Epilogue:

Julia moved slowly around the apartment, touching surfaces here and there. She wondered how much he had stayed here. The furnishings certainly looked like something he would choose...simple, functional but comfortable. She trailed her fingertips along the polished surface of the granite counter top. Coffee was on her mind, yet she reached for the tea canister and expertly prepared a mug for herself. She made her way into the living room, the sectional beckoning her to sink into its cushions.

A contented sigh escaped her lips as she did just that. She still couldn't believe what had happened the last few days – Christine, Eva, Barbie's seeming betrayal. Although her mind realized he was under alien control, her heart still hurt whenever she thought of how close they came to losing everything. Barbie had been devastated at his actions and had spent nearly every waking moment apologizing in every way he could think of. He was attentive, tender, constantly telling her how much he loved her. When she looked at him without him being aware, his eyes were tortured, his brow furrowed, his entire being radiating pain. She hoped that what she had to tell him today would wipe away that look forever.

XXXXX

Barbie's footsteps hurried along the sidewalk. He carried several take out sacks from the Chinese restaurant down the street from his home. Julia was insistent on this specific food for their evening meal and he was happy to oblige. In fact, he would do anything she asked just to see her beautiful smile. He hated himself for not having the strength of mind to resist the alien control and how it had caused him to behave toward the woman he loves. While he understood that he was helpless to resist, he felt he should have been able to rise above. Yes, it was illogical but totally human to have these feelings.

As he neared his apartment, he once again was amazed at Julia's capacity for forgiveness. She welcomed him to her in every way once she was sure he was himself. They slept in each others arms, legs tangled together, with Julia always pressed against his chest. She said the beat of his heart lulled her to sleep. He swore to her again and again that they would never be parted and her response was always the same. She would trace the line of his jaw, her lips curving into the smile he lived for and whispered softly... "You're my everything and I'll never let you go."

Finally he reached his destination, unlocked his door and entered their home.

XXXX

"Hey." That one word, spoken in a whisper always made her stomach flutter in anticipation, as if they were meeting for the first time and she couldn't wait to get to know him better.

As always her smile captured him and he couldn't look away, his heart in his throat, remembering how very close they had come to being apart forever.

"Hey...why don't you put the food on the lunch counter and come sit by me. There's something I have to tell you."

Barbie quickly complied, not quite able to quell the apprehension that spiked through him. He always feared that one day Julia would come to her senses and realize that he wasn't who she wanted. He knew he didn't deserve her and to this day was still amazed by her love.

Julia leaned into him as soon as he sat beside her, pressing her lips to his. The kiss she meant to be merely a welcome home soon became passionate and filled with desire. Reluctantly she pulled back, leaning her forehead against his shoulder.

"You're trying to distract me." Her breath was a pleasant whisper against the skin of his neck.

"Always." He nuzzled his lips against her temple, breathing in the intoxicating scent of her hair.

Still nestled against him Julia continued... "I have something to tell you and I hope you don't freak out."

"Julia, are you okay?" He cupped her face with his hands looking into her eyes with concern.

Laughing a bit nervously she nodded. "I'm fine. I've never been better. I just didn't notice – so much craziness has been going on that I didn't even realize...and then when I did I couldn't believe it was true but it is and now I'm going to tell you and I'm a little scared."

"Julia...what is it?" To say he was confused by her rambling words was putting it mildly.

Taking a deep breath, her reply was hesitant yet she couldn't keep the smile from forming on her face because no matter what he thought, she was ecstatic. "I'm pregnant."

Barbie's emotions changed his expression from amazement to happiness to concern and while he desperately wanted to speak, his voice was not cooperating. So he kissed her, a kiss filled with love and longing and such sweet tenderness that Julia's heart skipped a beat.

"When? How far along are you? ...he murmured, his breath tickling her ear.

"Just about 5 weeks. It would have to be the first time we made love...that night in the rain."

As she spoke the words, they saw a flash of lightning, heard a rumble of thunder and the skies opened up as if in tribute to life they had created. The take out forgotten, they became lost in each other, in the memory of that night and as the rain continued to fall, they continued to pledge their love to each other. This was their new beginning, free from all that had conspired to keep them apart, free to live and love without fear, without aliens, without the dome. They were together as it had always been meant to be.