"It is a pleasure to see you again, Dr. Furter. I was, as you can well imagine, more than a bit dismayed when I discovered you had taken your leave from the convalescent center." He looked coldly at Janet. "I was even more dismayed when I discovered how you had been able to make your escape. Miss Weiss, please be advised we will be discussing your actions after this present business is taken care of."

Janet paled, but her gaze made it clear it was the gun turned on Frank, rather than the prospect of punishment, that terrified her. "How did you find us?"

Dr. Scott smiled grimly. "When I learned the good doctor had vanished in your company, I sent my people out to check out all hotels and motels within an hour's drive of Denton. One of them managed to find your car this afternoon. Brad and I made it to the motel just in time to see the two of you leave." He looked at the castle, and the land surrounding it. "I should have known you would end up back here, Dr. Furter. You were almost successful in your quest to return to your home. So close and yet so far." He shook his head mockingly. "Such a pity. However, there is no time to dwell on these little disappointments. I believe it is time for you to meet your fate - with, I assure you, no hope for resuscitation."

Suddenly, Brad jumped in front of Frank, shielding him. "No! You can't do this!"

Dr. Scott looked at Brad in astonishment. "Brad, what are you doing? Get out of the way!"

But Brad stood his ground. "No. You don't understand. He's not what we thought he was."

Dr. Scott said, "Are you saying he is not an alien?"

Brad shook his head. Tears were running down his face, but his voice was firm. "No, I'm saying he's not a monster. He and Janet love each other, and they deserve to be together. Please let them go."

Dr. Scott also shook his head. "I'm sorry, Brad, but that is quite impossible. Dr. Furter will provide me with a place in scientific history. He must die. And if you do not get out of my way, you will die as well."

Brad still refused to move. "Please, he isn't a lab rat. Don't do this!"

Dr. Scott's eyes glittered with a crazed, insane frenzy. "Brad, I am giving you one more chance to get out of the way. Move!"

Brad shook with fear, but moved not an inch. "No."

Suddenly the front door crashed open, and several large, uniformed young men, bodyguards for the Royal Family, stormed out with their lasers at the ready. One of them pulled the trigger of his weapon, and a beam of light shot out toward Dr. Scott. He cried out, then slumped over in his wheelchair.

The young man who'd shot Dr. Scott hurried over to Frank. "Are you all right, Your Highness?"

Frank, although a bit shaky, smiled back at the guard. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you very much."

The guard smiled. "Are you ready to depart?"

Frank nodded. "Yes, almost. The young lady and I will be there in a moment."

"Yes, Your Highness." At that, the guards went back inside the castle.

Once they were alone, Frank and Janet looked over at Brad. Frank said, "Brad, thank you so much for what you did. That was incredibly brave, and incredibly forgiving, of you."

Janet looked at Frank. "Frank, can I have a moment alone with Brad?"

Frank smiled at her. "Of course. Just come in when you're ready to leave." He approached Brad, and extended his hand. Brad shook it. "Thank you again, Brad."

Brad smiled weakly at him. "You're welcome. Good luck." Frank smiled, nodded, and went into the castle, leaving Brad and Janet alone.

At first, they stood in awkward silence. Finally, Janet said, "I owe you an apology. After that night in the castle, I thought you were weak; that you could never be strong enough to be there for me. Saying you proved me wrong is the understatement of the century." She went over to Brad, pulled his face down to hers and kissed him tenderly. "Thank you so much. You know I'll never forget you."

Brad gave her a trembling smile. "I won't forget you, either. I'll look up in the stars and think of you up there somewhere, being a Princess. I've always thought of you that way, so it's nice that a whole planet will agree with me."

Janet didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Brad, will you do one more thing for me?"

He nodded. "Sure."

She said, "Will you look in on my parents every now and then? My brother isn't much help to them. I'd feel better knowing you'd be there if they need you. And," she hesitated a moment, blinking back tears, "please tell them I love them."

Tears in his eyes, Brad said, "Of course. Anything else?"

She gave him a final hug. "Yes. Have a good life. Be happy. You'll be a wonderful husband for some lucky woman."

He smiled and shrugged. "I'll do my best." He paused. "Are you sure Frank will be able to make you happy?"

She smiled. "I'm positive."

He nodded. "Okay. So go in there and reach the stars."

"I will." With that, she opened the door. She gave him one last smile, blew him a kiss, and closed the door behind her.

Brad went back to his car. He sat there a while, thinking about all that had occurred, when a roar filled his ears. He looked over and saw the castle lift off, taking with it the person he'd loved for more years than he cared to consider. He thought back to their final conversation. Better for their relationship to end that way, rather than ending with the inescapable knowledge that she had lost all respect for him. He was grieving, true, but somewhere in his heart he felt the glow of newfound pride and self-respect. It was her final gift to him.

Finally, when the castle was out of sight, he started the ignition.

"Time to figure out a way to reach for the stars."

He drove off into the night, toward what he hoped would be a shining new day.

The End.For Now