~ A Month Later ~

Hera shut and zipped the lid to a suitcase. The smell of the old, N.A.S.A building's interior lingered with her. The warehouse and its varying substances lingered in her nostrils the longest, for that is where she spent most of her time. But there was also the smell of the control room. That's where she found her power crazed mother after nineteen years, watched Ground 2 disappear, created ALTERNATE, and watched the Earth gravitate towards its orbit field.

Hera grabbed the handle on the suitcase. Her feet moved her out of the changing room and towards the exit. Opening the door, she took a final look inside and pat the doorframe. With one last inhale of the inside air and all of its smells, Hera stepped out. Hera's dad and Eva were lined up in the parking lot. Even Harper was there, having brought Hera's mustang all the way here.

"Where are you off to now, kiddo?" Hera's father asked as Hera came near to the group.

Hera popped the trunk on the mustang and slung the suitcase inside. After slamming it closed, Hera answered.

"I am going back home. I know it's in Pennsylvania, but I can't stay in South Carolina any longer. I'm going to meet up with Soal there, help out with the cleanup on the areas that were once a part of Ground 2, and maybe, after all that, start writing an autobiography on the whole thing."

"And don't forget. I'll be there to help you the whole time," Eva spoke up. She strolled to Hera's side, a suitcase of her own in hand. Pointing to it, she asked, "can I put this in the trunk along with yours?"

Hera unlatched the trunk. "Sorry. Yeah. I forgot you were coming with me."

'Hera, you knew that. You knew we had tons of catching up to do, also."
Hera teased. "Did I?"

A rough pinch landed on Hera's forearm.

"Ow!"

"You deserve it."

"No I don't."

"Yes! You d-"

"Girls!" cried Hera's father.

Hera shook her head, a chuckle tickling her throat. "I guess we still have the hang of our 'famous' verbal fights."

"Petty verbal fights. But, yeah."

Mr. Si sighed. "So both of you are leaving me behind."

"You still have mom." A smile crept on Hera's face.

Mr. Si rolled his eyes. "She's in prison!"

"Yeah. So?" Eva replied.

"She's no company."

"You married Miss Crazy," came a voice from behind Mr. Si.

Everyone turned or craned their necks to get a look at who had answered Mr. Si. Timothy stepped up in a paperboy hat and a long, tan trench coat. He wore one of the brightest smiles none of the four had seen in a long time.

"Who's this?" Harper asked, her voice shy and quiet.

"This is my grandfather, my mother's father," Hera answered.

"Oh." Harper held out a hand for Time to shake. "It's nice to meet you, sir."

Tim took the hand and gave it a firm shake. "It's a pleasure, darlin." Tim turned his gaze towards Hera and then to the Mustang behind her. "I see you still kept my beauty. She still bucking two hundred miles per hour?"

Hera gave a small smile. "Yep. And maybe a little extra with the tune-ups I gave her."

"I'm glad I came. Could I hear her purr again before you leave?"

"Of course, Grandpapi."

Tim nodded. "So. Your father, here, doesn't want either of yah to go?"

"That's not it, Tim. Hera and Eva are all grown up and can make their own decisions. It's... Just... I don't have anybody left. Except Soal...I guess."

"That's not true. I'll be around. We could hang out. Maybe play the classic game of parcheesi."

"Oh. Thanks. Maybe I'll just give Soal some company."

"Well that hurt." Tim looked over at Hera and Eva, casually passing a teasing wink.

"We'll be in calling distance now," Eva offered.

"Or driving distance," Hera added. "At least we're not a space ship's flight away anymore."

"That's very true, girls," Tim answered.

"I'll have to get adjusted to that again," Mr. Si spoke up.

"It's going to be a real change for all of us, dad," Eva said.

Mr. Si smiled. "I guess you can get on with your road trip now." A small frown took the smile's place.

Hera wrapped her arms around Mr. Si. "I love you, Pop."

Eva joined in. "I do too."

"I love you too, girls." Mr. Si planted a kiss on both Hera's and Eva's head. "I'm sorry for how I was when you two were younger. I'm here for you know if you ever need me. Even if it is just to talk, I'll try my best to listen."

An aching began at the back of Hera's throat, and tears welled in her eyes. She hugged her father tighter. "Thank-you."

When Hera pulled away, she looked at Timothy. Tim replied, "I'll see you girls later. Maybe I'll venture to Pennsylvania soon and see how the work ethic is going. Just know that I'll be here too. Call me whenever you like. And, like your Gram used to say, call me when you get home. I like to hear that you got home safe and sound."

"Will do, Grandpapi." Hera embraced Timothy. Then after removing herself, she turned and got into the Mustang. She started the car, and a low grumble resonated beneath the hood. Backing it out a little ways and maneuvering it in the direction she wanted to venture, she left it in neutral and pumped the gas pedal.

In the rear view, Tim smiled, tears glistening in his eyes. Hera pumped it another few times. For Gram, she thought.

After a minute of idling, both Harper and Eva hopped in. Harper willingly took the cramped back seat, and Eva chose shotgun. Rolling down her window, Hera cried her final "good-bye" before shifting into gear and driving off. Her hand cast a wave in the rear windshield. Glancing at the rear view, she caught Timothy's and Mr. Si's returned good-bye waves.

"Good-bye," Hera mouthed.

Eva watched Hera. "Are you alright?"

Hera glanced at Eva momentarily. "Great, now that Earth is a whole and we're travelling back home."

Eva smiled.

"Just as long as no one has trashed my apartment, since I've been gone."

Harper replied. "We made sure nothing happened to it. Everything is just like you left it."

"Good." The thought left a nagging question. "Did people settle down with the whole split Earth thing after I left, Harper?"

"Mostly. Yes. There were still a few that doubted you. they thought that repairing the Earth was going to be impossible. Crazy even."

"And was it crazy? Yes. But it was not impossible. I wonder how they feel now that their ideas were proved wrong?"

"I'm sure, like everyone else, ma'am, they're filled with profound joy."

Hera sighed. "What's your guys thoughts on Earth being a whole again?"

"I feel like I'm home. Indifferent," Eva replied.

"I feel as if my life has returned to me," Harper added.

"I agree," Hera responded. "I feel as if the efforts and risks taken weren't in vain. Everything clicked into place."

Hera hooked onto a highway. She shifted a few times. Then, maintaining a constant speed, rested her hand away from the shifter. Eva seized the opportunity to hold Hera's hand. She gave it a comforting squeeze.

"Thank - you for bringing us home. Our complete home."

Hera glanced at Eva, her eyes momentarily removing themselves from the road. "And thank - you for coming home and being there with me every step of the way, sis."

"Always."