Wish Upon a Star
By Kimberley Comeaux

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Greystone Hall was magnificent.  It reminded her of the Pemberly Mansion, as it was portrayed on   A & E's version of Pride and Prejudice.  Tall and wide and made of sand colored stone, it rivaled Buckingham Palace.  But where you might think such a place would be cold and empty, inside there was a warmth and charm - almost cozy, if one can be cozy in such a large place. 

And Alex had been right.  There was a hall full of generations of Maxwells.  All the men bore striking resemblances to Alex and Darian with their dark good looks and confident stance.   Alex had shone her to the hall just after they'd arrived, giving her a small tour of the place.

She turned and smiled at Alex as they continued down the long hallway.  "It's amazing that you have all this history about your ancestors.  We in America can barely tell you who our great-great-grandparents were or where they were from."

He smiled and patted her hand that was resting in the crook of his arm.  "I'm luckier than most of the nobility, I suppose.  Most estates have been sold because of high taxes and lack of family funds.  But most still know where they've come from, and if it gets lost along the way, then we just make it up!" he told her with a dashing smile.

Kristy laughed.   "You guys aren't the only ones who have free license to do that!  I know of a half a dozen people who have claimed to be kin to the outlaw Jessie James!  Why that would make them feel proud, I have no idea.  And of course most claim to have an Indian grandmother somewhere in their line."

"What   kind of ancestry do you claim?"

She lifted her eyebrows and gave him a superior look.  "Why, I have it on good authority that I'm from pure Irish potato farmer stock.  Of course I too had an Indian grandmother!"

They both laughed at that and then they finally reached the end of the hall.  There in a beautifully crafted frame was Alex Maxwell's portrait.  It was a smaller than the others.

"I didn't want a large portrait painted of me alone.  I want to add the portrait of my wife when I marry," he explained.

She looked up at him.  "Christiana should have her portrait there."

He nodded solemnly.  "Yes, she should.  But that may not happen."

Kristy looked away.  "I wish I knew what to do, Alex.  I'm so confused."

He stunned her by taking her into his strong arms and pulling her head to his chest.  "We will work through this together, Kristy.  The answers will come.  They must," he whispered gruffly against the smooth silkiness of her hair.

Kristy didn't pull away, but rather gave herself over the comfort that Alex was offering.  He made her feel safe.  Could she grow to love Alex?  Could she forget her time in the past and concentrate on a future with this lovable, gentle man?

At the moment it seemed unthinkable.  But she would think on these things during the week to come.

And think she did.  Although it was hard sometimes, with Alex entertaining her.  They toured around the area, and he allowed her to meet his mother and brothers. (Although she had to pretend she'd already met them, since Christiana had already done so.)  They were nice folks, just like Alex was.

Alex.   Kristy wondered what would have happened if she'd met him before she'd met Darian.   Kristy knew that she would have been attracted to him and maybe have even had a relationship with him.  But she had met Darian first and Darian was the man that she loved.  The man that she now knew that she couldn't live without.

Tonight, she expect Jubal to return to her.  Tonight, she was going to tell him that she'd made up her mind.  Tonight, she hoped and prayed that Christiana made the same decision as she.

But she needed to tell Alex.  She left her room and made her way to the large library that Alex had made himself an office in.  He looked up at her as she walked into the room.

For a moment, they stared at one another across the darkly paneled room.

"You've made your decision."  He spoke it as fact and not as a question.  He could see her resolved written in her brilliant eyes.

Kristy nodded and walked over to him.  "I'm going to tell Jubal that  I want to go back."  She went around the desk and sat on the edge of it.

A look of hope crossed his face.  "Do you think that Christiana will also want to trade places?"

She shook her head.  "I have no way of knowing, Alex.  We can only hope."

He frowned and took her hand gently into his own.  "What about your concerns for your baby?   Are you sure that you want to do this?"

Kristy smiled and squeezed his hand.  "I can't live without him, Alex.  I don't want my son or daughter to grow up without knowing their father.  Living in the middle ages is not a picnic, but I've grown to love it and the people of Greystone.  I have to go back."

Alex stood and pulled her into a hug.  "I wish you the very best in life, Kristy.  You deserve no less."

She reached up and kissed his rough cheek.  "I wish the same for you, Alex.  You are such a special man."

He laughed and pulled back from her.  "Let's just hope that Christiana thinks so."

"I'm not sure about that, but I do know that she wants to return," a new voice sounded behind them.

Kristy whirled around.   There stood Jubal in his lovely robes and serene smile.   "Jubal!  Are you saying..."

"I'm saying that Christiana prefers this century to her own.  She wants to trade places for a final time."  He gave her a direct look.  "Now what is your answer Kristy Kendrick?  Will you go or stay?"

Kristy looked at Alex, then reached up and gave him one last hug.  "I'll miss you, Alex.   Take care."

Alex swallowed hard and cleared his throat trying to keep back his emotions.  "I'll miss you, too, Kris.  Take care of my little ancestor there."

With tears in her eyes she nodded and turned back to Jubal.  "I'm ready to go back," she stated simply.

Jubal bowed his head.  "So be it.  When you awaken in the morning,  you will be returned to the twelfth century."

Kristy nodded as they both watched Jubal disappear.  Tomorrow she would be home.  Tomorrow she would see her husband once again.

Giving Alex one last goodbye, she ran to call her sister before she went to bed.  The faster she was asleep, the faster she'd be back to her true destiny.

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