This is a work of fan fiction using characters and situations from the anime series Gurren Lagann, which is trademarked by Gainax Corporation.

For the most part, characters depicted in this work are characters created and owned by Kazuki Nakashima and Hiroyuki Imaishi. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of Gurren Lagann. There are a couple minor original characters appearing of my own design, however.

The story I tell about the former members of Team Dai Gurren is my own invention, and it is not purported or believed to be part of Gurren Lagann's story canon. This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official story line.

I am not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story. And I am very grateful to Messrs. Nakashima and Imaishi for sharing their wonderful story with the rest of us. Without their anime creation, my story would be sans raison d'être.

"Come on, in here," Kinon said to everyone with her as she shepherded them into a private room of Central's infirmary. The floor nurse had called her right away upon seeing Simon's vitals improving steadily. "Looks like we're not too late," she smiled as she approached the head of his bed together with Rossiu.

Leyte came in with one of her sons on each shoulder, dressed smartly in their cadet's uniforms. Anne came in whispering and giggling to her upperclassman Kohmin, obviously sharing some private joke from school that day. "Can it, you two," she said sharply, quieting both her daughter and Kiyoh's. They both knew better than to give her any lip now that Leyte was trying again to quit smoking.

"He must still be dreaming, the poor dear," Leeron giggled as he noticed the bed sheet protruding above Simon's groin. "A veeeeeeeeeeeery nice dream indeed, I'd say, given a saluting soldier like that."

"Silence, pervert." Viral smacked Leeron on the back of his head as he came in behind him. "You are a man truly lacking any and all decorum. Can't you see there are children present?"

"Pervert! Pervert!" cried Dano as he parroted him, which prompted Rinon to do the same.

Kiyoh shushed him crossly as she came in with Dayakka. "Viral, dear, you're not helping!" Dano and Rinon remembered their manners as Kiyoh and Kinon turned together, giving them both the stern look of motherly disapproval.

"Can't a guy get any sleep around here?" came a raspy voice from behind them.

Everyone turned to look at Simon where he lay in the hospital bed. His face was bruised, a wad of gauze was taped over his left eye, and everyone could see his shoulder was bandaged. The burns across his chest and back had started to heal.

The floor nurse poked his head in while making rounds, and, noticing Simon was awake, set to making him more comfortable to visit with his friends. He straightened Simon's hospital smock which had somehow managed to get all kittywampus, then gingerly worked the bandages off of his eye to permit him to see better. He cleaned the area so it would feel more comfortable then raised the head of the bed. Simon blinked madly as he worked to bring the vision in his eye back into focus. After a minute or so, he was able to see all his friends looking back at him.

God bless their pea-pickin' hearts, he thought as they started in on him all at once.

"Don't give us a scare like that, you big meanie!"
"Glad to have you back among the living, my friend."
"How do you feel? Are you still in pain?"
"Wow, look at his eye, everyone! It's got a spiral thingy in it!"
"It was a very near thing. Do you remember anything about it?"
"These docs are the best-you'll be out of here in no time."

We will have to make sure we come back more often to visit them now, he thought.

"Thank you, all of you," Simon replied graciously.

Gimmy came in next, pushing Darry in her wheelchair. Simon looked at him in surprise, seeing him without the surgical cap that had covered his orange hair earlier and dressed in his street clothes. But the freckles on Gimmy's face were still obscured by numerous bruises. "I'm being released this afternoon, Simon, so I want to surprise Yue and Hokuto when they get home from her mother's tonight. But I wanted to thank you myself for helping Darry and I," he said, looking at him graciously. "I shudder to think what would have become of us and our families if not for you," he said, holding the Drill hanging around his neck Simon had given him on Simon and Nia's wedding day.

Darry nodded, still wearing her hospital smock. Simon figured she would be here for a little while longer while the doctors made sure the bones in her leg began to knit properly, and looked forward to her company.

Simon reached up and took Gimmy's hand firmly as he could in his own. "Thank me by being the best husband and best father you can be, blood brother," he said weakly.

Kiyal and Attenborough followed close behind. "Oh, look, he's awake!" Attenborough said as he sat down his satchel and reached inside. "Well, then I guess you can come out of there now, buddy!"

"BUI!" Boota squeaked as he bounced out of Attenborough's open hand. He sprang on the bed a couple times until he made it to in Simon's lap. He began cooing as Simon stroked the little pigmole's soft fur.

"Hey, everyone, sorry I'm late!" Yoko said as she came into the room and joined the rest of her friends around Simon's bed. "I got here as soon as I could after class today. Oh, Simon, you're awake! Are you feeling okay?"

Simon was about to reply but then groaned painfully instead. "Nurse, another round please. And make it a double this time!" he joked while readjusting himself as best he could.

Simon's movements caused Boota to raise his head and glance around looking for more suitable place to nap. The little pigmole's eyes went wide as he saw Yoko and bounded toward her. But Boota gave her a cross look upon seeing her conservatively cut teacher's uniform denied him what he sought. Glancing over at Darry, he found what he was looking for and sprang from Simon's lap. He landed right between the folds of Darry's hospital smock, sighing contentedly as he nuzzled down in her bosom.

"Any port in a storm," Simon chuckled in spite of himself as his side began hurting again. But he didn't care. The quiet peace of the hospital wing was suddenly interrupted as the entire room burst into uproarious laughter.

Simon smiled groggily as he looked over toward Darry and Boota. "Well, Nia, some things never change, huh?"

A strained silence fell over the room as all the adults turned to look at Simon, staring at him sadly at what he had just said.

"All of you, stop looking at me like I'm some lunatic to be pitied," Simon chided them. "My Commission came with some strange but wonderful benefits. Even now, I experience the powerful manifestation of Nia's presence inside of me. We look forward to our very souls being in communion with one another from now on. Nia and I are bonded in every way possible-physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually."

Everyone in the room seemed to gasp at the same time.

Yoko was the first one to find her voice again. "B-but, Simon," she stammered, "How is that even-"

"She believed in you, Yoko."

"Huh? What are you talking about, Simon?"

"The day we defeated Adiane and her Sayrune long ago. You asked Nia while you were trimming her hair afterward why she closed her eyes when you took the shot that disabled Sayrune and saved her life. Nia said it was because she knew you were the master of your rifle. And because she believed in you."

The breath caught in Yoko's throat as she drew both hands up to her mouth.

"But-but I never-never told anyone-"

"That's right!" Attenborough said, slapping his forehead. "I remember! I was standing right behind Simon. We all saw you two, but with the wind we couldn't hear a word either of you were saying."

"Then the only way Simon would have known is if Nia had told him!" Kiyal squealed.

"Which she never did", Simon replied. "Until right now."

Cheers, tears, encouragement and well wishes all came loudly and long as everyone in the room began talking at once. The moment was short lived as the floor nurse rebuked the lot of them, making sure his telling them not to disturb the other patients would not be mistaken for a mere request. Simon enjoyed passing the time until visiting hours were over as his friends and their families rotated in and out of his room. The floor nurse may have his foot down on the noisy bunch, but he didn't mind one bit.

Sitan was the last to come calling, wheeling Darry back to her room late that evening near the end of his shift. He hoped they would have chance to enjoy a private moment of their own.