Mary gave her hand to Lorne and felt a gentle breeze rise up beneath her. Looking at Lorne's smiling face Mary realized there was nothing beneath her feet! Looking down she saw the ground quickly disappearing. Mary was frightened and surprised, her knuckles turned white from her tightened grip of Lorne’s hand Her breathing quickened and her eyes were wide with alarm as she looked to Lorne for answers. As they continued to ascend, Lorne's face and body began to change. His clothes fell away towards the Earth revealing the most well-known superhero suit in the world. Very soon, Dr. Lorne Longoak was the Invincible Hero!

Shock was written all over her face. Mary was holding hands and flying through the sky with the Invincible Hero, but what about Lorne? What happened to Lorne?

"Where's Lorne?" Mary timidly asked. She had already forgotten she was flying through the sky. Right now, the missing Lorne and the present hero were more surprising to her than her intense phobia of heights.

"I'm right here Mary." Lorne smiled warmly.

"I am Dr. Lorne Longoak and the Invincible Hero," Lorne explained gently.

"I don't understand." Mary persisted.

Lorne sighed to himself, 'Such a smart girl but I guess the shock is just too much for her. I thought she would find this an exciting surprise. Still, it makes me happy she is so concerned for me.'

"Mary, you should know most superheroes have alternate identities. Lorne is my alternate identity," said Lorne.

Mary realized she was stubbornly foolish. It was obvious what the Invincible Hero...no, Lorne was telling her was true. She was just too shocked. Mary calmed her mind and after a few breaths she looked back at Lorne with a smile and said, "I suppose you want to talk about this, and I would feel more at ease discussing this on the ground. To be honest, I'm about to freak out. I'm scared of heights and I don't see anything below me." Mary tried to talk as calmly as possible, however, intense terror overtook her as tears began to form.

"Oh, I had no idea. I’ll land right away!" said Lorne.

The pair landed in a forest clearing. Mary started to calm down once her feet touched the ground. Lorne smiled apologetically at her. It never occurred to him she might be scared of heights.

Using his laser vision, Lorne cut down a tree and quickly used its wood to create table and chairs for the pair. He also built a fire.

"Lorne," said Mary.

"Yes?" Lorne responded.

"I'm not used to this Hero face of yours. Could you change back to the Lorne I know?" Mary asked.

"Oh...of course!" Lorne immediately changed his body shape and facial features to look like Dr. Longoak once more. However, he still remained in his super suit.

"You wouldn't happen to have regular clothes, would you? " asked Mary.

Lorne realized he hadn't thought this through. Before Mary's eyes, Lorne blurred slightly and was now in his regular clothing. Lorne flew back home, changed clothes and returned. He also picked up some snacks for them to enjoy as they talked.

"Better?" Lorne asked.

"Much," said Mary with a slight smile.

Things were awkward between the two for a few minutes. The pair simply quietly sat in their chairs looking up at the stars. Eventually, the two got lost looking into the sky above.

"I come from up there." Lorne finally said.

"The sky?" Mary asked.

"Yes, I'm not from this world. Before I was born my parents left our planet Zimwer and moved to Earth. They always told me they wanted the quiet life. They were on vacation and Earth seemed like a nice place to spend some time," said Lorne.

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"Really? Your parents sound very carefree," said Mary.

"That's what I used to think as well," said Lorne.

"Used to?" Mary asked.

"Hmm. I recently found out they were on the run. It turns out we were royalty on our planet of Zimwer. There were a coup and my family fled for their lives to Earth,” said Lorne.

"That's terrible! You just discovered this?" Mary asked.

Yes, I found out today just a few hours before our date." Lorne let out a loud sigh.

"Mary, I told you this morning I felt you were special from the very beginning. I was excited when you agreed to the date. I imagined many things. I thought we could slowly draw closer together. My thoughts were to wait until we dated a while, maybe until we were engaged before I shared my secret with you. However, I found out a few hours ago I don't have such a luxury. I'll never get to know you, we'll never get married. We'll never have a family. I had such high hopes." Lorne said.

Mary was overwhelmed but finally was able to ask, "Why not? Why aren't those dreams possible now?"

"The people who chased us from Zimwer found us. They'll be here in two years. They will destroy the Earth If we leave it. As powerful as I am, the truth is I am considered very weak by my people's standards. There's almost no hope my parents and I will survive," said Lorne.

Mary was startled and felt as if her heart were breaking. She never knew how much she hoped things would go well with Lorne. It was at this moment when she found out Lorne likely had just two years to live she began to panic.

"Lorne, it might sound crazy, but I don't want to be without you. I think I love you," said Mary.

Lorne was surprised and happy, but grim determination soon took over. "Mary, there's no future being with me as I'll probably be dead in two years. I can’t ask you to bear this burden.

"I'm willing to bare it, Lorne. Don't throw me away, don't try to protect me from your fate. Isn't there two years? Can't we be together during the time you have left?"

"Mary, what are you saying?" asked Lorne.

"I think...I think I'm asking you to marry me." As Mary said the words she couldn't help but let out a giggle.

Although surprised, Lorne suddenly realized this was something he wanted. He wanted it more than anything. In fact, this was the first thing he had ever wanted anything.

"Then let's do it, let's get married!" Lorne said. The new couple looked at each other and started laughing. Sweet tears gently flowed from Mary's eyes. Without expecting it, they suddenly found the person for whom they were looking. Even though their time together would be limited they knew they would treasure it. At this moment, all they could think about was the other person before them.

They married a week after Mary and Lorne talked in the woods. Since Lorne and his parents didn't believe they would survive the upcoming storm, Lorne decided to dispense with the alter ego. The wedding was attended by all the great leaders and heroes of Earth. Even regular humans like the staff at the Museum, their supporters and Marcia Matthews attended. She was so upset the man she loved, The Invincible Hero had disguised himself so well. How many times had she talked with the unassuming, geeky Dr. Longoak?

Marcia was upset, but mainly she was deeply sad. Not only did she lose out on the man of her dreams, she learned through the back channels Lorne was probably going to die in about two years. If she couldn't have this man, at least she wished he would have a happy life. Lorne's impending death broke her heart even more.

On a happier note, Mary's family attended the wedding and caused an even greater stir than all of the attending celebrities and heroes. Mary's humble human origins painted her as a Cinderella type protagonist. A common girl married into royalty. Unexpectedly Mary's Cinderella story caused a fanatical sensation about Mary and her family across the world.

The obsessive interest in all things Hubbs prompted the release of a Hubbs line of toys. Mary Hubbs was dubbed Maid Marion and came up with an action smash archeological hammer. Her father Arnie Hubbs' action figure was dressed up as a circus performer and dubbed Arnie the Karnie. Mary's mother Phylis was called Momma Luv and she came with funky 70's wear...for some reason. Finally, Mary's brother Harvey Hubbs was called Harvey the RV. The Harvey toy came with his own RV which transformed into battle armor. The craziness over the Hubbs was dubbed the Hubbs Hysteria.

The Japanese created an anime series called Sensēshonaruna Habusu wa Subete o Seifuku Suru No Ga Daisuki, or in English: "The Sensational Hubbs: Love conquers all." All of the Hubbs appeared in their toy version selves in the anime. There was also a small cute squishy character Mary would often hold in her arms.

In the anime, instead of living in America, the family lived in a small apartment in Japan. The Invincible Hero would drop by from time to time to show off his award-winning smile. The intro to the show had Mary walking alone looking longingly into the sky as a sudden flash of the Invincible Hero would show up through the intro from time to time as if saying: "Yes, I'm saving the world, but my heart is always with you." As it turned out those were some of the lyrics of the anime song. The anime and its song were an international hit.

No one could explain the Hubbs Hysteria and it was eventually agreed that no one should.

A year after Lorne and Mary were married they welcomed twins into the world. The twins were a boy and a girl. The boy was named Peter Allen Longoak and the little girl was named Georgiana Alaina Longoak. Everyone was so proud about the birth of the twins. It was decided the birth of the twins would be kept a secret. After all, they were also survivors of the royal family and the children had to be hidden.

The Longoaks and Hubbs retreated from public life. There was only another year until the Usurpers arrived. Lorne was slowly preparing himself.