I sat on the rail of the ship and looked out over Amber in the early morning light. Through all that happened, it still stood, changed yet still the same. There was now a dark road cutting toward us, and the Shadows, I'd later learn, were bent and jumbled all about us. The restoration of the Eye melded all of the Universes into one.

The changes, though, they made all the difference. And we all were involved, the youngest of us. I wonder sometimes if it was all some grand plan. Ciro's dreams of replacing his god and throwing us all into darkness had ended with my hand around his throat. Both Bailey and I were avenged now, for his dark deeds. Amber and Chaos again on each side of things, probably more concerned with our own problems than each other, if just for a moment.

The problems that faced us have been solved, but not without prices. Dworkin, Random, Bishop all paid with their lives. We've all made dark deals and enemies, strained the trust we'd gathered from our family. But I like to think that the gains outweigh the losses -- especially when I found myself lying here with my daughter, and Bailey.

Without all of this, I would not have them. I'd still be running across frozen wastes, hiding by day, scrounging for food, killing, not caring...

Or would I even be alive today?

*****

After Bailey and Sarah were fast asleep, I sat up and pulled out what was left of my sparse Trump deck, regarding the faces before me.

Christopher, Old Man, you held a quiet reserve in trying to find solutions that didn't come from violence. Travel well.

Gen, you never wavered in the face of sometimes overwhelming odds. For this I will always be envious.

Gwyn, you have been and will always represent those things I lack. You're the light mirror to my dark Shadow. I hope in the years to come you'll be around to talk -- - or just to play tag.

Bailey, my love, I cannot say anything that gives justice to what my heart feels. And you know that if you told anyone I'd said that I'd die of embarrassment.

And this man standing at a pier, dark jacket and hair, grey eyes looking towards the sea? He has learned many things, but most importantly he's learned that for anyone, there exists at least one chance for redemption. And whatever else comes in two thousand years, he will face it -- or he will teach those yet to come to face it -- with hope.

And now to sleep, and dream.

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