Hello heart, let me in
All your cracks, I'm gonna mend
Hello heart, let me in
I'm gonna make you try again
-Lyrics to 'Believe' performed by Travis Garland
Crimson Ties Part 106
There was no sound.
Even breathing had stopped, lungs holding tight to the last air that had peen pulled in.
When he finally found the courage to will his violet-and-silver eyes to blink open, Duo was taken by how dark the world around him remained. Though he was able to see just fine, he could tell the dimness of his surroundings. Before panic set in, he recalled feeling the fold of his lover's Gundanium wings closing around him.
Heero.
Biting his lip, the braided Companion wrapped his already tight hold all the tighter around his Vampire. The side of his head was still held firmly against the Infected's strong shoulder, but he burrowed it deeper anyway. If they had met their end, he knew that he would be content having Heero with him. As if the hybrid's partner had heard his thoughts, he squeezed his arms of iron around him.
"I love you," Maxwell heard himself whisper brokenly with a sniffle. Squeezing his eyes closed again, he shuddered and breathed, "I love you so damn much, 'Ro. God, I was so scared for a while back there that I might not see you again."
The Original whimpered but other than that, he couldn't find his voice at the moment. He did, however, make his feelings known by pressing and holding a kiss against the top of his Chosen's braided head.
After a long pause, Yuy was able to manage, "I adore you, Duo." Drawing a deep breath, he asked, "Ready?" There was no need for him to elaborate on what he was making sure his lover was 'ready' for. Whatever awaited them beyond the protection of the metal that encased them, they would have to face it at some point.
Gulping down the knot that had formed in his throat, the Reformer nodded, "Yea." He loosened his hold only slightly to peer over his shoulder as the Gundanium wings unfolded to reveal the bright world beyond. Blinking widely, the couple gasped and scanned the crowded fields behind their clan's estates.
For as far as they could see, Others were slowly waking from where they lay in the grass and budding flowers. Wincing as many of them rubbed their heads, the beings opened their eyes to reveal the absence of the silver rings around their irises... making them the mere livings they had been before Solo had turned them.
Disoriented and startled, those that were coming out of their spells stared at each other in confusion as they climbed to their feet. The quiet discussions taking place around the grounds rose in volume from the sheer number of voices that were conversing. And when they looked on the countless Vampires that were standing around, the ire that they had held was nowhere to be found in their startled gazes and expressions.
Still, the majority of those Infected stood stiffly as they watched their recent challengers.
Then, slowly emerging from the back porch of the Yuy-Maxwell household, Dorothy made her way into the scene. Within seconds, the former Others that spotted her whispered to their friends that the Seer was with them and all attention turned to her.
Amongst those Vampires that were the last to leave the island as the recovery team, Rosshe's eyes were wide as he took a step off the crest of the hill when their eyes locked. Suddenly, even with the countless beings standing around, they were the only creatures in the whole world as far as they were concerned.
Slowly approaching each other, a straight path was cleared for the living and the Infected as the shell-shocked beings around stepped aside for them to see what happened between them. When they stopped at mere inches apart, the pair gazed on their Chosen's face in wonder. Biting her lip, Catalonia was the first to brave a move in raising a hand to rest it against the Egyptian immortal's face as though to confirm that he was real.
Tears filling her eyes when her skin touched his cold cheek, Dorothy breathed, "Rosshe." Flinging herself forward, she threw her arms tightly around his neck and buried her head in his shoulder. Overcome by his own emotions, the Infected allowed his own eyes to spill over as he clung to her fiercely.
"Kristin?" a deep voice asked, hesitant and nervous as its owner in a tall and handsome Vampire walked through the crowd. Blinking rapidly in disbelief, the petite living that had endured one of the worst days of her existence gasped at the sight of the long-haired blonde once he was in sight. A hand reaching up to cover her mouth when she let out a sharp cry, she gathered herself and ran to close the distance between them in a desperate embrace.
Slowly but surely, the lot gathered in the field shifted and wavered as those former Others and Wilds were joined by their Vampire counterparts.
As it was the way for all Chosen, their tie was far too strong for there to be any doubt to their connection... to what they were to each other. And in those first moments of union, through those first touches and kisses, wounds were healed and hearts were opened as whatever had happened in the past was completely forgotten.
Only the future awaited them all, as it should be.
Catherine moved to stand beside her new guardians on Wufei and Anna's back porch. Watching the moving moment of the soon-to-be Companions linking with their Vampires, she smiled and whispered, "So cool."
His head nodding in agreement, Treize chuckled softly. Facing the redheaded scientist, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her against his side as he kissed the top of her head. "I am so damn proud of you," he complimented softly against her head. "I know wherever Howard is, I'm certain that he must to be thrilled over your part in this fight."
At the end of a very long and emotionally charged day, it was that sentiment regarding her late grandfather that had Bloom's eyes flooding with tears. Biting her lip, she sniffled and embraced the Original with a shaky, "Thank you." Lady Une was at her other side to gently rub soothing circles on her back the same way her mother would.
When she was able to compose herself, Catherine straightened herself and dried her face. Smiling, she shook her head as she looked back out to the crowded fields. "I don't have nearly enough Companion bands right now, so I'm going to be busy with that," she giggled. "But that's a wonderful problem to have." Her 'parents' chuckled and nodded in agreement.
"The word will need to get out quickly to the ailing Vampires that couldn't be here for this," Trowa from he perch on the hills, his emerald-and-gold eyes saddening at the former Wilds that huddled together with profound loss in their worried eyes. A large group of Infected had the same dilemma now that their intended were no longer.
Nodding, Noin said, "It's going to take quite a bit of sorting out, but we may be able to pair up most of those without their Chosen. At least now we can do so peacefully. There will also need to be a working out of the story that will need to be explained to the families of the Companions when they suddenly reappear with a Vampire tied to them."
Zechs snickered, "Oh, I don't think that will be a grave concern. There are all too many that have been without their sons, daughters, brothers and sisters that they've given up hope of ever seeing them again. Somehow, I get the feeling that those families will just be happy to have their missing loved ones back."
Just like Duo's family, the braided Companion thought to himself... every bit as relieved as he was to have them back in his existence.
Turning to face Heero, he matched the loving smile on him as a fresh sting of tears filled their locking eyes that closed while they leaned in for a searing kiss. Arms latching on tight and pouring all that was in their souls into that exchange, every whispered 'I love you,' and the like was expressed.
Right back where they belonged, whatever had brought them to that moment no longer mattered. Like the countless creatures around them, now only the future mattered.
* * * * * *
Wufei raised his head from where he had propped his chin atop his scaly arms on the edge of the master bed at the soft stirring sounds from his sleeping wife. Springing up from the chair he had been sitting in to perch on the edge of the mattress, he lightly brushed back the long wisps of red hair from the sides of the Irish Infected's face as her eyes blinked open.
Her vision focusing on the familiar, grinning face over her, Anna smiled brightly. Raising her arms over her head in a wide stretch, she yawned and greeted, "Good 'morn-" That was as far as she managed before her husband swooped down to wrap his arms around her while pressing their lips together in a deep kiss.
Reeling from surprise for only a sharp breath, the Siren's wide eyes closed and she returned the passionate kiss in kind. When they broke away some time later, she sagged heavily into the bed with a deep sigh. "That was all too needed," she smirked with a hand draped over her forehead as she fought to get her bearings. Purring out a deep chuckle, Chang nodded in agreement.
Anna lowered her hand against her abdomen, feeling the smooth satin of her lilac slip, the same from her turning that she had kept and cared for as a treasured memento of the start into her new existence. Biting her lip worriedly, she gaze back into the onyx-and-gold eyes on her in a silent question.
Placing a scaly hand over hers to squeeze it, Wufei's smile grew as he informed quietly, "Our little ones are fine."
"Oh thank God," the redhead breathed with a deep sigh, closing her eyes only for them to shoot open a half-second later. Slowly propping herself up on her elbows until their noses were nearly touching, she stammered, "D-did you just say little ones?"
* * * * * *
Later that evening...
"Twins?!" the chorus of their clan's voices exclaimed.
Secured in her scaly husband's lap where they sat on the main couch together as part of her order to take it easy for a couple of weeks after her excitement, Anna was every bit aglow as Wufei. Nodding, they snickered at the round of cheers and applause that their family broke into at the confirmation.
Duo, who had not left his sister's side since their reunion in the Chang households cleared out living room, was the first to embrace her tightly once again. Pressing a kiss against her cold cheek, he murmured by her ear, "That's such awesome news. Congratulations." Anna sniffled, embracing him back. Lightly punching his brother-in-law's arm, he laughed, "I knew you had it in you, 'Fei."
Snickering, the Chinese immortal shrugged with a playfully smug, "Well, what can I say? I'm good." everyone around snickered and Heero was finally given the opportunity to hug his sister when Maxwell took a step back. His smile turning wistful, Wufei shook his head, "At seven weeks, they're these adorable, tiny pods right now. And Sally's reassured us that all is perfectly well with them."
Bouncing on her feet, Midi clapped her hands together as she shouted enthusiastically, "I'm going to have two grandbabies!" Trowa's head fell back with his fitful laughter.
Quickly descending upon the expectant parents, she rained kisses on their grinning faces and gasped when she straightened herself. Bringing both hands to the sides of her face, she thought aloud, "Oh, there's so much that I still have to do between the wedding and now to prepare for twins! I haven't even begun to make up one set of baby clothes, let alone-"
"Whoa, grandma," Anna chuckled, bringing her hands together in the shape of a 'T.' wiping a stray tear away over the love that had been shown to her tiny ones already, she smiled, "Time out. Heero and Duo's wedding plans come before anything else. We still have at least a whole eight months before the babies are due."
Raising an eyebrow, she looked on her brothers, half-asking-half-demanding, "You were planning on being wed before then, right? I hope you are not intending on delaying your official union any longer than it already had been. We've all been waiting for this, you know?"
Both Heero and Duo snickered in amusement. Standing beside his braided lover, the Japanese Original draped an arm around his shoulders as both their loving smiles and eyes met. "Oh, I don't see why we should wait that long," he shrugged. "Do you, love?"
"Nope," the Reformer shrugged, his grin widening. And... he noticed a certain part of his anatomy was reacting at the thought of their wedding night and the promised honeymoon away from the world.
Since his return home, all that Maxwell wanted was a chance to properly reconnect with his Vampire. However, his overwhelming need was conflicted with his other primal urge to first be certain that all of their family was safe as well as to thank them all personally for their efforts in bringing him back.
Now fittingly reunited with his loved ones and content in seeing that they were alright, Duo's more carnal desires would need to be tended to... the sooner the better at that.
And he was not the only one in that boat considering how Yuy had been working in every opportunity to touch him; be it a squeeze of his arm or a gentle rub against the small of his back, it was only a matter of time before neither of them could stand only enjoying those subtle, hinting gestures for much longer.
Thankfully, Trowa remained ever the observant one and cleared his throat so that the rest of the family focused on him. "Midi, we should go check on TJ and Rachel to bring them over here," he suggested to his wife. "They've been anxious to see Anna again to see that she's okay." Crossing the room from the doorway that he had been leaning against, he pressed a kiss against his Irish cousin's forehead.
"And you, my little anchor are not to be too overwhelmed if it can be helped," he said, winking. "Those are Sally's orders, so only a few visitors at a time for now."
It didn't take so many words for Anna to figure out what was going on. Gazing on her brothers, her lips curled in a knowing smirk and she gestured for the door. "Get going, you two," she giggled. "I'm fine, so don't let your worrying over me keep you away from more important matters. I'm surprised that you haven't burst!"
Duo blushed as the others snickered, but was happy to be given the chance to slip away. Shaking his braided head in amusement, he pecked his sister's lips with Heero doing the same before they hurried off hand-in-hand to the chime of more laughter from their family.
On his way through the front door, the hybrid couldn't help smiling to himself. Even though the sound was at a bit of his expense at the moment, he had missed it terribly. And it was a sound that he knew he would never tire of.
* * * * * *
The sun was beginning to rise when Duo fell back against his plush bed, panting heavily. "That was... all too needed," he managed between gulps of air. Snickering huskily, his equally naked lover lowered himself down beside his braided Companion to pull him close.
It had been a very satisfying session of love making that had gone on for hours with both parties taking their turns in positions until literally every inch of their bodies had been given fitting, loving attention and their past fears were completely relieved. The whole joining had been very emotional and, as Maxwell had commented, very needed after everything that they had been through.
Sighing deeply when he reminded himself that he did not need the air, the hybrid nestled against his partner and rested the side of his face against a strong shoulder. Yuy gently lifted his head with a finger under his chin so that they could lean in for a gentle kiss. When they pulled back, the Infected ran the pad of his thumb against a flushed cheek and whispered reverently, "I love you, Duo."
"I love you, too, Heero," Maxwell replied in kind, having to first swallow past the thick lump that had formed in his throat before he could trust his voice. Closing his eyes, he sighed again at the hand running gently through his loose hair. His own hand that was resting atop his Vampire's taut abdominal muscles moved slowly up and down to brush its fingertips against the strong chest.
Life was right as it should be again... well, almost as it should be.
There was that nagging ache that Duo had ignored, pushed as far back in his mind as he could. Now spent physically and only surrounded by silence, that pain was making its way to the forefront against his lowered defenses. Biting his bottom lip when it began to quiver, he heard himself sniffle.
Instantly alert, the Original's golden eyes blinked in concern. Propping his shoulders up, he frowned deeply, "Duo?" His alarm only rose with a sharp gasp when the Reformer's opening eyelids revealed the shimmer behind them. Cupping the side of his partner's face and wiping a stray tear that had fallen, he asked softly, "What's wrong, love?"
"Sorry," Maxwell murmured as he pushed himself to sit up, hugging his legs against his bare body and propping his head atop his bent knees to stare ahead at nothing.
He drew a deep breath and commented in little more than a whisper, "It would have been a lot easier to lose Solo if I was just able to go on hating him through the end. But I actually got to see the kind of person he was... scared and just... lost. Now I wish that he was still around." Another round of tears fell fresh against his cheeks and he whimpered, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin this or to start questioning what we had to do to stop him-"
That voiced train of thought was stopped short when Yuy swept in to wrap him in his arms. "Don't ever be sorry for any of that," he urged quietly but clearly by his Companion's ear. "Of course this is going to be hard for you... it's hard for me as well since I also had that glimpse of your real brother."
A sharp sob escaped the hybrid and he gripped onto the hold around him as his body trembled. Pressing and holding a kiss against his temple, the Infected whispered, "I think... that Solo died happy because of you... happier than he could have ever hoped when his time came." To the wide, silvered eyed that blinked at him, he smiled sadly and shrugged, "You showed him kindness. He never had that before, but he went having a glimpse at the goodness that exists in this world."
With air rushing from his lungs in a puff at that, Duo breathed, "That's a nice thought." And it truly was, bringing a different kind of dampness to his eyes in that it was born out of relief than sorrow. "D-do you really believe that?"
"I do," Heero nodded firmly, his smile warming, "with all of my heart." Resting their foreheads and keeping their gazes locked, he reassured, "I also have a very strong feeling that wherever he is, he is not only at peace, but he is surrounded by the love that had been robbed of him in your parents."
Such was the hope that Duo had. Only now hearing it spoken aloud, it was more of a truth than a wish. A brilliant grin lighting his damp face, he muttered, "God, 'Ro, I love you so much." Quickly leaning in, he claimed his Vampire's lips in a desperate kiss.
Hands roamed, tongues explored and a new bound of love making began.
* * * * * *
By that mid-afternoon, the rested nurses that had answered Sally's call for help had their gear and personal belongings packed up and their cars rolling from the semi-circled street before the Yuy and Barton Clan's residences. On the crowded front porch of Trowa and Midi's home, the braided doctor waved them off alongside her friends and many of their recovering patients.
"I know that they are refusing any payment for what they have done here," Treize began as he faced the white-coated living. Smirking, he informed, "However, Lady Une and my whole family have made it our goal to see that they all spend the rest of their lives... comfortably, to put it mildly. It is the very least that we can do to thank you for your care and services."
Sally's eyes grew and she opened her mouth to protest when Noin raised a hand and giggled, "No point in arguing. I can always use my gift to persuade you into accepting the offer. However you look at it, though, you're not getting out of this."
Her eyes stinging with tears, Sally laughed and nodded, "Okay. Okay." Containing her emotions, she smiled sincerely, "I very graciously accept. Thank you." The Khushrenada Clan beamed and nodded in return.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Inside, Midi and Trowa were leaning against their living room doorway as they watched TJ and Rachel acquainting themselves with their Vampires. Both formerly ailing Infected frozen at the immortal form of their early twenties, they were now the picture of elation and health while playing with their future Companions.
Hugging his new best friend's arm at the end of their turn with his new pile of toy cars, Teddy smiled up at her and asked, "Are we gonna go all around the world together, Lisa?"
"Oh, we are going to see every wonder there is to see, my little prince," the stunning, short-haired blonde giggled as she hugged him. Her gold-and-green eyes sparkling, she winked, "And we are going to have many adventures for a very long time."
Jamal, a handsome, muscular Infected from South America looked absolutely content even as he played 'tea party' with the miniature table and dolls sitting at its chairs. Rachel was every bit as much enthralled with the immortal as he was with her, their smiles spreading every time their gazes met from across the display.
With a deep breath, the dark complected Vampire informed, "For the time being, though, Lisa and I have agreed that you two deserve the chance to live as normally as possible before you are of age to be turned. You should go to school, make friends with other children and know the feeling of a real family."
The corner of her mouth curling up along with Jamal's as they exchanged glances, Lisa peered over at the couple standing in the doorway. "Only we are at a bit of a disadvantage there because neither of us have clans of our own just yet. Perhaps we might be able to find a potential adoptive family to look after you as you grow into your permanent roles."
Gasping, Midi's back turned rigid. Unable to speak, she spun to face her husband with a squeak and a hopeful look in her wide eyes. Chuckling, Trowa wrapped an arm around her shoulders and bowed his head to their guests, "We would be more than happy help you raise the little ones ino their Companion statuses." Smiling, he addressed the future Companions, "That is, of course, if you would like that."
"Really? We'll have a family now?" Rachel whispered, TJ froze with the same surprise. Sniffling, Midi nodded vehemently. As she dropped to her knees, she was ambushed by the children when they threw their arms around her.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dorothy had wasted no time in making her blood tie with Rosshe. While there was little time for more than a few hidden kisses and touches, what with the many beings that were lingering around their friends' homes, they had an eternity for more than that. Already the two were inseparable, their hands always linked and a shimmering Companion band on the newly forged immortal's left arm... close to her heart.
But they were not the only ones who were always together.
A warm smile on her face, the former Seer rested the side of her head against her Vampire's shoulder as they spied on the pair sitting on the back porch swing. "They really are adorable," she giggled. Humming in agreement, Rosshe nodded with a matching grin across his lips.
Their bent knees almost touching in their close proximity to each other, Trent and Tricia were speaking in soft voices. For anyone looking on, there was no mistaking the early signs of a connection building, a glimmer of a spark in their eyes that never unhinged.
"It will take time for her to heal from the great loss she has suffered," the Egyptian Infected commented as he gazed back on his Companion. Lifting their linked hands up, he kissed the back of Dorothy's hand and smiled, "But, I do believe that there is hope for Tricia and the others like her in finding happiness again."
Yes, time was one of those remarkable healers.
For Kristy and those Companions that had lost their Vampires, they were drawn to those Infected that were now without their soul mates. Having that terrible hole in their existences in common, they were able to bridge the gaps between them through understanding. Though the ones taken away would never be forgotten, there was indeed hope for another chance at love and real healing for those left behind.
One tried and true example of that was already well in the works.
"Here's another one," Quatre announced as he removed the gold band that he had been working on from the metal etcher that created the crimson band embellishment. Smiling at the large stack his latest creation was added to, he sighed, "At this rate, we should have this wrapped up before long."
Catherine raised her protective visor when she turned off the blowtorch in her possession. Gazing over her shoulder to her assistants, she told them, "You have no idea how much I appreciate the extra hands with this. I would have been at this for days." Relena and her classmate grinned in response. "So, that makes how many now?" the weapons expert asked.
Eying the collection that was growing, Winner answered, "Well, that last one I just finished makes one hundred and thirty."
At that, Peacecraft bit her lip. "Actually, it's one hundred and twenty-nine."
Frowning, in confusion, Quatre spun back to their pile and scratched the back of his head. "Really?" he muttered, the words coming out in a rush thereafter. "I was being meticulous with the numbers. I suppose that it's entirely possible that I counted one twice or-" He was cut off when the Vampire cleared her throat.
When he gazed back on his girlfriend, the scientist's eyes grew in shock. Smirking, the Councilwoman turned her chair to reveal the completed ring that she had held onto. "Well, this one is accounted for," she smirked. Gasping,
Catherine covered her mouth and made herself scarce so that her friends could have their privacy.
Slowly rising from her seat, Relena took hold of the Companion band and approached the wide-eyed living. Drawing a deep breath, she smiled nervously, "So, Quatre... I have a proposition for you, if you are interested.
His surprise fading, Winner replied with a loving, radiant smile.
TBC...
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