Uran

"Splash !"

The sound of something hitting the river nearby woke you up rather violently. You were slowly falling asleep at that cafe, not taking account of what was around, until that noise reached your ears. Surprised, you took a look to the river, indeed confirming that something hit the water.

"What was that ?"
"A girl ?"

You didn't need more to react. Rushing to the door and opening it, you quickly reached the river and plunged into it, not taking care about your lack of swimming sense. But it didn't matter at the time, as you knew you had to do something.

And then you saw her. A tiny girl with long purple hair, slowly being dragged to the bottom of the river due to something heavy attached to her neck. She seemed hurt, torn apart by something out of this world, but the emergency wasn't there. You knew her even though you didn't recognize her, you wanted to save her, and you did your best to do so, undoing the rope tieing her neck before grabbing her under one arm and pushing both of you to the surface. She probably fell unconscious during your act, as she didn't pulled any resistance while you dragged her to the shore before attempting CPR, but her body reacted quickly, pushing lots of water in an attempt to grab air again.

"Phew, you're breathing."
"Kuff ! Kuff ! Why... Why did you..."
"Calm down. You need to breathe a little more."
"I didn't want you... To save me !"
"...Suicide, isn't it ? Aren't you a little young to think about it ?"
"It isn't your problem !"
"It is now. I saved you, remember ?"
"You shouldn't have to."
"Why ?"
"I won't tell you."
"There must be a reason for someone to throw oneself to the river with the intent of killing oneself, isn't it ?"
"..."
"Listen. I won't mock or criticize you, okay ? I just want to know. So please tell me."

What was it that pushed you at the time ? Morbid curiosity ? Desire to understand ? You don't know even now.

"He abandoned both of us."
"Both ?"
"...I have a child. A newborn child."
"And you planned to abandon your child this way ?"

Your voice was raised with both anger and disgust.

"...I can't live with him anymore..."

And she answered by starting to cry, trying to tell you what happened to her. The tearful story of a young girl falling in love with a traveller. Of said young girl giving herself to said traveller. Of said young girl being broken by said traveller who ran away when he heard she was pregnant with their child. Of said young girl trying to seek the support of her best friend, to find her with said traveller and their child, and of said young girl not being able to cope with the pain of having lost her childhood and her best friend, and of having to raise a child she can't even face without being broken. And while you couldn't accept the fact a mother would abandon her child, you at least understood the reasons.

"I see."
"So... Leave me alone."
"I won't. Let me offer you a drink."
"...A coffee. Black."
"Fine. Come with me."

You took her hand and directed her to the coffee, where the owners brought you both the coffee she asked, another for you, and a blanket for her to warm herself. You covered her with the story of her having fell of the shore, and people didn't try to search further.

"Still, I have seen you already, didn't I ?"
"I... I will tell you... Later."
"Fine, take your time. Warming yourself is more important."
"...What should I do ?"
"Face your life. I know it's hard, and I can understand all you want to do is to run away, but you're not alone."
"...It's not the same without him."
"I can understand that. But there's a part of him in your child. And a part of you."
"..."
"You can't deny this child is the proof both of you have loved yourselves at the time. You can't either deny his existence, nor can you deny him the presence of at least his mother."
"...I can't face him... Every time I see him... It reminds me of that man..."
"It's natural. Let time pass."
"..."
"Let me accompany you back home. I'll see what I can do to help you."

And as she left the cafe, you followed her through the streets, which became larger and larger as time passed. Until you reached a building you couldn't ignore.

"Here we are."
"But... It's the Basilicom !"
"Yeah... That's where I live."
"Don't tell me..."
"NEPGEAAAAAAAAAR !"

Another voice came from the front door. A girl who seemed younger, with shorter hair of the same color as the one she called. Her little sister, probably.

"What happened for you to came back in such a state ?"
"...I saved her from drowning."
"Who are you ?"
"Call me Alan. Alan Imouss, nice to meet you."
"I'm Neptune. Thanks for saving my little sister."
"Wait. What ?"
"Yeah, she's my little sister."
"No, not that. Neptune, you said ? As in, Neptune, the leader of our nation ?"
"Didn't Nepgear tell you ?"
"Nope."
"Okay. Come on in and tell us everything. You're coming too, Nepgear."

----------------------------

"Slap !"

Classic reaction when you learn your little sister just attempted suicide. You didn't expect Nepgear to fly off her place to fall on earth. You didn't expect the leader of your nation to begin crying like a river.

"Did you understood what you just do, Nepgear ?"
"I... I..."
"I won't accept any excuses coming from you. You have a child now, you can't just give up on both life and him, understood ?"
"..."
"UNDERSTOOD, NEPGEAR ?"

The voice was visibly upset, but shaking with fear.

"Y...Yes."
"Fine. From now on, the guy you brought back with you will work for me as your personal bodyguard. Objections, Alan ?"
"What ?"
"You. Keeping a constant eye on my sister, to avoid such cases to happen again, or at least to prevent them from happening. Oh, and to help her raise her child, too."
"I don't know if I'll be able to do so, but I will do my best."
"Fine. Don't worry about eventual costs or problems, we'll take care about all of that while you're doing it."
"Thanks. I'd find a way even without that, though."
"Also, you have my eternal gratitude for saving my little sister. Don't even hesitate if you need my help one day."
"If you want to thank someone, thank the owners of the cafe Le Gaspard Savoureux, they helped me warm Nepgear after I pulled her out."
"I'll pay them a visit next day. Now, both of you, follow me."

Grabbing her sister by the hand and pulling her away while you followed, Neptune reached two empty pieces, joined together by an open door.

"From now on, you'll both sleep here. I'll bring back lil' Uran with you later."
"Uran ?"
"That's the name of her child. Since I'm named about a planet, she thought about giving her child the same treatment, in hopes he becomes a fine god like his aunt, but the full name would have been hard to bear."
"Logical."
"I'll be right back, don't move !"

And she nearly ran away, trying to hide the tears flowing from her eyes. Guess she didn't want to show further how hard it has been to endure such a thing.

"Excuse me... Alan ?"
"Yeah ?"
"You... You can still refuse... If you don't want to..."
"I want to stay by your side."
"..."
"Listen, Nepgear. I know you probably don't trust me, since we don't know each other,  since I'm a man, or since I'm actually working under your sister's orders, but I don't care at all. I just know one thing - I wanted to support you, and even without your sister's support, I'd have done it. So count on me to keep an eye on you.
"...I see... I'm gonna go sleeping."
"No. Uran is coming, and he needs his mother."
"...What can I give him, in this state ?"
"All the love you can."
"...How ?"
"Remember one thing. He is as much a victim in this case as you. You lost a husband, he lost a father. In this case, what's the best, turning your back to him, or doing your best to support this pain together ?"
"..."
"Also, remember, you aren't alone. I'm there, your sister is there, some friends of you aren't far either, and we all want you to be in a better state. And we will be here for you as long as you'll need it."
"...Thanks."
"You don't need to thank me."
"It's your job, isn't it ?"
"No. It's natural."

You didn't noticed it at the time, but her faint smile was probably the moment you fell in love with her. And as Neptune came back with Uran in her arms, you promised yourself to save that smile. At any cost.

----------------------------

"Daaaaaaaaaaddyyyyyyyyyy !"

The shout pierced your ears as you woke up. Uran had been growing up fine, and was reaching his tenth birthday. And as a gift, he asked one last sleep with you, his guardian. He said he wanted to wake you up with something that mattered for him, and you didn't understood what he meant... Until now. That being said, the name he called you with didn't put you at ease, and while you did your best to hide it, you felt it was your duty to talk about it with his mother.

As for said mother, she was going better each passing month, gathering back strength in both her body and mind. She now was alterning between her work at the factory and the papers at the Basilicom, without forgetting to be here for her child, although not as much as she wanted to. But she learned to trust your judgment, and slowly but surely, she opened herself to you. You don't remember how many times she spent the night crying on your shoulder. You don't remember how many times you had to bring her food at work while aunt Neptune was watching over Uran. But you were here every time, and while she didn't told it openly, anyone could see how Nepgear trusted you.

And it's in the name of that mutual trust that, the very night, you had what Uran called a "family reunion" with both Nepgear and her son.

"Why did you asked us to be together ?"
"Gear, I need to tell you what happened that morning."
"Did Uran do something bad ?"
"It depends of your thoughts about it. He called me "dad"."
"...Uran ?"
"Yes, mom ?"
"Why did you call him that way ?"
"I don't have a dad, but I have Alan. He's always here when I need, and he's kind, so he's like my dad !"
"...I see..."
"Uran."
"Yes ?"
"I think you're old enough to understand, but we need to talk about your real dad."
"I have a real dad ?"
"Yes."
"Where is he ?"
"We actually don't know."
"Why ?"
"Because he left your mother when you were about to be born."
"Why ?"
"...That, we don't know. Maybe he had urgent business to attend, or maybe he had something else to do, I don't know what was on his mind. But that's not what I want to tell you."
"What ?"
"...You know I'm not your real dad, right ?"
"Yes !"
"That's why, I appreciate the fact you consider me as your dad, but I am not your dad, just your guardian. Understood ?"
"Yes..."
"Then don't call me "dad". "Alan" is fine, okay ?"
"...Yes."
"Uran."
"Yes, mom ?"
"We don't blame you, it's natural to think about such things at your age. But remember that you have a real father... And it's not Alan. Okay ?"
"Okay... But mom, you think I'll see my real dad when I'll be older ?"
"Maybe. I'll see what I can do about that."
"Okay !"
"Now, go to sleep, I'll come and check later if you don't read in your bed again."
"Okaaaaaay ! Night mom, night Alan !
"Night, Uran, sleep well."

You followed Nepgear to the kitchen, when she started to broke into tears.

"...What could I tell him ?"
"Don't worry, Gear, you did well. I'm sorry if I took the opportunity to start the dialogue about this subject with Uran, but he needs to know the truth."
"...I know... I know, Alan... But I can't..."
"Don't worry, I told you. I'm here, remember ?"

As she kept crying, you took her inbetween your arms, letting her calm down slowly, but surely.

"Thanks Alan... What would I have done... without your help..."
"Don't think about that, Gear."
"Alan..."
"Yes ?"

She raised her face, the face she buried on your chest, to meet your eyes. Was it the pained look she had on you ? Were it all these years of buried feelings you had ? Was it the recent consideration as Uran's "dad" ? You don't know what pushed you, but it did push you enough to plant a kiss on her lips, before leaving her without a word.

You couldn't find the sleep that night.

----------------------------

Six weeks happened since that fateful kiss. And during those six weeks, the distance between you and Nepgear only grew by a large margin, up to the point everyone, Uran included, could see it. While you both acted as Uran's family, the meals between the two of you became silent, the contacts became shortened to the strict minimum, and the silence was slowly but surely occupying a place filled with a child's laughter.

"Alan... Did you had an argument with mom ?"
"I don't think so, why ?"
"You both stay away from each other. Do you have a problem ?"
"Not at all. Ah, we've arrived. Have a nice day !"
"You too !"

Leaving Uran to school, you went back home, as you had a free day. However, to your surprise, you weren't alone.

"Nepgear ?"
"No work for today. You want to eat ?"
"Sure."

The same bacon and eggs. The same silence installing. The same heavy, awkward, uncomfortable silence. You tried to break it.

"Uran asked me if we have an argument."
"He did ?"
"Yes. I reassured him, but you should do so at the next occasion."
"...And what should I tell him ?"
"Huh ?"

You watched Nepgear, whose eyes were burning.

"Should I tell him that I've grown uncomfortable with you after you kissed me ? Should I tell him I don't know what to do around you anymore ?"
"...I'm sorry it did hurt you that much."
"It did hurt, but not because of you."
"I'm sorry to have pushed my feelings on you while you weren't ready, then."
"...Since how long ?"
"Huh ?"
"Since how long did you had these feelings ?"
"I don't know if it's at the moment I met you, or the day after."
"...And you didn't told me all this time ?"
"I knew it would have hurt you if I told it to you immediately. Am I wrong ?"
"No... No, you weren't wrong... But I..."

She couldn't say anything else, rushing to your side before crying in your arms. And again, you held her near you.

"What is the matter, then ?"
"I'm... I'm scared, Alan. Scared about what I feel. Scared about what I understand. Scared about me, about you, about Uran, and I don't know what to do."
"Then let your heart speak. Should you be sincere, both Uran and I will understand."

She answered with a kiss. A kiss where you could feel months, if not years of repression of her feelings. Her tears didn't stop.

"I'm scared... You will leave me... Alone with Uran... Like he did..."
"...I understand. And I won't leave you both. You are too important for me."
"I can't believe you... I'm sorry..."
"Then tell me how will you believe me. I'll accept, whatever it is."
"...Marry me."
"Huh ?"
"Vow you will stay with me until the very end on the altar. Vow you will stay with me, under the good times and the hardships, until death do us part."
"Phew."
"Huh ?"
"I'd expected you to make me swim the river we met backwards, or to bring you thousands of heads on a single spike, and instead, you ask me to renew the vows I've made the moment I fell in love with you ?"

You heard her having a small laugh for an answer. The first, truly honest laugh you heard in years from her.

"I have a question, though."
"Yes ?"
"How will we announce it to Uran ?"
"We'll tell him he can finally call you "dad", I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

----------------------------

The marriage was done fast. With the help of Neptune, it was kept under the rug, due to both you and Nepgear wanting something else. Something that probably is hard and painful for her, but that you both wanted to do.

"Can you announce our presence to lady Black Heart ?"
"Sure, who should I announce ?"
"Lady Purple Sister, her husband and child."
"Fine, wait a minute."

You could feel Nepgear's hand shaking on your own, while you held Uran's hand on the other. That is, until you both saw a little girl come in.

"Aaaaaah, you're Uran !"
"Hi ! Who are you ?"
"I'm Vita ! You want to play ?"
"Sure ! Can I, dad ?"
"I'm not sure if you can both play without surveillance."
"Don't worry, sir, she's in good hands."
"Fine, then. Have fun."

Leaving them both at the hands of the new Lastation oracle, you keep waiting nervously, until a voice came from a door.

"Really ? Gear and her family ? You're sure ?"
"See by yourself, lady Black Heart."

The door suddenly opens on a surprised Noire.

"It really is you, Nepgear !"
"Hi, Noire. Are Uni and her husband here ?"
"Her... You didn't hear the news, did you ?"
"The news ?"
"When I learned from Neptune what he did and what happened to you, I kept an eye on him, and it seems he tried to do the same to Uni. So I personally greeted him at the very moment he ran to Lowee. He may have been saved by the people there, but his body will permanently keep the markings of his infamy. If he's still alive, that is."
"And Uni ?"
"At the beginning, she was like you, torn by the pain to the point of throwing everything away. Then she heard how you were recovering from it, and she basically told "I can't let myself be beaten while Gear is getting better !", before getting out of sulking and raising her little Vita"
"We've seen her right before, with the new Oracle."
"She's cute, isn't it ?"
"She seems friendly, I hope she goes well with Uran."
"Uran ?"
"Our child."

You were surprised by how quickly Nepgear started calling Uran your child as well as hers, since your marriage, but you quickly grew to enjoy it.

"Talking about that, we wanted to see Uran's biological father, but since it isn't possible, guess one of the reasons of the visit is done."
"Which is ?"
"We wanted him to abandon any rights he might have on Uran, in favor of me, thus making me officially his true father."
"I see... I guess you can begin the paperwork and send them here, there shouldn't be any problems on our side."
"Thanks."
"Thank you. Seeing Nepgear smile after what happened is a great relief for us too. And while Lastation had her part in the problem, we were hoping for a quick recovery... Oh, by the way, you want to see Uni ?"
"If it's possible, I'd love to."
"It isn't for the moment, she has been called for an emergency at the borders. You want to leave her a message ?"
"Tell her I forgive her for everything, and that she's welcome with Vita in Planeptune at any time."
"I will. I guess you'll go back home, then ?"
"Yeah. Thanks for the information."
"You're welcome. Vita ! Come here with Uran, please."

The children came back, Uran rushing to his mother's arms.

"We're already leaving."
"Already ? But I was having fun with Vita !"
"You'll see her again, don't worry."
"Promise ?"
"Promise. But for now, we're going home."

Each of you holding one of Uran's hands, Nepgear and you reached the exit, filled with happiness after years of pains and suffering.