"Thanks for waiting, Orimura-Sensei." I said as I stepped into her car. She nodded at me as I closed the door behind me and she put the vehicle in gear and we drove to the Academy. I looked around to see IS of all kinds patrolling the coastline and over the city.

"People have been on edge a lot recently. There's been a lot of issues and threats being made and no one knows who or what's next." Orimura answered my unspoken question. I nodded.

"Like what, exactly? We didn't get much in the ways of news in prison." I said, smirking.

"Several bombings and threats of more. A few radical movements are getting more confident and making moves in populated areas. And a lot of people were interested in your trial and the verdicts." At that, I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "The typical, 'he should live, he's just a kid. Let him go.' And the opposite opinion." She answered, and I nodded.

"And the others? What are they up to?" I asked, curious to know what the rest of the gang had gotten themselves into.

"Everybody graduated and got jobs. Laura went back to Germany to teach new pilots. Ichika and Houki got married a couple years ago. They're both teaching at the Academy. Rin went back to China and is running a successful restaurant. Cecilia is in the British Secret Service, protecting the royal family. And I don't have to tell you about Charlotte, now do I?" She teased and I rolled my eyes as a response.

"Glad to hear they did something outside of getting into trouble. Although I'm sure they got into plenty before graduation." I said, grinning. Orimura nodded her head, in a sarcastic way. We both laughed as the car pulled up in front of the Academy. She pulled the car into an underground garage and we stepped out.

"This way. We'll get your travel accommodations in order and you should be out of here on your way to the U.S." She said as we made our way through the familiar halls of the Academy.

"What's the latest in IS news these days? Any breakthroughs?" I asked, leaning against the door-frame of Orimura's office.

"The Germans came out with a fourth-generation IS a few years after you turned yourself in. A few years after you were moved into France, the Americans released a fifth-generation prototype." She replied, typing something in her computer before the printer next to me started working and a plane ticket popped out. I grabbed it and a second appeared behind it. I grabbed it as well and read the names.

One for me and one for her. I thought as I handed her her ticket and we were headed farther into the Academy. We stopped in front of an unmarked door and she unlocked it and I opened the door. It was a storage closet and I walked inside. There were a few familiar bags in the corner and I opened them. They were mine. I grabbed the bags and she closed the door behind me.

"That should be everything." She said. I nodded and we were back in her car headed for the airport.

At the airport...

"This is the final boarding call for Flight 251 headed for LAX." The announcer said and I shifted the bag on my shoulder to a more comfortable spot. I handed my ticket to the lady and she motioned me through. I grabbed my other bag and walked onto the plane. I shuffled past row after row of other passengers and found my seat. I threw my bags into the compartment above and took my seat. I was soon joined by Orimura and another woman. I was unfortunately stuck in the middle. They copied my actions and we were soon headed down the runway and into the air. I turned to the other woman sitting next to me.

"Hi. I'm Zeke. Nice to meet you..." I trailed off.

"Mary. Mary Sky. I'm your parole officer, Mr. Altec." She said. I nodded and we lapsed into silence. A few hours later we were given our complimentary drink and bag of peanuts. As I was handed the items to pass down I asked Orimura.

"Do you still have the bracelet I left with you?" I asked. 'The bracelet' I was referring to was my IS, Green Gospel or Gospel. Orimura nodded and handed the white and green bracelet to me and it changed into a pair of dog tags in my hand. I just shook my head and put Gospel on. Ever since I had made that deal with the White Knight IS, which allowed me to save Charlotte and our, at the time, unborn daughter. I hadn't been able to connect to Gospel like I had been able to before the deal. I had to have 'her' standby mode now instead of just the tattoo on my back. I closed my eyes and leaned back in my seat.

In my head...

"So, did you miss me?"I teased, grinning as I was met by a silver-haired girl. Gospel just smiled at me and launched herself at me. I caught her in a hug and we laughed, cried and laughed some more.

"Where've you been? It's been 12 years!" She demanded, grabbing my collar and shaking me. I grabbed her hands and released myself.

"I've been in prison, G. That's where I've been." I replied. She stopped for a second and took a step back and looked me over from head to toe.

"You've grown! Holy cow, Zeke. You're huge! What were you doing in there?" She said. I laughed.

"Oh, you know. Weight-lifting, sports, more weight-lifting and more sports. A few scuffles in the cafeteria every now and then." I replied, smirking. She just gave me a look. I laughed.

"No gang initiations? No failed assassinations? Did you even get a prison bitch?" She asked. I shrugged.

"In that order. Not that I know of, they didn't dare and my secret." I teased, smiling.

"So, you were bored out of your skull, huh?" She said and I flopped on my back, sighing.

"Almost bored enough that I actually had a riot plan. All I needed was some people to help and we could have had a full-blown riot going on." I said. We both laughed and we talked about what had been going on since we last talked. She had been surfing through the web and had kept up to date on current events. I told her about how I scared half the prison into thinking I was a psychic. She told me about the rioting in the Middle East and South America. I told her how I protected a newer inmate till I had been transferred. She told me how the IS were slowly becoming closer to full-on war machines.

"So, can you still match up with these new IS' or should we do some data collecting before we start a fight?" I asked, serious now. She took a few minutes before answering.

"I can't tell you 100% whether or not I can. It'd be best for you to be fitted with a new IS and keep me as a backup unit, honestly. I'm past the IS retirement age by normal standards." She said. I nodded and thought about my other issue.

"Any idea what the White Knight did to me when I came back? I haven't really been able to look into it since." I said, pulling down my sport sleeve on my left arm, exposing the metal appendage. She scanned the arm and then myself.

"Well, your arm wasn't the only thing changed. In order for the arm to function properly, it needed the right sensor inputs. Your left eye is also cybernetic. It ties into your senses and is able give the proper feedback to your arm. As for how you were able to encase yourself in the armor, I don't know. There isn't any coding or clues in the coding itself." She answered me. I sighed and nodded.

"Thanks. It answers a few things for me." I said. We talked for a little while longer before Gospel sent me back to reality. I woke up as the plane landed in LAX. The three of us grabbed our bags and were quickly out of the plane and Orimura handed me a note. I opened it and found an address along with three words. "Get yourself home." I nodded to her and pulled out my wallet. It was about 5:30pm here in the US and I was able to find a rental car fairly easy for a walk-in. I exchanged contact info with the two of them and I was headed into downtown Los Angeles.

At the apartment...

I looked up at the exterior of the complex. The place looked like a high-end complex and the location was decent. All in all, it looked expensive. I wonder what she does... I thought as I stepped into the lobby.

"Hello. May I help you sir?" The hostess asked. I nodded.

"Yes. I'm looking for my girlfriend, Charlotte Dunois. I was told she was renting an apartment here." I said, shaking her hand before she walked over to a computer and typed something in.

"She's on the third floor, room 1025. I'll get you a key and let them know you're coming." She said.

"This is supposed to be a surprise. Do you mind not letting them know who I am, at least?" I asked. She nodded and handed me a keycard. I pocketed the card and nodded to her as I grabbed my bags and walked to the elevator. Here I come Char...

In the apartment...

"Mom, the lobby called. Somebody came by and is heading up to see you." A 13 year old girl said as she set down the phone and sat back down on the couch.

"Alright, thank you Keiko!" Charlotte called as she finished her hair and walked out of her room and into the family room. Keiko already had her earbuds in and Char shook her head as she walked by into the kitchen.

I walked out of the elevator, card in hand and bags on my shoulder and in my other hand. I counted the room numbers before I caught sight of 1025. It was located on the corner of the building and was overlooking some of the casinos. I stopped at the door and sighed. Will she even recognize me? And what about Keiko? She probably doesn't even remember me! I leaned against the door and took a deep breath. Just get it over with. I raised my hand and knocked.

Back inside...

Keiko didn't hear the knocking at the door and Char was busy in the kitchen. The knocking persisted and went unnoticed.

I let out a breath and swiped the keycard. The light blinked green and I swung open the door. "Charlotte? Are you there?" I called. I caught motion out of the corner of my eye and looked to see... Keiko. Man, she's grown up.

"Can I help you, sir?" She asked. I shook my head.

"Yes. Yes you can. Where's your mother?" I asked, Keiko pointed down a hallway and I thanked her before heading down the hall. I followed the smell of cooking food and found Char in the kitchen cooking. I set my bags down quietly out of sight and leaned against the doorframe. I watched her cook for a couple minutes before a small smile worked its way onto my face.

"Excuse me miss. I'm looking for my girlfriend. She looks a lot like you and I was told she lived here." I said. Char froze over the stove and I watched as she slowly turned and looked at me. She dropped a utensil she had had in her hand and the noise was enough for Keiko to get up and start heading this way. "Mom? Are you alright?" She called from behind me. There was a few moments of silence before I broke it with.

"Hey Char. I'm back." I said. I was immediately tackled by Char.

"Is it really you, Zeke?" She asked, touching my face and I took her other hand in mine. I looked at her in the eyes.

"Yeah Char, I'm here. I'm home." I whispered, running my free hand through her blonde hair. Her violet eyes never left my green ones until she hugged me. We both had tears running down our faces and I hugged her back as she squeezed me tight, as if I'd disappear if she didn't. I lifted her chin up and planted a kiss on her lips and was met by her lips as she returned it. We had forgotten Keiko was there till I heard a gagging noise. We pulled apart and I looked up at my daughter as she looked at us. I snorted at her reaction.

"Yep. You definitely got my sense of humor. It's been awhile Keiko. Do you remember your daddy?" I said, standing both Char and myself up. Char had a tight grip on my arm as Keiko gave me a scrutinizing look before stepping closer to me.

"My dad's in prison." She said. I laughed.

"Yeah I was. I was released this morning and flew here to surprise you two. If you want to play it that way, my daughter was two the last time I saw her." I said. She rolled her blue eyes at me. I mockingly rolled mine as well. She stuck her tongue out at me and I copied her. We would have continued but were interrupted by Char.

"Okay you two. Enough! Dinner will be ready soon. Behave." She warned before stepping back into the kitchen. I watched her walk out of my sight before turning back to Keiko.

"So... What have I missed in the last 11 years?" I asked, wincing at the length of time. She caught my wince and waved me over to the couch.

"Well. I..." We sat there and talked until Char called us for dinner and we continued to talk all through dinner. I went to bed, Char next to me and smiles on all three of our faces.

"I'm Home. I whispered.
"He's home." Char whispered.
"My dad's home." Keiko whispered.