A/N: Thanks again everyone! I'd like to answer you all properly but I can't reply to guest accounts, hopefully this chapter answers all your questions. It's good to see both new and old names on here too, keep in touch!

I've been writing this so long, I can't believe it's over, I hope you won't be disappointed with this final instalment.

Chapter 26 - Happy Ending

Georgie smiled at the memory she was relating, "I remember he was being very serious and I was beginning to wonder if he was going to break up with me. I knew that he had been thinking of moving back to Africa to pursue a career in politics and I thought maybe he couldn't see how I would fit into that life, it was hard enough with him being on Hope Island and just coming to visit me when he could get away."

She sighed, "Anyway we had dinner and made polite conversation but finally he said, 'Georgie, there is something I need to talk to you about. The time has come for me to make some decisions about where my life is going, I can remain an official Planeteer and help out in small ways on a world wide scale, or I can make more of an impact on a smaller scale by tackling some problems a little closer to home, but that would mean moving back to Africa. I feel very strongly that I should not make the decision in isolation, that the direction I take should be agreeable both to myself and my wife and that she and I move forward as a unit.'"

Georgie laughed and said that she'd told him that it made sense, "But I was thinking, 'He's married?!' and nearly panicking about how stupid I'd been. Anyway he sat waiting for a while and then said, 'So, what is your opinion?' and it finally began to sink in but I still I had to ask, 'Are you asking me to marry you?', and he blinks at me and says, 'Was that not clear?'"

Wheeler and Linka burst into laughter, "How did you answer?"

"I told him that I'm a scientist so as long as I had a lab I could work anywhere and that I would support whatever decision he made." Georgie grinned, "He asked me if that was a yes."

The friends chuckled together once more but as she gazed at her husband's still form Georgie became sad again, "It hasn't always been easy. We both work long hours and tend to get obsessed by whatever we're focusing on, but we made it work, we always made time for each other."

"Do you have children?" Linka asked softly and her friend shook her head.

"No, a family really did take a back seat." She frowned slightly, "I always thought we would get around to it someday though, now… maybe we shouldn't have waited."

Wheeler shook his head, "He's going to pull through Georgie, you have to believe that."

She nodded but was spared having to reply by the door opening and the guard looking in, "I am sorry to disturb you again Ma'am, but more 'friends' of yours have arrived. These one's don't have any ID but they seem to know that Mr Wheeler is here."

Wheeler thought there was some disapproval in his tone but he didn't mention it, instead he stood up and said, "We didn't tell anyone where we were going, let me deal with it."

The women did not argue, both wondering if it was some reporters trying to sneak their way inside, but when Wheeler entered the corridor his face broke into a wide grin and he went forward to hug the new arrivals.

Gi beamed at him as he enveloped both her and the young child she was carrying, "Oh Wheeler, it's so good to see you!"

"You too little mermaid." He smiled at the pretty little girl in her arms, "She looks just like you. Hi there honey."

The baby eyed him dubiously for a moment and then held her arms out to him for a cuddle, much to her mother's surprise. "She never does that! She sees so few people on Hope Island, she never wants to let go of me around strangers."

Wheeler grinned and settled the girl comfortably against him with all the ease of an experienced father. "It's my natural charm."

Ma-Ti laughed, "You have not changed my friend. Is there any news?"

The American sobered and relayed Kwame's current condition, "Go on in, Georgie will be happy to see you."

"Gaia said that," Gi's eyes flicked over to Ma-Ti but she pushed on, "She said that Linka knew about Kwame's condition…"

"She's here too." Wheeler confirmed, "It's quite a reunion, shame Kwame is sleeping through it huh?"

The other two nodded and preceded him into the room without asking any of the questions on their mind. By the time the girl's had finished hugging everyone and exclaiming over Gi's daughter, any awkwardness had been forgotten.

"So Gi," Wheeler said at last, "You're still on Hope Island?"

She nodded and there was a certain amount of pride in her voice as she spoke of the remaining Planeteer's continuing efforts, "We help out where we're needed, though we try to keep a low profile these days. It gives me the chance to continue my marine research too and Ma-Ti can get to the rainforest when he's needed, he studied law so that he can help protect them."

Linka looked at Ma-Ti, "Would it not be easier to live in South America?"

The youngest Planeteer, who was now head and shoulders taller than Gi, shook his head. "Gi would not like to be so far from the ocean, besides Hope Island is my home."

Three pairs of eyes moved between his face and that of the baby now sitting happily on Linka's lap as they began to discern a second likeness.

Gi laughed, "It got boring after you all left, we had to do something to keep ourselves amused."

"Yes," Ma-Ti agreed, with a confidence that had not been there when they had first known him, "She married me for the novelty of it and when that wore off the only thing left to do was get her pregnant."

His wife dug him playfully in the ribs and he put his arms around her, catching her hands against her body, and nuzzling her affectionately, completely unselfconscious.

"Actually, "The Asian said, "I think we owe you some thanks. I mean, I was joking and everything but to be honest I don't think we would have got to know each other the way we did if we hadn't been left alone."

Ma-Ti agreed, "Gi never thought of me that way. I was a child to her even though I am less than five years her junior and to tell you the truth I was a little in awe of her."

Wheeler laughed, "You had it bad."

"Yes." His friend agreed, "And when you left I was forced to interact with her in way I had previously avoided. She saw that I had grown up and I realised that I could talk to her as an equal… but I could not hide my feelings."

Gi squeezed his hand affectionately, "I fell for him as soon as I actually got to know him… it scares me that we could have spent our whole lives so close together and yet completely miss knowing each other."

Little Mia shifted irritably in Linka's arms and began to grizzle, putting an end to their discussion. "I'm sorry, she's tired, I'll take her…"

The Russian let her take her child but then thought of her own and glanced at her watch, and then her husband.

Wheeler nodded in understanding. "You wanna stay here?"

"I should at least come back…" She was thinking of Georgie and he knew it.

Shaking his head, the American said, "I can handle them, just call me if anything happens ok?" she agreed and he turned to Gi, who was trying to calm her fussing child. "You want to come with me?"

The woman he thought of as his little sister stared at him blankly, not having heard his conversation, "Where?"

"Home." He shrugged, "I have two of my own to pick up, feed and put to bed, one more won't make a difference."

The others all spoke at once;

"You are a father?" Ma-Ti exclaimed.

"You didn't tell me!" Georgie said.

"Won't your wife mind?" Gi asked.

Wheeler blinked, "My wife?"

"Girlfriend?" Gi hazarded cautiously, "The children's mother?"

A slight groan escaped the ex-planeteer. "Wife. Damn… I thought you'd realised."

Linka stood and went to stand beside him, taking his hand. "We should have told you."

The other couple stared. "After everything that happened, you still ended up together?! Why didn't you tell us?"

"Guilt." Linka told them, lowering her eyes, "We caused so much trouble. I know you would have been happy for us but…"

Wheeler put his arm around her and continued the confession, "We didn't want to go back. By the time we ran into each other we had new lives… then we had to get to know each other again and it was too fragile to risk."

Linka stepped back in, "We were in England working on an environmental project together when we got married and when the work finished we were asked to do the same thing back here in America. Then I got pregnant… we wanted to tell you all but did not know how and it never seemed to be the right time."

"We're sorry." Wheeler said, "We never meant to make such a mess of things, but we're happy and we weren't prepared to give that up, not even for Gaia."

"Gaia knew." Ma-Ti said confidently, smiling at his friends, "I am sure of that. She is happy for you, and so am I."

"Me too!" Gi squealed and handed her daughter to her husband, once more embracing their friends, "I just can't believe you didn't tell me!"

When Wheeler re-entered the hospital room a few hours later he found Georgie asleep with her head on the side of her husband's bed and Linka looking out of the window.

"Did they say how long it would be?" The Russian asked softly, without looking round.

"How long what would be?" Wheeler asked in a low voice, coming to stand behind her and putting his arms around her as she jumped.

Linka shook her head, laughing softly, "Ma-Ti went to order us some dinner… the children?"

"They're fine." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, "Gi offered to stay with them, I think she has the makings of an over-protective mother."

"I know how she feels," Linka leant into her husband's embrace and lay her head on his shoulder, "I trust Gi with my life but I would still feel happier if one of us were home. I want to hold them."

The American nuzzled her, "They missed you too. Mistral totally used you not being there to get three bedtime stories and Kam was a bit fretful at first but I got them down finally. They'll be ok for one night Babe."

"I know. I am glad you came back." She closed her eyes and sighed, allowing him to comfort her. After a while she asked, "Were there any messages?"

"Yeah, I made a few calls. Nicolai said everything was in hand and not to worry, he and Olga even offered to have the kids overnight but I figured it was more than enough to ask them to cover for us in the office." He paused, "They guessed where we were by the way, they saw it on the news like we did and I guess they figured it out."

Linka smiled up at her husband, "They have known who we are for years Lyubov. Olga told me 'she can use Google like everyone else', which she did as soon as we got back from that skiing resort. It is just not a big deal to them."

Grinning, the American said, "You mean Karen knew and didn't say anything? I'm impressed!"

"Oh she said lots of things," Linka chuckled, "She asked a lot of questions too, but only in private."

"I have a feeling I don't want to know…" Wheeler sounded wary and it made her laugh again as she agreed.

The Russian sighed, "I miss her… I am not sorry we moved here but I hate leaving friends behind."

Wheeler nodded, "You only e-mail her daily, I don't know what you find to talk about..."

They were interrupted by Ma-Ti's return with dinner, and had to wake Georgie to take her share, but before Wheeler released his wife he whispered one more thing to her, "Look around Babe, you might sometimes have to leave people behind, but real friends catch you up."

She kissed his lips softly in response.

The night wore on and the four friends talked quietly, Ma-Ti's ring allowed him to keep in constant communication with Gi as well, which reassured Linka too.

At around 3 am, when Georgie was once more resting peacefully against her husband's arm and Linka, unable to do as Ma-Ti had done and find repose in the plastic hospital chair, was curled up in Wheeler's lap leaving him to deal with the inevitable numbness from the uncomfortable seat, Kwame opened his eyes.

Not really understanding where he was or what had happened, the handsome African automatically relaxed at the presence of his wife. He turned his head to see where he was and got a surprise, "Wheeler?" He croaked through dry lips.

"About time you joined us, Kwam-man." The American grinned. "How do you feel?"

"Confused." His eyes looked questioningly at the beautiful girl cradled in his friend's arms. "Is that Linka?"

Wheeler nodded ruefully and instinctively tightened his grip. "Right where she belongs."

The African smiled, "We told you, she loves you."

"I know." His voice, at a normal level, woke the other occupants of the room and as soon as Georgie realised her husband had revived, she burst into tears.

"I will fetch the nurse," Ma-Ti volunteered, disappearing out the door before anyone could stop him.

By this time Linka was also crying, but she snuggled into her husband, leaving Georgie to take care of their friend.

Once the doctor had been called to check on the patient, and he had been given a positive prognosis, they were allowed back into the room and Kwame though tired, smiled at them all. "This is not how I wanted us to be reunited but I am glad you are here my friends."

"Gi is here too." Ma-Ti put in, "Well, she was earlier, but someone needed to stay with the children."

"Children?" Kwame grinned, "I have a lot to catch up on I see."

Georgie smiled down lovingly at him, "Tomorrow. You need your rest."

Linka squeezed Wheeler's hand, "That is our cue to leave. We will be back tomorrow though."

"I think you mean later today Babe," The American said pulling her close. "Coming Ma-Ti? You and Gi can stay with us while you're here."

Ma-Ti nodded, "Thank you my friend."

Pulling free of her partner's embrace, Linka went over to the bed and kissed Kwame's cheek. "Rest well. We will be close by if you need us."

He smiled sleepily, "Thank you for staying with Georgie."

A couple of weeks later and all six friends, plus their three children and a small monkey, were gathered in Wheeler and Linka's lounge laughing and joking. They'd all had a lot to talk about but between explanations and apologies there had been a lot of love and understanding.

Linka topped up her guests drinks and treading carefully around the three children playing together on the floor - with toys strewn everywhere - made it back to her seat.

Wheeler followed her in with drinks for the kids and a banana for Suchi. He kissed his daughter's head when she thanked him and ruffled Kamen's sandy hair before joining Linka, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and relaxing when she leant into him.

The other couples sat similarly close to their partners, content in being together and in where their lives had taken them, especially since their paths had once more crossed. It would never be the way it used to be, but their bond was still strong and they now knew it would continue even when they were apart.

"To the Planeteers." Kwame raised his glass in a toast, and the others joined him, "To family."

The End