A/N: Written for the Tale in Fragments Challenge (hard 10 table 6) and for the Mega Prompts Challenge (writing prompts, #027 – write a multichapter with each chapter under 500 words). The prompts for the Tale in Fragments Challenge will be per chapter: this one's is #010 – lad.

This one cut it fine at 499 words, lol. But I needed an ending after all…worth those last couple of lines, I think. :D Since I started that plot point about Kira and all…

Hope you enjoyed!

On the Way Home
10. Lying in Bed Together Again

There turns out to be an old lady who doesn't mind them moving in to her little granny flat on the spot. Rather, she invites the company, on the condition they join her for tea a few afternoons a week and help a bit with the housework.

They see no reason to refuse. The granny flat is separate from the house, so they have their own personal space. It's small, but it's also nice and cozy. And the old lady has a knowing glint in her eyes when she accepts them.

She knows full well what they are, and she doesn't seem to care. That's good enough for them.

So, that night, they lay on their new bed together – the first of many nights.

'I guess we're staying after all,' Setsuna says. 'Part of me wishes we can still run away.'

'We can,' Sara laughs into the nape of his neck. 'But isn't it nicer to have a home? And friends?'

'Still need to find Kurai and the others,' Setsuna grumbles. 'Really, they could have left an address.'

'They're worth you keeping an eye out for them,' Sara replies. 'Think they're the same as us now? A second chance?'

'I hope so.' Setsuna closes his eyes. 'Those guys did a lot. I hope we see Kira again too.'

'You don't usually talk so hopefully,' Sara says, sitting up.

Setsuna tugs her on to his chest. 'Things can still go wrong,' he says. 'We're happy tonight, but people can turn into the monsters they are again.'

'Not all people are monsters,' Sara mumbles into his skin.

'No,' Setsuna agrees. 'Not all angels are angels either.'

They both know how true that is.

'But things can still change. It's just one night after all, and already we've seen all the rejection…but all the acceptance as well.'

'Right.' Sara smiles. 'That's what made it worth coming back…even if, in the end, that rejection was absolute.'

'I guess there's a reason you weren't Alexiel,' Setsuna agrees. 'You never believed it would be absolute.'

'I never wanted to believe,' Sara corrects, snuggling even closer and throwing a bare leg over Setsuna's. 'That might just make me naïve.'

'We can leave anytime,' Setsuna repeats. 'But we'll stay here with everyone until we have to leave.'

And so they do. And they will find Kurai and the others as well – even Arachne restored in human form. Setsuna will prove to be right in that they will find their beautiful sanctuary defiled by the people who think them sinners – but to their surprise there will also be people who will rise up in anger against the perpetrators.

And they'll always have friends to help.

Kira they won't find for a while yet, but eventually the time will come when his spirit too is restored. It'll still not quite be a happy ending…but it'll be close.

And Setsuna and Sara will lay in bed, side by side, and think that's perfectly okay. They didn't need paradise; only home.