Epilogue

Claudia and Steve's little kidnapping, artefact-abusing stunt had not escaped Artie's notice. But when the two friends disappeared from the B&B that afternoon, giggling, and returned with a radiant Myka Bering and HG Wells in tow, he decided to forgo the usual gruff tongue-lashing he would normally have doled out when catching Claudia at her antics.

"HG," he said, raising a caterpillar-like eyebrow at the time-traveller by way of greeting. "You're back. Good. We have plenty of work for you to do." Helena smiled at him softly. He nodded at Myka, seemingly about to go on his way into the kitchen.

Myka looked from one to the other, surprised, but chose to say nothing about Artie's casual acceptance of Helena's presence.

She was taken by surprise, however, when Artie suddenly flung himself at the two, catching them in a bear hug. It was like being attacked by a badger in a sack.

"I'm glad you finally saw sense." With that, he walked off into the kitchen, muttering to himself. Helena and Myka shared equally stunned looks. By silent agreement, they joined hands and walked slowly into the living room together. They sat on the couch, heads together, Myka's arm around Helena's shoulders, with the fingers of both hands entwined. They were in the same position when Claudia and Steve dragged a quiet, and a little reluctant Pete Lattimer downstairs. He paused for a moment on the threshold, leaning his head against the doorframe as he took in the sight of the two women. When he first met HG Wells, he had vibes all the time around her - disturbing, insidious, but never clear until the shitstorm that was Warehouse 2. He always got vibes around her. Last time he saw her she was warmer, better, but still, in the background there was this niggle, as if there was still a hint of a chance that the evil might return. But now, today? He was almost knocked off his feet by the strength of the vibe he got from her. Peace, pure peace. The kind of feeling he'd only ever had before around Leena. He wanted to be angry, in a way, looking at the women together, because Myka and he should have been perfect together. But how could he be, in the face of the peace and love that was practically radiating from the two women? Pete Lattimer didn't have that kind of malice in him. Love was love, and the happy vibes he was getting were strong enough to bring tears to his eyes.

"Hey hey hey!" he shouted, interrupting their contented reverie. The ladies turned round, both frowning a little, for different reasons, as they saw him. He practically dive bombed onto the couch, however, and cut off any heart to hearts, apologies (from Myka) or possible assassination attempts (from HG). He hugged them both tightly and surprised himself by shedding a few tears as he spoke softly and sincerely.

"I love you guys. I'm so happy you found each other." Then he was gone as suddenly as he'd arrived. Steve and Claudia looked at each other, laughing, and Claudia said, nearly crying herself, "What Pete said. You ladies are so awesome. I'm so frickin happy!"

Myka and Helena rose together, almost as one, and wrapped Steve and Claudia in a group hug that had all four of them crying. Mrs Frederic watched from the kitchen doorway, smiling enigmatically, and disappeared.

Helena smiled, chuckling at her friends and her lover.

"Wells and Bering, solving puzzles, saving the day!"

The Warehouse smiled its wooden smile.

"Bering and Wells..." Myka muttered, smirking.

Tell the truth and read story books; it will take you to the magical moment in a glory night.

Steven Jinks lay on the dry grass outside the B&B, looking up into the dark South Dakota sky that was painted with a billion stars. He was filled with satisfaction, hope for their future, and love for the team that had transformed his life and brought him back from the dead. Myka and Helena were more than perfect for each other. They had this quality of legend about them, as if they'd been ripped from tales of Ancient Greece. A woman, mad with grief who tries to destroy the world, and the one true love who brought her back to herself, back from death, back from madness. He hoped that someday a poet would write an epic about them. But it wouldn't be today. The adventures of Bering and Wells had only just begun. He smiled to himself, losing himself in the stillness of stars, of endless wonder.

"There is, though I do not know how there is or why there is, a sense of infinite peace and protection in the glittering hosts of heaven."