SIMILARITIES

"I'm really glad, Ahnna, that I'll be meeting him at last, have the opportunity to thank him in person," Alistair smiled as he slipped on a tan sports coat.

"Well, my dear, I have a lot of thanks for the man myself!"  She couldn't even quite remember what he'd looked like. All she'd been able to see was the thick, black smoke pouring out of her husband's office. Then Robin had staggered out with him and they'd fallen into the phlox beside the steps. After that there was nothing but Alistair's still form, the taste of soot on his lips, the bundling into the ambulance. "If...if he hadn't...."

"But he did, my love. He did. We don't need to wander around in the land of 'if's'. It's past and I'm here."

She slid her arms around his torso, holding on. "It...it just frightened me so, that I might lose you, almost lost you."

He rested his chin atop her dark hair. "I love you, too," he whispered. "Always."

Robin and Julie had arrived a bit early at Maximus' suggestion so that they might walk down and look at the horses. Maximus had not seen Robin since the hospital, and when he and Joimus opened the door, both were startled by his appearance. Joimus had never seen him, but her husband had described him to her with his waving brown hair. But there on her doorstep stood, good Lord, her husband, for all intents and purposes! The resemblance was more than striking.  If you looked closely, you could tell he was a few years older than Maximus and his hair was not coal black, but those were minor details to the presence of the man.

Even Maximus tipped his head back and chuckled loudly. "Robin, good to see me!"

Robin ran a hand over his short hair. "This is how I always wore it...before."

"I've been telling him," Julie spoke up, "that he looks like you now, General. Seeing you side by side proves the truth of that."

The four of them walked down to the stables, with Maximus leading the way to Legion's stall. He stopped, turned, and waited for Robin's opinion.

Robin simply stood there, staring a long moment. "What is it, darling?" Julie asked.

"Rusty," Robin murmured, stepping closer to the large, white horse. "He is the image of my Rusty."

"Rusty?" Julie said.

"Oh, he had some fancy, long name, but I called him that for short. He was my horse, both in France and back in England."

"His name is Legion, Robin," Maximus supplied. "It would give me great happiness should you come and ride him when you like."

Robin had let the stallion smell his hand and was now stroking his neck, nearly mesmerized by the horse. "I would like that, Maximus." He turned to the General. "I was going to add 'more than you know' but I think you do know."

Maximus inclined his head in acknowledgement.

The four of them looked at some of the other horses and were just about up to the gate to the main house when Alistair's car pulled up. He sat there behind the wheel gazing in wonder at the two men walking side by side. "Did you know?" he asked Ahnna softly.

She looked past him out at the men. "Oh, my! I had no idea, darling. From here, in this evening light, it's hard to tell which of them is which."

Alistair wiped his hand over his mouth. "I didn't think there could be someone else with the presence of our General."  He shook his head. "I'm quite astounded."

Getting out of the car, he went around and opened Ahnna's door, a gesture he liked to perform for her. Taking her arm, they approached the two couples who had stopped next to the gate, awaiting them.

"Alistair," Maximus greeted, "and the beautiful Ahnna. I am so glad you could come. It has been way too long."

"General, Joimus," Alistair responded, then looked at the couple beside them.

"Alistair," Maximus said, "this is Robin. It is time you two officially met."

Alistair took Robin's hand, holding it between both his own. "There are no words to thank you enough. You risked your life, your health, to save mine. It is an act of bravery and kindness I shall never forget."

Robin smiled at Alistair, liking his quiet, sincere manner. "You are well it seems. That is all that matters."

"It matters that you, too, are well."  Alistair returned Robin's smile. "May I present my wife, Ahnna."

Ahnna smiled shyly. "Thank you," she murmured. "In saving my husband's life, you have also saved mine."  She meant that in every way possible.

Julie liked the line, made a mental note of it for further use. Ahnna looked to her like the heroine out of some book, a beauty regal yet fragile. Everybody greeted everybody else then they all went toward the house. "Your gardens," Julie sighed, pausing by some tall foxgloves, "they are exquisite."

"She owns the greenhouse...just there." Ahnna pointed to where the top of the Greenery stuck slightly up above some tall shrubs.

"Julie lives in a home swathed in roses," Robin said, his fingers curved through hers.

"Rose Cottage. It has a name," Julie explained, "though I am merely renting it for now."

"I'd very much like to see it," Joimus said. She still wasn't exactly certain just where it was either Julie or Robin lived.

Julie blinked. There it was. Her coming out party, no less. "Please, I'd like that. You, too, Ahnna."  See, she told herself, you can do it.

Robin's lips twitched. He knew how extremely private Julie was.

As they came up the brick walk toward the Meridius' house, Robin paused again. "It's quite...English, General."

"It is entirely English, Robin. Brought from Kent brick by brick."

Robin walked up, laying his hand flat on an outer wall, closing his eyes. England. He sighed, then turned and smiled at the others.