(Eleven)

11 January 2065

Suite 832, Hotel Washington

Washington DC,

USA

0630

McQueen had been correct in his thinking. Frank Celina had slept late - all the way 'til 0530. As they had arranged the night before, McQueen was dropping off a few things to be stored at the farm - his medals, sword and Evening Dress uniform. Not a huge call for those items in the desert. Besides, he had something for Kylen.

Frank opened the door to the suite - the sitting room. "Let me get the girls," he said.

"Let them sleep."

"Ty, you don't have to travel to Massachusetts with those two today - I do. You got time for coffee? Help yourself." He knocked softly on the girl's bedroom door.

"A quick one," McQueen said, pouring the coffee.

Kylen almost immediately emerged from the bedroom. She was wearing the pink Bunny Slippers.

"Come to see me off, Boys?" thought McQueen as he checked out her footgear.

"Bridee isn't awake. Can you just go in?" Kylen gestured weakly to the room. She and McQueen briefly locked eyes. As much as he didn't want to do it, McQueen could see that - no matter what it might mean to Bridee - it was important to Kylen.

McQueen paused for a minute in the doorway, watching Bridee sleep. She looked younger than her thirteen years. "Sleep, sleep happy child, all creation slept and smil'd,'" he thought.

Kylen came and stood behind his shoulder. "It's OK, " she whispered.

McQueen squatted down by the bed. "Bridee ... Bridee .... Bridgid," he said softly.

She stirred and slowly opened her eyes. "You've come to say good-bye," she whispered.

"I've come to say good-bye," he agreed with her.

"Will you see Cooper Hawkes?"

"I don't know."

Bridee propped herself up on one elbow and looked at him with immense gravity. "Will you be careful?"

"I always try," he said with equal gravity.

"Alright then." With that, Bridee put her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. McQueen was getting used to this, and hugged her back.

"Bye-bye, Tyrus," she whispered into his ear, and then gave him a child's kiss on the neck.

"Good-bye, Bridgid."

Bridee let go and buried her head under her pillow. "I'm trying not to cry," she said.

"I appreciate that."

"I'll just stay in here, OK?"

"That's fine, Bridgid." He stood and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Allston was waiting in the sitting area, and shook the Colonel's hand before stumbling back to bed.

Frank put his hands on McQueen's shoulders. "Take care of yourself, Son. Let us hear from you once in a while." He shook hands and left the room as well, leaving McQueen alone to face Kylen.

Kylen regarded McQueen silently for a few moments. "I thought I was prepared for this. I didn't think it would bother me this much," she said, stepping forward and hugging him.

The statement jolted McQueen: He had been thinking the same thing. He hugged her around the shoulders and lightly kissed her forehead. As was his wont, he covered his emotions with action. He gently separated himself from Kylen, and handed her the book he had brought for her.

"'The Little Prince.' Saint-Exupery," she whispered. Kylen had hoped that McQueen would never find the book. The story of the self-sacrificing little prince hit just a bit too close to the mark - his mark. "Have you read it?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"I ordered it when I was up in Maine. Your family got me started on the author - and you got me started on fairytales, Kylen."

"But I didn't want you to read this," she blurted before she could stop herself.

"Too late. Dale said something to that effect when he saw that I was reading it. Why?"

Kylen could see that he really had no understanding as to why she would have been afraid for him to read the story - that the Little Prince would offer himself up for death. She could too easily see McQueen doing that.

"Maybe it was just something to do with my nightmares," Kylen hedged. "Tell me, which character did you identify with?"

"The pilot, of course. Come to think of it, I can see you playing a bit of the Little Prince, Kylen."

It made her laugh. Her apprehension had been groundless. She put one arm around his waist, and he placed an arm over her shoulder. Together they walked to the door. McQueen stepped into the hallway.

"Kylen, the most beautiful things - the most important things — what gives them their beauty is something that is invisible.'"

"Saint-Exupery," she whispered, and kissed his cheek.

"Right in one," McQueen said, and then he turned and left.