<Part 1>
 

    Marron sat up at the break of dawn and walked over to the fireplace, lighting the wood there so it's fragrent warmth filled his small cottage. Gateau had always teased him about his ability to walk up as if he'd never gone to sleep. The only times he didn't was when. . . but that was a long time ago. He reminded himself sternly. //And it isn't likely to happen again.//

    After that fateful battle with Zaha Torte, the group had stayed together for a time. . . but one by one the others had left.

    Carrot had married Tira, they still did work for Mamu, Carrot had risen in the ranks as high as possible and Tira with him.

    Chocolate had run off after her sister had married and later settled down with a blacksmith named Mouse.

    And Gateau. . . Marron smiled sadly, Gateau had betrayed them. It wasn't as bad as it sounded, the frenchman had found out that part of his family still lived. They inhabited an island just south of Spooner contenent. Each of them was a sorcerer.

    Rather than kill his kin, Gateau had quit and went to live with them. Marron still remembered their parting as painfully and intensely as if it had been yesterday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*flashback*

    Gateau's eyes held the mage firmly and he finally gave into impulse and captured the other man in a strong embrace, "Marron!" He cried harshly, shaking with his pain.

    "Shh Gateau." Marron smiled softly, "I know."

    "I can't leave them! I have a family! I never knew. . . I can't just give them up."

    "I understand." He nuzzled the strong neck and sighed, "I would not have left Carrot for anything in the world. Family is important, whether they are sorcerers or not, they are still part of you."

    "I don't want to leave you."

    "I'll be fine on my own."

    "Stay with me. Please. They'll welcome you here, I know they would!"

    Marron placed one soft, delicate hand over Gateau's lips, "You know I can't do that."

    "Marron. . ."

    "I am a mage Gateau. Sorcerers are my natural enemies."

    "So will I be your enemy to?"

    "Never."

    "Please don't leave me."

    Tears filled both their eyes and they hugged tightly, cuddling each other one last time.

    "Marron!"

    "I've never seen you cry Gataeu. Don't let my last memory of you be tears."

    That seemed to give the other man the strength of soul he needed. He smiled at the boy he loved. The person who completed his soul and filled his life with meaning. "I will never be your enemy Marron. I love you. No matter what that will never change."

    A soft kiss was Marron's answer, then he turned and walked away. Out of the blond man's life.

    And it killed him inside.

*end flashback*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Now Gateau was with his family and Marron was alone. He did go into the tiny village beneith his wooded mountain at times. The mage had become a bit of a guardian for the town.  He never failed to say hello to the children and take them little gifts he carved from bits of wood. He had only kept one peice that he made. It was a carving of him, and Gataeu. Of their final embrace. It sat in a place of honor on the mantle top and Marron treasured it as his only reminder of the man he had never forgotten. The man he loved, even though he had never said the words.

    //Why do I hurt myself still over this?// Marron ran his hand over the lovingly carved piece and a tear slipped over his cheek, //He's probably happily married and raising babies of his own. and I. . . I am still trapped in the memory of his love. Have I come so low?//

    The slight knocking on the door interupted his revery and he stood quietly and walked to the entrance. "Yes?"

    A small, dirty child, only four or five years old, stared up at him in awe.

    "Are you in trouble?" He coaxed.

    The child blinked out of his surprize and nodded, "Please mister angel sir, my daddy won't get up."

    Marron nodded and grabbed his winter robe, pulling it over his tight britches, "Tell me what happened while you lead me to him."

    The child nodded, "We lived far away from here but then they came and. . ."

    "Who came?"

    "The big men that look like ladies, with shiny metal clothes and big capes and pointed hats."

    "The mystic knights?!"

    "That's what daddy called them! Uhuh! They burned our who village, grandma and aunty and everybody. . . they. . . they. . ." The little one's eyes watered.

    "Hush now, we need to help you father."

    "We're the only ones that got out. Daddy said there was a nice man who would let us stay but he was so hurt . . . he tried to stay awake, but he fell and. . . what if he doesn't wake up?!"

    "He'll wake up. Where is he?"

    "There, he fell down at the bottom of the mountain. We asked for help, but no body would help us cause we have these." the child pulled back his hair to reveal an inverted triangle tatoo and Marron slid to a stop, "Sorcerer's!"

    "Oh please mister angel sir, don't leave! My daddy needs help!"

    Marron knew he should walk away, knew that Carrot would call him every kind of fool, but he couldn't turn the child out and leave his father to die. Sorcerers or not.

    "He's here mister angel! Here!"

    Marron knelt by the man, who was laying belly down on the rocky earth.

    "Daddy! I got help! I got help daddy! Please get up now!" The child shook his father's broad shoulder helplessly.

    "It's alright." Marron assured the boy, "He's burnt and exhausted, but it isn't as bad as it looks, he just needs rest and food."

    "But daddy is strong! He's the strongest daddy in the world!"

    //They must have a deep bond.// Marron smiled, "Even strong men need to rest. I'll bet he carried you all the way here didn't he."

    The child nodded, sucking his fingers anxiously.

    "Well let's get him up the mountain and you can stay in my cottage while he heals up ok?"

    The little boy nodded tearyly.

    When Marron reached to lift the fallen man, his world came crashing in around him and he gasped in pained recignition.

    "M. . . Mister angel sir? What's wrong?! What!?"

    "G. . . Gateau!"

<Part 2>
 
 
 

    The Mage settled Gateau soundly in his own bed then made the child a bed of furs near the fire where it was warm. After Marron had done all he could for the sorcerer he stood and adressed the child, "What is your name?"

    "Mataeu." He blinked.

    "I'm Marron."

    "We have 'Mmma' names!"

    Marron smiled, "Yes, we do don't we. Are you hungry?"

    "Uhuh."

    "Come on, let's see what's in the cupboard." He pulled down a plate and mug and sat a pot of milk over the fire to warm. "You like hot coco?"

    "Yeah!"

    He smiled, "Alright. Let's see, I have some berries I picked yesterday, and some fresh bread."

    "Do you make everything you eat?"

    "Yes, or I grow it. Would you like me to show you how to make candy tomorrow?"

    He nodded and accepted the plate then they both sat by the fireplace. "Do you know my daddy?"

    Marron smiled at Gateau's sleeping form, "Yes. We were very close once."

    "Are you the nice person he was taking me to?"

    "Most likely."

    "He'll be happy to see you. When he wakes up."

    "Oh?"

    "Yeah. He talked the whole way here about how cool you are."

    "Cool?"

    "Yeah! And pretty."

    Marron blushed.

    "You *are* really pretty."

    He smiled at Garon, "You are definitly Gateau's son."

    "My daddy is the best daddy in the whole wide universe!"

    "I don't doubt it."

    "What is that?" Mataeu pointed to the carving on the mantle.

    "A statue I made, to keep a memory."

    "Is that daddy?"

    "Yes."

    "And you."

    "On the day we said goodbye."

    "Why did you leave?"

    Marron looked thoughtfully into his mug, "It is hard to explain, I suppose because I didn't belong in the world he had found, and he couldn't leave it for me."

    "That's sad."

    "Yes it is."

    "Is that why you look so sad?"

    Marron started and glanced at the child's wise eyes, "I. . . I missed him very much."

    "Did you know my mom too?"

    Marron choaked back a sob at the thought of Gateau with somone else, "It is late and you must be very tired. Come, time to sleep."

    "I'm sorry." Mataeu said softly as the mage covered him.

    "Why is that?"

    "For making you sad."

    He smiled, "That's alright." He kissed the childs forehead and brushed a hand through his hair.

    "Why are you looking at me like that?"

    "You look so much like your father." Marron smiled, "It's like seeing Gateau as a child again."

    "Thank you."

    Marron shook his head, "sleep."

    "H. . ." He yawned and rolled toface the fire, "Hai."

    When the child finally slept Marron went to sit at Gateau's side. "You haven't changed." He smiled softly, "A little thinner, a little wiser maybe, but you're still Gateau." He took the cloth from Gateau's forehead and placed it in the cool bowl of water he had placed by the bed before wringing it out and  returning it to the sorcerer's brow. "Why didn't you write to me? I expected  you would move on, but I never thought you would leave me out of such important events in your life as marage and parenthood. No, that isn't fair. I left you as well, I could have payed you a visit now and then, but it hurt. . . I guess that's why you stayed away."

    Gateau let out a strangled cough and groaned, "Damn that's sore."

    "Gateau!"

    "Marron? How'd you get here?"

    "You are in my home."

    "Mattaeu!" He struggled to sit up and Marron forced him to lie back, "He's alright, he's sleeping by the fireplace."

    "It's been a long time."

    Marron nodded and fought to keep a calm face.

    "You're still beautiful."

    A slight blush crept over the fair skin and the mage felt like his heart would burst.
 
    "Marron? What's wrong?"

    "What was she like?"

    "Who?"

    "Mataeu's mother. He acts like he never knew her."

    "He didn't."

    "I'm sorry."

    The blond stared a moment then realized what his companion was thinking, "His mother isn't dead."

    "Oh."

    "Are you jealous?"

    "Have I ever been?"

    Gateau grinned as triumphantly as he could for his sick bed and chuckled, "You ARE jealous!"

    "yes." He bowed his head, "I am sorry Gateau, I tried to be happy for you, that you continued your life and found someone. But I can not."

    "I didn't abandon you Marron."

    "I couldn't stay."

    "No, I mean having Mataeu. I didn't betray you."

    Golden eyes blinked in question and waited for an answer.

    "My throat is kind'a sore. . ."
 
    "Oh! Forgive me. I should have realised." Marron nodded and help him sip some water carefully.

    "You had other things on your mind."

    This time the blush was one of guilt but Marron nodded again.

    "As I learned my families traid, I became a very strong sorcerer." Gateau began. "My family wanted to marry me off for the sake of preserving the line but I didn't want anyone but you. I went over every book of forbidden magics I could find, it took me two years to get the right spell."

    "Gateau please do not tell me you did something rash as to use forbidden magics foolishly."

    "No. I'm not the same as you remember me Marron. I've grown up."

    "I noticed. Parenthood is good for you."

    Gateau nodded and searched out Mataeu's form amongst the furs near the hearth, "He's been my sole reason for living for six years."

    "But he has no mother."

    "Like I said, I hunted for the right spell for years. It was a spell of union."

    "Union."

    "Combining things to form something new."

    "And you 'formed' Mateau?!"

    Gateau nodded, "I used a loch of my hair, and the loch of yours you gave to me, and I poured all the love I could spare from our bond into it. Mateau was kept floating in a magical womb for nine months, growing into a baby and feeding off of our love's energy until he was ready to be born."

    Marron's hold on Gateau's hand was so tight his knuckles had gone white. He shook in shock and realization.

    "Marron?"

    "He's 'our' son."

    "I couldn't stand not haing a part of you near me."

    "Then I. . . 'I'm' he mother."

    The frenchman lowered his eyes, "If you can't forgive me I understand. It was a horrible thing for me to do, but I couldn't forget you Marron!"

    Before Gateau could say anything else Marron threw his arms around the larger man's neck and cried.

    "Marron?!" Gateau held him close, "I know it was wrong, I'm sorry! Please don't cry!"

    "I. . . it's not that." Marron sobbed, "I. . . I'm happy!"  He kissed him softly and held on tighter, "You're home again and I'm not alone anymore, we have a family, why didn't you TELL me?!"

    "I thought you'd be upset."

    Marron laughed and cried at the same time and Gateau just held him.

    "Daddy? Daddy!" Mataeu jumped up onto the bed and hugged his father, "You're awake! I knew you'd be better I told Marron-chan you're the strongst daddy in the world, did you know Marron-chan grows his own food? and he's gonna teach me to make candy tommorow and daddy, why is Marron-chan crying?"

    Gateau laughed and scoop his son up to join their tight embrace. When they all parted Gateau smiled at the awed look Marron gave their child, "Matt."

    "Yes daddy? Do you hurt? Can I help?"

    "Calm down." He laughed, "You remember how I told you your Okaasan wasn't able to come to the island to visit?"

    He nodded, "'cause she's a mage an' they would hurt her."

    "We aren't on the island now."

    "Are we going to see her?! Oh Thank you daddy! But what if she doesn't like me? I don't want her to hate me. . ."

    "Your Okaasan loves you very much." Marron whispered.

    "How do. . ." The boy child's eyes widened and he looked as if he was seeing Marron for the first time, "O. . . Okaasan?"

    Another tight embrace and more happy tears followed. Gateau watched them with unconsealed pride. When Mataeu was finally asleep, Marron lay the child near the wall so he wouln't roll out of bed and turned to Gateau.

    "You're a wonderful mother." the frenchman smiled.

    Marron nestled close to him and smiled back as Mateau climbed over him to nestle between them. "I never stopped loving you." He admitted softly.

    "I love you too." Gateau smiled softly, "Marron-chan."

    "Promise you won't go away again." Marron insisted.
 

    "Never."

    Content and warm they both followed their son into sleep.
 

    "Mamu." Tira and Carrot stood before their boss, "You wanted to talk to us?"

    "Yes Tira. The Mocha's island has been destroyed and all of the sorcerer's on it have been slain but two."

    Carrot's eyes widened at the implications of her words, "Gateau. . ."

    "He is no longer one of us Carrot."

    Dota frowned saddly, "We can't let the two left escape, Carrot. They were a very powerful clan and if they want to fight us, they might win!"

    Carrot sighed and frowned, mumbling something about hating his job before he looked up again, "So where do we find them?"

<Part 3>
 
 
 

    Marron turned to Gateau as he raced Mataeu down the path to the village. His hair whiped around his face and his smile was so bright it melted the sorcerer's heart. //Gods I love him!// his eyes filled with joyfull tears, as if the emotions inside him forced them out and the pride swelled in his chest.

    "Daddy!" Mataeu grinned, "Come on!"

    Marron stopped and glance worriedly when he saw the tears, "Gateau? Are you crying?" He hurried to the man, "What's wrong?"

    "Nothing." He smiled and hugged Marron close, "You're just so wonderful. . ."

    The mage blushed, "Gateau. . ."

    Their lips met for a moment and both held tighter, they had missed this feeling so much!

    "Mommy! Daddy! You're kissing!" Mataeu giggled.

    Gateau pulled back slowly from Marron with a warm smile then turned to his son, "Oh, are you jealous?"

    "No!" The child giggled.

    "Do you want a kiss to?"

    The boy squealed and ran down the path, "Mommy! Help! Eww!"

    Marron laughed musically and felt all of the pride Gateau had and more. //My family.//

    The sorcerer had caught his giggling son and both were rolling together in a playful wrestling match. "Got ya!" Gateau snickered and kissed his son's cheek.

    "Eeeewwww! Mommy save me!"

    Marron smiled and lifted the little one to his shoulders he hummed a familiar childs tune and Mataeu picked it up happily and held on singing.

    "Well then tell me now oh mamu where the sorcerer hunters are
    In the farm or down the lane are they near or are they far
    One step more to go to harbor
    One step more until I'm home
    And I know to stay real careful when I go out to roam."

    The new family walked into the town happily and children ran up to Marron expectantly.

    "Guardian is here!"

    "The guardian! The guardian!"

    Giggles filled the street and parents and children alike ran to greet him.

    A tiny little boy tugged on his robe and gazed up at him hopefully and Marron smiled and knelt before him, holding out his hands, "which one?"

    A round little fingertip touched the left one and Marron opened it with a smile and offered the candy to the lad. After that all of the children gathered close and Gateau watched Marron laugh and talk to the children around him.

    "Daddy?"

    "What?"

    "I like Mommy. I like him alot. Are we gonna to keep him?"

    He chuckled and kissed his son's nose, "Yes Mataeu, we're going to keep him."

    Once Marron had handed out the candy and offered healing herbs and advice to the adults, he turned to Gateau and smiled.

    As if that smile had suddenly made his visible the town folk backed away. Whispers of sorcerer spreading through them.

    Marron shook his head, "Do not fear them, let me explain."

________________

    Day had faded slowly and Gateau turned to his mate in the waning light, "Do you think you should have told them the truth? I mean, we 'are' technicly the bad guys."

    "I love you." Marron smiled, "Sorcerer or not."

    "I love you too."

    "Are you gonna kiss again?"

    They turned to the child in the doorway of the shop and Gateau wrinkled his nose, "Maybe."

    "Gross."

    "Oh really?" Marron smiled, "How do you think you were made?"

    "That's yucky! You made me by kissing?!"

    The shop keeper smiled and handed Marron his supplies. "Aren't they a blessing?"

    The mage nodded, "More so when they're asleep."

    "Hey!"

    He handed Gateau the bags and scooped up the indignant child, "We need to get you home to bed."

    "But I'm not. . ." *YAWN* ". . .sleepy at all." He snuggled against his mother's thick robes and fell fast asleep much to the adult's amusment.

    "Thank you." Marron whispered to the shop keeper, carefull not to wake the child.

    "You are always welcome guardian."

    Then with happy hearts and their sleeping child, Marron and Gateau began the trek back up to the cabin.

    Marron lay Mataeu down on his furs near the fire, "We need to make him a bed."

    Gateau nodded, "He can sleep with us for now though."

    "In a moment." Marron sighed and kissed Gateau long and deep and lovingly. "I haven't welcomed you home yet."

    "You've gotten bolder." The sorcerer grinned.

    "Just because I love you."

    "I love you too."

    "Then kiss me."

    Gateau slid Marron's robes to the floor and proceeded to make sure the Mage knew how happy he was to be back. His lips trailed fire over Marron's sensitive skin and he moaned in frustration.

    When the sorcerer entered him it was like he was finally free. Only now could he claim sancuary in his cabin because now that Gateau was back, it was his home. Marron clasped his neck and brought him down for a kiss as they both found release and Marron lay down on top of his mate, his lover, and fell asleep, Gateau still inside him. "Home."

    A slight dip in the matress made Gateau look up to find Mataeu climb into the bed with them he reached for his son and held him near his side, Marron above him, and all three slept surrounded by the love of their little family.
________________

    Marron woke to a knocking sound and looked down with a smile. "Gateau." He slid from his lover and pulled the blankets over him and their son, then slipped his robes on and went to meet his guest. No one usually ventured into the mountain at all, especially not at night.

    Before he could open the door it was kicked it and two armored forms rushed forward, "Marron!"

    He smiled and crossed his arms over his chest, "You are fixing that before you leave."

    Carrot hugged his younger sibling with a yelp of releif, "I thought you were hurt! Why the hell didn't you answer your door!?"

    "I was trying to when an adgitated Haz knight and his wife smashed it in. Hello Tira."

    "Hi Marron." She smiled.

    "Mommy?"

    Marron turned and picked his sleepy child up, "did you have a nightmare Mataeu?"

    He sniffled and his little lips formed a pout, "Uhuh."

    Marron motioned for his guests to come in and sit and took Mataeu to the rocking chair near the fireplace. "I'll hold you until you can sleep again alright? No one will hurt you here."

    "Promise?"

    "Cross my heart."

    "I love you."

    "I love you too." He kissed the childs forehead and rocked him softly until his breathing grew even again.

    "Marron?" Tira and Carrot both looked like they were in shock. "Who is. . ."

    "Shh." He whispered and lay Mateau back into bed with his father, tucker into the shadows where the two hunters couldn't really see them.

    "Who is that?!" Carrot whispered.

    "He's adorable!" Tira smiled.

    Marron's pride shone bright in his eyes, "He is Mataeu. My son."

    This engarnered the obvious reaction from Carrot. The hormonal hunter grinned and put his arm around his brother's shoulder, "Marron you dog! You didn't tell us! Who's the lucky lady?"

    "Marron?" Gateau slid from the bed and pulled his trousers on before stretching and walking into the light, "What are you doing up so. . . oh, hi Tira."

    "GATEAU!!?!"

    Mateau jumped in his sleep and began to cry and both men rushed to the child, "Shh! Shh! It's ok baby. Hush, it's ok."

    "Mommy! Daddy!" He wailed and hugged their necks tightly, "It was the knights, they were killing everyone, they killed you and I was all alone!"

    "No one is dying love." Marron whispered, "It was just a bad dream."

    "And a loud mouthed baka."

    "Gateau!"

    Mataeu's eyes were wide and his lips smiled slightly, "You said a naughty word daddy."

    "I'm sorry." He blushed.

    "Ok what the hell is going on here?!"

    Mateau began to shiver and cry again and Marron looked from his to the two knights, "Gods! Carrot! Tira, take off your armor!"

    "What?!"

    Gateau caught on instantly, "It's scaring him! He thinks you'll hurt us."

    They did what they were asked quickly and Marron rocked the child, "Shh, see? They're ok. See? This is your uncle Carrot and aunt Tira."

    "Marron you. . ." Tira realized, "and Gateau!"

    Carrot turned bright red, "You perverted my little brother!!!"

    Gateau lept away from Carrot and his hair swept off of his forehead a moment.

    "You're a sorcerer!"

    "Carrot wait!" Marron and Tira pleaded.

    "You. . . You. . ."

    Marron walked to Carrot quietly, "Brother."

    "WHAT?!"

    *SLAP*

    The hunter looked up from the floor in disbelief, "Marron! What was that for?!"

    "You come into my house, wake and scare my child and then threaten my husband and now you ask why I slapped you. Brother have you grown up at all being a knight?"

    "H. . . husband?"

    "We will speak tommorow, for now though, Mataeu needs to sleep and so do you."

    "Marron. . ."

    "Tommorow." He sighed and walked over to his bed, laying Mataeu softly upon it and spooning him close. Gateau slid into bed also and spooned Marron to him. They were asleep in minuets and Carrot just starred.

    "He's right Carrot, we should get some rest."

    "But he. . . they. . . he. . ."

    She layed out their bed rolls and smiled, "Sleep now ok? Things will look better my the light of day."
 

    Carrot slowly opened his eyes and moaned, things did not look better by light of day. Things looked like his little brother kissing another man and dressing their son. "Oh Gods."

    "Good morning brother." Marron tied Mataeu's shirt for him and nodded that he could go outside to play now. "Stay close to the cabin alright?"

    "Yes momma."

    "Momma? Marron you're a guy!"

    "I realize that."

    "Are you having some second childhood syndom or something?"

    "No."

    "Tira say something to him!"

    She smiled, "Congradulations."

    "NOT THAT!!!"

    Gateau hugged Marron from behind and rested his chin on the other man's head, "What's so wrong about this? We have a child, we love each other, we support eachother. . ."

    "He's a guy!"

    "Carrot." Marron smiled, "What is the most important thing in a relationship?"

    "Love, trust. . . sex. . ."

    Tira glarred. "Carrot!"

    "We have all three of those."

    "I didn't need to hear that."

    "Brother don't you understand? It doesn't matter how we make love, just that we love eachother."

    "But he's. . ."

    "A guy." They all finished for him.

    Carrot shook his head, "A sorcerer!"

    Tira's eyes widened, "The two. . ."

    "What are you talking about?"

    "We were sent to dispose of the two survivers of the Mocha island raid."

    Marron stiffened and ran to the door, "Mataeu! Mataeu come inside." He held his son close and stepped back in front of Gateau, "They are staying with me. I take full responability."

    "That isn't your decision to make."

    Gateau growled and put his arms around his family, "No way you're taking us away from here."

    "It isn't up to you!"

    Marron's eyes made Carrot pause. They were so cold! "Carrot, I have always looked up to you, even at your worst you are my big brother, but if you try to take my son or husband you will be dead to me."

    "Marron."

    He didn't flinch, just waited with those cold eyes.

    "I. . . Marron. . ."

    Mataeu blinked up at his mother's stern face and then at Carrot, "Daddy? I uncle Carrot a bad man?"

    Gateau waited for Carrot's answer, "I don't know Matt, but we'll find out soon."

    "Marron I have to do my job!"

    "Is it more importan than family?"

    "Don't make me choose."

    Tira held Carrot's hand and blinked back tears. "Maybe we should go."

    "Marron, you know I love you. You're my kid brother."

    "I know brother, I love you too."

    "Then why are you forcing me like this?!"

    "Gateau and Mataeu are a part of me Carrot. My husband, and my *son*. Just because Gateau is male doesn't make our union less felt. What would you do if Mamu tried to hurt Tira?"

    "Tira. . ." Carrot's eyes sparked in realization and he looked back at his brother in pain, "I. . . alright Marron. I'll tell Mamu the Gateau is dead but it will only bye you some time. She'll find out."

    Marron hugged the dark haired man and smiled, "Thank you brother."

    Mataeu reached out and snagged his arms around Carrot's neck as Marron pulled away, "I'm glad you're not a bad man."

    That made the knight smile again, "If I was then who'd spoil you rotten and teach you about girls?!"

    A collective groan made the boy look up in confusion, "What?"

    "Maybe your not so bad after all squirt."

    Carrot turned to the frenchman who had spoken, "Gateau, if I ever here about you hurting them I'll personally slay your sorcerer ass."

    "Point recieved."

    "Come." Marron led Carrot to the kitchen and began breakfast, "We have much to talk about."

    "Mommy? can I go outside now?"

    "I think you should stay by daddy and I for now alright?"

    "I'm bored."

    He took a box from his sleave and handed it to the boy, "I made you these."

    Mataeu squealed in joy and began pulling out small wooden figures of dragons, mages, knights, and sorcerers. Soon an all out battle was occering between the crafted men.

    Carrot smiled then grinned up at Marron, "So 'Mommy' when'd they get here?"

    The mage groaned. //I will never live this down.//

<Part 4>
 

    "So Gateau got hurt and he came to you for help and brought your son, whom you didn't even know you had?"

    "Yes."

    "Marron you can't just pick up a family and keep them!"

    "I've loved Gateau for a long time Carrot. And Mataeu is 'our' child. They are my family."

    "What will you do when Mamu sends someone else for them?" Tira asked, worried for her brother in-law and the happiness in his eyes.

    "I will fight for them."

    Carrot closed his eyes, "You know there is no 'good' way for this to end don't you?"

    Gateau stood behind Marron and messaged his tense shoulders, "Mataeu and I will wear wraps around our foreheads, to hide our marks. We won't use any of the arts and no one will have reason to search for us here. They don't know who survived, only that there were two of them."

    "But you said the towns people saw you."

    Marron shook his head, "They know him now. And because I claim him as my own, they won't give his secret away."

    "You can't just trust people like that." Carrot rolled his eyes, "There's always a bad one!"

    "Do you have another suggestion?"

    "Talk to Mamu! Explain. . ."

    "Mamu is a tirant Carrot." Marron stood smoothly and faced his brother, "She kills anyone she can not control. We worked with her long enough to see that she will kill if she needs to. Not you because you are important to the balance, but you saw the boy who gave his sanity for her love. What she left him to. You saw the lives she destroyed."

    "She had to. For the greater good. . ."

    "Then she will have to kill me too." He looked Carrot straight in the eye. "For the 'greater good'."

    "Marron. . ."

    "You and Tira should stay for a while. Get to know your nephew." The mage changed the subject, "As it is, I promised Mattaeu we would go into the forest today so I could show him which plants are safe to eat or heal."

    The child stood up, game forgotten, "Are we going now Momma?!"

    Marron smiled, "Get your cloak and boots and we'll go." He looked up at Gateau and kissed his palm with a smile, "Are you comming with us?"

    "Of course! You think I'd leave my men to Carrot's mercy?!"

    "Hey!"

    The mage smiled even brighter, "Your men. I like that."

    "Good, because I'm not letting you go again."

    "I'm not going anywhere."

    "Ready!" Mataeu ran and lept onto Marron's lap.

    "Ok HOLD ON!"

    They all turned to Carrot and the elder Glace scowled, "Do you have to be all lovey cuddly? It's disgusting!"

    "Daddy and Mommy kiss all the time." Mataeu stuck his tongue out, "They aren't di'gus'ing! It's how we say 'I love you.' They give me kisses too, little ones cause I'm their baby." He smiled proudly, "You're just jellyous that mommy doesn't kiss you."

    Carrot glarred at the kid and the kid glarred right back. Finally Marron stood and lifted his son with him, "Alright, enough you two. Let's go before it get's too late. Darkness comes quickly in the forest."

    "Mommy can I help you cook what we bring home?"

    Gateau smiled and waked beside them, taking Marron's free hand in his own.

    "Of course." Marron rubbed Mataeu's nose with his own, "And maybe we'll even make a pie for desert." They walked out the door and Carrot stood listening to their voices fadeing into the distance.

    "A berry pie?!"

    "Mm hmm, with lots of whipped cream on top."

    "Can I whip the creme?"

    "Yes you and daddy can whip the creme. But you have to set the table too."

    "Deal!"

    Tira put her arms around her husband, "Carrot? Are you ok?"

    "I. . .  He. . . Tira what did I do wrong?"

    "Carrot."

    "I mean I tried to be a good big brother, I taught him about girls and I showed him the ropes and he turns around and marries a sorcerer. a MALE sorcerer. And has his kid! How the fuck did he have his kid?!"

    "You need to calm down and look at it another way."

    "What way is that?"

    "Have you ever seen Marron so happy?"

    "I. . ." Carrot seemed to visiably deflate and he finally shook his head, "No."

    "And you know that they love eachother."

    "But. . . Gateau did take it really hard when Marron died. And you did say they were together when they found you in the other world."

    "So you see, that's the best you could wish for someone. To be in love and have a family."

    "I just. . . he's just a baby!"

    "Carrot." Tira chuckled and hugged him. "Somewhere along the line your little brother grew up."

    The man nodded and closed his eyes, "I know." He sat back in Tira's embrace and sighed, "He'll always be my baby brother."

    "Of course." Tira nodded, "Just . . . you know. Let him be a man too."

    Carrot chuckled, "And a mom."

    Tira giggled and he hugged her softly, "I knew there was a reason I married you."

    He smiled and cuddled closer, "Just don't let it get out ok? I wouldn't want to ruin my image."
 
    "Whatever you say snuggle bunny."

    "Hey!"

    Their laughter carried out into the wood where Marron, Gateau, and Mataeu picked berries for the pie.

    "Tira is good for Carrot." Gateau grinned, "I think he'll be ok with this."

    "Yes." The mage kissed his husband and blushed, "He knows we love each other."

    Mataeu giggled, "Kissing! Kissing!"

    "You want some too?" Marron turned sparkling eyes to his son.

    "No! Eww! get away!"

    Gateau hunched over and laughed an odd, feigned laughed, "I'm going to get you little lamb."

    "No!" Mataeu squealed with laughter as his father chased him around the clearing and Marron watched in tranquil happiness.

    //This is my family. Thank you my Gods, for blessing me so.//

    Mataeu crawled close to his mother, "Mommy? Why are you crying?"

    "Marron?" Gateau knelt in front of him and the mag eshook his head with a sob and gathered them both into his arms.

    "They are happy tears. Because I love you both so very much."

    Gateau held his lover and their child close and leaned his head toward Marron softly.

    "Are you going to kiss AGAIN?!"

    Playfull laughter filled the woods again and the spirits smiled down on them. For now at least, they would be ok.
 
 

~Owari~
for now