I finally got over my writer's block! Good. I was getting a bit impatient with myself, and I'm sure you guys were, too. I thank you for the suggestions you made. Even if I didn't use them, know that I considered them.

And now for the final installment of "Storm Hawks—The Drifter"

Disclaimer: I do not own the Storm Hawks.

Epilogue: The Return

Aerrow was taken to his quarters where Starling did her best to bandage him up. He didn't wake and it was plain to everyone that he was fading away. Radarr stayed by his side and the others hoped, waited, and did what they could to help. It became apparent that Aerrow would not wake that night, if at all.

No one was eager to leave, but Starling insisted they must get some rest. Stork still had to drive the ship. Finn was the first to leave for bed, followed by Junko. Radarr always slept in Aerrow's bed so he just curled next to the young Sky Knight's head and fell asleep.

Starling looked at Piper, who had pulled up a chair beside Aerrow's bed. Piper was exhausted, but she refused to leave. "I'm used to staying up all night," Starling told her. "I'll stay with him. You should rest."

Piper shook her head. "I'm staying here."

Starling didn't argue. She had been in Piper's place before. She understood. The older Sky Knight stayed awhile longer before deciding to leave and go to the quarters the Storm Hawks had prepared for her. She figured she would be more helpful to the squadron if she were rested.

Piper held Aerrow's hand. Her eyelids were growing heavy as the night wore on. Maybe she'd close her eyes just for a minute . . .

Piper didn't remember falling asleep, but when she opened her eyes again, sunlight was shining through the window. She was aware of a slight pressure on her hand. Looking down at her hand, she saw she was still holding Aerrow's hand. She followed his arm up to his face, giving a smile of relief.

Aerrow was looking up at her, smiling. He still looked very pale, but he was alive. "Hey," he greeted her.

"Hey," she returned, leaning forward. "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," Aerrow admitted. He started to move to sit up, but he never made it off the pillow.

Piper put a hand on his shoulder. "Easy," she warned. "Just rest."

Aerrow didn't argue. He closed his eyes again and let his breath out in an almost exhausted manner. "Everyone else alright?" he asked.

Piper smiled. It figures that would be Aerrow's first question. "We're fine," she answered.

"Radarr?"

Hearing his name, Radarr looked up sleepily from where he had curled up on the other side of the bed. He chirped to his friend, letting him know he was okay. With a relieved smile, Aerrow lifted his hand and scratched Radarr behind the ears.

Aerrow turned back to Piper. "What about the Helix Stone?"

Piper grinned at him before she lifted something off his bed stand. The item was wrapped in cloth. She slowly unwrapped it to reveal a yellow-orange spiraled crystal. "I grabbed it on the way out of throne room. It was under a fallen rafter."

"It ended up in good hands," Aerrow said. "What about the Dark Ace? I think he was caught in the explosion."

"We didn't see him." Aerrow opened his mouth again, but Piper knew what he was going to ask. "And Cyclonis is put away for good."

"Well, I guess that leaves only one question." He hesitated a moment before he asked tentatively, "So, why did you kiss me?"

"I thought that the 'I love you' thing would explain that."

"I guess that is kind of obvious."

"Only slightly."

Aerrow looked a bit uncomfortable and quickly changed the subject. "Do you want to go see your father?"

Piper was taken aback by the sudden change in conversation as well as the question itself. "I, well . . ." Piper thought about all the times she had replayed the moment she left home. She had never regretted her decision, but sometimes she wished she'd at least left a note or something. "Do you . . . Do you think I should?"

Aerrow looked very solemn. "He's your father, Piper. Besides, what else do we have to do?"

"Yeah, but, I mean, how can I possibly face him after all these years?"

"If you don't now," Aerrow questioned, "then when? Before you know it, you might lose your chance."

"I think this whole dying thing has really gone to your head," she told him jokingly.

Aerrow didn't smile back, a sign that he was dead serious. His thoughts were on his dream. It was bleary by now, but he still remembered Martin smiling at him as he told him he would come back. And he never did.

Piper could see that whatever was on his mind was bothering him. She stroked his cheek. "I guess I'm going home," she said, "as soon as I know you're alright."

"I'll be fine," Aerrow insisted. Piper couldn't help but beam him a smile, wondering how he could always be so strong. She stayed with him until he fell back asleep.

Piper was staring around at the old, little village she had lived in so long ago. It had been a few weeks since she had agreed to come here. She couldn't believe she used to call this place home. She's pretty sure she has seen more of the world than most of the adults in this tiny town. She sighed and headed down the main street on her Heliscooter, remembering nearly each and every building.

Then she stopped and stared. There it was—her old home. She was pretty sure that if she went around back, she'd see the very window she had opened with a fishing net to escape from her room on the night she ran away.

She took a deep breath. This was it. Okay,she thought. Let's get this over with. Getting off her Heliscooter, she started toward the door.

Piper was halfway there when she stopped. She turned away. This was impossible. What would he possibly say to her when he saw her? Would he be angry, sad, unforgiving? Or worse—what if he wasn't there at all? "I can't do this," she whispered to herself.

"Sure you can."

Piper looked up. "Aerrow?" she asked. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here."

"Gee, I thought you'd be happy to see me," the Sky Knight countered.

"I am, but Aerrow, you should be resting in the Condor. You're going to hurt yourself."

"I'm fine," Aerrow insisted, although he didn't seem nearly as vigorous as usual and still kept his weight off his wounded leg. It probably would have been better if he had used a crutch. However, Piper knew Aerrow wouldn't submit to that. He always had to rough it out.

Ignoring Piper's concern, Aerrow placed an arm around her shoulder and gestured toward the door again. "Would it be easier if I came with you?"

Piper didn't answer but kept her eyes on her feet. Aerrow took that as a yes. Guiding her (and using her for some support) Aerrow steered them toward the door. However, when he knocked, Piper quickly pulled away from him and flattened herself against the wall so that whoever answered wouldn't see her, leaving Aerrow to face the house resident alone.

Aerrow immediately recognized the resident as Thatcher when he answered the door. But this was not the same man he had once seen in Mr. Baker's shop accusing him and Radarr of being untrustworthy. This man sure looked like him, but he seemed smaller and sadder. "Yes?" he asked as he opened the door. He looked Aerrow over. "You look familiar . . ."

The Sky Knight held out his hand in greeting. "Thatcher, I'm Aerrow," he said, "of the Storm Hawks."

Thatcher shook Aerrow's hand, giving him a small smile. "I've heard about you," he said. "It's an honor. What can I help you with?"

Aerrow wondered exactly what would happen if he told Thatcher who he had been three years ago, but he decided against it. "I have whereabouts of your daughter."

Thatcher's face seemed to fall apart. Aerrow could see the worry and relief all rolled into one. "Piper," he said anxiously. "Is she alright?"

Aerrow was looking at Piper expectantly. Piper took a deep breath and removed herself from the wall to stand it front of Aerrow. "I'm right here, Dad."

Thatcher's face broke into a relieved smile. He pulled Piper into an embrace. "Oh, Piper!" he cried in relief. Seeing everything was going well, Aerrow slipped away quietly.

Piper turned a little pink. "Can't . . . breath!"

"Where have you been?" Thatcher exclaimed, loosening his grip. "Are . . . Are you wearing a Storm Hawks uniform?"

"Long story," Piper answered.

Thatcher herded her in the door. "Tell me . . ."

Piper went out to her Heliscooter after having a long talk with her father. She didn't see Aerrow's Skimmer anywhere nearby. She hoped that meant he had gone back to the Condor to take it easy, but she highly doubted it. Since when did Aerrow take it easy, no matter how much he needed rest? Besides, there was a place Piper wanted to visit, and she had a feeling Aerrow would be there.

She flew her Heliscooter west toward the hills. There it was—the cliff where Piper's mother had found the crystal now on her necklace, and the place where she met her two best friends. She landed at a wider part of the top of the cliff and was both happy and a little anxious to see Aerrow's Skimmer there as well. As glad as she was that he was there, she shook her head. At this rate, he'll never fully recover from his wounds.

Walking up to the edge of the cliff overlooking the valley, she saw him. Aerrow was sitting at the edge of the cliff, just watching the sunset. He must have gone back to the Condor at some point because he had picked up Radarr somewhere along the way. The little, furry co-pilot was curled next to Aerrow, flicking his tail.

Piper was wondering whether she should bother them or not when Radarr turned around and chirped to her. As always, Radarr had known she was there. Hearing him chirp, Aerrow turned around and smiled when he saw Piper. "Hey, Piper," he greeted.

"Hello, Sky Knight," Piper answered. "I thought I told someone to get back to the ship."

"Like you said," Aerrow countered, "I'm the Sky Knight. Doesn't that mean I give the orders?"

Piper came and sat down next to him. "That's what you think!" she laughed playfully.

"So," Aerrow asked, "how'd it go?"

"Well," Piper began, "he wasn't exactly happy with either of us when he heard why I ran away."

"I bet he was really mad at me."

"Yeah, but I made him see reason. After he got over that, he was actually kind of embarrassed when he realized the great Sky Knight Aerrow he was honored to meet was also the drifter that he had once falsely accused."

"I wondered how he would react to that." He leaned closer. "Are you staying here?"

"Maybe for a little while," Piper answered. "I got some things to catch up on." She looked out over the valley and the lake as the sun set behind the hills. "It's late. You should get back to the Condor." She stood and helped Aerrow to his feet. Standing up was still a small ordeal for him alone.

"What are you going to do?" Piper asked him.

Aerrow grinned. "Places to go, things to see."

"When you're better," Piper reminded him. She grasped his shoulder. "You really worried me earlier. Don't overdo yourself."

Aerrow could see her concern. He pulled her into an embrace. "It's okay," he told her. "I'll take it easy."

"Like I'd believe that," Piper muttered sarcastically. She looked into his eyes. "Why do you have to be so adventurous all the time?"

Aerrow shrugged. "Just restless, I guess." Radarr leaped up on Piper's shoulder and gave a chirp of agreement.

Piper sighed. "I guess this is good-bye."

"Only for a little while," Aerrow assured her. They were still standing close together, almost touching. Aerrow clasped Piper's hands in his. "You're still going to be a Storm Hawk, aren't you?"

"As if I'd be anything else," Piper answered. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Be careful, okay?"

Aerrow nodded. "Alright." He got into his Skimmer and Radarr leaped into the cockpit. He flashed her one last smile, the smile he always saved just for her. Then he flew away.

Piper knew what that smile meant: I love you. "I love you, too," she whispered. Oh, yes, she loved him with all her heart. But she could never tame him, and she knew it. The wanderlust had hold of him. The only thing to do was follow when she was ready to drift again.

I know that wasn't the most romantic seen ever, but my experience with romantic books and movies has taught me that sometimes the most romantic moments are not that "romantic" at all. In my favorite romantic moment on film, the characters don't even kiss. Go figure. Besides, they just started this relationship. You can't go into the kissing right away. Tell me what you think of this when you review.

Well, this is finally over. I'm going out of town tomorrow and probably won't have time to get online for awhile, but I'll be writing. My next fic will be a drabble series, so keep your eyes peeled for it. It should be up in about ten days or so.

Not bad for my first try at fanfiction, I must say.