Eva found Kristoph and Audrey in the grand common room of the palace. Kristoph was bouncing Faye on his knee, and the look on Audrey's face was one of pure happiness. Eva's heart melted; she was certain this was indeed where her family now belonged.
"Mom?" she said, smiling. She paused for a moment, still amazed at the next word she was going to say. "Dad? I need to speak with you, if that's all right."
"Of course it is, sweetheart," Kristoph replied.
"Can we go to your lab? It's a rather private matter."
"Certainly." Kristoph's voice turned into one of concern. "Is everything all right?"
Eva thought a moment before answering. "Yes and no, but it is rather urgent."
"Then let's go," Audrey said, standing up.
After making their way to Kristoph's lab, Eva took Faye into her arms and smiled at her. "Daddy, what's it like growing up here?"
"What exactly do you mean, Eva?" Kristoph asked, slightly puzzled by her question.
"Do the children here lead exciting childhoods? Are they happy?"
"The children here on Transsexual lead rather privileged existences. Our educational programs are the finest in the galaxy, and there must be hundreds of things for them to do for recreation. Of course children of royalty, such as Frank, do have other responsibilities the other children don't have, but he didn't complain – too much."
"Why did you bring royalty into it?" Eva asked, sounding nervous.
Kristoph put his hand on Eva's shoulder. "My dear, you are asking whether or not Faye can have a happy, fulfilling childhood here, aren't you?"
A look of confusion spread across Eva's face. "Yes. How did you know that?"
"I've already spoken with the Queen. I understand the situation completely."
"You do?"
"Yes, as does your mother." Kristoph smiled. "You can't possibly know how much it means to me to get my family back after all this time has passed."
"I most certainly can," Eva smiled. "Mom and I have you back." Her expression changed almost immediately.
"What's the matter, dear?" Audrey asked. "I'm more than thrilled to stay here."
Eva frowned. "I knew you would be, Mom. It's not that. It's just that my reaction to all of this wasn't exactly, um, enthusiastic at first. I'm afraid I was rather insensitive when Frank brought up the whole idea of staying here. I just hope Frank didn't think – oh, I don't know. He gave up his whole life to stay on Earth, just for me – God, now that I'm here, I can't believe what he was willing to sacrifice! - but when he first asked me to do the same thing, I was horrified. And let's face it, I'm giving up a whole lot less than he did."
"What changed your mind?" Kristoph asked.
Eva smiled. "Frank. He explained how certain aspects of the culture here came about – aspects I was rather nervous about – and that we definitely don't need to abide by them." Eva's speech began to quicken as her excitement about her new life grew. "And Faye, well, it wouldn't be fair to deny her her birth right, and I know that Frank is more than suited to…"
Kristoph laughed. "Calm down, Eva. I'm sure Frank found your initial reaction perfectly understandable. You do realize, however, that both your lives will undergo some rather significant changes, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. I think that part's still sinking in, though." She sighed. "I know I'm being a bit selfish, but I can't help but hope that by Transsexual gaining a king…I don't lose a husband."
Kristoph smiled gently. "Eva, I understand your concern. I don't want to minimize the challenges you both will be facing. Your husband will – literally – be taking the weight of the world on his shoulders. However, if there is anyone capable of shouldering such a burden, it is Frank. His mother didn't summon him away from his life on Earth simply because he is her son; she did so because she knows he possesses all the qualities required to be an exceptional leader for our people. Those leadership skills will be sorely tested in the difficult days ahead, but I am confident he will insure Transsexual will emerge even stronger than before."
He reached out and embraced Eva. "Despite what I just said, you need not fear Frank will no longer be there for you." He released her and smiled. "Allow me to give you some insight into the Frank I knew. All his life…from the time he was a small child…he was restless, always searching for something he could never find. When he came of age, sexually, and began taking lover after lover, it was much the same. I doubt even he recognized what he was doing. Had you asked him, I'm sure he would have said he was just 'having fun', indulging himself in the pleasures of the flesh." Kristoph smiled and shook his head. "I never believed his quest was as simple, or superficial, as that. He had much more of a capacity for commitment than he exhibited in his sexual relationships – if one could even call them relationships. I saw it in his attitude toward science…he found his love, and he gave everything he had to it. I knew it would be the same if he ever met the person he was meant to be with." He smiled fondly at his daughter. "And so it was. I see in Frank a peace of mind he never possessed before, and it is all due to you and your daughter. You have made him happy in a very profound way. No matter what else may be going on in his life, he will never neglect you and Faye."
Eva couldn't help but smile at his words, but as she thought of the difficulties lying ahead, her smile faded. She sighed. "I just hope that everything works out."
"While I can't say for certain it will - nobody ever can - I am confident your decision is the correct one. Frank would have felt guilty until the end of his days had he turned his back on his people in their time of need."
Kristoph paused for a moment. "I do have one question for you," he looked at Eva, then Audrey, "and you as well, my love. What about Sarah? Does she know about all of this? Will she be coming along as well?"
Audrey frowned. "No, Kristoph," she said softly. "I'm afraid Sarah isn't exactly part of our lives anymore."
Eva then spoke up. "She has some rather severe problems and I…" She gave Kristoph the most pleading of looks. "…Please don't think I'm a terrible person, but I just don't care to help her – I don't have it in me anymore."
"You?" Kristoph said, obviously shocked. "Eva, from everything I've heard and now seen in you, I find that hard to believe…"
Audrey interrupted him. "Sarah has done some rather despicable things to Eva, Kristoph, including trying to seduce and blackmail Frank." Kristoph couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I still have quite a bit to fill you in on," Audrey said solemnly.
"I'm very sorry to hear that," Kristoph replied, a note of pain evident in his voice. "Are you going to tell her about your 'relocation'?"
"I'm not sure," Audrey replied. She then added, "However, I have something more important to think about at the moment; our daughter is going to be a queen."
Eva shook her head and smiled. "I feel like such a fraud whenever someone says that to me. Frank called me 'his Queen' and it was all I could do to keep from looking around to see who he was talking to. I have no trouble at all seeing Frank as a king, especially now that we're here, but me as a queen? It's just too bizarre to contemplate."
Kristoph laughed. "If it helps at all, you should know Frank's mother was not born to royalty. She was a commoner who married the future king. However, she turned out to be much more a Queen than many a woman born to the title. Keep that in mind."
Eva shrugged. "At least she was born on Transsexual. I hope the people will accept someone from Earth as their queen."
Kristoph put his hands on her shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. "I want you to listen to me. You're beautiful, you're warm, you're intelligent, and Frank is obviously madly in love with you. As the people love him, they will come to love the enchanting woman he has chosen to be by his side. You need not worry about that."
Eva felt her eyes fill with tears. "You're almost as good as Frank at saying exactly what I need to hear. Thank you."
He smiled. "What are fathers for?"