As promised, notes follow at the end. Final chapter, and it all comes together quite nicely. Enjoy.

Over the next few days, he kept an eye on the girl, caring for her and making her feel like she belonged. He wasn't sure if it was making any difference, but the girl hadn't run away yet. He figured that was a sign that she was comfortable around him. In the days that had passed, he'd made sure she'd gotten new clothing and he'd cleaned up her blanket for her as well. It was something she wasn't going to let go of. Still, he hadn't learned her name just yet.

Tempus Spatium seemed to be telling him that this girl was someone special. He couldn't help but enjoy her company, even if it was mostly one-sided. She didn't speak much, except to ask for more food or to answer one of his questions tersely. He could tell that she was still scared and leery at times. He did his best to show her that someone could care for her without trying to hurt her. When she would give him a smile, her face would light up, and he could even see the small dimple on the right side of her face.

He was always curious about her name. One day they were sitting at the dinner table, eating another silent meal. He looked over at her, munching on a piece of corn. Pieces were all over her face and he couldn't help but smile. He tried to figure out how best to ask her, but it seemed best to be straightforward with her. Perhaps she would trust him enough now to tell him.

"Tell me… do you have a name?"

She paused in her chewing and looked up at him. She nodded and went back to eating her corn. She didn't make any move to offer her name to him.

"What is your name?" he asked gently, trying again.

She looked up at this man who had taken her in. She'd stayed with him because he'd been nice to her. He'd given her food and she'd learned about taking baths. She even had new clothes because he had bought them for her. They felt much better than the other ones she had worn. Her eyes drifted to the floor next to her chair where her blanket rested. It was cleaned up too, and was very soft.

"My name…" she began. She hadn't spoken her name in a long time. Every time she did, she ended up hurting or hearing laughter. She didn't think her name was very funny, but others did. Maybe he wouldn't laugh at her. He'd been really nice to her so far. No one had done all those things for her in a long time. "… is Aaeru." She waited for the laughter, but it never came. She looked up at this man, who only smiled at her.

"Aaeru… that's a pretty name for a girl like you." He offered her surprised face a smile. The name seemed familiar to him and all at once he realized why. It was a name he'd heard spoken in the temples he'd visited. It was a name that held a holy meaning and she had been blessed with it. He took it as a sign. This child was meant to be in his life. He was certain that Tempus Spatium had deemed it to be so.

"It's not funny?" She looked up at him curiously, her corn forgotten.

"Why would it be funny? It's your name." He was surprised that she'd asked him a question. This was more than he'd heard her talk since the day he'd first met her. The question also concerned him.

"Everybody laughs at my name. No one likes my name." She spoke softly, looking down at her lap. Memories of reactions floated to the top of her mind, the reasons why she never spoke her name until he asked. However, he wasn't laughing at her. He wasn't making fun of her name, or telling her that she didn't deserve such a name.

"Aaeru."

She had never heard someone speak her name like that. He was nice. The thought repeated over and over in her head and she looked up at him.

"Aaeru, others made fun of your name?" He only got a nod in reply. "I won't make fun of your name. I like your name." She nodded again.

"Do you have a name?"

"I do have a name, but you shouldn't call me by it. Children don't call adults by their names."

"What do I call you then? You look like an old man."

He chuckled and thought about it. He was getting up there in years, and she had easily noticed. He'd never had any sort of endearment attached to him and perhaps it would be nice. It was strange to have her call him "father." He felt that he was too old to be considered that. No, it would never do.

"Grandpa. You can call me grandpa if you like."

"Okay."

The dinner still ended quietly, but progress had been made. He knew her name and a bit of the history behind it, at least, as much as she could tell him from her perspective. It was enough. Her actions had said more than her words.

The day came when it was time for him to return home. He couldn't stay any longer, and knew it was almost time for the planting season. It would have been easy to pack up his bags and head across the border once more, but now there was the question of Aaeru. He didn't want to leave her behind to live on the streets once more, yet, he also didn't want to force her to go with him. That wouldn't do any good. He decided that he would tell her that night before bed. It was to be his last night in the country. He simply hadn't had the heart to tell this little girl that he had to go home. Part of him feared hearing that she wouldn't want to return with him either.

That night she sat in bed holding tight to her blanket. He had pulled out the music box, the one thing she enjoyed hearing before bed. It was a soothing lullaby for her, and often she would fall asleep quickly. However, he didn't open it right away. "Aaeru, I'd like to tell you something."

She looked up at him, and saw the look on his face. It wasn't a good look. She wondered what he would tell her, but she didn't think it could be good news. She looked down at her blanket. Maybe he was going to put her on the streets again. She would have to live on her own again. No more meals where her belly was full. No more baths. No more clean clothes. "Okay…" she mumbled.

"Aaeru, I have to go back home. I can't stay here any longer. You see, I live on a farm and I plant crops for a living. It's almost time to plant again, and I need to get ready for it." He watched for reactions from the girl, but she wouldn't even look at him. He saw her hands fiddling with the fabric of her blanket. "I have enjoyed the time we spent together, but—"

"You don't want me anymore, right? I'm gonna have to go live on the street again." She interrupted him, starting to cry. It had been too good to be true. She wasn't wanted anymore. No one wanted her.

He was startled by her reaction and remark. "Aaeru, no. No, I'm not going to make you do that if you don't want to. I wanted to ask if you wanted to come live with me."

"L-live with you?" She sniffled, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her nightgown.

"Yes, Aaeru. I want you to come live with me, if you want to. You wouldn't have to live on the streets anymore. You'd have food and clothing. Nothing would change."

"Really?"

He smiled. "Of course. It's up to you. If you want to come with me, you can."

She couldn't believe what he was offering her. She wouldn't have to live on the streets anymore. No cold nights. No strangers coming after her. Food. She cried harder. No one had offered that to her. They had never wanted her. But this man… he wanted her. She leapt forward and threw her small arms about his neck. She sobbed into his shirt, too happy for words.

He held her close, surprised at her reaction. He took it as her way of saying yes. She couldn't seem to stop crying, and soon cried herself to sleep. He laid her gently on the bed and covered her with her favorite blanket. He would prepare his travel bags and make sure she would have everything she wanted.

The first day they crossed the border into his home country, he looked at the girl who held his hand with one head and her blanket with the other. "Aaeru, this will be your home. This is where you'll grow up." He smiled at her.

"No more streets?" She still was unsure about that part.

"Never. No more streets." He reached down and hoisted the girl onto his shoulders. "Look up, Aaeru. Do you see the sky?"

"Uh huh."

"If you always look to the sky, you'll find you can do whatever you want. It doesn't matter, as long as you have a dream."

Aaeru peered at the clear blue sky. She saw something fly quickly across. "What was that, grandpa? Bird?"

He chuckled. "No, Aaeru. That was a Simoun. Our priestesses fly them and pray to Tempus Spatium."

It was all very confusing to her. She didn't know what Tempus Spatium was or what a priestess was, but she wanted to fly like that. It would mean she could be in the sky too. "Oooh…"

"Let's continue. We want to be home before nightfall. Perhaps I can show you around my farm." He put her back on the ground and took her hand again. The last leg of the journey would involve taking the helical train to the village nearest his farm. He was uncertain of what the schedule would be like, but hoped that it wouldn't be too hard to catch a train before evening.

"Home…" Aaeru let the words roll over her tongue. She wasn't familiar with the word, but he had explained to her that home is where you are comfortable, where you belong. Home is you are happy. She had been happy with him. To her, that was home.

Wide-eyed, she observed all the people on the crowded helical train car. He had told her it would be a few hours before their stop and that it was best if she tried to sleep. She was too excited to sleep. There was too much to see here. All the people in their brightly colored clothes. She looked down at her own clothes, which had been a present before they'd left the village. She'd gotten to pick it out herself- A bright orange shirt with a khaki skirt and new sandals with a red strap. Her hair had been done in pigtails and she enjoyed giggling at herself in the mirror. She wasn't used to seeing her hair done up.

He smiled as he watched the girl next to him. He had tried to sleep himself, but it had been pointless. Already Aaeru had tried to get out of her seat and run down the aisle every time she saw something interesting. She suddenly seemed full of energy and life, the way a child should be. Her eyes were no longer dull, but bright once more. They reflected the happiness she exerted on the outside. He had given her a new chance at life and she had eagerly taken it after a slow start.

As he had hoped, they had arrived home before nightfall, by mid-evening. Aaeru had finally fallen asleep just before the train had pulled into the station and now slept soundly on his shoulder. It made carrying his heavy travel bag more difficult, but he managed. He walked up the path that lead to his house and nudged Aaeru awake.

"Aaeru, look. This is going to be your home," he whispered softly to her. She looked disoriented for a few moments and then laid her head back on his shoulder.

"You live here?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, I live here and now, you do too. This is the place I told you about."

"It's big."

"Perfect for a growing girl like yourself. Room to run and play." He gestured off into the distance. "And over there is my field. You can help me plant crops for the new season."

"Can we play, grandpa?"

"Well, let's get things put away first. It's getting late." He offered her a reassuring smile.

"Let's play now." She tugged at his pant leg, looking up at him with a sad face. He looked at her, and couldn't say no.

"All right. What do you want to play?"

"Tag."

"Tag? I'm not sure if I can run—" He had wanted to say "for very long", but she easily cut him off.

"Tag. I like that game. I've never played it before, but I watched other girls play. They have fun. You can be it and try to catch me."

He nodded and watched as she let go of his pants. She took a few steps away and then looked up at him. "Ready?" he asked.

Without another word, Aaeru took off, dashing across the yard. He wasn't surprised by her speed; he'd seen that put to good use before. He knew now she could keep her endurance up with food and drink in her stomach. He began to give chase, going much slower than he had when chasing her in the streets. He wanted her to feel as though she had the advantage over him. Her giggles and squeals drifted on the wind as he got closer and then would back off. Eventually he scooped her into his arms and she giggled.

"You're not supposed to pick me up to tag me, grandpa!"

"I did! What are you going to do?" He laughed as she squirmed and wiggled in his arms, limbs flailing. He put her down.

"I'm gonna catch you!" she cried out.

He took off running as she gave chase. Again, he let her get close and then would speed away, keeping the game interesting to her. He eventually felt himself growing tired and slowed down so that she might tag him. She looked up at him, a large grin plastered on her face and a bit of fire in her eyes. So this was the child she really was. Life was going to be interesting having her around.

"All right. Time to unpack and then see about dinner. Come on, Aaeru."

Together, the two of them crossed the threshold into their home. Aaeru would find that the older man was true to his promises and had never lied to her. She had a home and always a meal on the table. She was never to want for these things again. There were still nights when she would awake in terror over a dream or forget where she was, but he was always there to comfort her on those nights, the music box not far behind. She would grow up to learn the life of a farmer and learn the stories of his past, the ones that she would carry with her long after his passing. His dreams and goals would become her own, for she longed to see what was out there. Most of all, he gave her her passion for flight, flying, and the sky.

Author's Notes

Well, as I've said the entire time, this story was based me being inspired by Within the Tangled Webs. I'm glad I was able to do an alternate version of Aaeru's background, and I've said before that it fits better into canon than my other one because I haven't delved that far into it. Now, I can be specific.

- If you read closely, you'll have discovered that Aaeru was originally a citizen of Plumbum. I won't give away the clues, but they're easy to pick up on.

- Aaeru has no idea why her name provokes the reactions that it does. It's not stated, but she lost her parents at a young age. She was taken in by someone that was family (hence not really wanting another kid) and often had her name laughed at or had anger tossed in her direction. I think this ties in well since in episode 8 she has no idea why Angulas will not say her name. It also helps explain why someone who lives in Simulacrum would have a name of Plumbish origin.

- Some of you questioned the tag bit in her dream the first time around. Now you see why she dreamed of it. She'd seen it played, but never gotten to play it before. She never was allowed to join in.

- Anyone else amused by Grandpa's wanting to travel in his golden years? He got a kid out of it. I chose to use him in his 70's and had his death based around the time that it occurred in my Life and Times series, which Aaeru was 13. We have no canon data on that, so I just decided that I would use that fic for reference.

I think that's everything but if you have any other questions, let me know in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them!