Mid morning, Ayla just had to check her calendar. (..."I just know I've overlooked something...") There was so much going on right now. Something didn't seem exactly right. It seemed like a very long time since...Since she had had a period! She flipped back thirty, sixty (...Oh, my God. Today should be the start of my period. That means I've missed...one and this makes the second. I'm...I'm pregnant...) Less panicky, more serenely, she murmured, "I'm pregnant."

She gazed at her gorgeous love where he still lay on their bed, his face on her pillow, his beautiful hair spread all around his head. I hope it's a boy...for him. She approached the bed whispering, "Lane?...Lane?" One eye opened slowly.

"Mmm...?"

"Lane, darling, wake up." She seated herself next to him and brushed his hair out of his eyes. He smiled a drowsy, sweet smile and looked up at her, reaching out to slip his arm around her waist. "I have another surprise for you."

On a warm spring morning, Ayla lay by Lane's side, as they sat on their balcony in a chaise longue. She was cuddled into his chest, her bare feet tucked under her long skirt, his arm around her shoulders, his legs crossed at the ankles, as he read to her from her favorite book, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress." (..."for about the hundredth time!" He mused...) Her hand made a slow progress across his chest, clutching at his shirt and finally settling just inside his shirt, stroking his soft "fur." He glanced down and caught her gentle smile as she gazed adoringly up at him. Squeezing her shoulders, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head and resumed reading. After a few minutes, he realized she had stopped caressing his chest. He decided he could use a nap, too. He carefully marked the page he was on and laid the book on the side table; folded his reading glasses and dropped them into his breast pocket. Leaning his head back into the cushion with a contented sigh, he closed his eyes, a soft smile playing about his lips. After a few moments, he drifted off as well.

This is how Airen found them later that day. He was amazed at how much these two had loved each other and everyone their boundless hearts touched. He had known Ayla since she was born and in the sixty-two years since he'd met Lane, he never known a better man. Not sure what to do, he stood there a few moments before going off to notify the family that "the Towers" and his love had gone to their heaven.

"Farewell, my dearest friends."