Upon arriving back in Denton, Eva couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of sadness. This was the place she'd known her whole life, and while she had a few miserable experiences, she also had more wonderful ones than she could remember.
Able to sense what Eva was feeling, Frank put his hand on her back, gently rubbing it, and said, "It's harder than I thought it would be, too."
"I'm sorry, Frank," Eva said, her eyes growing moist. "I just know that I'm going to miss an awful lot here."
"I know, love." He kissed the top of her head. "However, we have a great deal to do and a very short amount of time in which to do it, so we'd best get started."
Audrey went home to pack; Eva took Faye and did the same. Frank headed to the Denton Pharmaceutical Company to resign; since two weeks notice wasn't an option, he had to tell them he was leaving the country due to a family crisis, which actually was the truth.
As Eva began to pack at home, her doorbell rang. When she answered, Amanda was on the other side. Smiling brightly, she said, "Eva! I've been dying for you to come home!" She hugged Eva tightly. "I want to hear all about London, but I'm going to burst if I don't tell you what happened while you were gone."
Eva forced a smile and told Amanda to come in. She was having the most difficult time trying to keep herself from bursting into tears; leaving Amanda and Stuart behind was going to break her heart. Amanda interrupted her thoughts.
"Stuart asked me to marry him!" she exclaimed.
Though Eva lost the battle to her tears, a genuine smile emerged on her face. "That's wonderful news, Amanda! I'm so happy for you!"
"We want you and Frank in the wedding, of course, I mean, who else on earth would we want by our sides? If it weren't for Frank, we may never have met." Eva couldn't help herself; she began to sob openly. "Oh, Eva, what's wrong? I promise I won't make you wear some hideous gown." Amanda smiled, trying to lighten the current mood.
"I don't think we'll be here for it," Eva said, trying to calm down.
"What? Why not?"
"Frank and I have to, um, go away – permanently."
"To London?"
Oh, God, what am I supposed to say to that? Luckily for Eva, she didn't have to think up a lie. Frank walked through the door with Stuart.
"Look what followed me home from work," Frank laughed. He then saw Eva's tear stained face. "Darling, what's the matter?" he asked, rushing to her side. Eva couldn't respond; she was far too upset.
Amanda looked at Frank and said, "She said that you guys have to leave permanently. Is that true?"
Frank sighed. "Yes," he answered solemnly, "I'm afraid it is."
"Well, I've never been to Europe, now I have an excuse. Amanda, we could honeymoon there and…"
"You're getting married?" Frank asked.
Stuart smiled, "Crazy huh? And you have the 'honor' of being my best man, Frank."
"I am honored, Stuart, but I fear we won't be here for the event."
"Well, how about this: We'll come to you. I mean, aside from you, the only other people that we care about being at the wedding is our folks, and I'm sure they'd love to go to London…"
"Stuart," Frank interrupted, "we're not going to London."
"What?" Amanda and Stuart said in unison.
Frank took his still very upset wife into his arms and held her tightly. "Stuart, when you met me, did you think there was anything – odd about me?"
"Well, yes, to be honest."
"And what about the other people present in that rather out of place building?"
"The people were a bit out there, but those were some pretty wild parties – and the castle…"
"Castle?" Amanda asked.
"Yes, castle," Stuart repeated. "I'm an architect; nothing surprises me."
"What about the fact it's gone?" Frank asked.
"Well, that part is a bit strange."
Frank ran his fingers through Eva's hair, then released her. He got up and began to pace. "Stuart, Amanda, what I have to tell you is going to be a bit difficult to accept, but please know I am entrusting you with information not many here are privy to. Eva and I are not going to London. We weren't in London over the past few days. Truth be told, I'm not even from there – or here, to be exact."
"Well, of course you're not from Denton," Amanda said.
"When I say here, I mean Earth." Stuart and Amanda sat silently, perhaps waiting for a punch line. "Or this galaxy," Frank added.
Stuart laughed. "Don't you think Eva's a little upset for a joke like this, Frank? C'mon, what's going on here?"
"Stuart, I'm not playing a joke. Think about it, piece everything together – when it sinks in, it will make sense to you. And in case it doesn't, perhaps this will help." Frank pulled his communicator out of his pocket.
"A cell phone?" Stuart asked.
"Look at it more closely."
Stuart examined the "gadget" he was holding. Minutes passed before he spoke. "This is real – all of this is real. Frank, I don't know what to…"
"It's perfectly understandable to be at a loss for words," Frank interrupted. "Eva certainly was when she found out."
"So the way you are, well, were," Stuart stammered. "Is that what everyone is like where you're, um, going?"
"No, I was a bit extreme. You see, the reason that Eva and I must leave is I am to assume the throne, and…"
"The throne?" Amanda asked, standing up. "Frank, you're royalty or something?"
"Yes, prince currently – soon to be king though, which is why we have to leave. My mother is dying…" Frank paused a moment to blink back the tears suddenly filling his eyes, "…and despite the fact I had previously told her I intended to live out my life on Earth, she made me realize I am – for better or worse – the only suitable person to follow in her footsteps."
"What about Eva? Does she want to go?" Amanda said, putting her hand on Eva's shoulder. "I mean, she's awfully upset."
"She's upset because we're going to miss the both of you terribly. However - and this is just going to seem absurd - Eva's father is from my planet as well."
"Good God," Stuart said, "Denton must be a magnet for- well - something.
Frank calmed everyone, including Eva, then began to tell Stuart and Amanda every detail that he could. He talked about Eva's father and Audrey, about their being destined to be together, their amazing sex life, and his mother's illness. After an hour or so, it seemed almost natural to Stuart and Amanda, and Eva was finally speaking again.
Amanda looked at Stuart and smiled. "Let's get married."
"Um, we are, sweetie."
"No, I mean before they have to leave. Let's do it tonight. We already have the paper work done; we were only going to wait a few weeks. Please, Stuart."
Stuart looked at Eva and Frank. "You two up for a wedding?"
Eva smiled. "Most definitely."
Amanda and Stuart left to go shower and change, while Eva and Frank did the same. After getting ready, Eva put Faye into her most adorable dress, and she and Frank headed to the same justice of the peace where they were wed.
They stood and bore witness to their dear friends' vows. Eva held Frank's hand tightly in hers, and looked at him in the most loving of ways. "I love you," she whispered to him.
Frank warmly smiled at her, "I love you, too."
After the wedding was over, Frank invited the newlyweds back to their home. They toasted with champagne and talked for a while.
"We have something for you," Eva said, happily.
"That's hardly necessary," Stuart replied.
"Yes it is," Eva insisted. "We want to give you the house."
"What?" Amanda said, beginning to cry. "You designed this yourself, what if you want to come back and…"
"Please," Eva said, trying not to cry yet again. "We couldn't imagine anyone else living here. Stuart, you built this for us and believe me, I'm not sure your house could outlast a growing family."
Stuart began to cry as he hugged Eva. "Thank you. God, I'm gonna miss you." He looked at Frank, Eva still in his embrace. "Both of you. Frank, can I give your wife a kiss?" Frank nodded in approval, fighting back his own tears. Stuart gave Eva a soft, sweet "peck" on the lips. He let Eva go and couldn't help himself; he latched himself onto Frank and cried openly.
Frank was taken by surprise to say the least, but he understood and hugged his friend back.
"Frank, thank you for helping me find my wife and for being so good to Eva. You two deserve each other more than anyone else. Please take care of her."
"I will, Stuart." The embrace broke. "And so you can be sure I keep my word, take this." Frank handed Stuart the communicator. "We can always be in touch with one another – I'm sure that Eva and Amanda will greatly appreciate that."
Eva and Amanda were hugging and crying, but heard what Frank had said. "Thank you," Amanda said through her tears.
"Once I'm king, and have had the opportunity to take care of a few…pressing issues," Frank started, "Eva and I would love for the two of you to come to visit us."
Stuart raised an eyebrow. "You mean we'd leave the, um, galaxy?"
"Well, yes - that is, if you wanted to. Believe me, it is a much easier journey than you'd imagine. Eva can attest to that. I think it would be an incredible experience for the two of you…and we would be more than thrilled to again enjoy your company."
"We'd love to, when the appropriate time arrives," Amanda said with a warm smile.
Eva was thrilled at Amanda's response. "O.K., then," she said. "We don't really have to say 'goodbye.' That makes this quite a bit easier."
As Stuart and Amanda let themselves out of what would soon be their home, Frank said, "We'll miss you both a great deal. We'll invite you as soon as everything is settled – hopefully within a few months."
"We'll be looking forward to it," Stuart replied.