Val stood in the ally, stunned.
"Aren't you gonna say something?" Eda asked.
"Yeah... You see... I don't... How is" Val stammered, before holstering his guns and sweeping Eda into a massive hug and kiss. This went on for more than a minute before he finally broke it.
"Well damn, I guess you did miss me" Eda smiled, still in ecstasy from the kiss.
"I thought Rock had killed you, and Sister Yolanda, and Rico. I was told he blew up the church"
"He did. But we aren't the CIA for nothing. I knew Rock suspected me, all the way back to the last robot maid incident. So we knew he was going to destroy the church. All it took was some shredded clothing and a few bodies to convince him that we were in-fact dead"
Val looked at Eda with concern.
"They were already dead" Eda answered Val's unasked question. "Victims of a different terrorist attack"
"So does that mean?"
"Yes. Sister Yolanda and Rico are just fine. We moved them to a different area and set up shop there. But when I got word that a commando dressed like a cowboy was making moves against Rock's armies, I had to come see if it was true"
"Balalaika mentioned something about the hospital" Val began.
"Oh really? What did she say?"
"Well actually, it was Revy who told me. She said that you came to visit me, often"
"I did" Eda replied slowly.
"I see. So where does that leave us?" Val asked sheepishly.
"What do you mean?"
"It's been over 6 months, with us thinking the other was dead. Can we pick up where we left off?"
"We fucking better. I'll be damned if I traveled all the way down here after waiting over 6 months for some of that dick not to get any"
Val smiled as Eda took his hand, leading the way.
XXXXXX
It was after several of loud, passionate, and satisfying sex which found Val and Eda laying naked in a mess of sheets, limbs draped over one another, smoking cigarette.
"Damn Chris. For a man who spent months in a coma, you sure haven't lost your touch"
Chris shifted uncomfortably as Eda said this.
"Something wrong?" Eda asked, concern lacing her voice.
"Well... I'm not as out of practice as you thought" Chris replied, preparing to get the shit beat out of him.
"Oh?" Eda asked, raising an eye to his confession.
"I may or may not have been told by a very angry gunslinger that my only options were to sleep with her or get shot. Obviously I'm not riddled full of bullets so I think you can guess which option I took"
Eda just looked at Chris, puffing on her smoke.
"So then, that's how it happened then?"
Chris looked stunned at Eda's response
"I figured she'd move on you eventually. Revy has a nasty habit of laying claim to what is rightfully mine. Also not surprising she used guns to get her way. That woman doesn't know the first thing about finesse or tact"
Chris just sat there dumbfounded, his mouth slacked with his cigarette about to fall out of it.
"You ok over there Val? It looks like your brain broke"
"That's because it did" He finally responded.
"What do you mean?"
"About a minute ago, I was thinking how it was nice to have gotten laid before I got shot. Now I can't figure out how you are ok with the fact I slept with Revy"
"Simple really. It's not like we're married, and Revy is a bitch. I hardly blame you, she clearly set the ball in motion"
"Huh" Chris replied in thought. "But speaking of marriage, I've got a story to tell you"
Chris went on to tell Eda everything, from his dream to his conflicting emotions, to his sadness at Eda's apparent death. Eda just listened quietly, taking in everything Chris was saying. When Chris finally finished, he looked at Eda, his face a mix of sadness and fear.
"Well, that's quite a story" Eda began. "To be honest, the idea has cross my mind"
"What idea?" Chris asked.
"The idea of settling down, getting married, having kids, living the simple life"
"You, really?" Chris asked, surprised.
"Yeah. And while I'm not ready quite yet, but maybe if the right person came along..." Eda began, eyeing Chris.
Chris stared at Eda with a look of mild disbelief.
"Is this supposed to be a hint Eda-"
"Edith"
"Huh?"
"My real name it Edith. The fact that I am still an active agent and telling you this should be clue enough"
Chris went to respond, but a ringing interrupted it. It was the cell phone Balalaika had given him. She said it was so she could contact him for jobs. Despite her original disdain for him, the skill and talent had had presented during the siege on Rock had convinced her to keep him around for work. He begrudgingly picked up the phone, answering it
"Val" He answered shortly.
"..."
"How did you get this number?" Val asked, confused.
"..."
"I see"
"..."
"Well I'm not surprised she turned you down, but I don't know why she thought I would be a better fit"
"..."
"Well given our last interaction, I'm surprised you even bothered to call"
"..."
"Now that surprises me. I didn't picture her the type to ask for help from anyone"
"..."
"Yeah. I guess I can. I owe you that much. See you in an hour" Val hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" Edith asked.
"Dutch. Apparently he needs me to moderate a meeting between him, Rock, and Revy. Revy won't talk to anyone without me there"
"That's unusual. I didn't think she ever asked for help from anyone"
"That's what I told Dutch. But after everything that has happened, she is not the same person you once knew. I'm gonna go, I owe Dutch. You want to come? It might be funny to see their faces, since you are alive"
"Sure" Edith replied. "Lets do this!"
A/N: Hey Y'all. Here is the first chapter of the next installment of the series. This story is going to take even longer to write than TPOTD. I don't have a lot for this story, just a few ideas and a vague direction. I think this is going to be the end of the series, as I want to wrap up the character developments for Rock, Revy, Val, and maybe Eda. Especially since the Black Lagoon has been destroyed and Benny and Jane are gone. I do plan to bring them back into the story for a bit so that it's not as if I just forgot about them. I'm am lacking motivation to write this, but I do want to give you, the readers, a conclusion to the series. Just hang in there with me, and enjoy the ride!
-NightSteed out