Chapter. 24

The sun was setting on the rooftop of the den where Lance and his family bonded. On an outdoors table and benches Lance, Alisa, and Torri were on one side while Leo, Vale and the older Torri were on the other.

"So then we charged in on the sariel, Leo cut up the skirt and Torri impaled it in the back while I shot it in the head with rain bullets." Vale waved his arms about as he told the story.

Leo rested his head on his hand as he watched. "You're missing the part were it throw those lasers at you."

"I was getting to that!" Vale huffed as he lowered his arms. "Now you killed the mood bro."

Lance shook his head as he smiled. "Still, good to see you two learning from my tricks."

"Yeah..." Vale and Leo went silent.

"Something wrong?" Asked Alisa.

"It's just that..." Started Leo. "We wanted to prove our strength to you and dad, but we were taken down without either of you two really trying."

"We should have a decade at least of experience by that point."

"That's what you said too." Said Vale. "But then dad just held out his hand and said 'you want to know how to beat us?' so we trained for... I don't know how long. Learning everything you two had to teach."

Torri tilted her head to her brothers. "What happened?"

"We won, it was the hardest fight of our lives but we won."

"Then mom and dad just smiled to us and dad gave us has god arcs."

"That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

Vale looked away from everyone. "I felt bad about it, it felt like, I don't how to put it in words."

Lance leaned closer and folded his arms on the table. "You feel like you didn't win because you were stronger, it was because you had to be taught how to beat us, right?"

"Yeah. Yeah that's it, that's exactly it!"

"Well, maybe you can look at you time here as a growing experience." Stated Alisa. "Everything you learned can make you stronger." Alisa lifted her arm and wrapped it around Lance's back. "And don't forget the one who give you that strength."

"That's right." Lance raised his own arm and did the same as the Russian and pulled her close. "Those who have nothing to fear are those who has nothing to love." Lance looked down to Alisa, the two gazed at each other.

"If you two are really gonna do it here can you at least wait till the little girl is grown up." Said Vale.

Leo glared at his brother. "But then how will we be born?" Lance and Alisa looked and backed away from each other. "Besides if you were more open about your feelings you might get a girlfriend."

"Like you?"

"At least I have one."

"HA!" Vale stood up and pointed at Leo. "You admit it!"

"I admit nothing!" Leo stood up as well.

"You just said you have one!"

"Would you get off of that!"

"After you admit it!"

"You just said I did!"

"Then you admit you admit!"

Torri raised her fist and struke the twins in the back of their heads. "Knock it off! Both of you!"

"Yes sis." The two hung their heads as the rubbed their sore spots.

Alisa watched the show and let out a breath. "This is our future."

"Not what you want?" Asked Lance.

Alisa shook her head and smiled to Lance. "I don't know what I would've wanted. Though if this is our family, I wouldn't trade this for anything."

Lance smiled lightly as he leaned closer to kiss her. "Me neither. As long as we hold on to each other, we'll beat this trial."

"Mommy!" The younger Torri climbed onto Alisa's lap. "Mommy I'm hungry."

"That won't do at all, will it?" Alisa glanced up to Lance. "Well, 'daddy' time take care of you're little girl."

"I got it. Let's get inside and I'll make dinner."

The twin Gods Eater spun to Lance. "Dad's cooking?!" The two we jumping for joy.

Torri held her hands on her hips. "Boys and their stomachs."

"Lay off sis. Dad died in your time, if you had his cooking you'd be just as hooked." Vale puffed out his chest and followed Lance to that stairs.

"Idiot." Leo threw up his hands and followed as well.

"You coming?" Alisa asked Torri.

The younger Torri grabbed her older self's hand and pulled. "Come on big sis! You'll get a cold if you stay out here!"

The older singularity shrugged her shoulders and she smiled to her younger self. "Okay, okay. Lead on little sis."

The younger Torri grinned widely and pulled the older Torri to the rest of her family.

...

Down in the veteran's hall Raven and Nifa went to Soma's room and knocked on the door. "Soma, are you home?"

"Maybe we shouldn't bother daddy."

The door slide open with Soma in standing in the frame. "Yes?"

"Hello Soma." Raven greeted. "May we come in?"

Soma stood still for a moment then stepped back to let the two in. Raven and Nifa took a seat on a sofa while Soma leaned on a counter. "Was there something you needed to tell me?"

"Yes. Nifa?"

"I..." Nifa was having trouble looking Soma in the eye. "I can't mommy."

Raven gently rubbed Nifa's back. "It's okay."

"Mommy?" Soma raised an eyebrow.

"Nifa, is my daughter."

Soma folded his arms. "And mine."

The two female Gods Eaters were stunned. "You knew?!"

"Nifa using my god arc was a give away." Soma let out sigh. "Though I'm still not sure how to feel about it, I mean, you and me."

"I'm not sure either, but we don't need to rush. We can start now if you'd like. I really do want to know more about you Soma, we're both monsters after all."

"What is a monster but a lost soul?"

"Nifa?"

"It's something daddy told me. I'm sorry."

"Stop that." Soma pushed himself up and stood in front of Nifa. "Don't apologies for everything. Be proud of what and who you are. A friend taught me that."

"Why do you do that anyway?" Asked Raven.

"I don't want to ruin the future. Leo said we have to be very careful not to let anyone know about who we came from."

"But that was lost rather quickly." Raven ruffled Nifa's hair. "Do you think that maybe Soma and I... grow closer is because of you?"

"But then, I wouldn't be born if you two weren't... close. Then I came back in time to make my own birth happen? But then you two had to have grow close without me, right? I'm confused."

"You're not the only one." Soma patted Nifa's head with a rare smile. "Don't think about it too much, what happens, happens."

"Okay daddy." Nifa leaned forward and threw her arms around Soma. "I love you daddy!"

Soma wasn't sure what to do and just placed his hands on Nifa's sides.

Raven covered her mouth to hide a wide smile. "Soma has such a cute side. I wish he didn't hide it, then again it means so must if he can be like this around us."

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