Author's Note: So this is the official sequel to Forgotten Memories of an Age Past! However readers of this fic may want to read The Black Box: A Washu Tale before continuing with this one.

Falling Twice

Prologue: What do you mean it's a ring?

Washu fiddled with her fingers as she tried her best to explain to Ryoko what Vincent Hawke had actually put inside the black box, but even with her most ingenious ways of finding good reason within any situation, she could find none.

"Aren't you happy Little Ryoko? I'm getting married!" Washu tried to point out the positive aspects while attempting to send Ryoko on a slight guilt trip.

"Aeon almost died for your wedding ring!" She scowled as she menacingly glared at her mother. "He hasn't even woken up yet…" Her voice drifted on a lower tone.

"I'm sorry Ryoko; this is my fault." Washu tensed as she heard Vincent Hawke's voice behind her; she had told him NOT to come—Ryoko wouldn't go easy on him.

Like a sniper, Ryoko focused her gaze on the man she would soon become a daughter to, and immediately Vincent felt the overwhelming pressure of the scope he was under. He had never seen her so intense, except that time Aeon had taken Kurin from her.

"I really had no idea The Science Academy would go through my journals…" He chuckled. Big mistake.

"Whaddya mean!" She grabbed him by his collar and shook him comically—Washu was convinced his head would soon snap. "What idiot writes so dramatically in his journal about a wedding ring?"

"Ahhhh!" His eyes swirled in confusion as he tried to regain his balance. "I think I liked you better when you were smaller." He smiled all the while.

Ryoko bared her teeth at him; how could he smile at her at a time like this? She had just shaken the life out of him, but he didn't seem to mind one bit. He hadn't even dwelled on the fact that she had called him an idiot—it infuriated her.

"You were imprisoned for 5 years, Aeon was chased by the Galaxy Police and we were all nearly murdered so that you could propose to my mother?" Ryoko asked once more just to make sure she hadn't made some impossible mistake of misunderstanding them.

"Yup that sounds about right." Vincent sighed as he got on his knees and grabbed on to Ryoko's leg. "Oh please forgive me!" He whined like a child.

Ryoko tried to shake him off but it was in vain; he was a very persistent apologizer. She looked down at the man who was more child than man, and a strange, fond emotion took over. She hadn't fully integrated with her memories of her past, so it still felt a bit awkward being around Dr. Hawke. Her present self had little quarrel with her past self, but some emotional barriers still persisted in keeping the integration from completing. As her memories returned, so did her knowledge. She had begun to help her mother in the lab, and perhaps more astonishing, she had begun to call Washu 'mom' naturally. She let out a deep sigh as she patted Hawke on the head.

"Fine, fine, fine…you have my blessing. Marry mom, or whatever." She smiled down at the him and helped him up. "You're just as troublesome as me."

He chuckled and stood up straight. "Actually Ryoko, you're just as troublesome as me."

End Note: So what do you think? Not much to go on, but hand in hand with The Black Box: A Washu Tale, I think it's a pretty good setup. Please review and offer suggestions of any kind ^_^. I want to write as much as I can before Fall Semester begins ;p