Escaflowne: The Fantasy Continues

Part 5

"It’s beautiful Hitomi," Van said as she held up her wedding gown.

"Now, let’s show him how the veil and tiara look!" Merle suggested taking them carefully from the box.

Van took it from her and placed it on Hitomi’s hair. Letting her hair spill elegantly over the edges of the tiara, he arranged the veil so it fell gently around her face and over her hair.

"Perfect," he said and looked into her shining eyes, she was perfect.

"Well, I’ll leave you two love birds alone," Merle said.

"Thank you Merle, I had fun" Hitomi smiled, still looking into Van’s eyes.

"Yes, thanks Merle" Van added as the cat girl left.

Van’s eyes shimmered with a look of mischief as he removed the veil, leaving the tiara, and scooped Hitomi into his arms.

"Where are we going?" Hitomi asked as he walked down stairs.

"For some lunch," he said smugly and kissed her cheek.

"What’s for lunch?" she asked and playfully ran her fingers over the back his neck.

"It’s a surprise." They reached the kitchen and he put her down.

He picked up a picnic basket, heavy with delicacies and offered Hitomi his arm, which she promptly took.

They walked into another of the large gardens he had redone to his specifications. He led the way to a large awning and beneath it were two chairs and a small table.

"So, what would the future queen of Fanelia like for lunch?" He asked cunningly, "Perhaps a glass of ice water, a turkey sandwich and some cheesecake for desert?" Van said, setting each item out as he named it. He bowed and gently pushed her chair closer to the table.

"Van, you’re sweet but quit clowning around and enjoy this with me." She said as he kissed the top of her head.

"All right if you insist," he said with faked annoyance and sat down across from her. She giggled and took a bite of her sandwich.

After lunch Van led the way again into a large clearing that was surrounded by flowers.

"It’s so beautiful, when did you ever find time to plan all these changes?" Hitomi asked.

"Whenever I thought I couldn’t stand being without you any longer I designed something, these gardens, the bedrooms, believe it or not I planned your room just for you, and my own to suit us both." He blushed feeling embarrassed. She was in a similar situation.

"You did all this thinking of me?" she asked quietly.

"Yes," he admitted pulling her into his arms.

"That’s the nicest thing any one’s ever done for me," she sighed feeling safe in his warm embrace.

"Nicer… than this," he said. Gently putting his hand behind her head he pulled her into a passionate kiss.

She felt the gentle unrelenting pressure of his lips and melted against him. It was all so perfect, and at last she was really home.

"Van, there’s something I have to asked you," she said as he peppered her neck with kisses.

"What’s that beloved?" Van was having a hard time controlling himself; ‘save it for later’ he mentally bashed himself over the head with a two by four.

"Well, Merle brought up the subject of a flower girl while we were shopping today," she looked to him for a second and, seeing she had his interest, continued. "There’s a little girl back on earth, her name is Tara, she’s four years old and was at the day care center where I worked. She’s really sweet and she’ got dark hiar just like yours and green eyes…" Van cut her off.

"Just like yours, she sounds perfect Hitomi," He liked her idea, but how would they make this work?

"That’s not it Van, you see she was abandoned by her mother when she was young and she’s been living with a foster family that treats her very badly, I was thinking that if we went back we could adopt her. She’d be ours Van, to take care of!" Hitomi was excited and Van could see it. He felt it too like a fire spreading in his veins, he knew she was right they had to go save this little girl.

"It’s perfect Hitomi, we’ll leave right after I cancel all my meetings for the next week and a half."

"But Van the adoption process will only take a week…."

"To spend with my family," he finished before she could say any more.

* * *

A week later Van and Hitomi were supposed to be returning from the Mystic Moon.

"What’s taking them so long?" Merle complained, "don’t they know the engagement ball starts in an hour?"

Folken rolled his eyes, Merle was right though, they should be back by now.

"I’m sure they’ll be here," he reassured her and walked towards his study.

Merle turned on her heel, headed down the corridor and looked out the large window in Hitomi’s room.

Suddenly the pillar of light appeared and the dissipated she looked for it’s location and found it in one of the gardens below the window.

"Van Sama!" she yelled and bounded down the stairs.

When she got outside Van and Hitomi where headed her way, Hitomi was carrying a large duffel bag and Van another of a similar size, then she noticed the little girl running ahead of them.

"Meruru!" the little girl said enthusiastically and set the box she was carrying down.

Merle scooped Tara into her arms, "I see you’ve heard of me little Tara" Merle teased and tickled her under her chin.

Tara giggled, "Hitomi and Van told me all about this place and how Van and Hitomi fought the evil bad guys to save Gaea!" she said.

"Pretty neat story isn’t it? Merle asked.

"Yeah, and they’re my new Mom and Dad, did you know that?"

"Mm Hm, I’ve heard about you too little Tara." Merle sat her down and smiled at Hitomi and Van, who were stunned at how quickly, Tara adjusted.

"Don’t just stand there! Come on we have a ball to get ready for!" Merle reminded them.

Soon Hitomi and Tara’s things were put in Hitomi’s room, where an extra bed had been set up. Hitomi helped Tara to get dressed and then pulled the gown she had bought for prom out of her duffel bag. It was dark blue and made he eye’s stand out. She found her make up set and set about the task of applying it.

"Can I wear some?" Tara asked quizzically, seeing the difference it made in Hitomi’s appearance.

"Sure," Hitomi took a brush and applied a light blush to Tara’s cheeks. Tara looked in the mirror and was satisfied with the result. Hitomi smiled as she spun around the room making her dress billow out around her.

Soon after Hitomi finished Van walked in and picked up Tara.

"So is my little girl ready to go dancing with me?" he asked and danced playfully holding her in his arms.

"Yeeess" she giggled.

"Come on you two," Hitomi said with a smile, " We’ll be late if we don’t get going." Van set Tara down, took her right hand in his left, and offered Hitomi his right, she did and they walked down to the dining room.

During dinner Van sat at the head of the table, Hitomi at his right with Tara next to her and Folken to his left.

Hitomi drank her wine sparingly, remembering that both her father and Tara’s mother had come to ruin through alcoholism. As the meal progressed she was asked hundreds of questions, she would barely raise her fork to her mouth and someone else would direct a question to her. Folken realized this and took the time to answer some of those questions for her, she smiled her thanks and ate as quickly and elegantly as possible.

Tara was enraptured by all that was going on around her, she could hardly believe the amazing world she was in let alone that she was the princess of an entire kingdom. Now that realization struck the six-year-old full force.

"Hitomi, is it true that you and King Van have adopted this adorable little girl?" Katrina, one of the dignitary’s wives asked.

"Well yes it is, and she’s quite bright. I’m sure she’d like to talk to you all about it," Hitomi suggested.

"Would you do that little one?" Katrina asked and shifted her attention to the little girl.

"At last" Hitomi sighed and lifted a fork-full of food to her lips.

Van, who hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her all this time, took that moment to annoy her.

"Shall I make the announcement now?" he teased, she gave him a look that said ‘you better not’

"Van, you wouldn’t."

"You’re right, but eat quickly, look’s as if Katrina is wrapping up her conversation with our daughter." He smiled.

Hitomi managed to eat about half her meal before Katrina interrupted her again, and only seconds later the people Folken had been holding off grew tired of him as well and she was the center of attention again.

Van saw this and stood, tapping the edge of his goblet. The crowd grew quite and he began.

"Friends, family and dignitaries, thank you for coming tonight to celebrate my engagement to Hitomi Kanzaki. But there is another reason for Fanelia to celebrate." He motioned to Tara who came to him in an instant; he picked her up so everyone could see her. "Hitomi and I have adopted a daughter, Tara Krinon de Fanelia."

The crowd cheered and he sat down with her in his lap. All through dessert questions were directed at the entire Royal Family, who managed, somehow, to enjoy the raspberry sherbet that was served.

Finally dinner was finished and the group moved to the ballroom. There was some more conversation time before the first strains of music wafted through the air. Van scooped Little Tara into his arms and danced with her for the first dance.

Folken took Hitomi out on to the dance floor and the two couples danced alone until the musician gave a signal for the rest to join. As they did Folken let go of Hitomi and took Tara from Van’s arms.

"Uncle Folken!" she said surprised. He smiled that dopey smile and ‘danced’ towards the door that would lead him towards Hitomi’s room.

Hitomi smiled as she danced with Van.

"You look beautiful tonight, what did you do to your eyes to make them look so shimmery?" he asked, no one on Gaea ever used that sort of thing.

"Its make up Van, girls on earth wear it all the time, you saw that didn’t you?" He nodded.

"I just never figured it out." They dance for a minute in silence just enjoying being in each other’s arms.

"Folken and Merle are so good with her" she sighed. Van held her closer than was necessary for the dance and she relaxed in his arms. He felt his pulse rising quickly.

"They do, but I would like to know one thing Hitomi, why did you pick Krinon for her second name?" He asked the question that had been bothering him since they got back.

"You didn’t know?"

"No."

"It means Lily in Greek," She explained.

"Hm, Tara, Lily of Fanelia. You’re right it’s perfect." The music faded and the dance finished, "I’ll be back, save me the last dance." He smiled.

* * *

"Uncle Folken, can’t I stay downstairs? Please?" Tara begged.

"No, Tara, you need to rest." Folken gently stroked her hair as she lay in her bed.

"But I’m not tired," she yawned. Folken smiled, he’d found himself doing that a lot more than usual lately.

"Do you know and lullabies?" she asked snuggling into the blankets.

"I believe I know just the thing." Folken said and began whistling that tune he always had. Tara drifted peacefully to sleep.

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