Chapter 11

"Are you sure I can't convince you to stay a bit longer?" Sophie asked, the slanting late-afternoon sunlight causing her to squint at the pair standing before her. "I'm sure the citizens of Athraigh would welcome the opportunity to thank you personally for what you've done."

Phoenix smiled bashfully and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'd love to meet them all, honestly, but...I should probably get back home. My brother's waiting for me."

"You also need a bath," Willow pointed out with a grin. Phoenix elbowed her affectionately.

"And you?" Sophie asked Willow, turning to her.

"I also need a bath, most likely," Willow deadpanned. "But in seriousness, I should get going, too. A friend of mine back home -" She paused mid-sentence, reflecting for a moment on her unconscious use of the word "home," then continued, "he's waiting for the research materials I'll be bringing back with me." She was struck by a sudden thought. "Oh! I know I don't live here, but please Sophie, oh please, I promise I'll be back and return everything in perfect condition!"

Sophie laughed. "Our head librarian evacuated with the others, but as the only citizen currently present, not to mention Athraigh town elder, I'm quite certain I possess the authority to allow you to borrow items from our library."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!" Willow gasped happily.

"No, thank you." Sophie's glance included Phoenix in her words. "For everything you've done for us. I simply can't adequately convey the depth of my gratitude. I only wish you could stay until our residents return and receive the kind of heroes' recognition you both deserve."

Dr. D, who had ceded the floor to Sophie until now, stepped forward. "It's been a pleasure to work with you both," he said, eyeing Willow and Phoenix. "Especially you, young man. I suppose it just goes to show...you never really know whom your next teacher will be." Phoenix grinned appreciatively at the compliment, then realized with horror that Dr. D wasn't yet done. "And I do hope you'll eventually decide, before it's too late," he continued, "to fight for what you most lo -"

"Doc!" Willow exclaimed suddenly, rudely interrupting him as she thought of something. "You never told us your name!" Her earnest brown eyes were pleading. "Please? Since we saved the library and you'll probably have at least another day of silence there before everyone starts coming back?"

Dr. D unleashed a burst of cackling laughter that handily eclipsed all previous ones the assembled group had yet heard. "I suppose you've earned it, young lady!" His face became stern. "But you must promise not to tell a soul." Willow nodded her assent eagerly, and he leaned in close to whisper the word into her ear.

Her eyes enlarged into saucers. "Duke?!" she exclaimed. "Are you serious?" She then clapped both hands over her mouth. "Um..."

Dr. D stared hard at Phoenix and Sophie. "I hope you two will do a better job of keeping my secret than this one here."

"My lips are sealed," Phoenix replied solemnly, though Sophie simply laughed.

"Will you be leaving me too, Dr. Duke?" she asked with a wink.

Dr. D rolled his eyes skyward. "Yes, eventually, but this blabbermouth makes a good point. It will be deliciously quiet in your library until your citizens begin to return, so I hope you don't mind if I stay on a bit yet to continue with my work."

"Of course not! Take all the time you need."

"You should bring your inventions to the government," Willow suggested. "They would be crazy if they didn't recognize your level of genius. Especially if you demonstrated the capabilities of something like your illusion unit!"

"You know, perhaps I will," Dr. D agreed, growing thoughtful. "I do have some friends in very high places up in New Helic City..."

At the northern end of the market street, Zeke, who was standing beside Fuzzy, stirred. Willow looked over at her lupine companion, then turned back to Sophie and Dr. D and smiled. "We'll be back soon," she said.

"Promise?" Sophie said, holding out her hand.

"Promise." Willow took Sophie's hand and shook it, smiling into the young woman's heart-shaped face, then leaned forward conspiratorially. "By the way, Daisy told me that she's really, really proud of you," she whispered. They locked eyes. "Athraigh is very lucky to have such a smart and talented leader." Sophie nodded, beaming.

Willow and Phoenix waved to their new friends, then set off together down the street. Around them, a handful of rooms and shops and porches, though still empty, were alight now that the town's power was back on. The festive illumination lit Willow and Phoenix's path towards their Zoids. It was amazing how different the atmosphere in Athraigh felt with the addition of a bit of light, as well as the removal of the crushing weight of fear. The two friends were silent as they passed the inn on their right, although Willow noticed Phoenix's glance slide over to it. She thought she knew what he might be thinking of. They had rested that morning and afternoon in their room, sleeping, talking, eating, reading - Willow had finished Aer's diary - and savoring one another's company in the time that they still had left. Aside from the change of scenery, it had felt so similar to past times back in Fort Zephyr that the very nearness of the memory had taken Willow's breath away. If his thinking was anything like hers, Phoenix was probably recalling it, too, wondering how their remaining hours together had slipped away so quickly.

They stopped at Zeke's and Fuzzy's feet. Willow turned to her dear friend. "I guess...I guess this is where we part ways now?" She'd intended it to be a statement, but the words had slipped from her as more of a question. Phoenix didn't say anything; he was biting his lip and looking over her shoulder into the desert, where the waning sunlight was creating sharply delineated shadows on the dunes. She studied his face, saw the pallid color of his cheeks and the sadness darkening his eyes. "Oh, stars, Phoenix," she whispered, so her voice wouldn't break. "Why is saying goodbye to you always so hard?"

"I don't want to leave you, either," he murmured, still not meeting her eyes. He kept chewing fretfully at his lower lip. But a thought seemed to come to him then, for his whole aspect brightened suddenly. He cleared his throat. "Actually," he said preliminarily, and here Willow knew something silly and likely logistically indefensible was coming, "in light of recent events, I think it would be best if I accompanied you back to the Wind Colony. You know, to ensure your safe arrival and all." He looked at her full-on now, and presented her with that irresistible grin of his.

This wasn't what she had been expecting him to say, and so her incredulous laugh escaped her in abrupt fashion. She shook her head, grinning back at him. "You realize I am in nearly the exact opposite direction as you, right?" He nodded enthusiastically. "And what of Heinrich? Isn't he expecting you home soon? Aren't you, in fact, a bit late in returning to him as it is?"

Phoenix's face clouded at mention of his brotherly obligations, but only for a moment before lighting up again with pleasure at his idea. "Now that Athraigh is connected to the world again, I'll just have a message sent to him. Nothing to worry about." Willow was eyeing him more than a little bit skeptically, and, noting this, he scratched the back of his neck. "The truth is," he added, softly, "this never does get any easier for me, either. And while I do very much want to get back home to Heinrich, the thought of leaving you in order to do that feels, at this moment, absolutely unbearable." He took both her hands in his and gazed at her, his bright eyes pleading. "Some of the way, then? Just so I don't have to face the eventuality of our parting just yet?"

Phoenix thankfully did not know it, but almost since the first moment she had met him, Willow had found she was very nearly powerless to deny him even the slightest thing he asked of her. At first she had simply been under the spell of his charismatic charm, beautiful emerald eyes, and roguish grin, but there was so much more to it now than that. It was no surprise, of course, that she cared about him, deeply, but what continued to bewilder and amaze her was just how far down those wells of affection could go.

She nodded to him. "If you're sure, then I know a nice stopping point where we could -" she began, but got no further, for he'd pulled her into a tight embrace and was nuzzling his nose and cheek against her head. Relief was practically radiating off of him in visible waves.

She sighed happily, to once more be in this familiar and comforting place, close to someone who meant the world, no, the universe to her. Someone she loved.

"One or both of us could have died today," he whispered into her hair. He exhaled, heavily, and in that exhale, she understood just how much fear he had been holding on to. "Please forgive me if that means I can't seem to let go of you just yet."

Willow didn't mind.

She did not reply, but simply breathed, and tightened her arms around him.