A/N: Okay, here you go! Hopefully you'll like it. If you do, review. If you don't, review anyway. Again, I'll try to update when I can. Family medical stuff going on until July... Oh, and I responded to reviews at the bottom of the chapter.Thanks for reading!

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"Go, go!" Lina bellowed, herding the children out into the daylight.

Filia was waiting for them, standing in the middle of a ring of underlings, a snarl curling her full lips. The underlings cowered from her, but every time one of them tried to melt into the shadows, she hit it with Laser Breath.Her blue eyes brightened at the sight of Lina, then took in the raggedy appearance of the children. "Oh my goodness!" she cried. "You look like you were caught in an explosion!"

"We were, Mom," Val grumbled, gently placing Xellos on the ground.

Filia dashed forward and embraced her son, who was now quite a bit taller than she was. His bronzed cheeks reddened and he looked away as she buried her face in his shoulder and wailed. "My precious baby! I'm so happy you're safe!"

"I'm glad to see you, too," Val muttered, rigid under his mother's touch.

Suddenly she pushed him away to arm's length and glared right into his eyes. "And you are GROUNDED, mister. Grounded for a very, very long time. That was utterly irresponsible of you, taking off like that without permission, especially on such a dangerous task. Didn't you ever stop to think?" she screamed, and Val took a few steps back and hunched his shoulders, his posture looking for all the world like th cowering underlings. Lina watched as Filia read the riot act to her son, noticing that the underlings fled as soon as Filia had taken her attention from them. She scanned the area for any new threats, but aside from the carnage of battling with demons, the island could have been any other tropical, peaceful location."And you could could have been killed!" Filia continued, suddenly breaking down into sobs. "I could have lost my poor baby forever! Didn't you ever think of your poor mother?" The dragon's sobs gained volume and violence, and suddenly Val had his arms around her, gently patting her back.

"I'm so sorry," he was saying. "I wouldn't have done it but it was urgent...""Why is everything more important to you than I am?" Filia wailed.Lina glanced around. Lecia was still holding an unconscious Gorran and was standing protectively near Xellos, and Alfred and Kerra were waiting off to one side, looking everywhere but at the melodramatic scene in front of them.

Lina sighed as she realized the whole day could be wasted if they stood around much longer. "Okay," she barked, and everyone's attention immediately slid over to her. "Val, what you did was stupid, but I don't think it was selfish. Lecia, you were stupid, too, and don't think you'll get out of this without consequences, but if you two hadn't been stupid, we might not have Xellos with us now. What he did was pretty stupid as well, so it's not like you guys are completely to blame. Let's get the hell out of here."

"Yes, Miss Lina," everyone but her daughter said in unison, and she smiled at them. Light filled her eyes and Val and Filia transformed, their dragon forms suddenly filling up most of the landscape in front of her.

"Kids, you take Val back to Seyruun. We'll meet you there. Lecia, take good care of your brother."Lecia nodded and leaned against her as Lina put her arms around the girl.

"Mom, I'm so glad you're back," she murmured, tears welling up in her amethyst eyes.

"Me, too. I missed you, little one," she whispered in return. "Now get going."

Lina watched as the children scrambled aboard Val and the Ancient dragon took off into the sky. She stood for a moment, gazing at the landscape. It was perfectly quiet and the day was actually very lovely. It seemed as if Xellas hadn't been joking. She really wasn't going to hinder their escape. "All right, let's do this thing," she said, hosting Xellos onto her shoulder and levitating them both to Filia's back.

"Well?" Filia asked, voice booming.

"I'll tell you on the way," Lina replied, situating Xellos in front of her. His head bobbed forward, his dark, silver-streaked hair parting and exposing the back of his neck. Tears threatened to fall once more, and she kissed his skin and pressed her head between his shoulder blades, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. When she felt in control of her emotions once more, she straightened herself and clutched her husband to her. "Let's get out of here," she said and braced herself as Filia took flight.

The trip to Seyruun took a little longer than she would have liked, but soon the white walls of the city appeared in the distance. "Where should I land?" Filia asked. "I haven't been to Seyruun since before Val was born."

Lina shrugged. "Go for broke. Land in the main courtyard of the palace."

Filia's hide shuddered beneath her. "What? Doesn't that seem a bit rash?"

"There's no time for anything else. Besides, that seems to be what those stupid kids are doing."

"Oh, they'll get hurt! Someone will fire nasty spells at them, I just know it!" Filia wailed. "My poor baby!"

Lina rolled her eyes. "It'll be fine. Firstly, I don't think anyone there could cast a spell strong enough to actually hurt either of your. Secondly, Zel will probably be expecting us. He's sharp like that."

"You're probably right," Filia sighed, and descended into the courtyard. There was barely enough room for her gigantic body to fit, but the courtyard was mostly clear. Guards lined the walls but made no move towards them. Lina spotted Alfred walking among their ranks as Filia changed shape. Sometimes she forgot the kid was a prince. She liked the boy, too. In her heart she had always sort of wanted to be a princess, to marry a rich prince and never have to work a day in her life and be spoiled rotten. Of course, she had found such a man eventually, she just hadn't expected him to be an ex-demon. Maybe Lecia would have a shot at being a princess?

"Miss Lina!" a voice shouted across the courtyard, and from a doorway spilled Amelia, the woman's body as athletic as ever. "Oh thank goodness you're okay!"

Lina smiled as Amelia made a beeline for Kerra and Alfred, pulling them into a crushing embrace. "Daughter! Son!" she cried. "I'm so happy you're safe!" Yeah, Lina thought. Amelia was just like her dad in some ways.

Zel appeared out of nowhere and also hugged his children, then immediately launched into a strict lecture, his stony face scowling and his words sharp. His expression softened a bit, and he hugged his children again, then released them. His footsteps rang out as he crossed the stones to her. "Hello," he said, reaching out and embracing her as well.

Lina was surprised, but squeezed him in return."Thanks for your help," she said. "I'm sorry I got your family wrapped up in this."

Zelgadis gently took Xellos from her. "They got themselves involved. It's not your fault. I see you found him."

"Yeah, but look at him."

Zel nodded. "He's not breathing or anything. Are you sure he's alive? You don't seem to be too upset, so I assume he's not dead."

"Something in between, I think," Lina replied.

"Hello, Mister Zelgadis," Filia said.

"You look as lovely as ever, Filia," he said in return. "I haven't seen you in ages, it seems."

"Not since the last time you visited the Inverses."

Amelia appeared next to her husband, her tiara askew from her running about. Her cheeks were ruddy with excitement, her deep blue eyes sparkling. She put her hand in Filia's and squeezed. "Well, you're here now, so please make yourselves comfortable."

"I intend to," Lina said with a smile, and chatted with her friends as they led her to a suite.

Zelgadis stepped inside and looked about. "Where do you want him?"

"Would you help me bathe him?" Lina asked.

"Miss Filia and I will check on the children and do some catching up," Amelia offered.

"That sounds lovely," Filia agreed.

"Great," Lina smiled. "You can discuss on how to keep your boys from fighting over my daughter."

Both womens' faces flushed slightly, then they all three laughed. "We'll meet up with you in a couple of hours to discuss dinner," Amelia said, and graciously ushered Filia out the door.

Lina sighed and looked at the limp form of Xellos slung over Zel's shoulder. Zelgadis was her best friend, aside from her husband. She adored Amelia and Filia, of course, but she felt that Zelgadis was the only person outside of her family that really understood her. She knew that Zelgadis and Xellos held a certain understanding as well, and even though they still managed to fight like cats and dogs, the two men were actually quite close, mostly because Zelgadis was one of the few people Xellos actually respected.

"Are you sure he'd be okay with me helping?" Zel asked, carrying Xellos into the bathroom.

"He's never exactly been modest," Lina grumbled, stripping off her husband's boots.

"Just so long as I don't actually have to wash him," the chimera grumbled.

Lina grinned. "No, just keep him from drowning while I wash him."

Zel nodded and helped her maneuver him into the tub, supporting him as she turned on the water. "I wonder if he even knows what's going on."

Lina shrugged, wetting a cloth. "I don't think so. Wherever he is, he's locked far away."

"His body is cold, but not like death. It's very strange. Do you have any idea how he got this way?"

"None." She swirled the water with her fingers, testing the temperature, discarding her cape and boots lest they get in the way or get wet. When she was finished, she took her turn supporting Xellos as Zelgadis also removed his boots and cape, then took off his shirt and gloves. His blue, stony skin shone softly in the evening light, his thin musculature defined. A smile curved the corners of her mouth as she realized that he finally seemed to be comfortable with his body at last. Amelia's optmism must have been good for him, after all.

Zelgadis didn't notice her expression, luckily, or he probably would have become self-conscious. He gripped Xellos' arms once more and looked at her. "So where was he?"

"Wolfpack."

Zel nearly let the unconscious man slide beneath the water, his grip releasing and returning reflexively. "What?" he gasped. "And you all got out alive?"

Lina set her mouth into a line. "I know. Xellas didn't even put up a fight. She just let us leave."

He scowled. "That doesn't make any sense. I thought she wanted him dead."

Lina shook her head, gently soaping the cloth she held and running it over her husband's skin. "Apparently not. She seems to have a larger plan in mind."

"And doesn't that scare you?"

"Are you kidding? It scares the hell out of me!" she snorted. "But what am I supposed to do? Live in fear? Come on, you know me better than that."

Zelgadis narrowed his eyes and stared at the porcelain of the tub. "I don't get it."

"I don't think we will for a while, at least not until she makes her move." Lina finished scrubbing the curves of Xellos' ears and set aside the cloth. "Okay, dunk him."

"Any particular way?"

"Well, he's not breathing, so I think it's probably okay to just do it."

Zelgadis grunted and shoved Xellos under the water, the man's silky, dark hair reaching towards the surface as he slid beneath it. Zel pulled him up again a moment later and Lina began to vigorously wash his hair. "It's so strange. It's like he's a doll. Are you sure Xellas didn't do something?"

"She said he did it to himself," Lina sighed, watching the suds spill over the backs of her hands. "None of us could touch him, not even her."

"How did you get him out?"

"Gorran did it. I'm not sure how."

Something flickered in Zelgadis' eyes. It was only for a split second, but she caught it. "He's a talented kid," the chimera said.

"Dunk," Lina ordered, and soon Xellos was rinsed. They drained the tub, dried him off, and dressed him in clean clothes. Zelgadis put him on the bed and Lina immediately sat next to her husband, holding his hand tightly. "So, I guess after he's better we'll gather our stuff and get going. Where are Gorran's and Lecia's rooms?"

The something flickered in Zel's eyes again. "Um, well," he mumbled.Lina raised her eyebrows. Zelgadis had always been an awful liar.

"Well what? Is it a problem to show me where they're staying?"

Zelgadis put a hand behind his head and scratched his neck, looking everywhere in the room but at her. "He's, uh, he's not exactly staying here."

"Oh?"

There was a moment of tense silence. "Yeah, he's, um, staying with, uh, Gourry."

Lina felt the blood drain out of her face and her heart stopped beating, turned to ice for an infinitesimal moment. "WHAT?" she bellowed, the ice turning into lava and erupting. Her eyes flashed with wrath and before Zelgadis could take another breath, she had him by the throat and pressed him against the wall. "What did you just say?" she hissed.

"I sent Gorran to stay with Gourry," Zel gurgled, fingers scraping at the backs of Lina's hands. "I thought it would be a good idea."

"Good idea?" Lina spat, voice low. "Good idea? What part of sending my son to live with a man who tried to kill my husband is a good idea?"

"It's easier to talk when you're not throttling me," Zelgadis croaked.

She released his neck but kept her hands poised, clawlike, ready to strike again at a moment's notice. "Answer me," she growled.

"It's simple, Lina," he replied, rubbing his throat. "Gorran wanted to study sword. I taught him a little, not much more than he learned from you, and realized that he was quite talented. That didn't surprise me, since you were a fine swordswoman and Xellos also has a large set of physical fighting skills. However, who best to teach him than the best swordsman in all the land? Also, he showed skill at white magic, and Sylphiel's the best we've got. I decided that sending him there would allow him to grow his skills to the utmost."

"And what made you think he'd be safe there?" she manded, hands balled into fists. She wanted to hit Zel. She wanted to hit him very badly, and the only thing that prevented her from doing so was the knowledge that her knuckles would split on his stony skin.

"Lina, Gourry has never hated you. He's always loved you, and he always will. He resented Xellos, just as Xellos resented him, and that's why that whole ugly thing happened twelve years ago. Gorran looks just like you, and aside from his eyes and his jaw, Gourry could pretend that he was his son, his son with you. Gourry never had sons, and none of his daughters wanted to learn the sword. You might not care for Gourry anymore, but he and I are still close. I saw two lonely people who could fulfill one another, and so I put them together."

Lina lowered her fist. She couldn't deny the logic of what her friend had said, but that didn't mean she had to like it. "Even if you are right, and I'm not saying you are, you know I wouldn't have approved of the idea. I put you in care of my children, I trusted you, and I can't help but feel that you've betrayed my trust."

Zelgadis' pale blue eyes sofened. "I know. I'm sorry."

They stood there in silence for a while, looking at one another. "I need some time to think. I hope you didn't just leave him there alone. Even if you know them, they must have been strangers to him."

"I sent Kerra long with him. She and Gorran have a lot in common, and they seem to be the best of friends."

Lina sighed. "Okay, okay. Listen, I'd appreciate it if you could have food sent to me here. Also, if you could send Gorran and Lecia to me once they're fed and cleaned up..."

"As you wish," Zelgadis replied, and moved towards the door. "Lina, I really am sorry. I believed my actions to be the best for all involved. If there's anything I can do, please let me know."

Lina didn't bother to look at him, instead focusing on the still face of her husband. He looked very peaceful, his fine features relaxed. It seemed as if he was merely asleep, and she supposed he was, after a fashion. He was asleep from life as she knew it. "Okay," she answered, and heard the door click shut. Tracing the line of Xellos' profile, she lay down next to him and put her head on his shoulder, finally in the place she wanted to be after nearly two long years.

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Wow! I got one of my first upset reviews! I've been writing fanfiction for almost 5 years now and have been posting on ff.net for a couple, and generally people don't dislike my stuff. Or, if they do, they think it's so bad that they don't bother telling me. But, I got a really interesting review to this chapter, and I got so excited I had to respond immediately. I really hope the reviewer reads this, because I think it would be interesting to him (or her?) as well. grin

The review reads:

"You know, I've been reading your series since the beginning and you know what, I really, REALLY dislike Lina and Xelloss. I actually think Gourry can do better than Lina. After everything Gourry went through with Lina, you don't seem to want him to have a happy ending and it seems to be a constant, pick on Gourry type of deal. In all honesty, I would like to see Gourry gain some matter of justice."

My reply:

Firstly, I'm doing my job if you hate my characters and you STILL read the whole story! Mwa ha ha ha ha! Something must be compelling enough to keep you reading.

Secondly, I'm happy you dislike Lina and Xellos. They're actually quite despicable, sometimes. Now, that's why I like Xellos. He was dispicable from the beginning. They're both petty, stupid, and mean with fairly regular frequency. You know, real people are like that, too. In most of my fanfiction I'm actually addressing broader themes, and I try to insert them so that they're there, but not obvious. Can you figure out what the theme of this one, of the whole series of my Slayers fics, is? You're awfully close...

And finally, I'm soooo glad you feel sorry for Gourry! I actually adore him, and do think he can do better than Lina. That's why I put him with Sylphiel. Gourry has a certain wisdom to him, and that's something Lina could never appreciate. That's why I think she's best with Xellos, who can put up with her snarkiness and match her stride for stride. Anyhow, I know I'm picking on Gourry, and I know he doesn't deserve it, but I'm a slave to my theme, what can I say. I think that Gourry gets his, in the end. But I guess you'll have to read the whole thing to really find out, won't you?

Thanks for the wonderful review!