"I still can't believe you're here," Katherine said. "We honestly believed we'd lost you forever."

"You would have, had I not found out. Lawrence did a good job of hiding the truth from me."

"But not well enough for a clever boy like you," Patrick said.

"You could say that," Lucas said. He wanted to tell them all that had happened but he couldn't bring himself to do it. "Mom, please come," he thought, hoping she could hear him.

As if on cue, he heard Ellie's voice in his ear, so clear he actually turned around to see if she was standing there. "Tell them the truth Lucas, it's okay."

Shocked that she had actually heard him, he sent another thought her way. "How do I explain you showing up? Why won't you come now?"

"Don't be fancy about it, just tell them. Sean will come with all the proof you need. They don't need me to come Lucas; they're okay with this. Seeing me would only hurt them and I don't want to do that."

He couldn't argue with that logic. He was on his own. Well, sort of.

"Lucas? Is something the matter?" Katherine asked.

"Yes, I haven't been completely honest about how I found out about my parents. It's a long and complicated story, so please sit down and I'll try to tell it as best I can."

Katherine and Patrick exchanged a glance but sat down. Lucas began with the black out of the bridge's systems and proceeded through the whole tale, trying to be as clear and thorough as possible. When he described the memory session, his reactions and the ensuing depression; Katherine frowned but said nothing. Finally finishing with the vid-com call to Lawrence, Lucas sighed heavily and awaited their reactions.

"That is quite a story Lucas," Katherine said.

"I know that it sounds really far fetched, but it did happen that way. I would never have known what happened had I not met Ellie and seen her memories."

"There is no way he could have known those things Katherine. Nothing he talked about is public knowledge that anyone could go look up. I mean, Arwen, how on earth would he know about her unless he'd heard it from Ellie herself?" Patrick reasoned.

Katherine looked down for a moment. "How do we know for sure?"

"Katherine, what reason would he have to lie about it?"

Lucas gazed at Katherine, knowing that his bewilderment showed on his face. He couldn't make her believe him, he could only tell what he knew was the truth, and he had done that. The sound of the front door opening broke the tension of the moment as Sean walked into the room with Lucas' bag.

"Here you go," Sean said, handing it to him. "Oh, and I picked up a friend of yours. She was waiting for you at the hotel."

Lucas looked at him, puzzled, as he stepped aside to reveal Sam. "Sam? What are you doing here?" he asked, standing up. She walked towards him and gave him a hug, which startled him because it was so unlike her. He soon knew why.

"It's me, Ellie," she whispered in his ear.

He almost pulled away from her in shock, but thought better of it. "It's nice to see you Sam," he said, then more quietly, "Why are you here looking like Sam and how in the hell did you do that?"

"Well, it was the only way I could think of to be here with you and not distress them. Just play along will you? You seem to need my help anyway."

Lucas let her go and just raised an eyebrow. Watching her play Sam was going to be amusing at least. "Grandma and Grandpa, if it's alright I call you that, I'd like you to meet my friend Sam. She's on the SeaQuest too, we work together."

She stepped forward and shook their hands. "Nice to meet you both," she said.

"Lucas it is certainly alright that you call us that, I've wanted to hear it for so long," Katherine said. "Sam, it's a pleasure."

"So, Lucas," Ellie said, looking at him. "I noticed that the picture from your desk was missing. Did you bring it with you?"

Lucas looked confused for a moment, and then it dawned on him. The picture! It was in his bag! "Yes, actually, I did bring it."

"Oh good," Ellie replied. "I was afraid Ben had taken it to play a joke on you."

Lucas took the bag from Sean. "Grandma Katherine, you wanted to know how you could know for sure that what I was telling you was true. The picture Sam mentioned…well, you'll see." Digging through the bag, he gingerly removed the picture frame and handed it to Katherine and Patrick.

Katherine gasped as Patrick muttered, "Oh my God." There, in living color, was all the proof they needed. Ellie with her arms around Lucas, both of them smiling and happy, and taken recently.

"It's her," Patrick said. "It's our little girl, in the flesh! Lucas! Where did you get this?"

"I told you, she was here. That picture was taken at Chatton."

"I took it," Ellie said. "She was really there. If I understand correctly from Lucas mentioning Chatton, he's told you the story. I was there too, and I can verify it all."

"I think this is plenty of verification right here," Katherine said quietly. "My Ellie, I miss her so much…"

Lucas looked at Ellie/Sam. She was biting her lip, and he could almost feel the sadness coming from her like waves. He knew that she wanted so badly to reveal herself but was exercising restraint because she knew it wouldn't be right.

"I'm sure you were everything she ever dreamed of Lucas. She looks so happy with you." Katherine continued.

"It was wonderful to see her, to be able to meet her and know who she really was. As sad as it was, they are moments that I will never, ever forget." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ellie look at him, suddenly fighting her tears.

"Well, I'm sure you both have had a long day. There are two beds in the room we set up for you Lucas. You can both stay there."

"Thank you," Ellie and Lucas said at the same time.

Katherine passed the picture back to Lucas. "If you don't mind, I'd like to have a copy of that picture."

"Of course," Lucas said.

"Well, Lucas, I'll be back to pick you up in a couple of days," Sean said.

"Okay Sean, thank you for everything."

"No problem. Nice seeing you again Mr. and Mrs. James."

"Have a safe drive down the hill Sean and don't be a stranger," Patrick replied.

Sean chuckled. "Sure thing," he said and left.

"Come, I'll show you the way." Katherine said.

She headed for the stairs and Lucas followed her, Ellie behind him. She knew her way perfectly but had to act as if she didn't.

"Oh, Lucas, the Captain told me to let you know that he's been expecting a check in from you."

"Oh man! I totally forgot, I'll call him as soon as we get upstairs. Thanks Ehhh…Sam."

Katherine walked down a long hallway, and entered the 3rd door down. "Here's where you'll be staying. We'll be having dinner in a couple of hours if you want to take a nap," she said with a smile.

"Thank you," Lucas said again. He gave Katherine a bright smile, and though she returned it, there was a hint of sadness there, before she turned and left the room.

He sighed and set his bag on one of the beds. He saw Ellie sit down on the edge of the other bed and bury her face in her hands. Her shoulders began to shake as she cried. Lucas frowned and shut the door, then sat down next to her. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her toward him, and she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Oh Lucas…this is so hard to do."

"I can only imagine. I'm sorry you can't tell them who you really are."

"I want to tell them so badly…I want to have my father hug me. I hate Lawrence for this. If there is a hell, I hope he burns in it."

"Me too Mom, me too. Thanks for the head's up on the picture though. I'd completely forgotten about it."

"That's why I came. I knew that you would be overwhelmed and I wanted to be able to help you."

Lucas nodded as Ellie wiped her face. "I'd better call the Captain, I've been lagging."

"Yes, he's very worried about you because he hasn't heard from you. But I'll stay out of range, just in case. I don't want Sam to see herself standing here with you."

Lucas couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Sam's reaction. He almost considered doing it just to see what it would be, but decided it would be too mean. He pulled his PAL out of his bag and dialed the Captain. It was quickly answered.

"Bridger."

"Captain, it's Lucas."

"Well! Lucas! I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about us!" he replied as the small video came up. "You've gotten some sun I see."

Lucas laughed. "Yes sir. And you were right, I've got some good stories to tell when I get back."

"Where are you now?"

"I'm at Ellie's parent's house. I'm staying here for a few days to get to know them."

"Well, that should be exciting. We miss you Lucas, it's been awfully quiet around here. Sam doesn't know what to do with herself, though she would never admit it!"

"Is she there?"

"I can find her if you'd like?"

"Yeah, if she's nearby," Lucas replied, as the Captain disappeared from view. He heard the sounds of someone calling for Sam and telling her who it was that wanted to speak with her. Then he heard what sounded like someone running.

"Lucas!"

"Hey Sam!"

"How are you? There's a lot to do here. Tim wants to upgrade systems when you come back."

"I'm good. I've got stories to tell when I come back. Oh, and I bought you something good."

He saw Sam's eyes light up. "You did? I was just kidding!"

"Of course! I couldn't come here without bringing something back!"

"I can't wait to see it! Darwin misses you. He keeps asking when you'll be back."

"I haven't been gone that long!"

"I know, I try to tell him, but you know how he is with time."

Lucas chuckled. "Yeah, I do."

"Well, I had better get back to work. Have fun Lucas, and stay safe. Hey, did you get sun?"

Lucas grinned. "Yes I did. Tell everyone I say hello."

"I will. See ya later Lucas," she replied and disappeared.

Bridger reappeared on screen. "Well, I'll let you get back Lucas. Thank you for remembering to check in, even though you were a bit late. I feel better knowing you've survived this long."

"Okay Captain. I'll check in again."

"Good to hear. Bridger out," he replied as the screen went black.

Lucas set the PAL down and looked to where he'd last seen Ellie, but she was gone. He stood up and walked out of the now open door. In the hallway, he looked both ways, trying to figure out where she'd gone. To his right, at the end of the hallway, he saw another door open and walked toward it.

Walking in, he saw Ellie, standing in the middle of the room. Looking around, it was obvious that this was a girl's room, though the walls were covered in an ice blue color. The bedclothes matched it, and though the bed was made for a canopy, there wasn't one on it. Instead, there were oblong crystals hanging all the way around it. This had been her bedroom.

"Everything is still the same. They haven't moved a thing."

"Should they?"

"I don't know, I thought they would have packed it up by now," she said, walking to one of the built in shelves lining one wall. She picked up a picture, and Lucas came up behind her to look at it. Captured forever were the smiling duo of Gavin and Ellie. He was standing behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist. Her small hands rested on top of his, and she was leaning back against him, his head resting next to hers.

Lucas reached out and touched the picture gently, almost as if he was trying to will it to come to life again so that she would be happy, not to mention alive. It was how he imagined them when he closed his eyes and tried to think of what it might have been like to see them together.

"Lucas, take this back with you," she whispered. "I want you to have it. It was taken right before he left for the research mission," she said, turning to face him and putting the frame in his hand.

"But they will notice it's missing."

"Don't worry Lucas; I'll take care of that later. I'm going to come back, as myself, after you've gone back. I'll come as they expect me to. I'll explain the missing picture. Just take it, please. "

Lucas nodded and looked around at the rest of the room. Peering at the shelves, he saw volumes of poetry, an anthology of the complete works of Shakespeare, various works of fiction. There were no posters on these walls, but there were prints from some of the more famous Pre-Raphaelite artists. Looking out of the window, he saw that she'd had a view of a pond. Her desk was in front of the window. How often had she looked out as she'd studied? He felt her everywhere here, and even if she hadn't been here with him, there would have been no escaping it.

"Come on Lucas, let's go," she said, walking out of the room.

When they reached the room where Lucas was staying, he slipped the picture she'd given him into his bag. He was tired suddenly and he flopped down on the bed. It was so comfortable that he actually groaned with pleasure.

Ellie laughed. "Feather beds got to love them!"

Lucas sighed happily and was asleep in minutes.