Just as she had done that terrible night, instinct drove her into his arms. This time, however, she took slow, deliberate steps as her eyes filled. His arms folded around her as her soft crying blended with the sound of the gentle waves of the lagoon.

"Jeez, what�s with all the waterworks?"

Alex turned at Nick's loud comment and laughed as she wiped at her tears. Rachel pulled herself away from the young man, as she too dabbed her eyes.

"He did live, you know," Nick teased the women. "Then we went inside and had that breakfast. Remember?" He looked around. "Ah, speaking of food, I'm hungry."

Rachel chuckled. "Nick, I think you were born hungry. Come on," she said, taking his arm. "Let's go back and get you some more dessert."

Alex watched them go, uncertain of what to do. "Derek, do you want to head back?" she asked quietly as she gazed up at him.

"Why don't we walk for a bit." He took her hand. "There will be a nice moon to light our way after the sun sets." They ambled along in the opposite direction. She wanted to talk more about that night, but she was hesitant to destroy the mood he was in. It was too nice an evening to spoil with that reality.

They strolled in silence, and she enjoyed the sounds around them. She heard a bird in the distance and the splashing of the surf on the shore. Taking a deep breath, she savored the amazing aromas of the fresh air and native flowers as they wafted in on the early evening breeze. If she had been told a month ago that she would be walking hand-in-hand with Derek Rayne on the beach of a tropical island... She would have thought it was some trick of the Darkside. Part of her still feared...

She shook her head, dismissing the ridiculous thought. The Darkside had attempted quite a few schemes to bring down the San Francisco House, but having Derek survive to treat them to two weeks in Bora Bora wouldn't seem to be in their bag of tricks. She laughed softly.

"And what are you giggling about?" He turned to her, that lovely eyebrow of his lifted in the quizzical way it would when he questioned or was puzzled by something.

"It's the... uh..." She grinned at him. "Sand in my shoes. I'm sorry, Derek, but I've got to take these off." He stopped and she leaned on him as she pulled off her shoes. "They really aren't made for meandering in sand," she said as she held up the low heels.

He returned her smile. "You're right, and that's a good idea. I think I'll take mine off as well." She stared in surprise as Derek sat down on the beach and pulled off his shoes and socks. "Why don't we leave them over here?" He placed both pairs underneath a coconut palm tree. "Remember where we parked," he said, then chuckled. She could do nothing but nod, her eyes wide as he bent and rolled up the legs of his pants.

He took her hand again and they wandered further down the beach. They took their time as they sauntered along the water's edge, getting their feet wet as small waves rolled in. The water was cool against her feet in the waning warmth of the day. She relished these treasured moments as they strolled near the shore and a light wind ruffled his hair. It was so marvelously peaceful, an experience that she had not had in a very long time.

"Have you ever seen anything so absolutely beautiful?" She heard the awe in his voice as he stopped and pointed ahead of them. She was surprised by his emotion, but it was also understandable as they gazed at the golden light on the water. The sun was hidden behind a cloud, but its rays burst from the sides that both highlighted the palm trees around them and silhouetted those on the motu across the lagoon.

"You know, the wonder and splendor of nature is magnified in this paradise, I think," he said as he squeezed her hand.

"It's hard to believe that we're really here in such a beautiful place," she said gently, almost afraid to disturb the stillness. "I have no idea what possessed you to do this, but thank you."

He laughed. "I thought we needed a nice change of scenery." But something in his voice rankled her.

"Why? So we wouldn't ask questions about that night?" She frowned. "Why did you have to use me to lure the others out?" Stepping away from him, she freed her hand and looked out at the final stage of sunset, but its beauty was gone. "Do you have any idea what that would have done to me if you had died?" Her voice rose and she fought to keep it under control. "You told us earlier that you weren't going to come out. If you hadn't... If the C-4 had gone off..." She lowered her face to hide the tear sliding down her cheek. She angrily swiped it away before glaring at him. "I would have had to live with your death on my conscience. Was that part of the plan?"

"Alex, that's not true, and you know I never would have wanted you thinking that." His tone was soft, soothing, but the sensation of waking up that night in the garden and realizing what he had done to her was once more fresh in her memory.

"Why did you do it, Derek? Why spray me? Did you think I might figure out what you were doing?" She snickered. "Well, you didn't have to worry about that. I had no damn clue. My Sight was blind that night."

"I knew that if I had said that you had been attacked, Nick and Rachel would have come running," he said quietly as he took a step toward her. "You had already been attacked by those black shadows, and I needed you out of the house for your own safety. That's why I called you out to the griffin."

"Oh my God..." A chill flew down her spine as she stared at the precept. "The griffin. I said that you sounded as if you were saying goodbye." Her voice became a whisper. "You were. You knew the cross was there; you were saying goodbye to me."

"That's... It's one of the reasons why I picked you to be the one I sprayed." His eyes gazed straight out at the setting sun. "I... needed to say goodbye to you."

"Even if I had no idea that's what you were doing. I thought you were..." She blushed fiercely and spun away from him.

"That I was what?" His breath brushed against her bare shoulder.

"Just..." She hugged herself as she shivered and stepped forward. "Something evidently not..." Sighing, she glanced down at her bare feet in the water. "Something entirely different than what you had planned."

"But I also told you that if I had been more human that we might have had something." He walked over to her and slipped his jacket around her shoulders. "I'm trying to work harder to be that now, so I wonder..." He turned her to him and raised her hands to his lips, kissing one of them. "I'd like to find out if we could. Have something, I mean. Would you... like that?"

She looked at him and prayed that she wouldn't faint.

End part 12