It's going to be short, but this is all I had planned. As promised, here is the epilogue!

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Present Day: Earth

I run my fingers through my hair nervously. The dirty blonde locks are still damp, but at least they're clean. It's more than I had hoped for after waking up late this morning. Today of all days I forgot to set the stupid alarm. I rub my hands over my pencil skirt in an attempt to flatten the wrinkles. I hadn't been able to throw it or the white, button-up blouse in the dryer.

Hey, I was late this morning.

The car hums impatiently as it idles on the curb. Yeah, me too.

Finally my partner emerges from the apartment complex. My nose wrinkles at his greasy jeans and stained shirt. He climbs in the back and stretches his long legs out in the spot that's normally the front passenger seat. We had to accommodate his size.

"We are on our way to negotiate a very delicate peace treaty, and you're dressed like you just got done tuning up your motorcycle. Couldn't you have at least bathed?" I ask, flinching when the smell of oil and gasoline suffused the air. I activate the car's ventilation.

"Hey, I was asked to come. No one said I had a dress code."

"You get more insufferable by the day."

"You know you love it."

I roll my eyes and pull the car out on the interstate. The days when he was a clean cut prize military specimen are practically a thing of legend now. I can't even remember seeing him in his armor in the last ten years, though he polishes the ancient and outdated set until it shines every night before he goes to sleep.

I fall quiet at the thought of the last ten years. I never dreamed that when I went picking through his trash that night that he'd just bring me in and raise me. Although it's been a contest as to who's raising whom since I was twelve.

It was this man that raised me after my parents died and I was left to fend for myself on the streets. It was he that taught me how to be a soldier and how to fight. Though he was rougher than my drill sergeant when I was finally old enough to enlist, I've never heard him direct a bad word towards anyone, and he's never raised a hand to me. I still shudder when I think of what might've happened if he hadn't found me.

I pull into the embassy and hastily get out and rush around to the other side of the car, toe tapping impatiently as he takes his time getting out of the car.

"Relax, kid. It doesn't matter if we're late. Not like he's got anything else planned."

"We are ruining our chances. I wouldn't be surprised if the ambassador gave us the bird and started to shoot at us. These aren't running shoes you know."

He chuckles and my cheeks flare with my frustration.

Inside the elevator I ask, "How will I be able to tell the ambassador from his entourage?"

The Elites hadn't wanted their ambassador coming to Earth alone, so he has about a dozen or so comrades with him.

"Let's just say there's no way you won't be able to tell him apart."

"You know him?" I ask incredulously.

"I was there when he was born. Runt was small enough I could hold him in one hand, though you'd never know it looking at him now."

I clamp down on the urge to whine about how he never tells me anything as the doors slide open and we walk down the hall to a door that was cracked an inch.

"What happens if they make trouble?"

"Then the ambassador kicks ass and we get to watch the show."

I sigh in frustration as we enter the room, but the breath catches in the back of my throat when I see him. No kidding there was no way to mistake him; the ambassador towers over his comrades by more than a foot.

Silence pervades the room as the Elites realize we've arrived.

"C'mere runt and let me get a look at you!"

My hand twitches but I manage to resist a very powerful urge to face-palm. The ambassador's face is expressionless, but his voice is warm as he steps out of his circle of comrades to stand in front of us.

"Uncle Johnny. I wasn't expecting you. It is good to see you again."

The ambassador bends down to wrap arms as big around as my thigh around Johnny's shoulders.

"Yeah, yeah missed you too, runt. This is Amy. She'll be handling most of the arrangements.

The ambassador's eyes slide sideways until they meet mine. My heart hammers in my chest.

I've never seen an Elite with green eyes before…