**Writer's note:  The next phase of the story begins…

Friday passed in a flurry of activity.  While Frank finished his business on campus, Andrea packed their few remaining possessions and thoroughly cleaned the apartment - since the landlord wasn't charging them for breaking the lease, they wanted to leave everything in perfect order.  Now night had fallen, and Frank and Andrea were sitting on the floor in the living room of their soon-to-be-vacated apartment, empty except for a pile of boxes in the center of the room.

Frank restlessly looked at his watch.  "Just after midnight.  What time is the driver supposed to be here?  And how did he manage to get a vehicle to begin with?"

"When the remaining Transylvanian agents were ready to return to Transsexual, your mother sent a very large ship to transport them.  One thing they brought back with them was, of all things, a pickup truck…both because it was an interesting item of Earth memorabilia, and because it might come in handy one day - which it has.  As for the driver, I imagine he should be here any time now."

"Do you know where the ship will be?"

Andrea shook her head.  "Not exactly.  If it's the same place where I arrived, it will be in a field a few miles outside of Denton.  It's a nice, large clear area, surrounded by trees.  Plenty of room for the ship, but not likely to be spotted by anyone."

Frank nodded, then lapsed into silence.  Finally he got up and started pacing the room.

Andrea watched him with a combination of amusement and concern.  "Feeling nervous?"

Frank rolled his eyes and nodded.  "Isn't that absurd?  I can't believe I'm nervous about returning to the place where I was born and raised.  I suppose I've gotten so used to a completely different way of life that I'm not sure how I'll feel about the return to my former life."

Andrea stood up and put her arms around him.  "It's not absurd at all.  But remember, I'll be right there by your side."

He looked at her and sighed.  "That may be so, but I don't think you fully understand what you'll be facing.  I know you've seen the kind of public spotlight in which the royal family lives, but seeing it from the outside can't begin to prepare you for being in the midst of it yourself.  Trust me, you'll need every bit as much support as I…probably considerably more."

She pulled him close and kissed him lovingly.  "I'm sure you're right.  I'm also sure you'll be there for me, just as I'll be there for you.  I know it won't be easy, but we'll manage to pull each other through.  As long as I'm with you, I can face whatever gets thrown at me."

Frank smiled at her ruefully.  "Brave talk from a lady who's about to be tossed to the jackals of the press."

Before she could respond, there was a knock at the door.  Frank opened it to find a short, stocky young man, who looked barely able to contain his excitement.

The man bowed.  "Your Highness, please accept greetings and salutations from your most humble servant.  My name is Homer, and it is my distinct honor and privilege to transport you to the ship that will bring you back to the people who so anxiously await your return."

Oh, good lord, please make him shut up!  Frank hurriedly pulled him into the apartment and closed the door, before someone passing by managed to hear him.  "That's lovely.  Homer, I'd like you to meet Andromeda.  I'm sure you've been informed she will be traveling with me."

The young man bowed again.  "Certainly.  Her Majesty the Queen had told me a beautiful young lady would be accompanying the Prince on his voyage.  I am most delighted to make your acquaintance."

Andrea began to see why Frank was less than enthused to be returning to the life of a royal.  "I'm pleased to meet you too, Homer.  Will you help us carry the boxes down to the truck?"

Homer looked shocked.  "With all due respect, ma'am, it is quite out of the question for either you or the Prince to help carry these boxes.  It is my duty.  Please be seated, and I will let you know when we are ready to leave."

Andrea exchanged glances with Frank, who shrugged.  Under his breath, he said, "None of them are very heavy.  Trust me, it will be easier to just let him get on with it.  Arguing will get us nowhere."

He looked at Homer.  "Thank you for your assistance, Homer."

Gratified, the young man smiled.  "You're most welcome."  He grabbed a box and headed for the door, which Frank quickly opened for him.  "Thank you very much, Your Highness.  Now please sit down and rest."

After Homer disappeared with the first box, Frank and Andrea looked at each other and started to laugh.  Frank shook his head and wryly observed, "If you think he's bad, just wait until we get back to Transsexual.  You'll have people literally trying to kiss your feet.  I recommend you enjoy the last taste of normality you'll have for a very long time."

Finally, Homer managed to load everything into the truck's bed, and he escorted Frank and Andrea down to the truck.  "I am extremely sorry to inform you that all three of us will have to sit together up front, as there is no back seat in the truck's cab.  Please accept my most sincere apologies for any discomfort."

Frank turned to Andrea and rolled his eyes.  Clearly Homer's overt subservience was wearing on his nerves.  Nonetheless, he managed to turn back to Homer and smile.  "That's quite all right, Homer.  It can hardly be avoided.  How long will it take to arrive at the ship?"

"Not long at all, Your Highness.  Perhaps fifteen minutes or so."

Frank turned again to Andrea.  "It seems to me we have two options…either one of us sits in the middle, or you sit on my lap.  Which would you prefer?"

The question was, as they say, a no-brainer.  "I'll sit on your lap."

Homer looked extremely concerned.  "That arrangement would be highly dangerous if we were so unfortunate as to get into an accident."

Andrea laughed.  "I'll risk it, Homer.  Just drive carefully."

Andrea soon regretted issuing that admonition, as Homer crept along at barely 20 miles per hour.  Finally, when Frank's patience had reached its breaking point, he commented, "I believe it would be safe to speed up a bit.  There's nobody else on the road as far as the eye can see."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After what seemed an eternity, but was in actuality about twenty minutes, they arrived at an isolated, wooded area.  Homer steered the truck through a clearing in the blanket of trees, and they found themselves in a large field.  In the middle of the field sat what appeared to be a castle, smaller but newer than the one Frank had originally inhabited in Denton.  The ship was waiting.

Homer backed the truck up to the castle/ship's doorway.  Almost immediately, the door opened and a distinguished-looking man, older and taller than Homer, emerged.  He approached Frank and Andrea, who were somewhat awkwardly emerging from the truck's cab.

The man was respectful, but, to Frank and Andrea's relief, lacked Homer's utter obsequiousness.  He bowed and introduced himself to them.  "Your Highness, I am very pleased indeed to meet you.  My name is Orion.  I will be the pilot for your voyage home."  He turned to Andrea.  "You must be Andromeda.  Her Majesty, Queen Electra, has spoken very highly of you.  I'd like to welcome you both aboard the newest acquisition to the royal fleet, the Stellar Traveler."

While Homer unloaded their boxes from the truck and put them in a storage room, Orion showed Frank and Andrea around the ship.  While the types of amenities were similar to those found on most ships, those on the Stellar Traveler were distinguished by their luxuriousness.  Frank assumed his mother had adopted this particular ship for her periodic trips from Transsexual to the other planets in the Transylvanian galaxy.

Finally, Homer drove the truck into the garage, and it was time to depart.  Orion escorted Frank and Andrea to a beautifully appointed room, with two comfortable armchairs equipped with seat belts.  "I know both of you are aware of the procedures.  Please remain in these chairs, with the seat belts on, until I give the signal that it is safe to move about the ship.  Should you require anything during the trip, Homer will be pleased to assist you."  He started to leave, then turned back.  "Your mother was adamant that your arrival on Transsexual be kept strictly confidential.  She has insured there will be no press present.  Hopefully you will find the prospect of a peaceful arrival somewhat reassuring."

Orion left to go to the control room, leaving Frank and Andrea alone.  They belted themselves into the chairs, and sat quietly.  Finally, Andrea broke the silence.

"Are you okay?"

Frank smiled and shrugged.  "Yes, I suppose so.  I'm sure I'll feel better once we've actually arrived." 

Any further comments were rendered impossible, as the ship took off with a roar.  Frank and Andrea sat, lost in their own thoughts, as the ship departed the Earth's atmosphere and settled into its normal travel velocity.  After about fifteen minutes, as the roar of the engines ebbed to a hum, Orion's voice was heard on the loudspeaker. 

"You are free to move about the ship.  Enjoy the voyage."

Frank unbuckled his seat belt, as did Andrea.  He approached her chair, a mischievous light gleaming in his eyes.  He gently pulled her to her feet, took her in his arms, and gave her an ardent kiss.  She melted in his embrace, literally weak in the knees as his lips and tongue so expertly melded with her own.  At last, he drew back, smiling. 

"The master bedroom suite on this ship is absolutely spectacular.  It would be a terrible waste were we to not take advantage of it."

She nodded soberly.  "You're quite right, of course.  I can always rely on you to know the proper course of action."

Ah, yes.  This was the only way to travel.