The windows flew open, and there was Sarah, her own light putting that of his lumien to shame. His memory of her hadn't done her justice. She was almost too beautiful to be real.
"John?"
Her whisper fell from her lips, slipping down towards the ground, towards him, John, and he heard it, clear, pristine, perfect, her voice striking notes no instrument could.
He was smiling. Something had clicked into place. As he realized, he also realized what it was – he was happy.
"Sarah!" he called back quietly. "It's me. I'm here."
"John!" She cried again, her entire face lighting up, eyes as bright as stars and smile blinding. In an instant she had the window all the way open and one knee on the sill. Just as quickly, John leaped up to the roof of the house to join her.
They practically flew into each other's arms, drawn to one another like magnets, but by an even stronger force. Sarah was simply repeating his name, over and over again. As for him, it was more than enough to simply be holding her again.
Sarah placed her hands on either side of Johns face. They were cool, soft, and smelled of her – of flowers and spring and sunlight. He cupped one of his own hands around hers, gazing steadily into the blue pools of her eyes.
"You're here." She whispered. "This is real. I'm not dreaming?"
"No." He answered. "This is completely real. I'm here."
Her smiled broke his heart. "I've missed you." She said next, tilting her head to blink back tears.
"Not possibly as much as I've missed you." He bowed his head, suddenly feeling unable to look at her, after all he'd done. "I'm sorry."
"Me too." Sarah said softly, embracing him.
In that small, silent moment, they could almost pretend it was all right. The moon hung over head, a gentle breeze flew by, fireflies flickered above the yard below, and, most importantly, they were together, simply breathing one another in.
But time couldn't freeze that moment. Sarah drew back "But what are you doing here? What happened? Is everything okay? Is it over?"
"No." John shook his head. "No. It's not over. But nothing's wrong either. I just," He shrugged, helplessly. "I just had to see you."
There is was again, that smile, and it seemed as though nothing on earth could possibly be more important.
"What about you?" he asked. "What's happened here?"
"Nothing much." Sarah said, shrugging. "I've been fine."
John just continued to stare at her. She laughed finally, shaking her head. "I've been bored out of my mind." She confessed frankly, eyes sparkling. "You know I always wanted to get out of Paradise, but ever since you left – it's been worse than ever. It just feels like there's nothing left for me here anymore, you know?"
John hesitated. "Actually, I've lived in thirty eight towns, and I've never wanted to stay in one more than Paradise."
Sarah grinned. "Maybe if you had stayed, I wouldn't mind staying so much either." Her face flushed an instant later as she realized the repercussions of her statement. "I'm sorry – I – I know what you're doing is really important. You can't be trapped here."
"Sometimes I wonder." John said grimly. "Believe me, most days I'd like nothing better."
"If only we could trade places."
"Somehow I doubt even then we'd be happy."
"We won't be happy until we're together." Sarah said, twining her fingers through his. John was struck by the truth of her words. This whole one-true-love thing made it a simple fact. His happiness was her.
"So anyway," Sarah went on. "You haven't run into anymore of, of them, have you?"
"The Mogs?" John asked absently. "Nah, not really. They aren't a problem."
"Good. I'm glad you've been safe. What have you been doing?"
"Tracking down the rest of us." John explained. "The Lorien. We've only got one more to go."
"That's great." Sarah said.
"But, come on." John said. "Evil aliens trying to destroy the world? That's boring stuff. What's been going on here? How's –" Well, after all, he was practically the only other person he knew here, "Mark?"
"Mark?" Sarah repeated. "He's, he's good. I think we've finally moved past that awkward stage, where we were trying to be friends, after having gone through so much. It's hard to get to know someone again when you feel like, well, you already do know them. But, yeah, everything's good with him." She brightened up, leaning in closer. "I got a new camera!"
"Really? That's awesome."
"Yeah, it's so much nicer than my old one. I mean, it was kind of expensive, but I really think it was worth it."
Conversation had always flowed easily between them, and so they lost themselves in everything they had stored up over the long past months, everything they had been dying to tell one another finally pouring out, all the incidents and funny stories and dreams and private thoughts, all the observances, all the worries and wishes mingling together under the starry sky, as they leaned against one another, hands, words, and thoughts all entwined.
Sarah loved John's smile. In her humble opinion, it was a facial expression vastly underused by him. So when his grin suddenly snapped off his face, she felt hers slide off as well.
His head turned with a jerk, staring at something off in the distance, something her lowly human eyes couldn't see. With a rush, the memories of those other awful aliens – the Mogs – came flooding back, and she could actually feel her heartbeat quickening.
"John?" She said hesitantly.
Instead of answering, he jerked his hand and the light that had been floating serenely above them extinguished immediately.
"Thank god you finally put that damn light out." A voice snapped from below. "It was probably attracting every Mog in the hemisphere."
John closed his eyes briefly, but his shoulders seemed to relax. Sarah cautiously took that as a good sign.
"Six." He called back down to the darkness. "What a surprise."
"I'm surprised to find myself in Paradise too. You know why John? Because we agreed we were heading to Mexico. Get down here. Now."
He heaved a sigh, turning to her as he rolled his eyes. "Sorry about this."
"Not at all." Sarah said, smiling. Personally, she was just relieved that they weren't going to try and kill her. "Are they the other Lorien?"
"Yeah." John answered. "Mind if we go down?"
Sarah shook her head, though she was fervently hoping her parents and all the neighbors would stay soundly asleep. She was about to turn to crawl back through her window, but suddenly John's arms were around her. For a terrifying moment she was whizzing through the air – then just as quickly it stopped, and they were brought to dizzying stillness, feet planted firmly on the ground.
Sarah straightened up slowly, her bare feet sinking into the wet grass. She was immensely grateful for John's arms still around her, feeling in need of a bit of protection at the moment. If nothing else in this world, she knew she could depend on John to protect her, from anything and everything.
With that knowledge, she turned to face them.
Her first thought was of her camera. They would have made the perfect picture. Framed by the trees, shadowy figures, yet still with distinguishable characteristics, their slight warpedness from the haze giving them an otherworldly feel.
It told a story, that photo, and those were the best kinds. They were the kinds that took Sarah's breath away for a second, as she realized once again the beauty in the world and remembered in a rush why she loved photography so
But of course, this wasn't a photo, this was her life.
There was Six, front and center, looking much the same as ever, arms crossed and eyes blazing. If it was even possible, she appeared even more powerful.
The pair standing a bit behind her, to the right, were strangers. It only made sense to assume these were more of the Lorien. The girl was small, with long dark hair. She made the guy appear even larger, or perhaps vis versa, he was a veritable giant towering over her. But they stood easy beside one another, as though comfortable in the knowledge that they belonged there.
On Six's other side was Sam. Sarah had to admit, it was good to see a familiar face. He seemed a bit out of place in the group, a bit shorter, younger, less polished, the dog hanging by his feet. But, although Sarah couldn't claim to a have known him that well before, he seemed – better. He stood straighter and looked, in a word, happy. Looking again, he seemed to fit in better there than he ever had in high school.
Lurking in the back of the group was another pair, another guy and girl. Arms linked, they were both swaying slightly, as though innately attuned to the gentle night breeze gusting around them. Admittedly, it wasn't easy to observe another blonde beauty, practically a super model. Were all Lorien insanely good-looking? The guy standing next to her could have walked off of a swimsuit shoot too. How were humans supposed to compete?
And there was one more, nearly fading into the background. A tall man, dark and completely motionless, his presence more imposing than his person.
John appeared to be having a stare off with this Six. He caved first, finally turning to look at Sarah.
"Everyone," he announced. "This is Sarah."
The name dropped like a heavy stone into the silence, and suddenly every eye was focused intensely on her. Her. The outsider.
She'd forgotten what it felt like to have so much attention. It wasn't at all appealing anymore.
"Hey Sarah." Sam said, waving a little awkwardly.
"Hi Sam." Sarah replied, not at all liking the way her voice came out, far too high and childlike, but immensely grateful to him.
"Sarah." Six said, arms still determinedly crossed, and appearing to resent every word. "Hello."
"Hi," She pretended to be a bit unsure of Six's name, "Si – Six.", so as not to appear creepy for instantly remembering, although really, how could she not have remembered the name of the mysterious, gorgeous girl who had whisked her boyfriend off on an adventure?
"Hi Sarah!" The blond from the back called out, waving up at her, and giggling some more.
"Uh, hi." Sarah replied, giving a little wave of her own in an attempt to be polite.
This girl tripped her way up to the front, past the others to reach Sarah. She walked as if on a tightrope, swaying and sweeping form side to side, but somehow not falling flat on her face. Sarah noted with mild discomfort how underdressed she felt next to this girl, in her heels and skirt. Short skirt.
She grinned widely at Sarah. Even her teeth were white and straight – perfect.
"Sarah," John's voice came begrudgingly from behind her. "This is Teresa."
Teresa laughed. Then suddenly, she wasn't Teresa anymore. She was Sarah. Sarah's mouth dropped open, and she stumbled backwards. What was this? She'd thought she'd been prepared for the weird stuff that happened around John – the Lorien stuff, her mind thought wildly, hectically attempting to process this. It was like looking into a mirror – except this image of her was clapping her hands gleefully.
As the reflection, doppelganger, twin, whatever, didn't go away, Sarah slowly got over the initial shock, and brief fear.
"What –"
"Teresa." John's voice was flat, emotionless. "Change back."
Teresa-Sarah frowned. "But she's so pretty!"
"Is it just me," Sam muttered, staring warily at her, "Or is Teresa getting more drunk?"
"Human alcohol works differently on Lorien." Six answered flatly. "It's a little too strong for us. Teresa," she snapped. "Change back to yourself. Now."
"No! I want to be, . . ." Teresa-Sarah swirled herself around in a circle several times, finally ending with her finger pointed at Six, a wide grin plastered across her face. "You!"
And so it was. Sarah's eyes widened even further, if that was possible. Six, the real Six, did not appear amused. Teresa-Six, on the other hand, was ecstatic.
"Look!" she cried out. "Look!"
"I don't see how you weren't found by Mogs before now." Six deadpanned. "I think I'd like you much better with red hair."
Teresa happily complied, changing her nose and growing taller for good measure, as she stumbled further back into the group.
"John." Six said, returning her attention to him. "Come on. Say goodbye. We're leaving."
"Not yet." John said steely.
Six glared at him with a look that could have stopped a bullet in its tracks. "What?"
"I'll leave when I'm ready. Not yet."
"You're ready now. Come on, we're going."
"I said no."
"I don't care what you said, you've already brought us off track, delayed us, and put us and Sarah in danger. We're leaving."
"No."
"John," Sarah started. She knew that at least the last part of Six's statement was untrue, with John was the only time when Sarah wasn't in danger. But as for the rest . . . it would basically all be her fault, since the only reason John had come back was for her. "If you need to leave now,"
"We don't." John said firmly. "Six, we all know you're exaggerating. You guys can go ahead if you want. I'll catch up."
"How, exactly, will you catch up?" Six asked. "How will you know where we are? How will we know you didn't get sidetracked, or attacked, or killed? How will you know you aren't mistakenly walking straight to the Mogs?"
"You're doing it again Six. The exaggerating."
"Am I? Or are you too love struck to see the truth!"
"Um, guys," It was difficult to speak up, especially considering she was the outsider here, but Sarah couldn't have a supernatural fight break out on her front lawn. "Maybe – maybe you guys could just all stay here for an hour or –" the look on Six's face made Sarah quickly rethink her timeframe, "an hour more?" She waited, breath bated, for the reaction.
John turned stoically to look at Six. "What do you think Six? Can you spare an hour?"
Six's face gave a very clear answer, but she spat out "Forty-five minutes."
"Great!" Sarah exclaimed, a bit surprised that her idea had actually worked. "Um . . . I guess . . . do you guys want to, to come inside?" Even as she extended the invitation, she could see her parents' expression if they woke up to a group of alien strangers in their kitchen.
"Fine." Six said sharply.
"Thanks." Sam added, glancing at Six. She made a slight face, but nodded.
"Okay," Sarah said, quickly walking over to the door. It was locked, but all you had to do was jiggle it the right way to get it to pop open. That might make a good excuse if her parents found out . . . it was that damn door they'd never fixed . . .
John stood by her side as the others filed in. "Of course, Six had to bargain, to feel like she was in control." He muttered, more to himself than to her.
"Oh come on," she said back, quietly. "It's practically the same thing. It's not like she's going to be counting the minutes."
John scoffed at this. "You don't know Six."
It was weird having all these people in her kitchen, especially in the dark of night. Almost like this was all just a dream.
They didn't seem particularly strange or other-worldly though. They simply stood there, leaning against the walls and counters, silent. The Teresa girl had collapsed into a chair.
And, frankly, it was becoming rather awkward. With all of them here, she and John were obviously going to be unable to continue their private rendezvous. So now what?
"Uh, can I get you guys anything?" Sarah asked, feeling extremely stupid.
"Yes." The large man responded promptly, his voice deep and resounding. "Please, we would appreciate two large glasses of water, if it would not be too much trouble."
"Of course." Sarah said, quickly moving to comply. It was kind of strange, him being the only adult there. It made him almost as much of an outsider as herself. However, it was his air of omnipotence that made the impression on her, and that was one trait they definitely didn't share.
"Here you go." She said, placing them in front of him.
"Thank you very much." He said gravely, picking them up and placing one in front of both the Teresa girl and that other Lorien boy.
"Drink." Neither of them argued.
There was silence for a while. The clink of the glass settling back onto the table could have well been a car slamming into the house. Then it was the clock. The tick tock tick tock seemed to force its rhythm upon them. Sarah hadn't even realized they had a clock in this room. Teresa's hair seemed to be fading in color by the second, although that could have just been her imagination. Then again, maybe not. You could never really tell with this group.
"Thanks for inviting us in," The brunette girl said quietly, shattering the silence. The tall guy was still right next to her, like a shadow. "You have a really nice house."
"Thanks." Sarah said, smiling. This was awkward. So awkward. Yes, she valued every second spent with John, but honestly . . . sacrilegious as it was . . . it almost wasn't worth it.
Then suddenly, her hand was enveloped with his. She glanced up, and he smiled back at her, squeezing her hand. The warmth flooded through her entire body, and suddenly she was smiling too. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered but John being here with her. Who cared if there were all these other people here, if they couldn't kiss or share their deepest secrets. They were together. And that made everything all right.
"As long as we're stuck here," Six said, "We may as well work on our game plan. Especially now that we've been thrown off course."
She threw another glare at John, which he ignored. The others mumbled and shuffled a bit, but Six, unperturbed, began with the planning.
Sarah sat down on the bench, pulling John down with her, and leaned against him. Planning some sort of route to Mexico couldn't be all that boring, not when John had apparently run across an entire state just to be here, by her side.