promise to Will that I would be here when he wakes up.

I am.

No one is bothering me and I'm not bothering them. We've both been through so much ever since I somehow traveled back in time after my death in the future, but things are slowly beginning to get better.

The government had tried to take us again when they discovered how intelligent we were and that we can talk, but other humans protected us—protested for us to the point the government itself decided to at last leave well enough alone. Humans like Caroline, Malcolm, Ellie and even Carver to our surprise once he remembered future events (he was shaken upon remembering that Koba killed him, but when we showed him the baby, he was no longer worried that an ape was going to kill him)

A place has been found for all of us—a place so much better than what McCullough had created.

A massive environment with trees and grass so much bigger than the woods, so much bigger than the Colonel's fake paradise without any boundaries or fences and cages keeping us locked in. The government had given in and put all of us under a protection law so no one can bring harm to us.

I do not regret killing the Colonel in my unaware, raged state. It had not really been me. Preacher—Gabe—had opened the cage and let the monster out; I hadn't hesitated. I almost turned on Gabe as well, but then he brought me back by playing that same song he had when we talked back in the caves. Music is a powerful thing full of hope, playing softly even now in the background of the hospital room.

It's all a blur after that. I can vaguely remember coming to my senses, and then Malcolm was there with a group of humans to get us out. He'd said it took a while to find us, but he did and kept us safe. McCullough's underground base was seized by the government, though it was decided that the caves would not be destroyed. They want to figure out how the Colonel had managed to create such a realistic environment. As long as they are distracted from doing experiments on us, I find myself okay with that decision.

We're okay.

We got out.

We'll never have to go back to that dark, horrible place again. McCullough is gone and gone for good, destroyed by the very monster he had created.

I have regained my intelligence and Gabe now has my trust, forgiven for what he did to me in the future. The first thing he had done after helping us escape was destroy the crossbow the Colonel made him carry. He went to find his parents.

My head tilts as I try keeping myself awake in my seat. I've been awake all through the long night, waiting and waiting for my father to finally wake up. Malcolm had tried convincing me to get some rest, but I would not be swayed.

My hand is outstretched on the hospital bed, curled gently around Will's. It's just the two of us, though Ellie and Malcolm are staying nearby along with Caroline. Ellie thinks he's going to wake up soon and I hope with all my heart she's right, but maybe I don't have to wait much longer.

He's shown no signs of movement...until now. His hand wraps around mine and I gasp softly, becoming more awake than I have in a long time.

His eyes flicker open and he looks like he wants to jump out of bed, but I squeeze his hand tighter to stop him. He's in no condition to do such a thing.

"Caesar?" Will just barely manages to get out in a whisper, his eyes blinking rapidly like he can't believe what he's seeing. In a way, neither can I when I thought he'd died after leaving him in that fire.

"...Father," I say, the name feeling right on my tongue. "You're okay. I'm so sorry I left."

Will breathes in deeply. "So are you. Don't be sorry, what about—"

I stop him before he can work himself up too much. He's been through enough already—just like we have.

But we made it through.

"We're all okay," I assure him. He relaxes considerably.

Better than okay.

"We did it," he laughs, relieved and rubbing a hand down his face. "It's over."

I smile and move closer towards him. He doesn't object, pulling me closer up onto the bed. I make sure to be gentle so as not to hurt him.

"No," I disagree, relief pouring through me as well and also excitement about what is to come. "It's only just begun."

xxxx

Our new home is even more beautiful than I could have ever imagineda place where we can all live in peace and quiet. Other apes like Red and Winter have found us. Despite what they both do—did—in the future, they have been forgiven. Even Bad Ape has returned and I am happy to see him again, far away from the humans who had treated him so horribly.

Any ape who needs shelter is welcome here.

We are not caged in. Our new home spreads miles and miles and we are free.

After everything we went through, we are finally free.

Humans can visit us if they so choose, but only a few lucky humans who know of the actual location.

Humans like Will and Malcolm who still come to visit often, a feat that would have never been possible the way the virus had taken over in the future.

Malcolm even brings Alex, who is very excited to meet Maurice again and show him some of his old drawings. Maurice looks closely at them, letting out a hearty laugh. Malcolm and his wife look on with smiles on their faces. When I ask where Ellie is, Malcolm says she'll visit on another day with her daughter. There seems to be a bit of sadness in his eyes, but he holds Rita closer to him and she squeezes back.

Caroline holds Will's hand in hers as the two of them take in our new, real paradise.

"Welcome to the new world," she repeats Charles' words in a soft whisper, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I'm so glad you're still here to see it."

"Me too," Will agrees.

He and I sit together underneath one of the many trees in the area, Cornelia and Tinker also sitting close by. I move to get up, heading towards Cornelia and glancing down at the small shape in her arms. She smiles, understanding as she hands our newborn son to me.

I bring him to Will.

"Uh...congratulations," Will says, sounding unsure, but out of everything, this is one thing that I am most sure of; I had wanted Will to meet his grandchildren after all, though he'll have to wait a bit longer to meet Cornelius.

"Would you like to hold him?" I ask whether he likes it or not.

Will looks surprised, but nods. I bring his grandson closer to him and he wraps his arms carefully around Blue Eyes.

My son who was killed so ruthlessly now has a second chance to grow up and have a family of his own.

Cornelius will be born in the near future. Tinker holds the newly-returned Ash tightly in her arms, little Koba playing next to her.

The other apes had thought Koba was dead, but it had really some kind of mirage created by McCullough when he kidnapped the real baby and hid him from us until we managed to find him.

The bonobo will not lay a hand on Ash ever again; all of us will make sure of that, both apes and humans alike.

We will all make sure he receives the love and care he deserves under a brand new name, a new identity.

One that won't have any chances of bringing back his future memories when he grows older.

"Charles?" Will asks. I can sense his uneasiness and wonder if re-naming little Koba after Will's father had been such a good idea, given that...Charles was unlike anything Koba ever was.

"I hope you do not take it as an insult," I whisper softly, continuing to watch Tinker take care of him. She's going to be a great mother of two and Rocket is going to make a great father. Watching him join Tinker to play with their adopted son as Charles runs in a circle around Tinker is proof enough that Rocket has finally forgiven the ghost of a future that will never come to be again.

Will catches himself quickly, smiling. "No, it's just...a little surprising. This isn't the same Koba, after all. My dad would be honored."

"Charlie, calm down," Tinker laughs brightly in her new voice that is her own and not just a fake mirage of her body, holding the baby closer so he won't be overwhelmed.

Charlie reaches towards baby Ash with his little hands. I can see Rocket tense up, but only for a moment.

Malcolm approaches us, a knowing grin on his face.

"We have some new neighbors. Their youngest daughter sometimes acts a little strange—she runs around like an ape around their house."

Maurice perks up considerably at this news, smiling as Alex runs about in a similar way around him. Luca seems happy to hear the news as well, eager to see the little human who had been so broken over his death after being killed in the future.

"Maybe they can come visit one day," Maurice suggests.

Malcolm nods, smiling in return. Maurice had told him about Nova. "Sure, I'll ask."

I can hardly believe such a coincidence to happen—that little Nova would turn out to be Malcolm's neighbor of all humans—but I've learned not to question the impossible anymore.

All of the good humans turn to look out over the top of the hill at our new homeland, what we have all achieved together.

Will, Caroline, Malcolm, his wife and son, Foster and Kemp who had regained their memories of the future and came to our sanctuary to see us, Franklin and even Jacobs who we have forgiven as well as Carver and his own son along with Gabe and his parents who turned out to be alive and well, overjoyed to be reunited with their long lost son.

Humans who will always protect us no matter the cost. Jacobs has even promised to help protect our new home.

"Well hello, little one," Jacobs says when Charlie comes to inspect him and asks to be picked up. I hold my breath, almost expecting Charlie's future memories of the man to return, but no such thing happens. Charlie finds a comfortable spot on his shoulders.

Will laughs and I remember him telling me the story of how Jacobs had rescued a young chimp in the fire. "What is it with Jacobs and babies?"

I can't help it either, letting out a laugh of my own. It's been so long since I was able to laugh...

Bad Ape skips over to us, mouth full of delicious food that can be found all around us. "These humans are so nice, they call me good instead of bad. Maybe I will be called Good Ape now!"

If we had changed Koba's name, then Bad Ape can change his, too. We are free to do as we please with no limitations.

"Told you," Will says, nudging me with a somewhat smug grin. I give him a confused look and he's happy to remind me of what he said when we'd both been in that...place. A place that I'm happy Will had convinced me to leave behind, otherwise I wouldn't be here right now. "Apes and humans together strong."

Everything is as it should have been the first time around. It's almost still too good to be true, but it isn't fake like the Colonel's paradise had been.

Will hands Blue Eyes back to me. I stare down lovingly at my son, hardly able to believe that he's finally here with me at last, that he's alive once again and Cornelius will be in the near future, too.

Cornelia touches my forehead lightly against hers. No one is going to tear us apart again.

We made it. We made it together. I knew we would, she signs, just like she did when we had been stuck underground.

Home.

Family...

Looking back up, I take in a deep breath and close my eyes as I had done in the future only moments before my death.

But this isn't the future; it isn't the past.

This is now.

This is real.

I fulfilled my purpose.

We all have.