Beyond A Sky So Blue -- Epilogue

Four years later. . .

“Eden, slow down! Give Nicky and Christopher a chance to catch up.”

The little girl with dark blonde pigtails paused to find the two younger boys far behind her. She then glanced at the porch. “Okay, Mom.”

Shaking her head, Meryl sat down on the steps. Her daughter indeed wanted for the boys to catch up. When they finally reached her, she resumed the game of tag at a slower pace.

She glanced up with a smile when Vash touched her shoulder. She squeezed his hand as he sat down behind her. His lanky body surrounded her, shielding her from the cool air of the evening.

“Still at it, I see,” he said. “I told you that a nap was a bad idea. Look at all the energy they have.”

“Oh, I don’t know. You didn’t seem to be complaining about the free time earlier.”

He leaned forward and nuzzled her ear. “No, you’ll never hear me complain about that.”

She laughed and leaned back against him. They watched the children as they switched from tag to hide-and-seek. It was a perfect evening.

“Mommy!” Christopher cried. He quickly abandoned the game and ran towards a figure approaching the house. “You’re here! You’re here!”

Milly scooped her son up, smothering his face with kisses. “Ready to go home?”

“Can Nicky come?”

“Not tonight, sweetie.” She placed him on her hip and made her way toward the porch. “How was he?”

“No problem at all,” Meryl said.

“Unlike our two hellions,” Vash added, earning a swatch from his wife.

Ben laughed as he joined Milly. “Well, they are the spawn of the Humanoid Typhoon.”

“Very funny,” Vash grumbled good-naturedly.

“Thanks again for watching Christopher,” Milly said.

“Anytime,” Meryl replied.

“We’ll repay the favor soon,” Ben said. “See you at work, Vash.”

“See ya. Bye, Milly, Christopher.”

The little boy waved as his parents turned to go. He yelled goodbye to Nicky and Eden. The two only stopped play just long enough to yell it back.

Chuckling at their antics, Vash snuggled closer to Meryl. Sometimes he couldn’t believe that he wasn’t a fugitive anymore, that he had Meryl, that he had a family. At long last, he had found peace.

“We’re really lucky, aren’t we?” Meryl murmured.

He wrapped his arms around her middle. “Yes, Meryl, we are.”


Peace Four years later. . . “Eden, slow down! Give Nicky and Christopher a chance to catch up.” The little girl with dark blonde pigtails paused to find the two younger boys far behind her. She then glanced at the porch. “Okay, Mom.” Shaking her head, Meryl sat down on the steps. Her daughter indeed wanted for the boys to catch up. When they finally reached her, she resumed the game of tag at a slower pace. She glanced up with a smile when Vash touched her shoulder. She squeezed his hand as he sat down behind her. His lanky body surrounded her, shielding her from the cool air of the evening. “Still at it, I see,” he said. “I told you that a nap was a bad idea. Look at all the energy they have.” “Oh, I don’t know. You didn’t seem to be complaining about the free time earlier.” He leaned forward and nuzzled her ear. “No, you’ll never hear me complain about that.” She laughed and leaned back against him. They watched the children as they switched from tag to hide-and-seek. It was a perfect evening. “Mommy!” Christopher cried. He quickly abandoned the game and ran towards a figure approaching the house. “You’re here! You’re here!” Milly scooped her son up, smothering his face with kisses. “Ready to go home?” “Can Nicky come?” “Not tonight, sweetie.” She placed him on her hip and made her way toward the porch. “How was he?” “No problem at all,” Meryl said. “Unlike our two hellions,” Vash added, earning a swatch from his wife. Ben laughed as he joined Milly. “Well, they are the spawn of the Humanoid Typhoon.” “Very funny,” Vash grumbled good-naturedly. “Thanks again for watching Christopher,” Milly said. “Anytime,” Meryl replied. “We’ll repay the favor soon,” Ben said. “See you at work, Vash.” “See ya. Bye, Milly, Christopher.” The little boy waved as his parents turned to go. He yelled goodbye to Nicky and Eden. The two only stopped play just long enough to yell it back. Chuckling at their antics, Vash snuggled closer to Meryl. Sometimes he couldn’t believe that he wasn’t a fugitive anymore, that he had Meryl, that he had a family. At long last, he had found peace. “We’re really lucky, aren’t we?” Meryl murmured. He wrapped his arms around her middle. “Yes, Meryl, we are.”


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