Disclaimer: I don't own Gurren Lagann, this story was written purely for entertainment value and no money has or will exchange hands.

Author Note: If there is anyone still reading this then I must first apologise for the lateness of this chapter. The truth is I had no idea where to go with this and it stayed that way until a week or so ago. I bought the shiney blu ray special edition and watched the whole series and the movies within a few days. By the end of it I was brimming with ideas and this is one of the results. There is going to be another chapter after this, though it's only been planned and not yet written. If anyone is still reading then please, please let me know what you think!

Chapter 5

"Boooota!" Mark cheered, watching as the pigmole ran up and around the inside of their cabin. He returned to the floor with a noise of satisfaction and Mark clapped his applause.

Nia smiled at them both, enjoying the view of Koreha Island in the morning sun. The water glittered and shone around them, sending rainbows up into the boat and on the ceiling of the cabin above them. She watched as her son looked up in fascination and when he smiled at her she returned it easily.

Simon was asleep at her side, he'd been out the night before helping Viral with something in the capitol and although neither would say what it was they were up to, Simon promised he would tell Nia in time. Nia hadn't pressed any further, she knew Viral was a private person and it must have taken a lot for him to ask Simon for help.

She hadn't minded staying in their capitol apartment and she'd spent the evening with Dayakka, Kiyoh, Anne and Kiyal. She had no regrets after moving out of the city but she did miss their friends, on balance it was worth it though, it just meant they had to make more of an effort to see the people they loved.

Kiyoh had Dayakka had agreed to work with her on her Flowers Project. Kiyal had offered to help too, said it would be nice to see some more of the world. The project also tied into the Water and Wells initiative to find sources of water in hard to reach places in order to balance out the population spread and to create nature reserves. There were some Oasis' around the world, places where plant life had been able to flourish and samples of those plants and trees had been taken in order to try and develop them somewhere else. Nia was hopeful, her Garden had been successful after all, so this was just the next step.

Koreha Island was one such natural paradise, those who had settled there had made sure to keep the place as green and clean as it had been when only a small village of people lived below it's depths. In some ways it reminded Nia of the home she shared with Simon, houses built in keeping with their surroundings, a small bit of paradise away from the rest of the world.

Koreha Island was a little too remote for her though, she loved visiting but she preferred living where she did, with the city close enough to visit whenever they wanted.

When they were close enough to the port, she woke Simon and picked Mark up from his cot and sat him on her hip. He smiled up at her with a grin so much like his fathers that she couldn't help but laugh, running her hands through his hair and kissing the top of his head.

Simon grabbed their bags and followed them out the door, Boota not far behind them.

"Kamina said he'd meet us at the port," he told her. "He also said that we don't need to stay in the hotel, he's finished the guest room."

"I didn't know he was building one."

Simon chuckled. "No, neither did I. It got forgotten when they knew they were having Kaira but he's had time to work on it again."

Nia nodded, pulling her sunhat down on her head so that it couldn't fly off in the breeze. "I did wonder why part of their house was closed off when Kaira was born, I though it was his workshop."

"No, that's in their garden now. I think he's been a bit bored since the lighthouse restoration was completed, Yoko said he's got some work lined up though, the school needs expanding and there are a few houses in need of repairs."

"Hm, that's good to hear." Nia knew this already, Yoko had told her when they finalised planning the trip. She had been worried that her husband was a bit lost without a purpose, he had claimed to be happy enough to stay home and look after their children while she worked but she had wanted something else for him too. Something that was just his and Yoko had been relieved when he found it. Nia knew exactly what that felt like, Simon did too, though he was so laid back about things recently that it was hard to tell.

Simon took her hand and linked their fingers together, the boat was just starting to dock and they joined the queue of people waiting to leave. It wasn't normally so busy but families were returning for the festival after a summer away and some, like them, were here to visit people and watch the fireworks.

They could see Kamina waving from the dock side, Yomi at his side, jumping up and down and waving at them. Nia felt a surge of affection towards them both and held Mark a little closer for a moment.

"Look Mark," she said, using her's and Simon's joined hands to point. "Uncle Kamina and Yomi are here to see us."

Mark turned his bright eyes to them and waved his chubby hands in the air. His delighted laughter filled the air and Nia joined in.

"I love you," Simon said, just loud enough for her to hear. Nia turned to him and smiled, confused.

"I love you too." It felt important to respond in kind, though she didn't know why.

But Simon just smiled and kissed her, letting go of her hand to to run his through Mark's hair. He did that sometimes, just told her he loved her at random. He did the same with Mark and every time it threw her. She had never and would never doubt it. She wondered if it was another one of those things, like his marriage proposal, it was probably just the best way he could find to communicate it. Or maybe it was just important to say it out loud.

Yomi was very excited to see them, though she was trying not to be too noisy, she'd noticed how tired Simon was straight away. Nia couldn't help but smile and she hugged her niece when they got out of the car.

"Dad said you're going to stay in our new guest room," she said, reaching her hand out to Mark who took hold of her fingers in his firm grasp. Nia let him sit a little further down on her hip so that Yomi could still reach. "The bath in there is so nice Mum made Dad put one in our big bathroom."

"Sounds wonderful," Nia said, already looking forwards to it. The bath in the penthouse had lost it's appeal without Simon.

Simon and Kamina gathered their things from the car and followed them inside, though Nia didn't miss the long hug in the doorway or the ones that followed after Yoko arrived with Kaira. Kamina and Yoko didn't let her escape her turn and as soon as Mark was in Simon's arms, Kamina pulled Nia in for a hug as long and as firm as the one he had shared with his brother, Yoko followed afterwards and by the end of it Nia found herself so overcome she pulled Yoko back towards her again for a little while longer.

"We've missed you too, Nia," Yoko whispered against her ear.

When they parted, Kamina had picked up their bags. "This way!" he announced, "You are the first guests to stay in the new guest room and it's time for the grand unveiling!"

Simon was smiling and he took Nia's hand then followed his brother. Yomi skipped ahead of them and Yoko followed behind with Kaira in her arms.

The new guest room was off the small corridor next to the kitchen, there was a skylight in the hallway that let in the bright morning sunlight and the walls were a pale blue. The door to the new room as open but there was a large pink and blue ribbon tied in a bow across the doorway and Kamina stood there proudly next to it.

Yomi held out a pair of child's scissors, which Simon took with a small bow. Mark tried to make a grab for them but Simon shook his head and Boota jumped up to entertain the little boy.

"I now declare the guest room….Open!" he announced and everyone around him applauded. Nia looked around at all of them, brimming with unexpected happiness and followed Simon into their home for the next few days.

They had spent the day getting reacquainted, with a large lunch in the kitchen and an afternoon in Kamina and Yoko's back garden. It was small compared to Nia and Simon's but it was lovely all the same. The patio was surrounded by wild flowers with a grassy area in the centre and the land went up a sloping hill that overlooked the house. Kamina's new hut was sat at it's base in the shade.

Once evening had come and the children had all gone to bed, Kamina and Simon went off for a walk. Boota was in the house keeping an eye on the children - who were all asleep in Kaira's room - so Nia and Yoko were out in the garden each with a glass of iced tea and summer shawls.

"Yoko?" Nia asked, they had been settled in comfortable silence for a while but there was something Nia wanted to tell her friend.

"Hm?" Yoko turned to her, waiting for whatever it is she was going to say. She looked more relaxed - no that wasn't quite right - she looked less tired than the last time Nia had seen her and she realised it must have been because Kaira had started sleeping though the night.

"I want to thank you for what you said at the reunion." It took a moment but Yoko's eyes widened in understanding. "Nothing has changed since but I feel better about it and a lot more settled, you and Simon are right. It will happen when it happens."

Yoko smiled at her and patted her hand against Nia's arm.

"I'm glad things are better."

"Me too. I've also been making progress on the Flowers project."

"Oh?"

Nia nodded, "We should be able to start things properly soon. We've got enough saplings and we found a suitable area on the edge of the city, anything we plant now should flower next spring," Nia explained.

"It sounds wonderful. Did our map help?" Yoko asked.

"Yes, yes very much so. We're going to head out to a few of the places you mentioned and see if they want to be part of it." Kamina and Yoko's extensive world travels had proved useful when Nia had started her work, it had given her somewhere to start and places to consider.

"You know, that's one of the reasons I wanted to settle here in the first place," Yoko admitted. "We'd seen so many places but once we found this Island… it felt like home. When I was little I hadn't been able to imagine life on the surface, let alone surrounded by trees on an Island. This place seems like a small part of paradise. I'm still so glad Kamina agreed."

Nia wanted to tell her friend that she was sure Kamina would be happy anywhere she was happy, but there was no need. Yoko likely knew, they were just fortunate to have found somewhere they both wanted to be.

Simon was yawning again, Kamina could tell he was trying not to but his face shook with the effort and made him look a little manic.

"I thought you'd stayed in the city last night," he said as they reached the sea wall at the top of the path.

"We did. But a friend asked me for help and I couldn't turn them down," Simon admitted, coming to stand next to his brother and lean on the wall at his side.

"Friend?" Kamina asked, wondering why Simon hadn't just told him who it was.

Simon sighed. "It was Viral, he asked me for help and I couldn't say no." Kamina just looked at him in shock but Simon met his gaze and held it. "He's once of my closest friends, I wasn't going to say no."

Kamina shook his head, he hadn't meant to come across that way.

"That's not… what I mean is, I didn't expect him to ever ask for help, let alone need it." Viral was so stubborn and determined that it surprised Kamina that he would ever approach someone for anything. He knew how close he and Simon were but even still… he seemed too proud to admit there was something he couldn't sort out on his own.

Simon's smile was a little pained. "That's why I had to. I don't remember the last time he asked for anything, aside from his helmet back."

Kamina chuckled but he couldn't help but ask. "I can't believe it's me saying this, but is he okay?" Just because Viral's body was immortal wasn't a guarantee that he was alright.

"Yeah, yeah he is. I can't tell you what I'm helping him with but it's fixable," Simon told him, he looked relieved and although Kamina really wanted to know why… he knew it wasn't his place to ask.

"Well good. Yomi would be devastated if anything bad happened to him."

Simon laughed. "I know, I think Viral does too. He asked me to pass on a present for her, he's also given me a bottle of wine for you and Yoko."

"What for?"

"I think it's a thank you for the reunion, but he didn't say."

Kamina sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Does this mean I have to actually be friends with him now?"

"Probably." Simon was looking out at the sea, watching the waves roll in one at a time. Kamina smiled and joined him in silence for a while. He had no problem with Viral, not really, not anymore. For a while he had been angry that it was Viral and not him that had Piloted Gurren Lagann in their battle against the anti spirals but it wasn't as if he'd been able to anyway. Yomi had stayed on Arc Gurren (she had refused to leave) and he had no regrets staying with her, Yoko was the better shot and fighter out of the two of them after all so it had been an easy decision.

Viral hadn't even lorded it over him, not even when he asked for their respect, Kamina had given it with a silent nod of his head. It was just that they had always been rivals, whereas Viral and Simon had gone from awkward enemies to friends. Maybe it as mostly on his side, maybe Viral had extended the hand of friendship a long time ago.

"I'll think about it," he told Simon, but his brothers gentle laughter meant he understood what Kamina meant. "How's everything else?" he asked after another few moments of silence between them. The evening air was just beginning to chill and he closed his eyes, letting the breeze wash over him. It was a welcome relief from such an overwhelmingly hot day.

"There is something I wanted to talk to you about," Simon admitted quietly.

"Oh?" Kamina glanced back over to his brother and noticed how worried he suddenly looked. "Whatever it is, you can tell me," Kamina reassured him.

"I know, it's just…. it's a little bit embarrassing."

"Simon, Yoko has told you -in detail - about every time I was arrested in the two years we were travelling and you had to explain to them that your idiot big brother did not know how to behave, on more than one occasion."

Simon did laugh at that and he looked more relieved afterwards. "You're right. I have the records somewhere - and all the pictures." Kamina shot him a look. "I had to get hold of them in order to save your dignity."

"Just don't let Yoko know you've got them, she'll want copies." At this, Simon laughed heartily.

"Where do you think I got them from? She gave them to me so that no one on the island would find out."

"Hah, I knew Dayakka was wrong when he said he had the best wife in the universe." He wouldn't dare try and fight Dayakka for it though, he was terrifying when he was angry. "But go on, what's wrong?"

"It's not that anything is wrong exactly , I just think I've accidentally been what's stopped me and Nia from having another baby."

Kamina blinked and narrowed his eyes at his brother. "I'm pretty sure you've not forgotten how to-"

"No, no, it's not that." Simon had his arms up in front of him, waving them about in an attempt to stop his brother from carrying on with that train of thought. "I don't think that's ever going to be a problem." He was blushing now, face almost as red as the dying sun.

"Then what?" Kamina asked, quieter this time.

"I think there may be other uses for Spiral power than I was aware of." Kamina raised his eyebrows but waited for Simon to continue. "I only realised yesterday, we've never really just studied it before and I think, I think maybe my wish for things to stay the way they are is why Nia can't get pregnant."

Kamina was about to laugh, he even wanted to but something in the solemn look on Simon's face stopped him.

"You really think it's possible?"

"I didn't, but I do now." Simon turned around and rested with his back pressed to the wall. "It's not that I don't want another child, I do, I really do. But I think deep down I'm so happy with how things are that I don't want things to change just yet."

"That's normal. It wasn't until Yomi was three that we even started talking about having another baby, so even if the Anti Spiral war hadn't happened, we were still planning to take our time."

"I think we are too… I just…. I don't want to wait and I do all at the same time."

"Have you told Nia?"

He shook his head. "I didn't think there was anything to tell her, I said it would happen when it happens and I meant it," Simon explained but he looked a little guilty.

"Simon, you've just said you only just realised, no one could have known and I'm not even sure I want to know how you do but trust me, you should tell Nia."

"I will, I'm going to this evening, I tried to tell her when I got back early this morning but she told me that whatever it was could wait."

"Yoko would have forced it out of me," Kamina admitted.

Simon smiled. "Nia can be forceful when she wants to be, I remember trying to explain why Birthday presents should be a surprise, though I had to explain birthday's first."

Kamina laughed, he remembered the look on Simon's face when he had burst into the apartment he was pretending not to share with Yoko in the early days of building their capitol city.

"As funny as it was at the time, you should have realised she didn't know - she was almost put to death for asking why she was born - of course she didn't know how."

"I'm just really, really glad Yoko went to explain it to her," Simon admitted.

Yoko wasn't, but Kamina didn't need to tell Simon that. Nia had had a lot of questions and a flustered Yoko had had to answer them one at a time. He often wondered if that's why she chose to teach children too young to ask, it must have made it easier.

"Do you want to head back?" Kamina asked after another few minutes of peaceful silence.

Simon yawned, loudly, before nodding. "I want to tell her before we test out the new bath."

Kamina smiled. "Please make sure any in depth testing is kept out of there though," he warned.

Simon looked mortified for a moment. "I promise you, you don't have to worry about that."

"Oh?" There sounded like there was a story there.

"No, I'll tell you a lot of things but not that."

"Please?"

Simon shook his head and pushed himself away from the wall. "No."

"Please?" Kamina continued to try his luck on the way home but Simon was unrelenting.

Simon took Nia into their room shortly after getting home, Kamina gave him a good luck pat on the back and went to join his wife. Later on that night, he found Nia in the kitchen when he went down to grab a glass of water. She hugged him, thanked him and headed off to bed with a wave. When he told Yoko what had happened she smiled and curled up against his back before falling asleep again.

The next morning saw Simon and Nia pack a picnic and take Mark, Yomi and Kaira with them for the day. It was a chance for Kamina and Yoko to take a day off and for their friends to get some idea of what having a larger family would be like.

Kamina and Yoko had chosen not to lie in but to get up and spend some time together instead. As it was the summer holidays and Yomi was easily entertained by herself in the mornings, they'd been able to cope with the interrupted nights sleep by spending alternating mornings in bed. Given that they both had time to spend together, they'd both chosen to actually do something. Even if that something was a leisurely breakfast in their kitchen.

"Why did Nia thank me?" Kamina asked, finishing up his scrambled eggs. "I get the feeling it wasn't just because I asked Simon to tell her about his accidental research."

Yoko took another sip of her tea before she answered him. "Because I think she though it was somehow her fault that they didn't have another baby on they way yet."

"Oh, that makes sense."

Yoko nodded, remembering their conversation on the balcony at the reunion. "She was really worried, I told her not to be and although I was apparently wrong about the why, I was right that she shouldn't have been worried about it."

"Strange power though, the Anti Spiral leader went on and on about us evolving and multiplying and destroying the universe, he didn't mention slowing things down."

Yoko agreed. "I don't think he understood it, I don't think any of us do but Simon's power is something we don't know enough about yet. Plus Lord Genome was over a thousand years old and that was because of his Spiral power."

"I keep forgetting that," Kamina admitted.

"That's because he never really seemed human, I know he redeemed himself in the end but I'm still not sure if that was really him or just the bio computer." He had apologised to Nia before sacrificing himself and it was true that without him they probably would have lost their fight but Yoko didn't know how you could forgive someone who killed his children when they became self aware. Nia though, Nia had accepted his apology and moved on with her life.

"So Simon just needs to learn to control it?" Kamina's words brought her back out of her thoughts.

Yoko nodded, "I think so, once he's really ready for them to have another baby, I'm sure they will. Nothing's ever really stopped him before, not since the Gurren Brigade was started."

"True." Kamina pushed his plate forwards and finished his tea. "Do you want another baby?" he asked as casually as asking if she wanted more toast.

Yoko didn't answer straight away, she took her time watching him, trying to figure out what he meant by asking. He looked genuinely curious and not at all like he already knew her answer. Kaira was only a few months old so she knew he didn't mean straight away, still, up until now it hadn't been something they'd discussed.

She had an answer though and she knew she meant it.

"No," she told him, because regardless of his answer he would want the truth from her, as she would from him.

Kamina smiled. "Me neither, if you had wanted to I would be more than happy… but our family feels completed. It's strange, I've always been thankful for everything we've had together, our travels, our lives, Yomi but with Kaira it feels full, complete."

Yoko stood, unable to stop the smile on her face and walked over to his side of the table.

"You really don't mind?" she asked as she sat on the table, facing him with her hand now resting on his.

"No, as I said, whatever you wanted would have been fine, but I'm glad we agree." He turned his hand under hers and linked their fingers together.

She looked at him again, meeting his eyes. "I thought for a while that you really wanted a little boy," Yoko admitted, wanting to talk about it now before she lost her chance.

Kamina shook his head. "No, once I would have said that and probably even meant it and I know you think I was a bit disappointed when Kaira turned out to be a girl but I wasn't - I was just surprised. I think some people pay too much attention to what they think boys and girls should be interested in. We've never done that with Yomi and I know we won't do that with Kaira, it would be the same if we'd had boys instead. It doesn't matter to me at all."

Yoko was still smiling, though she felt a little teary. "It's at times like this I remember that we actually became grownups," she said, voice wavering slightly.

"It had to happen eventually." There was humour in his eyes and it made her laugh, though her voice was unsteady with the sound. "Come here." He pulled her head down so that he could kiss her, but stood when the angle became too awkward.

They kissed slowly, unhurried and deep, His hands were spread open and firm on her back and shoulder and her's were around his back in turn.

Their lives were busy, wonderful and rewarding but sometimes it was nice to take some time off to appreciate it and each other all over again.

It was late afternoon by the time Nia and Simon returned with the children, Yomi skipped the rest of the way home and jumped up into Yoko's arms at the back door. She felt something else hit her back but it was probably just Yomi's Gurren Lagann toy.

"Did you have a good day?" she asked.

"Yes," Yomi told her, then showed her mother what she was holding in her arms. Yoko had to stop herself from laughing. Yomi was holding a plushy Enkidu in one hand and her usual Gurren Lagann in the other.

"Is that what Uncle Viral sent you?" Simon had told her about it earlier that morning and Yoko had agreed it was okay for Yomi to open it on their day out.

Her daughter was nodding. "He sent me a card too, he says he's sorry he missed my Birthday but he'll know for next year."

"It's a really nice present."

Yomi was nodding in agreement. "Do they make one of your tank?"

"I don't know," Yoko admitted. "I've never looked."

"Because if they do, I would like it for my birthday next year."

"Why?"

"Because then I'll have all the Gunmen you, dad, uncle Simon, auntie Nia and uncle Viral have piloted." Yoko did laugh then and stroked her daughters hair.

"If it helps, I piloted Gurren a few times."

"Really?" Yomi asked. "When?"

"Your dad hurt his arm once and I had to stand in for him for a while." What she didn't tell her was how he'd broken his arm. She didn't think Yomi would appreciate knowing that it was during a fight with Viral right before they took Teppelin. Yoko and Simon hadn't appreciated it at the time either.

"I still want one of your tank though."

Yoko smiled. "If there is one we'll get it for you, okay?"

"Okay." Yomi cuddled both toys close to her chest when Yoko put her down.

"You should go and show your Dad," she suggested, wanting to put his new found claims of being Viral's friend to the test.

Yomi ran back outside and waited until she had her Dad's attention before waving her toys up at him. Yoko hid her laughter behind her hand as she watched him go from shocked to annoyed to happy in the space of two seconds. Simon at his side, who was holding Mark, was shaking his head and patting his brother on the back.

Nia was laughing too but as soon as she spotted Yoko, she handed Kaira back to Kamina and headed straight for her friend.

"Yoko!" she exclaimed, then threw her arms around her and held on so tightly that Yoko could hardly breathe. When Nia pulled away she placed her hands on Yoko's shoulders and gripped tightly. "I want you to know that I really enjoyed today, I love Yomi and Kaira very much."

"Okay," Yoko breathed out, it seemed her friend did not realise her own strength.

"But I have decided that it is too soon to have another baby. Simon was right, we need to take our time."

"That's fine, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Then after another short and less painful hug, Nia went through the kitchen and presumably along to her bedroom for a nap.

Yoko was still laughing to herself when the others finally came back in doors. Simon seemed to know why and when he hugged Yoko he was gentle.

"She really doesn't know how strong she is," Simon whispered and Yoko laughed against his shoulder.

Kamina just looked confused but didn't push it, he was still listening to Yomi tell him about the other Gunmen plush toys she wanted. From what Yoko heard of the conversation there was more than just the one she had mentioned to her. She had a feeling though that the two she had already were going to be her favourites and Yoko was glad they'd bought the Gurren Lagann one for her on their first trip to Nia and Simon's house.

They were all out in the back garden, sat towards the top of the hill. Mark and Kaira were both sleeping, covered in blankets for extra warmth but everyone else was awake. The fireworks were due to start any minute now and the view from their house was as good as any on the island. The added bonus was that they were quieter here and the noise wouldn't wake their sleeping children.

The bottle of wine Viral had sent them was a good one and Yoko had already made sure to send him a thank you message for both is gift to Yomi and his present for them. She wondered how Kamina would take it if she invited him next year as well, he was becoming family and she saw no reason to exclude him in the future. And, if all the children slept in the same room again next year it would mean Kamina wouldn't have to build another guest room.

That was all in the future though, for now she was sat with Yomi snuggled in-between her and Kamina, both Gurren Lagann and Enkidu held closely underneath her blanket with Simon and Nia across from them. Nia's cheeks were pink from the wine and she looked happier than Yoko had seen her in a while, which given her friend was almost always happy, was quite an achievement.

When the fireworks started, they all leaned back into the pillows and blankets behind them and watched as the sky lit up in arrays of colour and patterns. It was beautiful and exciting all at the same time.

She felt Kamina take her hand and she looked over at him, sharing a look that said they knew how each other was feeling before looking back up to the sky.

Later that night, after the rest of the house was asleep, Nia and Simon were still up and talking.

"Thank you for understanding," Nia whispered but Simon shook his head.

"It's fine Nia, though I think it should be me saying that to you."

"But you didn't do it intentionally." She never understood why people blamed themselves for things that either weren't their fault or an accident, but she'd decided it was just another one of those things that people did.

He nodded. "I know, but I still… I wish I'd realised why sooner."

"Is this because of what you were helping Viral with?" Although even if that was the case Nia knew she was no closer to understanding what it was they had been doing.

"That's how I worked it out but it's not related to it, not really," Simon told her.

"It doesn't matter, I'm just glad that you did. I wonder if that's how we had Mark so quickly," Nia mused and Simon laughed.

"Maybe, probably."

"Hm." She turned on her side to go to sleep and smiled at Simon from across the pillow. She was asleep almost instantly, dreaming of wide expanses of woodland, flowing streams and children running and playing amongst the flowers.

Any reviews, comments or constructive criticism is more than welcome.