What Hope Gave Back - Epilogue

Are you sure about this?" Saint Walker asked yet again as he loaded their things into the shuttle that Arkillo had left behind. Peesh had been given so many things that it was impractical to try and fly them to Elpis without a craft.

"Daddy, stop asking!" She sighed in amused exasperation. "I am very, very sure. You brought me hope... I want to do the same for others. We need your Blue Lanterns to make that happen. Besides, we can still come back to visit, can't we?"

Walker set down a box loaded with assorted odds and ends. "Of course. And we will, as often as is possible. I just worry that you will be lonely with only me for company." He watched her carry a bag of clothes in, packing the small ship perfectly, and knew that she was truly going to leave childhood behind soon. There was a little time left though and he was going to savour every moment of it.

"We still have a lot of catching up to do," she replied softly. "And it's not for long, soon there will be new Lanterns to get to know."

"You speak wisely," Walker smiled, set at ease by her assurances. "Thank you, Peesh."

They stepped back out of the shuttle just as Kyle and Hal landed. "I can't believe you're leaving..." Kyle sighed. "I mean okay, I don't live here either, but I stop by a lot."

"You know where you will find us," Walker chuckled, embracing his friend warmly. "I hope you will visit often."

"Oh, count on it, Bro'Dee. There's no getting rid of me!" He laughed, feeling a little lighter at the prospect of seeing them again soon.

"I'll be stopping by too... Have a look at those defences, make sure you're well protected," Hal said. Years ago he had resisted playing any part in the Blue Lanterns existence, but times had changed. The universe needed them and so did the Green Lantern Corps.

"I would be most grateful for any assistance." Especially now that Peesh would be with them, he was unwilling to take chances. "You have all helped us so much. I can never repay it."

"There's nothing to repay, Walker," Hal told him. "Even if you hadn't single handedly turned the tide in the battle with the Red Lanterns, there would still be nothing to repay. We were glad to help."

Saint Walker knew that continually saying thank you would change little, yet his gratitude was so over whelming he didn't know how to express it. As he stood near Peesh, he could see others coming to see them off - Kilowog, Soranik and what seemed like half the Corps.

Peesh's eyes opened wide as she saw how many had come to say goodbye. Kilowog landed next to her and she smiled.

"You've got terrible taste in friends, kid... But you're all right." Kilowog said gruffly, squeezing her shoulder. "Take care of your dad."

"I will." She grinned. "Thank you for putting up with Arkillo for me."

"Yeah well... I wouldn't do that for just anyone. But don't ask me to do it again, okay?"

Peesh managed not to laugh as she nodded. "Okay." She hugged him as tightly as she could before letting go. They hadn't spent much time together, especially with her favouring Arkillo's company, but she had got past her annoyance to see a heart of gold and a loyal friend.

"Soranik!" She threw herself into the doctor's arms when she saw her. "I am going to miss you so much!" The doctor's gentle care had been the closest thing to a mother's touch she had in years and it was hard to leave it behind.

"I'll miss you too, Peesh. Don't stay away too long. I'm always here if you need me."

Close to tears, Peesh held on tight. "I know. I'll see you as soon as I can." It hurt to leave this, but she was determined and convinced that she had made the right decision.

"Hey, don't cry..." Hal knelt down next to her. "You've got us all just a call away. No fear."

"No fear," she agreed, managing to put on a brave face. "But a lot of missing."

"A whole lot of missing," Hal agreed. He made a mental note to try and convince his sister in law to let the family visit Elpis, to let Peesh be around kids her own age, if only briefly. "Just remember... your coming back is nothing short of a miracle, I know you can survive anything. Both of you can. The affect you've had on your father is incredible."

"I agree," Kyle added, coming to join the conversation. Saint Walker had always lived up to his name, had always shone brightly. But since Peesh had been returned to him, he positively glowed with hope and happiness. He smiled and scooped Peesh up into a tight and affectionate hug. "Really going to miss you, kiddo. I should be in that sector in a few weeks though. I'll stop by, maybe stay for a bit."

Peesh kissed Kyle on the cheek, her arms around his neck as she rested in the embrace. "I can't wait to see you again. And I will love the bunny always."

"You're welcome, Peesh..." He smiled. "See you soon, okay?"

She nodded and reluctantly let him put her down so her father could say his own goodbyes.

"She's a great kid, Walker," Kyle said quietly as they hugged. "So happy you got her back."

"As am I, Kyle. "The day you came to Elpis with the news... I will never forget it." He smiled softly at the memory.

"Well, that place needed some new, happy memories, yes? Seems like a good start." Kyle stepped back. "I hope you can make many more there."

Before Walker could reply, Peesh did. "We will! We're going to build the Blue Lanterns up until there's blue everywhere!"

"See that you do. Because that's a universe I want to live in." He couldn't help himself and hugged her again.

"Are you ready?" Saint Walker asked, knowing that the moment had come. "It is quite a way by shuttle... we need to go."

She nodded. "I am." Her smile lit up her whole face as she took in the gathered Lanterns. "I'll make you all proud, I promise."

"I have no doubt of that," Kyle replied. "Good luck."

As Saint Walker and his daughter boarded the shuttle, Mogo finally spoke, the deep voice heard by all. "Goodbye Saint Walker. Goodbye, Peesh Walker. Know that if you need it, you will always have a home here."

"Goodbye, Mogo." Peesh looked around one last time, before walking slowly to her seat, blinking away tears. Still, she managed a smile as her father sat next to her as the doors closed and he set their course. She had her father again. That was what mattered most.

Kyle smiled as the shuttle took off, rising through the atmosphere towards the stars. Even though it wasn't needed, there was a blue glow around the craft as it flew away. Hope was so strong now, cemented forever by a family bond.

"Think we might have seen more than one Blue Lantern fly off there," Hal said, as the shuttle faded from view. "That's one tough girl."

"Some things just run in the family," Kyle agreed, turning away from the now empty sky. "But we'll see, there's more than one path she could take. She makes Walker's hope that much stronger, that's what matters. Because as long as he has hope – we all do."

THE END.