Sirus nearly jumped out of his skin when something brushed his hand. he opened his eyes, wiped at them with his sleeve, and got the most welcome surprise of his life. His lovers fingers were brushing his lightly. He looked down at him, seen he was somehow awake, and could barely speak.

"Aran..." he managed at last, crying in relief "you're ok?!"

Cortes managed a very weak smile, and managed to clasp the others hand in his. "H..hey.." he managed at last.

Marcus gaped, how was this possible, it had hit dead on!!

Sirus blinked, then pulled the arrow out. It had struck right where the top pocket of Cortes uniform was. And had met resistance. He pulled a battered object from the torn pocket. It was the locket he'd dropped when he'd first been abducted. The bolt arrow had punched a hole rihgt thru it, leaving only a minor cut on his lovers body.

"You kept this.." he smiled. Cortes laughed softly

"i..wanted to bring it back..to you..." he said weakly. "i didn't mean for it to get wrecked-"

Sirus cut him off, shaking his head and placing a finger on his lover slips, commanding him to shush.

"That doesn't matter Aran, without you it wouldn't be any use. I never want loose YOU." That said he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on the other.

"You had me worried there.." Marcus said at last, relieved beyond belief that Cortes had survived. the shock of impact must've stunned him heavily, hence why there'd been no response for so long. He watched sirus fussing over Cortes, shifting where he sat so he could rest his lovers head on his lap, gently running fingers through his hair.

"We need to find a way out..seeing as those asses have destroyed my ship.." Marcus huffed, pissed off at this. What else could they use..

"There's bound to be something... " Sirus said softly, then noticed something. "Ah, there's something caught in your hair Aran..."

Cortes blinked "probably just shrapnel.."

"Whatever it is, its tangle pretty bad..ah, be careful!" sirus finished as Cortes sat himself up with a wince.

"Pass me that pen knife.." he commanded, and Marcus handed it over, wondering what he wanted it for.

Sirus blinked, what was his lover doing?

Freeing his injured arm again, Cortes grabbed the tangled knot of loose flowing hair just above where the shard was tangled, and closing his eyes, tugged the knife through it. His hair fanned free around his face again, albeit much shorter now. Whereas it had been halfway down his back before, now it came to just past his shoulders by a centimetre or two.

"Uwah, Aran!" sirus fretted. Cortes smiled "don't fuss, it was due a cut anyway.."

"Maybe..." sirus huffed "but i like it long, it looked nice!" he tilted his head to the side.."but it looks cuter now...so i guess I'll let you off.."

Cotes shook his head and laughed, even though it made his chest ache. Sirus could be utterly daft at times. he could be petulant, jealous, and a little illogical, but when he thought about it, he didn't want it any other way..

Marcus watched the way the two acted around each other and smiled. They truly seemed to both adore each other. It wasn't often you seen a relationship with a link that close...

He heard the sounds of a ships engines firing somewhere outside, and swore. more pirates.

"We need to move!" he said to the couple. They nodded, and sirus had just helped Cortes to his feet and they were staggering out from behind the rubble when what was left of the hangar door caved in, and in ran a crowd of people.

Marcus drew his weapon, but in a flash of recognition, Cortes shook his head.

"Don't fire...its the rebels..." his own crew. Through the smoke he seen dahlia with her bow and arrow, Mahad and Lena, along with their mother, and of course, Wayan and Cheng.

Marcus dropped the weapon and stared. It was...

"Mila.." he managed to say at last, taking a few steps forward. The woman in question blinked, focusing through the smoke. When she seen who it was, her heart leapt, and she ran over as fast as she could, flinging her arms around her long-lost husband.

"Marcus.." she said at last, crying in happiness she'd finally seen him again. She hugged him tightly, and felt his arms wrap around her.

"Mila..I've missed you so much..." he looked up at the two others running towards him "Mahad...Lena?"

Mila let go of him "yes, these are our children Marcus...they've grown so much.."

Both kids hugged their father happily, asking a million questions at once.

Dahlia wiped her eyes with her sleeve "that's so sweet..." Wayan and cheng nodded.

Then Cheng noticed the two standing a few feet from the reunited family.

"CORTES!" he yelled, tearing over and hugging his adoptive father tightly. Cortes ruffled his hair and smiled. good to see ya kiddo"

Wayan walked over to them "its a relief you're okay, both of you sir, we were worried sick-" he blinked "uh, captain, what happened to your hair?"

Cortes blinked "huh? oh, i just...felt it needed a trim.."

Wayan blinked, then shook his head "we picked up on the mosquitoes signature, it was by pure luck we picked it up..then this whole flock of birds landed on the ship. Soon as we tried to chase them off, they started making a fuss and flew in this direction. We figure something was up, so we followed them"

--The bird that came with me..he must've done that..amazing.-- Cortes smiled "I've never been so glad to see you guys...i thought we'd be stranded here for ages.."

Wayan laughed, shaking head "well it'd help if you at least left a message before doing a runner.."

Cortes fidgeted "ah, sorry..guess i dunno what got into me...i just couldn't sit there and wait..."

Wayan nodded, catching sirus smiling at Aran like he knew something. He shook his head and laughed "well never mind, you're both OK, you somehow found Marcus Ferrell, so it looks like it worked out OK." he paused then added "but if you run off like that again, sir, with all due respect, I'll kick your ass!"

Cortes sniggered, then burst out laughing. "Alright i get it, i wont leave you guys out of it next time...if in do.." he shrugged "ass-kicking it is!"

"I'm not letting anyone near your ass.." sirus muttered so only Aran could hear him. Poor Cortes just about fell over laughing, a baffled Wayan and Cheng stood there, confused as to what was so funny.

They walked back to the ship, but not before raiding the remains of the pirates base for any spare supplies.

They piled onto the saint nazaire and turned towards home.

Mila sat in the captains meeting room, her family around her, catching up on each others events. Marcus was proud to hear how much his kids had achieved.

"And Cortes said i could be a great rebel leader some day!" Mahad crowed "that'd kick ass!"

Marcus smiled "he's the best you could learn from, he's a great leader himself."

Mahad nodded "he's pretty strict though..."

"Only because you wind him up Mahad!" Lena interrupted. "he just wants to make sure you don't get hurt.."

Mila smiled "its so good to have you all here together, i never thought my wish would come true.." she smiled at her husband "I'm so happy you came back.."

Marcus kissed her and smiled "I've got Cortes to thank for that, if he hadn't crash landed on that block, i never would've known where you were..."

The kids smiled, their mother was so happy, and so were they. They finally had their whole family again..

In Cortes' room, after re-bandaging his injuries, sirus couldn't resist giving his precious a nice long kiss

at last they broke apart, and Cortes nuzzled the others nose gently "I'm sorry i made you worry..." he said softly

Sirus ran his fingers through the captains shorter hair. It looked nice, the way it framed his face just perfectly.

"I should be apologising, it was because of me you nearly died.." he was cut off as Cortes silenced him by kissing him.

"If I'd had to keep living without you, it'd have been a worse fate then death..." he said gently, resting his head on the others shoulder. "i don't want to be without you, EVER!"

Sirus wrapped his arms around him, smiling. "me too Aran, me too.."

Cortes blinked at his lovers wings, noting they hadn't moved at all the whole time "are they not responding?"

"Ah.." sirus sighed "just temporary damage, once i get hold of some tools, i can fix them, nothing to worry about. Anubis thought they'd be busted permanently, shows how much HE knows eh?"

Cortes nodded, but he still felt worried about them. Sirus reassured him it'd be fine and he at last stopped worrying. And they snuggled up close again...

"HEY GUYS!" Cheng came barrelling in, startling the hell out of them.

"Gah, ye trying to give me a heart attack Cheng?!" Cortes squeaked, staring at him. Cheng giggled "sorry...were having a mini-party in the meeting room, you coming?"

Cortes blinked, then shrugged "yeah, why not?"

So the two followed Cheng to where the impromptu party had started. Wayan blinked as he noticed what was attached to the sling Cortes wore. Even though sirus had put a fresh one on, Cortes had insisted on clipping the item to it.

"Sir-isn't that..?"

Cortes smiled "yup, it is..he said it was time he gave it to someone new.."

"Well, he couldn't have picked anyone better.." Wayan said with a impressed nod.

Dahlia spotted it when she came in to relieve Wayan and spent ages asking Cortes about it.

They took it in turns steering the ship, switching frequently so they could come back to the celebration. The left the steering to the vector, who was surprisingly good at it.

Mahad listened to his fathers story about the whole event, amazed by the whole encounter.

"You guys blew up the evil twin too?! that's freaking cool!"

"No wonder the sphere tried to de-commission him.." Lena blinked "he sounds like a maniac..."

Marcus nodded "he WAS. Wanted to destroy his other self, and kill all the rebels." he laughed slightly "i think Cortes would've battered the pirates senseless before allowing them to even launch a ship! When he gets mad, he gets really MAD."

Lena nodded "i know. He picked a fight with di-wan and beat her hands down!"

Marcus stared "seriously?" he whistled "she was a real bitch, thank you Cortes!" he added, the kids giggled.

After a while Cortes said he needed fresh air and he and sirus went up to the balcony that overlooked the front of the ship. Sirus held the other in his arms and they just stood there, enjoying the view, relaxing in each others company after being apart for so long...

"Were almost home, just another while.. Cortes said softly, nuzzling sirus' cheek. The angel smiled and kissed him "i owe you Aran, for coming to find m e.."

Cortes smiled "remember when we first met? You went to all that trouble to get me off the monolith. Well, it was my turn to come for you!"

Sirus brushed a hand along his lovers injured wing, it was healing fast, the bones re-growing quite rapidly, it had already stopped bleeding some time before.."you really are amazing Aran..." he said at last "You've been through so much, but you never give up.."

"why would i? i have people i promised to protect. And i have the person i love to fight for.." Cortes answered easily, and sirus went pink.

"So cute.." the angel said, and it was his lovers turn to turn red. They leant against the railings and watched the clouds drift by. Cortes blinked as he seen a flock of birds go by, no doubt the same lot that had led the nazaire to him..

--Thank you, all of you..-- he smiled as they circled the ship, then flew into the sunset.

His revere was interrupted by a sudden, all-too familiar cramp. He blinked, --oh hell, its earlier then id predicted...i know vector said the mating season times vary, but it isn't supposed to be for another 2 weeks..--

"Aran? What's wrong?" sirus asked, concerned.

Cortes knew his face was red, but he had to tell him.."uh..its the...you know...earlier then expected..."

Sirus blinked, then copped on. His eyes widened, and he laughed "oh dear, talk about timing.."

"Bugger the timing.." Cortes groaned "just do something about it!!"

Sirus raised an eyebrow at the invitation, and scooped his lover up in his arms "anything you want my love" he grinned, carrying him back to their room.

"Where's Cortes, he and sirus have been gone awhile?"

Dahlia shrugged as they sat back in their seats on the flight area "probably tired, Cortes did look a little worn out.."

"yeah, from what I've heard, it was a helluva fight.." Wayan added.

The vector had a feeling he knew just where those two were. He'd noticed the size of the flock of birds, the mix of male and female. He had a distinct feeling Cortes should be entering the same phase soon enough.

Cortes sighed as he snuggled up to his lover some hours later. Wayan had announced over the ships intercom that they'd finally reached puerto angel, and sirus reluctantly suggested the get dressed and get ready.

"At least it wasn't as strong this time.." Cortes said with a sigh. Sirus smiled "mm, my guess is the first occurrence is more difficult because that's the first time its occurred, you have to get used to it.."

"i think i definitely have.." Cortes snickered, and sirus poked him in the head "cheeky." he said with a smile.

Together they sorted out their uniforms and headed for the flight area. The ship docked neatly and they pile d off, to a big welcome from the rest of the rebels. Once again Cheng suggested a big party, and Cortes cheerfully let him. Thankfully, the cramp didn't make an appearance during the party. People were crowding himself and Marcus, asking dozens and dozens of questions. The return of the legendary rebel was cause for much joy, and even Ames came down to see what was going on.

"Hey old man, where'd you come from?" Marcus greeted him. Ames shook his head at the use of language.

"I came back when Cortes and his crew defeated Oslo. Its amazing how much the rebellion had grown since i left.."

"its turned out better then i ever guessed.." Marcus smiled "your son did a pretty sweet job of organising it after you and i both vanished.."

Ames chuckled and nodded, looking over at his adoptive son. "He lost his mother to the sphere, he's been fighting them ever since..his brothers here too.."

"He has a brother?"

"As it happens yes, he worked for the Sphere for a while, but he's living here now.."

As he spoke, Christophe was sneaking up behind his brother. He sacred the hell outta him, and nearly got clobbered for his efforts. He'd been worried sick about Aran, and was glad to see him return with sirus in tow.

Cortes smiled, looking round at the partying rebels. Things were starting to get back to normal..

That night, as he snuggled up in his lovers arms, he considered just how lucky he really was. He had everything he'd always dreamed of, and he was determined to make sure things stayed that way..

And for a few days life was normal, average. Burt eventually the issue he'd been trying to bury so hard was going to be dug up..

My hands are damn hell-ass cramped. CTS here i come XD kidding. Between drawing and typing, my hands ache..

Random Fact: I went shopping today and out of curosity i bought a CD by a group called "Within Temptation". Its really good if ye like nightwish, WT is a good one to try.