James: Come this way, Please.

Drakes: Is she going to be, okay?

James: She cried herself to sleep. Thomas will be there to keep her company. He really is incredibly special to her, and he will keep her company.

Drakes: She never told me.

James: I have a question.

Drakes: That… I guess that is what we are doing.

James: What planet are you from?

Drakes: Dol

James: A planet of artist. So are you an artist?

Drakes: In a way, I want to use art to fix the plants to repair so many worlds. My question for you is, Why do you live by yourself?

James: The voices, I hear voices of the past in my head. So I came out here with Izzy after my brother and his wife died. I was fearful that my past would come for her again. Let’s go this way.

They walked up to a stone wall where a large stone wall with a large wooden door. He opened the door and gestured for him to walk through. As they stepped through the door the light had changed. Before them stood a forest of glowing bamboo.

Drakes: What is this? How did you grow a forest of Malie? Did you still this from my people?!

James: Slow down. This is not from the forest of Malie. Not really at least. This is bamboo from earth a special kind that does well in this soil. A side effect is glowing. Touch the soil if you want. It is safe now.

Drakes reached down and touched the soil it was hard and seemed to be tainted. His hand was covered in residue.

Drakes: What is this?

James: Izzy loved bamboo when she was small and still does to this day.

Drakes: She is always drawing it and even decorated our room in bamboo.

James: So you share a room.

Drakes: We hope to have a place of our own. We have both applied to the environmental development program. We are working on our capstone together so we will have a better chance to work together. We want to help create communities where the environment and the people can prosper together in balance.

James: What planet are you trying to get assigned to?

Drakes: We do not care, as long as it is together. It is amazingly hard for someone to get a position but if one of us gets a position even the other can be hired as their assistant. If that happens, we both have committed to work together as the same as we would have been hired together.

James: If I remember you two are staying a week. Take her out here later. The last time she saw this area it was not doing well. She will get hungry soon.

As the two started walking back to the small house the sun started to set. A small two lights were lit in a window as they approached.

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Izzy: So, did you boys have a fight or something?

James: I just showed him around at some of my projects.

Izzy: Well, what are we going to do now?

James: Relax and talk.

Drakes: Really, we are just going to relax?

James: Well, we can try we have opened up about our family so let us just have a few drinks and enjoy the evening.

Izzy: Well what do you have to drink? Some moonshiners secret apple pie or something like that.

James: It is grape. I also have some hard apple cider and Fin wine.

They all sat around the fireplace with their chosen drinks.

James: I have one more question. It is just as important to me as it is to Izzy. What about children, Izzy I know you always want to have children but how will this work? Genetically you cannot have children together.

Drakes: You are a—

Izzy quickly put her hand out.

Izzy: While genetics says we cannot produce their own there are plenty of children that can use our help. Of all races, there are those torn from other wars and others who have been cast off from systems. We have already talked to several governments… Upon graduation and one of us getting a carrier, they would only get a few recommendations from a few people and some interviews with our families.

James: I can see it now.

Drakes: It is important to Izzy that you would stand-in for her family and insisted we came here even though we still had one semester to go. She wanted to make sure you would be ready for guests to arrive.

James: I see… Well, I need to get some sleep.

James got up. His body no longer showed the vigor from before but made loud cracking sounds. He started to head to his bedroom.

Izzy: Well Uncle!

James: Well, what.

Drakes: You have heard everything that you have to stay.

James stopped at the bedroom door never looking at them. Standing for a moment.

James: At midnight. Drakes take her farther down the path we took today, and my answer will be there.

James stepped through the door and shut it hard. Izzy and Drakes sat there talking and crying all the while Thomas sat between them for hours. Thomas got up and headed to a little house above the door. They both got up stretched and started out the door.

____________________________________________________________________________________

As they walked out into the night the moon shined brightly. So bright that there was no reason to carry lights. They came to the wall.

Izzy: This wall is much bigger than before.

Drakes: It is so strange to have this wall here in the first place.

Izzy: My Uncle was determined to create a special garden for me when I was smaller. HE wanted to create a safe place, but the land was ruined by some old battle.

Drake: Well, you are ready for a surprise.

As Drakes opened the large heavy door the glow of the forest filled the area. Izzy gasped at the radiance of it all. Not just the green glow of the Bamboo but purple flowers and yellow grass. It was bright but it also was gentle on the eyes. The path was easy to see as they walked further into the forest. Till they reached a pond that a small fox was drinking from it. As they came closer a small cabin started to have lanterns light up.

Izzy: Beautiful

Drakes: That cabin… It is not an earth design.

Izzy: Yes, it is a place once called the Philippines.

Drakes: But it looks like my home of my father.

Izzy: let’s go check it out.

As they approach, they felt the cool breeze as they came up to the door. The fox barked at them before going into the forest. As they reached the front door it opened with a warm light that led into a small cabin where there was a bed in front of a fire. As they came in there was food set out and wine and water. On the bed was a letter. Izzy went over and started to read it as tears rolled down her eyes. She handed it over to Drakes.

Dear Izzy and Drakes,

While my past is stained with the crimes that I performed and those that they performed. The cycle needs to be ended. I may have old ways but I recognize that they are not the correct ways. I will do everything in my power to help. This cabin and this forest are yours. I have one request that when you two are ready please get married here. Bring any and all I will prepare for all of them. Enjoy the cabin there is food and drink till lunch so relax and enjoy.

James

P.S.

Sorry, one last request please bring the grandkids around.

The two of them just stood there holding each other. As they decided to lay down on the bed. Something felt off behind Drakes back as he pulled out there was the Teddy bear.

Drakes: When did he---

Izzy: Shh

She put her finger on his lips. Then took the teddy bear and put it on the floor.

Izzy: Trust me teddy you do not want to see this.