OK folks, this is it, judgement day. I hope this clears things for you. I tried very hard to make things make sense and I don't know if I succeeded. Anywho, you've all been wonderful. Thanks for reviewing.

Um…this is for you peeps who wanted the happy ending part so it's slightly mushy – people who are allergic to mushiness should turn back now.

Chapter 21

Epilogue

"Sam. C'mon, wake up. We've only got another hour of peace." A sleepy voice whispered into her ear. With a sigh she stretched in the grey, early morning light and looked over at the bedside clock.

"Jack." She whined, "It's 5 am on Christmas day." She attempted to re-bury herself but he wasn't going to let her.

"I…um…got a little something for you." He said awkwardly whilst pulling the duvet off their bed, "And you have dinner to cook." He added, changing the subject and retrieving a brightly wrapped parcel from underneath the bed. She batted him over the head with a pillow before switching on the bedside lamp. Carefully she unwrapped the present and melted when she saw what was inside.

"I…I didn't see you take this." She whispered staring in reverence at the silver picture frame. Behind the glass was a photograph taken, obviously, in Egypt the night before they left. It was of her, sitting by a camp fire with a baby cradled in her arms across from her Evie and Rick sat with arms entwined. Alex and Jonathan were just in the shot, standing next to a roughly hewn tent talking to Eve who, if Sam remembered correctly, had left soon after having traced her husband. In the early evening the great pyramids were silhouetted against the skyline and tiny lights in the distance indicated a city.

"There's more." He said quietly, fidgeting with the edge of the bed sheet. He handed her a bigger picture frame with several shots placed in it which he had not bothered to wrap. Some were familiar to her. Several snaps in black and white of Lilian as a small child with her curly blonde hair and bright smile. Some of a dazzling young woman in a sun hat and blouse standing next to a tomb, shielding her eyes from the camera and waving with some kind of tool. One was of Lilian in a long white dress with a long train clipped into her hair, on her arm a smart young man in a crisp suit with sort hair and small round glasses. Sam's son in law. All these pictures had been part of what her daughter had left to her but some were unfamiliar, all taken by Jack the day they left. Rick, Evie, Alex and Jonathan looking like an ordinary family, Ahdeth and Islyndor the former looking regal and brave the latter looking curious and shy. The last was of Eve, her long hair had been brushed out into a flowing mane, the worry lines had gone and she was holding onto a small child.

"Thank you." She said finally and he turned away so she would not see that he was blushing.

"It's been 4 years," he said finally, "Could never find the courage…I'm going to put the veg on before Eve wakes up." When he had gone Sam went to the wardrobe and pulled out the perfectly preserved wedding dress that had been left to her and caressed the soft, gauzy material. Tucked away in a discreet corner along with her dress uniform was a pile of journals that Lilian had kept for her entire life. With care she opened one and pulled out a slip of paper.

Dear Mama,

It feels strange to be writing this but I have seen a lot during the 81 years I've lived. Rick and Evie told me a long time ago that they were not my parents, they told me what had happened when I had seen enough to believe them. As hard as it was at the time I think I forgave you. I know I'm dying, it sounds morbid but the doctor told me this morning, I have a few months left. If I understand what Alex has told me about you then you will be feeling guilty. Don't.

Lilian

It may have felt strange to be writing the letter to a mother who was young enough to be your daughter but it felt even stranger to be reading it. The day she had discovered it squashed into the space between the back cover and last entry she had had felt enormous relief and sadness that Lilian hadn't hated her. She heard footsteps on the landing and placed everything back before the bedroom door exploded inwards.

"Mommy, Santa came, Santa came!" A little girl with blonde curls and chocolate brown eyes who shared an identical grin with her older sister bounced into the room and took Sam's hand.

"Eve, slow down," Sam laughed as the little girl pulled her downstairs to where Jack was setting up his video camera by the Christmas tree.

~END~

Thank you for reading this let me know what you thought of it. I urge you to review J

Smiles and Sunshine

Coffee Bean

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