The next morning, Swann slowly opened his eyes to see sunlight drifting in through the curtains. Looking around the small motel room, he remembered where he was. Glancing over he saw Dorothea peacefully sleeping beside him. Her tiny body covered by the sheets, and her face looking so pure and beautiful as sunlight went across it. Taking a second he remembered last night's events. Everything seemed to have happened so fast. They somehow decided to stay together, and just try in making a way to live off the power he had. Thinking for a second, thoughts of all the risk and danger went into his mind. He knew the odds were against them, and most likely it wouldn't work. But looking over at Dorothea as she slept, he knew he had to give it at least a good try. He wanted to protect her, and make sure she had the life she always deserved.

Slipping out from the sheets, Swann stood completely naked for a second before crossing over to the bathroom. His body felt sore and ached. Going inside, he shut the door, trying his hardest to make little to no noise. Using the bathroom first, he held himself and looked out the small window that faced the back. There he saw the car parked. After a few moments he went over to the sink and stared at his reflection. He still looked tired. Brushing back his hair he decided the first thing he needed to do was a shower. Maybe then he might wake up a little more and feel like starting the day. He wanted to reach the city before dark.

Walking over, he started the shower and stepped inside. The luke warm water hitting his body made him feel amazing. Putting his head back as he closed his eyes, his long hair slicked back as he stood underneath the showerhead. Seconds later he heard a noise. Opening his eyes he saw the plastic shower curtain pull back and Dorothea stepping inside.

"I usualy shower at night, but I decided to join you."

She smiled, looking much older then she was. Swann then knew she would grow into a beautiful strong woman in only a few years. Somebody he wouldn't ever have a chance with in a million years. He knew he wasn't handsome…the best word that Dorothea used was striking. Maybe it really wasn't looks that had drawn so many people to him. As he learned before, Flesh was just an illusion, so wasn't pleasure and lust. Maybe Nix was right about one thing. Something deep inside him held power even before he learned it. He hoped he was doing the right thing. He wanted to protect Dorothea, but feared their future was so unknown anything could happen. He feared he would lose her. For a second it dawned on him again that even though inside she was a strong person, the outside…the flesh was a child. Here he was, deeply in love with a child.

But his worries broke apart as she shut the curtain behind her and giggled. Swann turned, facing her as the water beat off his back. Both locking eyes, he leaned down and began to kiss her. Both smiling through the kiss.

There he turned her around with him. Holding her around the waist as the water poured off them. He felt himself getting excited again, but decided to just enjoy this moment. Shutting his eyes, he stood with her…praying that she loved him back.

Afterwards, the two of them dressed and checked out. Dorothea seemed in a much better mood and sat in the passenger seat, singing along to the radio. Swann meanwhile drove, every once in awhile eyeing her and laughing. After an hour they stopped for breakfast and then got right back on the highway. Dorothea began talking a mile a minute about her ideas of him using his powers. She talked for a while about acts she had seen on TV. How there was this guy named David Copperfield who she saw on a talk show. He called himself an illusionist. She said it would probably be easy once people could see what he could do. But still hiding the fact that it was the real thing.

"Make everything seem like some unexplained trick…then you'll make it. All these other guys use wires, doubles, mirrors…your gonna blow them away."

"I hope so…I mean Los Angeles isn't an easy city."

"I know it isn't, but even if you try, we'll think of something else."

Swann smiled over at her and used one hand to gently touched her face. Smiling, she went on with other ideas. Finally, once they went on the main freeway, she asked him what were his powers.

"Nothing like Nix could do, I guess he choose me because he saw something…"

"Well what can you do?"

Swann shrugged before pulling the car over. Dorothea looked around.

"What are you doing?"

"You'll see…come on."

Swann parked the car before getting out and walking down the hill on the side of the road. Dorothea followed him before they were out of sight and hidden by the tall trees. Looking around, the sun shinned down on them. Swann then stood in front of her before Dorothea laughed.

"What?"

"Watch…"

Swann's face became serious as he closed his eyes. Slowly he reached out and took Dorothea's hands.

"Philip…"

"Shhh…"

Within seconds, they slowly began to rise up off the ground. Dorothea nearly lost one of her sandals before she looked around in disbelief.

"Philip!"

She held onto him as they rose higher. Finally, once they were at least fourteen feet in the air, Swann opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"Don't be afraid…"

Dorothea held onto Swann's hands for dear life before looking around at everything. Looking over at him, she was speechless.

"This is amazing…"

Slowly, he leaned over and kissed her.

A few hours later, right before they entered Los Angeles, they stopped for lunch at another dinner. Both sat in the back as Dorothea wrote in a notebook Swann had just bought her. The two of them were brainstorming.

"Once we get into Los Angeles, we'll try to find an agent…maybe connections in Vegas."

Swann sipped his coffee as he watched her.

"I don't think it's gonna be that easy, I mean if we need to keep this a secret."

Dorothea rolled her eyes.

"Please Philip…we'll figure out something, now help me think."

Laughing, Swann moved closer to her as they began to talk.

Just then…they heard a voice.

"Philip Swann?"

Swann and Dorothea looked up, right away their hearts jumped into their throats. Dorothea froze against Swann's body in the small booth, almost in shock.

There stood Valentin, one of Nix's many cult members. He had been there almost as long as Jennifer. He was older then everyone else and had a very kind manner about him. Around the same time they all left, Valentin did too. He agreed that Nix was dangerous, but was unable to track down when they decided to go back. In fact the last time Swann spoke with him, a few months before…he was the one who gave the idea of burying Nix in the exact spot they did.

Now here he stood.

Swann blinked a few times, he couldn't believe it.

"Valentin?"

Valentin smiled before Swann got up from the booth. The two friends looked at each other before both began laughing and hugged each other. Dorothea meanwhile stood there, sitting and watching the two. Unsure if she should run or not. Finally Valentin looked Swann right in the eyes.

"Is it finished?"

Swann nodded.

"Thank God…and the others?"

"Their fine, we all went our own ways…"

Valentin nodded before glancing over at Dorothea who now picked at her lunch, too shy to even glance up at him.

"And who is this?"

Swann looked at Dorothea and smiled.

"This is Dorothea, Nix kidnapped her…she saved my life."

Valentin looked at Dorothea before smiling.

"Your very beautiful child."

Dorothea looked up.

"I'm not a child."

There, the two men laughed.

A few hours later, the three of them sat together in the same booth. Eating and catching up on everything. Valentin seemed to have a great respect for Swann, and his power. He heard what had happened, and then Dorothea's plan.

"I think the girl is right, I think you could really do this."

Swann raised an eyebrow, his arm around Dorothea as the waitress brought over another round of coffee for them.

"You think so?"

"If it's planned out right, in fact I think you might be the greatest."

"Come with us them…help me."

Valentin looked uneasy.

"I know you don't care about being rich and famous, you just want to protect yourself."

"And her…"

Swann finished. Dorothea blushed.

"Well yes, but I've been drifting around…I don't know if I'll be any help."

"I think you would be."

"It would be an honor to help and work with you…but."

"But what, I mean what else would I use this power for?"

Valentin eyed the two of them before smiling.

"Well I guess we're going to Los Angeles then."

The three of them smiled before the sun began setting. For the next hour they talked. It seemed as though Valentin had been drifting around since he left the cult. Working odd jobs and even thinking about heading to the city. Finally they began discussing the plan to use Swann's power in maybe breaking into the hard city they had heard so much about. Dorothea held her ground, speaking like an adult and sitting up straight. She gave a few ideas, while Valentine talked about being safe, and making sure nobody would ever find out the truth. Finally the check was paid and they headed towards the city of lights, which seemed to sparkle in the darkness.

The three of them sat on the hood of Swann's car. Valentin and Swann shared a smoke, while Dorothea had Swann's leather jacket over her shoulders. They gazed at the city.

"It's big…"

"Yeah…"

Swann softly said.

So there they three of them sat, waiting for the future.