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 The room became quiet, everyone sat there absorbing what they just heard. Finally, Michael couldn't wait any longer.
“So, does that mean Isabel and I aren't really supposed to be together?”
“According to the wishes of the king and queen you are…but, according to your heart, no. In the old life, you felt more like brother and sister, much like you do in this one.” Miranda turns and looks from Maria to Isabel then back to Michael, she continues, “You both have chosen wisely, you have listened to your heart…continue to follow your heart and you won't be disappointed. However, I think you both will have your hands full; these two do not always like to cooperate.” She grins as she watches Michael look at Maria, nodding his head.
“You got that right!”
“Be nice, Spaceboy!”
“What about Jesse? Do you think he'll ever be back?” Isabel hadn't heard from him since she called him.
“He loves you; he'll find a way.” Miranda lifts Isabel's chin to have her look at her face. Isabel looks up, and what she saw made her realize that everything would be alright.
Isabel hesitates trying to get her nerve up; finally she asks the question that she had longed to have answered. “Was Vilandra really responsible for everyone's death? Did she really betray them?” She looks over at Max, afraid to hear the answer.
Miranda looks at Isabel, the anguish she must have felt since she heard that twisted story. “The ones that told you that were callous people. They only wanted to cause you unnecessary pain. You followed you're heart then too. Only that time your heart was innocent, Kivar was older than you, he had lived a wilder life. Since you were the Princess, you lived a sheltered life away from the evils of the world You had accepted the fact that you would marry Rath…you had no knowledge of the ways of worldly men like Kivar. Of course you knew him because of Zan, but he only let you see the polite side, he wanted to be able to take your heart as part of his revenge against your brother for the lose of his sister. He would take Zan's sister, making him suffer. He made Zan and Rath watch as he killed you…he wanted to break Zan's heart as his was broken. Then he allowed the one you know as Nicholas to kill Rath. Kivar has a vengeful heart. If you meet again, and I'm afraid you may, always keep your guard up, no matter what he tells you, no matter what he promises you, he is never ever to be trusted. He has a cold heart now, his main goal in life to make all people suffer.”
Isabel let a tear roll down her cheek; at last she could look a Max and not feel like she had let everyone down, even if it was in life that she didn't remember. Max stood up, walking over to Isabel he opens his arms, she looks at him and accepts what he was offering. “I never have doubted you Isabel…no matter what anyone said. Even if the story had been true, you are still my sister, that was a different life. This is now and we will always stick together for our greater good.”
Phillip and Diane Evans watch their children; Diane tried to fight the tears. What they must have felt hiding this secret all these years, how strong they must have been, how strong they still are. She reaches over and takes Phillip's hand and gives it a squeeze. Miranda started looking at the group; she didn't see a dry eye, well, except for Langley.
Geoff clears his throat, he was afraid to speak after hearing about their children. “Is anyone up for pie and coffee across the street? We can finish our talks there. If that's okay.”
A group sigh was heard, at last they could let go of some of the emotion of the past hour. “Sounds great, do you have any coconut cream?” Everyone laughed at Jim, the tension had been broken.
As they filed out the door and headed across the street, Miranda signaled for Max and Liz to stay behind. “I am truly sorry for the pain of that test…we had to know.”
It was Liz's turn to touch the elderly woman's face. “You did what you had to do…you made us stronger for going through that. Now we know that we will never be apart. He is the love of my life, you know. And I would gladly die for him, but I think you already know that.” She smiles at her.
“Oh Max, you will have your hands full with this one. She will always keep you on your toes.” Miranda reaches over and pats Max's arm.
“Yes, ma'am, I already figured that out.” He smiles at her and offers his arm. “May we offer you some pie?”
“Well maybe some lemonade, with extra lemon.” She says winking as she takes his offered arm.
As they head for the door, they hear a muffled yell. “Oh, I almost forgot.” Miranda waves her hand behind her back, freeing Langley.
“Kal, do us both a favor, go back to California…I don't want to see your face again either.” Max watches as Kal walks quickly passed them, dialing his cell phone. By the time they got across the street next his rental car, they heard him talking to his pilot telling him to get the plane ready, he was on his way.
 As they were all getting their pie, Liz and Maria start fixing the coffee pots. Liz looked over just in time to see Max and her father whispering. “What's going on with them, Liz?”
“I don't know…looks like a conspiracy.” As she watched, her father puts his arm around Max's shoulder and they head into the storage room. “Should I start getting paranoid?” They both laugh. Next thing Liz knows, her father comes out alone. “Dad, where's Max?”
He looks at her grinning. “Oh, he had a little errand to run, he'll be back soon.” All of this was not lost on Miranda, she too smiled.
Maria walks over to the booth with Michael, Kyle and Isabel; she sits down next to Michael. Geoff brings a tray of pie for them to pick from, as they make their selections he looks at Kyle. “Please keep a hold of you temper, okay Kyle. I think I'm still trying to pay off some Michael's damage.”
Looking at Michael's shocked face, he grins at him. “Kidding.”
Isabel picks up the Tabasco sauce and pours it on her pie, and then she passes it to Michael. Michael gives Kyle a skeptical look, then hands him the bottle. They watch as he too dumps it on his pie. “What?” They all just grin.
Maria sits and watches as they dive into the Tabasco covered pie. Shaking her head, she picks up the bottle, pouring some on her pie too. “What the hell!” Picking up her fork, she takes a bite, suddenly her face starts to twist at the taste. Reaching for a napkin, she spits it out. “How do you do that?”
Miranda watches them; oh this is a good life for them all. They have such accepting friends, they have done well. As she looks up, she sees Max return, looking for Liz. “Hi Miranda, have you seen Liz?”
“I believe she is in the kitchen. You have a wonderful life, my son. You be happy.” She pats his hand.
“I'll see you again before you leave, won't I?”
“No, by the time you get back, I will have left to go back home. It has been an honor to have been a part of your life, both of them. Take care of each other.” She indicates that Liz had returned to the room. “Now go, be with your wonderful wife.” As Max walks towards Liz, he sees Miranda wipe a tear from her eyes.
“Come on Liz.” He reaches for her hand.
“Where are we going?”
“Do you trust me?” She just smiles and answers, “Always.” They head out the door.
After they leave, Miranda approaches Nancy and Geoff at their table. “Geoff, may I have a word with Nancy, I won't keep her long.” Geoff goes over to talk to Jim and Phillip. “Nancy I am sorry for what Claudia and I did to you. You should have been told, but we had no idea how you feel about this, and we had to do what was necessary.”
“There was no harm done, as a matter of fact, it was a good thing.” Nancy liked this woman; she felt she could talk to her, like a mother.
“How do you figure?” For once she had the question.
“If Max never existed, our daughter would be dead right now. So for that one thing I will be forever in your debt.” She reaches over and kisses the woman on the cheek. “Thank you.”
Miranda pats her hand, and then reaches in her pocket. “You take this; I think it will be needed soon.”
Nancy looks at the pile of herbs. “What is this…oh.”
“It's not quite the same, but it serves the same purpose. I think after tonight, Liz may need it in a month or so.” She winks at Nancy, then Nancy smiles back, knowingly.
As they drove on through the night, Max thinks of his surprise. “Liz, there is so much I have to say to you, but I don't know how. So many things to thank you for.”
“Max, no…” He puts his finger to her lips. Reaching over, he puts in a CD. She picks up the case to see which one it is. “I love this concert CD.”
“I want you to listen to a song.” She looks at him, not knowing what he means.
“I've heard this one a lot of times…”
Again he puts his fingers on her lips…”Just listen to it, then you'll understand…” Pushing the play button, he sees her listening to the words.
“Every time I look at you the world just melts away
All my troubles, all my fears dissolve in your affections
You've seen me at my weakest but you take me as I am
And when I fall you offer me a softer place to land.
You stay the course you hold the line, you keep it all together
You're the one true thing I know I can believe in
You're all the things that I desire, you save me, you complete me.
You're the one true thing I know I can believe.”
As the song continued, Liz looks at Max, finally she got it, that was his way of saying thank you for standing by him for all that he had put her through. The look that he gave her said more than the song. His love and thanks poured from his eyes…as he stopped the car he leans across the seat, pulling her to him. “After tonight, there will be no doubt, you are my queen.”
As they continued laughing and trading stories with Miranda about the growing up years here and on Antar, there came a knock on the restaurant door. They all look at each other, it would be apparent that they were closed, all of the blinds were drawn. The knock came again. Michael stands, walking to the door. Kyle follows him, if he got mad enough he should be able to do some damage if necessary. The knock came a third time. Then a voice.
“Come on guys let me in, I've been driving for two days!”
“Jesse!”
Liz looked around; they were at the pod chamber. “Max what's going on?”
As he puts his hand on the rock that would unlock the “door” he looks at her. “Stay here.”
She grins, thinking back to a time she said that to him. “Staying.”
He disappeared into the chamber for a minute, and then he comes out and carries her inside. “Oh Max.” Looking around, she sees that the room is filled with strawberry scented candles. At the base of the pods was her parents' inflatable bed, covered in the new linens from their room. On the bed were white rose petals. Something didn't seem quite right, then she realized what it was, Tess' pod was gone. “Where is…”
“Gone, it had no place here, it's been destroyed. I did it when I came to fix things here.” Looking around, there was something he was forgetting. “Oh, I almost forgot, I want to give you the stars, your highness.” Waving his hand at the ceiling of the pod chamber, he turned it into a giant picture window. All of the stars in the sky were their ceiling.
Liz leans her head back to see it all. “I've never seen anything so beautiful…”
Max turns her to him, taking her in his arms, kissing her thoroughly, he smiles. “I have.”
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