Chapter 6

The next morning…

Alley did her rounds as usual. She checked and ensured the night heroes had filled their reports, then the computers to ensure they were up and running. Lastly, she checked on Bad. She didn't think much to it, after all. Metal Bat will take time to heal up, he shouldn't and wouldn't be up and around the day after a mind transplant. Yet as she walked into his room, Alley froze.

"Gone?" she whispered.

She tried to search for him telepathically, but couldn't get a hold of him. "Bad…" Rushing out of the room, she went to the security footage. She went over everything since they moved him to his own room for recovery, yet as she watched on, it was around 2am when she saw it. "Wait a minute…" they entered, and left… Alley however shook her head as she rushed out of the room.

She found her brother in the cafeteria, apparently looking a little worn out from the day before. "PAC!" she shouted.

"Jeeze, I am not deaf sis!" he protested. He continued to eat his meal when Alley confronted him.

"What did you do with Bad?!" she demanded.

"Huh?" he asked in a confused tone. "What do you mean?"

"Bad is gone from his room, I can't get a hold of him telepathically. I checked the security camera and you went into his room at 2am this morning. Only you!" she stated. "Where's Bad!"

He appeared just as confused as she was. "I didn't go into his room!" he protested. But then paused for a moment. "Did I?"

"Stand up," she ordered.

Pac was still confused to the request, but slowly did, she took one look at him and sighed. "Oh God, you took him in…"

"Wait… WHAT!" he demanded, peering down at himself, Pac realized he was larger than the day before. He thought it was odd but assumed it was his body padding itself out to ensure Zenko's comfort. "Wait, you think I got Bad… here?" he demanded and pointed to his stomach.

"Just check for me, somehow!" she pleaded.

But there was no need to check.

Pac's stomach suddenly shifted and moved. He looked uncomfortable until it all came to settle once more. He sighed aloud and said. "No, he's in there… I just felt someone wrap their arms around Zenko…" he muttered.

Alley was relieved, yet at the same time confused. Why did he do this?

Before she could ask such a thing, Pac's hands caressed his stomach. "She's a lot happier…" he said offhandedly, "Zenko is a lot more settled now… Bad… Bad's recovering…"

"Are you going to keep him with her?" she asked.

"I… guess so. I mean… he's making her feel safe, she kept asking about him and was rather unsettled, but now… the two, I think are feeling better… Sis… I'll look after him."

She wasn't going to argue, in fact she was going to ask Pac to do just that for her. No doubt if she tried to take Bad away, he would keep doing it. Also, with him connected to her brother, they can keep a much closer eye on him. She gave her blessing and agreed. Pac on the other hand sighed aloud. "Great, I'm eating for four!"

She giggled. "Oh come on it won't be that bad, remember. Amai had to eat for seven!" she said.

#

Chuck marveled at it all.

He kept back and watched on as his family was working hard as heroes. It made his heart feel good to see his daughter happy, the family alive and well, yet there was something about Garou he couldn't quite wrap his head around.

The boy was plenty talented, that shows up in his kids more often than not, yet he keeps going over his timeline and still wonders.

"How the hell did you find my baby girl?" he asked himself.

It was as if it were fate that brought them together. That or pure dumb ass luck! But time and time again, he went over their meeting, the courtship and then, eventual commitment to each other. He has never wavered from her side, he has always been determined to protect her and the family at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing himself to do it. He has seen events time and time again where the both of them were in great danger, and Garou was doing all he could to protect her.

It made him feel that this kid was the perfect man for her. Yet still, with his past and Melee's how did the two ever cross paths?

He's been trying to get it out of Garou for a while. The boy appears more annoyed by him than willing to talk, but Chuck wanted to know. What did Garou see in Melee that made him fall for her?

He waited until the mid morning when he saw him.

Garou wondered it as he spoke with Alley, the two spoke briefly before Chuck made his move. "There ya are!"

He got an eye roll from the kid. "Look, I don't know if you got an issue with me or something, but why the hell do you keep coming to me!" Garou demanded of him. "You're upset that I'm doing your daughter?"

"Quite the opposite actually, and enough with the tough talk. I gotta know… how did you fall for her?"

This took him aback. "Wait, what?"

"Ya heard me the first time. I've always wanted my little girl to marry a strong man, someone who I could trust to protect her. Had that Amai ass come by and asked for her hand in marriage, I would have beaten the snot out of him!" Chuck decreed. "But you… you… have me stumped… I've seen your past… I'm aware of what ya did… at the same time… I wouldn't have refused you if you had asked for her hand."

Once more, the human monster appeared rather stunned, confused and yet he blushed. "She's someone special…" he muttered.

"But how did you two fall in love? That's what I wanna know."

Garou's tense state relaxed a little, he took a deep breath and then said. "Well… maybe this is better to talk over a drink?"

Chuck slapped him in the back rather hard. "Now ya talkin'!" he laughed. "Led the way, I wanna hear all about this. Don't leave anything out!"