Faye had submitted to being carried by her grandmother through the palace's seemingly endless corridors with fairly good grace. However, once situated in Gwendolyn's sitting room – a luxurious but surprisingly cozy space annexed to her bedroom – she began to squirm and whine to be returned to her father's arms.
Frank smiled, a bit embarrassed, as he reached out and took his daughter, her arms outstretched toward him.
"I'm sorry, Mother. Faye has gotten somewhat 'clingy' recently. She doesn't care for anyone other than Eva or me to hold her. She's even given Audrey a bit of a hard time of late."
Gwendolyn smiled. "Goodness, Frank, there is no need to apologize for Faye. I cannot tell you the pleasure it brings me to see the bond you have created with your daughter. It is an experience I feared you'd never have." She shook her head. "You were so focused on sexual conquest I thought it entirely possible you'd fail to recognize your soul mate even if she fell into your lap…or, for that matter, into your bed."
Frank smiled. "An understandable concern, I must admit. However, when I met Eva, the connection was so strong even I couldn't fail to perceive it. " He shifted Faye on his lap so she was facing toward her grandmother. "Eva actually 'ran scared' after our first encounter, but something about her had so compelled me that I went in search of her. I found her, and we spent the next night together…from that point on, there was no way to run, for either of us."
To Frank's bewilderment, tears came to his mother's eyes. "It makes me so very happy you have established such a wonderful family." She fixed him with a stare she'd always used on him when telling him something of great importance. "Nobody should go through life alone. Casual lovers are all well and good, for their time and purpose, but they would not provide you solace and strength in your darkest hours."
Frank was a bit taken aback by his mother's intensity, but decided not to comment on it. "Indeed." He forced a smile and changed the subject. "So are you going to tell me why you summoned me here?"
Gwendolyn waved a dismissive hand. "There will be time enough for that later, after you get settled in a bit. We'll discuss it tomorrow. Right now I'm much more interested in hearing about you. Do you still enjoy living on Earth?"
Frank nodded. "I've never been happier in my life."
She looked at him, a faint look of alarm in her eyes. "How much of that happiness is due to Earth itself?"
He shrugged. "Relatively little…meeting Eva was what made all the difference. However, I must admit living what one would call an average life, as an average person, does have its attractions."
"How so?"
He paused, trying to put his thoughts and impressions into words. Finally, he spoke.
"For one thing, it is, for me, a rare and wonderful thing to meet people without their having any preconceptions about me. Whether they like me or not is due solely to their reaction to me as a person, not a personage…some larger-than-life being on a different level than their own. When I achieve success, whether in my personal or professional life, it is due to my own efforts. Particularly at first, it was both exhilarating and terrifying to know I couldn't rely on my royal status to get me through. Ultimately, it has proven profoundly liberating."
Gwendolyn asked, "What about the more mundane aspects of everyday life? The job, the household chores, financial concerns, the thousands of small annoyances from which we in the Royal Family are customarily shielded?"
Frank smiled. "None of that has proven to be as burdensome as I would have believed. Eva and I are quite fortunate, financially speaking. My education here, and the credentials which were created for me on Earth, allowed me to get quite a lucrative job – complete with a substantial raise accompanying a recent promotion. And Eva has begun earning substantial money from her writing – she is writing a series of children's books."
Gwendolyn was impressed. "What are the books about?"
Frank couldn't help but laugh. "The lives of a group of children on another planet. Needless to say, she began writing the series after discovering my true identity. I don't give her any meaningful input, other than a vague story idea here and there, but somehow I believe I provide a certain amount of inspiration."
His mother smiled. "I'm sure that is indeed the case. However, even with the level of income you describe, certainly your lifestyle cannot compare with that which you enjoyed here. You have not found that a difficult adjustment?"
He shook his head. "All this…opulence…is certainly a pleasure, but it is one I am able to do without. I used to see typical housing developments here – perfectly acceptable places – and wonder how people could exist with so little." He grimaced. "It was a remarkably ignorant point of view. I no longer need to live in a palace; I don't need the world handed to me on a silver platter. Truly earning my pleasures makes them all the more satisfying."
She smiled faintly. "My son, I assure you, the pleasures we enjoy here are ultimately earned as well. You simply weren't yet in a position to realize it."
Frank reddened slightly. "Mother, I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean to imply…"
She cut him off. "No apology is necessary. I understood what you meant, and your ability to leave behind the incredible luxury you enjoyed all your life is incredibly admirable. Living on Earth has expanded your horizons in more ways than one. You have obviously grown a great deal as a person, and I am so very proud of you for that."
Frank, embarrassed, busied himself by straightening Faye's clothes, which had become twisted in her earlier attempts to escape her grandmother's grasp. "I certainly didn't do it alone. None of that growth would have occurred without Eva."
She reached over and put her hand under his chin, gently forcing him to look at her. "Be that as it may, ultimately we are all responsible for our own personal growth…or lack thereof. Nothing Eva could have done would have had the slightest effect had you not been open to change. When one grows up as royalty, it is far easier to expect others to change for us. The fact you were willing to change for her speaks volumes about you."
Rather than trying to force a response out of Frank, she decided to change the subject. "Other than the issue of why I summoned you, do you have any questions for me?"
Frank said, "You could start by telling me how you are. You have been noticeably reticent on the subject."
She smiled. "I assure you, I will tell you everything you want to know about 'how I am' – and probably a great deal more – when we speak tomorrow." She laughed. "That prospect should give you something to which to look forward."
Frank shook his head and smiled. "All right, all right. You are clearly determined to be mysterious. I'll let you off the hook for now." His smile faded. "One thing I would appreciate knowing is the fate of Riff Raff and Magenta. What happened to them after their last, rather memorable, visit to Earth? Please tell me Riff Raff was suitably punished for attempting to murder my wife."
Gwendolyn answered, "His life was spared…but the life he was left with is hardly one worth living. He is confined to the Dark Hole in the Catacombs, and will be for the rest of his days. He is in solitary confinement, completely without contact with any other living being…even his meals are delivered by mechanical means. Rumor has it he has gone completely insane."
Frank murmured sarcastically, "How would one be able to tell the difference?" Closing his eyes and shaking his head as if to physically erase the image of Riff Raff from his mind, he asked, "What about Magenta?"
"She too was sentenced to the Catacombs – although not the Dark Hole. However, due to her lesser role in your attempted murder, and her decision to allow your friend to carry Faye to safety, her sentence was greatly reduced. She will be released within two years."
Frank nodded thoughtfully. "I can live with that. Incidentally, what happened to Rocky? Magenta was to look after him."
Gwendolyn smiled. "You need not worry about Rocky. He is living with the family of one of the members of my court. He has a very fine life there…and he has proven immensely useful to them when tasks requiring strength arise."
Frank smiled. "I'm very happy to hear it. What about…'companionship'?"
She laughed. "The family has a very attractive young couple…the maid and butler…who are each more than willing to provide Rocky with, shall we say, physical attention when he requires it."
Frank's smile broadened. "Splendid. I'm pleased he is so well situated."
Gwendolyn's smile gradually faded. "Frank, I never did apologize for attempting to kidnap your daughter…and at the same time hopefully trap you into returning home as well. I have never been so pleased to fail at an endeavor."
Frank's expression also grew serious. "And I never apologized for attempting to lead you to believe me dead. I thought it would be kinder for you to think that, rather than know I was willingly turning my back on my life here – and, by extension, on you. I realize now how horribly selfish and inconsiderate that decision was. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
She smiled tenderly. "Frank, you're my son. I cannot imagine anything you could possibly do I would be unwilling or unable to forgive." She leaned forward slightly. "And, incidentally, when I told you your new 'look' was unflattering?"
Frank laughed. "Yes?"
She reached over and stroked his cheek. "I lied. You look…beautiful. Even better, you have become as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. I could not possibly be more proud of you."
Frank looked over at his mother, and suddenly the years melted away. He felt as he did as a small child, coming in search of reassurance and comfort to the woman who was the center of his world.
Suddenly, he knew. No matter where he lived, no matter what he did…he would never be able to completely leave Transsexual behind.
In a very real sense, it would always be home.