**Writer's note:  Thanks for the additional reviews.  It was starting to feel lonely out here.**

Andrea woke up, momentarily at a loss as to where she was.  She looked around the magnificent suite, and heard the soft hum of the ship's engines.  Oh, of course.  How could she forget?  She cuddled closer to Frank, asleep beside her, and put an arm protectively around him.

Over the past few months, she had gotten to know him so well.  One thing she'd learned about him was his tendency to use sex as a tool to cope with stress…and so it had been on the ship.  Most of the week they'd been in transit had been spent in bed.  Not that she objected, mind you.  She was willing to do anything in her power to help him, and lord knows she couldn't come up with a more amazingly pleasurable way to do that if her life depended on it.  It did, however, pain her that his feelings about returning to Transsexual were so ambivalent.  Were it not for his mother, she suspected he would have turned his back on his prior life without a second thought.  Maybe she didn't do him any favors by finding him.

No.  She couldn't allow herself to think that way.  Not only was it counterproductive, it was pointless.  She had found him, and they were on their way back to Transsexual.  There was no turning back now.

As if to underscore her thoughts, Orion's voice echoed throughout the room.  "We shall be arriving on Transsexual within twenty minutes.  Please return to your seats and prepare for landing."

The announcement awakened Frank.  He rubbed his eyes and fought to clear the fog from his sleep-addled brain.  "We're landing already?"

Andrea was already out of bed, collecting the clothes that had been strewn all over the floor in their earlier haste.  "Apparently so.  This ship is remarkably fast.  The trip took twice as long when I traveled to Earth."  She handed his clothes to him, and began getting dressed herself.

He followed suit.  Once they'd freshened up in the suite's bathroom – considerably larger, and infinitely more posh, than the living room in the apartment they'd left behind - the two of them headed to their seats.  Andrea looked over at Frank, attempting to figure out how he was feeling.  His expression was difficult to read, but she thought she could detect both excitement and apprehension in his eyes.  She reached out to take his hand.

"Please don't worry.  Everything will be all right.  At least your mother made sure you wouldn't be ambushed by the press right away."

He smiled wryly.  "Yes, I'm extremely grateful for that.  She always did have a knack for looking out for me."  He laughed softly.  "She probably wanted to make sure I wouldn't spout some obscenity at a particularly obnoxious reporter.  She knows I tend to have a short fuse when I'm tired and stressed.  I can control my temper better now than I could when I was last home, but I'm happy I won't be put to the test immediately."

She grasped his hand more tightly and rolled her eyes at him in mock exasperation.  "I suppose it never occurred to you that she simply wanted your reunion to be a private matter."

"Well, yes, that too."

They fell silent, taking in the sensation of descent.  Finally, there was a soft thud, and the ship was still.

Orion's voice again came over the loudspeaker.  "Welcome to Transsexual.  We have arrived at the landing field on the grounds of the Royal Palace.  Homer will now escort you to the exit doorway.  It has been my pleasure to serve as your pilot."

Immediately, Homer appeared, beaming at them.  "Welcome home, Your Highness."  He bowed to Andrea.  "Ma'am."  He waited for them to get up from their seats, then turned back to the door.  "Please follow me."

Hand in hand, Frank and Andrea followed Homer down myriad hallways toward the exit.  When they finally reached the door, Homer opened it and stepped aside.

"After you."

Frank nodded to Andrea.  She stepped forward, with Frank right behind her, his hand resting lightly on her lower back.  It was early morning, and a warm violet glow shone over the horizon as Transsexual's distant sun began its rise.  It was unusually balmy, and the soft perfume of countless wildflowers filled the air.  The palace grounds always had a calming effect on Frank, and he felt himself relax as he took in the familiar sights, scents and sounds of his birthplace.

As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he saw a lone figure standing about fifteen yards away.  Drawing closer, it became clear the figure was that of a woman, slender and elegant, dressed in lavender robes.  Her mane of dark curls fell down her back, and her beautiful face was unlined and radiant.  She was smiling, but her trembling lower lip betrayed that she was on the verge of tears.  Frank's vision blurred as his own eyes filled with tears.  Before him was the woman who'd given him life, unconditional love, the means to return home, and even his extraordinary lover…all debts he could never hope to repay.

At last, they were standing face to face.  Simultaneously, each reached out to gently brush away the tears falling from the other's eyes.  Finally, in a choked voice, the woman spoke.

"My son…welcome home."

At this, she reached out for him, and he enfolded her in a tight embrace.  Andrea, standing off to the side, felt tears fall down her own face as she watched this tender reunion.  Suddenly, the flash of a nearby camera brutally shattered the spell.

Queen Electra jumped back as if she had been shot by a bullet instead of a camera.  She shouted, "Get that reporter!"

At her words, three bodyguards, who had been discreetly secluded behind the surrounding foliage, jumped out in hot pursuit of the trespassing journalist.

The Queen looked at Frank, her hazel eyes still flashing with anger.  "I'm so very sorry about that intrusion.  I have absolutely no idea how it could have happened."

Frank sighed.  "If that little episode isn't proof I'm back home, I don't know what could be."  He forced himself to shake off his own anger, and smiled at his mother.  "Please don't worry about it.  It isn't important.  What is important is that we're home."  He looked over at Andrea, wordlessly beckoning her to join them.

She did so, smiling at the Queen.  Electra smiled back at her.  "It's lovely to see you again, Andromeda.  I welcome the opportunity to thank you in person for the great service you have provided – not only for me, but for the Transylvanian people as well.  You have brought the Crown Prince back to us."

Andrea put her arm around Frank's waist and smiled up at him.  "I promise you, Your Majesty, it was my pleasure."

Queen Electra looked at Frank and Andrea, her own pleasure evident on her face.  She couldn't imagine a better partner for her beloved son if she'd chosen her herself.  Oh, wait…she had!

She turned and faced the palace itself.  "I hope you don't mind walking back to the palace.  The weather is so glorious this morning."

Frank shook his head.  "Not at all.  I've missed walking the palace grounds."

They started walking toward the palace.  The Queen asked, "Did you have a pleasant journey?"

Frank smiled at Andrea as he answered.  "It was wonderful, and the ship was absolutely magnificent!  When did you acquire it?"

"It's brand new.  The trip to bring you back here was its maiden voyage.  You approve, then?"

"Safe to say, both Andromeda and I most heartily approve."  At this comment, Andrea put her arms around Frank, and he leaned down to kiss her. 

The Queen smiled.  It wasn't hard to imagine which of the ship's many amenities they had utilized on the journey.

Once they reached the palace, Electra turned to Andrea.  "Andromeda, would you object if I have the butler show you to your quarters?  I'd like to have a talk with my son."

"Not at all, Your Majesty."