Nero: Yeah, so this is going to be a more depressing chapter. At least I'm trying to make it one. Um, I will be ending this sooner than expected and I will be putting up a sequal, so yeah. Look for that.

Allen watched as his master walked away. Just like how he ran from debt, he ran now. Away from the truth. The terrible truth that he had found someone endearing and that they were dying. Allen was shaking in anger. He had to deal with this nearly everyday, so why did he get to run and hide? Why was he the one complaining? Gabriel need him and he was just...leaving.

"Allen," Thomas placed his hand on Allen's shoulder to steady the younger boy. "Its fine. Whatever he needs to do, if he's leaving her for this, then it must be important."

"But," Allen choked out. Tears were streaming down his face. He couldn't take this. Allen brushed Thomas' hand away. "I'll be right back. I...I just need to think about somethings."

Allen wandered around the Order. People who noticed his somber mood asked him whats wrong, he didn't hesitate explaining what was wrong. Soon news of Gabriel had spread through the entire Order and everyone prepared to pay their respects. Though she had not been there very long, if Allen was sad about her soon to be death, then it was only natural to think she was person worth mourning. Krory and Miranda were supportive to Allen and left to comfort Thomas, Krory knowing how it feels to lose a beloved girl in his life and Miranda knowing how it felt to be useless. Kanda looked more thoughtful than he would usually be when Allen passed him. He told Allen to "Buck up" and "This is a war, death happens no matter who you are." Allen thanked him for his support, figuring out that this was Kanda's own way of being nice. Lavi had already heard from Lenalee about Gabriel when Allen met him.

"Hey," Lavi greeted quietly.

"Hey. Uh, I guess you heard, right?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry. You two were close, weren't you."

Allen did not deny that he had grown close to Gabriel while she was here. Much like how Cross had taught him about the Order, Allen had always been there to provide answers were he could. Gabriel had almost been like a student for him, maybe even a younger sister. In the time they had spent together, he had seen much of his old naive self in her. So innocent and trusting.

Flashback

"Allen, Allen, Allen!!" Gabriel shouted as she ran toward him with a book in her hand.

"Allen, have you read this book!? It has all these stories about the exorcists of the past!! So? Have you read it or not!?" Gabriel whined.

"Hey, calm down will you. Yes, I have read that one. Let me guess, Lavi gave it to you to learn more about being an exorcist because only you can bother the crap out of him?"

"Yup, right on the dot as always," she laughed and punched his arm playfully.

"Tsk, you're just like your father."

"Cool, calm, and collected?" Gabriel grinned.

"No, irresponsible and moronic!!" Allen locked his arm Gabriel's neck and gave her hair a ruffle.

"Hey, let me go!! Stupid, if my dad was your teacher than you must be even more irresponsible and moronic than me and him put together!!"

She escaped his grip and challenged him to catch her. They played chase the entire day with Lavi and Lenalee. They even got Kanda to join. Sort of.

End Flashback.

Allen felt another round of tears stream down his face, he didn't try to stop them. In the two years he had been with the Order, he had learned that sometimes the best therapy is to just let go. Lavi didn't let hm cry alone. Just this once, maybe it was okay to lose control. He wasn't Bookman yet and he already broke most of the other rules. What's one more to add to the list. The two boys truly let go. They were no longer the strong exorcists that put their duty before all else, but the scared small child that they really were at heart. A part of themselves that no amount of training could eradicate.

Allen thanked Lavi and left his redheaded friend to find solace in solitude. As he walked aimlessly around the halls of HQ, he, one way or another, found his way to the room where the Ark portal was kept. How ironic he thought this was. He was going to lose an important part of his already shattered heart and here he wanders to the place they first ran into each other. He looked at his watch, a gift from a previous birthday, surprisingly only an hour had past. He thought of going back to the hospital wing, but he knew if he did, he would lose control. Again.

"Hmph, like teacher like pupil," Allen sneered as he stepped onto the Ark.

On the Ark, he felt more alone than ever. Something that he was familiar with. He wanted to go to the piano room. It wasn't hard to get there, being able to control the Ark to a point came in handy. It was near the piano room that he began to hear music. Someone was on the Ark with him. Allen's first thought was Noah, but the usual burning feeling of Crown Clown was absent. It wasn't Noah, then who? Allen walked a tad faster as he approached the 14th's secret room. Inside, he was surprised to see his master playing the keys.

"I was wondering if you were going to make it in time," Cross said with his deep, rough voice.

"I didn't know I was expected," Allen retorted.

"Don't get fresh with me, boy," the General growled, but didn't stop playing the piano.

Allen sighed. Once an ass, always an ass. "So, why is it you were waiting for me, Master?"

"Hmph, do you remember the Earl's question?"

"Yes, why?"

"Is it really worth it. An intriguing question, indeed." Cross' music turned as he moved on to a different composition. "Allen, I'm leaving her in your care. You better take care of her or I'll find a way back here and kick your ignorant ass. Timcampy has the details you need, I locked him in your room by the way."

"Master? What are you saying?" No sooner had Allen spoken those words had Cross' image start to fade.

"Master!!" Allen cried and ran toward the fading man, but it was too late.

Cross was gone. In the mirror, Allen saw Cross sitting on the piano and beside him was an unconscious Thomas. Allen watched as Cross woke his son. Thomas woke easily and smiled at Cross as if Gabriel was not about to die and Cross smiled just as brightly. Soon more people joined them. A woman that looked like an older Gabriel with long hair and three boys. They were Gabriel's mother and brothers Allen realized. In her mother's arms was a pink bundle. Gabriel's newborn sister, Allen gasped as he saw this. The little girl looked like Gabriel's mother, just like Gabriel herself.

"Welcome home, Gabriel," an echo whispered.

Allen couldn't believe this. Cross had left her. But why? And what about Gabriel? How will she react? Allen's eyes widened. He had been on the Ark for three hours!! Allen ran to the hospital, hoping he wasn't too late.

xxx

At the hospital, everyone was in a panic. "Lavi? Lavi, where are you?" Allen called.

"Allen!!" Lavi gripped him by the shoulders. "Allen, there's something weird going!! Gabbie-chan and Thomas!! They're gone!!"

"Gone? What, where did he go?"

"I don't know!! They just faded!! Right in front of our eyes!!" Lavi continued to update Allen on what had happen. Apparently while Allen was gone, Gabriel had passed away.

"Oh no." Allen pressed his hand to his mouth.

"Its okay," Lenalee comforted. "We'll all miss her, but I don't think she'd want us to be unhappy."

"Of course I wouldn't. What's with all the long faces, guys?"

Everyone in the hospital wing froze. There. Right in front of their eyes. Was their friend/comrade. Who just died and then faded into nothingness. Quite the opposite of how she looked a few minutes ago, Gabriel was dressed in her blue pajamas and night cap. A pair of pink bunny slippers were snug on her feet and a brown bear Lenalee gave her with her.

"Someone pinch me," Lavi whispered. Kanda, who got there as soon as he heard Gabriel had died(they were on good terms despite their first encounter and she was going to be an exorcist) to pay respects, gladly whopped him with the blunt side of Mugen.

"Ow!! The hell!?"

"You asked for it."

"Yup."

"Uh huh."

"He's right, you did."

"Alright alright. Anyways..."

Lavi proceeded to pick up Gabriel and shake her like a doll.

"What the hell are you trying to do!!? Give us a heart attack!? You don't just faze in and out of the hospital whenever you want!!"

"Lavi, stop!! I'mma gonna puke!! And what do you mean!? I haven't been in the hospital wing at all today!!"

Lavi continued to shake her a good five minutes longer before Reever and Allen pried him off. Allen then proceeded to pull Gabriel into a group hug wth Lenalee and Lavi, Tears streamed down their faces.

"Hey. Hey, don't cry," Gabriel whimpered. "Stop, okay." She wiped their tears away as best she could. "Alright, next time I leave to get ready for I'll tell you guys, Okay? Just stop crying, you're getting me wet."

Allen felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Komui look at him with a stare that said I know you know something. Allen nodded knowingly. A silent message passed across them.

"Alright everyone, get back to work," Komui smiled. "Ah, by the way Gabriel, what are you doing out of bed? Its passed your bedtime."

"I know," Gabriel grumbled. "But I wanted to say good night, so good night!!"

Gabriel hugged everyone who would let her, and skipped down the hall back to her room. Once she was out of sight and earshot, Komui turned to Allen.

"I assume this has got something to do with the General."

"Yes. If you would let me grab something from my room, I'm as confused as you all are."

"Alright. Lavi, I need you to get the Inspector and Lenalee, please be a help to your loving brother and gather the exorcists to the Science Department."

"Sir," they saluted and left to carry out orders.

In the spacious room of the Science Department, the scientists had cleared papers and such so everyone had room to sit or stand.

"Alright everyone. As you might already know, we are holding this meeting to figure out what is going on. A strange girl appears on the Ark; she happens to be the daughter of General Cross and an Accomadater; Cross and more of his offspring appear; Akuma and Noah attack us on two separate occasions and now Cross is gone again, leaving his daughter behind. Gabriel Marian died not but an hour ago. We all saw her body, yet she's sleeping in her room alive and well, but as far as we have observed, she has no recollection of what happened. Can anyone figure out anything from this?"

The entire room was silent except for the notes Howard Link was writing for future reference. No one had every experianced something like this in the history of the war. Not even the keepers of the hidden history were clueless as to why these events happened.

"Um, maybe I could give an answer of sorts," Allen raised his hand. On his head was Timcampy, Cross' golem. He explained what had happened on the Ark, admitting he had been on the Ark. He also told of what he saw in the mirror and what Cross told him before he faded.

"So he left you as Gabriel's caretaker? Wow, you got your work cut out for you, Allen," Lavi commented sheepishly.

"Well than Walker," Rouvelier growled,"Show us the message he left."

Allen nodded, ignoring how rude he was being. He connected Tim to a projector so everyone would be able to see. An image of Cross came on to the screen. The background was an unfamiliar room. Allen assumed it was a room in his house.

"Hello Black Order Official. If you are watching this, then one of my children have found themselves in a way to our world. Its best that I start from the beginning, so clean out your filthy ears and listen. Long before I met you, I had studied the forbidden techniques the Black Order had hidden away. One in particular you may know very well. The power to use the corpses of exorcists to control their Innocence, to you Maria's Grave.

"Another technique is the reason I have this recorded. The ability to use mirrors as a means of transporting to different worlds. Through the looking glass as Lewis Caroll wrote. When I first met Sable, the child's mother, it was love at first sight for me. She took some convincing, but soon she and I were married. My first three are boys. Can you believe it. Sable is right now pregnant with our fourth child, a girl. Ah, ahem, anyways, if my child is there and you are watching this message than you are aware of almost everything. My child was about to die, right? Here is where you are clueless. I have employed a spell of sorts. In exchange of my memories, the memories of my family, everyone who knew the child, and the child's own memories, they will be able live. We no longer would know the existence of one another, but I see the exchange as worth it. Please, whoever you are, raise my child like your own. If its money you need, then there is an account under my name, Cross Marian, with the National Treasury. Just...don't leave them. Teach them and make them into someone worth while."

At the end of the message, Cross was visibly crying. As if he knew it would happen.

Nero: Yeah, I bet you all hate me now. Please review anyways!!