Sophie remembered being both exhilarated and frustrated as she rode to his house.

It was very late at night, and Edward was walking outside a hammer in his left hand his face a mask of annoyance and disbelief at her appearance.

She had obviously had disturbed his work.

He asked irritated "Who told you were to find me?"

Sophie replied equally annoyed "You're manger I told him if you were going to stay in Vienna you'll need my help!"

Edward yelled pessimistically "Ah I am to be driven from the city then? Good I shall relish it!"

She cried angrily "Stop it I came here to try to help you!"

He asked frustrated "Why, why could you possibly care what happens to me now?"

Sophie yelled assuredly "You were my friend I am your friend!"

He replied downtrodden "We knew each other very briefly a long time ago, you don't know me at all!"

Sophie yelled disappointedly "Then why did you speak to me why did you even bother talking to-"

The rest of her response was cut off by Edward's lips upon her own and the two quickly retreated into his house.

Once inside he pulled open her blouse and discovered the puzzle locket, their lips came together again.

Their clothes were quickly discarded and they were soon in the throes of passionate lovemaking.

After their many rounds of passion they were wrapped up in each others arms in Edward's bed.

The fireplace was roaring the controlled inferno within the hearth, placed a hazy warm glow around them it was almost a physical manifestation of their love for each other.

Edward wistfully fingered her locket the bright flames danced across his face making her ache for him more than ever.

He replied astounded "You kept it all this time?"

Sophie nodded and gently took the locket in her right and held it reverently.

She smiled up at him and replied warmly "Yes, for hours I would sit and stare at your picture imagine were you where, at night I had dreams I'd gone with you, and then I'd wake up and realize where I was, but in my dreams you had shorter hair and no beard."

She gently stroked his face with her right hand.

Sophie laid her head on his chest and asked curiously "Where did you go when you left?"

Edward wrapped his right arm around her and gathered her to his chest.

He said somewhat distant "To my uncle's farm, near Prague."

She laughed softly and replied teasingly "That's sounds very exotic."

He squeezed her once gently and said warmly " I went to Russia, the Asia Minor, and then the Orations for many years."

She stroked his chest and replied longingly "Edward we were apart for so long."

Edward squeezed her again and said softly "I am so sorry for that, I had always meant to return... I just... I kept thinking I'd find it around the next corner...-"

Sophie asked confused "What?"

Edward looked at her and replied lovingly "A real mystery. I saw remarkable things but the only mystery I never solved was... why my heart couldn't let go of you."

She smiled and kissed him warmly.

Sophie replied passionately "I love, you."

Edward smiled and said happily "I love, you."

He gathered her to his chest once again and said warmly "Sophie come away with me."

Sophie sighed and replied sadly " I can not, Leopold wants me to go to Budapest with him next week to announce our engagement, he wants the Hungarians behind him, they're going to crown him king."

Edward said pointedly "I'm sure his father will have something to say about that."

She curled in to him he gathered her close.

Sophie said terrified "He plans to overthrow his father."

He squeezed her again and replied stressed "That could go very badly for him and for you, you shouldn't be involved."

She nuzzled his neck and said frightened "I am part of his plan, he only gets Hungary by allying himself with my family."

Edward kissed her cheek gently and replied desperately "Call it off and come away with me or don't say anything and we'll just go."

Sophie kissed his forehead and said distressed "It's not that easy, as long as we're alive he'll hunt us, and when he finds us he'll kill us I am sure of it!"

He kissed her lips softly and replied determinedly "Look at me do you truly want to leave with me?"

She smiled slightly and said warmly "Yes, more than anything."

Edward straddled her softly and said resolutely "Then we will I promise."

Sophie asked worried "But how?"

He smiled and replied "I will make us disappear I swear to you."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him to her.

They kissed and began to make love once again with renewed hope.

Afterward Sophie said breathlessly "I, love you Edward."

He replied softly "And I you Sophie, we'll be free in time."

He then kissed the crown of her head tenderly and they both drifted off into a blissful sleep.