Raine stands in front of two headstones and look at the familiar photos that were embedded into the headstone.  The photos are pictures of her mother and her father.  

Raine had not visited her parent’s last resting spot since she buried them.  Although she had journeyed through time and space, living several different lives as a man and a woman.  Here on Earth, it had only been five years since Raine Marcella died.  

She came back to visit her parents and to ensure her siblings were alright.  This would be her last time coming back to Earth, after this, she would leave everything behind and continue her journey in life with Isao until the end of time.  

She had brought white lilies for her mother and sunflowers for her father.  She had been standing in front of the headstones for at least an hour, speaking to them about her journey and unburdening herself of any guilt she may still have.   

Raine heard the sound of a car stop behind her as two people made their way towards her.  

They stopped beside her and watched Raine for a moment and placed their flowers on top of the headstone as well.  They did not want to disturb the gorgeous woman who had her eyes closed and her hands, laid flat against each other as she prayed.  

Raine opened her eyes and looked to the side and saw that she knew one of the two people to her side.  

“Good afternoon.”  The woman spoke.  

“Good afternoon.”  Raine answered back.  

“How do you know my parents?”  Leo asked as he reached out to hold his wife’s hand.  

“I’m a friend of Raine.”  Raine told them.  

“Oh.”  Leo said as the slight smile he had on his face became a sad frown.  “You knew Raine.”  

Raine nodded her head.  

“Did you know her well?”  

Raine nodded her head again.  

“That’s good.”  Leo said more to himself than to the woman in front of him.  “I’m glad to know that Raine had good friends in her life. Even though she wasn’t blessed with good family members, she at least has good enough friends to visit my parents.”   

Raine kept quiet as Leo got lost in his thoughts.  

“Tell me.”  The woman said as she began to question Raine.  “If you were such good friends with Raine, why weren’t you there when Raine died?”  

Raine smiled slightly at the protective woman.  

“I was there.”  Raine told them.  

The color drained from the woman’s face as she realized the possibility that Raine made friends with other cancer patients.  

“You were sick too?”  She asked.  

Raine nodded her head.  

“How’s your health?  Is it better now?”  

Raine nodded her head once again.  “Fully cured.” 

“That’s good.  I’m happy for you.”  The woman beside Leo said.  “Thank you for being with Raine when she needed someone and thank you for visiting her parents on her behalf.”  

“I should be going now.”  Raine told them as she looked at Leo’s blank look.  It was as if he was lost in his memories.  

“Thank you again.”  The woman said as she turned to her husband.  

Raine took four steps away before turning to Leo.  

“Leo.”  Raine’s voice carried enough strength to it that it broke Leo’s dark thoughts.  “Don’t blame yourself for not being there for Raine in her time of need. She wasn’t alone.  I know she didn’t want any of her siblings to see her in that state. To her, she only wanted all of you to remember her as strong, hardworking and selfless. She only wanted the best for you all and would only wish for your happiness.  Don’t dwell over what you should have done or could have done, it's already too late for any of that. If you want to pay her back for all of the things she did for you guys. Pay her back in the full and happy life you live, let her see that her sacrifice was worth it.”  

Raine walked towards Isao who stood by their car and opened the door for her.  He ran over to the driver side of the car and once inside, he and Raine drove away leaving Leo and his wife behind.      

Leo and Jamie looked at the car driving away until they could not see it anymore.  Leo turns back to Jamie as he thinks about the words that the mysterious woman told him.  

“Did you get her name?”  Leo asked as his eyes flicker with some doubt.  

“Sorry I didn’t.”  

“There’s something about her that seems familiar.”  Leo told his wife.  

“What is it?”  

“I don’t know, but I feel as if I know her.”  Leo frowned with worry.  

“Have you met her before?”  

“No.”  Leo said as he turned back to his parent’s headstone.  

“Then how is it that she knows your name?”  Jamie asked with wonder.  

“I...don’t know.”  Leo frowned even more as he sighed.  “whoever she is, what she said helped me a lot.  It untied the knot in my heart that was there when I found out about Raine’s death.”  

“Honey.”  Jamie said as she hugged Leo.  “I wish I could have met Raine.”  

“Me too.”  Leo agreed.  “She would have loved you.”  

Leo kissed Jamie on the cheek before leaving the cemetery.  With his new lease in life, he made sure to pay Raine back for everything that she did for him by living a good and happy life with his wife and kids.  He even named his first daughter Raine.  

As for his siblings, they too named their first daughter Raine too.  

~~~~~~~~~~~

Raine and Isao lived their best life as well.  Spending every moment together as husband and wife. Or husband and husband.  Or wife and wife. Or wife and husbands. Or Husband and husbands. 

No matter which gender they became in the different worlds, they were always able to come together and live a happy life until the end of time.  

As for Scam and Odan, they were too busy running I.T.S. to stay with Raine and Isao for a long period of time.  But Scam being Scam, could always find time to stay beside Raine’s side more often than Odan.  

“Nooooooooooooooooooo!  Raine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Help me!  Save me! I don’t want to go back!  I don’t want to own this company anymore!  It’s too much work! I want to be with you!”  Scam shouted as Odan dragged Scam’s body away by grabbing the back of his collar, and dragging him away from Raine’s side.  “I want to live a lazy life with you!!!!!!”  

Raine could only smile at the two of them as she waved goodbye to them.

Once they were gone Isao came back into the room and laid down and rested his head on her lap.  

“Are they finally gone?”  Isao asked.  

“Yeah, and Scam cried while being dragged back to work by Odan.”  Raine answered. “Scan said he was sure he hid his whereabouts to Odan.  How did Odan find him so fast?”  

“Would Scam be mad if he knew that it was me who ratted him out to Odan?”  Isao confessed.  

“It was you?!?”  Raine called out loud as she began to laugh.  

“Of course it was me.  It’s me every time! He’s taking up your time and attention away from me, so why wouldn’t I tell Odan to come get his wife?!?”  

Raine leaned down and kissed the big vinegar jar that was her lover and her husband before going back to reading the book she set down as Isao closed his eyes to take a nap on her lap.  

Raine knew that without the adventures with Isao as her lover, Scam and Odan as her friends.  She would never know what love is and the meaning of happiness. Without them, she would never have been blessed with and easy and lazy life.   

The End

Thank you so much for your patience, your love and support.  Sorry for the long wait.  I have already begun writing my next book and will post it soon.  If you like my stories, please consider supporting my work.  It will be a big help for me to continue writing more stories. 

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