A/N: Sorry these chapters are so short. I don't actually write them in chapter form, just one, big, run-on story. I'm really just breaking them up so they're easier to read. And to update, I suppose. Anyhow, I'll be updating on Thursday nights for the next bit, so please check back, and review as many times as you like.

Xellos recovered in a matter of days, his severe dehydration and malnutrition being the most dire side effects of his previous condition. Soon he was joking and smiling once more, brushing his silvery hair out of his eyes every so often. He was overjoyed to see his children, glad to touch and smell them once more. They had grown so much in his absence, a fact that made him simultaneously proud and sad. Lecia was looking more like a woman every day, and Gorran was growing taller. Lina, of course, was as lovely as ever. No, she was more lovely, in his eyes. She was still the shining star in his life.

"What did you do to yourself?" she had asked him one night.

The memory of it haunted him. He had nearly died. "You don't want to know. It cost me too much," was all he would say. He would not reveal to his family how close he had come to surrendering to the darkness. His flirtation with becoming a Monster once more had been frightening.

Lecia wanted to know when they could go home. She apparently missed their house, missed their life together. Well, he did, too. Gorran, on the other hand, was oddly reserved, occasionally running a hand through his fiery curls, scratching at where they were cropped at the base of his skull. When Xellos questioned him directly, the boy's eyes slid from side to side and his answers were evasive. He was a rotten liar, just as his mother was. Zelgadis, oddly enough, was kind but avoiding him, and of course Amelia and Filia were almost more than he could take. It was upsetting to watch Alfred and Val sniffing around his daughter, though. Xellos might be weak, but he wagered he could still vaporize either of the boys, if he so desired.

One day he finally snagged Gorran by the wrist as the boy dashed by during one of his evening walks with Lina around the gardens. "Where are you off to?" he asked gently.

Gorran blushed. "I'm going to go practice," he muttered, looking at the ground.

Xellos examined the crown of bronze curls. "What sort of practice?"

Gorran mumbled something in reply.

"Just tell him," Lina growled. "You're not doing anyone any favors."

Gorran raised his face, his jaw defiant. "I'm going to go practice swords with Mister Gourry."

Xellos smiled wryly at the cold jab that pierced his heart. "Oh," he said calmly, hoping his son thought the smile was for more positive reasons. "And are you enjoying yourself? Are you doing well?"

Gorran brightened a little. "Yeah, it's great! And Mister Gourry says that I'm doing really, really well. Mister Zelgadis says so, too."

Xellos reached out and tousled the boy's hair. The child was almost as tall as his mother, and at such a young age. "I'm not surprised. I'm sure you're very good, and you'll only get better. You know, Mister Gourry was one of the best swordsmen I've ever seen."

Gorran grinned up at him, eyes sparkling. "Yeah, he's really good! And he's really nice. I really like it there."

"He's been living there while we were gone," Lina explained, mouth pressed into a fine line.

Xellos chuckled. She was still upset, even after all these years. He had to admit, that had been one of his most brilliant plans ever. "I'm glad," he said. "Gourry and Scundabran must have been very good guardians. Gourry might not be the sharpest nail in the sack, but he knows how to fight. I'm very pleased you've been happy there."

Gorran's hand shifted on his practice sword. "You mean I can keep practicing with him?"

"Of course you can," Xellos smiled. "If your mother's okay with it."

Lina sighed. "Yeah, okay."

"Thanks!" the boy shouted, smiling broadly.

Xellos raised a finger. "Only one problem: we're going home soon. How will you get to practice?"

Gorran's face fell.

"Oh, kiddo," Lina said, expression softening as she pulled her son into an embrace. "I'm sorry."

"If you can find a way to get to practice and still come home every night, you can see Gourry as often as you like," Xellos said.

Gorran met his eyes and they looked at one another for long moments. "I will," he said softly, voice firm.

"Then do your best," Xellos said, stepping forward and lightly taking Lina's wrist. "Shall we, my love?"

"Yes," she replied. "Have fun at practice," she told their son, who scampered off.

They walked for a moment in silence. "I really would like to go home soon. It has been far too long," he murmured.

"It's been years," she said. "It has felt longer, without you and the kids."

"Any moment without you is an eternity," he replied, squeezing her hand as they took another turn around the garden.

A week later he felt ready to travel, and so they gathered their things and said their farewells to the royal family. Kerra and Gorran were absent, training at Gourry's. Xellos thought it would be fine to pick them up on the way out of town, and the semi-remote manor house would be a better place for the dragons to take off from. Lina hugged her friends and Xellos did as well, thoroughly enjoying Zelgadis' embarrassment as he embraced him. Alfred looked close to tears as he hugged Lecia, his arms squeezing her tight. She looked extremely uncomfortable and patted his back awkwardly, pointedly ignoring Val's glare. "Thanks for everything, and come visit us soon!" Lina said, bringing up the rear.

"The last time we did that we were attacked," Zel replied with a smile.

"Of course we'll come visit! We'll do it as soon as we can get away!" Amelia corrected, and before long the Inverse family was winding through the streets of Seyruun.

They were at Gourry's manor not too terribly long after, and Xellos was glad for the brief rest. Lina didn't want to set foot on the grounds at first, but with enough cajoling from Xellos, Filia, and Lecia they managed to convince her. They knocked at the door and Sylphiel answered, tears coming to her eyes as she saw her old friends. There was more embracing and they were lead out to the practice grounds.

Xellos watched Gorran lunge and parry against the larger man, impressed with his son's skill. He paused a moment, taking in the sight, and then Lecia called out to her brother. Gorran nodded but didn't turn in their direction, instead taking advantage when Gourry stopped in mid-motion, mouth hanging open. Gorran whacked his teacher soundly on the wrist, and the swordsman howled and dropped his weapon. "Sorry!" Gorran yelled, quickly picking up the fallen pracitice sword.

"Hello," Xellos said, strolling down to the practice yard. "It has been a very long time."

Gourry straightened and looked down at the other man, eyes wary. "Yeah. Years."

Xellos took a deep breath and looked around. "Things seem much improved."

"I suppose they are."

"I want to thank you for caring for my son in my absence," Xellos said, offering his hand. "You've done a fantastic job teaching him. He truly loves the art of the sword."

Gourry managed a small smile but didn't take Xellos' hand. "He's a talented kid. I'm lucky to be his teacher."

Xellos didn't lower his hand. "He's lucky to have such a teacher."

"Are you sure?" Gourry asked, eyebrow raised.

"Absolutely," he replied. "We're on our way home, but I told him that if he could find a way to visit you and practice that he was welcome to do it."

Gourry clasped Xellos' hand and shook it heartily. "Well, then, welcome!"

Xellos smiled and looked at Lina. Her face was tight with emotion, and she did not look happy. Still, he gestured her near and she came. "Well, beloved?"

Gourry looked at her, bashful. "Hey, I'm really sorry about what happened all those years ago. It made me think, though, about how I would feel if I lost Sylphiel, and I just about broke my own heart. I am so sorry that I scared you like that." He glanced around, then leaned in conspiratorially. "And I really do love her, Lina. I love her with all my heart. She's been wonderful to me, and our daughter is growing up into a fine girl. I'd be really happy if you and I could be friends again, though."

Lina sighed. "I loved you, Gourry, and you ruined that. You ruined the pleasant memories I had of our love, of our friendship. Something like that isn't repaired with a handshake."

Gourry looked at her for long moments, his blue eyes calm and as clear as the pristine sky above. "I love your son, Lina. He's a great kid. You and Xellos did a good job. I'd like to put the bad stuff behind us, and I'm willing to work for it."

She eyed him back, her ruby gaze flickering. Xellos could feel the turmoil of her heart through the rings. She wanted his friendship back, but she didn't want complications. That was something he could understand. "We'll see, then," she said.

"That's good enough for me," Gourry said with a gentle smile and extended his hand. Lina took it and the large man squeezed it once before letting it go. He turned around, watching Kerra and Gorran getting in a few more practice routines, then waved at them to stop.

"Is it time?" Gorran asked.

"Yeah," Gourry replied, kneeling and embracing the boy. "You come back anytime, okay?"

"Okay," Gorran mumbled into Gourry's shoulder. "I'll come back, I promise."

Gourry stood and patted the boy on the back. "I'll miss you, too," Kerra said, hugging Gorran as well. Gorran nodded vigorously, pecked her on the cheek, and trotted over to his parents.

"Let's go," he croaked, amethyst eyes full of moisture.

"We have other adventures, Gorran," Lecia said, putting a hand on his arm. "Let's go find them."

"Yeah," he said, and followed her to the field where the dragons were waiting to take them home.