The Gathering (92 page)

Sean didn't stop until he was directly in front of Alia.
 
He was breathing heavily.
 
He couldn’t believe she was there.
 
He had dreamt of her return, fighting off the nightmares that she wouldn't come back and there she was standing before him.
 
He tentatively reached out his hand to her face, terrified it was another dream and she would disappear.

Alia smiled and brought his hand to her cheek, nuzzling her face against his familiar skin.
 
Then without hesitation, he pulled her to his mouth.
 
She began to cry as he kissed her and she could taste their tears.
 
He stopped and held her tightly against him.

“I thought I’d lost you.”

“I promised, didn't I?”

He smiled as he nodded and they kissed again until Alia realized her children were waiting desperately to touch her.
 
When Sean let her go, they fell upon her.

"Shad?"

Sean turned to see Molly coming towards him and he covered his mouth as he moved towards her.
 
Then he swept her up and against him.
 
He kissed her cheek and rocked her back and forth.

"Shad…
 
I can't breathe… "

Sean started to laugh and let her go.
 
She smiled and hugged him again.
 
The people in Lia Fail flooded out of the village looking for their loved ones.
 
Ellen, Ian and Hannah found Grant, and Duncan and Maggie found Vance.
 
Carolyn found Myron and Janeen found Connie, but many wandered about, realizing that their children wouldn't be coming back.
 
They had gone.
 

Alia held Amanda as she looked around her.
 
Time moved so quickly.
 
She felt the goddess in her, moving through her.
 
Then she felt Sean's hand in hers.

"C'mon, I bet you're tired."

She smiled.

"I'd bet you're right."

Slowly the group moved back into the village.
 
Then Alia remembered, there was still one more day left of the Gathering and she sighed.

"Tomorrow's the last day of the Gathering."

Sean looked at her as if she was crazy and started to laugh.

"Yeah, tomorrow's the last day.
 
I think we could use the rest."

They all looked at each other and smiled.
 
Rest would be good.

139

Alia awoke to the midmorning sun and tried to stretch but couldn't move.
 
As she looked around, she smiled to see Sean and her children asleep around her.
 
She carefully got out of bed and put on her robe.
 
She looked at them and smiled, then walked out of her room and towards the stairs.
 
Then she stopped and walked to the door at the far end of the hall.

She opened the door and stepped inside.
 
Asleep on Alisha’s bed was Vance.
 
She smiled as she felt the tight pain in her throat.
 
She lightly stroked the hair from his face.
 
He stirred softly and then stilled.
 
Alia looked around the room and breathed deeply.
 
Then she turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her and careful to not make any noise.

As she closed the door behind her, she smiled.
 
She was finally at peace.
 
She started to walk back to the stairs when the door to her room opened and Sean walked out.

"Trying to escape, huh?"

She smiled.

"No, I need food.
 
I feel like I've been asleep for a million years.
 
I'm starving."

"C'mon, I'll make you breakfast."

"You?"

"Yeah, I made Molly and me breakfast lots of times.
 
I may be a little out of practice, but I used to make great pancakes."

"I'm intrigued."

They walked down the stairs together.
 
At the bottom, Sean stopped and Alia looked over at him.

"You ok?"

He smiled and nodded.

"I didn't get a chance to tell you… I remembered her name."

"Who?"

"The blond girl… the one I lived with in Malibu… I remembered her name."

Alia looked at him and smiled.

“What was it?”
 
She asked.

"Jill… her name was Jill."

Alia leaned in and kissed him.

"I love you."

"Mmm, I love you back… now, how about some pancakes?
 
And maybe some bacon and eggs?"

"Yes, please… and potatoes."

Sean laughed.

“Of course… “

Then they looked up as the castle began to stir.
 
They walked into the kitchen as the door upstairs was thrown open and feet pounded down the stairs.

140

Sam sat on the bench in front of Paul Stark's memorial, staring at the memories of the great man's life.
 
As his eyes scanned over the reliefs of the column, Sam realized he was different now.
 
He could feel the power of the goddess within him and he wondered if he was worthy.
 

"What are you thinking about, My Love?"

Elena Petrulengo sat down next to her oldest grandchild and took his hand.
 
He placed his hand over hers and looked at her.
 
She marveled at what changes had befallen him in the last few days.
 
He smiled at her.

"It's ok, Gram.
 
It's just a lot of power to have, ya know?
 
A part of me is still so angry with them for what they did to Coeli… I don't… I mean, how do I…"

"She will tell you what she needs and does not need, Samuel.
 
Like you, she is now changed, but how… well, that is up to her and I personally have great faith that the horror they inflicted on all of you will only make you better in here.
 
As far as the anger, you must let it go… if not, it will destroy you."

Elena laid her hand on Sam's heart, as he nodded, then sighed.

"I love you, Gram."

"Of course you do… I am your grandmother.
 
I love you, too, Boy."

Sam leaned over and kissed his grandmother’s cheek and smiled.
 
Elena stood up and lightly tapped Sam’s hand and winked at him then walked back towards Keystone House, passing Coeli on the way.

Coeli sat down where Elena had been only moments before and looked up at the monument.

"It seems like a million years ago since we were here, doesn't it?"

Sam nodded and smiled as he turned to look into her eyes.
 
He raised his hand to gently caress her cheek and she closed her eyes.

"Shay?"

"Mmm?"

"Um, I want you to know… we aren't gonna do anything until… um, well, until you…"

"I'm ok, Sam, really.
 
I know I probably shouldn't be, but I'm ok."

Sam shook his head.

"I know you're strong, but after everything you've…"

"Yeah, I know, but it wasn't just me, it was us… all of us.
 
I don't know what happened to any of the soldiers… a lot of them were women, are they any different?
 
What Blaylock and Brollen did to me... well, it’s got nothing to do with us… I mean, even though it happened to us, it not the same.
 
When you and I are together, that’s special and what they did can never touch that.
 
Not for me anyway.
 
Does that make sense?"

Sam looked into her eyes and nodded.
 
He understood.

"I love you more than anything."
 
She said.

"I love you, Babe… more than anything."

"Good, cause I want an éclair."

Coeli stood up and pulled Sam with her and they walked towards the center of the village, passing several covered wagons as the first of the guests began to leave.
 
  

141

"I'm so sorry for everything."

Stephan Merganser held out his hand in front of him.
 
Sean looked down at Stephan’s hand and scowled then looked back up at Stephan and sighed.
 
Stephan took a deep breath, but continued to hold out his hand.
 
Sean shook his head and Stephan dropped his gaze and lowered his hand.
 
Sean smiled and pulled Stephan towards him.

Stephan's eyes grew wide as he felt Sean's arms close around him.
 
He reciprocated and leaned in.
 
Sean held Stephan's ear close to his mouth.

"If it hadn't been for your courage, I'd be dead now.
 
Never apologize again, ok?"

Sean lightly slapped the back of Stephan's head as he nodded and stepped back, smiling.
 
Sean folded his arms in front of him.

"See you in six months… Vivian'll be gunning for you.
 
She's crazy when it comes to those pastries."

Stephan laughed.

"Next Gathering… Alia…"

Alia stood before him and took his hands; he squeezed them softly.

"Thank you for bringing my son back to me."

"Thank you for saving Sean."

"See you in six months."
 
He said.

Alia nodded as Stephan turned and she in turn hugged each of the boys, then watched as Elian said goodbye to Ian and Scott.
 
Then he walked over to Sara and she hugged him.

"Thank you for bringing Scott and Ian back, Elian."

"I guess it’s what I was meant to do.
 
I think we can all be friends now, real friends, don’t you?"