A/N: To answer a few questions: The innocences that Hevelska identified as belonging to Cross and Allen were not Crowned Clown and Judgment, but rather other innocences that they had had in their possession for a long time. She was asked who owned them, not who their hosts were. Allen is 22, Conrad is 17 and Cross is ... immortal?

Different. Allen looked different without the hair dye and contacts that he'd grown accustomed to. Yet he was still a far cry from the boy he'd been at the Order. They would probably only recognize him by his scar.

He was just an inch or two shorter than Cross now and his hair cascaded down to the small of his back as it had been when he'd been effected by that hair tonic. Even his face had changed , losing its boyish roundness, he actually had a jaw line now. His scar remained the same.

Conrad was right by his side and had been ever since they had found him. He knew that Allen was nervous and was determined to reassure him in every way that he could. To that end he clung to Allen like a shadow, looked at him without concealing his adoration (for his older brother figure) and called him master. His idea was that this would make Allen seem strong and kind. Not like a coward who had run to save himself, but like a hero who'd done what he needed to so things could turn out for the best.

They didn't announce their arrival ahead of time, wanting to be able to back out if things went badly or were suspicious.

They got off the train with great trepidation, dressed in civilian clothing, as they had been for the past six years (Allen's eye eliminating the need for uniforms).

Komui was alerted as they approached headquarters but he said and did nothing, leaving the decision in their hands.

The gatekeeper posed little resistance, and so it came to be that our trio of brave adventurers strolled into the cafeteria in the middle of Lenalee's birthday party.

The silence was immediate and deafening. It stretched on for what seemed like ages, finally broken when Conrad put a hand on Allen's arm and said, "It's okay Master, I'll always be happy to see you."

A second later a crying Lenalee rushed over and threw her arms around Allen's neck.

Most of the room came to their feet and surrounded the trio, peppering them with questions and welcoming them back. Others, who looked unfamiliar to Allen, remained seated with quizzical expressions.

Kanda, who had been shocked at first and then smirked a little, left the room with a strange expression on his face.

Xxxx

Allen was pleased to see those who were present (Lavi being away on a mission) and liked being introduced to the new exorcists. Even so, the second he could he slipped away in an effort to find Kanda. He had so many questions and he didn't want things to go back to the way they had been before. Lenalee went with him since she was still catching him up on everything that had happened in his absence and of course Conrad followed him like a duckling.

The fact that they could also use the search to find rooms for the two was an additional bonus (Cross being given general's rooms).

Allen wasn't very picky about the type of room he wanted, so long as it had a bed and was relatively close to the cafeteria, but Lenalee wanted to show him all of his options and he obliged her.

Xxxx

Kanda followed them secretly and silently, hardly believing his eyes and ears. Allen was alive? Surely it must be a hallucination, maybe he'd finally gone crazy.

But he didn't look quite the way that Kanda had imagined him... he looked older, sexier. The change was remarkable... but the most surprising thing was that Kanda wasn't pissed at him. A little upset sure, but he was mostly just happy that Allen was alive. He was ecstatic... he had fled to stop himself from doing something stupid, like maybe kissing him. That would have been a bad idea, he still didn't know if Allen even...

And he had that damn apprentice glued to him. Kanda had already developed a deep and profound hatred for the boy. He was too close to Allen, both physically and emotionally. Just from watching their body language you could tell that they trusted each other and were comfortable together. Something that Kanda had never achieved, had never tried to achieve.

He thought that if he had, aside from the fact that it wasn't his nature, Allen would never have seen him as more than a friend. Or he'd be rejected or not know how to behave and fuck everything up. And if someday, Allen had ever come to him for advice on Lenalee... he'd probably go on a murderous rampage.

He hadn't wanted friends, wouldn't know what t do with them. He was a bastard, nothing would change that. If...IF someone could accept him, he wouldn't know how to treat them. But that didn't mean that he hadn't wanted anyone, especially Allen to try.

Allen had tried. Allen had been doing so well. He'd started to chip away at that wall... but that was before he had run off. Kanda understood why, but he was still pissed.

No one else had tried, he hadn't let them. Lenalee was the exception, but she was like a sister to him. Lavi was more an annoyance than anything, or he had been , now he was basically emotionless but still annoying.

Allen was different. But maybe it was too late.