Disclaimer: Suzanne Collins owns the Underland Chronicles, not me

Gregor walked around the apartment for what felt like the last time. His parents had decided that they were moving to Virginia, though they weren't leaving for another few weeks. Lizzie and Boots had tried to convince them that they couldn't leave, that this was their home and that nothing was wrong with where they were, but it was no use. Their mom just wouldn't allow them to stay in that apartment. Their dad had promised them that they would finally have a normal life. Gregor hadn't said anything, but he felt his life wouldn't be normal without the Underland. He had to see Luxa just one last time. Just to tell her that she would always be with him. He was going down to the laundry room tonight. He'd already sent a note down the grate, informing them that he would be coming. He'd gotten a scroll in reply, saying that Nike would be the flier to bring him down to Regalia. He didn't want to risk taking Boots and Lizzie. If anything bad happened, he didn't want them to be involved.

So Gregor waited. He barely said ten words all day. His parents knew something was wrong, but whenever they asked, Gregor would just shake his head.

"He'll be fine once we get to Virginia," his mom would say to his dad. "No," Gregor would think. "I'll be even worse."

That night, when his sisters and parents were all asleep, Gregor crept out of bed and dressed. He would have to be very quiet. He grabbed his watch and made sure that the time was right. He didn't want to spend any more than three hours in the Underland. He pulled on his clothes, grabbed a flashlight, and left the apartment, taking great care not to make any noise. His mother had become very protective lately, even by her standards.

Gregor crept down the hall to the stairs. He didn't want to risk taking the elevator. He ran down the stairs and headed towards the laundry room. Thankfully, it was completely void of people doing their laundry. He walked towards the grate and whispered,

"Nike." Immediately the great bat came before him. "Are you ready, Gregor?" He merely nodded. There was no way in the world Nike would understand how grateful he was for this. He mounted her and they took off through the grate that led to the Underland.

"How is Luxa?" Gregor asked finally.

"She did not seem well when first you left, Gregor," Nike said gravely. "She hardly ever left the prophecy room. And when she wasn't there, she was training with Aurora. She scarcely ate and she slept in the prophecy room." Gregor took a deep breath. "She's worse than I thought," he said to himself.

"But then she go your note," Nike continued. "She ate more and slept in her quarters. You wouldn't believe how happy she was to have news of your arrival." Gregor smiled but didn't say anything else.

Gregor realized that Nike no longer seemed to be diving. He looked around and saw the city of Regalia back to its beautiful old self. Gregor breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't think he would have been able to stand Regalia still in ruins.

"We reconstructed more quickly than we thought," said Nike, as if she was reading his thoughts. "I suppose it was the knowledge that it was unlikely that there would be another war between the gnawers and the humans that lifted our spirits." Again, Gregor nodded but didn't say anything. He checked his watch. It was midnight. He'd left only fifteen minutes ago; he was making great time.

Suddenly Nike landed, and Gregor knew that he was inside that palace. He dismounted and suddenly felt like he was home. He looked around and saw familiar faces. Mareth and Howard were both grinning at him. He came forward.

"Mareth, Howard, man, you don't know how good it is to see you."

"Likewise, Gregor," said Howard. He and Mareth exchanged glances and quickly looked away, as if they would burst out laughing if they didn't.

"What's going on?" Gregor asked. He was beginning to become suspicious.

"Nothing, Gregor," Mareth said. "Come with us, there is someone who is most anxious to see you." Immediately Gregor knew what was going on. He felt his cheeks grow warm. Then he felt confused. Wasn't it Howard who had said that he was against any relationship he had with Luxa that wasn't platonic?

Mareth and Howard guided Gregor into the prophecy room. The light was extremely dim and Mareth had to go into the hall and get another torch just so they could see. Almost immediately after Mareth had returned, Gregor felt like he was under attack. An instant later, he realized that he was being hugged.

"Luxa," he gasped. "Luxa let me breathe!" The Underland queen released him, though she didn't stop smiling. This time, Mareth and Howard didn't look away fast enough. There was a roar of laughter from them. It wasn't until Luxa had them under her famous death gaze did they leave, though they didn't stop laughing. When they were gone, Luxa averted her violet eyes back to Gregor.

"You haven't the slightest idea how much I've missed you," she said.

"After that hug I think I do," Gregor joked. Luxa feigned annoyance for a moment and both of them started to laugh.

"So what's been going on since I left?" Gregor asked when the laughter had stopped.

"Everyone is so much better. Including Vikus, Gregor you must see him, he can speak again though he is still very weak and-"

"One thing at a time, Luxa," Gregor laughed. "I promise I'll go see him before I leave." At the mention of his leaving, Luxa's smile faltered for a moment, but she didn't say anything. "So you snuck out?" she asked. She seemed desperate to change the subject. "Yeah. I had to see everyone one last time." By 'everyone', he had meant Luxa, though it still felt awkward saying it to her. She seemed to understand, however, and didn't say anything about it.

"Well everyone is so glad you came. But before we go see Vikus, there's something else you need to see." She grabbed his hand and led him out of the room and down the hall. They seemed to be the only ones awake, for no one else was walking the halls. They turned a corner and saw Aurora and Nike. They appeared to be waiting for them.

"Are you sure he is ready to see this, Luxa," Aurora asked. Luxa nodded. "He needs to."

"What do I need to see?" Gregor asked, but Luxa shook her head.

"It is a surprise. Don' worry, I promise it's nothing dangerous." Gregor had difficulty believing this but mounted Nike all the same.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"To the arena," Nike said. "Don't ask anymore, Gregor. You will not be disappointed." And with that, the fliers took off towards the arena. Gregor watched Regalia fly past him. He really had been away for too long.

The second Nike landed at the arena, Gregor dismounted immediately. "Alright, Luxa," he called. "Where's this 'big surprise' of yours?" Luxa merely smiled and took his hand. She led him to the center of the arena. When she stopped, she pointed at the ground before them. When he saw it, Gregor knelt down before it. There, on the ground, was a tomb made of what looked like the blackest obsidian. Engraved on the very front were the words:

Ares the flier

Bonded to Gregor, the Overlander

Died honorably in combat against the Bane

May he rest in peace

Gregor couldn't believe it. He turned to Luxa who was eyeing him nervously.

"I did not think you would have wanted him sent off in the river," she explained. "So I had him buried. Do you hate it?" Gregor looked at her in surprise. He stood up and hugged her.

"Thank you," was all he said. He couldn't help the flow of tears that was now overcoming him. He looked down at Luxa and kissed her. This was the nicest thing she had ever done for him. "Thank you, so much."

"You are welcome, Gregor," Luxa said. They stood there hugging for just a moment longer. When they broke apart, Gregor dried his eyes and checked his watch. 1:15; just enough time to go see Vikus.

"Come on, let's go see Vikus," Luxa said, as if she were reading his thoughts. They mounted the fliers and made their way back to the palace. They left Aurora and Nike and went to the hospital. When they arrived, they not only saw Vikus, but Ripred as well.

"Well, well," the great rat said when he saw them. "Look who we have here, Vikus. The Overlander." Vikus looked up from his hospital bed. His face broke into a smile when he saw Gregor. "Wow, Luxa wasn't kidding when she said he looked better," Gregor thought.

"Well, Overlander," came Ripred's voice. "Do I get a hello?" Gregor laughed and said hello to the gnawer.

"That's more like it," Ripred said. "Are your sisters here?" Gregor shook his head. "Shame," the rat said, and he truly did sound disappointed. "He probably misses Lizzie," Gregor thought correctly. He turned his attention to Vikus.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I am better than I was, I must say," Vikus said. "Though it cannot be denied that this stroke has taken its toll." Gregor nodded.

"You snuck away from your parents?" asked Vikus. He seemed to have a knack for asking questions Luxa had already asked.

"Yeah. I wanted to bring Lizzie and Boots, but-"

"Lizzie would have been fine, but the pup? I don't think I could have been able to bear her singing again," Ripred said. Gregor just rolled his eyes. He was used to Ripred's rude remarks about his youngest sister. There was nothing he could say that would make him stop, and if there was, it was too late for Gregor to discover it.

He checked his watch. 1:45; it was probably time for him to leave. He turned to Luxa, but was surprised when she wasn't there. He left Vikus' hospital room and went to look for her. He asked some doctors, but they all said that they didn't know where she was headed. Gregor was beginning to grow worried. Then he remembered what Nike had told him.

"She hardly ever left the prophecy room."

Gregor sprinted all the way there. He stopped at the wooden doors for a moment to catch his breath and went inside. There was Luxa, sitting on the floor before the Prophecy of Time. Her head was bowed and she looked as if she were crying.

"Luxa," he said gently. "Are you going to be alright when I leave?" Luxa looked up at him with her great violet eyes.

"I don't know, Gregor," she said. "I do not want for you to leave the Underland at all. Every time you departed, it was like there was a great void inside of me that couldn't be filled in your absence. I don't want to have to become a shell of a person again." She looked at him, as if she were begging him to stay.

"Look, Luxa," he began. "I'll talk to my mom. It won't be easy to convince her to let me stay, especially since she barely left with her life. I don't want to leave either, but if I do, I want you to know that I love you, and always will." Luxa appeared to accept this answer and squeezed his hand.

"Thank you, Gregor," she said.

"You're welcome," he replied. "Now I have to go. I'll talk to my parents in the morning. I'll send a note with their answer tomorrow," Luxa nodded.

"I'll come with you to the grate," she said. Gregor nodded and took her hand. They left the prophecy room and mounted Aurora and Nike one more time. The fliers made their way through Regalia, and past the arena. As they flew past the arena, Gregor whispered,

"Fly you high, and rest in peace, Ares."

Aurora and Nike flew upwards until they had arrived at the grate. Gregor dismounted and looked at Luxa.

"If they say no," he began, "you stay out of the prophecy room." And though he tone was humorous, Luxa knew that he was serious. The fliers departed and Gregor made his way back to the apartment quickly and quietly. He went into his room and changed back into his pajamas. He lay down on his bed and closed his eyes, already preparing his arguments for tomorrow.