[[quoteright:300:http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/MeetingOnTheTurretStairs.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:StarCrossedLovers from a ballad, just before his death at her brothers' hands]]
->''I lifted her head, she looked at me and said''\\
''"Hold me, Darling, just a little while."''\\
''I held her close, I kissed her our last kiss;''\\
''I found the love that I knew i have missed.''\\
''Well now she's gone, even though I hold her tight.''\\
''I lost my love, my life that night.''
-->-- "Last Kiss" by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers (covered by Wednesday and later by Pearl Jam)

->''From out of nowhere Falina has found me''\\
''Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side.''\\
''Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for''\\
''One little kiss and Falina good-bye.''
-->-- "El Paso" by Marty Robbins

The only kiss that's more meaningful and dramatic than the FirstKiss (unless, as is frequently the case, they happen to be one and the same). It's not just the last one we'll see, it's the last one these two characters will ever share... as far as they know at this point, at least. If the characters don't think it could be their LastKiss, the music and color scheme of the scene will definitely indicate to the audience that it is.

The favorite time to write it in seems to be when one (or both) of the partners is/are on their deathbed (or past it), literally or proverbially, such as just before someone goes off into battle (or their wedding). Possibly will be teary. Less dramatic in old shows where the main character could share one with every new GirlOfTheWeek or TemporaryLoveInterest.

May be a LastRequest.

See Also: FinalFirstHug and GoOutWithASmile. Death's the time to show you love someone.

Sometimes overlaps with DudeShesLikeInAComa.

Not to be confused with KissOfDeath or SealedWithAKiss. And ''definitely'' not with ILoveTheDead. If the characters think it's their LastKiss but it turns out not to be, it's a NowOrNeverKiss.
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!Examples:
!![[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime ]]

* ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'': Misato, knowing she's about to die from the bullet wound in her back, kisses Shinji, possibly to snap him out of the near comatose depression he's in.
** It backfires spectacularly as, moments later, Shinji wipes her blood off his mouth and realizes she has probably died.
* ''NinjaScroll'' - In the cold universe of the film, where lust, violence and greed has cheapened sex as an expression of love, Kagero's simple kiss for Jubei was an expression of love stronger than any other.
* Yoko Ritona from ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' is a prime example of these, having kissed [[spoiler:Kamina]] and [[spoiler:Kittan before both of them died in battle.]] This is prominent enough for her to earn the FanNickname "Doombitch". However, [[spoiler:Kittan]] who kissed her ''fully knowing'' he was going to die anyway and apologized for his selfishness.
**[[spoiler:Nia's]] last act before she disappears into nothingness was kissing [[spoiler:Simon.]]
* Played straight and subverted in the same episode of ''{{Mai-HiME}}'':
** [[spoiler: Yukariko and Ishigami]] share one before they go down together.
** [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] moments later with [[spoiler: Mai]] just barely missing out on one of these as [[spoiler:Yuuichi]] disappears before their lips touch.
*** That, or he vanished at the exact instant their lips do touch. Either way, she doesn't get to... uh, 'enjoy' it.
* ''TokyoMewMew'' combines this with AlmostKiss, FinalSpeech, and PietaPlagiarism when in the second to last episode Kisshu gets killed trying to help Ichigo.
* Subverted in ''{{Basilisk}}''. [[spoiler: The dying, despaired and insane Kagerou tries to kill a severely injured Gennosuke with her literal KissOfDeath, but she commits the mistake of briefly looking at her love rival Oboro... who's got the power of neutralizing any ninja's powers. Even more - Oboro had her eyes sealed with some AppliedPhlebotinum, but the effect had just worn out as Kagerou was getting ready.]]
*Almost played straight in {{Bleach}} where [[spoiler: Orihime is given 8 hours to say goodbye to one person before being abducted by Ulquiorra. She enters Ichigo's room. Unfortunately he's unconscious because of a battle, but she says goodbye anyway. She tries to sum up the courage to kiss him, but her insecurities hold her back.]]
* ''CodeGeass'' has a case of both FirstKiss and LastKiss between [[{{MagnificentBastard}} Lelouch]] and [[{{ActionGirl}} Kallen]] near the end of the show, complete with background music and all. The irony is that while [[spoiler: Lelouch really IS on his way to his death and this IS the last thing he does before crossing the point of no return]], Kallen initiates the kiss without knowing it at the time.
!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* In ''PiratesOfTheCaribbean'', Elizabeth shares not one, but ''four'' last kisses with different partners: [[spoiler: the KissOfDeath with Jack Sparrow at the end of ''Dead Man Chest''; one with James Norrington when he found out RedemptionEqualsDeath; her wedding-cum-battle kiss with Will Turner; and a forced kiss from Sao Feng.]] Good thing [[BackFromTheDead death isn't always permanent]].
** Jack Sparrow [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this in the third movie when Elizabeth tries to kiss him, telling her that once was enough.
* Neo and Trinity's last kiss before she dies in ''TheMatrix Revolutions''.
* One such occurrence in ''Signs'' is based off an urban legend of a worker at a quarry who falls into the rock crusher and will die soon whether or not he is pulled out or left there, so a [[TakeAThirdOption third option is taken]]: he's fed painkillers and his wife is called in who kisses him goodbye and then ''turns the machine back on''.
* After Madeleine omniously tells Scottie in ''Vertigo'', "If you lose me, then you'll know I loved you and wanted to go on loving you," she gives him a final kiss before heading off to the clock tower that seems to strangely draw her... [[spoiler:Scottie runs after her, but is slowed down by his acrophobia enough to see her plunge to her de[[OrIsIt a]]th from the top of the tower.]]
* Jim and Selena's [[FanDisservice ...messy kiss]] from ''28 Days Later''. It's their third kiss throughout the film- the first was on the cheek and the second was intentional, but this is a full on, Chick Flick Hold, with-tongue affair, sure proof of being doomed. Shortly afterward, [[spoiler: he gets shot. Depending on the ending, he ''usually'' dies.]]
* In the film version of ''DeathNote'', [[spoiler: Shiori and Light]] share a LastKiss when [[spoiler: Naomi Misora shoots her]], as a tragic callback to [[spoiler: Shiori]] stating that she would only kiss in public for her LastKiss. Its a rather dark example since [[spoiler: Light used the Death Note to bring about her death, and is exploiting this trope in order to make himself seem genuinely remorseful, as part of his XanatosGambit to get onto the Kira investigation team]].
* This got elevated to somewhat disturbing levels during the Pierce Brosnan JamesBond films where he gives the dead Paris Carver a last kiss before he goes and backseat drives in ''TomorrowNeverDies'', and to Elektra King before starting the final action sequence of ''TheWorldIsNotEnough''. Considering he shot her dead, Bond should logically be giving a smooch to a bloody mess.
* The concept is used in ''TheMask'', when the nightclub singer love interest asks her ex-boyfriend for one last kiss before he blows up the nightclub and kills them all. He is so moved by the request that he complies despite the fact that the bomb he planted is already activated and counting down ([[spoiler:though it was just a ploy the girl hatched to get him to take off the mask and for her to get it to Stanley]]).
-->'''Dorian''': There's ALWAYS time for one last kiss!

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* [[RomeoAndJuliet Juliet's]] final kiss to Romeo before stabbing herself may count, despite that Romeo was already dead.
* ''HisDarkMaterials'': [[spoiler: Will and Lyra and their respective dæmons]] share one final kiss (rushed, clumsy, and tearful) before [[spoiler: Will seals their universes apart forever]].
* In GKChesterton's ''The Return of Don Quixote'', when John Braintree and Olive admit that their opposing principles mean they should not be a couple, they part after a kiss. [[spoiler:At the climax, they realize that their principles can, in fact, be reconciled, so they are reconciled, too.]]
* ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents had [[spoiler: Count Olaf steal one last kiss from his old paramour, Kit Snicket. The two of them then recited poetry while dying from toxic mushroom spores.]]
* In PoulAnderson's ''The Broken Sword'', the dying hero's LastRequest is for a LastKiss.
* In ''OutboundFlight'', Jedi Knight Lorana Jinzler and the Chiss syndic Mitth'ras'safis of the Eight Ruling Family, pulling an epic HeroicSacrifice together, reach out and [[HoldingHands hold hands]] for a long moment. It overlaps with HoldMe and ItHasBeenAnHonor, they were on a FullNameBasis since there hadn't been time to exchange first and core names, and both of them were from emotionally cold societies, so exactly what the gesture meant is left to the reader, and some say it was the equivalent of a kiss.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* Doyle kissing Cordelia [[spoiler: before his death]] in episode 8 of ''{{Angel}}''.
** Also, Cordelia kissing [[spoiler: Angel... ''after'' hers.]]
** And Wesley kissing [[spoiler: Fred "please Wesley... why can't I stay"]]
* [[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]] kisses Angel goodbye [[spoiler:before sending him to hell]] in the season 2 finale.
* In the ''Space 1999'' 2nd season episode "The Beta Cloud", a monster is rampaging through Alpha Complex and nothing the crew tries can stop it. Maya and Tony Verdeschi are together waiting for the end when they suddenly start making out (kissing).
* In ''DoctorWho'' when Jack goes off to die.
** [[DeathIsCheap Which of the 5387 separate deaths are you referring to?]]
*** Unsurprisingly, the first one. Would have sorta lacked punch otherwise.
* In ''{{Torchwood}}: Children of Earth'' as [[spoiler: Ianto (and Jack) die.]]
* {{Chuck}} and Sara are trapped with a bomb about to go off, and go for what they believe will be their LastKiss... and then the bomb ''doesn't'' go off. ''[[{{UST}} Awkward.]]''
** It wasn't even a bomb. It was actually a HumanPopsicle box.
* {{Psych}} has one episode where the wife of a murder victim gives him a LastKiss at his funeral. [[spoiler:It ends up being her LastKiss as well. She dies in the middle of it.]]
* {{Lost}}: Charlie kisses Claire right before diving down to The Looking Glass, [[spoiler:which he knows will kill him.]]
* {{Robin Hood}}: Kept alive only due to the fact that [[spoiler:the sword is still jutting from her stomach]],[[spoiler:Robin and Marion]] share their Last Kiss after [[spoiler:Guy stabs her.]] She then proceeds to [[spoiler:remove the sword from her abdomen, which does, in fact, kill her.]]
* ''BattlestarGalactica''. Cylon Natalie kisses a fellow Number Six before pulling the trigger on her for killing [[EnemyMine one of their Colonial allies]]. Given the nature of the Cylons it's uncertain whether this would qualify as LesYay or [[BrotherSisterIncest Sister Sister Incest]]. Also President Roslin has a vision of herself dying in Galactica's sickbay; after her heart monitor flatlines a weeping Adama kisses her, then places his wedding ring on her finger.
* ''{{Farscape}}'', in the episode "Infinite Possibilities Part II: Icarus Abides". Aeryn and Crichton share a final kiss, shortly before he dies of radiation poisoning.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Music ]]

* Richard Thompson's "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" tells the story of a motorcycle-riding outlaw and his beloved, ending with her coming to the hospital and finding him shot and dying. He "gave her one last kiss and died," slipping her the keys to his titular motorcycle as he does so.
* Marty Robbin's song "El Paso" (quoted above) tells the tale of a man who loved a dancer in a bar and killed a man who shared his interest. He later runs off into the badlands of New Mexico to escape vengeance from the family of the man he killed only to come back to El Paso and be shot off his horse. Crawling to the door of the bar, the woman cradles him in her arms and kisses him before he succumbs to his wounds.
* In the 1960s, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_tragedy_song "teen tragedy songs"]] such as the {{Trope Namer}} were remarkably popular, including such classics as "Teen Angel" (Mark Dinning), "Patches" (Dickey Lee), "Tell Laura I Love Her" (Ray Peterson), "Leader of the Pack" (the Shangri-Las), and "Ode to Billy Joe" (Bobbie Gentry). Spoofed by Jimmy Cross in a [[{{Squick}} rather shocking manner]] in "I Want My Baby Back".
* Ned and Chuck on PushingDaisies only got one of these.
* Not necessarily an impending death, but still... "Ae Fond Kiss," by the 18th century Scots poet, Robert Burns:
-->Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
-->Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!
-->Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
-->Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee!

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Theater ]]

* In RichardWagner's ''Die Walküre'', Wotan's kiss that strips his daughter Brünnhilde of her powers. The {{Leitmotif}} is quite touching.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Subverted in the ending of ''FinalFantasyX'' wherein [[spoiler:the hero begins losing physical form, so that when the heroine runs after him for the effective LastKiss she runs through him instead, denying the characters (and the player) a sense of closure.]]
** [[spoiler: He does get to 'hug' her, Having lost his physical form,[[TearJerker He puts his arms over her shoulders and holds them there her before he completely fades away]].]]
* ''StarWars: TheForceUnleashed'' ended its rather unsubtle romantic subplot with this.
** Unsubtle romantic subplots? In ''my'' [[StarWars Star Wars]]!? [[MemeticMutation It's more likely than you think.]]
*** The StarWarsExpandedUniverse is generally held to higher standards than [[RomanticPlotTumor that]].

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Princess Yue's already in spirit form when she gives Sokka one last kiss before disappearing.
* ''TeenTitans'': After several tries, Cyborg finally lets Sarasim kiss him as the two wait to go into battle.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Admiral Horatio Nelson, while lying on his death-bed, asked the captain of his flagship, Thomas Hardy, for a kiss before he died. Hardy kissed him twice, on the cheek and the forehead, as a last gesture of affection to the man who had been his mentor and leader for his entire adult life.
** Accounts vary - Nelson's last words may have been " ''Kismet'' (i.e. ''fate''), Hardy". But it is also recounted that some of Nelson's captains were so moved by the brilliance of his battle plan for Trafalgar that they ''wept'', so the Kiss Me version has credence.
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