"I thought you were bringing me back. Forever." He looked puzzled. "Why would I do that, when I waited almost two centuries to find you?" As he spoke, he reached out to take me by the waist and pull me against him, then lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me with a thoroughness that left no doubt in my mind that he had no intention of abandoning me anywhere. "John," I said a little breathlessly, when he let me up for air. "Maybe it would be better if you waited for me out here." "No," he said simply, and took my hand and began walking me towards the French doors to my mother's home."