Chapter 33:

"Well, so much for getting here early." Zarabeth pulled her bag of clothes and supplies over her arm as she got up from her seat beside Jim on the airbus.

Even though the merchant ship had made it to the Montressor spaceport earlier than planned, the airbus back to Benbow was delayed, making her and Jim's day just that much longer.

Stepping out onto the transport platform, Zara was relieved to see the familiar buildings around her. As the darkness set in, the lamps lining the road turned on one-by-one, helping to brighten the atmosphere. It felt so good to be back. The colorless canyons, the crowded streets, the old buildings, this was home. Even though Kalepsia was beautiful, Zarabeth decided that she'd take Montressor over it any day.

Waiting for Jim to join her in the street, Zara hurriedly tried to straighten out the fabric of her dark blue dress as she fixed the alignment of the sleeves one more time. Since they'd realized that there would be no time to get ready once they were home, Jim and Zarabeth had changed into the clothes they'd wear to the party before leaving the spaceport. Zara was wearing the dark, floor-length gown that Jim had bought for her the day she was freed. Of the nicer dresses she owned, this was by far her favorite. Its long sleeves ending in points over her hands, the square neck-line, and the delicate corset back, it was stunning. But of all her reasons for loving it, her favorite was because Jim had given it to her.

"Quit messing with it. You look perfect." Jim's voice came from a little ways behind the girl, making her turn around as she smiled back at him.

Jim looked so handsome. Zarabeth had convinced him to wear his academy uniform since his mother hadn't seen him in it yet. Zara also just liked the way he looked in it. "We'd better get going if we want to make it before the party's completely done."

Jim pulled the hair up from his forehead as he looked down at the small pile of bags between them. It would be no problem for them to carry it all if it weren't for the addition of Jim's solar surfer. "It might take a while if we're stuck lugging all of this."

Trying to make the best of it, Zarabeth hoisted one of the bags over her shoulder, setting it in place before getting ready to carry another. Just as she was about to lift the second bundle, she felt Jim's hand suddenly stop her, his eyes trained on something behind the girl. Confused by Jim's look, Zara tried to get his attention. "Jim? What's wrong?"

Glancing down at the girl, Jim's lips wore a hint of an unsure smile. "J-just a second. I have an idea." Without another word of explanation, the boy began walking toward the street, not signaling for Zarabeth to follow him.

Straightening up, the girl let the bag fall back to the pavement as she turned to see where Jim was going, her eyes widening in astonishment at the scene before her.

Jim was standing in the street beside a pair of robo-cops, talking to them as he seemed to be explaining something. Jim used to always be in trouble with the cops, flying his surfer where he wasn't supposed to, skipping school, and just generally causing harmless trouble, but Zara had never seen him talk to a cop before.

Waiting for Jim to return to her, Zarabeth caught herself smiling as she thought about how proud of Jim she was. Even within the two years she'd known him, he was a different boy from the one she'd met that first day aboard the Legacy. Nothing about his personality had changed, Zara had never thought of him as a troublemaker or delinquent, but Jim was more confident, more sure of who he was and why he was.

Zarabeth's mind snapped back into the present as she saw Jim coming back toward her. As soon as he was close enough for her to talk to, Zara laughed quietly as she looked from Jim to the cops. "What was that about?"

A proud look in his eyes, Jim smiled at the girl as he began picking up some of the bundles. "I just got us a ride."

A single thought rang through the girl's mind as she continued to laugh, helping Jim carry the rest of their stuff over to where the robo-cops' flyers were. "We're gonna scare the life out of your mom with an entrance like this."

"Oh, come on. You know you want to see her reaction just as much as I do."

The two cops helped Jim and Zara secure their bags on the back of one of the flyers. After getting on behind the other robo-cop, Jim offered the girl his hand as he helped her up to sit behind him.

Wrapping both of her arms around the boy, Zarabeth let her chin rest against his shoulder as she made a final hushed comment. "If we give your mom a heart attack, I'm blaming you."

Jim simply chuckled in response, turning his head to try to look at Zara as they took off, slowly rising above the cobblestone streets and shops as they made their way toward the inn.

Craning her neck to see past the boy, the girl's breath was caught in her throat as the lights of the new Benbow Inn came into view. As they steadily flew closer, the building became even clearer, each detail beginning to come into focus.

The new inn was three stories tall, light streaming out from every floor through circular windows, a small stack of persistent smoke rising from a metal chimney on the far side of the first level. On the right side of the inn was a large garden area. Jim and Zarabeth used to spend their afternoons there if he were helping with the construction that day. The garden had been beautiful before, but now it was perfect. Small stone paving stones made pathways through the short grass, weaving through flower bushes, around the wishing fountain, and finishing at a white gazebo on the edge of the grass platform.

Zarabeth could feel her stomach doing cartwheels as they landed quietly in the road just in front of the main entrance. The girl's mind was numb with excitement as she realized how close she was to seeing everyone, especially Amelia and Delbert's children. Zara let Jim help her down from the flyer, a gentle smile on his face hiding the excitement which showed only in his eyes.

With a single word, the boy offered his arm to her in a gentlemanly manner. "Ready?"

"Absolutely." Linking her arm with Jim's, Zarabeth could no longer suppress a smile as her ear caught the sounds of music and laughter from inside the inn.

The robo-cops stood side-by-side, forming a wall of bodies, Jim and Zara just behind them. As one of the cops opened the door, a simultaneous gasp filled the room within, the laughter and music suddenly gone.

Without a word, the officers made their entrance, parting once inside the door to reveal Jim and Zarabeth behind them. Upon seeing them, the once silent room erupted into cheering as the two made their entrance.

The girl felt her heart skip a beat at what she saw before her. Crowded in the main dining room was almost everyone she'd ever know on Montressor, nearly every face familiar to her. Zara looked up at Jim as she felt him release his hold on her arm. From either side of them, one officer shook Jim's hand while the other saluted him in a respectful gesture.

Morph came excited floating over to where Jim stood, his pink form changing into a hero's medal as he placed himself on Jim's uniform jacket. Jim pulled the fabric of the jacket to get a better look at Morph just before the shape-shifter returned to his normal form, chirping excitedly as he floated away.

Hardly a moment later, there was a blur of motion as Jim was wrapped in his mother's embrace. Cupping the side of his face, Sarah Hawkins' eyes radiated with the happiness she felt as she looked at her son. Turning next to face Zara, Mrs. Hawkins instantly gave the girl a warm hug. "Welcome home, sweetheart."

For a while after, both Jim and Zarabeth were busy receiving hugs and words of welcome from everyone, unable to move from where they'd been standing near the door for almost half an hour. After the dust had settled some, the music began playing once more. A fast-paced dance began, giving Zarabeth the chance to search for Amelia and Delbert, whom she hadn't seen yet, as Jim danced with his mother.

Worming her way through the clumps of people, Zara finally made it to the far corner of the room, her heart beginning to race as she caught sight of Amelia.

The scene before the girl was almost enough to bring her to tears. Standing close together were Delbert and Amelia, three pink bundles in Delbert's arms while Amelia held a single blue one.

The feline woman's face lit up as she saw the girl approaching, getting her husband's attention as the three met half-way. Once facing Zara, Amelia rearranged the blanketed bundle on her arm, pulling the fabric away to reveal a small head. "Zarabeth, I'd like you to meet someone. This is Andrew."

Zara laughed quietly, trying to hold back her tears as she leaned down close to Amelia's arm. Lying between the folds of the blue blanket was a tiny boy, a dog-man like Delbert with similarly colored features. The small baby yawned, his eyes fluttering open as he looked up into Zara's face.

Reaching a hand down toward the boy, Zara spoke quietly as she introduced herself. "Hey, Andrew. We haven't met yet. I'm your Aunt Zarabeth."

Delbert slowly joined his wife beside Zara, letting Amelia help him reveal the faces beneath the three other blankets. The triplets in Delbert's arms were nearly identical. All three were feline girls like Amelia, the only thing to separate their identities being their hair. The first had golden blond hair, the second was chestnut brown, and the third was red, like Amelia's. Delbert smiled gently down at his daughters as he spoke. "Girls, this is your Aunt Zarabeth. Zara, this is Susan, Elizabeth, and Alexandra."

Zarabeth let Delbert lay the third girl in her arms, her short red hair swishing about her angular face as she looked about the room curiously. Zara laughed quietly as the girl finally looked up into her face, the baby's expression changing as she reached a tiny hand up toward her. Without warning, her little fingers wrapped around a small bunch of Zara's wavy hair, giving it a sharp tug. Zarabeth laughed in surprise, trying to untangle herself from the feline's grasp as she spoke down to her. "Feisty little one, aren't ya, Alexandra?" Looking back up to face Amelia and her husband, Zara let her overwhelming happiness show through as she spoke to be heard above the music and dancing. "They're absolutely perfect. I couldn't be happier for you both."

Helping Delbert put the four babies into a basket together, Zara's hands were finally free to give them each a hug. Pulling away from Amelia's embrace, the girl watched as Delbert offered his arm to Amelia. "If you'll please excuse us, I believe I owe my wife a dance."

Stepping to the side, Zarabeth watched as the two made their way over to the far end of the room just as couples began sashaying between two lines of people.

Zara joined the noise in the room as she clapped in time with the music, unable to suppress a smile as she watched Jim as he danced with Mrs. Hawkins through the aisle of people. Once at the end of the room, Jim gave his mother a final spin before releasing her to join Zarabeth by the window on the far wall, letting Delbert and Amelia take their places among the dancers.

Zara let out a small sigh of contentment as Jim walked behind her, his arms wrapped about her waist as he held her close, his head leaning on the girl's shoulder next to her face. Continuing to clap with the music, Zarabeth closed her eyes, taking in the feeling of the boy's arms surrounding her as she turned her face, letting her forehead rest against Jim's as she smiled.

Releasing one of his hands, Jim tipped the girl's chin up toward him, closing his eyes as he leaned down to kiss her.

Warmth surged through Zara as she felt Jim's lips press gently against hers, her mind flooding with the feelings of security and love she always felt with him. Feeling him pull away, Zarabeth slowly opened her eyes, her gaze instantly captured by Jim's as the lights of the room reflected in his crystal eyes. Glancing back toward the room, Zara laughed quietly as she saw Mrs. Hawkins quickly turn her head to the side, the curls pinned above her head swishing about her neck as she tried to casually look the other way.

Zarabeth felt her head being turned back toward Jim's, suddenly feeling self-conscious as he leaned in to kiss her again. The girl quickly tried to pull away, continuing to laugh as she attempted to get the boy to understand. "Jim, wait, people are probably looking."

Undeterred by her objections, Jim only smiled as he tried once more to pull the girl back. "Oh, let 'em."

"What? Jim, be reasonable." Zara did her best to distract the boy, trying to hold him at arm's length as she continued to laugh.

Jim couldn't help but think about how cute Zarabeth looked when she was embarrassed, her reactions only making him want to insist more as his eyes donned a mischievous look. "Well, then. If people are watching, we'd better give them something to look at."

Unsure of what Jim was planning, Zara had only a moment to register what was happening as she suddenly felt Jim grab her waist, an arm securely behind her back as he swung her around. The room was a blur for an instant, the girl instinctively throwing her arms about the boy's neck in an attempt to regain her balance. A small cry of surprise escaped her lips as she suddenly found herself nearly parallel to the floor, Jim leaning above her as he cradled her in one arm, his face only inches from hers as he whispered down to her. "Zarabeth Jane Hartfit...this is how much I love you."

Before Zara could utter a sound, she felt her lips caught by Jim's, her mind going blank as any insecurities or embarrassment she'd felt melted away at his sudden kiss. It wasn't until after Zarabeth felt Jim slowly pulling away that she realized that the room was ringing with clapping and cheering aimed at the two.

The girl could feel her cheeks begin to flush in returning embarrassment as Jim helped her upright, trying to laugh off the awkward situation as she buried her face in Jim's jacket. Looking up into the boy's eyes, Zara pursed her lips in mock irritation as she squinted at him. "James Pleiades Hawkins, I am going to kill you."

Resting his forehead against hers, Jim chuckled quietly as he locked eyes with Zarabeth. "Translation: You love me too?"

Unable to deny it, Zara let a smile cross her lips as she continued her act, listening to the room return to its normal buzz of music and laughter. "So what if I do? What would it mean?"

Looking up at the ceiling, Jim thought about the question for a moment before looking back at the girl in his arms, his tone completely serious and gentle as he replied, taking his time between sentences. "It means you'll have to be content with me. If you need saving, you'll have to settle for my attempts at rescuing you, and I'm usually almost too late. It means you'll have to put up with me when I start stupid fights, but I'll always try to make up sooner than later. I'll do senseless things, say stuff without thinking, act without reason, but I'll never stop asking for forgiveness, I'll never leave you, and I will never give up on you, even if you eventually give up on me."

Zara closed her eyes, trying to take in every word as she listened to the love flowing through his voice. "You will never have to worry about that, because I'm not going anywhere. Stick with me and I'll stick with you. Promise?" Zarabeth looked back up into Jim's eyes, a small smile on her lips as she held her hand up, only her pinky finger extended toward him.

Unable to suppress a smile any longer, Jim raised his hand to hers, linking their fingers securely together as he leaned in to give the girl a small kiss. "Promise."

*The End*

Well, there it is! Another one done. Hope you all enjoyed it!

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As long as I have plot lines to write with, I'll keep writing. Another sequel is on its way, but I don't know how long this one will take me to finish. But I'm having a lot of fun with it!

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