The Way We Were

[Starr]

(Alone in the moonlit night, Ana walks through the front lawn. Staring at the stars and thinking of a better time and place, when her and Chris were happy. Before they found out about their true natures. Things have changed so much since the night they "died" together. Together, a word that was once used to describe how her and Chris were about everything. Now Chris seems so distant, so wrapped up in this whole being a leader thing, not taking time to relax and enjoy life a little. She wonder's to herself if things will ever again be the way they were.)

Ana: "I know the old Chris is still in there somewhere. I know that he still loves me, but lately he seems to have a really hard time showing it. Maybe he's just having a hard time dealing with what he was told for so many years, that I was dead. I know finding out the truth the way he did had to be hard for him but I still care about him. Why does he seem to be holding back from me, hiding how he feels?"

(She continues with her thoughts not realizing that at that very same moment, Chris is standing not more than a few feet away from her, listening. Not sure how to respond, he takes another drag from his cigarette, then slowly exhales the smoke.)

Ana: "If he still cares so much about why does he have such a hard time saying it. I know I couldn't expect to jump back into this all at once and have everything go back to like it was but I didn't expect to almost be completely shut off either."

. . .

[ECKS]

(Realizing that she's right about his shutting her off, ECKS decides to try and make it right again. He takes one last drag and flicks the cigarette away. Then he walks toward Ana.)

ECKS: "'Sposed to make a wish when you see the brightest star of the night, and I think I just found it, darlin.'"

(A little startled she turns to face him.)

ECKS: "Then again, seein' you standin' here makes me realize my only wish already came true."

(Ana laughs a little at that one.)

ECKS: "Ok, so that may have been a little corny, but it's true. And you're right, I have been a little distant since you came back. Things are a little different... a whole lot different than when we last saw each other. But one thing that hadn't changed is how I feel about you, that will never change. I would die for you. I'm sorry if I don't show it, but I'm still dealin' with the fact that you're alive. And I feel a little guilty for not findin' you sooner."

(He looks down at the ground, trying to not look so ashamed of himself.)

ECKS: "I shouldn't have given up lookin,' but after so many dead ends I just didn't have it in me to keep tryin.' So I gave up, I gave up tryin' to find you, gave in to what I believed. That you were dead. I shoulda tried harder, I shoulda found you sooner, I shouldn't have quit. I'm sorry for not tryin' harder."

. . .

[Starr]

(Ana takes the last step between them and wraps her arms around him, trying to comfort him, he in turn wraps his arms around her and lays his head on her shoulder. She realizes now that this was a lot harder on him than what she had thought.)

Ana: "It's ok now, Chris. I know that you did the best you could to find me, I know that even though you stopped looking you never gave up hope. You proved that by keeping our picture all this time. That's what really counts."

(Ana takes a step back but keeps her arms on his shoulders and looks him right in the eye.)

Ana: "Things my not be the same as they were before but we can still make them better. We can still be the way we were before all this happened. We're together again, that's what matters the most. So you've taken on a whole new life and with it a huge responsibility, but you're not alone. Those kids respect you and they would follow you to the end of the world if you asked them to. I can see it in their eyes. And it's the same with me."

(ECKS' face starts to brighten up a little as Ana tells him about how happy she is for what he's accomplished in such a short time.)

Ana: "We can make this work. You, me, and your students. I'm proud of you for being strong enough to take on something like this knowing that deep inside you were still so hurt about what happened to me. And deep inside you, I can still see the man I fell in love with so long ago. The man I still love today."

(The two embrace each other once again. Ana runs her soft fingers through Chris' hair.)

Ana: "That's right. I still love you, Chris."

. . .

[ECKS]

(Gritting his teeth to hold back any tears that may be coming he closes his eyes and answers.)

ECKS: "I love you, too, Anastasia."

(The two share a long and passionate kiss under the light of only the stars and moon. Then ECKS pulls away, eyes still closed.)

ECKS: "There was never anyone else for me. It's you. It's always been you and it always will be you. You've always been the better half of me."

(His eyes finally open as he stares back into her own.)

ECKS: "Now that I've got you here with me again, I'm never lettin' go. I've waited five years to see you again and it's everything I could have hoped for and more. I just have one small question to ask you."

(With that ECKS slowly reaches into his jacket pocket and reaches for something he's had for a while, hoping to one day put it to good use. And he figures, what better day than today. Ana nearly loses her breath as he takes a step back and drops to one knee, holding out a small black box. She puts her hand over her mouth and starts to cry.)

ECKS: "You're the best thing to ever happen to a guy like me. Anastasia Corin Suarez, will you marry me?"

. . .

[Starr]

(Still holding her hand over her mouth the tears get heavier as her eyes seems to light up the night. She smiles behind her hand as Chris opens the box to reveal as very expensive looking diamond ring. An Irish claddagh ring, a symbol of devotion, adorned with two smaller diamonds around a large centerpiece diamond topped with a bright green Jade stone. She removes her hand from her mouth and through her joyful sobbing answers.)

Ana: "Yes. Of course I'll marry you, Chris. Yes."

(Chris removes the ring from it's box and takes her by the hand, slowly putting the ring onto her finger. Once in place he stands and the two once again kiss each other lovingly as the scene fades to black.)