A/N: Hiya guys, I know I've been updating this a lot lately but it's mostly because I just have lots of inspiration for this right now, it'll probably slow down a bit after this chapter. This chapter ties into COTF's epilogue a bit and mainly focuses on Aloys but there's still some Greyche family moments. Also the next three chaoters will focus on Astelle and their familg, so I hope you all enjoy~!

Note: Josslyn, who is briefly mentioned in this chapter, belongs to the lovely /crazyclownthanos on Tumblr

—

Aloys watched as his father walked up to him and wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug. Aloys's body stiffened at the unfamiliar gesture, usually Gauche would pat him on the shoulder or ruffle his hair at the most, and would save the hugs for Maelie.

" I love you so much," Gauche told his son softly as his hug tightened a bit more. " And I'm so proud of you and the man you've become." He added, and suddenly Aloys's eyes widened.

That…was the first time his father had ever told him he was proud of him…and Aloys was left speechless as Gauche pulled away and gave the 16 year old a small smile.

" While your mother and I are away on the mission, I want you to promise to take care of and look out for your sister. Alright?" Gauche asked, and Aloys nodded numbly.

" Aloys. I need to hear you say it. Say that you promise." Gauche said as he placed his hands on his son's shoulders.

" I-I promise."

" Good. Look after her alright? We'll be back in a few days, and try to behave while you're around Finral's brat. That boy tends to accidentally get himself in trouble." Gauche tried to say light-heartedly, but there was this…heaviness in his tone.

Gauche ruffled his son's hair before turning around and walking away. Aloys suddenly felt tears well up in his eyes before falling down his cheeks.

He was sad, angry, happy, and confused all at the same time.

His father finally told him he was proud of him, but he said it right before he and his mother Grey went out on a dangerous mission. Which only meant one thing.

They wouldn't be coming back.

—

Aloys awoke with a start, he gasped for breath as he tried to calm his rapidly beating heart. This wasn't the first time he had had this dream, but everytime he did it just felt so…real. It was as though he had actually lived through that moment, and everytime he woke up he had tears in his eyes.

Aloys quickly shook his head and wiped his eyes, of course that was only a dream, there had been many times where his father had told him that he was proud of him. It just didn't seem like his dad to wait until he was going on a suicide mission to tell Aloys that he was proud of him, but at the same time it really did sound like something his father would do.

" Big brother!" Aloys heard his little sister Maelie say as she knocked on his bedroom door, soon he heard it click and open.

" So you are awake!" She said with a giggle, Aloys sighed but nodded as he turned to face her.

As the girl had gotten older she had grown to look more and more like their mother Grey, except her eyes were brown instead of blue, and she let her once short blue-brown hair grow until it reached past her shoulders.

She wasn't quite as shy as she used to be either, at least not around the Bulls, whenever she was in a new environment or around strangers then she went right back to being as shy as their mother. Which was why she had decided to stay with the Black Bulls instead of going to a different squad like some of the other kids.

" Yeah, why what's going on?" Aloys asked tiredly, and Maelie looked behind her.

" Well-." She started hesitantly before someone quickly ran past her and went towards Aloys.

" Aloys!" Ezio Roulacase, Finral and Vanessa's son, shouted as he ran and jumped onto Aloys.

A shout suddenly rang out and the bed creaked as the pink haired man jumped onto Aloys's bed and held the brown-blue haired man in a tight hug.

" H-Hey! Get off of me! What the hell is going on?" Aloys shouted as he tried to push his best friend off of him, he looked at his little sister before looking at Ezio.

" W-Well-." Maelie started nervously before Ezio cried and held up a letter towards his friend.

" It's Josslyn! Look!" Ezio cried dramatically and Aloys rolled his eyes before taking the letter out of the pink haired boy's hands, he read it over quickly before glaring.

" It says she's coming home today, so why on earth are you crying? And why the hell did you attack me like that?" Aloys growled with anger and irritation lacing his voice, Ezio sniffled dramatically before pointing to his clothes.

" Because I don't have anything nice to wear, and I was hoping you would lend me some clothes." Ezio sniffled and Aloys instantly kicked him off the bed.

" No! Now get out!" Aloys shouted as he grabbed his blanket and threw it over himself, Ezio was not deterred and quickly kneeled by Aloys's bedside.

" Please Aloys! I'm begging you!"

—

" Mama, Papa, Aloys and Ezio are bickering again!" Maelie said as she walked down the hall and towards the common area, her mother and father looked over at her.

" Of course they are, I think it's their favorite pastime." Gauche muttered as he took a sip of his coffee, Grey giggled.

" I think it just shows how close they are, I mean, Luck and Magna bickered all the time." Grey said as she placed a plate full of toast onto the table, Charmy had made a bunch of breakfast earlier in the day since she would be out looking for ingredients all day.

" I think they just like being idiots." Maelie muttered under her breath, causing Gauche to laugh. The young woman walked over to her parents and sat down next to her father.

" Luckily my darling little angel is too sweet and kind to bicker like those two." Gauche gushed as he hugged his daughter close, Grey giggled as Maelie blushed and tried to push her father away.

" Papa," she sighed dramatically. " Please let me go, I'm not little anymore."

" I know, but to me you always will be no matter what." He said as he hugged her tighter.

" I wonder who your father dotes on more, you or your Aunt Marie." She joked light heartedly before they heard a shout down the hall.

" Thanks for the shirt Aloys! I'll be sure to give back when I return!" Ezio shouted as he ran out of the base, with Aloys hot on his heels.

" Hey give that back you bastard!"

Gauche, Grey, and Maelie all looked at each other before they shook their heads and stood up. Gauche quickly ran up and held Aloys back as Ezio ran out the door.

" Let him go, if you want your shirt back in one piece I'd wait until after he returns it." Gauche told his son, the young man scoffed a bit before he shook his head.

" The old man actually has a point for once." He muttered, causing Gauche to glare at him.

" What did you say, brat?"

" You heard me, unless your hearing is starting to get worse as you get older, old man." Aloys said as he pulled his arms out of his fathers hold, he walked out the door and saw Alistar Vangeance standing there with a confused look on his face.

" Alistar."

" Aloys."

The men greeted each other politely before Alistar walked inside the base as Aloys stood outside and looked around the front yard.

" Captain Yami's upstairs." Gauche told Alistar as the young Captain of the Golden Dawn looked around, he nodded in thanks before walking towards the stairs.

Gauche, Maelie, and Grey all followed Aloys outside as Gauche grabbed the back of his son's shirt.

" If you don't stop calling me 'old man' I swear-!" Gauche started but he quickly noticed something else had Aloys's attention and he turned to look and frowned.

Crouching in the bushes was a young woman with purple hair and green eyes, when she noticed Gauche and Aloys looking at her she quickly ducked down in order to hide. But sadly her pointed witches hat still stuck out above the bushes.

" Aloys," Gauche started with a confused tone to his voice as he let his son go. " Who is that, and why is she crouching in the bushes?" He asked as Grey and Maelie came up beside the two, they all turned as Aloys sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

" I…don't know what her name is, I just know she followed Ezio and I from town and anytime I look at her she…does that." Aloys muttered as the purple haired woman had peaked her head out from the bushes but as soon as Aloys looked at her she ducked down again.

" You and Ezio went to town a while ago, how long has she been out here?" Grey asked softly as she glanced at her son, and he sighed again.

" She's been out here for 3 days."

" 3 days?!" Grey, Gauche, and Maelie shouted in unison as they looked at Aloys with wide eyes.

" Yeah…anytime I try to talk to her she hides or runs away," he shook his head. " She's weird."

" Anyway I'm gonna go find Ezio, I'll see you guys later." Aloys said as he walked away from his family, Maelie quickly ran after him.

" Wait for me big brother!" She shouted as she caught up to him. Grey and Gauche watched as the purple haired woman hiding in the bushes slowly followed behind them, while staying hidden of course.

Grey giggled as she walked up to her husband and wrapped her arms around his and rested her head against him. Gauche smiled softly as he moved his arm wrapped it around her waist, pulling her close.

" Do you think there will ever be a time where life isn't chaotic for us?" Grey asked as she giggled again, and Gauche shook his head.

" I doubt it. When has there ever been a time where life as a Black Bull has ever not been chaotic?" He asked and Grey nodded in agreement.

" It looks like that chaos has been passed down to our children too." Grey said, but her husband noticed a nervous tone in her voice and he hugged her just a bit more.

" But they'll be okay, we made it through just fine, and they will too." Gauche told her softly as he kissed the top of her head.

The two had hoped that their children's lives would be full of peace and quiet, but now that looked to be the opposite of what was happening.