In the morning, Stacey slowly made her way to the kitchen, with Hoggle following close behind her. As she neared the entrance to the kitchen, however, Stacey stopped and ducked behind the doorframe to peek in cautiously. As she'd suspected, Wayne was sitting alone at the kitchen table, staring morosely at a fresh mug of coffee.
For a long moment, Stacey studied Wayne's face, her guilt growing stronger every second. His appearance had changed noticeably in the past two years. He looked much older now; his blond hair was beginning to turn to a grayish white, and a pair of bifocals was perched on the bridge of his nose. But all of that paled next to the expression on his face. Stacey flinched as she looked away, unable to stand how lost Wayne looked. His face vividly showed how much her disappearance had hurt him.
Wordlessly, Hoggle placed a supporting hand against Stacey's arm. Upon feeling his touch, Stacey immediately met his eyes.
"How could I do this to him?" Stacey whispered. "I abandoned him, Hoggle. He's been completely alone all this time. I didn't even say goodbye."
"I know," Hoggle replied in comfort. "So imagine how happy he'll be to see you now." Stacey took a shaky breath, but still didn't move. "Stacey, it'll be all right. He's been waitin' two years to see you. Are you goin' to make him wait any longer?"
Hoggle's question seemed to strengthen her resolve. After taking a steadying breath, she stepped out into the kitchen, facing Wayne nervously.
"Wayne?" Stacey spoke softly, announcing her presence. Slowly, Wayne lifted his head, gazing at Stacey with wide eyes.
For the longest moment, they simply stared at one another, but then Stacey stepped up to Wayne's side, dropping to her knees so they'd be at the same height.
"Wayne, I'm so sorry," she began. "I know I hurt you when I left, and for that, I am so, so sorry. I know that's not enough, but…" Stacey never got the chance to finish her apology, for Wayne suddenly lurched forward, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Stacey," Wayne barely choked back an emotional sob. "I knew you'd come home one day." Stacey crumbled in a heartbeat and returned the embrace, fresh tears falling down her cheek.
"Oh, Wayne," she cried. "I missed you so much."
Out in the other room, Hoggle stood by quietly, listening to the reunion for a minute or two. After a while, he turned and began returning to Wayne's workshop, wanting to give Stacey and Wayne the chance to continue their reunion in private.
The Williams' family house was mostly deserted. Robert had already left for work and Irene had gone out to meet with her canasta team. Their absence granted Sir Didymus and Theseus the freedom to watch a program on the family television with no fear of being discovered. As the pair sat in front of the TV screen, visibly fascinated with the moving pictures, Sarah moved about the kitchen, getting ready to leave and pausing only long enough to watch Toby cross the backyard and enter his clubhouse in order to bring Ludo something for breakfast.
Sarah and the others were supposed to meet Stacey, Hoggle and Daedalus at the park in about one hour. Since no one had any idea how long it would take for them to come up with a plan about how to defeat the Agnostic, Sarah felt that it would be a good idea to bring along some sandwiches for lunch.
Just as Sarah finished packing up the sandwiches, the wall-mounted phone rang. Wondering who would be calling now, Sarah promptly answered it.
"Hello?" Sarah greeted slowly.
"Sarah?" Sarah's jaw dropped for just an instant upon hearing Hoggle's voice on the other end.
"Hoggle?" she cried in shock. Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah saw Sir Didymus and Theseus looking up in equal surprise. "You can use a phone?"
"Not exactly," Hoggle replied. "Daedalus did most of the work. It's a good thin' he's so familiar with this world. Anyway, Sarah, I wanted you to know that Stacey and I can't make the meetin' today."
"Why? Did something happen?" Sarah asked in concern.
"No, not really. It's just that Stacey just saw Wayne again, for the first time since she came to the Underground. I thought that…she might want the chance to catch up with him. I might never have met Wayne myself, but I can tell he means a lot to Stacey, and that she's missed him. And if you saw the look on his face when he saw her today…"
"It's okay, Hoggle," Sarah irrupted. "I understand. Tell Stacey not to worry. We'll postpone our meeting until tomorrow."
"Thank you, Sarah." Hoggle's smile was evident in his tone. "I'm sure Stacey will appreciate it."
Once the call had ended, Hoggle glanced down at Daedalus in a silent question. The tiny owl clicked his beak and gestured to the phone cradle with his wing. Catching on to the silent instruction, Hoggle hung up the phone.
"So," Hoggle blinked. "That's how…people talk to each other in this world." Daedalus responded with a high whistling cry.
At that moment, Hoggle froze in shock at the sound of footsteps coming closer, indicating that someone was coming into Wayne's workshop. The dwarf only had enough time to duck behind the workbench before the workshop door opened. Fearful of being discovered by Wayne, Hoggle held his breath for a moment, but relaxed instantly when the person entering the workshop spoke.
"Hoggle?" Stacey's voice called in a loud whisper. "Hoggle, it's okay. It's just me."
"I thought Wayne was about to discover me," Hoggle sighed in relief, abandoning his hiding place to sit on an overturned crate.
"Yeah, I figured you would," Stacey nodded, smiling at the dwarf almost instinctively. "Sorry if I scared you. But still, thanks for remembering what I said before. It's probably best if Wayne didn't know you were here. I don't think he'd be able to understand." After a moment, Stacey's smile faded and was replaced by an expression of inner pain and turmoil. "Still, I… I wish there was an easy way to explain to him…when we have to go back. He won't admit it, but…I can tell he's been so lonely after I left. I'm afraid he might think I'm back for good now. Oh, maybe it was a mistake for me to let him see me again. When we go back home, it'll kill him."
"I know," Hoggle bowed his head in sympathetic understanding. "That's why I called Sarah and told her we weren't going to meet with her today like we planned."
"You what?" Stacey's jaw dropped. "Hoggle, why…how…wait, you used a phone?"
"Daedalus showed me how," Hoggle explained. "Believe it or not, he's very good at gettin' points across without speakin'."
"Really?" Stacey gaped at the owl for a second before remembering what she wanted to say. "But Hoggle, why did you tell Sarah we weren't meeting with her today? Did you forget the Agnostic? We came here to come up with a plan to stop it. I'm the Goblin Queen now. It's my responsibility to prevent the Labyrinth from being destroyed. I can't just push that responsibility aside for something I want to do."
"Stacey," Hoggle spoke gently, "you have nothin' to feel bad about. You and Wayne haven't seen each other in years. We all understand you need to spend at least one day with him." Stacey shook her head, her eyes still wide in disbelief and indecision.
"But…we came here to…" Stacey argued.
"That projective barrier will hold, won't it?" Hoggle pointed out, smiling at her. "As long as it remains standin', Primrose, Lady Berdine, Reynard and Prometheus should be safe. Stacey, just believe me on this one. No one thinks any less of you for wantin' to spend time with Wayne. He is your family, after all. While it's true you have responsibilities in our world, you also have a responsibility to Wayne."
Stacey looked away, the conflict visible on her face. After a full minute of her not saying anything, Hoggle got up and, after a moment's hesitation, gave her hand a quick squeeze.
"Stacey, take one day to spend time with Wayne," he urged. "You said yourself that he was lonely with you gone. I know you hate hurtin' him, and he'll enjoy havin' at least this one last time with you. Maybe…you can use today to give him the goodbye you weren't able to give him last time. I'm sure you'd both be happier partin' on a high note this time."
"Hoggle," Stacey's voice shook as a tear slid down her cheek. "I know you might not think so sometimes, but…you're a true friend."
Wayne moved about the living room cheerfully, cleaning up from breakfast. He felt as if his smile was permanently etched on his face. Stacey had come back home again. After two long years, she had returned to him. All this time, he had clung to the belief that she was still alive and that she'd come back one day. Now she had.
For the fifth time that day, Wayne found himself wondering where Stacey had been for the past two years. However, he made an effort to keep himself from asking her. Ever since he had found Stacey as a baby at the base of the ash tree out front, they had never kept secrets from one another. For that reason, he trusted Stacey to tell him herself when she was up to it. Until then, Wayne was fully committed to dedicate the entire day to treasure Stacey's return.
Picking up the morning paper from the kitchen table, he turned right to the day's movie listings, searching for a movie Stacey would be interested in seeing. Wondering if she'd want to go see Arachnophobia, a new horror-comedy film, he started carrying the paper to Stacey's room. As he reached the door that led to his workshop, however, he froze upon hearing two voices. He had no trouble in recognizing Stacey's voice, but the second voice was rough, gravelly and completely unfamiliar.
"Stacey," the strange voice was saying, "you have nothin' to feel bad about. You and Wayne haven't seen each other in years. We all understand you need to spend at least one day with him."
"But…we came here to…" Stacey argued.
"That protective barrier will hold, won't it? As long as it remains standin', Primrose, Lady Berdine, Reynard and Prometheus should be safe. Stacey, just believe me on this one. No one thinks any less of you for wantin' to spend time with Wayne. He is your family, after all. While it's true you have responsibilities in our world, you also have a responsibility to Wayne."
Curiosity finally overpowering him, Wayne quietly pushed the door to his workshop open a tiny crack, just large enough for him to look into his workshop. In doing so, he saw Stacey standing with her back to him. Her attention was focused on a short figure sitting atop an overturned crate. The instant Wayne saw Hoggle, he only just managed to stop his gasp, stumbling backwards in his shock.
How could this be possible? Not here! Not now! He came to Kent, Ohio to get away from that world, and all the reminders of it. But now, here in his own home, was a real….
Wayne could not bring himself to even think the world. What was even more shocking was that Stacey clearly had a conscious knowledge of that other world as well, since she was speaking to him so casually. Did that mean…was that where she'd been all this time? Didn't that world ever tire of taking people he loved from him? But…if she was back now, did that mean…?
Wayne forced himself to breathe deeply. He didn't know anything yet. Jumping to conclusions like this wouldn't help anyone. Instead, he concentrated solely upon concealing his conflicting emotions with a mask of happiness. For now, he had to focus on the fact that Stacey had come home, and they could spend the entire day together. For now, that was all that mattered. He would enjoy this day with her. For Stacey, he'd be able to set aside all his fears and worries. At least until tomorrow. Tomorrow, he would be able to ask.