The door flung open as Fort pushed past a man in a white coat.
Either Noble's husband had grown incredibly strong in her absence or the Awakened doctor was trying not to hurt him.
"Director Fort, I must insist..." The doctor tried. A security guard was in the doorway as well, yet his arms hung idly at his side.
"Leave." He told the group of medical personnel trying to make their way into the room. "Now."
Sarai winked at Noble before helping the stunned hospital staff to comply. The door shut with a soft click, leaving the couple alone.
Noble stood by the bed, frozen in place. She looked down at her hospital gown and blushed heavily. This is not how she expected her reunion with her husband to go.
Fort's face was drawn taut as he studied the woman before him. He was angry, confused, and overcome with a myriad of emotions.
But then...
"Noble?" he asked tentatively.
"Fort." Noble answered, unsure of the question he was asking.
He pinched himself. Tears filled his eyes. "I've had this dream so many times. But...you're...you're really here?"
"I'm really here." The woman answered. "I'm home."
Fort looked as handsome as ever. He had aged since she last saw him, probably from stress, but to Noble, he was the most gorgeous sight she had ever seen.
"It...it is you!" Fort took a step forward, still unsure of what he was seeing.
His strange reaction made Noble wonder how many times his dreams had turned to nightmares when he finally found his wife. The man looked as if he thought Noble might turn into a monster any moment.
She floated toward him and placed her hand on his chest. His heart was beating wildly.
Remaining perfectly still, Noble let Fort study her as long as he needed. Slowly, his hand reached up to push back a strand of hair from her face. His fingers ran along the side of her cheek and down her jaw, sending the sensation of fire across her skin in his wake.
"Noble!" Fort said, this time with conviction.
His eyes pierced into her soul, making her feel seen for the first time in months.
"I know I look a mess..." Noble was suddenly self-conscious.
"You're perfect."
Fort did not wait for a response. He pressed his lips against hers as the fingers against Noble's face moved to entangle themselves in her hair.
Noble's hands instinctively slipped around his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss.
All of Fort's emotional defenses dropped, allowing his full, unadulterated love to splash upon her consciousness and mingle with her own.
Feeling his strong arm wrap around her waist, Noble knew she was finally home.
'This is so much better than Ascending.'
The joy that flooded her senses was beyond words. She reveled in the warmth of Fort's touch, the scent of his skin, and the taste of his kiss.
It was intoxicating.
And far too brief for her liking.
Her husband pulled away to take a gasp of air, and Noble realized she had nearly suffocated him.
Not that he minded. The smile on his face as well as the twinkle in his eyes spoke of how much he had enjoyed the exchange.
Fort refused to let her go. Noble rested in his embrace.
"I didn't want to believe it." The man leaned down and caught his wife's lips briefly. "Others have claimed to be Queen Bee, so when Teddy said it was you, I thought I must be dreaming again."
He rested his chin on her head and pulled her close.
"But I'm not dreaming."
"Neither am I," Noble sighed happily. Oh, how she had longed for this moment!
They spent a long time in silence just holding each other.
Noble felt a droplet hit her hair and she smiled. She understood her husband's emotions; she was crying too.
"I'm sorry!" Both blurted at the same moment.
There was an awkward pause. They pulled apart slightly, each searching the other's face.
"I'm sorry for leaving you!" Fresh tears cascaded down Noble's face. "I didn't want to! It wasn't on purpose…"
"Shhh…" Fort pulled her head against his chest. "I know, I know. I interviewed Captain Styss myself. He told me how bravely you fought before he handed over half of the Other's Voice. I assured him I would get the Memory into the right hands."
"And you did. I heard you wanted to come yourself." Noble pulled her chin up to rest on the man's shoulders. "Is that why you are sorry? Because you didn't come?"
"Yes and no. I wish I had been able to help you in the Nightmare. But I also know you would have been furious, and I probably would have gotten myself killed trying to jump ranks like that."
Fort smiled self-depreciatingly before becoming serious once more.
"The reason I said sorry was because I did not get here sooner. I was in a meeting with the Chancellor. I came the moment my assistant Teddy got me the message."
"I noticed you were in a bit of a rush," Noble remembered the vehicle outside, "I didn't know you could drive. And when did you get a PTV?"
Fort coughed. "I might have commandeered the Chancellor's car…"
"You stole Gui's car and crashed it?!" The floating woman pulled away quickly and looked at her husband in shock.
"He said I could use it, but I think he meant I could use his driver as well." Fort scratched the back of his head. "I'll get it repaired, don't worry!"
Noble nodded, deciding to let the matter pass. It was a little sweet that he had been so eager, and no one had been hurt. Hopefully.
"I'm just glad you are here."
"Enough about me: You are a Master!" Fort beamed.
"I had help, thanks to you." Noble was very grateful.
"I am sure you could have soloed it," her husband said easily. "But a little back-up is always nice."
Noble could feel the underlying tension in his words. He had been confident in her ability but also knew the Spell could be cruel.
Shaking away the sadness, Fort grinned.
"And now I have a Master for a wife! Master Noble has a nice ring to it."
Noble chuckled. "Please don't go around calling me that. It's awkward. Unless you want me to go around calling you Director…"
The unspoken question hung in the air.
"I was promoted from deputy director a couple of weeks ago. A lot has been happening in the time you've been gone." Fort chewed his lip. "We can talk about all that later."
"Hm, we will talk about everything when we get home." Noble thought of the house she loved.
Then she thought of the people she loved who lived there.
"Rainy? Brock? Blaze?" Noble raised her eyebrows.
Were they well? Were they happy and healthy? Fort said a lot had happened. Had Rain been infected by the Spell and pulled into a Nightmare?
"The kids!" Fort searched the walls for a clock. "It was a half-day of school and I was rushing through that meeting to go get them when I heard the news about this!"
"Sarai!" Noble yelled, knowing the other Master would not be far away.
Sure enough, the woman opened the door almost instantly.
"Yes?"
"Can you find someone to get the kids from school and bring them home? It was a half day." Noble asked her friend.
"Got it!" Sarai pulled out a communicator. "I'll also send in the doctor to get you discharged so you can meet them at the house."
"Thank you," Noble made a heart with her hands at her friend.
Sarai dipped a curtsy. "Anything for you, Your Majesty!"
The door shut softly.
"Your Majesty?" Fort quirked an eyebrow. "I haven't heard her call you that before."
Noble looked down sheepishly. "Oh…Didn't I tell you? I'm the leader of a nation now."