Sadia yawned and quickly got up, walking towards the area in unreality where she could see Hayes. She smiled slightly and smoothed down her hair - a habit she still had from when he could actually see her.
Maze caught up with her. "Morning, Sadia. Heading to see your boyfriend?"
Sadia's eyes widened, and she nearly tripped on a curb. "Wha- he's not my boyfriend!"
Maze laughed and steadied her, teleporting them to where she could see the volcano. "Right... Whatever you say."
Sadia blushed and crossed her arms. "Thanks...and he's not. I haven't even seen him in...how long has it been now? Two thousand years?"
"Around 800 years," Maze corrected.
Sadia groaned. "It feels like forever..."
"Then just go back?" Maze suggested.
"But if I go back...then...just think what Ambros might do to our dimension..." Sadia frowned, fiddling with a strand of hair. "What if they got hurt?"
Maze sighed and put a hand on her shoulder. "My duty is to watch over a section of dimensions. There are so many, but I watch mine. But you've seen the effects your absence has had not only your planet and friends, but... Have you ever considered what effect it has on you?"
"Of course... I just want him to smile and hug me again... Good grief, why would he? He probably doesn't even care anymore..." Sadia sighed, glancing over at him with a frown. "And you've seen the way that Val girl likes him..."
Maze inwardly facepalmed. "Sadia, the Earth needs you."
Sadia thought for a moment. "No... The world doesn't need me... It could use a guardian though. Can you take me to Steven Prince's house?"
Maze shrugged and nodded, teleporting them to the point in unreality where they could see their house. Sadia walked over to Chloe's room.
"This is my great niece... Camilla's great granddaughter," Sadia explained. "She seems so sweet... She's perfect, don't you think? That way, they won't be so inconvenienced anymore with me gone."
Maze sighed and shook his head. "I mean, maybe... But I think you're missing the fact that before you were a guardian, you were a normal human who caught their attention. They care about you, not just what you did for them."
Sadia blinked then frowned slightly. "I...maybe. But this will help them."
She turned away and closed her eyes.
Maze just sighed slightly and waited. When would she understand how special she was to them?
- - - - -
Sadia cried and hugged Maze tightly. "I don't know what to do... I can't take it anymore, Maze. But your brother...what if he-"
Maze interrupted, "Sadia, the fate of a dimension isn't your responsibility. Besides that, Grace is getting older now... She can help."
"The human girl?" Sadia asked, sniffing.
"You'll see," Maze said with a shrug. "Anyways, you'll get through this. My brother is just as sick of this as you are. Maybe he'll listen to a truce."
"Really...? Do...do you think they still want me...?" Sadia asked, pulling away and wiping away her tears.
Maze laughed and shook his head. "Of course they do, Sadia. I've done my best to convey it to you, but... They don't just agree to give just any human a longer lifespan, superpowers, and become friends with her. You are incredibly special, Sadia Smith. Go get them."
Sadia glanced over at Arcadia and Ender. "I..."
"You aren't happy here. You deserve to be happy too," Maze said firmly. "I'll go get Ambros so you two can talk."
- - - - -
Ambros and Sadia ended up reaching an agreement... Both were freed from unreality.
When Hayes showed up, she couldn't help but run over and hug him. She had missed him so much. His smile and getting a hug from him was the best thing that had happened to her in almost a century. She was finally home... It was a little different with the aliens and the modern earth, but... In short...
Home was where Hayes was.
