epilogue Epilogue…

"Mommy? Why hasn't Xelly-daddy come by yet?" Little Valteria asked Filia before bedtime. He had been asking that every night since he came back from visiting his grandparents. Filia got tired of answering him but instead she smiled sadly at his son.

"He has things to do. And he isn't your daddy." She told him. Lately she hasn't been sleep at night, her nightmare appearing every once in a while.

'I should leave town… I can't go to the ryozoku. Everyone will question where my husband is. I could move away… tell them my husband is dead.' Filia thought to herself.

"…Kindergarten!" She blinked back to the present with Val speaking rapidly.

"Huh?" She asked.

"Mommy! You didn't hear a word I said!" Val complained.

"Sorry sweetheart. Here eat this." Filia handed a tuna sandwich to Val who munched on it happily.

"Mommy?" He said a few seconds later.

"Hmm?" Filia asked absently.

"I miss Xelly-daddy. Why did he leave?" Val asked sadly. Filia stiffened.

"Um well He's real busy now." Filia stammered.

"He must be real busy. You say that all the time." Val commented with child innocence.

"Well he really is. Maybe he will visit." Filia said this wistfully. Then leaned over and kissed her son goodnight.

"Night, night sweetheart." She whispered.

"Night mommy." Val said closing his eyes.

The next morning Filia woke up the smell of white roses. She looked over and saw a thorn-less white rose lying on her desk.

"Hmm? I wonder where this came from…" She said aloud. She picked it up and noticed a note.

Hey Filia,
Could you meet me at Roseanne tonight for dinner at 6:30? Dress classy.
You've been on my mind for a while and I decided to invite you to
dinner. Of course I couldn't go to you myself… I'm to scared ? Hopefully
you'll be there.I'll be at table 19. Can't wait to see your beautiful face.
A secret admirer.

'Hmm? Secret admirer… Xellos?' Filia felt a ray of hope beam through her then it left. 'Come on Fii-chan! You saw how he looked at you when you told him… But if it isn't him then who?"

"Val honey? Do you think Sairai's sister could baby-sit you?" Filia asked Val at breakfast.

"Really? She's fun! Could Sairai come over too? Can I call them now?" Val asked excitedly. Filia rolled her eyes in amusement. Val obviously answered her question in true Val fashion.

"Sure." Filia smiled. Val dashed off to the telephone. Filia sat there for a minute then stood up. She suddenly sensed something.

"…Mazoku…" She whispered. She immediately placed her hand on her stomach protectively. Soon the feeling was gone, and Filia was puzzled. She shrugged it off and went to see if Val got a baby-sitter.

"I should be home in about three hours, So there is no need to put Val to bed. If you need me call me at the restaurant. I left the number." Filia told Sairai's older sister, Rikiko.

"OK we'll have a good time." Rikiko smiled at Filia with her eyes closed tilting her head.

"Great. Hey Rikiko, I got some new 'books' in my study if you want to study them, but make sure you don't leave Val by himself with Sairai to long." Filia said smiling back. Rikiko's eyes lit up when Filia told her about the new books. She just hoped Val and Sairai would behave. She looked down at the to angelic looking kids.

'Practically have halos on their heads.' She said to herself. "OK will do thanks." Rikiko told Filia. Filia waved to them and walked out the door. She cast a levitation spell that made her rise a little ways off the ground so she wouldn't mess up her shoes.

'Lets see. If it can't be him, then it might be him…. No maybe him… could be...nah. It's just my luck to be years older then them.' Filia sighed to herself and took off the levitation spell and walk in Roseanne.

She wore a long black dressy dress. It wasn't her normal wear of classy outfits but it at least hid her stomach.

'9, 10, 11, 12…' She told herself. "Ah there it is." She walked slowly over to the table.

"Ah Filia. As beautiful as ever." A man with fiery red hair and green eyes sat there waiting for her. Filia gasped as she recognized as him as one of the fire dragons.

"Mizangu!" She exclaimed.

"Filia! You recognize and remember me. Impressive." He teased her.

"Well of course silly. Think I'd forget a friend? How are you?" She asked, hugging him. They both caught up on the past and were bringing each other up to date.

"You really are successful in your pottery business." He commented. She nodded excitedly and telling him about it. It was one of her favorite subjects to talk about.

"Filia. Are you really involved with HIM?" Mizangu asked suddenly. Filia looked shock and couldn't answer.

"Well fancy meeting you here." A voice said behind her. Filia cut off in mid-sentence to see Zelas and Luna standing behind her. Mizangu looked shocked at see this. Filia glared at them.

"I told you this was a great place to go." Luna said to her best friend. Zelas blew out some cigarette smoke out of her cigarette.

"Well what a surprise. I never dreamed of meeting Filia here. But since you have guest we wouldn't dream of messing up your date. Ta, ta" Zelas gave a wave of her hand and she and Luna were sashaying to their own table. Filia fumed and got up and followed them.

"What is the big idea sending Xellos and me back in time?" She growled to the beastmaster and her best friend. They winced.

"Uh Filia… we are out in public…" Luna started. Zelas smirked at the fear in the people around them. Filia's tail started to pop out.

"I. Want. An. Explanation." Filia grounded out. Zelas tapped her cigarette on the table and sighed.

"We figured you and Xellos would like to have some fun." She answered simply. Filia balled her fist about to scream, when Mizangu appeared behind her and covered her mouth.

"Filia. You should disrespect your elders!" He hissed. Filia blinked. Luna blinked. Zelas blinked.

"Elders? Just how old do you think I am?" Zelas' eyes went to slits as she looked at him. He backed up in fear. Zelas was amused and immediately drank up the fear.

"Suppose you tell Filia why you're here." She said. Filia looked over at Mizangu.

"Er…" He said. People started moving away from the four. Zelas teleported in front on him and pressed one of her manicured nails onto his chest.

"I Er was Uh sent to make sure she wasn't ah involved with a mazoku." Mizangu winced. Filia's eyes flew wide open.

"My general-priest to be exact, ne?" Zelas asked stepping a step closer.

"Hai-sama!" Mizangu said in respect out of fear.

"So you decided to deceive Filia into believing you came for a 'friendly' visit. And you call us mazoku evil." Zelas scoffed and stepped away.

"I'm to go on trial aren't I?" She asked. Mizangu nodded.

"Just when did you decided you would tell me?" She yelled at him.

"Later." He said. She brought her mace out of her necklace and hit him. She blinked.

'Nani… How did I manage to hit him?' She thought to herself. 'Oh… he's not Xellos.' She put her mace back.

"So what do they plan to do with me?" She asked the fire dragon on the ground.

"They plan to marry you off. Then you won't be bothered by…" He looked at Zelas then back at Filia "…So then you wouldn't be Uh…" He let the sentence trail.

"Luna. Can't you help me here?" Filia's pleading eyes turned to Lina's big sister. Luna shook her head.

"I can help with some things, but not dealings like this." She said. Filia suddenly narrowed her eyes at Mizangu.

"Were you one of the suitors?" She asked. He nodded. She screamed and started to shoot reflector at him. It would have hurt him if someone didn't put up a shield.

"Yaah! You still have a temper Filia." The figure said. Filia pulled out her mace.

"Namagomi! Always have to interfere!" She charged after him. Which made him teleport away.

"Argh! Baka come back here!" Filia screeched. All the people in the restaurant ran out screaming.

"This is the time we leave, ne Zelas?" Luna asked. Zelas nodded and they teleported out of there.

"Namagomi no Baka! Why are you here?" Filia asked threatening him with her mace.

"Filia, Is that a way to greet an old 'friend'? Xellos asked mockingly.

"It's him!" Mizangu gasped. He stood up and started shooting little fireballs at Xellos.

"Huh? Mizangu! He'll kill you!" Filia said. Xellos smiled and reversed Mizangu's fire towards Mizangu. Filia and Mizangu tried jumped out of the way. But one of the fireballs hit Mizangu.

"Argh!" He screamed. Xellos boosted the spell so it was more powerful and gave Mizangu more damage. He managed to sit up and look at Xellos.

"I will get back with you. And you Filia appear in 3 days for your trial." He smirked and teleported away. Filia sighed and fell to the ground forgetting Xellos's presence for a moment. She stood up and looked at the mazoku, mace in hand.

"Xellos… What do you want?" She asked angrily.

"Uh I wanted to talk." He said blushing slightly.

"OK go." Filia said.

"Not here silly." He teleported behind her then took them both away.

"Hey you forgot to pay!" The restaurant owner cried.

Xellos teleported them to his astral plane.

"Where are we?" Filia asked.

"In a mansion built on my astral plane. This is where I live. I'll show you around outside later. You'd like it." He told her. She looked around and noticed a big purple chandelier above them.

"Purple, eh?" She asked.

"Well I didn't want white." He countered. He motioned for her to sit down on of the chairs in his study.

"There are no things rigged in this chair are there?" She asked warily.

"I don't see why you can't trust lil' ol' me." Xellos pouted.

"I trust you enough to know you would do something like that." Filia snorted. She carefully sat down.

"So Uh how are you doing?" Xellos asked.

"Fine, besides the fact that I have to listen to Val talk about what you two will be doing when you get back. He asks me every morning 'Mommy? Why hasn't Xelly-daddy come by yet?'" Filia said pointedly.

"I'm not the one who wanted to raise him." Xellos said.

"If you weren't going to visit why hang around my shop. People ask everyday 'Where's that nice man hanging around you, Filia?" Filia said.

"I don't care what humans say." Xellos excused himself running his hand through his hair irritably.

"Xellos… what do you want from me." Filia asked coldly. She placed her hands on her stomach feeling the baby kick. She twisted her face in pain for a moment.

"Are you alright?" Xellos asked hesitantly.

"Yeah… hold on… OK I'm fine. You wouldn't possibly have any cheesecake around here would you?" Filia asked.

"Cheesecake?" Xellos asked warily.

"Yeah. Don't tell me you don't know what cheesecake is." Filia scowled.

"Uh hold on." He pressed a button and immediately someone teleported in there.

"Yes Beastmaster?" The man asked formally.

"Cheesecake for the lady." Xellos directed

"Yes Beastmaster." The man teleported out of there.

"Wow. You have servants to boot." Filia exclaimed.

"Yes… they a re actually made and designed by me. So no I didn't take humans and make them into servants." Xellos said, answering the question that was forming in Filia's mind.

The man teleported back with a hunk of cheesecake for Filia then left.

"Oooh looks good." Filia said eyeing the cheesecake. She lifted her fork and sliced piece off and put it in her mouth.

"Oooh heavenly." She sighed. Xellos looked at her.

"Ah Filia… since when do you eat that cheesecake?" Xellos asked.

"Since I was pregnant… these thing come along you know. Feeding a extra little dragon in here," She said rubbing her stomach.

"And Mazoku." Xellos reminded her absently.

"Well that too, but I felt a shouldn't keep telling myself that." Filia said eating another slice. Xellos remained silent.
"Mmmm. Compliments to whoever made this." Filia said.

"So Filia. Gotta go on trial, eh? Zelas told me that you did…" Xellos tried to start a conversation.

"Yeah I guess so… the worst that could happen is… Wait how did Zelas tell you?" Filia said stopping.

"Well Luna told her. Zelas told me." Xellos said.

"So Luna knew about this." It was more like a statement then a question. Xellos nodded. To his surprise Filia placed her face in her hands and started crying.

"Filia...? Fii? Why are you crying?" He asked nervously. She shook her head. He placed an arm around her and let her lean on him.

"Why won't it end?" Filia asked Xellos still crying.

"Why won't what end?" Xellos asked gently stroking her hair. 'Oh nightmares what am I doing!' He screamed at himself.
"The world! I just want to get off!" Filia cried. Xellos stared down at her in surprise.

"Everything is so crazed! I'm pregnant. And I wouldn't mind if I was a human, but being a dragon and I will be pregnant for 12 months! That's one whole year! I still have 9 months to go. Then I got to go on trial. They'll find out I'm pregnant plus that it's a mazoku's baby. And much less the baby of the man who killed lots of the dragons in the war of the monsters. They'll probably pester me till they get the answer they want and not the truth."

Filia babbled on and on and Xellos sat there nodding and 'mmhmming' as she talked. She finally drifted off to sleep and Xellos teleported her to his big purple bed. She slept for about an hour then woke up. She looked around and immediately grabbed her mace.

"Filia? You awake?" Xellos asked walking in the room. Filia eyed him and started to laugh.

"Wha? What's so funny?" He asked scrunching up his face.

"You...Your face." Filia said still laughing.

"What about it?" Xellos asked still confused.

"You actually have concern written all over your face. You the mighty, Beastmaster, are concerned about me." Filia smiled at him.

"Me? Of course not." Xellos ran his hand over the front of his face.

"You don't happen to have food around, do you?" Filia asked looking around. Xellos nodded and walked over to her and teleported them to a dining room.

"Do you always teleport?" Filia asked.

"Well that or get lost." Xellos chuckled.

"Ah... my this is nice... Who normally comes here with you?" Filia asked pointedly. Xellos winced.

"Uh no one?" He said scratching his head. He snapped his fingers and food appeared on the table. Filia's eyes started to water.

"Fooood." She said clasping her hands. She ran to a seat and sat down to dig in the food. Xellos sat down like a gentleman (like he always is, ne?) and watched as Filia ate... like Lina. Xellos started to sweatdrop.

"Er Filia?" He asked. She paused. "Hmm?" She asked.

"You're um eating sloppily… Uh like Lina." He said wincing.

"Nani? I'm hungry leave me alone." She waved a chicken leg at him before she started to eat again. Xellos sighed and took of his tea.

'Where is she putting all this food?' He asked himself quietly. His eyes traveled down to the small stomach of hers… if he didn't look closely he wouldn't have noticed the small bulge in her stomach.

'My L-sama… when you made our human forms you thought of everything.' Xellos murmured.

"Aaah. That was good." Filia's eyes were closed. She leaned back with a smile and patted her stomach.

"So you are done." Xellos stated.

"Yup…that was delicious…." Filia paused. "Why am I here? I'm supposed to be mad at you."

"Well I needed to talk to you. And Zelas told me to feed you so you would stay happy at me. Tell me Filia, What exactly does she mean?" Xellos asked curiously. Filia looked at him like he was weird then started laughing.

"Oh real good Filia. Laugh it up why don't ya." Xellos sighed and rolled his eyes.

"No… It's just… what you... said." Filia said in between laughs. "That, Xellos, I'll explain to you later." Xellos sighed again but let it go.

"So what do you need to talk about?" Filia asked when she calmed down.

"Well Er I wanted to apologize for being so rude. Zelas-sama told me that I shouldn't have been so rude." Xellos started off.

"Mmmm. I see." Filia took a sip of her tea.

"And as a mazoku, I shouldn't have to do this but your feelings are rubbing off on me, so I felt like I had to."

"Ah…" Filia said.

"So what I wanted to say is I've missed you and wanted to know would you marry me." Xellos said twisting his fingers.

"Mmmhmm… WHAT?!" Filia's eyes flew open and she spit out her tea. She started coughing.

"Oh come on Filia. I'm not that bad." Xellos said patting her back.

"No it's not that. I was just surprised that's all." Filia blinked, placing a hand to her chest.

"So do you have an answer? I don't have a ring or anything right now but I promise to have it by the time you go one trial, Heck I'll even go with you if you want." Xellos said. He wasn't used to this sort of thing. Well he wasn't in this type of predicament before.

"Uh, I don't know what to say… Give me a few days OK?" Filia said weakly. Xellos nodded and offered to take her home.

"Sure… Oh no I forgot about Val!" Filia smacked a hand on her forehead. Xellos slipped his arms underneath her and teleported them to the living room of Filia's home.

"…Sadly ever after… Like wow Filia I didn't know there were other people who could use magic." Rikiko gave Xellos a look over when he and Filia teleported into the room.

"You look like your good in it. Think you could help me out. I still can't get the hang of the dark lord spells." She asked him.

"Sure, tell you what. I help you out and you tell me that story you were reading. Sounds like a good one, If it's ending in 'sadly ever after'." Xellos chuckled and put Filia down.

"Deal… hey I know who you are! Your Xellos Mettallium! Val's dad, right? Is it true you serve Dark Lord Zelas Mettallium? Val told me that, I was like so interested. He said you destroyed half of Filia's race with only one finger, how'd you do that?" Rikiko asked with awe. The young teenager wasn't even intimidated by meeting such a person.

"Uh…" Xellos said.

"Don't worry about me, I won't go telling people about you two using magic. It's not like they'd believe me. Val also said you know Lina Inverse. Think you could introduce me to her? She sounds just like me, speaking of which, How much are paying me, Filia?" Rikiko asked.

"Huh? Oh yeah hold on let me get my purse." Filia left the room. She figured she would have to tell Val how much he could tell people about them.

"Can I get my picture taking with you, Xellos Mettallium?" Sairai always called everyone by his or her full name.

"Xellos is scared of cameras." Filia laughed when she walked back in the room. Xellos scowled.

"Not true. I just don't want to mess up my lovely eyes. Did you know cameras can ruin your seeing?" Xellos asked opening his dark purple eyes.

"No true! That's some old wives tale." Filia said.

"Are you calling me a liar?" Xellos said innocently.

"Who wouldn't?" Filia stuck out her tongue. She switched her attention to Rikiko and Sairai.

"Here Rikiko. This should be enough, ne? And Sairai you can come over any time. You will be going to Kindergarten with Val, right?" Filia bent down to the little girl. Sairai stuck her thumb in her mouth and nodded shyly. Filia smiled at the girl.

"Come on let me walk you out." Filia suggested walking towards the front.

"Xelly-daddy! Your back!" Val ran to Xellos and hugged him tight.

"Yup. Don't worry I'll be back tomorrow. I'm er not so uh busy." Xellos said bending down to hug Val back.

'I wonder what Valgarv would say, hugging me like this.' Xellos grinned at the thought.

"I wasn't going to hug you in front of Sairai and Rick because mommy said you don't like open a-a-afectin'" Val stumbled over the long word.

"Open affection?" Xellos asked ruffling Val's green hair. Val nodded.

"Yeah that's it! Are you going to read me a story tonight like you used to?" gold eyes looked up at Xellos hopefully. Xellos gritted his teeth then sighed and smiled at the little boy.

"Sure." He said.

"Sure what?" Filia asked walking back in the room.

"Xelly-daddy is going to read me a story!" Val said excitedly bouncing over to hug his mom. Filia looked disturbed but agreed.

"Go get your jammies on and Xellos will be right up OK?" Filia said. Val nodded and ran off.

"What's wrong, Fii? Don't want me around Val? Or is it you don't want me around you." Xellos asked.

"Both…" Filia whispered and walked out the room. Xellos looked shocked and was about to teleport out of there but instead decided to go read Val a story. When Val was sleep, Xellos left.

"Mommy! Look what Xelly-daddy drawed for me!" Val cried out running to Filia. Filia was in her garden planting some jasmine flowers.

"Xellos? Well let me see it sweetheart." Filia was startled. Val handed the picture to Filia. It was a beautiful painting of a blond haired woman holding a small baby green haired in her arms.

"Isn't it pretty? Xelly-daddy says he drawed it 'specially for me!" Val explained the picture to Filia, rambling on and on about how 'Xelly-daddy' drew it.

"Uh wow, it's pretty." Filia said absently.

"Isn't though? I asked Xelly-daddy to stay for lunch but he said that you might dis-dis-disagree." Val said, stumbling a bit. "Mommy? Why would you dis-disagree?"

"Hmm? Oh I wouldn't mind. He can come over whenever he wants." She said smiling down at her son.

"Really? Well maybe if I call him he might come. Xelly-daddy says that if I yell hard enough, he'd here me." Val proceeded to call Xellos.

'For someone who hated Xellos in their previous life, sure doesn't mind him now.' Filia thought.

"Xelly–daddy! She said it's all right! Xelly-daddy!" Val yelled.

"Come on, Val. I don't think he hears you. You can see him later." Filia said.

"But he said he'd hear me." Val protested frowning.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you can see him later." Filia told this to Val firmly so he got the idea. During lunch he kept wondering what Xelly-daddy was doing and why he could come to him.

A figure sat in the big oak tree, watching them.

Filia walked up to the big temple like building where they would hold the trial. When she walked in, She noticed the looks the human-form dragons where giving her.

'The trouble I get into because of Xellos… I should have listened to the stories from when I was younger.' Filia thought to herself. She already missed her son who she left with Sairai and her family for the few days she was going to be here.

'Speaking of the devil, where is he?' Filia thought. She took her place behind the stand and looked forward boldly.

"This trial will now come in session" An elder announced, taking his place behind a pulpit. He placed his mallet on top of it.

'Since when are they so modern?' Filia asked herself.

"We are here today for the trial of Filia Ul Copt. Former priestess of the fire dragons. She committed a crime, A serious crime…" The elder stared in Filia's direction with piercing eyes

'Argh! Since when is THAT a crime!' She barely kept herself from saying that aloud.

'So she will be getting the judgment she deserves. But first we are going to question her." The elder motioned for someone to take a place behind a lower microphone.

"Filia Ul Copt, It has been said that you were involved with the Beastmaster. Is that true?" A high pitched man's voice asked her.

"Yes that's the truth. It wasn't just Lina and I who defeated the Dark Star." Filia fought the urge to roll her eyes. The man let it pass and stepped down for the next person.

"You have been seen with the Beastmaster. And it was said that he is living with you, is that correct?" The next man asked. His voice was deeper and he had bushy black eyebrows.

"I might have been seen with him, but he is not living with me. So that is not correct." Filia said this with a slight icy tone, but it didn't scare the questioner off.

"When you are around him, what do you normally do?" He asked staring into her eyes.

"Well I haven't been around him lately." Filia answered. The man sighed rudely.

"What I mean Miss Copt is, what have you done with the Beastmaster?" The man figured he hit the nail in the right spot.

"Well once I baby-sat with him, and ended up getting lost in a tropical maze, then we took a trip…" Filia was cut off by the man's exasperated sigh.

"Miss Copt, what I meant to say is, did you sleep with him?" The man asked bluntly.

"Y-y-yes I did." Filia was thinking about lying to the man, but figured she never lied before so why now?

'What about the time when you and the other priestess in training wanted a night out?' Her consciences reminded her. Filia bit her lip and ignored the thought.

'Ok fine next time I'll try, Sore wa himitsu desu. Always works for Xellos.' Filia tossed back at her conscience the immediately bit her tongue for thinking about him.

The man stepped down and let the next man come up. Filia sighed inwardly as more and more pointed questions were asked. She felt like teleporting out of there to get Valteria. They could make s'mores by the fireplace or something.

She felt her stomach growl and a baby kick. She didn't want to make it known she was pregnant so she fought the urge to place a hand on her hand on her stomach.

"Filia Ul Copt. Once was a friend of mine." Someone else stood up to the microphone. Filia looked surprise to see Mizangu.

'Once a friend, eh?' She asked herself.

"We use to have fun as kids, growing up and everything. I noticed a change in her life after she became of priestess. She started to slack off. I wish I could say this wasn't true but I can't." Mizangu said, looking sorrowful.

'The liar!' Filia said, balling her fist.

"Miss Filia Ul Copt. you've been a true disgrace to the gold dragon. You let the Beastmaster take advantage of you, beat upon you… The elder was back, speaking at the microphone.

I afraid that's where your wrong, elder. Xellos has been very kind to my son and me. He has not laid one hand on us and I didn't not let him take advantage of me." Filia's temper started to flare and a pink bow came from underneath her dress.

"Oh it is Xellos now." The elder said pouncing on ever word she said.

"Xellos has every right to be called by his first name. He deserves respect just like we give each other respect. But that doesn't exactly mean pining a title on him because you are scared of him." Filia said.

"Yaah! Well said, Filia Ul Copt." A voice from the far back stood in the shadows. Everyone, but Filia, gasped recognizing the voice.

"Aaack! It's him!" Someone shouted out.

"Mommy! Xelly-daddy brought me here to help you out!" A small voice rang out and ran towards Filia. Xellos blew a small kiss at Filia that made her blush. Everyone watched wide eyed at the exchange. Xellos simply smiled and teleported out of there. Filia directed her attention to Val.

"Val! What are you doing here? Where are Riki and Sairai?" Filia asked immediately.

"Riki and Sairai are at home. Their parents were sleeping so Riki said I could come to see you. Xelly-daddy said he'd be back for me by the time they woke up so they wouldn't s'pect a thing!" Val said.

Before Filia could reply, the elder slammed his mallet on the pulpit. Valteria jumped and hugged Filia tighter.

"Miss Copt how could you lead the enemy to us? Do you want us to die? Do you want us to be killed off by him like we were?" He asked angrily.

"Elder Sauchi. I wouldn't do that. But seeing how you treat Xellos, you never gave him a chance. True Xellos is a mazoku, and true he killed off half of our race, but have you seen beyond that? No because you never do and never did. You blame Xellos for what he did, but did you see what we, Gold Dragons did to the Ancient Dragons? Look at my son, he is the last of the Ancients. And why is that? Because of the Gold Dragons, That was because of us. Not because of the mazokus or humans, but because of us. Because we wanted to be the most powerful dragons." Filia started to tear up.

The Elder looked disturbed and turned around to talk to the others.

"Don't worry Mommy. Xelly-daddy said it'd be all right. He said just keep the faith. What does that mean?" Val looked up at his mom with innocent eyes.

"I'll tell you later, ok sweetheart?" Filia chuckled and bent down ad kissed her son's forehead.

"Alright mommy!" Val smiled.

"Filia Ul Copt. If we may, we want to question your son." The Elder said.

"We-well of course." Filia stammered a bit and stiffened. 'Now what?' She asked herself.

"Mr. Valteria Ul Copt, correct?" The elder asked the boy.

"Hai." The boy nodded.

"Ok well Mr. Copt I'm notice you know The Beastmaster. Tell me boy, has he ever tried to hurt you or your mother in anyway?"

"Beastmaster? Oh Xelly-daddy! No Xelly daddy would never hurt us!" Val said furiously.

"Xelly-daddy?" The elder repeated.

"His name is really Xellos Mettallium. But I call him Xelly-daddy. He is like a daddy to me. He plays with me all the time. I told him if he married mommy then I want to us his last name, like my friend Sairai did when her mommy married her daddy." Val declared seriously.

Filia looked at Val in surprise as the Elders almost fainted.

"Speaking of which, Filia would you please marry me?" Xellos popped in next to Val and Filia.

"Xellos?" Filia asked startled.

"Beastmaster your are not welcomed here. Seize him!" Someone directed.

Dragon guards came to seize Xellos who put a shield around him, Filia and Val. He slowly got down on his knees and kissed Filia's hand. He opened his eyes and looked at Filia. Filia stared down at him with one hand to her mouth. Without breaking the eye contact he brought out a shiny gold amethyst ring and slipped it on her finger. Filia gasped while the Elder threw a fit outside of them.

Xellos and Val looked at Filia with the same hopeful eyes.

"I forbid this to go on!" The elder exclaimed. Nobody really noticed. Everyone else were watching to see what Filia's answer would be.

"Xellos... I... I..." Filia stammered. Xellos and Val bit the side of their lips in unison, which made Filia laugh.

"Of course I'll marry you, you fool." She laughed. Xellos looked surprised but instead jumped up and hugged her tight then turned around and high-fived Val.

"Alright!" They exclaimed.

"I promise to make your life happier. You would never regret it." Xellos added to her. The old ladies there started wiping their eyes because of 'true romance', forgetting who Xellos was.

"Well looks like this meeting is adjourn." Someone announced. Everyone else agreed wholeheartedly. They filed out their seats outside, ignoring the fuming elder.

"Well Filia, ready to go, ne?" Xellos asked. Filia nodded then Xellos looked at Val who grins and takes Filia and Xellos's hand so they could leave.

"Filia Ul Copt! YOU ARE BANISHED FROM HERE!" The elder yelled. Then Xellos teleported them out there.

"Mommy can I finish staying at Sairai's house for the rest of the day and night?" Val asked.

"Um I guess so. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning." Filia agreed. Val immediately ran off in the direction of his friend's house.

"My, those two stick like glue…" Filia commented.

"Best Friends, ne?" Xellos asked. Filia was unlocking the door.

"Mmmhmm. When we moved her a few years ago, Sairai's mom used to come over here a lot. Val and Sairai were babies then. So they practically grew up together. Sairai's mom is now pregnant again so she can't come over that often." Filia walked in the shop and turned on the lights.

"Ah I see." Xellos said.

"It's spring what do you expect." Filia said leading the way to the kitchen.

"Huh?" Xellos asked. Filia chuckled and shook her head.

"Where's all that knowledge of yours?" She asked. He gave himself a mental note to look up about women.

"Sore wa himitsu desu." He tried.

"Any other words, you don't know." Filia teased. "Wants some tea?" She offered.

"Sure why not. No poison, ok?" He grinned.

"Now would I do that?" Filia asked. She lifted up a bottle of season salt to pour in the tea.

"Er, Filia…" Xellos started.

"What?"

"Your putting season salt in the tea."

"Season salt? Oh silly me." Filia laughed and picked up the garlic.

"You really need to lighten up. Here let me do it." Xellos said standing up. Filia hid a grin and agreed.

"There. All done." Xellos sat the cups of tea in front of Filia and him.

"Mmmm. I could get used to this." Filia said sipping some tea.

"Just ask me and I might, Just might give you the privilege of drinking some of the homemade Xellos Mettallium tea." Xellos teased.

"I could pay you for it." Filia smiled.

"Depends on how much…" Xellos said with a grin. Filia stood over and slid into his lap.

"Depends on what you want." She said. She then, closed her eyes and leaned forward and kissed him.

Xellos placed his arms on her waist drawing her closer to him to deepen the kiss. He reached out with one hand and ran his fingers through her hair. She reluctantly broke off the kiss and looked down at him, her bangs touching his forehead.

She lightly unbuttoned his shirt. One by one. His eyes opened as he watched her slowly slip his shirt off and splay her hands on his chest. She lifted one hand up and brought her bangs back.

He leaned forward and kissed the nape of her neck, unbuttoning her dress, letting it fall down. He trailed his kisses down her neck to her shoulder, then back up to her lips. He trailed a finger down to in-between her breasts. Filia let out a sigh and leaned her head back as he trailed his light kisses down her neck.

She ran her fingers down his chest to his waist.

"You are getting near dangerous places." Xellos growled, nibbling lightly on her ear.

"Who said I wasn't already." Filia whispered back.

Filia proceeded to unbuckle his belt when they heard a knock on the door. Xellos looked at Filia. They heard the knock again.

"Oh shit," Xellos said as Filia slid off his lap pulling her dress back up.

"I wonder who it is... I announced my shop was closed for a few days." Filia wondered buttoning her dress. She smoothed down her hair and looked over to make sure Xellos was presentable, then went to open the door.

"Konnichiwa Fii-chan!" There stood Lina in blue jeans and a shirt, and Amelia in short pink summer shorts and white shirt.

"Ah Lina! Amelia! What are you doing here?" Filia asked in surprise.

"Don't you remember? Today we head for out camping trip. If you are not ready we can wait for you." Amelia said.

"Yeah, where's Val? You told him about it, right?" Lina asked peeking over her shoulder to see Xellos standing a little ways behind Filia.

"Xellos?" Lina said. It was the exact same time Amelia said "Xellos-san?"

"Why don't you come on in. Val is spending the day at um his friends house." Filia sighed and opened the door for the two girls.

"Hey Xellos. Long time no see." Lina said sitting down at chair the table.

"Hey Lina. Still traveling with Gourry?" Xellos asked.

"Yeah... Gourry is away on a training trip, so Filia, Amelia and I decided to take a camping trip, but..." Lina looked over a Filia.

"Uh, Ah... I can still go." She said stammering.

'I can watch Val for the next few days if you want.' Xellos told her through her thoughts.

"Val won't be able to go. But I have someone who can watch him. I'll be ready in a few minutes." Filia said in a rush and ran out of the room.

"So Xellos-san. What are you doing here?" Amelia asked.

"Sore wa..." Xellos started but Lina gave him The Look.

"Uh, Lets see, I took Filia and Val home from the trial and Val went over to his friends house and Filia invited me in for tea." He said.

"Invited you to tea?" Lina and Amelia's mouth dropped.

"Er yes." Xellos sweatdropped.

"Wow... that's amazing, to think you two can become friends after... Wait! What trial?" Lina broke off and stared intently at Xellos.

"Uh... Ask Filia." Xellos eased himself out of telling Amelia and Lina. Lina and Amelia looked like they were going to disagree but waited till Filia came out and pounced on her.

"What trial did you go to, Filia?" They asked in unison.

"Nani?" Filia asked then looked at Xellos, who smiled nervously.

"I'll tell you on the trip. Hey Xellos do me a favor and pick Val up? I'll be back in about three or four days." Filia said. Xellos nodded and Lina and Amelia watched this exchange with wary eyes.

"Alright ready to go?" Filia asked the other girls.

"Hai!" Amelia exclaimed pulling on her backpack.

"Then lets go!" Lina exclaimed getting into the spirit. They waved to Xellos before walking out.

"Oh you girls go ahead. I forgot something." Filia said. The others nodded while Filia hung around.

"What did you forget?" Xellos asked.

"This." Filia leaned down next to Xellos and gave him a long, unforgettable kiss. When she broke it off she saw Xellos staring at her lightly touching his lips.

"See you later." She whispered, in a husky voice. Xellos nodded mutely as Filia laughed and ran to catch up with Lina and Amelia.

"There is so much I need to tell you…" Xellos heard Filia tell Lina and Amelia before she was out of hearing distance.

The End… OK this epilouge is 19 pages long! Gomen! I couldn't stop. In case you didn't know it started out to be a short story that grew. So poo on me. ^_^ Hoped you like it. This is my second fic of all times, I'm in desperate need of comments. Email Me! ^_~

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