HOLY CRAP UPDATE!

First off, I am so, so sorry to everyone that's been waiting for me to update this. I went through some crap that I won't bore everyone with, but suffice to say that the last...five hundred or so words of this chapter took me at least the entire three years since I last updated this fic. I will promise that the next chapter will be up this year at least, and I will do my best to ignore the crap that stops me writing to get this done so not only you all get to finish it as I want to, but to (maybe, nothing definitive on this atm) work on a Megaman Zero/X Humanus Machina crossover with my take (meaning, same characters but fitting the world I've created) on...you know what, I will leave you with that to guess (if I still have readers after this long). I will also apologise for this smaller chapter and any lack of quality for those expecting more.

For those who have read my stuff before, and to those who have just stumbled on this, I leave you with my customary parting words:

READ ON AND ENJOY!


Chapter 12: Family Time

Ciel, Vivian and Alouette were walking down the street of town, carrying groceries. Ciel and Zero had been at the house for three days now. They had kept quiet about Omega; Zero didn't want his family to know his older brother had become a monster, and he didn't want the Hunters to know that Omega was planning to visit Zero's parent's house. There wouldn't be any way to protect his family from both the Hunters and the Mavericks if that happened.

The day after they had arrived, Zero had been roped into riding his bike in the Inter-Town Motor Race, a competition between all the towns outside of Abel City in "anything with wheels and an engine," as Zero put it. So, while he was stuck prepping for the big race, Zero's father was busy organising the homecoming party set for next week. That left the girls stuck with the mundane grocery shopping for the party. Alouette was singing in French, proudly walking in front of her mother and her 'new sister lady', as she called Ciel.

"So, Ciel, tell me how you and my son first met," Vivian asked as they shopped. "Was it a magical moment?"

Ciel thought about it for a second. "Well, we met after he joined the Hunters," she said, "the first time we talked wasn't a romantic moment. But it was a group meeting; our entire squad met with him before we got any solo time. The first time we were alone," Ciel stopped and sighed, "it felt like the entire world just slipped away."

"As it should be," Vivian said, "How long until he courted you?"

"It was a while after that," Ciel said, "he came off a mission really depressed, so he headed outside the city to think. I went after him and…" she trailed off, and Vivian nodded understandingly.

"Giro was always a romantic," Vivian stated, "I remember when he first brought Alia home…but that's not my story to tell."

"What was Alia like?" Ciel asked, seized by a sudden curiosity, "Ze-I mean, Giro never talks about her."

"She was lovely," Vivian said, "but she…how do I put this? Alia had a tough time letting things go. I was afraid that she transferred that to my Giro, but you've turned that around. I've never seen him as happy as he has been when he looks at you. You have been good for him, and to him as well, I imagine."

Ciel smiled as she thought about it. It hadn't been very long, but Zero was such a part of her life now, she couldn't imagine it without him. Vivian caught the smile and allowed herself one. "I remember when I first met Eric. Oh, he was rough around the edges, but I softened him out." The two women shared a laugh, and continued their shopping.

Suddenly, Alouette stopped and turned around, pointing. "There's a car coming," she said, looking into the distance. Ciel turned and followed where Alouette was pointing. There was a large cloud of dust approaching the town at a high speed, but there was nothing about it that told Ciel it was a car.

"How do you know?" she asked, crouching down to look Alouette in the eye. The little girl just shrugged.

"I just know," Alouette said proudly, puffing her little chest out, "Like my big brothers know machines, I hear things." Ciel looked at Vivian, who nodded.

"My father had a gift with wood, able to make the most wonderful wood carvings," Vivian explained, "He past that gift through me to my children. All of them are talented at something."

"But I'm the most talented," Alouette said, "Coz I'm the smallest!" Ciel laughed, and watched as the dust cloud got closer. As it did, Ciel could make out the car at the centre of it; it was a Hunter cruiser. As the car entered the town, she recognised who was driving it.

The car slid into a brake, kicking up more dust. Vivian covered her eyes and Ciel turned and covered Alouette. The car stopped just before it would have hit them, shuddering as it stopped. When all three of the girls' party looked up, X, Iris, Palette and Axl all climbed out, a little shaken.

"Sorry!" X said, rubbing the back of his head, looking at all the people who had come flooding out of their houses to see what had happened. "Sorry about the noise. It's my fault; hope I didn't hurt anyone!" Everyone went back into their houses, and X sighed with relief.

"Dude, driving lessons," Axl said, shaking X's shoulders and a look of terror on his face, "they don't cost that much."

"Hi guys," Ciel said brightly, and attracted the attention of all four, "What's up?"

"Oh, hey Ciel," X said, turning and approaching the group, "Sorry we dropped out here unannounced, but Z didn't have his communicator with him when he left."

"Is there a problem?" Ciel asked, suddenly concerned.

"No, just news," X said, beaming, draping his arm over Iris's shoulder, "News we couldn't wait to tell you. Iris is pregnant!" Ciel had to let the information process itself, but when it finally moved through her brain, she smiled and said her congratulations.

"Mon dieu," Vivian said, before anyone else could react, "that is wonderful news!" Everyone turned to Vivian, and Axl was the first to ask.

"Um, we haven't met," Axl said, "I'm Axl. This is Palette, Iris and X."

"I'm Vivian McLaren," Vivian said, "and this is my daughter Alouette. Are you, perchance, friends of Ciel and my son?"

The group looked a little confused. "Your son," X said, looking at Ciel for confirmation. "This is…?"

"Yep," Ciel said, "guys, this is Zero's mother." The entire group was stunned at this; they knew he had to have a mother, but meeting her was a whole different thing.

"Wow, you're so pretty," Palette said, shaking Vivian's hand before looking down at Alouette. "And aren't you just the cutest thing?" she said to Alouette, holding out her arms for a hug. Alouette looked at Ciel, who nodded, and Alouette rushed into Palette's arms. Palette picked her up to delighted giggles from Alouette.

"Where's Zero," X asked, "he knows already, but still."

"He's at the garage," Ciel said, "preparing for a big rural town race tonight. We," she gestured to Vivian, "are shopping for his big party next week."

"Zero's having a party?" X asked, "Why were we not invited?"

"I didn't know you existed until three days ago," Vivian explained, "and Giro said he didn't want a fuss. Of course, the whole town is coming, so consider yourselves invited!" The energy in which she said it made everyone doubt that she was Zero's mother. But before they could judge any further, she advanced on Iris and Palette, who was still holding Alouette.

"Hmm," she said, peering at them with a critical eye, "you both seem devoted enough." She cried out in French, and then asked if they would help with the rest of the shopping. Out of their depth, the group agreed, and Alouette jumped out of Palette's arms and landed soundly, striking a pose. Both of them walked off, leaving the group to follow.

"Are you sure they're related to Zero?" X asked Ciel as they walked, "they seem…"

"Energetic?" Ciel asked, and X nodded. She smiled, "Wait until you meet his dad."

"He has a dad, too?" X asked, stunned. Ciel nodded, laughing. "I need to speak to Zero; where is he?"

"The garage," Ciel said, pointing towards the end of town. X thanked her and jogged off, searching.

"No, no, no," Zero was saying to a guy as X found him in the garage, "you don't directly inject the booster into the engine; you'll blow it clear into the sky. God, no wonder you guys haven't won a race in years."

"But it gives us more of a speed boost," the other guy said, "which is what we'll need."

"Races are never won with just speed," Zero said, "If that was the case, you'd have won already. You need the engine to work if you want to race."

"I'd listen to him if I were you," X said, attracting the attention of both mechanics, "this guy pilots jets like they're bumper cars."

"X, what the hell are you doing here?" Zero said, approaching his friend and shaking his hand.

"We came to give Ciel the news; Iris said she told you already," X said. Zero caught on immediately and nodded.

"Yeah, she told me before we left," Zero said, "Hope you two are happy. Do you know what the gender is?"

"We decided not to find out until the baby is born," X said, "Have some fun with guesswork for a while. So, what are you doing?"

"Trying to help the town win the big race tonight," Zero said, "We're removing and upgrading parts of my bike so it fits with the race requirements. I'm pretty sure the arsenal Douglas tried to put into it isn't going to be allowed."

"Yeah, god forbid you be able to protect yourself," X said. Zero shrugged and returned to the work. X stood silent for a moment, but his curiosity got the better of him.

"Why'd you never mention you had family out here?" X asked, and saw Zero tense for a brief moment before getting back up from the bike and facing him.

"X, you're my best friend," Zero said, "but please, don't ever ask me that again." Before X could protest, Zero held up a hand. "I'll explain everything to you one day, but for now, suffice to say I lost someone here, and coming back took everything I have. Now, I have to get this bike ready for the race. Make sure everyone's there for me, okay?" X nodded, respecting his friend's privacy.

Hours passed, and it was time for the race. Zero and his town's "mechanics" were already on the track, and Ciel, Zero's family and Alpha Squad were in the trackside stands, restless for the race to start. Stands lined most of the track, which was fairly simple, with only three major bends. The competition was twelve other assorted cars and bikes, including one tractor with a massive cylinder on the back.

"This is going to be so exciting," Palette said, bouncing up and down in her seat. "I've never been to a race before."

"We have this every year," Eric said loudly over the other people, "It's a friendly race, for the most part. But this year, Giro will blow all of them out of the water!" Getting to his feet, Eric pinpointed his son and bellowed loudly, "GO GIRO! RACE THE SHIT OUT OF THIS TRACK!"

"Eric, mind your language," Vivian said, holding onto a squirming Alouette.

The announcer, a burly man whose name escaped everyone, stood onto the track and held a microphone to his mouth. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN," he announced, deafening everyone at the track, "TODAY IS LOOKING TO BE A GREAT RACE. RETURNING TO THE TRACK IS GIROUETTE MCLAREN, TWO TIME WINNER OF THE RACES SEVERAL YEARS AGO. LET'S KEEP IT FRIENDLY, AND RACE!" The announcer stepped out of the way as the racers started their engines, except for the tricked out tractor, which wouldn't start. The crowd was going wild, Zero's family and friends cheering as loud as they could.

But Zero didn't hear all that. With the smell of petrol and oil in his nostrils and the revving of engines in his ears, he wasn't 'there' anymore. The only thing that mattered was the race; five laps of intense speed and adrenaline. Suddenly Zero was wondering if his reconstructed body still HAD adrenal glands, but then the flag came down, and the race began. Zero kicked his bike into gear and pulled the bike into a mono and soared ahead of the pack for about fifteen seconds, until a supped-up hot-rod and a heavily modified truck pulled ahead of him. Zero kept his third place as the modified tractor shut down and its engine fell to pieces and the other racers fell well behind.

Zero ignored the racers behind him as his hair whipped past his face, focused only on the ones in front. The hot-rod was the major threat; the truck wouldn't be able to handle the bends at high speed. At the speed he was doing and the turns in the track, Zero wasn't going to be able to focus enough to use his mechanical abilities. This was the way that Zero wanted it as he edged into second place over the truck as he pulled the bike into a tight turn. No special powers, nothing but him and his bike and against whoever was driving the hot-rod.

In the crowd, a single person sat, unmoving and focused on the race. Omega, dressed in civilian clothes, trembled with resistance. Looking much like Zero, except paler and with black circles surrounding his tired eyes, Omega did his best to keep out of sight. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to rip the Hunters sitting in front of him into pieces, but he couldn't. He needed to appeal to Zero, to get something resembling help, even if it was being locked up. Without that help, he wouldn't be able to stay free for long.

Back in the race, Zero and the hot-rod were neck and neck, with only two laps to go. None of the other racers were any good, but the hot-rod driver was as good as Zero. But thanks to reconstructions, Zero's reflexes were faster than any normal human's, and Zero slowly but surely edged forward, to the roars of his family and friends and his hometown. The final lap was Zero mostly trying to keep the lead, but in the last several seconds of the race, everyone was up on their feet cheering as Zero crossed the finish line, skidding to a stop. Zero's family and friends ran out of the stands and towards Zero, who climbed off the bike and punched the air with both hands, roaring with victory.

As Ciel practically leapt into his arms and the two lovers embraced, Zero's family and friends surrounded him and bathed him in cheers and laughter. Zero felt laughter as well, and felt years of depression and rage melt away.

Even with the looming threat of Omega approaching his family, Zero felt better than he had in years, especially when his father, X and Axl hoisted him up into the air and the announcer passed Ciel and his mother the trophy to pass to him. Nothing could compare to this feeling, which will be the happiest memory of Zero's for a long time.

Omega stood in the stands as the crowd hid him from sight, watching all this unfold. Even with his self-control eroding, Omega wouldn't intrude on his brother's happy moment. There would be time; Omega was stronger than Sigma gave him credit for.

Far off into the distance, two figures stood looking at Zero's hometown. One was wearing heavy, hard-edged armour tinged in purple, with long white hair and a savage grin on his face, insanity in his bright green eyes. The other figure towered over the purple one, tall and wearing something vaguely resembling a headdress or a crown, armoured all in black and looking like a strong man on steroids.

"So, this is where they live," the purple figure said, "High Max, let's go. We have our own reunion to prepare."