Hello everyone,

I'm seriously annoyed now. I ordered some books to which I was really looking forward to. They were due this Tuesday and now they are going to arrive tomorrow. And that's like the only day in the whole bloody month I am not at home. This timing is incredible X(

Anway thanks for the reviews.

Disclaimer: This site is called Fanfiction for a reason.

That's why we are more or less well rested for the first time in what I assume weeks for Kanda (only some days for me), when Linali comes to wake us at half past nine. After a breakfast, we spend the time until lunch reading. To my surprise I catch Kanda drawing when I go to look for him after he disappeared after less than an hour reading. He growls at me and I grin, but back away nonetheless. Maybe one day he will show me his drawings.

When I ask Linali later if she has ever seen them, she seems surprised.

"I didn't even know he did that anymore," she says.

"You mean, you knew he drew back then?"

"Alma told us at some point. And we saw him doing it a few times after you disappeared. He seems like he is in a different world when he draws or paints," she smiles.

"Like when he is sword-fighting," I add.

"Hm, kind of, yes. But I think it is different. When he is practising kendo he is solely focused on the moves and the sword. He does register his surroundings and knows how to react. But when he draws his eyes get this far-away look. It looks nearly peaceful, if you ask me," she murmurs softly.

I look at her for some moments, then something comes to my mind, "Did you ever know that he never drew himself in the pictures?"

"Well, don't they say that drawing oneself is one of the most difficult things in art…" She looks surprised.

"That may be, but it's not what I mean. I mean that, even when he drew our group, Lavi, A-Alma, you and me, he never added himself."

"Well… It's a bit strange, but… Maybe he was just drawing it from his point of view."

"But even if that was clearly a posed picture? To me it seems like he feels he doesn't belong to our group," I argue.

She looks stunned then lays a hand on my shoulder, "I don't think he feels like that. I don't know why but there was always something about him not really wanting to look in the mirror all that much. You may think he does because of his hair, but all he does is brushing it in the mornings and binding it up afterwards. I always had the impression that he didn't like how he looked. But don't ask me why. Lavi and I guessed because he had been teased for girlish looks when he was younger, but to be honest I doubt that's the reason."

I stare at her, contemplating the explanation. Well, it could be… I sigh and decide not to break my head over this.

Lunchtime comes and with it the time of Lavi's arrival gets closer. Kanda originally wanted to stay inside or leave but a threat from Linali made him decide otherwise. And only I did hear the insults he grumbled at her. Luckily, as he would have been maimed if Komui heard.

Around three o'clock Linali is waiting at the front of her garden after having locked her brother in his lab. I was told that he is too aggressive towards the red head, because he thinks he and Linali are in a relationship (which is correct according to Kanda's irritated mumblings). The raven is leaning against one of the posts of the canopy and scowling while I am sitting on a bench behind him.

Ten minutes waiting later a cab pulls up and stops in front of the fence. The back door opens and I hold my breath. And out comes a shock of fiery red hair. I release my breath when I notice that Lavi at least didn't change all that much on the outside. His hair is still bright red and untameable, falling over his forehead and ears, only held up by a black-green bandana. His right eye is still covered with an eyepatch and the left sparkles bright emerald. His outfit is still lazy and he is wearing one more ear-piercing than I remember. Other than that, the only things that changed are that he grew even more, there is a very slight bit of stubble visible on his chin (which actually both Kanda and I seem to lack, not that I'm complaining) and he looks slightly wiser despite the mischievous glint in his eye. His face though also shows the sadness of why he is here.

Stepping out he immediately walks over to Linali and scoops the girl up in a tight hug. Seeing that, I inch slightly closer to Kanda who looks at me from the corner of his eyes and does something akin to nod when I smile at him. Meanwhile Lavi is cupping Linali's face, he kisses her forehead and she laughs. Then she gestures to Kanda, who reluctantly walks over to the two. The taxi driver unloads the luggage and Lavi pays him just before Kanda arrives. Casting the scowling raven a sad look, the other boy pulls his friend into a hug as well, way looser (and more awkward) than with Linali though. Drawing away after a short moment he lays a hand on Kanda's shoulder.

"How are you doing, Kanda?"

To my surprise I note that he didn't even use Kanda's first name to rile him up. Maybe even he sees the seriousness of the current situation and does not tease the raven. Or it is in memory of Alma who was the only one who was allowed to call Kanda 'Yuu' without the raven threatening to kill him. How I sometimes wish I had that privilege too.

"Che, fine."

"Yeah, sure," Lavi grumbles unbelievingly.

He exchanges a look with Linali but she only shakes her head, "Come inside. I will explain there. Plus there is someone you should meet."

He looks at her strangely and picks up his bag while Kanda walks back to me and puts himself practically in front of me. I take a deep breath, willing my nervousness away, and stand up, one hand on my swollen abdomen, to meet Lavi. When the two catch up to Kanda, the red head is already grinning again.

"So who is it?"

Linali only smiles and motions to Kanda who grumbles but steps aside, giving the view free on me. Lavi's eye looks like it wants to bulge out of his socket, his mouth falls open and he drops his bag.

"No, it can't be! Allen? Is that you?" he asks incredulously.

"Yes, he is," the girl answers for me.

After a confirming look to both her and Kanda, Lavi, who is still stunned silent, hurries forward to envelope me in a big hug. I see Kanda tense, but the girl lays a hand on his arm.

"We thought you were dead! Man, I am glad to see you alive! Really, we were all so worried," he babbles into my hair.

I lift my arms and hug him back, "I am also incredibly happy to be back. Honestly."

After some minutes he draws away again and gives me an once-over, grinning broadly, "Well, look at you. At least a bit did you grow. But you're still a beansprout. And still as thin as…"

But he stops when his eye lands on my bulging stomach. Automatically his eye wanders to Kanda who only glares back, but with a protective glint in his eyes. Then the green eye searches for Linali who simply grins, her eyes sparkling.

"Uh, Allen-chan," Lavi starts uncomfortably after not getting any help from his girlfriend, "is that what I think it is?"

Deciding to play along, I cock my head to the side innocently, "What do you think it is?"

"Uh, a, well, you know," he stumbles over his words. Lavi tongue-tied, that must be a moment for the history books and I never thought I would see something like that, "Err, a p-pregnancy belly…"

I grin when he finally gets it out, "Yes, I would say so."

Now he cocks his head to the side, "Should I congratulate Yuu then?"

"No," I shake my head sadly, "He's not the father. Only taking care of me."

"Oh, uh…"

Seeing as Lavi is still extremely uncomfortable, Linali tells us all to go inside. There she sits the red head down and explains him the whole story, including what happened to Kanda. The raven has disappeared somewhere halfway through and I leave shortly before they are finished.

Kanda only returns late at night again. Out of worry I have actually waited in his room instead of mine and fallen asleep on the bed. I wake up when he enters, afraid of him shouting at me. But he only changes his clothes and climbs into bed next to me. To my great but pleasant surprise he pulls me close to his body of his own accord and I happily snuggle against him. So I fall asleep this night to Kanda's fingers weaving through my hair.

The next day is spent in a pretty tense and sombre atmosphere. Kanda spends most of the day out in the forest, doing god knows what. Linali and Lavi are taking some alone-time while keeping the red head safe from Komui. I sleep a lot to gather my strength for the following day.

That's it for today. Thanks for reading.

So finally Lavi is also here.

Next station: the actual memorial.

See you then and please review.