A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.
WARNING: WAFF, LEMON CONTENT.
Epilogue
It had been five years since Heat's death. Argilla ran through their house and picked up a toy, "Heat! What did I tell you about leaving your toys?"
A boy with bright red hair pouted, "But mom! Xion did that! I swear!"
Argilla had had enough, "That's quite enough Heat. Don't go blaming your sister for things that you've done."
"But mom!"
"No buts! Don't make me tell your father!" she growled. The boy shrugged his shoulders in defeat.
"Sorry mom."
Argilla nodded and left her son. She then went into her daughter's room, "Xion? Are you here?"
"Mommy!" The girl with silver hair answered cheerfully.
"Time for your vitamins. Come on."
xxxxx
Argilla stood by the balcony that evening. The world had finally achieved peace; well, at least for now. Now, people, men, women and children alike could sleep in their beds without being afraid of tomorrow coming. Now, tomorrow would be something they could look forward too. She sighed; five years had been a long time.
She wished with all her heart that Heat was still alive. He could have seen his handsome son. With his bright eyes, hard jaw and cute button nose, he really did look like his father. On the other side of the fence, Heat had inherited his mother's pink eyes. Boys at the training facilities would often tease him about it and call him "girlie". Little Heat never really bothered much about it however, and without resorting to verbal warfare, he had managed to eliminate all teasing about his pink eyes with simple and more effective means; the effectiveness of his fist.
Argilla had been called in by numerous instructors due to Heat's "destructive nature" but she knew that they were mistaken about her son. Like his real father before him, little Heat had a problem expressing his feelings. And due to the fact that the other children were teasing him of his pink eyes, warranted that they suffer for it. And suffer they did. Argilla would never condone such behavior but a look into her child's eyes and she would be forced to reduce her sentence from "execution" to "reprimand". Heat always had that effect on her anyway.
The guys-Gale, Cielo and Serph had been there for her during her pregnancy. And when Heat had been born, they had all been good uncles to him. She remembered how she almost slapped Cielo when he yelped in surprise as he saw little Heat. Little Heat really did look like his father. His facial expression was an exact duplicate as well.
Flashback
"Ack! Wat is dat thing?" he pointed accusingly at the little bundle in Argilla's arms.
Argilla glowered at him and slapped his hand away, "Hey! This happens to be little Heat!" she growled at him.
The three males within the room sweat-dropped. Gale said nothing but just leaned forward, inspecting the infant. Argilla was unnerved by his actions and drew little Heat away from his uncle's wandering eyes.
"Gale? What are you doing?" she asked, suspicious.
Gale looked back to Argilla from little Heat, "Just looking at my new nephew. So…it's little Heat huh? I'm sure Heat would be proud." he stated, looking directly into her eyes. Argilla, at the sound of her lost love's name smiled ruefully, "Yeah…I know he would be…"
Cielo felt the atmosphere change and so, he piped in cheerfully, "Wow…I never thought dat Gale would be like dis ja? Him, an uncle? Dis has got to be a weird turnout for him. I just hope dat he won't bore little Heat in de future wid all his "I do not comprehend" stuff ja?"
Serph and Argilla laughed while Gale looked at Cielo, confused, "Do I…really sound like that?"
Here, guffaws of laughter were heard.
"But seriously Argilla," Cielo continued, "you should teach little Heat some manners early on okay? We don't want him to become a village barbarian ja?"
Argilla pouted, "Hey! You're hurting his feelings!"
The three men looked at the infant and saw his father's infamous death-glare. They all sweat-dropped. Well, he really was his father's son.
Serph stepped forward and looked disapprovingly at Cielo, "That wasn't very nice Cielo, after all, you're the village idiot. Little Heat should focus on his studies as well, as we wouldn't want him to turn out as another village idiot now would we?"
Here, Gale chuckled, "I agree with Serph."
When all the laughter had died down, Serph looked at Argilla and took steps near her infirmary bed, "May I hold him?"
Argilla smiled, "Sure."
Serph gently took the baby from her arms and looked intently in his pink eyes. Argilla smiled at that moment, as she looked at Serph. Serph…He held the baby as if he were his own. Argilla had looked intently at him…looking how carefully he carried the child to his chest…how he rocked him gently to sleep.
Little Heat did not protest either. It was as if he instantly made a silent bond with his "uncle" Serph. Serph was smiling…It was as if there was no one in the room, except for little Heat and he. Argilla felt tears flooding her eyes…It was as if…her family was whole again.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Gale, "We're here for you Argilla. All will be well."
"Ya! Don't worry so much! We'd be teachin' little Heat de ways of the Embryon ja?" Cielo said cheerfully.
Serph looked up from little Heat to Cielo and sweat-dropped. Gale merely shook his head and touched his forehead, "Well…I wouldn't count on Cielo that much Argilla…Heat may grow up with that accent and that hair if you're not careful." Gale said, looking at Cielo up and down as he spoke the last phrase.
"Ey! Dat's not fair ja? I wouldn't want little Heat to turn into a human ice cube either man!" Cielo interjected.
Serph sighed, "That's enough you two. You'll wake him." he said, pointing to little Heat, who had fallen asleep in his arms. The two in question immediately fell into silence and looked at both Serph and Argilla apologetically.
Argilla bit her lip, stifling a laugh. She loved them all. They were her family now. She mouthed a thank you to Serph and turned her gaze to Gale.
"I'll remember that Gale." she said, forgetting her tears for the moment.
"Ey!" Cielo whispered, "Wat about me ja?" he asked, feigning hurt that she had forgotten about him.
She rolled her eyes, "I won't forget about that too Cielo." she said, lowering her voice. Serph walked back to her and handed her the infant. Argilla took him in her arms gently and smiled gratefully at Serph.
Gale and Cielo only looked on as emotions poured from the two. They hadn't missed the loving glances that they had for each other. They may not say it or do anything about it for now, but they knew that Serph and Argilla would…someday.
They had the urge to leave right then and there, knowing that they were ruining a moment. Gale grabbed Cielo by the collar and silently exited the room.
Argilla had been so transfixed on Serph and little Heat that she hardly noticed her two teammates leave the room.
It was just her and her prince.
"Thank you Serph…" she said, whispering.
"For what?"
"For being here…for me…for him…" she said, looking down on her son.
"I'll always be here for the two of you Argilla…I'll protect you."
She smiled. He did as well and leaned down, kissing her forehead.
"Don't ever forget that." he said.
"I won't."
End Flashback
She and Serph had gone especially close during that time. She knew this; she knew that he still loved her. He had offered her his heart…but she declined saying that it was still too soon. He understood and told her that he would wait…even it if took forever, until she could learn to love again.
Little did he know that she did still harbor feelings for him. She never did lose them. She just…let them be. Back then, Heat was her world; but now…he was gone. The year that she finally accepted his offer, right before that, she remembered Heat appearing to her in a dream. He had told her that she was free…and that she should do what was best for their son.
She had been overjoyed to know that he had seen their son. He was their pride and joy. What had surprised her though, was that he told her that she was "free"…
What did that mean? That night, she didn't understand. But, when the sun rose, she understood. The atma mark that he had branded her with long ago had vanished. No trace of it was left on her skin.
She clutched her chest at the memory.
She and Serph were mated soon after. That was two years after little Heat was born. Serph was a wonderful father to little Heat. He had treated him as his own son. Xion was born nine months later. A miniature of Serph; complete with silver hair and the "puppy dog" eyes that the Embryon leader was known for. Xion may have inherited her father's hair and his charisma, but she had inherited her mother's feistiness and her pink eyes. Nothing could make Argilla happier.
Gale and Angel had their little bundle of joy as well. A daughter had also been born to them. Angel, who had always been regarded as cold, surprised all those around her, even Gale (to some extent) as to how motherly she was when she was pregnant and when her daughter had been born. She had been very protective and very loving towards her daughter and Gale couldn't be any prouder. When Cielo had asked them what they were to name the little lady, both just grinned and said at the same time, "Sera."
Yes, that was her name. Little Sera. Like her mother, she had come to possess shiny ebony hair. She had inherited the shape of Gale's eyes but the color had been inherited from Angel; a steely silver.
She laughed again when she thought of little Sera and little Heat. They had been born on the same year, with Heat preceding her by a few months. Little Heat did not like girls; and it was a fact. He would often take Sera's toys and hide them…or sometimes, break them. Whatever suited his mood. Little Sera would cry and little Xion would always comfort her. Argilla beamed at that; she probably got the caring and nurturing nature from herself.
Her thoughts then drifted to the man she loved…the man she had sworn to spend the rest of her life with. The man she had lost. Up until now, she still had mixed feelings for him. Her love for Heat was something that even she cannot fathom. It was always there in her heart; if someone were to ask her whether or not she still loved Heat, she wouldn't hesitate to say yes. But, that did not mean that she loved Serph any less. On the contrary, she loved Serph with every fiber of her being.
But…in the case of Heat…well, even Argilla had found it difficult to express in words…whatever she felt for him.
"Thank you…Heat…" she whispered into the winds, "You are…a part of me…that I can't let go…"
That was the best way to describe it. That was the only way to describe it. She breathed heavily and let the breeze pass through her, letting her hair flutter about it. She truly felt happy.
She suddenly stiffened and the relaxed as she felt two warm arms surround her waist, "Hey…"
"Hi…how was Lupa?"
"He's fine."
"Aren't you glad that you listened to me?" she teased.
Serph looked at her, confused, "What do you mean?"
"I told you that betrayal isn't the answer…" she trailed off.
Serph smiled; he understood. She was the one who rejected the idea of the Embryon betraying the Wolves. Granted, it was a sound plan, but it was just plain unethical. And that, Argilla cannot allow. They were supposed to be proud warriors too.
Now, the known Junkland had been shared. Of course, there were now multiple expeditions being made to uncover the mysteries of their world as well as expansion projects. Many new recruits were also enlisted as many more stranded families and groups were found. The world in which they had built through the hands of their warriors was indeed a promising one. It was all for their children. It was so that they could live a world where they could pursue happiness.
It was as if the world had opened its doors to its inhabitants. Their people, now united, now had the whole world to discover.
"I always listen to you…" he said innocently.
She snorted, "Whatever."
xxxxx
Serph's lips attacked hers with outmost urgency. He had been craving for her since the day he had left for Vishudha. That was a week ago. She responded just as eagerly and pulled him closer to her. Their tongues danced and caressed one another. Argilla moaned. She was mistaken. Long ago, she had thought that she would not live happily ever after. After all, she had chosen the dragon over her prince. But, another trick of fate changed her life. And now, she was reunited with her prince.
Soon, Serph was within her, moving fluidly. Argilla hung onto him for dear life. His thrusts were powerful and if it weren't for his hands pinning her arms, and his weight weighing her down, she would have scaled the wall, starting from the headboard. She turned her face, gasping for air. She looked up to see her partner staring intently into her eyes, his silver orbs shining with passion.
His hand began to wander down her body and she arched her back, thrusting her hips towards her mate. She writhed beneath him, imbedding her nails onto his back. Serph nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck as he thrust wildly within her. He could still remember, all those years ago, as he stood there, envying his rival. He had her attention and her love back then. While he was forced to stand aside.
But now…she was here, with him. She had become his mate…his better half. Their love, that had withstood the tests of time, had always been…and will always be there. Their union had borne them a daughter; a daughter they would always love and cherish.
Serph grunted as he came. Argilla came soon after; muffling a scream.
The night had rolled in. The moon shone brightly through the window, illuminating the lovers. Serph looked at his mate; she had fallen asleep. He pulled her closer and embraced her while his other hand put the blanket around their sweaty and naked bodies. He nuzzled his face in her hair and inhaled deeply. She had always had that particular smell about her. Quite frankly, he had never been able to distinguish what it was.
Until now.
One of their expeditions had led them to a barren wasteland much like their nation, with a peculiar formation of flora and fauna. The tree was bare, without any leaves but had had several flowers hanging on it. They were colored like her hair and her eyes. Pink.
His men had brought him a sample and as soon as he took possession of the flowers, he realized that it had smelled like his mate. What was it called again? Ah, yes, Cherry Blossoms. His little cherry blossom. He rubbed her back up and down as he thought about it. It had been really strange as to how a human being could posses the fragrance of the flower as exotic as that…
But then…Gale would say that it wasn't the fragrance of the cherry blossoms that he smelled on Argilla, rather, her pheromones. The pheromones had attacked Serph's olfactory nerves as well as his central nervous system, giving him a sort of olfactory hallucination; given by the suggestibility of the cherry blossoms that he now held in his hands.
Serph shook his head; well, that was one story anyway. And if he believed that and started to think like Gale, Serph would wager that he'd grow older rather quickly for his age. The thought made him shiver. He was twenty-seven this year and was pretty much enjoying his youth, basking in it.
He looked at his sleeping mate once more and saw her sleep peacefully, a smile dancing on her lips.
He suppressed the temptation and the strong urge to nudge her awake for another session of passion and settled instead for a chaste kiss on her forehead. Soon, he too closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him.
xxxxx
FIN