Crimson Ties Epilogue
Switzerland really was a beautiful country.
With a deep sigh of content, Duo stood on the front porch of the grand, three-story hillside home that he and Heero shared. Flanked by two similar estates at either side, the place had a breathtaking view of the quaint city below and the scenic surroundings of mountains and fields. Everything about the homes and their location had something to be admired.
It was the perfect place to spend the next two decades.
"Hewo, Unca Dwo," a small, high-pitched voice greeted the Companion from behind.
Spinning around, Maxwell took in the four-year old Vampire staring up at him with a wide smile and gold rings around his blue eyes. The top of his head was covered by a shaggy mop of red hair that was highlighted by darker streaks.
"Well there, Solo," he chuckled, bending at the waist to scoop the child up into his arms. Kissing a cold cheek as tiny arms wrapped around his neck, he asked, "So, what do you think of our new home, kiddo?"
The little one shrugged, "Um, I like it. Lots'a work unpackin'. But my woom is all weady. Mama 'n Daddy set up our kids' wooms before theirs, so der busy with de rest of de house now. Isabel and Charles brought us over here, said we shod be out of the way."
Duo's smile grew at that. Wufei and Anna were the kidd of parents that they always would consider the needs of their children before their own. It was a good thing that their oldest two were able to take to looking after their younger siblings.
"There you are," Isabel's voice, so much like her mother's, sighed. Shaking her head as she stepped out onto the porch, the beautiful Vampire of her late teens now shook her head of long black hair. Her physical and facial features were those of Wufei's, but her personality was Anna's through and through. The exact opposite could be said of her redheaded twin, Charles.
Opening her arms, the teenage Infected took her youngest brother into her care and raised an eyebrow. "Our little wanderer," she giggled as Solo latched onto her. "I knew you were going to be trouble the moment you skipped over the learning to walk phase to running instead." Meeting the Reformer's silvered eyes, she winced, "Sorry, Uncle Duo. I hope he wasn't being a pest."
Maxwell snickered and ran a hand through the giggling boy's mussed hair as he replied sincerely, "You kids are never pests."
Charles stepped out onto the porch with the other set of twins- John and Carol - who were now coming into their early teens as the reversed versions of their older brother and sister. It was the fact that Solo was not born with a twin that he was fittingly named after Duo's twin... but it really was meant honor him as well for his last, selfless act that had saved them and ended the war between the Vampires and the Others.
Ironically, the youngest of the pack bore more of a resemblance to Heero and Duo thanks to their DNA in Anna than any of the others. Had they ever have a love child...
Together, they made up quite the band of full-blooded Infected that had just enough Reformer DNA makeup from Duo to mature. All physically aging slowly but still changing, it would only be a matter of time before they stopped to take on their permanent eternal youthful appearances. The time would come when they all would find their Chosen that would become their Companions to only add even more to the rapidly growing family.
It was only a matter of time before Anna was pregnant again. And the clan would be on the move once more before any unwanted attention was drawn onto her or the new Vampires in the world. Maxwell's sister would be in danger were it known that not only could she conceive and birth children, but that she was a source of fertility for all Infected. It would be like what had become of his mother all over again... scientists and excruciating experiments for both her and her offspring.
But that would never happen. Along with their changing locations to confuse the registrations and to deter curious eyes, anyone that might pose a threat against his loved ones would have not only a pack of Infected including Originals to deal with but they would also have to get through Duo and Shinigami first. In the back recesses of his mind, the hybrid's darker half rumbled a protective growl at the thought, ready to do whatever he needed to protect his family.
Knowing that his siblings would be preoccupied with more than just unpacking for a while in their rare time alone, the braided Companion smirked to his nieces and nephews, "What do you all say to me finding your Uncle Heero so we can all go on a run around the mountains together? See the sights?" There was no guilt over volunteering his husband for the trip. Yuy was all too happy to spend time with the young charges.
As for the young Vampires, they all cheered and clapped at the suggestion.
'Yea,' Duo decided right then, 'this was definitely going to work out as home for a long time.'
* * * * * *
At the feeling of the car stopping, Midi turned her head to the side facing the driver's seat, even though she could not see a thing to take in what she was certain would be an amused smirk on her husband's face. "Can I take the blindfold off now?" she asked patiently, but her voice was filled with excitement over whatever surprise he had planned for her.
Chuckling, Trowa tuned off the ignition and opened his door as he answered, "Almost." Quickly stepping onto the sidewalk, he darted around to the smiling 'little mother's' side and opened the door. Taking her by the hand and assisting her from the vehicle, he closed the door behind her. "This is something that I've been working on for the last year ever since I knew we were coming here.
"Well what is it?" the lovely Latin Infected giggled anxiously as she was practically bouncing on her heels. She felt herself being guided onto a raised pavement that she was directed to step onto. Two paces onto that, she was stopped and her blindfold was removed. Blinking at the return of the world, her gold-and-brown eyes widened and her jaw fell with a sharp gasp.
In a secluded section of the town in the middle of a small, lush field was a small but welcoming restaurant that was designed to look like a home. The red lettering that ran along the edge of the room read in German 'Midi's Kitchen.'
Wrapping an arm around his stunned bride's shoulders, Barton kissed her cheek and told her, "Now that TJ and Rachel are away with their Vampires for the time being, I thought that you might want something to keep you busy other than cleaning all the time. And I know that few things make you happier than cooking for people who can enjoy your meals. Here, you can make up your own hours while making friends with the neighbors."
Tears rolling down her face, Midi finally tore her gaze away from the restaurant... her restaurant to meet his eyes. "Oh, Trowa," she breathed, her voice cracking. "Thank you so much." Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him with all of the appreciation and love that she could show through the gesture.
As they separated, the Teleporter smirked, "I expect your place is going to be pretty popular. I leaked out a potential menu to the community and there have already been dozens of calls coming in asking when the restaurant will be open."
Throwing her arms in the air, the 'little mother' laughed, "I already have customers!" Her pace brisk, she walked towards her business, thinking aloud, "There's so much to do. I'll have to run down the supplies and pantry food, come up with a staff, decorate the inside and out..."
'Oh, this was going to be just what she needs', Trowa thought to himself. Unable to help the wide smile on his face, he shook his head and followed her inside.
* * * * * *
Wufei and Anna reemerged into the world not long after Heero and Duo returned to their home with the kids at the start of that evening's sunset. Solo was laughing as he clung onto Yuy's leg, his uncle smiling as he walked with the little one standing on his foot to be carried along with every step he me made. At the sight of his parents entering the room, the little Vampire gasped and cheered, "Mama! Daddy!" Bolting forward in a blur of himself, he squealed in delight as he was easily scooped up into the his mother's arms.
Giggling, Anna held him close and rained kisses on his face while Wufei mussed his unruly head of hair. Both parents bearing matching fang marks in the napes of their necks and satisfied expressions, they looked to their brothers and mouthed sincere 'thank you's' to them for helping them have some much needed time alone. Smirking, Heero and Duo winked and nodded in return.
For anyone to look on the immortal mother, they never would have believed that she'd had one child let alone five already thanks to how her body healed and bounced back to its pre-pregnancy state immediately after every delivery. However, there was the noticeable difference in how her happiness radiated from her even more nowadays.
Tossing her baby into the air and catching him easily, the Irish Infected asked him, "Have you kids been good for your kind uncles, little man?"
Charles rose from the couch, rubbing the back of his shoulder-length, red hair that was pulled back in a short ponytail as he answered, "We're never anything but exceptionally well behaved, Ma," he snickered, a coy smile curling his lips. The rest of the brood chuckled, knowing well that they all had the potential of being handfuls from time to time.
"Don't even try it, young man. Don't make your father and I remind you some of the stunts that you alone pulled over the years," Anna laughed as her eldest son approached and they exchanged a kiss to each other's cheeks before he moved to exchange grins and a tight one-armed embrace with his father.
Maxwell rested his head on Heero's shoulder when his Vampire wrapped an arm around his waist and reassured his siblings with a chuckle, "They were more than fine. We had a nice run through the forests and mountains around so that they can get acquainted with the place."
Little Carol ran to the scaly Infected, that look of revered awe that she always held for him shining in her blue-and-gold eyes as she beamed, "There are all kinds'a animals out there, Daddy. Can we go on a hunt for breakfast tomorrow?"
Gently running a hand down the back of her head, he patted her thick fall of curly red hair and bent at the knees so that their gazes were on the same level. "Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world," he promised. "And it's only good to see as much of our surroundings as possible so that you know your way around." His smile only warmed when his little girl cheered and threw her arms around his neck.
Clapping her hands together, Anna announced, "Alright, spawn, our home is all set up now so let's head back to give Uncle Heero and Uncle Duo some time to settle in. Make sure to thank them on the way out." Obediently, the youngsters all lined up to hug and kiss the Original and the Companion with words of appreciation before they headed out.
Isabel and Charles were the last to walk towards the living room doorway, the young immortal woman swatting her twin on the rear and smirking, "Race you home." Raising an eyebrow, she teased, "Even though I already know I'm faster than you are, brother."
The corner of his own mouth curling, the other Vampire lightly pulled on a few locks of his sister's long and curly raven-haired locks as he replied, "You're on, brat." With that, they were both goon in blurs of themselves.
Anna and Heero blinked widely after them, then looked on each. Their surprise fading, they shared loving smiles and there was a light misting in their eyes. Laughing, they met each other in the middle of the room and embraced tightly with a quick peck of their lips. "You see?" the Original whispered when they pulled back. Cupping his sister's cheek, he commented, "It's only natural that they would be as inseparable as we are." The Irish immortal swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded.
His own eyes shimmering at the touching scene, Wufei came up to enfold his arms around his wife's shoulders. Kissing her cheek, he met their brothers' eyes and told them, "About that... you have no idea how much it means to us and the kids that you both so willingly picked up everything to move along with us. I know picking up and moving anywhere can be-"
Duo waved his hand to stop the scaly Vampire's words as he grinned, "It's no trouble at all."
Shrugging, he stated, "So I had the fun of picking up a couple of new languages, we get a change of scenery and we had to send out a few change of address notices to our friends so that they know where to find us when we can't go out and see them. I really don't see where the problem is." Tilting his braided head, he snorted, "You're just going to have to deal with the fact that nothing is going to keep us apart in this life." Heero returned to his Companion's side to hug him against his side and hummed in a backing of the sentiment.
Her mouth opening and closing, Anna gave up on finding her voice and instead came forward to hug the hybrid tightly. Chuckling, Maxwell kissed her cheek and squeezed her back. Finally breaking away, the redhead snickered and wiped away the last drops from her eyes and returned to her smiling husband. Their hands slipping together between them, Chang winked, "We'll return your earlier favor and give the two of you the rest of the night on your own." Looking to his Chosen, he asked, "Shall we, Mom?"
"Lead the way, Dad," the Irish Infected giggled back. Indulging in one more sweet kiss, they turned and waved back to their brothers with their free hands as they said their 'good nights.'
At the sound of their front door closing, Yuy spun and captured his husband up in the fierce hug and searing kiss that he'd wanted to give him all day. Only too happy to accept and return the passionate displays in full-force, Duo's eyes drifted closed with a deep sigh that had the hint of a moan born out of his need. Breathless once they pulled away and rested their foreheads together, the Original whispered huskily, "Welcome home, Duo Yuy-Maxwell."
Panting, the hybrid replied in kind, "Welcome home, Heero Yuy Maxwell." His smirking taking on a mischievous glint, he inquired, "So, husband-mine, any idea on where we begin... breaking the new house in?" In a rush, he was scooped up in his lover's arms, the speed and strength of the movement bringing on a laugh from him as he tried to orient himself again.
As Duo's arms looped around his neck, Heero chuckled, "Oh, I might have a few ideas." Their voices rising in snickers, the Vampire carried his Companion from the room.
On the mantle of the living room fireplace sat the small, ornate jewelry box that had been a gift from a Holocaust survivor. Stored and locked away safely inside was a little journal with stories of hope for the future. Beside the box and at the front of the many framed images was a pictured of a happy, laughing couple looking out through the image, forever keeping a silent vigil over the son and his Vampire as they always had. And next to them was a rare image of a certain, blonde Reformer who was smiling peacefully.
Home really was where the heart was. And no matter where they might be, there would be no residences filled with more love than those of the Yuy and Barton clans.
OWARI
I want to thank everyone so very much for the support and love over this series! I can't believe it grew into the monster it is for one and two that it's actually over. Of course, I might have to make some side fics as well for these characters. Hehe
Lots of love!
SkyLark
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