After the ending…

Sophie gazed sadly out of the window of Roslin Church, miserably looking out on the beautiful Scottish countryside. Nearly a day earlier, Robert had left to go home- and she suddenly wished she hadn't let him go. It was funny; she had never really thought of her and Robert's relationship as more than professional- after all, they had only known each other a day or two. The setting for their recent adventures had been hardly romantic- and running from the law across Europe didn't really give her much time to think about them in that way. But somehow, he kept drifting into her thoughts. 'This is stupid, Sophie,' she kept telling herself. She'd found her family at last, and discovered a secret that had changed her life dramatically. Her childhood dreams had all come true, the pain and grief of her family finally over. But as she sat forlornly here now, the flashbacks came flooding back.

Running through London under pursuit of the police was not really the best way to get to know a man... but now she looked back she realised it was exciting- and even more so- she missed Robert. Now she had just one glimmer of hope- their meeting in Florence. At first, when they had first met, she assumed afterwards she would go on living like she had earlier, alone. However now, she felt a new sense of hope; did she really want to live life just watching others live it? The kiss they had shared still brought tingles up her spine- it was that moment she realised that the answer to that question was no. That night, standing there in the moonlight, when she leaned in for that magical moment… she wasn't sure why she did it- they had known each other only one day, but there was one thing she knew- that it felt right. Staring out into the beautiful Scottish countryside, she knew it was selfish- she should be happy, she had got everything she had ever wanted; except one thing, a place in her heart that felt… missing. And that empty place, she realized now, was love.

Meanwhile, in a taxi far, far away, on the way out of Scotland, was Robert Langdon himself. Those last few hours with Sophie, he thought, had been the strangest hours of his life. This was puzzling, as a mere day ago, he and Sophie had been fugitives of the French police, and being let in on one of the biggest secrets ever kept by man, yet the experience he had just had was no doubt stranger. There was a feeling inside him- he wasn't sure where it came from, but Sophie's face still lingered in his thoughts. One thing he knew was, after his brief stint with the gifted Vittoria Vetra, he had never thought so much about it as he was now. He sat in the back seat and thought deeply. What was he doing with his life? A young woman like Sophie, he thought, would never think anything of him… yet when she kissed him like that... well he knew it was no peck on the cheek…. Little did he know that far away, Sophie was contemplating it too. Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration. Robert never did random, impulsive things; but he was sure that today those days would end…

Sophie emerged from her daydreams with a jolt. Her phone was ringing. "Oui?" she answered wearily, too immersed in thoughts to talk. "Sophie?"

said a comforting voice. "Robert!" her heart leaped. "How is the journey home?"

"Its fine… but to be honest I had something on my mind…"

"What is on your mind Robert?" enquired Sophie, at the same time silently praying that he had decided to come back for her. She knew it was silly, but these thoughts came rushing into her and she couldn't stop it.

"You, Sophie." Robert's rich, clear voice ringed out, almost as if he was next to her. "Me?" Sophie choked, her voice noticeably a couple of notches higher than earlier. "I mean.. why were you thinking about me?" She heard Robert exhale deeply and waited tensely for what seemed like an age before he replied. "Because Sophie…" he hesitated, " I think.. that I've fallen in love with you."

Her heart did a couple of somersaults before she answered. "I... I don't know what to say!" she hesitated a moment, "But… how far away are you now?"

"Well… that depends on how far away you class the front driveway…" he said slowly but with a hint of mischief in his tone. Sophie leaped up, joy filling her. She raced out into the graveyard, where in the distance a handsome figure stood, with a hint of a smile on his tired looking face. She flung her arms around him and hugged him like she never wanted to let go. Robert looked into her eyes and said in that droll way he always did; "Well I guess we're going to have to bring forward that date, I suppose…"

And in response, Sophie cut him short and kissed him. When they came apart, she looked at him, and in a determined voice replied; "I suppose we will, Mr Langdon, I suppose we will…"

From the window of the chapel, a contented Marie Chauvel smiled as she looked out upon the grounds of Roslin Chapel, where she had hid for many years with the Priory. Looking back, she wished she could have been there for her granddaughter Sophie as she was growing up, and was glad that she had been accepted into Sophie's life, after all this time and heartbreak. Now, as she watched Robert laughing with her, and Sophie gazing up into his eyes, she knew that at last, Sophie had found happiness. And this time, she vowed, she would be with her.

Out in the grounds, Sophie and Robert flopped down on the grass laughing.

"So, now all the life changing secrets and controversies have ended, what do you suppose we do?" Robert said, playfully placing a daisy in Sophie's hair.

"Well…" Sophie grinned, "I suppose we'll just have to find another mystery, wont we?" Robert groaned.

"I think I've had enough of that for a lifetime!"

A moment passed, a contented silence was kept between them. Sophie squeezed his hand gently, and with a happy smile said; "Thank you, Robert." Robert looked up in surprise.

"Why?" he enquired.

"For coming back for me," Sophie said softly.

Robert hugged her. "I had to, Sophie. You'll never believe how bored I was without running around somewhere with you!"

She grinned. "I thought you said you'd had enough of that!"

"Well one thing's for sure- I certainly haven't had enough of you!" Robert replied. She smiled, then felt a wash of emotion cover her as for a moment she recalled the past few day's events. She had lost what she thought was her last relative, been held at gunpoint and been a fugitive. Now, she thought, she had found more family, and had at last found love. She was a bit overwhelmed, so she was still for a moment. After a while, she spoke.

"Neither am I… and now I know why my grandfather wanted me to find you."

Robert blinked.

"I'm sorry?" he said in a confused voice. "I wrote a book about the very secret he was guarding. Isn't that why?"

"Yes," Sophie replied. "But… I think he wanted me to meet you for another reason as well…"

Robert looked at her in disbelief.

"You think your grandfather set us up?"

After a moment Sophie let a grin creep up her face. "He could always tell a smart match…"

Robert laughed, and then kissed her lightly on the head. "So… you think we're a smart match?" Sophie gave a cheeky grin.

"Oh yes," She gave a wry smile, "Brilliant."

Robert pulled her close. "I totally agree." They kissed and when they separated he smiled. "Princess Sophie."