Wild Birds

A Last Exile Fan fiction

By Tasogare no Hime

Summary: AU: A series of ficlets about what life might have been like if Alex had gone back for Claus and Lavie.

Warnings: None so far.

Disclaimer: I do not own Last Exile

Pre-notes: This is not one of those rewrite the entire series fics, I could never pull off one of those. It's just a collection of ficlets I've had bouncing around my head and decided to let out.

Leaving the nest

Alex walked quietly toward the children sitting in front of the gravestones. Even after six months he still felt so numb, but when Marius had told him about Justina's death he had been driven to return. Mostly he felt, because they had no one else left in the world, and Euris would never forgive him if he abandoned them. So he had arrived that morning for the funeral, and afterward not knowing what to say or do had avoided the children as much as possible while he packed things they would need. But the passenger vanship that would take them back the academy was waiting, and it was getting dark. "Claus, Lavie It's time to go." He said softly honestly surprised at how steady his voice was.

The little girl still crying got up rubbing her eyes, the boy fighting his own tears turned frowning. "I thought we were staying here." Claus said looking toward the farm house.

Alex sighing dug a clean handkerchief out of his pocket giving it to Lavie, who hiccuped a bit. "There isn't anyone to take care of you here. You are going to live with me while we look for a family to take you in." Alex picked Lavie up with one arm, she was exhausted from crying all day, and reached for Claus' hand but the boy ran off toward the garage.

At the door he turned frowning at Alex who had followed. "We can't leave our dad's vanship!"

Alex blinked in shock, looking from Claus to Lavie and back again. "Oh god, they think?..." Not sure what to do he knelt down in front of Claus setting Lavie back on the ground beside him. "Claus..Lavie... Your father's ship... this is.." Closing his eyes he took a deep breath before he was able to look at the children again. "That vanship is ...The vanship is yours Claus. It belongs to you and Lavie.. We can't take it with us now, but I promise you won't lose it." Lavie smiling for the first time that day walked over and hugged him, Claus looked unsure but slowly nodded. Alex picked Lavie up again, and stood taking Claus' hand they went to the vanship that would take them to the academy.

When they arrived, the children were asleep, and Marius was waiting. "I have an apartment ready for you. Alexander.. You don't have to do this." Marius said carrying Claus as he lead Alex to the place he would be living now. The apartments on campus were usually reserved for faculty, and visiting nobles.

It was nice Alex supposed. Already furnished, along with his own room, Lavie and Claus could have separate rooms. There were a small kitchen and dining room, a sitting room that would probably end up a playroom, and a small office. "Thank you, Marius." Alex said feeling his own exhaustion setting in after putting the children to bed.

"Alex, you aren't ready for something like this." Marius tried again placing a hand on Alex's shoulder.

Alex glared at him moving away. "What else am I supposed to do? Just leave them there like you were going to? Let them get sent to some orphanage, or work house where they'll be starved, or beaten, or treated like slaves!" He sat on the sofa in the sitting room placing his head in his hands. "Euris wouldn't leave them. I can't leave them..." He quickly composed himself and sat up leaning back. "There are still some things from the house we need, and some things I want to make sure are put away for them... They... They want to keep the vanship. Could you make sure it's stored somewhere safe for them?"

"Alex.."

"Please?"

Marius sighed. "Of course. Let me know if you need anything else. I'll let you get some sleep now, Good night Alex." Alex didn't respond as he left.

He ended up falling asleep on the sofa. The next morning he woke to a huge mess in the kitchen as the children had attempted to make breakfast on their own. Alex surveyed the mess and sighed wondering if he hadn't bitten off more than he could chew. The breakfast turned out to be edible at least.

AN: I have no idea where I'm going with this, but I've got several ideas, and I'll try to post frequently.