On March the 27th of 2380, the family reunion was set to take place as originally planned. "I've never been to Lafa II before," Mack commented as the Cookie touched down.

"It's a pity that we had such issues with Yi'Imspi," Grosk said. He was handling communications at the moment.

"Yes, a native guide would have been a good thing," Daniya said. "And," she paused for a moment. "landing thrusters are off. The Cookie has landed."

=/\=

Mack retreated to her Ready Room for a moment, and there was a message on her desktop unit, flashing. It was from Yarin. She gulped. It all seemed to be happening far too quickly. The header showed the distribution list. Aside from her, it was also Marty, and Captain Picard. She was momentarily terrified – what if Marty was about to lose his job, and Yarin was trying to warn him?

Cautiously, she opened the note.

To: M. Dana MacKenzie, Martin D. Madden

Cc: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

I attended a hearing at the Federation tribunal this morning, and presented the matter of Ms. MacKenzie and Commander Madden's statements concerning, and objections to, the Cousin Marriage Law.

The Federation government, as represented by President Jaresh-Inyo, declined to present any counter arguments.

Therefore, the tribunal moved to strike down the law in its entirety. The motion was carried unanimously by acclamation.

Congratulations, the Cousin Marriage Law has been repealed.

I would like to take this opportunity to also congratulate you on your expected upcoming nuptials.

Please feel free to contact me at any time in the event you have any questions pertaining to today's events.

Yours, etc...

Morgan Yarin, Esq.

Daniya knocked on the door perhaps a half a minute later when she heard a crash, and had them both transported directly to Sick Bay, as Mack had fainted.

=/\=

"How are you feeling?" asked Majira once Mack came too, less than a minute later.

"I, God, I feel elated and overwhelmed, all at the same time. They struck the law down; it's completely gone. Marty and I can get married!"

"And you'll see him here, yes?" asked Majira.

"Yeah, I will. Can't wait!" She sprang off the Sick Bay bed and turned on her base stealing speed as she dashed out the double doors.

"I'll bet you a Calafan Lo that she and Madden tie the knot today," Daniya said.

"That's a sure bet." Majira turned around as Mack dashed back in.

"I almost forgot."

"Oh?"

"I would like for you to heal me. But first take pictures because I want this to be remembered. I own it."

"Of course. Daniya, if you would excuse us, please."

"Absolutely." The half-Orion, half-Betazoid left.

Mack stripped down completely and Majira took photograph after photograph. "All right, I think I have everything," she said after about twenty minutes of taking pictures of every single indignity that Mack had suffered. "Why don't you put your undergarments back on? I can heal just as well that way, and you wouldn't be so discomfited."

"All right." In just her underwear, Mack stood, waiting.

Majira knelt down, touching Mack's legs first. There were healed fractures. A light glowed in Mack's legs and then in Majira's, and then back again, as the Ikaaran physician did her work. "How do your feet and legs feel?"

"Never better," Mack said. "Hell, I feel better than when I was playing professionally."

"You'll need to have new footwear replicated as your foot no longer pronates."

"Good to know, and thank you."

"You're welcome. And of course, you know I'm not done yet." Majira stood up and held Mack's shoulders. Again, a glow ran from Mack's body to Majira's and back again, encompassing both women's arms and their chests. After several minutes, Majira said, "Take a look now."

Mack took off her top again and stood in front of a mirror in the Cookie's Sick Bay. "It's weird. It's like I was never incarcerated."

"How do you feel?"

"Like I'm twenty again." She put her clothes back on. "I also had head injuries."

"Understood." This time, Majira placed a hand on each of Mack's temples, pressing in very, very lightly. And so, there were two separate glows. One traveled between the women as per usual. The other one ping-ponged around. "I'll need to scan for the part I couldn't get."

"All right."

A scan involved a bio bed, reversed into a large tunnel-like machine. "This," Majira explained, "is technology which was state of the art on your old NX-01."

"A few hundred years old?"

"Yes, indeed. But it still works for this particular purpose." She read a display above Mack's head as she reversed the bed out of the machine's inner chamber. "How very intriguing."

"Anything bad?"

"I don't believe so. But I suspect there is something in your brain chemistry and in your structures that is just the slightest bit different from other humans. It deserves some study of everyone in your family."

"What do you think it is?"

"It's a structure Daniya has, from her Betazoid half. It's the seat of her psionic abilities."

"Holy cow."

=/\=

Within the Lafa System, Kel Perrim expertly piloted the Enterprise-E around a ton of odd gravitational fields. These were not due to the presence of gravimetric spheres. Rather, they were because of the fact that the Lafa System had four separate stars, which each had their own planetary systems. A planet could potentially have Abic – the second-largest star, which was yellow like Sol – as its sun but Ub – the smallest, a red dwarf – as bright in its night sky as the Earth's moon. Navigating the system, even in such an advanced craft, was a matter of starship-level figure eights and minuets.

"Mister Madden, I should like to see you in my Ready Room, please. Kel Perrim, you have command."

"Yes, sir," replied the Trill, who stayed at the pilot's station in order to continue guiding the ship around the system's many obstacles.

In the Ready Room, when they were about ready to sit down, they were interrupted by a burst of static and distorted shimmering in the middle of the room. The distortion coalesced into the shape of a person. "Where is Caul?" the distortion asked, in a voice that was as distorted as it looked. It was not possible to tell if that person was male or female, human or some other species.

"Admiral Caul committed suicide," Picard replied. "And who might you be?"

"Never mind that." The distortion stabilized for a moment and the voice and image were clearer – it was a woman. "In her place, you will do what we tell you to, if you know what's good for the timeline."

"The timeline is perfectly fine," Marty said. "Miss, whoever the hell you are, even if the timeline was shot, why the hell would you expect us to take orders from you?"

"You're not supposed to be this way," she answered. Then she turned, hearing or seeing something that they could not. "What? Damn. I'll have to make this quick. My heritage compels me to work with you. And yours should compel you to work with me."

"Heritage?" asked Picard. "What is so compelling about your own?"

"I am Phillipa Green. And my forebear had the male version of my name."

Marty blinked and thought for just a second. "Colonel Green? You must have us confused with the Mirror Universe, because there's no way in hell we would ever want to work with someone like you."

"You will," she menaced, and then was clocked hard, from her left. She fell like a sack of potatoes.

But now the shimmering was doubled, and her assailant was distorted, as was his voice. "Don't listen to her," he said.

"We were planning on doing no such thing," Picard said.

"Good," replied the distortion, which snapped into focus.

"Rick Daniels?" Marty asked.

"One and the same. I don't normally go whacking people upside the head during my missions, but we had just finally finished putting your time period back together. I'll be damned if I let either half of Future Guy do that."

"Caul's dead," Picard said.

"Another variation, I think," Rick said. "But maybe not. As I've explained, we don't know every single nuance out there."

"They were contacting her," Marty said. "And I suppose they were looking to do the same with us."

"That Green woman wanted to manipulate us to suit her agenda, I imagine," Picard said.

"You better believe it," Rick said. "I'll shut off this connection. She and Jim Horan – the other half of Future Guy – they have trouble remaking connections once they're turned off. So, once I cut this one, the chances of them being able to reconnect are vanishingly small."

"Thank you," Picard said. "Although I do hope that doesn't mean other timelines are in danger."

"Maybe, maybe not," Rick said. "That's why I'm here, anyway. Their meddling is essentially a temporal Cold War and I'm here to stop it. Once Phillipa wakes up, I'm sure she'll try to smack me back. Eh, I can take it. Goodbye again, gentlemen. It's been an honor. And please tell Dana and the rest of the thirteen that I said hi."

"Will do," Marty said.

"Daniels out." The shimmering stopped.

"Well, that was of interest," Picard said.

"Never dull, eh?"

"Most certainly not. I also wanted you to know the hair ribbon you discovered on Archer's World?"

"Oh, yes?"

"I did my best with my own knowledge of archaeology to find out its age. It's a few hundred years old. Perhaps it's a part of your heritage as well."

"What did you just say, Captain?"

"The ribbon; perhaps it's a part of your family's past."

"It, I think it is," Marty said. "I'm, it's weird, I'm remembering little bits of this and that. Nothing cohesive. But I think you're right."

"Then it's a good thing we're here in the Lafa System. There's talk of building a Temporal Museum eventually. I imagine an artifact such as the ribbon would be of great interest to them."

"I'm sure it would. It was, I think it was Lili O'Day's. I just, something tells me. It's a feeling I've got."

"And speaking of feelings," Picard said, gesturing for Marty to sit down as he also took a seat. "That makes me think of emotions. You're here and so is Dana, your only known family is also here, and you're free to wed. Shall I draw a map for you, sir?"

"No, of course not," Marty said, grinning.

"Good. Assuming she's amenable, then I am ready whenever you are."

"Thank you, sir."

=/\=

The Black Sheep team left the Cookie, walking down the gangway to the surface of Lafa II. The day was mild and the fields were golden and lavender, beauty and nature amidst technology, as a bank of emitter dishes that looked like old-fashioned satellite dishes dotted one hill that was higher than all the others.

"Where should we go?" asked Wes.

"The old homestead," Mack said.

"Have you ever been?" asked Daniya.

"No, and I have no map or directions or address. I just, I have a feeling." She started to walk, and the team followed behind her.

It was as if she had known the way all along, for she didn't waver or get lost. The team came across a small turquoise house, easily a few hundred years old, with a small graveyard behind it with seven stones, and another turquoise house, probably of the same vintage, just up a little rise behind it.

The woman standing in the doorway was older, her hair gone white. Her skin was pale, and her eyes an impossibly light crystal blue. "Lili?" Mack asked when she approached her.

"I'm actually your relative, Lilienne Charlotte Hayes. My first two names are in the opposite order to our matriarch Lili. People even say I look like her, and that flatters me. Do come in. But I don't think there's room for everyone."

Mack turned to the team. "We obviously can't all fit inside."

"That's okay," Tag said, "you go with Majira and Wes and Daniya. The rest of us will play, heh, tag or something."

"Mind the headstones," Mack said.

"Of course. None of us would ever dream of bothering or disrespecting your ancestors."

=/\=

On the Enterprise-E, Picard asked Marty, "Do you have specific coordinates for the shuttle?"

"No, I actually don't. But I just, I can't explain it, but I know the way."

"Picard to Daniels, Porter, and LaForge," the captain tapped his communicator pin. "Do join us in the Ready Room."

Once the others arrived, Picard asked them the same question. And, more or less, he got the same answer. "Curious," he remarked.

"Norri's book said Lili probably had latent psionic abilities before the Calafans ever captured her," Tamsin explained. "But they really went from zero to sixty once she was in the Lafa System."

"Then perhaps the same is true of all of you," the captain commented. "Shall we?"

=/\=

Setting foot on the soil of Lafa II was an exciting experience for all, but especially for the family. The air was fresh and clean, the landscape pastoral if a little dusty. "It feels and smells like Australia," Tamsin remarked.

"I've never been there in person," Geordi said. "On the holodeck, sure, but never for real."

"Well, this is for real, Cuz," Mike said.

"Which way should we go?" Picard asked.

Marty gave a quick look at Mike, Tamsin, and Geordi. "Over here, just past this ridge." The others nodded.

"Lead the way, then," the captain suggested.

It was a short walk. Just past the ridge, the area was dotted with emitter dishes. On the other side of the ridge, it was lower, giving it the appearance of a fairly high hill. "This must be Point Abic," Mike said.

"Then we're close," Tamsin said.

"And there's the Cookie, just where I'd expect her to be," Geordi pointed out.

A jog farther down the hill and past the ship, a little farther, and they were at the back of a small gravesite. Members of the Black Sheep team were on an adjacent yard, either running races against each other or timing the racers. The landing party waved at them.

Nearby, small animals that looked like hares with tusks scampered. They were a species native to the planet – linfep.

Just in front was the house. "This is it," Geordi said. "This is, it's home."

"And so is that," Tamsin said, pointing up a little rise where there was a nearly identical house.

"That's the Reed House," Mike said. "My and Geordi's direct ancestor. Geordi's also Hayes, and Tamsin and Martin here are both only Hayes."

"So, you should get two sets of keys, then, Mr. LaForge," said the captain.

"I suppose I should."

=/\=

Inside, they saw the newcomers approach. It was obvious there wouldn't be enough room for everyone in the house. "Let's do this," Lilienne suggested. "We can take the dining table outside, near the headstones but of course not on top of them. And then if a few kind folks – Kevin, Tina, if you could get the dining table from the Reed House, that would be most helpful."

"My team can help carry anything you need them to," Mack volunteered. "Talk to Daniya or Wes or Majira. They're in charge. And looking around, I realize there's no way there would ever be enough seats for them. Is there what to do nearby?"

"Fep City is a funky place. They could tour there, if they liked," Sheilagh Hayes Porter suggested. She was a brunette middle-aged woman – Tamsin's mother.

"That would be perfect," Mack said as Kevin and Tina, who were both light in skin color, but not as light as Lilienne, left with the key to the Reed House.

Mack ventured outside with the rest of the family behind her. "Hey," she said. "Glad you found the place."

"We just knew, Mystic."

"Same here. Weird, eh? Then again, Majira says I have some structure in my brain that seems to be similar to what Betazoids have. And it's apparently the seat of psionic ability."

"I suspect we all have that," Lilienne said. "Once Tina and Kevin are back, let's all introduce ourselves and our branches of the tree. Oh, there they are now. Your team is truly efficient."

"They only want to help. They're a terrific group of people. I am so lucky and blessed to have them in my life."

They must have taken every stick of furniture outside that anyone could possibly ever sit on. Lilienne's guests did the same, and there were more than enough chairs for the family. "I propose this," Lilienne said. "If you on the team wouldn't mind, please go and enjoy Fep City. It's truly unique and beautiful. And if you go to the intersection of Enne and Dary Streets, then you'll see where Lili's old restaurant, Reversal, once stood. It's gone now, but there's a small plaque."

The team made as if to leave and Mack said, "We do have a few extra chairs, it seems. Could Wes, Majira, and Daniya stay? I realize you already have a trillion people here, Lilienne. To me, they're as close as family."

"Of course," said Lilienne, "a few extra at this point, it doesn't matter. And you, Captain Picard, I hope you'll stay, too."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Tag said, "Okay, people, let's saddle up. Coach, we'll be back, eh, I guess when it gets dark. If you want us earlier or later, give a shout."

"Will do. And thanks."

He nodded and left with the rest of the team.

The family put out dishes and foods, a spread to feed an army. There were salads made with all sorts of colorful lettuces and fruits; spinach cooked with onions and cheddar cheese, roasted potatoes, steak, and chicken and extra helpings of tofu for vegans. Desserts were oranges and fortune cookies, a roasted pineapple tart, and blueberry cobbler.

Marty remarked, "I think this is the best food I have ever had."

"Every morsel is from Lili O'Day's old recipes," said a cousin, Jay. "Even after her death, she's feeding us."

"I think the oldest person here should go first," Lilienne said, once the dishes had cleared and everyone had coffee or tea or wine. "And I believe that's you, Mr. Daniels."

"I suppose it is." A distinguished-looking man, silver at the temples, rose. "My name is Douglas Daniels, and I was born in 2305. And here's how I trace back. In 2182, Malcolm Reed wed Lili O'Day. Their son, Declan Reed, first married Louise Schiller in 2190, and then Rebecca Shapiro in 2213. Their son, Peter Matthew Reed, was born in 2214. His son, Charles Malcolm Reed, married Amy LaForge Torres in 2259. Their daughter, Cynthia Reed, married Jason Daniels in 2300. Those are my parents. I married Paige Shaw in 2335, and then my son, Mike, arrived on the scene in 2341." He looked up. "Should I explain the LaForge branch?"

"I could," said a man sitting next to Geordi. He rose to speak. "My name is Edward LaForge and I was born in 2322. I, too, am from the Reed branch. I'm also from the Hayes branch. But let's talk Reed first. Just like Doug here, I'm from Malcolm to Declan, but then from Declan's other son, Stuart, who was born in the 2200s and married Susan Delacroix. I think that was 2240 although I admit I'm unsure. Their daughter, Eleanor, was my mother. She married Justin LaForge in 2282. My wife was Silva Alvera and my children are here, Geordi, born in 2335 and Ariana, born in 2337. Amy LaForge Torres was my aunt – she was Justin's sister and first wed a man named Torres and then, after they divorced, she wed Charles, a man she knew from her own family reunions, as he was first cousin to my mother, her sister-in-law. Does anyone else want to handle Hayes? I think I'm all talked out."

"I'll go, then," said another distinguished-looking older gentleman with steely gray hair, standing up. "I'm Jay Neil Hayes. I was born in 2307. My sister, Lilienne, is our gracious hostess today. I leave it to her to tell you her birthdate."

The assembly laughed a bit and Lilienne said, "I don't mind. I was born in 2309."

"As I was saying," Jay continued, "my daughter, Sheilagh is here. She was born in 2331, and married Don Porter, who was born in 2329. Their wedding was in 2352 and then Tamsin arrived in 2354. Now let's go back to Doug. I mean the original Doug, not Daniels over there. Doug Hayes changed his name to Beckett and married Lili O'Day in 2157. Then their son, Jeremiah, was born in 2158. He was called Joss. Joss and Jia Sulu wed in 2185. Their son, Jay Beckett, I forget his birthdate but he marries, I think, in 2229. His kids were Lilienne Melissa and Douglas Malcolm, who changed the family name back to Hayes. I think. Maybe Jay did? Not sure there. Doug married Penny Webb in 2265 and their son was Steven Hayes, who married Lucy Kimura in 2301. Steven and Lucy were my and Lilienne's folks."

"I'm noticing a number of repeated names," Picard commented. "I take it that's a family tradition."

"Most likely," said Kevin. "Me, Coach?"

Mack turned. "Uh, sure." Then she laughed. "Wait, I think you meant Lilienne. I'm just used to being called Coach."

"Then I defer the title to you, my dear," said Lilienne. "Kevin, you're on."

"Thanks. I was born in 2344. We're also from Stuart Reed, just like the LaForge branch. But we're from Stu's son, Scott. He married Hanna MacKenzie Richmond; that was in around 2280 I think. They had Kyle and Tina. Kyle was born in 2290 and he married Sandra Miller; they were my parents. And Tina's my aunt, of course. She was born in 2291, right?"

"Yes, you little stinker."

Marty and Mack both stood up. "I guess it's our turn," she said. "You go first, Straight Arrow."

"Straight Arrow?" asked Tina.

"Yeah," Marty said. "It was a family joke. I was the straight arrow and Mystic here – er, Misty – she was the black sheep."

"Hence the team name," Mack said. She nodded at Marty.

"We come from Neil, and we seem to be the only ones. Douglas Jay Hayes Beckett had an open marriage, and he fathered three sons with Melissa Madden. They were Tommy, Neil, and Kevin. Kevin died young and Tommy never married. All of this is according to some of the book, which I'm sure you've all read."

"Except for me, and I suppose I should now," the captain remarked.

"I'll send it to you," Marty said. "Neil was born in 2159, and he didn't marry the mother of his children, Ines Ramirez. Back then, they were Digiorno-Madden, named after Norri, and Neil's first name is kinda, sorta for hers, although she was really Leonora, but I digress. Anyway, their son was Martin Kevin, and he was born in 2195. He married Tanya West. Their son was Dino Digiorno-Madden; he was named after Norri's father. Dino was born in 2215, and he married Phoebe Ryan, who was born in 2217, but she died childless in 2236. He was widowed for a long time and finally remarried in 2245. That marriage was to Kirsten Morrow, who was born in 2219. Kirsten didn't take his last name, and their son only went by Madden, so Phoebe is the last person named Digiorno-Madden." Marty stopped for a breath. "Their son, Peter Madden, was born in 2251. He married Linda Klinghofer and their son was Douglas Madden, born in 2274. His first wife was Sheilagh Reynolds and then he married Elizabeth Miller. Thomas Madden is my father; he was Sheilagh's son and he was born in 2301. My mother was Ellen Reed and it wouldn't shock me if she was related somewhere in there as this family tree seems to twist and turn over itself repeatedly. I was born in 2322." He nodded at Mack.

"Okay," she said as Marty sat down. "Remember all that?" She smiled. "It's fine if you don't. I'm sure we'll all write this down and compare notes even more at some later date. So, from all of that, let's go back to Pete and Linda, and their boy, Doug. I'm from Doug's sister, Astrid. She was born in 2279. She married Stuart MacKenzie, born in 2271, and their son was Richard MacKenzie. Richard was my dad; he was born in 2299. My mother was Laura Cole, born in 2297. And I arrived in 2329." She thought for a moment. "You know, the MacKenzie side goes back to the NX-01 as well. Stuart's father was Dwight; Dwight's father was Erik, and Erik's father was Steven. Steven's parents were Susan Cheshire and Aidan MacKenzie. Aidan was Tactical on the NX-01 and on Malcolm Reed's own ship, the Bluebird. Susan was the ship's teacher on the Bluebird." She smiled. "We have a Ryan in there, too, but I don't know if Kate – Erik's wife – was any relation to Phoebe."

"You all seem to have studied this closely," Picard said.

"We have," Lilienne replied for all of them. "This is our bond. And it is our legacy. It's our homes, our abilities, and in our nature. This is our DNA."

"I feel I've intruded too much already," Daniya said. "I need to, I don't know, I think we should let you all alone. This is you; it's not me or Majira, or Wes, or even the captain, not really. And don't object, okay? Because while I love you like a sister, Dana, I'm not blood." She got up and the people she'd named followed her. They hiked up the rise to look at the Reed House close up.

The thirteen family members all got up and walked over to the gravesite. "It feels like they're with us," Jay commented, and they all murmured their agreements.

The graves were for Tommy Digiorno-Madden, Kevin Madden-Beckett, Leonora Digiorno, Melissa Madden, Malcolm Reed, Charlotte Lilienne O'Day, and Douglas Jay Hayes Beckett. People gravitated to whichever stone spoke the most to them. Lilienne stood at Lili's grave, with Jay and Marty both at Doug's. Kevin stood at Kevin's, and Tamsin and Tina at Tommy's. Geordi, Edward, and Ariana stood at Norri's, and Douglas and Michael stood at Malcolm's. Sheilagh joined Lilienne at Lili's grave. Mack was nonplussed for a moment, and walked straight to Melissa's.

She touched the stone, which felt cool, even though it was a warm day. And she heard a whisper, barely on the edge of hearing. It was but one word: forever. Glancing around, Mack could see the others were receiving similar communications. Together, as a family, they listened, and they wept.

=/\=

At the Reed House, Captain Picard was looking around a cheery yellow kitchen when he received a communications chime. "Yes?"

"Captain," said Marty, "could you have B-4 beam down?"

"I don't see why not. Can you tell me why?"

"We're calling you and the team back as well. I want Mystic to have her closest friends with her. And, frankly, I'd like to have mine."

"I shall make it so immediately. Picard out."

=/\=

Once they were all assembled again, Marty cracked open his fortune cookie. His fortune was: the time is now. Mack cracked hers open and it said: you know the answer already.

In the dust, near the carport and the tables, the gravesite and the houses, and among his family and friends, Marty got on one knee. "Mystic," he said. "You have always been the one. Let us be one. Marry me. Please."

"You better believe the answer is yes." She held his hands as he got up and they hugged. She turned to the captain. "Can you do the ceremony now, here?"

"Yes. Shall I begin?"

"Please," said Mack.

"It is one of the most honorable and romantic traditions for ship's captains to serve as officiants at weddings. And I am so very proud and happy to continue that tradition, as the captain of a starship. Have you vows?"

"Yes," Mack said. She had nothing at all planned, but the words tumbled out in a flood anyway. "The most important thing is for us to be together. It is our need and our nature. Our love binds us, and it strengthens and nurtures us. Our family motto is forever. And I believe that."

"Mystic, I loved you even before you were born. And I will love you beyond death. Now I know that's possible. With our family, and our line and our traditions and our heritage, it's not just possible. It's destined. MDM Twins forever."

"MDM twins forever." She looked at the assembly. "My name is Misty Dana MacKenzie."

"And my name is Martin Douglas Madden."

"That's how and why we became the MDM Twins. And of course, it's more than that. It goes past the bone and the breath and the skin. It goes to the soul."

"If I may," the captain said, "I believe for both of you, this has been not just about ordeals and hardships, delays and injustices. It has also been about identity. I think that's the truth about not just the two of you, but all of us. For B-4, it's been to come out from under Data's shadow and become his own person. And for your family, it has been about belonging. For the two of you in particular – your name, Dana – it's been an assortment of appellations throughout your life. Dana, Mack, Coach, second base, shortstop, criminal, prisoner, Black Sheep, MDM, Misty, and Mystic. You have been a chameleon. And I think, to an extent, you have as well," he turned to Marty, "Martin, Marty, Straight Arrow, Cadet, Ensign, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, and MDM, just like your bride. My greatest wish for you is that you both now know who you are."

"We do," Marty said. "We are the luckiest people in this or any other universe."

"And in this or any other timeline," Mack said.

"Then I now pronounce you married. You may kiss the bride."

They kissed as their family and friends applauded. And behind the applause, her eyes closed, Mack heard voices and saw visions. It was everything from how to speak Calafan to how to use a phase bow, and how to make a roasted pineapple tart, and how to tie a turquoise hair ribbon and work the video walls in the Hayes and Reed Houses, and where to find extra secret photographs for Norri's book, and so much more. Her visions were of the family, their friends, and even a few little children who she realized were going to be hers and Marty's. It felt as if the knowledge of the universe – and maybe also of the Mirror – was being presented to her, all in that one kiss, that one instant.

And through it all, there was one word that thundered in her head.

Forever.

THE END