Lucy sat quietly, tears continuing to slip silently from beneath her closed eyes as she concentrated all her energy on finding Ian in the void between lifetimes. Her hands were gently memorizing his features while her mind and spirit were completely focused on touching his spirit one last time before he was too far away to reach.

"Is it raining?"

"Ian! Is that you?" Lucy said in wonder, certain his spirit had found a way to speak to her from that place between lifetimes.

"Of course, it's me… is that rain? Or are you crying?" Ian said a little more strongly.

She opened her eyes, looking straight into beautiful hazel eyes filled with love. It took her a moment longer before she realized that he had rejoined the living. She let out a glad cry as Ian gently wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly as she laid her head on his shoulder and sobbed.

"You came back to me," she hiccupped.

"Aye… I knew you were waiting for me… and I had to come back… because I'm too stubborn to be rid of that easily," Ian said with a smile.

"Oh… you… you always were stubborn…" Lucy stammered as she pulled him even closer and peppered his face with kisses.

"Aye… but you're more stubborn than me… and you wouldn't let me go. I could feel you pulling me back," Ian said holding her just a little away from him so that he could gaze at her.

She looked at him with surprise, "You could? Really?"

Ian nodded before giving her a gentle kiss, "I'd follow you anywhere, you know."

"I do know," Lucy whispered. "I thought I'd lost you… and… and I… didn't know how to go on… I wanted to join you… wherever you were…"

"But I was dead… you couldn't join me there…" Ian said before realization dawned on his face. "No… Lucy… tell me you didn't… you aren't…"

"Shh, shh, shh. It's okay… I wanted to… but they wouldn't let me… and I knew… I knew…" she said placing her hands on his cheeks.

"Promise me… Lucy, you have to promise me…" Ian stammered in frustration.

"I promise… you don't have to ask me again… I will never take the easy way out… we'll have another life together whichever one of us goes first," Lucy said smiling and nodding. "I… I love you…"

"And I love you, too," Ian answered her, pulling her close. "I know this might sound crazy… but I'm very tired… could we sleep for just a while?" Ian asked her, stifling a yawn.

"I think all that traveling has worn us both out… but I… I need to ask you something first…" Lucy replied.

"Anything, my Lucy," he whispered against her ear.

"Is it over… did it work… are you a… um… a vam…"

"No… I'm just a man again… no super strength… no craving blood… the chief's cure worked…" Ian answered in amazement as he realized that it was completely and finally gone from his system. "I think… I think my body had to die for it to be gone… but my spirit wanted to be with you… and it was strong enough to get back to you this time…"

"You know, I think you're right," Lucy said, pulling him close. They once again held each other tightly as they drifted off into a natural and dreamless sleep while Maya and the chief looked on, smiling quietly from the doorway.


Lucy woke from her sleep at the sound of Maya entering with a tray of food. She glanced at Ian to see him sleeping deeply but naturally. She smiled at Maya and got up to help herself to some of the food.

"Good morning, Maya," Lucy said. "Did you sleep last night?"

"Yes we did. Ian will probably feel a little weak and you should make sure he eats everything that I have brought to you. It will take time for his body to recover from the punishment it has received," Maya answered.

Lucy impulsively hugged the other woman, "Thank you for everything, Maya."

Maya hugged her back and then pulled away to look at Lucy in surprise, "I was certain that you would still be angry with us. Your gratitude is the last thing that I expected."

"Maya, if Ian had truly died, I would have grieved and been very angry. But eventually I would have been grateful for all that we learned on Tirama Island. Being a vampire… being a vampire would have separated us eventually… he… he… couldn't accept it. And I wouldn't have been able to take it if he left me… again… and isolated himself… the thought of him out there… somewhere… alone for all of eternity… with no more lives together," Lucy said, her voice breaking with emotion.

At that moment, Ian called softly, "Lucy… what's wrong… are the children…?"

She rushed over and kissed him before answering, "No… it's nothing… I was just thanking Maya…"

"Aye… you're right… Maya… we owe you… so much," Ian said simply. He started to get up, and suddenly realized that he was weaker than he expected. He fell back against the pallet as Lucy brought him the food that Maya had prepared.

"You're going to feel a little weak for a few days… your body took quite a beating… and it has to get used to being mortal again… here… it's safe, I didn't make it," Lucy said laughingly.

Ian groaned before accepting the food, "I don't have time for this… we have too much to do."

"What do you mean by that, Ian Thornhart? In case you've forgotten, this is my honeymoon and you aren't doing anything else but paying attention to me!" Lucy answered only half in jest.

"I'm not likely to forget that, Mrs. Thornhart… even though I have aches in places I didn't know could hurt. But we have to get back to Port Charles… we finally have a cure… and we have to help the others," Ian said urgently.

"You're right, Ian… but a few more days won't hurt… and you need to get your strength back. You told me yourself that this island has healing properties… for that matter you've proved it yourself… so let it finish healing you… then we'll go home and help everyone else," she replied.

Neither of them had noticed Maya slip out as they sat together and ate the delicious meal she had prepared. Lucy was even pleasantly surprised to find the hot coffee that she craved in the mornings. As they finished their meal, they were happy to see Daniel and Christina run into the hut and quickly scooped them up into their arms. The four of them sat and laughed as the children described new friends and told their parents about all the wonderful things they had done on the island. Although Danny's vocabulary was limited, it had been growing steadily and Ian and Lucy patiently allowed him to speak even when Christina wanted to talk over top of him.

"Christina," Ian said softly into her ear, "can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, Ian!" the little girl replied. She was sitting on Ian's lap drinking some of the juice that Maya had left while Lucy and Danny were busy looking at some shells he had collected.

"Would you mind if Danny was your real brother? I mean… if your Ma was his Ma, too?"

"You mean like Serena is my sister? I'd like that," Christina said with a smile.

"That's good… because your Ma and I… we got married while you were playing at Kehlo's… is that okay?" Ian continued.

"Does this mean that I call you daddy now?" Christina asked.

"No… uh… no… I think you have plenty of daddies… Ian will do just fine…" he laughed at her.

"Okay," Christina said before jumping up and running over to Danny as Lucy and Ian shared a knowing look. Christina took Danny's hand, "You have to call her Mommy now… okay Danny?"

Danny just looked at Christina in confusion, and then looked at Lucy, "Mommy?"

Lucy laughed and hugged the little boy, "Yes… Mommy! I love you!"

Danny clapped his hands as Lucy held him and said, "I love Mommy!"

Ian laughed and held out his arms, "Come here young man. Come and see your Da!"

The family spent the day together in the hut and on the beach, only interrupted by Maya as she brought them their meals. When the sun was setting, Kehlo and Maya arrived to take Danny and Christina back to Maya's sister so that Ian and Lucy could have some time alone together.