The rest of the day was spent at home, catching up on lost time and contending with so much emotion. Though we weren't in much shape or with much willingness to head out, Daniel took some time to head back into town with the intent to put down for a wagon rental. Fortunately we'd managed to save up enough over the years to do this, with some to spare after the fact.

As Daniel made his return he brought with him a bunch of our old friends from town-- Ulimi, those from the carpentry shop, and even some newer faces who came to satiate their curiosity.

"So, blowing this pop stand?" Ulimi asked me.

"Heh, seems like it," I said. "I'm looking forward to it, honestly, even if I don't like moving."

"Nah, don't blame ya," he laughed, taking a puff from his pipe. "Lotta sour memories here even if it's gotten better. Y'all more than earned a fresh start, and one with your family."

"...Do you really think so?" I asked.

"Absolutely," he assured me. "Do ask you keep in touch, though. You've been a good friend and I'd hate for that to just evaporate over a little distance, you know? I'm sure we'd all like you checkin' in every so often, making sure you're alright."

"I can certainly do that," I said, looking over to the children socializing with the others. "They'd probably like it, too."

"I'll send a big bag of food for ya when you leave," he said with a shrug. "You get any smaller and you'll disappear if you turn sideways. Can't be having any of that."

"Of course," I laughed. "We'll probably be leaving tomorrow, though, sometime in the morning. Want to take advantage of this nicer weather if we can."

"Oh man, not wasting any time, are ya?" he laughed in return. "Sure thing, just stop by before you all take off and I'll make it worth your while. Though, that's not much time to pack or anything like that."

"Honestly, aside from clothing and some other small things, I don't really plan to take much with me and Daniel will probably do the same," I replied. "I came here with nearly nothing, after all."

"Hm, well, whatever suits you," he shook his head. "Just, please, take care of yourself."

"Of course."

"And, might I add, ya might want to go see a face I'm not finding in this crowd. Sure he'd like to know what's going on, too, yeah?"

"Planning on it, don't worry," I reassured. "Probably not until later this evening, though. I'm sure he's busy."

"Sure, sure," he waved his hand. "Just know he'd like to see ya is all."

---

Later that evening, and after a much-needed dinner, the children followed Daniel and I into town and toward a particular large building in Huot's center. We stepped into the building, took a turn, and headed up the stairs to a closed door. Out of respect I knocked on the door, hoping for a response considering the light was still on.

"Yes?" came a familiar voice.

I opened the door. Morissey was sat behind a desk, a pair of reading glasses set upon his snout. He seemed surprised to see me, but much more so when he saw those behind me.

"...Samuel?" he called from his desk, tilting his head.

"Morissey, um...tomorrow morning my family and I will be moving out of the foster home and out of town," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "I plan to part with most of my possessions, as well as the house itself, so I was...wondering if you might want to take it over, or if someone else you know might, instead?"

His eyes widened behind his glasses.

"I-I know it's a lot to ask, but...I don't really know of anyone else who might be interested, and I'm sure it would be preferable to a small apartment."

"...Well, I can't argue that," he nervously chuckled, eyeing those behind me. "I'd love to take your offer, and I'm sure Heather would, too. I'll talk with her about it after I return home this evening."

I felt relieved. After seeing his small apartment I was sure he'd like something more spacious and home-like, especially now that he was sharing a residence with another person. Many apartments are small and cramped and it can be a real trial applying for larger ones.

"...If it helps sweeten the deal, since I know moving is a chore, I'll be leaving behind the large bed," I smiled. "I just ask you two play nice if you use it."

His face reddened and he was at a momentary loss for words. After regaining some composure he looked again to those behind me, his eyes stopping their scan once they met Riv's. Even from here I could see his heart jump.

"...Riv?" he called from behind his desk.

The man didn't bother waiting for a response, opting to stand up on his own and leave his desk. I stepped out of the way to allow his passage and come face-to-face with my eldest son. Riv stood tall -- much taller than Morissey -- and simply looked down at the smaller man, ears back, unsure what to expect. Morissey took one more step forward, his eyes unwavering but his mouth curving into a little smile.

"Your mother would be...so proud of you," he said.

"...You knew my mom, I heard," Riv said unusually gently.

"I did, yes," Morissey affirmed. "It was a very...very long time ago now."

"...I...heard she was a--"

Strangely Morissey stopped Riv from speaking further with a sudden hug, wrapping his arms tight around the taller, younger man.

"Your mother was a wonderful, hard-working woman and the sun rose and set upon your head," he quietly said. "She thought the world of you, practically giddy to tell me about how you were growing so fast and the things you'd do throughout the day. She'd tell me all about how much you loved helping her in the kitchen, how you could pick out spices just by sight even if you couldn't read yet."

Riv seemed nervous about what was going on, especially once I got a better look for myself. The much older man had started to sniffle, his tired eyes shedding a few tears and wetting Riv's shirt.

"I'm sorry we had to meet under the circumstances which came later, and sorry for how cruel and callous I was for so long," he said, leaning his face against Riv's collarbone. "I hoped for a different future, one we could all spend together as our own family, but I was too slow to move and a storm made that decision for me. I'm glad, at least, that you had Samuel, Daniel, and the other children as I don't think I could have given you the life you deserved."

Riv wasn't sure what to say or how to feel given his expression. I stayed silent to allow him more chance to speak as I was sure he, too, had much to say after all this time.

"...I really loved her, Riv, and I wanted to meet you," he sniffled, "but as long as I was in the organization I could only come by very late at night while you were sleeping. I was...so afraid that, should I be discovered, it would put both of you in danger. I hope you can forgive me after all these years, after all my wrongs and fears to right them. I never meant for anything bad to happen, anything like your later experiences. I really, truly didn't."

After a moment Riv's arms came around Morissey and he returned the hug. Not used to seeing the typically stoic man show any emotion it was probably difficult to parse, but he seemed to understand the genuine intent behind the words and gesture.

"...You loved my mom?" he asked.

"With all my heart and then some," Morissey replied, his ears dipping back. "She was a wonderful, beautiful woman and an utterly doting mother. I admit that...much of my initial prickliness was due to her passing. I fell back into vices she'd helped me to overcome and it was so...so hard to fight. It can be hard to take care of yourself when nobody else cares about you-- you don't feel worth the care. I'm not trying to make excuses, but...perhaps provide some insight to how I felt at the time."

Riv looked to me. Morissey's sentiment wasn't unknown to me, my nodding in reassurance.

"I won't ask for your forgiveness as I'd rather you grant me such a thing on your own," he said. "Just...as long as you know that I'm sorry, and that I -- we -- have tried to make positive changes."

Riv closed those mint-green eyes and sighed, finally relaxing.

"...I forgive you, Morissey," he quietly said. "...And thank you for being so nice to my mom."

"...Pardon?"

"...Mom never named names, but did talk about you back then," Riv said. "I don't remember specifics, but...she always seemed real happy and in a genuine way. Stuff about a nice man visiting to keep her company and I think a few times about some flowers. Sorry I can't remember a whole lot...it was a long time ago."

Morissey seemed frozen, his eyes wide with his ears back. From where I stood I could see one more tear trail down his tired face before his nervous little smile returned. From what I knew about him he wasn't used to anyone having nice things to say, so to know this from someone he loved so much was rather intoxicating.

"...I'm glad."

Morissey slowly parted from Riv's front, his eyes wandering through the small crowd before landing on Saffron. She seemed a little uneasy as he stepped toward her, his steps slowing in an effort to show he meant her no harm.

"...And Saffron, I'd been...really meaning to apologize about what occurred after we first met," he said. "The real time, way back with your family."

Saffron didn't say a word, but given her gaze words weren't necessary.

"I'd...authorized them to take your family to a town nearby as that's where they claimed to be from," he said, ears low. "I had no idea about what actually took place, or about any island compound. I really, truly didn't, and I'm so very sorry about what you went through. I can't...take back what they did, I can't give you the time they stole, but--"

Morissey was interrupted by a sudden hug from the nervous teenager.

"...I'm glad I remembered correctly," Saffron quietly said.

He seemed both perplexed and comforted by such a simple statement, one which bared more meaning than the sum of its words. He carefully reached up to reciprocate her hug, going as far as petting through the black hair that, unlike back then, was now so long.

Maybe now, after all this time, we could finally start to heal.

---

We woke the next morning. Daniel and I hadn't much to pack, mostly just clothing and a few odds and ends. I kept your portrait stashed away safely in my clothing, along with a few little things I'd kept over the years. The children were nice enough to help us pack what we cared to take during their overnight stay, even helping us haul the few things out to the wagon waiting out front.

To be kind we left behind what food was still in the kitchen so Morissey and Heather wouldn't have to worry about buying anything anytime soon. It wasn't food we could take with us, anyway, and at least this way it wouldn't go to waste. Morissey would probably like a real kitchen and real food after all this time.

As I walked down the hallway I looked all around to the house I'd called home for the past fifteen years. Truly it felt like no time at all, as though I'd just moved in yesterday. With each step I took I relived the memories of all those days passed, all the time spent with our children.

All the schoolwork done.

All the meals prepared.

All the storms braved and showers taken.

All the pleasant evening cuddles in the staff room.

To call it bittersweet was to put it lightly. While we'd many bad memories, to say all of life was bad was simply not true. I hoped Morissey and Heather would take good care of this place, even with its shadows, and lead it to a better future.

For us. For future generations.

I made it out to the lobby, then out to the front porch. Turning behind me I looked one last time to where I'd worked for a substantial part of my life,

where I'd met all of the children who'd become part of my family...

...where I'd met my partner...

...and closed the door behind us.

We hopped into the wagon, Daniel sitting up front and guiding the pack animals from the house and into town. We passed by several people, even at such a morning hour. Many of them seemed to understand what was occurring and waving as their way of saying goodbye. It was a little reassuring to know their views had changed in those years, that all the work wasn't just for naught.

After a few minutes we made it to the south end of town, stopping just off to the side of Ulimi's shop. He'd been expecting us, handing Daniel a hefty bag of food and another bag of various supplies.

"Carpenters wanted to give a parting gift of their own so they included some stuff they thought you might like or use," he said with a yawn. "Also included some souvenirs from Ramios since why not."

"Heh, thank you," I said as Daniel put the bags in the back of the wagon.

"So, you'll be off, then?" Ulimi then asked.

"...Yeah, though I admit I'll miss this place," I sighed. "Even if there was a lot of bad, there was still a lot of good."

"Nah, I getcha," he smiled, lighting his pipe. "I'm glad this town had some good for ya. It's the least it could do."

"I suppose so," I chuckled, turning back to the wagon and readying my climb.

Daniel helped me climb up to the front of the wagon to take my seat, his following close behind to do the same. He sat down next to me and took the reins, looking at the town, sea, and then to Ulimi.

"Thank all y'all for the help over the years, Ulimi," Daniel said. "Could ya pass that message to the others for us?"

"Ain't even gotta ask," the tired ramiotran smiled. "Be seein' ya. Don't be a stranger."

We both smiled, our eyes tearing up as Daniel got the animals moving. Seems he, too, felt a little heavy over the life we were leaving behind even if he looked forward to the future. That kind of thing was never easy.

After a few minutes we'd reach the outskirts of the town, taking our first steps into the wilderness and toward our future.

Onward.

---