The Final Countdown: 1.0Gwenyth had hugged each of her children before they left.
Gwenyth: "Have fun at University, dear."
Giles: "I will, mom."
Gwenyth: "Enjoy your honeymoon, Evan."
Evan: "Will do."
Gwenyth: "Have fun, where ever you're going. Just don't get carried away and forget to come back in time for Lilith's wedding."
Vera: "Wouldn't miss it."
Gwenyth: "It's in Midnight Hollow, remember."
Vera: "I know! I know! Relax, mom."
Gwenyth: "Just checking."
One by one the Dojos had packed their things and gone, leaving Gwenyth alone in an empty house. The dynasty was finished, so where was Carmen? She wished her mother would tell her, but Samura's presence was strangely absent.
She hesitated before downing her young again potion, alone.
And she waited.
Days passed. Night fell. Morning rose.
Gwenyth watched and waited, until one morning she spotted a familiar frame in the distance.
She bolted down the stairs and out the door as fast as her legs would propel her.
Gwenyth: "Carmen!" she shouted, literally jumping into his arms.
He was a little startled by the forcefulness of the impact. Carmen stumbled backwards for a moment, but he caught her and regained his balance.
Gwenyth: "Is it really you? Is this finally happening? Oh promise me you'll never let me go again!" Tears of joy rained down her face as she breathed in the sweet scent of him for the first time in hundreds of years.
Carmen just chuckled, his voice deep and low. "Yes it's me. Who else?"
He took her hand and held it up to his face. "See? Solid. In the flesh. No more ghostiness."
She smirked. "Hm, I dunno. I think I need at least one more hug, just be sure."
"If you insist," he teased, as Gwenyth hugged him with all her might.
As she did, she spotted a ghost peering at them from amid the trees, and Gwenyth suddenly understood why her mother's presence had been absent from her the last few days.
"Thank-you," she mouthed silently.
Samura just nodded and smiled softly.
The last tendrils of the morning sun stretched out over the hillside, and she was gone.
Somehow, Gwenyth knew she wouldn't be hearing her mother's voice in her mind anymore. Where ever Samura's spirit had gone, it was no longer on this mortal plane.
She blinked back tears, overcome with emotion.
Carmen: "What is it?" he asked.
Gwenyth just shook her tears away. "It's nothing. I just . . .
Gwenyth: "It's just . . . I don't know what to do first! We can go anywhere--anywhere you want! There's even time travel to the future, and whole news worlds to explore and--"
Carmen stopped her babbling with a kiss. "How about we start . . . with this new bedroom of yours? I'm
very curious to explore that."
Gwenyth laughed, grabbed him by the lapels of his shirt, and slowly walked him backwards into the house.
They let the door slide shut behind them.