Severl days later, Ardeth awoke in the very early hours of the morning. Turning he did not find Ali beside him. For a moment, he thought that maybe this had all been a dream. Shaking that terrifying feeling he became worried where she was. Finally, properly awake he knew she was near. Gingerly sitting up in their bed, he instantly saw her.

Moving toward the pillows under the window, where Rashel's baby bed had been, he found her curled up one of Rashel's blanket that he had kept.

His heart broke and tears come to his eyes, looking down at her. He quietly sat down beside her. He could see the tears still lingering in her beautiful lashes. He gently pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head.

Ali moved and called his name "I'm here, my love" He said into her hair. Ali pulled back sleep still heavy in her eyes. "Oh Ardeth" He pulled her to him again and felt her body shake as she started to cry.

He held her tightly as the years of pinned up pain finally escaped. After a while her sobs lessened and she realized that she felt Ardeth's tears falling down her face. She pulled back and saw his beautiful brown eyes filled with unshed tears. He did not try to hide them from her. She pulled him to her as it was his turn to let go of the pain he had held for so long,

She spoke quietly as she held him "He would have been strong…. Like you"

Pulling back Ardeth looked into her eyes "Yes he would have and he would have had your heart." As he spoke he took his fingers and wiped away her tears.

For several long moments they sat just looking into each other's eyes.

Ardeth finally spoke "My love, I wish that I could have changed what happened."

Ali nodded and then said "Oh Ardeth, I know. I would give anything to have him back and for neither of us to have lived through that. But…." She stopped and touched his face "I think the thing that bothers me the most is that you lived all those years thinking I hated you".

He closed his eyes for a moment relishing her touch. Opening them he said "I can't tell you what it means to me to know that you didn't after a while and that you understand why I did what I did." He stopped and then added "May I ask you something?"

Ali nodded and said 'Of course'. As she finished she shook as if she had a cold chill.

Ardeth stood and held out his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her to him. Picking her up, he carried her to their bed. He laid her down gently and climbed in beside her. He then pulled up the covers and pulled her to him.

"So what was the question "she said as she carefully snuggled to him.

For a moment he gathered his thoughts and then he spoke "When I first explained to you what had happened, you said that you did hate me for a while". He stopped and pulled back a bit to look at her "What changed your mind? What made you not hate me" He finished rather quietly. As if saying it still hurt him.

"Well….this might sound odd, but actually it was John". She saw the puzzled look on his face so she continued "John and I talked a lot about my time here. Of course I never said anything that would give away that you were Medjai or the location of the village. But he wanted to know about my life here. He had asked early on why I left, but, well I told him I didn't want to talk about it at that time. And he didn't broach the subject again, until one night several months after we married."

Ali stopped as if she was lost in her thoughts "I'm sorry "she said as she shook her head of the memories.

"It's alright" Ardeth said as he watched her "If you don't want…." But Ali stopped him.

"No it's fine. I guess we had been married about 3 months when one night I woke up crying. And that was the thing. John had seen me cry before and knew a lot had happened. But he never pushed. He would just hold me. I know he knew that part of me was still here. That night for some reason I just started talking and did not stop. I told him about Rashel and his death. He hadn't known about him until that night. After I told him the story he just held me until I feel asleep. It was several nights later when he told me he had been thinking about it and well, that he just knew that there had to be more. That with all I had told him about us, how you had saved me, how I felt about you and how I thought you felt about me…. That there had to be more. That something had happened. He didn't know what, but he just didn't believe you hated me or blamed me…."

Ardeth took it all in. Ali's second husband was the reason she no longer hated him. He had so many things running through his head.

"Ardeth?" Ali said quietly "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine my love. It just surprised me to think John was the reason you didn't hate me."

"I know it sounds odd that my second husband would talk to me about my first and convince not to hate him, but that's what happened. He knew how badly I was hurting and he just wanted to see me not hurt like that anymore."

"I am very glad that he helped you and made you feel happy again."

Ali looked at Ardeth and knew he meant every word. She then added "like I said he knew part of my heart was still here and he accepted that. I think after we talked about Rashal he understood even more." As Ali finished speaking she yawned.

Nodding his head to Ali's words, Ardeth said lightly "I think that we need to continue this tomorrow, my love".

"That's probably a good idea".

Ardeth motioned for Ali to scoot to him again. She did so very willingly. As he pulled her in his arms he whispered into her hair "I am very sorry that you hurt for so very long, but I am extremely glad that the years have lead you back to me"

As Ali fell asleep, Ardeth could not. His last words were ringing in his ears. It had lead her back to him, but for how long? They had not talked about it, seemingly both trying to avoid it. He wanted her to stay there forever, but she had a family that would want to go back to their home.

Ardeth finally dosed off, not having a solution to their very real problem