It wasn't easy trying to tell the leaders of two species that had been at war for a hundred years that they just needed to stop fighting and make peace with each other. Aley reminded them of the horrors of war that they had long since grown apathetic to, and Rocki told them of the hope she had found on Bey-Ark. Peace was possible, they just needed to accept it.

The sariun leaders had many questions, concerns, and biting remarks regarding their plan. But they couldn't deny that peace was long overdue and perhaps it was time to reconsider drawing up treaties.

Sovereign Faish was a little easier to convince. Aley could tell he held Rocki in high regard and trusted in her idea for the future.

It also helped that Kofi, Xinn, and the soldiers were backing the sisters up. It wouldn't have been easy for the leaders to refuse a dozen troops begging for them to consider making peace.

When they finally sent for paper and writing tools to draw up a treaty with, more people started coming. Civilians and soldiers gathered to watch the conference, some exciting at the idea, some making protest, and others just curious to know what would happen.

When the complaints from the peanut gallery started to become overwhelming, Rocki whispered to Aley, who shot up into the air.

"Hey!" She shouted, slowly spinning around so she could address both the sariun and valicara protesters. "You asked for our help, and this is how you're getting it. If you want war, go find another planet to fight on. But, blazes, this world and these people can't take anymore!" She glared at them until only a few grumbling murmurs were left. "If you have questions, you can calmly create a line or a group and come to Rocki and I. But if it gets too heated or you're starting fights, we'll have to make you leave. This is a peace meeting after all."

She drifted back to the ground as the valicara and sariun started to create their groups. "You think the four of us will be able to handle all of them while the leaders talk?"

"Actually," Rocki said. "I think Xinn and I should be helping with the peace treaty. Since he's a general, he'll likely be needed, and they'll probably want at least one savioress present. Can you and Kofi talk to the people and try to explain things?"

Aley and Kofi glanced at each other and shrugged. "Sure," she said, then winked. "Go have fun with your boring wordy stuff. We'll do the fun part."

"Yeah, talking to irritated people about peace is not exactly what I would call the fun part," Rocki laughed.

"Don't say that, you're basically doing the same thing." Aley bumped her sister with her elbow.

Rocki shook her head and stepped away, Xinn following.

Kofi glanced at Aley. "Well, I guess you're in charge. You lead and I'll do whatever I can to help." I wonder if Aley would be able to help me get closer to Rocki... I mean, she is the sister, she should know something.

"Okay." Aley blew out a breath. "I guess we'll just tackle as many of these questions as we can at once. Let's see what we've got."

Rocki walked slowly over to the leader's makeshift table, trying to figure out the best way to approach what was on her mind. This guy kissed my sister. I mean, Aley kisses a lot of guys. But this an alien. And I know nothing about him. To be fair, I usually know nothing about Aley's boyfriends. She really doesn't pick them that well. They're always okay, but she can do better. Can she do better than a general though? I guess that depends on what he's like. He seems serious. Quiet. Not exactly Aley's normal type. I want to ask him about it, but that would be weird. Is there a different way to approach it?

"Thank you," she suddenly said. "For taking care of Aley. I'm glad she had someone looking out for her."

He glanced over. "She certainly needs someone to." A smile ghosted across his face. "She speaks highly of you. It's been a pleasure to meet you after hearing about you for the past two weeks."

She also smiled faintly. "She seems to think very highly of you as well."

I hope she does. "I've been doing my best for her."

Rocki swallowed. "Okay, look, I don't know how things are done in your culture, but... You are going to keep taking care of her, right? I just... I don't want her to get hurt when she so far from home. Far from her family and friends that is."

Ah. She is worried about Aley and I's relationship. He stopped and turned so he could look her straight in the eyes. "I will always take care of Aley. She is important to me and I won't let anything bad happen to her."

Rocki studied his weird eyes. He's serious. "Then we have something in common." She allowed a small smile. "I'm glad."

"As am I." He nodded sharply at her, then they continued over to the treaty table.

"So..." Aley nudged Kofi's wing with her own while they were in between answering questions. "Are you and my sister a thing?"

Kofi glanced down at her. "Unfortunately, no. Rocki is not an easy person to get close to. And with everything that happened in her last relationship, she's been very cautious."

"But you like her."

"I do."

Aley smiled. "She likes you too. At least, to some degree. The fact that she even told you about Kahinu says a lot."

"I'll have to trust you on that," he said with a laugh. "She doesn't make it easy to tell."

She giggled. "No, she does not. But I think she'll figure it out eventually. Until then, I guess it's our secret." She winked at him.

It seemed like an eternity later, but Rocki finally called for Aley to come over. "They're finishing the final draft," she said, eyes alight. "We've almost got a signed treaty between the valicara and the sariun."

Aley squealed, pulling her into a hug. "Yes! We did it!" She leaned back and lightly punched Rocki on the shoulder. "Look at us, professional war-enders."

Rocki snorted. "Yeah right. I'm not even sure if we can be considered amateur war-enders. We did one thing."

"Oh shush, let me have my moment." Aley laughed.

Sovereign Faish waved the girls closer. "The two of you will need to witness the signatures."

"Of course." Rocki grabbed Aley's hand and squeezed it.

They had drawn up two documents, one for the valicara's records and one for the sariun's. They were both written in the other's language, with their own writing tools, so they looked vastly different, but each had a place for two signatures at the bottom.

Head TerrCileBreg was appointed as the signee for the sariun leadership. He slowly etched the signature into both papers, then passed them onto Sovereign Faish. The sovereign smiled down at the papers for a moment before swiftly signing—ending the hundred-year war.

Aley, along with other onlookers, cheered loudly. Rocki grinned, then shrieked when Kofi picked her up and spun her around.

"You did it!" he cried as he squeezed her tightly. "It's over!" She laughed, holding on to his shoulders for dear life.

Xinn stepped away from the leader's table, so Aley dashed over to him and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. He grinned. "Well done."

"We should have a party!" she said, then twisted around. "Rocki! We should have a party!"

Kofi wouldn't let go, so Rocki had to turn in a half circle so she could actually see Aley. "That's probably not the best idea," she called, then waddled her and Kofi closer. "I think we should probably keep everyone separated until we're sure more fights aren't going to break out. Maybe we could arrange some meetups later for anyone who is curious about the other culture or something."

Aley stuck her lip out in an exaggerated pout. "Fine. But you owe me a celebratory party."

"We can celebrate when we get you back to the forest," said Xinn.

"The forest?" Rocki echoed. "I guess... I hadn't thought about where we should stay. Wait, actually, shouldn't we go home now?" Her heart leapt at the idea. Home. Mom and Dad. Hawaii. A world I know.

"Go... home?" Kofi said, brow beginning to pinch. Of course she wants to go home. It's all she's talked about besides getting Aley. She wants to go back to Earth with her sister and have her baby. Clenching his jaw, he held on to her a little tighter.

Aley blinked. "Oh, yeah, home. It's been a bit." Her eyes widened. "Oh my gosh, Mom and Dad are probably worried sick! We just disappeared and they have no way to find us! My apartment looks like it was broken into—they probably think I was killed or kidnapped!"

"So does mine," Rocki agreed. "And we kind of were kidnapped."

Aley looked around at the people celebrating. They were rejoicing in the fact that their war was over. A war that she and Rocki had ended. But she could also see the looks of apprehension, fear, and hatred passed around. Not everyone was willing to give up the fight. Old habits died hard.

"It's not always going to be like this, is it?" she said quietly. "Everyone cheering and getting along."

Rocki shrugged. "It's not easy to give up a hundred years of fighting. It will probably take a long time for everyone to fully trust each other." Not really my problem anymore. We've done our part—it's time to go home.

Aley glanced at Xinn. I would have to leave him behind. His sad eyes told her that he was thinking of it too. I mean, I've only known him two weeks. And my parents are probably worried. "But..." She hesitated, something nagging at her. "I can't shake the feeling that we're still needed here. I mean, we ended the war, but what about everything that comes after? Are we supposed to just leave it all behind?"

Rocki clenched her jaw. She understood what Aley was saying, a part of her felt it too, but she pushed it away as a feeling of some sort of anxiety or guilt after doing so much for the aliens. "I don't know. I guess so. Mom and Dad are worried about us."

"I know, I know, I know, I know." Aley turned in a circle, pushing her hands through her hair. We can't go. I don't know why yet, but we just can't. "I just... ugh. I think they still need us."

"Need us?" Rocki said. "After everything we've done for them? I think they can handle being without us. They're going to have to eventually."

"Come on, Rocki. Don't you feel, like, even the slightest bit of..." She struggled for a word. "I don't know, just the feeling that we should stay?"

Kofi glanced at Xinn, then jumped into the conversation. "I know I'm feeling it," he said with a halfhearted smile.

Rocki pushed him away. I need space. And quiet. It's too loud to think with everyone else around. Stay? What about home? What about our parents? What about our friends? Her thoughts whirled faster. My house, my book, my baby, the beach, the air, the security, my bed, my parents. She jerked a little to pull herself out of her own mind. "I need to think about it," she murmured, staring at the ground. "Just... give me a few minutes."

She tried to walk through the crowd, but there were too many of them to easily get past. She slowly spread her wings, trying not to hit anyone. When it became apparent she was trying to fly away, people made space and let her take off. There were a lot of valicara in the air too. They were having conversations and hugging and trying to find other valicara, so she did her best to skirt around them and fly toward the edge of the crowd. Everywhere she looked were more people chattering, happy to be a part of the day the treaty came. But more often than she would have liked to admit, she could see a scowling face in the crowd, a stiff wing, a clenched fist. Aley's prediction was already right—not everyone was happy to see it over with.

Xinn put his arm around Aley as she watched her sister leave. She leaned into him, sighing.

Kofi glanced over. "She's been homesick ever since she got here," he said, shuffling his feet. "But I didn't think she would want to go so quickly."

I didn't think I would want to stay. Aley let the corner of her mouth turn up, then fall. "She's tired. She'll need time to think about it. But I think she feels the same way as I do under the homesickness."

Kofi turned to watch Rocki's retreating form. "I should... I'm going to make sure she stays safe. With so many people around, you never know." He shrugged, then took flight, hurrying after the savioress.

After a moment of silence, Xinn glanced at Aley. "Don't you want to go home? Back to your parents and friends?"

She sighed heavily. "Of course I do. But... I think there are more important things right now. I can't just abandon you guys when you still need help."

He leaned down to nip her neck. "You're a good person. I'm glad you want to stay."

She smiled, cuddling into him.

Kofi found Rocki a short distance away from the crowd. She was sitting on a sand dune, legs drawn up to her chest as she stared at the desert. He landed a few feet away, quietly walking up to her.

"Are you all right?" he asked, sitting beside her.

She didn't look over. "I don't know." I want to go home so badly. Why doesn't Aley? I understand what she's saying, but... stay? What could we possibly accomplish by staying? It's up to the valicara and the sariun to make this work. What can we do about it? I guess... I didn't really think we could end the war either and yet here we are. Maybe we could use our status as "savioresses" to help out. I want to go home, but she's right, it would involve leaving them behind. Leave Kliktal, the valicara, Kofi... Her heart panged a little at the thought. I might never see him again. With the war over he would have no reason to come back to Earth. Aley would have a hard time leaving too. She's pretty attached to Xinn. She's good at making friends, so I bet there are other people she wouldn't want to leave behind.

Kofi was silent, letting her sit in her own head for a while. It's hard for her. She wants to do the right thing, but she really wants to go home. It's selfish of me to want her to stay, but... I can't help it.

Maybe... Rocki rubbed her face. Maybe we should stay for just a few more days. To make sure the treaty doesn't fall apart the next day. Someone has to keep them accountable. Apparently Aley and I are the only ones they'll listen to. Just a few more days, and we'll go from there.

She sighed. "Okay." Kofi glanced over. "We should stay for a few more days, just to make sure everything goes smoothly with the transition from war to peace. After that... we'll figure it out."

He grinned. "Sounds like you have a plan." He stood, then offered a hand to help her up, which she took. When she moved to step away, he held on tighter. "Hey, I'm glad to have you for at least few more days."

She took a moment to study his dark eyes. They were sincere. He was always sincere with her. Something in her mind clicked into place. This is right. "I am too."