If you haven't seen it, the side story on Namek is up. You should read it to get a better understanding of what happened there.

. "..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN, (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted. Onto the fic!

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Two years later . . .











"Come on! We're going to be late!"

Rei's voice rang through the Son household as she balanced baby Heiwa on her hip. Goku, Goten, and Gohan came flying down the stairs (literally). Gohan tried to look cool in a sweater and slacks (and some of his Dad's cologne because Hotaru would be there), but Goten and Goku's hair was as messy as ever.

"Everybody ready?" asked Goku. Rei held baby Heiwa and her supplies while Goten and Gohan had the food. Everyone put a hand on Goku. "Ok, let's go!"

In a flash, the house was deserted.

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ o~

In an instant, they reappeared at Capsule Corp. Krillin and Eighteen, with Marron (who was a toddler now), had already arrived. Piccolo, Tien, Chatzou, Yamcha, and Puar were there as well. Master Roshi and Oolong had just arrived.

"Oh hi, Chichi!" called Bulma as she came up from the basement with more food. "Bra's in her play area if you want to put Heiwa with her. Chibi Usa and Hotaru came early to watched them. You can bring the food into the kitchen over here..."

Rei went off to follow Bulma, while the rest of her family split up. Gohan went off in search of Hotaru and Mirai, Goten to find Chibi Trunks and Chibi Usa, and Goku to find... food . . .









The rest of the sailors arrived not long afterward. Tien and Yamcha greeted their fiancees, Ami and Minako, with a kiss. Their double wedding was fast approaching in two months.

Michiru, Haruka, and Setsuna looked the same as always, now that their torture scars were healed. They remained on Earth and were finally truly happy. Even Setsuna, who had been relieved of the eternal solitary duty of guarding the Time Gates by Chronos, and Cosmos and Shiroi. Rumor had it that Setsuna and Piccolo had been spending a lot of time together, enjoying their solitude together.



Hotaru and Chibi Usa came down to greet the senshi as they arrived; 17 year old Hotaru with Heiwa on her hip and 7 year old Chibi Usa with Bra.

"Usagi's late, as usual," muttered Makoto, with a grin.









But they didn't have long to wait. A strong gust of wind blew against the house, and as everyone was being herded into the living room, the doorbell rang.



There was Usagi and her husband Shiroi, each balancing a twin girl and boy named Hikari and Kibou.

"Sorry we're late. We had to make a quick stop at Ganymede and Europa."

"You mean *you* had to," insisted Shiroi.

Rei just gasped. "Demo, Usa, you didn't bring the twins. Did you?"

Usagi just laughed. "Of course not, Rei. They're too young. I made Shiroi stay with them while I checked it out."

Shiroi tried to put on a face of annoyance at being left behind with the infants, but he couldn't manage to keep a straight face and smiled. Usagi laughed and punched him lightly on the arm.

"Shi-kun loves playing babysitter, though he tries not to show it. And everything is fine out there."

"Well that's good," said Bulma with a smile. "Please, come on inside."

"Hi Kaasan," called Chibi Usa coming out of the kitchen. Then she caught sight of her step- brother and sister. "Kaasan, are we going to have to watch them too?"

Usagi just laughed. "Don't worry about it, Bunny,you'll have more help now."



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The table was set and the food was ready. It seemed even larger than it had been two years ago. Perhaps it was because of the four additional height-chairs and a booster seat. But none regretted the increase in numbers. The more, the merrier.









Today they celebrated. For today was the anniversary of the day Kuroi was destroyed. But perhaps 'destroyed' is not the right word. For he will always be there. His spirit was merely sent to a new form and the Darkness returned to its original boundaries. For the Darkness is not evil in essence. It is only when humans and those other peoples of the universe turn evil that the Darkness begins to upset the Balance. The Darkness is meant to reflect love as Light does, and perhaps, for now, it will.











The food was wonderful and endless. The Saiyins had their own end of the table again, which was an excellent idea.

After dinner, everyone got up to clear their place. Mirai nodded to Gohan and his mother; they smiled back encouragingly. Trunks took a deep breath as he beckoned to Makoto and Bulma picked up her plate. He led her away while Bulma and Gohan smirked.















"Trunks, this is beautiful!"

He had flown her away from CC, toward the Son home. He stopped at a low cliff overlooking a serene meadow of flowers and a babbling brook, with a forest nearby. The brook's waters sparkled in the sun's last light.

"I'm glad you like it."

With a smile, she sat and watched the sun sink below the hills.

They had been going steady for almost two years now, since they returned from the battle with the Darkness. Most thought of it more as a 'really good friend' relationship. But both secretly hoped it was more.



"Um, Mako-chan," said Trunks, sitting beside her. "Do you remember what happened two years ago? I mean, when we were fighting?"

"I tried to save you," she said softly, looking at her hands. "I tried to stop them but just killed myself and delayed your death."

"But I am ever in debt to you, Mako-chan."

She looked up with tears glistening in her emerald eyes.

"I have something to tell you. Something I've wanted to tell you since the day you died. It's been too long." He paused, gathering his courage and preparing for possible rejection. "Ai- Ai shiteru, Mako-chan. Ai shiteru."

She smiled. "Ai shiteru, Trunks-kun."



Trunks took a relieved breath and smiled.



"Now is that all that you brought me all the way out here for?"

"Hey, that took a lot of courage!"

Mako just playfully punched him on the arm and stood up. He smiled and took a steadying breath.



"You're right though," he said suddenly.

"Huh?"

"That wasn't all." He got down onto one knee and pulled a box out of his jacket. Something glimmered inside. Makoto's breath caught in her throat and her heart pounded in her ears.

"Kino Makoto, I love you with all my heart. I can't seem to remember a time when you weren't there. My future was dark because you were not there to brighten it. Kino Makoto, will you marry me?"



In the moment it took Makoto to find her voice, Trunks feared her response.



"Yes." She smiled. "Yes! Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes!!!"

She jumped on him as he stood up, and he pulled her close. He slipped the ring onto her finger as he kissed her deeply and tenderly, in a soul shattering kiss. That's how they could be found as the stars winked into existence overhead. Jupiter shone especially bright.



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Back at CC, the little ones were being put to bed. It would be another overnighter, but Bulma had rooms for everyone.

"Jupiter's shining bright tonight," commented Usagi, staring out the window.

"That must be a good sign," said Rei.

"Huh?"

"Oh, you didn't know? Trunks was proposing to Makoto tonight," said Bulma as she put a sleeping Bra into her pjs.

"Demo, that's wonderful!" said Usagi.

"You should have seen the rock her was giving her." Bulma whistled. "It was beautiful! A diamond with emeralds all around! Vegeta never gave *me* anything like that." She paused. "Come to think of it, I don't think Vegeta got me a true ring at all."



The others just laughed. "Speaking of Vegeta," said Usagi, "let him know that we brought all the Saiyins safely to the new Vegeta-sei. And Tuor, his fifth cousin, said he'd be honored to serve as ruler in his place since Vegeta chose to remain on Earth. And he promised that, though they will keep the Saiyin traditions, they won't become as ruthless as some of their forefathers were." [AN: Remember in the beginning, when Cosmos first arrived, and she spoke of the new Vegeta-sei . . .]

"I'm sure he'll be pleased to hear it," said Bulma.









The children were all ready for bed and their mothers let them crawl / toddle around for a bit (except for Bra who was already in her crib fast asleep).

Kari and her brother, Kibou, constantly attempted to stand, but kept falling down. Heiwa was a little more cautious. But somehow, in their babbling language, the twins convinced their friend to try it with them. Together, with Heiwa in the middle, the three managed to take their first steps towards their mothers, while the women squealed with joy.

The moment passed, and the three fell down, laughing with joy at what they had just accomplished.



"It is true," said Usagi while gathering up her children to put in the crib, "that if we let the light of love and hope into our hearts, true peace will follow."



THE END



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Wow, I can't believe my brain-child is all grown up! To understand Usagi's last comment, you must understand the meaning of the children's names: Hikari= light Kibou= hope Heiwa= peace

So that is what she is referring to in the end. The three children working together and the three... er.... 'forces' working together.

I hope you enjoyed it. I definitely have. Domo arigato to all those that stuck with this fic from the beginning, and those that began reading in the end, and everyone else. Please review one last time. Thank you so much!

May your days always have joy; and your nights, serenity.

~Calli-chan, signing off