AN: Sorry for delay – I have had exams this week, which have prevented me from being able to work properly. Reviews are really loved.


29th June:

Anna smiled, watching Chiot. He was crouched close to the television screen, head tilted to the side. He was holding his teddy close, watching the figures inside. He spoke to her without looking up.
"How are they in there?"

Anna giggled, moving to crouch beside him and ruffle his hair, petting his ears in the way he liked.
"They aren't in there soppy. It's a film." Chiot's eyes widened and he nodded, trying to understand. Anna laughed again, hugging him tightly. Chiot blushed.

Vincent was stood in the doorway, but moved away, running up to Reno. He wrapped his arms around him, kissing him gently.
"Reno! You won't believe it!"
"I won't believe what?" Reno asked, frowning slightly. He didn't know what had caused this sudden excitement and joy within his lover, but he wanted to know. Vincent hadn't looked this happy in so long, but he was far happier now than he used to be.
"I heard him speak!" Vincent pulled Reno closer, kissing him passionately, a wide smile on his face. He had heard Chiot talk to Anna, like a normal child. His voice wasn't damaged by the injuries to his body, and he seemed to be recovering. Reno grinned back.
"Good!" He kissed Vincent, arms around the gunner, legs tangled with his. Vincent smiled.

The two of them jumped apart at a sudden cough from Mama. She raised an eyebrow at the two of them, a faint smirk on her face.
"Now, you two. That is hardly suitable behavior, the kids might see you." Reno blushed so hard his tattoos almost became invisible, and he squirmed slightly. "Why don't you take the children out to the park? Try and tire yourself out some other way." Vincent nodded, face pale with embarrassment. Even though he was used to Mama popping up unexpectedly, she still often made him feel awkward.
"Yes Mama…" He murmured, heading to fetch the children.

Reno followed Vincent reluctantly, having preferred what they had been doing a few moments before. Vincent decided to make the best of the situation, and smiled slightly, coughing to attract the children's attention. They spun to face him.
"Do you want to go out to the park?" Anna nodded rapidly, and Chiot hesitated, watching the other before nodding in agreement. If Anna nodded, then Chiot would agree with her. She gave him an encouraging smile.

"Come on then!" Reno called, deciding to join him in being positive. He grabbed the coats, passing one to Anna and one to Chiot, then moving closer to Vincent, kissing him as he began to do up his lover's cape. Vincent kissed back.

"EWWW!" Anna yelled, giggling slightly. Reno laughed, but blushed and moved away, feeling awkward again. He backed away from Vincent, then darted forwards to press another kiss against Vincent's cheek. Vincent rolled his eyes but smiled. Anna did up her coat, then paused to do up Chiot's jacket toggles. He giggled, wrapping his tail around her waist.

The four of them headed out to the park, Anna skipping along, tugging Chiot's arm and making her stumble to keep up with her. Vincent and Reno walked a little behind, Vincent's golden arm around Reno's waist. As they reached the park, Anna and Chiot raced off to play on the swings, whilst Vincent and Reno sat down on the bench. Vincent rested his head on Reno's shoulder, smiling up at him.
"They seem happy..." He murmured, watching the two children battling to see who could get higher on the swings. Reno nodded.
"They do seem happy Vincent. They deserve it, and so do you." Vincent smiled slightly and rolled his eyes, pretending to be embarrassed, but secretly flattered at his lover's concern. Before he had met Reno, Vincent would have disagreed, argued that he didn't deserve any happiness, could never atone, but he wasn't so sure now. He thought that maybe, just maybe, Reno and Chiot were his chance at redemption. He smiled at that idea, and Reno leant down for a gentle kiss.

Anna and Chiot swung faster, Anna giggling loudly, and even Chiot smiling and letting out quiet squeals of pleasure. He used his tail to propel him higher, laughing and sticking his tongue out as he soared above Anna. She pouted, but clapped, watching impressed. After a few minutes their battle faded and they swung more peacefully, smiling at each other and at the park. Anna looked over at Chiot.
"Chiot?" He nodded, then talked to her quietly.
"What is it Anna?" Anna giggled, pleased her friend was talking to her.
"I can swing higher than you can!"
"No you can't!" Chiot countered, sticking his tongue out. He then paled slightly, feeling guilty for confronting her. Then she beamed at him, and he knew that it was alright, that he was allowed to disagree with her. That comforted him.

Anna smiled at him indulgently, watching as her friend speeded up and soared higher. Her gaze switched momentarily to Vincent and Reno, before returning to her shy adoptive brother.

Vincent also watched the boy.
"If he isn't careful he might injure himself.." He murmured to Reno, getting a slight bop on the head from the red-head's hand.
"You worry too much Vincent. Just let him have his fun. He needs it." Vincent nodded, sighed and laid back against Reno's shoulder, accepting the other's gentle touches stroking his hair.

After a while, the children tired of the swings, and ran to play on the climbing frame, then the slide, then the roundabout. Reno had to help them on the last, spinning them around faster and faster, making Anna and Chiot cry out in delight. Eventually he tired, and he went to sit down on the bench, whilst the children ran off to play again on the climbing frame.

Reno walked back to Vincent and flopped back down beside him, nuzzling against him and demanding the other stroked his hair. He was exhausted. Vincent smiled at him.
"You really do try too hard with those kids..." Reno shook his head, smiling up at Vincent.
"No I don't Vince. They deserve it, they really do." Vincent nodded, embracing Reno. He knew that he was right. The children needed something to make them happy, and Reno had a big enough heart to give them that.

After almost three hours, the two children finally ran out of energy. Anna sat down on the swing, moving slowly backwards and forwards, whilst Chiot nervously headed over to Reno and Vincent. He hesitated, fiddling with his shirt, not sure that he could do what he had planned to.

"Are you alright Chiot?" Vincent asked, looking up at him. The boy hesitated then nodded.
"Good..." Vincent smiled.
"You?" The boy's voice was little more than a whisper, so quiet that Vincent had thought that he might have imagined it, but he was smiling up at him shyly. Vincent gasped, pleased. They were finally getting somewhere.

Reno grinned up at him and nodded rapidly.
"Yeh, we're good!" The two adults smiled each other, then at their adoptive child. Reno was impressed that he had chosen to speak now. It was proof that Chiot accepted them totally, trusted them. It was a sign that him and Vincent were getting through to him.
"Do you want to go home now Chiot?" Vincent asked, keeping his voice soft and gentle in an attempt not to frighten the boy.

Chiot paused, then nodded, then, feeling that was not enough, he opened his mouth.
"Yes please... Anna is tired."
Reno grinned happily, almost bouncing in his seat, glad that Chiot was finally able to talk to them. He wrapped his arms gently around the boy's shoulders, gave him a comforting squeeze, and then ran over to pick up Anna. Vincent appeared there before him, picking up Anna and holding her up to his chest, letting the small girl rest as he carried her home. Chiot took Reno's hand in his, and together they walked back to the house.