Welcome back! Hope you're enjoying the story. Here is our next chapter, all ready for you all. Please enjoy, remember to leave a like and a review.

All non-canon characters are mine.

As time passed, it seemed the years slowly caught up with Alister and as his great-grandson, the newly named Simon with Azimuth red stripes and his father's brown eyes came to be a month old his age had caught up with him. Becca still told him how handsome he was to her with every red hair that turned grey or white.

Kaden caught Alister up on everything, spending their days together, taking turns holding the Sleeping Simon. Becca just couldn't go back to the Lombax Dimension, she could not leave Alister again.

They were sitting outside, talking, 3-month-old Simon on Alister's chest when Rosie came out of the house to her grandparents. "Grandpa Alister," she smiled wide and innocently.

"Watch yourself, Alister," Kaden whispered loudly to him. "This one wants something."

Rosie stuck her tongue out at Kaden for a moment before grinning at Alister again. Alister smiled at Kaden before addressing his granddaughter. "Yes, Miss Rosie? What do we need?"

Rosie smiled her biggest smile. "Can you teach me how to use hoverboots?" She gave him her biggest and most innocent eyes. "Like you taught Daddy?"

"If I remember, Rosie," Alister grinned, soothing the complaining infant on his chest, "your mother said you can't learn to use your hoverboots until your feet are done growing."

Rosie folded her hands and pouted. "They're done, I promise." She pleaded, ignoring the smiling Kaden whom she had asked the previous weeks.

Becca smiled at her youngest granddaughter. "We won't know if they truly are done growing for a while, sweetheart." Rosie pouted bigger.

Claire came out of the house and smiled at her littlest sister. "Rosie, what are you asking the Elders for now?" Rosie frowned, mumbled an excuse before she ran off. Claire rolled her eyes and turned to her grandparents. "Any complaints from the tiny one?"

"None more than usual." Alister smiled and surrendered Simon to his mother.

Claire gently held her baby, checking him over. "It feels so strange to have three babysitters available." She smiled at Becca. "And I missed having a grandmother."

"I just worry about Grace with her babies." Becca nodded and grasped Alister's hand.

Alister smiled at Becca. "She's an Azimuth, isn't she?"

"And she has Uncle Montay." Claire shrugged and handed the baby to Kaden. "Lance, Mac, Uncle Rolin, Aunt Astrid, Harper, Genie, and Franklin."

Kaden gently rocked the infant. "How are you doing without Orion?"

"Anything from him and your father lately?" Becca asked.

Claire sighed sadly and turned to the empty landing pad. "It feels like it's been forever." She had grown used to worrying about her father, but with her father trying to retire he needed someone to take over for him. Claire held back her tears, returning to look at her grandparents. "I know it won't take them long."

Simon started to cry and fuss in Kaden's arms. Kaden ran a diagnostic and got up to get the baby a bottle. Becca smiled sadly at Claire. "Your mother knows how you feel, Claire. She's had to do this many times before."

Alister looked to Becca for a moment before looking to Claire. "Plus they are lombaxes, we are a race of warriors. They'll be home, victorious, before you know it." He grinned.

"Right." Claire sighed. Kaden came back, Simon appeased with a bottle in his mouth. Claire smiled at her grandparents, trusting them to take care of her baby. She kissed them each on the cheek, kissed her baby on the head, and went back to her work perfecting the water retrieval and purification system for Fastoon.

Fastoon's population was still small at 11, including Ratchet and Orion, but Grace promised that the twins would return to their birthplace once they were sure that they could live without constant medical attention. Lance even excited about moving to Fastoon.

Becca smiled at her husband. "I never thought I would see you again, Alister." She looked forward toward where Zeon had taken a break and was entertaining young Rosie (so Ian could work without being bothered). "Or this place….our home."

Alister laughed a little before kissing his wife's hand. "Nor I you." He nodded toward Kaden. "Neither of you."

Kaden took a deep breath and put down the baby bottle. "Times have changed. Once upon a time, this place was deprived of life, but now after all these years life returns to it." He handed Simon to Alister to burp him. "To think our families would be the ones to bring this place back."

Alister took the child, put him on his shoulder, and gently patted 3-month-old Simon's back. "I still regret not listening to you, Kaden."

Becca smiled sadly at Alister. "You were trying to protect us, Alister." She placed her hand on his arm. "Everyone makes mistakes."

Alister looked to his wife. "Not everyone's mistakes result in the near destruction of their race." He brought Simon down from his shoulder to lay on his chest. Little Simon smiled at Alister and reached for the old Lombax's nose.

Kaden sighed and slowly got up to put the bottle away. "All of us have regrets, Alister." He looked at his friend. "All of us have past mistakes, just know that without you we wouldn't have what we have now."

Becca moved Alister's face toward hers. "Yes, our past might be dark in places but what matters now is how bright the future is." She tickled Simon's cheek. "And you don't have to look far to find it. Just right down your nose." Simon giggled on Alister's chest and looked into his great grandfather's eyes with a smile on his face.

Alister smiled weakly at Simon. "I should have been there for our children, Becca. To help them and watch them grow up."

Kaden frowned and nodded. "I should have too." He left to go back into the house to put the bottle away.

Becca looked at Kaden and Alister. "Yes, it happened. It's done now." She stood and spread out her arms. "I had to move on quickly because I had two sons and an infant daughter to take care of by myself, worrying my ears off that my husband would be hunted down and killed by a mass murderer." She frowned at Alister. "Kori and Claire have lost their husbands temporarily. I lost mine permanently until just recently." Becca looked away. "To have our little girl grow up listening to stories about her father but not once having seen him…."

"Mom." Kori had appeared at the door. She frowned at her parents.

Alister sat up and adjusted Simon. "Kori, I-"

Kori raised her hands. "Please, let me." She gently took Simon from Alister and gave him to the returning Kaden. Kori helped her father up and grasped her mother's hand. She took her parents for a walk. "I did not truly feel deprived growing up, it wasn't until I had grown up that I realized that something was missing from my life." Kori took a deep breath. "I mourned the loss of a father I never knew. I mourned the loss of a mother I thought lost to me."

Alister couldn't look at his daughter, he just walked next to her. He frowned at the ground. Becca sighed and squeezed her daughter's hand. Kori smiled softly. "I let go of what I couldn't change and embraced what I could. I may not have been able to get rid of our past but I've worked to build up to a bigger and better future." She smiled at her father.

Becca sighed and looked at her daughter. "We were hurt by our past, something that can be very hard to get past."

"In bad times," Alister took a deep breath. "And in good times."

Kori wrapped her arms around her parents. "I know many things were before my time, I know that they hurt." She smiled weakly. "I'll never truly know the hurt you had to endure, but like any daughter, to her parents, I am willing to understand." Kori brought Becca and Alister to the Court of Azimuth. "And try to help you remember that the past is written but it is up to us to write the future."

Alister took his daughter and wife in his arms. "I'm going to have to get used to being a father again."

"And grandfather, and great-grandfather." Kori smiled. "We'll help you though."

Becca kissed Alister on the cheek. "I've dreamed of growing old with you, Alister."

Kori smirked to herself and escaped her parents. "I'm going to leave you two alone, to reconcile." She kissed them each on the cheek. "Don't have too much fun, or stay out too late."

Alister looked into Becca's eyes and smiled, waving Kori away. Becca laughed and gently grasped Alister's hand inside her own.

Kori smiled and turned to see a ship coming in. Her heart skipped a beat, immediately running toward the landing ship. She made it see a battered and bruised Orion come out and land into the arms of Claire. Ratchet took a bit longer but he still made it to Kori.

Ratchet held her in his arms, promising he wouldn't go on any more missions. He was officially retired. "I'm ready to be a full-time husband, son, father, and grandfather." Ratchet held Kori close, smiling.

Kori put her hand on his cheek and smiled at him. "About time." She rested her head gently on his shoulder.

Claire got Simon from Kaden to show him to Orion. Orion grinned and took baby Simon. "Look at you, you've gotten bigger!" He kissed his son's forehead and held Simon close. "And you have your Mommy's stripes and my eyes."

Claire smiled sadly and rubbed some blood off Orion's chin. "Oh, Orion….you're bleeding."

"Comes with the job," Orion kissed Claire's cheek. "But right now I just want to be with both of you." Orion wrapped his arm around Claire, holding the two most precious things to him close to his heart. Baby Simon looked up his parents and smiled a sweet smile.

Having a baby around made everything feel like it was going on fast forward. Little Simon was 7 months old when his Aunt Liza came home officially from her year away, Lance got to see his first look at Fastoon, and announced that his sons Dante and Duncan were doing well. But it was on the twins' first birthday Grace and Lance made the move. Becca and Alister now had three great-grandchildren. Little Dante had his mother's white color, father's dark stripes and eyes. Tiny Duncan had his father's grey color, his mother's orange stripes, and yellow eyes.

And unfortunately for Alister, he had gained the habit of falling asleep if left to sit too long, just like Kaden. There were plenty of afternoons of Rosie sneaking out behind her grandfathers and scaring the daylights out of them. She found this great fun.

Though it is to mention that Lance, Grace and the twins didn't come to Fastoon alone. Lance's lovely older sister Celeste came with them. She and Lance shared their dark grey color, but she had green eyes and pale white stripes.

Rosie had been forcing Zeon to play with her when the portal opened. Franklin escorted the group through but it was as if the world stopped for Zeon the moment he saw Celeste. Her short cropped hair, her dark color fur, and her soft and gentle face shape made Zeon forget about the littlest tyrant for a touch too long.

"Zeon!" Rosie complained. "Zeon!" She pouted and stomped her foot.

Zeon barely heard Rosie. "Yeah, in a minute Rosie." He waved at the little girl. He approached the group, all smiles. "Welcome to Fastoon."

Grace smirked at her cousin, holding light colored Dante. "Zeon, I've been here before." She teased.

Lance looked at Grace before smiling at Zeon. "Thanks for the welcome but we already know our way around." He adjusted dark colored Duncan in his arms.

Franklin nodded. "And I'm not staying." Celeste covered her mouth and tried not to laugh.

Zeon wanted to hurt his cousins that day. He smiled at Grace. "Charming as always, Grace." Zeon turned to Lance. "Good to see you again, Lance." He glared at Franklin. "Franklin." Zeon then turned to Celeste. "But I do believe I am yet to make your acquaintance, Miss." He smiled and held out his hand.

"Zeon!" Rosie complained again. "Ian said you're supposed to play with me." The little girl stomped her feet and frowned deeply at Zeon.

Zeon had never wanted to hurt a seven-year-old (besides his sisters) before but Rosie tempted him.

"Zeon, Rosie wants you." Grace laughed and led the group away. Franklin followed and guided Celeste away from Zeon.

Celeste winked at Zeon. "Catch you later." She purred to him.

Zeon waved until they were out of view but then broke his composure. He groaned and pulled his shirt over his face to hide. "My parents are right, Rosie." He moaned and belly ached. "I'm going to be single forever."

Rosie poked her cousin hard in the forehead. "What's your problem? Do you like her or something?"

Zeon pulled his shirt back down and knelt down to look Rosie in the eye. "Don't say a word, Rosie." He pointed his finger in the little girl's face.

Rosie was serious for a moment before she started to giggle. "You do like her!" She teased. "You like her, you like her!" The little girl skipped around her cousin, singing this phrase over and over.

Zeon groaned and tried to catch the little girl as she skipped around. "Rosie, I swear to all things good if you tell anyone-"

"Hey."

Rosie and Zeon quickly spun around to see Celeste behind them. Rosie started to giggle but Zeon quickly grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth. He stood back up, with his best smile, hand firmly over Rosie's mouth. "Hey," he replied, trying to be smooth.

Celeste laughed a little before smiling at Zeon. "I'm Celeste." She stuck out her hand to him.

Zeon laughed nervously before he extended his free hand and shook her hand. "Zeon."

"I know." Celeste giggled. "Grace has told me all about you." She held up her hands, smiling. "All good things."

Zeon tried to not die inside. He started a nervous laugh again before Rosie put an entire mouthful of spit into his palm. Zeon quickly removed his hand from her mouth, almost cursing, but the seven-year-old was off. "Rosalyn Olympic wait until I tell Aunt Kori!" He yelled at the little girl.

Little Rosie just giggled and kept running, trying to get away from Zeon and get to the safety of her mother.

Celeste smiled and covered her mouth with her hand for a moment. "Your cousin I take it?"

Zeon recovered himself and clean off his hand. "Yeah, cute kid." He smiled wide. "Though her nephew, Simon, is cuter."

Celeste raised an eyebrow. "Nah, my nephews are cuter." She smirked.

"I can't compete with that," Zeon shrugged. "All I have are sisters, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and my cousins' children."

Celeste moved closer to him. "I don't want to compete." She bit her lip and smiled. "I hear you write music."

Zeon felt his heart rate rise. "Not anything, you know, recently." He cleared his throat. "Too busy keeping a pain occupied so her brother can work."

"Right, too busy with your day job," Celeste smirked. "If you have any of it with you I'd love to check it out." She brushed her bangs back. "And maybe I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

Zeon had to swallow a lump in his throat. "You write music?"

"It's more of a hobby." Celeste giggled. "Nothing special, you know."

Zeon nodded dumbly. "Yeah, me too." He laughed nervously and took a step back from Celeste.

Celeste closed in on him. "I should probably tell you that your aunt sent me out here to get you," she smiled and winked. "Dinner is waiting." Celeste walked away and Zeon followed her like a lost puppy.

Their dinner table had grown significantly since it was just Ratchet, Kaden, and Kori. But everyone had a place and the entire lombax population still fit around a dinner table, a large one but still a dinner table. Celeste sat next to her brother and Zeon sat next to her. Simon and the twins in their highchairs, next to their respective parents.

The conversation was normal 'how is the work on the irrigation system going', that kind of thing until it was realized that Montay had not come to see Grace off to Fastoon. Franklin had.

"Where is your father?" Kori asked, cutting her grandson's food into small pieces.

Becca looked at Grace, concerned. "Is your father alright? Surely he wouldn't miss you leaving."

Grace and Lance smiled at each other. Grace nodded. "He's fine, something came up that needed his attention," Lance muttered that they hoped he would get home late. Grace lightly elbowed him, giggling.

Zeon leaned over the table to look at Grace. "Wait a minute…" He smiled. "Is your dad on a date?"

Grace tried to hide her smile. "Not a date, he told us." She tapped her fingernails on the table. "Just an 'outing' with an attractive lombax his own age, at a very nice restaurant."

Lance smirked. "Just the two of them, a quiet evening." He nodded. "As one does."

Claire perked up. "Please tell me you made him go." She smiled but returned her attention to Simon as he cried for her.

Celeste nodded. "I was helping get the twins ready," She added. "They all but pushed him out the door and told him not to worry."

Zeon cheered before coming back down, trying to not embarrass himself in front of Celeste yet still act normally around his family. "It's been so long, your Dad needs to have fun sometime."

"It's been almost 13 years." Becca smiled and rested her hand on her heart. "Montay deserves more happiness in his life, he works so hard to make others happy."

Alister looked around before asking. "What happened to your mother?"

Grace waved her hand. "He left my mother years ago." She shrugged one shoulder. "He wanted better for us, so he packed up Mac and I and left."

"It was hard." Becca nodded and put her hand on Alister's. "But it was what was best for Mac and Grace."

Grace nodded. "It really was." She folded up her long sleeves to her armpits, and on the entire lengths of her arms were massive faded scars. "Scars are on all of us," She shrugged, holding out her arms. "Some more physical than others."

Lance smiled sadly and grabbed Grace's elbow. "But with time, scars fade. Healing takes time and others who are willing to be with us."

Grace smiled and rolled her sleeves back down. "Dad was there for me and Mac whenever we needed him." She looked at Alister, smiling wide. "It took a long time for his scars from my mother to heal, so if he's ready to open his heart to romantic love again then I'll stand behind him and be there for him if he needs me."

Kori looked at everyone around the table. "We all will." She smiled.

Thank you for reading! Don't forget to leave me a review, I'd love to know what you think. Alright, I'm off my soapbox lol. See you next chapter!