Disclaimer: All Escaflowne characters and references belong to their respective owners. The song No Need to Promise and translation belong to the company that recorded and were used in this story with the best of intentions. Story elements © Hideki LaShae. No money was gained in the writing of this story.
Dedicated to my love, my Van, my hero. He is the man who gives me strength to fight for all that I believe in.
Good-bye, Gaia!
By Hideki LaShae
Epilogue: Happily Moving On!
Was it all just a dream or maybe a vision? No, no, it couldn't have been! I know it really happened! It all started when I was with my best friends, Yukari and Amano! I had this terrible vision that Fanelia was burning again. I called on Van to take me back to Gaia where I learned that a strange disease is killing everyone I care about…Most of my friends died right before my eyes! Even my one true love, Van, died in my arms. I returned to Earth in despair, actually intending to kill myself so that I could be reunited with Van. But Yukari and Amano stopped me. I then learned that all my friends who had died on Gaia were in fact still alive. Their bodies on Gaia had died so that they could be born in new bodies on Earth. Their new bodies look very similar if not exactly like the ones they had before. Gaia died but her people were saved! I even managed to marry Van, and I quickly became pregnant. I wonder… Have we seen the last of Gaia and the power of Atlantis?
Hitomi Fanel sits in her bed rocking a newborn baby. She smiles at the little baldhead and deep, brown eyes. She runs her hand through her boyishly cut, light brown hair. "Mommy's here! Mommy's right here!"
The baby looks at Hitomi and blinks. He sucks on his pacifier.
Van Fanel, Hitomi's husband, walks into the bedroom with a bottle in his hand. He smiles and passes the bottle to his wife. "How is our son doing?"
"He's hungry," says Hitomi removing the pacifier and placing the nipple of the bottle in her son's mouth, "Folken's been fine though. Nice and quiet most of the day. He's hardly cried at all. Frankly, I was starting to worry about him, but Millerna says there's nothing wrong with him."
Van sits down beside Hitomi and runs his hand through her hair.
Hitomi looks at Van… at his brown eyes and his black hair.
"How are you doing, Hitomi?" asks Van.
"I'm tired, but Millerna and Merle were with me most of the day," says Hitomi, "They were helping me take care of little Folken here! They're a big help! Merle really enjoys being an aunt." The baby boy in her arms sucks the formula from the bottle hungrily.
"I'm glad that you're not alone. Chid wants to come over as soon as you'll let him. He wants to meet Folken," says Van.
"Why didn't you invite him over?" asks Hitomi.
Van moves up to sit beside Hitomi and wrap his arms around her. "I wasn't sure how you were feeling. I didn't want him to come over if you really tired or sick."
Hitomi rests her head on Van's shoulder. She sits up straight again and helps Folken by tipping the bottle a bit more.
"I love you, Hitomi," says Van.
"I love you, Van…"
Van kisses Hitomi's cheek and he touches his son's small hand. He smiles. "I love you, Folken, my son."
"Van, why don't you invite Chid over for dinner?" asks Hitomi, "I was planning on making Italian food! There would be more than enough to go around! Then you and him could talk a little business after dinner! You've been neglecting your duties at Gaia Unlimited to be home with me during my pregnancy! You need to get some work done! Merle can help me around here."
"Are you sure, Hitomi?" asks Van looking at her with unsure eyes.
Hitomi smiles. "I'm sure! Everything will be fine! In fact! Let's invite Millerna, Allen, and Selene as well! We can make it a large family dinner! I'm sure they would all enjoy it! And I doubt they have plans yet! Please, Van!"
"All right! I'll call everyone! I'll take care of Folken while Merle helps you cook," says Van, "unless you wanted my help."
"Van, dear… what do you know about Italian food?" asks Hitomi with a knowing smile.
"It comes from Italian?" asks Van crumpling his eyebrows in confusion.
Hitomi giggles. She shakes her head. She removes the bottle from Folken's mouth and passes it to Van. Then she lifts the newborn to her shoulder to burp him. "Close, Van. Really close. Italian food comes from Italy! You'll learn all about it soon enough! You can play peek-a-boo with Folken if he wakes up!"
Van sets the bottle on the nightstand and climbs out of bed. He takes Folken from Hitomi and places him in the bassinette.
Hitomi stands up and moves to the closet to get a loose dress to wear. "Don't forget to cover him with the blanket. I don't want him to catch cold."
"Right. I've got to get used to this," says Van.
"Get used to what?" asks Hitomi shedding her nightgown and pulling her dress over her head.
Van turns to stare at Hitomi.
Hitomi turns towards Van. She blushes. "Oh! Right! You mean fatherhood!"
"You're a wonderful mother, Hitomi! How did you get so good without having any children before?" asks Van walking towards her.
"Well, I was raising Baby Hitomi for a little while!" Hitomi moves into Van's arms. She kisses his lips. "Is he asleep?"
Van and Hitomi walk over to the bassinette to look in at their son.
"Kimi o kimo o aishiteru… Kokoro de mitsumete iru. Kimi o kimi o shinjiteru samui yoru mo," sings Hitomi softly, "Say, when they in love, does everyone get this lonely? Say, do they embrace the pain that's even deeper than the darkness? It's all been so that we can shine, I just know it! I love you. I love you. I'm gazing at you with my heart. I believe in you. I believe in you… even on the coldest night."
Van swallows hard and sings quietly, "Say, even if they're in love, could the end someday come for them too? Say, could a feeling that's even clearer than the blue-sky end up being abandoned? The season-changing winds running along the streets forever."
"Kimi o kimo o aishiteru… Kokoro de mitsumete iru. Kimi o kimi o shinjiteru samui yoru mo," sings Hitomi softly, "I love you. I love you. I'm gazing at you with my heart. I believe in you. I believe in you… even on the coldest night. Even if I lost tomorrow, and even if I lost you, too, I want to shine, smiling as best as I can. I call out to you now with my tears. I don't need promises or such things, because of the precious strength that you've given me."
"I call out to you now with my eyes. I don't need promises or such things. I reach out to you now with my eyes even on the coldest night," sings Van quietly. He gives Hitomi a long passionate kiss as they stand beside the bassinette where their infant son sleeps peacefully.
Hitomi smiles happily. "You need to call our dinner guests! I'll get Merle and start working on dinner!"
"I'm on it, Hitomi!" Van sits down beside the telephone on the nightstand.
"Van… I love you!"
Van looks at Hitomi. His eyes look deeply into her green eyes. He smiles. "I love you, Hitomi!"
Hitomi hurries out of their bedroom to go find Merle and start dinner.
Van lifts the telephone and starts to dial a number.
This is the end of one chapter of our lives, and the beginning of another. Our days will be spent happily ever after from this moment on! That is the vow that we made to each other on our wedding day! That is the vow we will keep, Van and I! We will have a happy life with our son, Folken!