Wow, it's been five years. Another abominable gap in my writing, and another time I must apologize. Though, this time, you won't have to worry about another gap! This time, it will be finished. True to my word, though years overdue, this story will finally have an ending. I had originally planned to end on twenty, instead of nineteen. Such is how it must be, I suppose.

Just keep in mind that I have no plans for this to tie in at all with Eureka Seven: AO. I haven't seen it, and from what I've read, I'm not sure that I care to do so. Since I'm horrible with names though, some might notice that I've borrowed some.

I type this with remorse, as I don't know if this is the ending that the story deserves. It is not the ending I had planned originally, it's not the ending I wrote down in a little notepad document years ago when I was in Middle School. Now I'm a University junior, almost a senior, accepted to Graduate School. So much has changed, but one thing hasn't. You guys have inspired me to begin my own personal writing career, and that's something that I am eternally grateful for. I will never be able to repay the kindness the people here have given me, in the conviction to continue honing my writing ability so far beyond where I might have just given up on my own.

It's also kind of scary. Not a lot has changed on this site, but I've changed a lot. The times have changed a lot. I have to accept that this is an end, for real. Probably not for me and fanfiction forever, but for this story. It needs to happen, for all you guys out there; for everyone who ever clicked the favorite story, or follow story button. I get updates when you guys do, and I know that some of you still do it. And for that, I cannot find it in myself to express just how happy it makes me to know that this project has touched so many.

I'm sorry again if this isn't the ending that it should've been. But, after planning this move (not this plot sadly) for about a year, it's the best ending I could give you guys and gals. Keep being amazing.

The clock ticked quietly on this particularly foggy spring morning. With the kids set off to school already, showered, and gathered for what was now a much more convenient bus ride than what had once been, it was rather quiet around the house. Ao and Amber still tucked away and asleep, and they could stay that way for some time longer, Renton was sure.

Renton sat himself down in a chair that he rarely ever (consciously) sat in. It was his grandfather's chair, carefully sat in the corner of the workshop's machining quarter. Laid flush with the corner, it sat beneath a light that was good for an easy-going break, with numerous artifacts from days gone by littered about the place. The High-School diploma that was an absolute joke required by the reforming government in the wake of the great demilitarization sat high above them all. It was a testament, in some macabre way, to the circle of events that Renton had come through. Below it, with irony that tugged a mischievous grin to the man's face, was Renton's doctorate in Physics. The certification examinations were passed almost immediately after the necessary high-school graduation requirement, almost as an adieu to ineffective bureaucracy.

Dim light cascaded through the high windows of the massive garage, which were shrouded in grey beyond their boundaries. It was a cool spring day, and the dimness of the foggy, cloudy morning was pleasant in its own way. It was somber, but peaceful.

Even still, it was ten years to the day that his whole world changed. Ten years since that young man stormed out of highschool, throwing his fists at other young men, with contempt for seemingly everything but the thrill of reffing out into a free world. Fourteen years old, ten years ago. The thought shook him to the core. Ten years since the first time he laid eyes upon Eureka, ten years since the first time he felt destiny in his hands.

Looking to the old workbench of his grandfather, Renton had decommissioned it, making it into a place of relaxation for when projects drew great ire from his bones. Though he tried not to be one of 'those' parents, Renton couldn't help but embrace hypocrisy in having a slew of pictures of his family decorating the area. He had to fight to keep from tearing open those pictures of Linck, Maeter, and Maurice aboard the Gekkostate. Precious pictures of their angry faces, scornfully deriding him for some perceived advance on their mother. Linck with his missing teeth, Maurice with that stray curl in his hair, and Maeter with that particular look of diabolical femininity. How they hated him. It brought him no small happiness to stack that next to a picture of them with Axel, following the pacification of the Coralians, and the defeat of Colonel Dewey. Even still, it made him proud to have photos of them in school adjacent there. Linck finishing middle school, Maetar starting high school, and Maurice a high school sophomore.

Though, in those last pictures, two more children joined them. Amber, a striking four years old and adorably content with a toy that Renton had fashioned for her. And, between being held by Renton and Eureka was Ao, a toddling two years old.

Renton whistled to break the silence and scoot his thoughts along, one hand running along the groomed facial hair he now kept about his face. Leaning back into his grandfather's chair, there was a small sigh that passed from his lips as he looked out to the placid, cloudy surroundings above and outside. The moist chill pressed against his jacket pleasantly from a nearby window that Renton liked to keep creaked ever so slightly open.

Eight years ago, and Renton had gone on the ride of his life and beaten the military, saving the Coralian peoples - or intelligent life rather. He saved Eureka, and started a new life. Returning briefly to settle the matter of the children and their family, Renton and Eureka went out into the world for a year, hence the beginning of their High School tribulations. Settled ahead of time, and Renton's doctorate immediately following, that year, life had seemed to come to order. Not before Amber would be born, some seven months after the Holy Pronouncement of New Life.

Renton had imagined his grandfather furious at the turn of events, specifically that certain count of months into pregnancy, but he wasn't. Crude humor aside, he was as happy as he'd ever been. Such made it all the more sad when Axel had left everything to Renton, and packed up to live in a new town not far, with some of his old friends who could use the knowledge of an aging mechanic. Despite all of Renton's protests, Axel was determined to give Renton's family 'the nest of all his best years.'

It was a sad thought. Renton wasn't sure how well his grandfather had been doing now, and though they corresponded often, Renton had heard that it was down to Axel and two other old men living together. It was in Renton's nature to worry for him.

Damn old man. Renton's thought's crashed as he stubbornly sat his chin into the palm of his hand. Stubborn to the end. If you die, I'm kicking your ass. Make me cry in front of Maeter or Maurice or anyone really, and I'll never hear the end of it-

That thought was cut in half as the slight sound of the metallic door moving caught Renton's ear on instinct. Glancing over, there was a sway of neck-length cerulean hair as Eureka's head finally found where her husband was hiding. Smiling as she walked over, Eureka's presence immediately broke any scowling that Renton had developed. Barefoot, she made no sound on the pavement, seeming to almost glide on a breeze. Renton had almost stood himself up in time to greet her with an embrace, but Eureka gave him a small finger-flick to the forehead, correctly predicting it would sit him back down. Gasping at the sudden contact, and resting back onto his chair with a turn, he found that Eureka had plainly descended after him so that she could casually sit on his left thigh, as though he were a part of the furniture.

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Renton offered, nearly giggling while running a couple fingers over the contact-point on his forehead.

"Someone ran off and left me to deal with Ao this morning." Eureka said, an immensely warm smile showing through the faux-anger, looking over the assorted pictures.

"Hey, I got the big-babies up and out to school, fed Amber, and she even got herself back to bed. Magical." Renton offered, cheerfully, patting Eureka on the back with a convenient hand. "I didn't even know Ao was up."

"Wasn't, until the very last person went out the door." Eureka offered, calmly, smiling, crossing her arms with an expression of ambient, amused contentment. Yup, I'm totally dead.

"Am I getting court marshalled for dereliction of duty?" Renton asked, contorting to move a free hand to his head of hair, scratching at a particular part of his skull that likely dropped a sixth-of-an-inch when he was nervous. Finishing, he turned the hand and moved it into a salute to add to the humor of the dialogue. "If so, can I write my final thoughts to Gramps before I face the firing line?"

"Maybe, I'll think about it." Eureka said, getting up. She straightened out of her outfit as she did so, one of many personal sundresses that she had taken to owning as life settled in. If it was any consolation to her modesty, she was quite fond of wearing various utilitarian clothes underneath, depending on any planned activities or weather. Eureka stopped somewhat abruptly, looking at the space Renton had been sitting at, moving in closer.

Renton's eyes dashed about, looking for any signs that'd evidence sneaking cheat-day foods into his diet. He'd been meticulous, inhumanly thorough... but it was Eureka. Renton fought viciously to try and keep his face a reasonable hue. "Hey, Eureka, wait, I can explain, I-"

"The picture with Axel in it's been moved. You've been thinking about him a lot recently, haven't you?"Eureka offered, her face painted with platonic concern that was deeply shared. Oh thank goodness that was what she noticed.

Being seemingly off the hook made Renton feel no better. Now his melancholy was ready to be discussed, AND he felt guilty. I should just learn to give up thinking all together.

"Yeah, I mean, it hasn't been getting in the way. I mean, I would have told you if it was. But..." Renton began, after a sufficient pause, and turning both of his hands against his forehead. "Yeah, I worry for him. I don't want him being away when he's as old as he is."

"I agree. We should take everyone out to visit him, and guilt him into coming home." Eureka said, quite fittingly. She sat a hand on Renton's shoulder, looking at the picture. "It'll be easier that way."

"Well, now I know why Maeter's so hard to deal with." Renton said, smiling, giving her a small hug about the waist as they both looked to the assortment of pictures.

"I don't collude with the enemy." Eureka shrugged. "She gets that on her own."

"Spooky... hey, Eureka, I have an idea." Renton said, breaking their physical contact, moving a short distance away to an assemblage of machines lined up towards the corner.

Eureka simply watched curiously after commandeering the space he had been sitting it. Not that it wasn't warranted, Renton systematically moved and drew through the different dollies of disassembled apparatus to the sound of his boots on pavement. An orderly workshop is a functioning workshop.

"Hah, perfect." Renton offered after a few moments before climactically moving away. The resultant display was a few speakers wired to what could only be a stereo, linked to a basic computer system.

"I had no idea you were so passionate about music." Eureka said, sarcastically. It had certainly been an interest for him, though many admitted that he lacked any talent beyond singing. Renton know that she wouldn't tell him that to his face though, unless he wanted her to. Bless her heart.

But, then he made it play a certain song.

It wasn't a particularly slow song by any means, but it was a slow song enough for the two of them. It began with the pittering of some drums before a chorus of strings, and a man's voice began singing to soft interruptions of electric guitar. It was described by some as being inspiring, modern, rocking, and with just the right amount of funk.

"That song, really?" Eureka asked, working to kick down a rebellious chuckle. Renton could tell that she found the presentation rather humorous, but by that glint in her eyes, he'd hit that soft spot he'd been aiming for.

"Yeah. Days, that catchy song we all know about." Renton said, despite easily having no need to announce the name of the song. Walking up to her with his hands open, she walked up more quickly than he'd thought she would. Renton found himself having grasped Eureka's hands with his own as the guitars were strummed repeatedly before the chorus.

The movement afterwards was a bit shakey. But, it was always that way. Renton wasn't much of a dancer at all. But, he tried. When he attempted to speed up to match the repeat in the chorus, the turns became a bit awkward, and Eureka's laughs were sweeter than few-dollar coffee that was more candy than anything else.

So, to make sure he ruined any sense of a serious adult moment, at the beginning of the song's interlude, Renton made sure to sweep her up off of her bare feet into his arms. She turned and swayed as Renton moved in exaggerated dance moves that should never have seen the light of day. Or at least the ones he could do with her suspended.

But, for that, they laughed together with mixed outcries as the song slowly tapered on and on, to an eventual fade-out. Renton eventually setting her to her feet after countless protests, mirrored by his own claims of you'll-be-fine.

It all seemed to slow to a complete stop afterwards. Eureka's smile could melt steel beams, which almost prompted Renton to look above to the structure of the garage, and its state otherwise. But, nope. This moment was perfect, and he didn't need to worry about how pretty the place was, or what needed done. The most important things were right where they needed to be, and Renton was mature enough to know that at least.

"Renton," Eureka began after some time, pausing after saying the name, "I forgive you."

"For worrying so much, and not telling you?"

"That too." Eureka said, putting her finger back to the very spot where she'd poked him before. "you left a hamburger wrapper somewhere. I won't tell you where, but I forgive you."

"Oh, so you'll just torture me with a mess I know about, but don't know about?" Renton protested, all forms of horror and disbelief crashing off of him only after having a pet peeve viciously thrown in his face. "I get it, very ni-"

Eureka's kiss came quickly, and was soothing such as to cast the threat of wanton trash completely out of mind. Renton replied in kind, setting his hands to her shoulders. Her lips were always so smooth, but not so wet as to be disgustingly suggestive. Renton wondered if he ever stopped being a pervert. People accused him of it enough, for sure. At least, jokingly.

After it stopped, Renton smiled, trying desperately to thrust any potential branching from that line of thought into the distant horizon outside. "Hah, thanks, Eureka. You're the best."

Eureka smiled, looking at him. Running an equally smooth hand along his cheek. A sympathetic pass over him as she looked at his expression. "Are you feeling any better."

Renton took a long time to think about that. Longer than may have been warranted. When he became the second person aware that it'd made the standing slightly awkward, he shrugged. "You know, I actually... I'm not sure. Want to actually head inside and talk?"

"I don't want to tempt fate with sleeping children, and besides, it's nice in here. Roomy, open... peaceful. How about you warm us up some hot chocolate, and I'll fetch a chair that I like." Eureka offered, moving a hand to her shoulder after advocating an equal, shared, loving, matrimonial cheat on a delicious, warm beverage.

Renton started on his task. Fetching some mix, heating up some water, grabbing two cups, sitting in his chair, and promptly bludgeoning himself mentally.

It had seemed like everything was perfect a few moments ago, but it seems like that had brought on its own share of gravity to the situation. Were things good? Gramps might be in some serious trouble. Things always seemed to move so fast. Was it that things started to move slowly a sign that things were better? Or was it a sign that Renton wasn't noticing some incorporeal 'badness' on the peripherals of his vision? In life where he wasn't flying on the edge of his seat in the Nirvash, Renton reckonned most of the troubles people dealt with were dealt with day by day. But, there's only so many days. For Gramps, for Renton even.

Man, were these the thoughts that old people have? It must really suck.

Renton did his best to mop up the conflict of his expression. Nearly teetering out of his chair as Eureka grabbed one of her own from the more office-like section of the garage out front. It's funny, despite being the place that people should stop into, it was probably the very last place you'd find Renton. Eureka did have a chair she liked in there though, and the smile came naturally as she sat next to him.

"Are you still worried about Axel?" Eureka asked, more softly than normal. The concern had bubbled up onto her face. "I mean, if it did, we could go find him even today if we wanted to."

"I mean, it's not just that." Renton ascribed, a mixed guilt and self-ridicule welled up in him as he expressed the myriad of thoughts he'd just contained in himself to Eureka. True to her apparent nature, she never flinched, never even interjected. She accepted everything he said, and she wasn't even human.

"I don't mean to sound like an idiot, really. I'm sorry, Eureka." Renton said, forcing up a toothy smile for her.

"Well, you don't sound like an idiot, and it doesn't sound to me like you have anything to apologize for." Eureka said, extending a hand onto his.

"Then, what should I say? I mean, err- I'm not trying to ask you to tell me what to do. Obviously that's not how me feeling in the dumps works. I'm just not sure I even know what I should be talking about. I'm happier than I've ever been, so why does it feel like I'm not... in-control? Like I don't know what I should be doing right now. Am I an idiot for not doing more, or knowing when I could have?" Renton offered, almost giving himself a facepalm, but Eureka managed to catch his arm in the act. Something about the gesture never made a positive impression on her. Again, not entirely human.

Releasing his arm, the expression on her face being placid, a warm beacon that spread from fairly even to a smile like the cresting of gentle waves upon a sandy shore. "I would like nothing more to say that yes, Renton, you are an idiot. But you're my idiot. Just because I love your laugh."

"Well, that's a bit reassuring." Renton offered, crossing his arms. The easiest way to force the sound of laughter was through the black arts of tickle exploitation.

"But, you're not an idiot." Eureka offered, still smiling. "We've been together for ten years, what almost seems like a lifetime now. You know what you should be doing, and you do it. I mean, we're not perfect, we all know that."

"Our kids constantly tell us that." Renton offered. "Or, well, they at least tell me."

"Accusations and false allegations aside, it's hard to look at Axel, and his situation, and not wonder if there's nothing that could have been done. For you. I mean, it's just like you to think about the time you two could've had together, and all of the things you could've apologized for, Renton. You care a lot." Eureka said, scooting her chair a little closer.

"Do I sound like a wreck?" Renton asked, humorously. Eureka stifled down a rise in her cheeks and shifted her elbow into him. The little squeak he made forced the grin out of her.

"No, you sound like someone who loves Axel very much. Who loves us all very much. Who has flown through the skies all over the world to do exactly everything he could for his family. I think this one's just you worried that a mountain will appear that separates you from the things you want, or a Colonel Dewey will rise up to take those things from you." Eureka offered, firmly clutching Renton's hand with her own. Her grip could sometimes be surprising, in how it turned his fingers open and bound her own between them.

"Even if there is one? I mean, it's not like we've seen those before. At the same exact time. And a control cluster threatening to collapse the universe." Renton suggested, humorously, looking up at the vast space above them. Ah, horrible times. Perhaps some amazing times mixed in there, but still horrible. Renton was glad that for the most part, his three eldest children mostly slept better than he did.

"Well, we did see them both before, at the exact same time, threatening to collapse the universe, I will concede. But, Renton, you beat them before." Eureka said, poking his chin with the remaining hand of hers that was free. "You had help, of course. But, you still will now. Even more, maybe. We don't see Savior propaganda around so much anymore, except around our anniversary."

"It is an international holiday." Renton argued.

"And be that as it may, it's because you're amazing Renton." Eureka offered, her free hand now guiding him by that very chin she'd touched to look her in the eyes, her face having grown a certain starkness with the bold emphasis she put on that statement. And it grew no less as she continued. "And I love you, Renton. I always will."

She always had the ability to out-punch professional boxers just by opening her mouth. "Even with my horrible jokes, and sense of humor?"

"Even so." She offered, leaning herself into him.

Renton replied the embrace, and felt warm all over. If only for her support, he felt he could trust her words, which said to trust in himself. Supposedly so, that was a mark of the dreaded adult-hood that he'd been roped into seemingly at the age of fifteen. Though for all of the struggling, for her, from that instant infatuation that lead to a love stronger than any force of hate Renton had ever come to know, save perhaps the love they shared for their children, it all seemed worth it.

"Then, I guess if you think so, I'll just have to put some faith in myself to do things right. Man, being an adult is hard" Renton said, running a hand over her hair. She could only have showered yesterday evening, if she hoped to ensure the kids remained asleep, as per her story. Still, each strand danced whimsically on his fingers as he ran them slowly along the top of her head.

"That's always been the hardest thing for you to do. But don't worry, I'll help. Even with being an adult, it can be rewarding sometimes." Eureka complied, her hands going under his arms and up to his shoulders. She always seemed to find a way to alternate through various methods of hugging in a pattern Renton could never pin down.

"Well, that's why I love you and our kids more than anything else." Renton conceded in defeat. "So, I figure we can finish our hot chocolate now."

"We already did." Eureka pointed out. Two empty mugs sat side-by-side on the adjacent table.

"Damn, I was hoping to steal some of yours." Renton offered in explanation.

"Can you go more than twelve hours without finding some way to cheat on the health standards that you set for ourselves?" Eureka leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, looking with quite the coy, inquisitive expression.

"It's a Colonel Dewey! He gets in my head and just starts shouting! We'll fix it! We'll kill all the Cora-Calories! Every last one! We'll have a new Summer of Love! Get, in, my, mouth!" Renton entirely over-exaggerated, puffing out his chest and acting like a monster, but only after gesturing the entire persona of Colonel Dewey after affixing an imaginary hat.

Renton's own laughter may be great, and there was plenty of it. But if there was a sound that could be equated to the luster of gold, it was Eureka's own laugh. He thoroughly milked it from her, and stole her into his arms. He would not surrender his selfish indulgences, at least not all of them. Hearing her laugh was entirely off the table.

"Okay, okay fine. It's not like I am unable of understanding. We all indulge. Even adults." Eureka capitulated, rubbing Renton's back slowly with her supple hands. Renton again found himself, forcing the potential thoughts that could be accused of perversion from his head.

"So, do you want another cup? I'll make myself one either way." Renton asked.

"No." Eureka replied, only before seizing Renton's right arm firmly with both of hers. "And no."

"Huh, no? Why?" Renton protested, as he felt himself being pulled up, and dragged from his seat towards the door of the garage by his barefoot wife.

"I managed to put both of our small children to sleep downstairs, and that gives us the precious little time of one morning-afternoon to enjoy peace and privacy upstairs. Up until the big children get home, with some breaks in between to see to the little ones." Eureka conspired, exchanging her grip on Renton for a one-handed one.

"What do you mean?" Renton protested, keeping up with her as they broke into the cool, moist air of the still-morning atmosphere outside. Clouds were breaking, but the sky appeared white in the fissures between them. Brisk air danced around them, and Renton basked in the small Earthy smells outside.

"Well, if you've been cheating on your diet-standards so regularly, well..." Eureka said, hiding her face as she stared directly forward, leading Renton to the house. "Well, we all indulge."

Renton's mind was twisted for a little bit until they neared the door to the house, when finally, his dull brain clicked.

"And here I was not trying to be a pervert!" Renton said, in an exasperated whisper.

"Shut up, you dork." Eureka quietly admonished. "I'll head upstairs, you set the mugs in the sink to wash later."

Renton needed no further encouragement, quietly, swiftly moving into the kitchen after seizing his boots off. In passing through, a picture on the nearby cabinet stood out. Or well, which one, Renton couldn't tell. Though the cabinet had many stores of dishware and such-like, the plain shelf was adorned by many pictures of countless friends, all met through the years and easily maintained. Those from Gecko State. The Military Sympathizers like Dominic, the various priests that always preached peace, friends met in the unfortunate journey to High-School after saving the world... so many.

And of course, Renton's family.

After speaking with Eureka, Renton did feel better. It was something a bit deeper than a simple conversation, but with Eureka, with his kids, it always was. Renton knew he didn't have the words to explain it, nor did he have the patience to afford himself the thorough explanation. But in that love that they shared, Renton knew that he had grown to trust himself, and forge ahead as an adult. Even when it seemed like there were obstacles. Though there would always be more, Renton trusted in his ability to follow the path.

Renton picked up the picture of his family, smiling, glancing at each face. Eureka, Maeter, Linck, Maurice, Amber, and Ao. Looking at them, Renton figured, he could trust himself to keep things relatively in check as things continued to change, however fast they chose to do it. Things will be just fine.

Setting down the picture, his eyes found Eureka leaning over the railing of the stairs as it turned ninety-degrees. She smiled at him, knowing just the picture he was looking at. Though, now, his eyes were glued to her, having shed the sundress and the simple clothes under them, revealing the scant underwear that had lurked beneath there. Renton would swear that her creamy white skin seemed to glow in the ambient light of the house, were it not the fact that her wings did so brightly, standing out in a green color that put her present garments to shame - despite their own brightness.

Wordlessly, Renton sat down the picture, and began to walk over to join her.

Correction, things will be amazing. One day at a time. Hopefully, every day at a time. Maybe even every night at a time.

"Taking long enough?" Eureka asked.

"All the time I need. I'm good now though. Now, let's try and figure out some of the fun things about being adults that people always tell us about." Renton replied, in only a slight hush.

"I think we might be slightly familiar." Eureka responded.

"Only slightly." Renton replied. "But, plenty of time to work on that."

And, so there it is.

I wanted a message that would really help contain what I think I wanted to see all this time in a resolution of the relationship building, and character development from the series. Years of writing, my thoughts have changed, as I have changed, and so this final chapter has been more than a little messy. Obviously the original intention was a finish at a big celebration / wedding for Renton and Eureka, and a brief interlude much like this.

Present me finds that this ending has a message I can stand behind, something that sparks all the right emotions in me that are sprung on by rewatching the series. I haven't done that in a long time, so I really should do that.

I hope this ending was enjoyable for all of you. I really hope it didn't get too lemony, but I felt that the narrative content was worth it. I tend to avoid sexual exposition, but that's more as a result of my continued doing it, and now having an unfamiliarity. So, this final chapter is also helping me test things that my writing could still see being polished. Huzzah!

Lady readers, I hope I gave Renton enough love. Since he was the third-person limited focus of the chapter, I couldn't really make him into eye-candy without really getting him doing things that would show off 'dat hot bod.' I hope you'll forgive me. I personally think future-Renton sounds like an attractive, charming fellow. Especially the way I described him, not the one necessarily portrayed in Eureka Seven: Ao (which again, I have no interest in seeing.)

I know I've thanked you all so very much, and I really hope that this ending fills a spot that this fiction may have had for a long time, but I want to say it all again. I will never be able to reciprocate in words the things that this site, and this project, has done for me. I am grateful beyond the words I continue to waste bothering you all.

So, please, feel free to review, and reread to your heart's content. You will not need to wait on my infrequent updates anymore.

Thanks, one last time. Be well, find greatness in yourself, and in all that you do.