I did not understand.

And perhaps, deep down, I didn't want to understand.

All I know is that within my embrace is my daughter. A child I will have with someone who truly means more than the world to me. But Adria is not only my child. She is also the Child of the Ori, for she is a God by all sense of the word.

Time is at her command.

And dream is her reality, at least until the day she is born into reality through me.

That is the truth.

The only truth.

"You don't need to understand, mother. I will be born regardless, as it is my destiny. Father will always love you, as it is his greatest flaw. You just need to follow your heart, as you always have, and all shall fall into place. It is the very reason that you are here in the first place, for you and I are bound by fate."

My daughter speaks up and removes herself from my embrace.

One moment she is within my arms and the next she is standing some distance away.

Flames continue to swirl around her as if they have a life of their own.

Adria smiles faintly and looks towards the sky. She is just like her father, gazing at something that I am unable to see. Perhaps the future. But perhaps the truth.

I don't know why but it feels too painful to know the truth, even if the truth will set me free. Strangely enough, I just know it will despite not know what it is exactly.

"Don't worry, mother. One day you will know the truth, all of you. Every action has its consequences, even to those who sits above all else. But every punishment will eventually end, even if it is forever."

That is so cryptic.

And what does she mean by punishment? Am I being punished? Is that what she means?

I have so many questions, but I don't think I will get any answer.

Perhaps it is better to just live in blissful ignorance. At least it is far more happier than understanding the unchanging past.

But whatever sins I have committed before in another life, I do wish for forgiveness.

"If father has ever forgiven anyone, he will forgive you, for you are the mother, the lover and the child, all in one. You have dreamt for far too long, mother. It is time for you to finally wake up and continue to live and see the future."

Adria tells me, as if she could read my mind. She is a God after all.

But more than that, she is my child, my child with Max.

And if the future is truly set in stone and my destiny cannot be changed, then I will be glad to welcome it all with open arms.

"Adria."

I speak up, wanting to hold her once more. Just once more. But she gives me a smile, telling in no real words that lingering in a dream will not bring the future I desire.

"There will be a time for that, mother. There will always be a time for that."

I nod understanding, as the dreamscape fades away.

It will never return, for I am fully awake now, and even if I don't know the truth of the past, I do know the truth of the present and the truth of the future.

I slowly open my eyes, finding myself still buried under the debris.

Despite that, all my injuries are gone, and so is the pain.

I should be dead, but I am not.

There is only one real explanation for that.

I know that now. Everything has been leading to this very point.

It is from the moment I first met him.

The moment I fall into love with him.

My future is already set in stone. My destiny is never my own.

It is my punishment. Punishment for what I have done, even if I do not remember. It is so long ago, far longer than my own morality.

While I could fight the curse, I do not want to, for I love him genuinely and sincerely with all my heart and soul. It is the truth. It is the only truth.

In the past. In the present. And in the future.

"Steph. Oh my God, Steph. Stay still. We will get you out of there."

Misha calls out while trying to remove the debris. Joshua is the same, tearfully.

Our father is no longer with us even if his body is still here, unmoving. Father has given his life to stop me from accepting my fate. He is blinded by love for me, as I am blinded by love for Max.

And I believe that Max is so blinded by love for me.

It is his greatest flaw, isn't it? But he does not see it, thus that is why we are all here.

That is why we are all here.

"It's okay, Misha, Joshua. I am fine. Max will not let me die."

I tell my younger brother and sister. I then close my eyes despite neither of them understands what I have just said. They continue to remove the debris with tears in their eyes.

Tears for me. And tears for our father.

Our father is not dead, for Max will not let him die.

I don't know why I know that, but I just do.

It is like how I know who Adria is despite seeing her for the first time in person.

I will see her again in the future. It is a promise. My promise to my daughter.

And soon enough, flames surround me and teleport me away.

I am no longer lying under the debris. I am now standing within the arena, facing someone who I have desperately trying to get to for many days.

His face remains expressionless, but I can see the emotions swirling within his eyes. The flames cannot hide them from me.

"Stephanie Connors. Do you believe that you are worthy?"

Max asks. His burning eyes pierce into my very being, seeing everything there is to see.

I did not need to hide anything from him, for I am his, now and always.

"Whether I am worthy of your love or not, Max, you should already know."

I response calmly and close my eyes to wait for the judgement. My heart remains unwavering even as the flames swirl around me, trying to burn me to ash.

It is painful. Excruciating painful. But the painful it is, the more I know that he does love me.

Max will always love me. That is the truth.

Thus, I did not let out a scream. I did not let out a cry. I did not let out a tear. I only give a smile.

A smile on my face as I open my eyes and see Max standing in front of me. He is no longer sitting upon the throne, looking down at the world and finding everything insignificants.

"When did you know?"

Max asks me. Curiosity flickers in his eyes. They are no longer burning. Flames no longer surround him.

And the people are no longer watching. They are all gone.

But they are not important. Only Max is.

He is no longer under the control of the Ori, whoever they are.

He is just Max now, pure and simple.

"I think I have always known, Max. From the moment I first met you. I will fall in love with you. It is my whole reason for existing."

I response. I did not answer his question as he already know the answer to that, but it is the answers that he is looking for.

Max blinks in surprise at my response. It is the first time that I have seen him surprise. He then chuckles and waves his hand, and the world burn all around us, reducing everything into ash.

"Those dreams you have for these past few days, I was trying to reach out to you, Stephanie. It is very difficult with the overwhelming power of the Ori, but they are gone now."

Max tells me as flames swirl around his body.

"Yes, I know, and I am sorry for unable to come and find you, Max. I really do."

Max shakes his head and reaches out his hand and caresses my face.

I lean my head into his palm, feeling his touch and warmness.

It has been so long. So very, very long.

"No, Stephanie. You did find me, in your own ways. You awoke me from my slumber and helped me pass the trial of the Gods. The Ori has never intended to kill anyone. They merely want to test us and see whether humanity is worth saving or not. And since I am still here, I guess we humans are worth saving after all."

Max tells me with a smile.

I didn't really need to know that. Whatever the Ori wants isn't really important to me. I didn't care for the world and what happens to it. I only care for one person, and he is within reach now.

"Those dreams that I have. Is it all real?"

I question despite knowing that it is. I just want to hear it from him. No. I want him to love me sincerely and genuinely as I do.

It is fate that has brought us together, but it is us who remains together.

"No, Stephanie. But it is what I desire most."

Max always tell me what I really want to hear the most.

His hands wrap around me, taking me into his embrace and allowing me to lean onto his shoulder. My hands did the same.

And despite the surging flames all him, I am completely unharmed.

"Did you know that I didn't care for the Ori or anyone in particular? I only did what I did because I care for you, Stephanie. What happen to the world is not more important to what happen to you. You are the most important person in my life."

Max tells me as I rest on his shoulder.

"Don't you mean one of the most important persons, Max? What about Adria?"

I response.

"Adria?"

Max questions. He is surprised once more.

"She is our daughter, Max. I saw her in my dream, the dream that I have when I died."

I answer. I lift my head. My eyes match his gaze, staring into them.

Max didn't know. He didn't send me that dream, unlike all the other dreams before.

Of course not.

Adria is the one who did, from even before she is born. She is just like her father, in so many ways.

My hand rises and cups his cheek gently, caressing his face before running down towards his soft lips.

I think I am ready for that kiss now. I am no longer afraid.

His eyes soften, knowing exactly what I want.

Max gently lowers his head, allowing his lips to spread their warmness and sweetness upon my lips. It is so sweet, and our lips soon part, allowing our tongue to exchange that sweetness in full.

It fills out my body, burning me up inside.

And without hesitation, I throw both of my hands up and around his neck and neck, pulling him into a deeper kiss until I am lying on my back on the sand with him on top of me.

It takes many minutes for our lips to part, but our eyes remain locked to each other.

"Max. I love you. I love you so much."

I pronounce.

"As do I, Stephanie. I love you from the moment I have saw you."

Max confirms what I already know while his hand and fingers run along my face and touching my lips.

Strangely, there is a hint of hesitation in his eyes. It isn't because he didn't love me. No. It is because of something else. I am unsure what that is.

Perhaps, Max has never been with a girl before? It wouldn't be too strange to assume so.

And I haven't been with a man before either. It will be a new experience for us.

"Max. Please take me. Take me right now and make me yours."

I take the initiative.

The hesitation in his eyes lingers for longer than necessary, but it soon vanishes as he finally made up his mind. I am glad that he did. It would be very strange, otherwise.

His lips soon capture mine again, allowing me to taste that unique sweetness once more.

And he will soon fill my entire body, as he is destined to.