Terra woke up in the middle of the night, events of the previous day swirling in her mind like a vivid dream. Did it really happen? But Will's sleeping presence beside her confirmed the reality of it all. For a few moments, she took in the gentle rise and fall of his chest. There was something almost mystical about him, a connection beyond the physical senses or aura that intoxicated her.

I have never felt so content. So blissful. But can this really last?

She snuggled up closer, her back to him, conforming body to body while reveling in his closeness. Will stirred briefly with an audible breath and wrapped an arm around her. Trembling, her emotions boiled and the truth in her heart reached her lips, escaping in a whisper. "I love you."

At once, part of her regretted the utterance. Why did I say that? He could not want someone like me. It only makes the inevitable breakup that much more painful.

A tear traced Terra's cheek as her persistent self-doubt cast shadows across her heart. She gently lifted his arm and slipped out of bed, being careful not to wake the man who shared it with her. Grabbing a blanket from the couch, she quietly opened the door and stepped out on to the porch, wrapping the blanket tightly around herself against the chill night air.

Stepping off the porch and peering at the dark sky, Terra's mind lost itself among the countless stars, each one a distant act of defiance against a cold dark universe. A meteor streaked across the sky, a fleeting blaze of light tracing its path.

So beautiful. But will love be only like a falling star, flaring brightly, then disappearing as quickly as it appeared?

What am I to do?

Terra closed her eyes. With mind stilled and face turned up, she listened carefully with her heart. An unexpected soothing calmness came over her as the anxiety fled into the night. She reopened her eyes to a new resolve.

What happened today I will forever cherish. What happens tomorrow I will accept with grace.

And I will not regret love.

Terra turned as she the door creaked open behind her. There stood Will.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

She smiled at him, climbed the steps, and kissed him deeply. "Yes. Very much. So much happened today, a lot to take in."

A shiver crawled through Terra's body as Will pulled her into an embrace.

"Yeah, it is," he replied, drawing her closer and wrapping the blanket around both of them. "Brrr, you're cold. Come back to bed and let me warm you back up."

"I would like that."

"One thing I must ask of you, though."

Terra's eyes widened as she gazed up at him, still within his arms. "What's that?"

Will grinned. "Please don't touch me with your cold feet."

Terra honored his request and slept soundly through the rest of the night until a pleasant scent woke her.

What smells so good? Something is cooking. Bacon, definitely bacon.

She rose from the bed, arms reaching high in a stretch. Golden sunlight streamed across the room from an east-facing window, while flames danced in the center stove, warming the cabin.

Will peeked around the partition. "Good morning. You missed another sunrise, Terra Lorr."

"Life is full of disappointments." Not bothering to cover her naked body, she sauntered over and hugged him from behind. "What are you cooking?"

He turned over the sizzling bacon strips in the skillet with a fork, one by one. "Bacon and pancakes."

"Pancakes? For me?"

He turned and caught her eyes. "Especially for you."

Terra sat down at the table as Will placed two plates brimming with the pancakes and bacon on the table.

She pouted at his attire, pants and a shirt, then tugged on his sleeve. "I'm disappointed. I was hoping you would still be naked, too."

Will grinned. "One of the clearest lessons I learned in my life is to never cook bacon naked."

Terra laughed as she poured sweet syrup on her cakes. The pancakes satisfied her hunger, but she also found an emotional fulfillment in what they represented. Once finished, she picked up the plates and placed them in the sink. After dressing, she returned to sit down across from Will, catching his eyes, but then immediately looked away.

Now is the time. Terra took a cleansing breath, then said, "Will, you had something to tell me?"

"Yes, I..." Will stammered, fidgeting as he dropped his eyes. "I should have told you sooner. I just didn't know how."

Pausing, the words he wanted did not come. Instead, he rose and returned with a small, dark wooden box from the bottom of the closet. Placing it before Terra, he opened it tentatively, and pulled out a necklace and pendant, holding it up.

"I think you should have this."

Terra recognized it immediately, allowing Will to coil the necklace in her upturned hand. The pendant, a mirror image to the one she wore, a gold and silver heart, once belonged to Anna. Her eyes darted up and widened. "How did..."

Will remained silent. With mind swirling, Terra searched for an explanation, a connection, anything. Then her breath halted as the realization grew within her.

That is how Will knew so much about me. Anna told him. This is how Anna survived so long after the Finders tagged her. Will hid her. It all fits. Anna and Ell were the same woman.

Will dropped his eyes and nodded solemnly. "We both loved her."

Water pooled in Terra's eyes as Will reached across to hold the hand that clutched the necklace.

"Terra, I am so sorry I did not tell you earlier," he lamented.

Terra bowed her head. "With all that happened, I think I understand."

Next from the box came a small stack of hard-copy photos, showing Ell and Will. Terra recognized Anna in the images, although with blonde hair cut shorter. Will reached in again and removed Anna's old viewer.

"Ell... Anna left this for you. She said you would know how to open it."

Terra knew the specific voice password that would activate it. She switched on the power, and once the screen flickered on, she spoke the words, "Voice key, friends forever."

Anna's face came into view on the small screen, her expression solemn. "Terra, my dear friend, if you are seeing this, it means I am gone. I asked Will to find you one day and give this recording to you. By now you may know that Will is, was, my husband and I loved him more than I thought possible. We both knew my time was short when we married. What I did not know then was that just by being with him that my life would be extended."

"You may already know his special abilities, how he can darken the aura and suppress Talent. I believe he is the key to ending this perpetual war and opening a better future for humanity, but he will need your help. Also, I came to understand that the Blue Uprising is not as honorable as we thought. Consider an organization called the Library, they have a better vision for the future.

"Please look after Will if you can. Together, you can change the world. I love you."

Anna/Ell wiped a tear from her eye and continued the recorded message. "Will, if you are seeing this, hear me again say that I love you and I will carry your love with me, always. Every moment I spent with you was a treasure. I believe you have a great destiny. Take care of Terra and let her help you."

Terra looked up from the viewer to Will's tear traced face. She stood, moving to embrace him, and sobbed on his shoulder. After several minutes, Will pulled a bandana from his pocket and dried the tears from both his and Terra's face. "I have one more thing to show you."

At his request, Terra put on boots and a jacket. In the morning sunshine, they walked in silence to a hill that overlooked the cabin. There, among tall grasses and wildflowers, stood a rose-granite grave marker scribed with the name Ell Sall. Also inscribed was a message: she loved and was loved in return. Terra collapsed to her knees before it.

Standing behind with and hand on her shoulder, Will explained. "After Necros murdered Ell, he had her body displayed like a sick trophy. I could not let that be. That's when I triggered the Day of Darkness. I brought her body back here, a place she loved."

Will kneeled down beside Terra and they remained there in silence, except for the rustling of leaves and the twitter of song birds. After a period, they returned to the cabin with arms around each other.

Far into the evening, both laughter and tears swelled as Terra and Will shared stories of Anna/Ell with each other.