Ian found himself once again a French painter, distraught at the murder of his beloved. He drank himself into a stupor and only left his garret to purchase paints and wine. To support himself, he sold a few paintings, but did not really care about his art in the wake of his grief. As an observer, he was disheartened by the self-destructive nature of this past self and hoped to get a glimpse of another past Lucy before he moved on.

When he was approached by a businessman to paint the portrait of his wife, he agreed in order to earn the money to purchase more wine. However, he was unable to complete the portrait as it was too difficult to block the memory of Eve's murder from his mind. He changed his subjects to still life and those paintings brought him to the attention of a potential patron. When he received a note inviting him to meet with this patron, he wanted to throw it away—but the thought of money to buy himself wine or opium for forgetfulness made him agree to the meeting. He arrived for the meeting at the town home of his patron, with some paintings but already too drunk to walk without staggering.

He was shown to a parlor where he expected to meet a stuffy man who would pretend to know something about art—which always infuriated him. The combination of grief, wine and pride made him wonder why he had bothered to agree to speak with a man who would certainly not be a worthy patron for him. He nearly left before the patron entered the room—and then he was grateful that he did not, because the patron was not a man but his Lucy once again.

She smiled at him and spoke to him about his art. She called for tea and food and insisted that he give up the wine. She arranged for him a studio in which to work, and he found himself agreeing to every demand that she made on his time and his talent. She provided for his every need and he did the best work of his life… although she never sat for him, he had many hidden paintings of her in casual settings. After many months, she visited his studio during his absence and found the paintings—those of Eve before her death and of his patroness. When he returned, he saw what she had found and challenged her to cast him out… although Ian the observer knew that their love was sealed in that lifetime as it would be in their future lives. He was having a difficult time separating himself from his past life… the past from the future… but he was beginning to realize that while Eve was important in his life… Lucy was his destiny.


Maya rejoined the chief at sunset bringing with her a meal to share with her husband. She looked at Ian and Lucy, assured herself they were not in any physical distress and concentrated on her husband. She recognized in him a concern that had been growing since Lucy drank the morca. She could say or do nothing to assuage his concerns, but she could comfort his body and spirit.

They ate in silence all the while stealing glances at the sleeping couple, when Maya asked, "Has there been any change?"

"Ian's body is cooler than it was, but I did not wish to increase the fire. He is starting to lose this battle," the chief replied.

"You knew it would happen… you know what he must endure to overcome his affliction…" his wife assured him.

"Yes… but I wish now that I had told them both the truth. Would they have chosen this path if they had known that Ianmust die?" the chief said softly.

"Ian and Lucy are of one spirit… in the end they would have chosen the same… but entered their journey with troubled minds. This way they were peaceful, and will learn much…" she answered in the same quiet tone.

"The children… they are well?"

"Yes, Kehlo is watching over their young ones… you would be very proud of him," Maya answered.

"I am always proud of our son… make sure that they are joyful… their parents care much for their joy," the chief said.

"I know… they are joyful… it is as Ian and Lucy would wish it to be… all is well, my husband, but now you must rest. We have much to do later. Please rest now and I will keep watch," Maya said as she urged her husband out of the hut.


Lucy followed her heart through the darkness and found herself in Paris during the nineteenth century. In this life she was born to privilege and married as her parents demanded. While her husband was a kind man, she felt no passion or love for him. As she observed an uneventful life, she still took joy in the children that she bore him… happy that she had been able to have children in her past lives. She even felt affection for this man and sorrow when she saw him die suddenly and unexpectedly.

At her husband's death she found herself a wealthy woman, much sought after by men who wanted a beautiful wife to raise their children or to add her wealth to their own. This Lucy was just as independent as her successors, though, and she determined never to marry again. She immersed herself in her interests and developed a passion for the arts. Although she did not have any innate artistic talent, she found herself very capable in assessing the abilities of others.

She noticed a painting being sold by a street vendor and insisted on purchasing it. When she found out about the artist, she sent a note and invited him to her home to discuss her patronage. Upon seeing him enter the town house, Lucy the observer was overjoyed to recognize Ian… but her past self was more than a little angry at his cavalier behavior. She was forceful in her insistence of total control, and he fought her every step of the way. It wasn't until she stole a look at his private collection of paintings that she realized the depth of her feeling for this man.

Lucy and Ian each watched their past selves succumb to passion without any thought of love, wondering what would happen in their lives. Little by little they allowed themselves to feel the love, but it brought them unhappiness. Lucy's past self could not marry a painter as it would ruin her reputation and tarnish that of her children. Ian's past self was much too arrogant to marry above his own station, and that left them both with great love and passion, but no outlet for it. Over time they contented themselves as paramours and lived their public lives apart while retaining a private life together. When her children reached adulthood, they tolerated the arrangement with an understanding that he would remain far removed from their lives… and they lived in relative contentment until their deaths.

In the brief darkness as they journeyed further backwards in time, Lucy and Ian felt the presence of their souls and touched each other with joy having realized that in many lives they were destined to love each other.


Ian's body temperature had continued to drop, even though Maya had increased the heat from the fire, butLucy's body was coated in a film of perspiration. While she continued to remain in her deep slumber, Ian's body was fighting the affect of the herbs. He began to thrash about and Maya was having difficulty in keeping him calm as she used blankets to warm him.

The chief re-entered the hut, "Why did you not call me? Ian is much too strong for you."

"I was about to call the guards to wake you… I'm afraid it has begun," Maya replied.

"And Lucy? She is well?" the chief asked.

"She slumbers peacefully… and I feel that she is well… but she will sense Ian's distress and return to us…" Maya replied.

"I hope that her journey is complete… and she will forgive us," the chief said almost to himself.


As their souls traveled on separate journeys, they sometimes touched briefly in the darkness with a momentary joy, but sometimes didn't meet each other at all. Throughout their many lives, however, they observed their past selves always finding love with each other. Sometimes fleetingly, sometimes greatly, but always with that same gentle passion that had drawn them together when they first met in Port Charles. Ian had once told Lucy that he had known her for a thousand years, and had loved her… and they both realized the truth of that statement as they observed their paths lead toward each other in each and every lifetime.

As darkness descended yet again, Lucy found herself traveling forward rather than backwards from a life in ancient Greece. She briefly fought the sensation, but then allowed herself to gradually return to the present… wishing to see Ian and have him gaze at her with love once again while hoping the cost of Ian's cure was not more than they could afford.