Balalaika sat beside Chang in the passenger seat of their Mercedes. The road in which they were traveling was a long and empty highway, some 50 miles north of New York City.
"Who'da thought after all these years we'd end up here?" Chang asked.
"I can't believe he actually got her to settle down, and out here no less." Balalaika replied looking very displeased, her temple resting on her knuckles, and her elbow on the door.
"It is a little…" They passed a house with all manner of random junk scattered throughout their property and Chang continued his thought, "…I can't even think of a good word.
"Where did he say the house is?" Balalaika asked.
"Should be just a few more miles up on the right. He said it was a separate drive off the main road. Not sure how, but he said we'd know it when we see it."
"He didn't give its name?"
"Apparently, it's not a street it's their driveway."
Balalaika smiled, "At least he's managed to find a bit of mystique."
-
In another car, Dutch, Benny and Janet followed the same road several miles back.
"What a dreadful place." Janet remarked at seeing the house Chang and Balalaika had passed earlier.
"It's actually not so bad. These people are different, but they're not bad people. Besides, this is a quiet place, wouldn't mind settin' up shop here myself to be honest. Not too far from the city, airport down the road, and a dock for my boat not too much further." Dutch replied.
"I still can't believe he got her to agree to all this."
"That's love for you Benny Boy. Get a strong enough case and it'll make you do all kinds of crazy shit."
"Ha! I love this guy, but there's no way I'd move out here." Janet replied.
Benny sat back and gave her his best "Oh really?" look.
"Well…" She backtracked a bit, "…maybe New York City would work."
Benny smiled as he wrapped an arm around her, "Ah relax Jane. Miami works just fine for me. So Dutch, did he say how far?"
"Nope, just said we'd know it when we saw it."
-
"Rock!" Revy called from the recessed entrance of their Japanese and Chinese inspired home. The shape of her body hadn't changed throughout the years, but her attire had. She wore a complete tank top as well as a proper pair of form-fitting jeans. Her hair was cut to shoulder length all around and it framed her face perfectly.
"I'll be right down!" Rock called from the second floor.
Rock's physical appearance also hadn't changed, though like Revy, his attire had. He wore a pair of knee-length Khaki shorts and the Hawaiian shirt his wife had bought for him so long ago, its "Fuck you" logo and middle finger still present.
As he came into view, Revy's eyes grew in surprise and her hands came over her mouth to contain her laughter, "After all these years you kept that thing?"
"I did promise that I'd wear it didn't I?" He came to the base of the stairs and placed his hands on her hips, "Today seems like a good day for it."
They shared a quick kiss, "Well, as much as I appreciate you coming through on that promise finally, I don't think that's going to work today."
"White shirt, teal tie like the good old days?" Rock asked.
"Just like when I fell in love with you." Revy replied giving him another kiss.
-
Chang and Balalaika continued their drive and finally came to the out-of-place sight of a barely used, dark and perfect line of tarmac that branched off the main road.
"You think that's it?" Chang asked.
"It does seem rather out of place and this does feel like Rock, why not?"
They turned onto the unlabeled stretch of pavement that appeared to duck into the woods.
"I must say this isn't quite what I expected." Balalaika mused as she reached into her coat.
"I'm sure he's got a surprise up his sleeve."
Just as Chang spoke those words, the woods ceased and revealed a seemingly perfect and endless clearing with an understated yet beautiful home directly in front of them.
Balalaika smiled, "Now this is more like it."
"Like I told Dutch all those years ago, I like that kid. He's smart and he's got a sense of style. Still need to have that talk with him about not asking permission to marry Rebecca."
Balalaika rolled her eyes, "Oh please, let it go baby."
-
"You think this is it Benny Boy?"
"He did say we'd know it when we saw it and this is certainly different."
Their car made the turn as well and the apprehension at disappearing into the woods was present as well.
"Great, we're going where no one can hear us scream." Janet commented sarcastically.
"Relax, I'm sure we'll…" As he spoke, the woods vanished around them revealing the house and clearing, "…be there any minute."
Benny smiled and replied in awe, "Wow…"
The car approached the house not far behind Chang and Balalaika's parked Mercedes.
-
Outside and around the back of their home, Revy tended to a barbeque grill.
She quietly informed said grill who was boss, "You burst into flames on me today and its fuckin' over for you, you hear me?"
Rock walked out of the house holding a tray of assorted foodstuffs, "You do know it can't answer you right?"
"Shut up." Revy replied as she scraped down the grill.
Rock walked back into the house as Balalaika quietly approached the rear of the home with Chang in tow. The Kapitan hadn't changed in the least outside of Roanapur. Her golden locks were still virtually their own entity and her burgundy suit was present as always.
As Revy came into her view she smiled and shouted, "Hey!"
Revy looked up as Balalaika continued, "Two-hands, I hope you've got Pirozkhi."
Revy's eyes lit up at seeing her old friend. She dropped the grill scraper and shouted as she approached the Kapitan, "Hey sis!"
They accepted each other in a hug, smiles on both their faces.
Revy pushed herself away from her and saw Chang peaking out from behind Balalaika. Again she couldn't contain her smile, "That you Dai-lo?"
Chang's smile overtook him as Revy jumped into his arms and he swung her around as a father might swing his daughter, "Oh man! No ones called me that in quite some time Rebecca."
As he put her down he gave her a kiss on the cheek, "How're you doing kiddo? Cut your hair I see?"
She raised her hands to her hair, "Makes me look more mature don't you think?"
"And are you?" Chang asked with a smile.
She chuckled as she quietly replied, "Not in the fuckin' least."
"Revy…" Dutch called from around the house in his familiar warning tone.
"That you bossman?" Revy asked with a smile as Dutch, Benny and Janet were revealed.
"We're here!" Benny called.
Revy approached and greeted them with open arms in a massive four-way hug.
"Look at you girl…" Dutch delicately reached his hand to Revy's hair, "…all cleaned up and proper."
"Weird isn't it?" Revy replied,
"You can say that again?" Janet replied looking less than amused.
"What the fuck was that?" Revy asked with narrowed eyes.
"Never mind." She replied.
"Watch her Benny. I haven't shot anyone in a few weeks and seeing all these old faces, I'm starting to feel a little peckish." Revy warned.
Eager to calm his protégé down, Chang asked, "So where's that husband of yours, I still need to have a talk with him."
At once again hearing of Chang's eagerness to have a talk with Rock, Balalaika's face landed in her palm.
"Enough with that already!" Revy and Balalaika replied angrily in unison.
Rock came outside wearing a chef's apron, and holding a plate of hamburgers and hotdogs. He looked around for his wife and heard the familiar voices around the corner of the house. He passed around the corner and saw all of his friends from so long ago. His heart warmed at the sight of his wife and all of the familiar faces sharing a laugh.
"Am I late?" He asked as he joined them.
From behind Rock, a young boy and girl, both of them between 8 and 9 years old appeared and latched onto him shyly.
"Who are they daddy?" They asked nearly in unison.
Balalaika, the hardened Kapitan, one of the most feared women on the face of the earth raised her hand to her mouth to cover her smile.
The excitement on each of their faces at seeing the two children was immeasurable. Chang would be the one to break their awestruck stares, "Who are we?! I think the better question is who are you?"
Revy smiled as she pulled the girl away from Rock's side, "Everybody, these are our twins; Sue-lin…"
Rock finished the introductions, "…and Tamasine; Sue and Tommy for short."
"Kids, these are some old friends of ours."
Revy and Rock passed out introductions and shortly after, they sat down for a late lunch/early dinner. While they served traditional American Barbeque fair, the Pirozkhi Balalaika had jokingly requested earlier was in fact on the menu as were some other Thai dishes from the old days in Roanapur.
After they had finished eating, Rock showed Dutch, Benny, Janet and Balalaika through their home while Revy and Chang stayed outside.
The former head of the Hong Kong Triad sat back and took a long drag off a cigarette as he watched Rock and Revy's children and commented, "You and Rock have done a good job Rebecca."
Revy smiled, "You think so?"
"When we heard you were pregnant again, I swear I was ready to start believing in god. That lasted for a couple seconds, but it doesn't change that what happened here, twins of all things; it certainly presents itself like a miracle."
Chang handed off his cigarette to her and she took a short drag. As the smoke entered her lungs she wore a satisfied smile. Smoking was a luxury she was rarely afforded these days.
As she passed it back she asked, "So what about you two? I gotta say, I knew you two were close because of your jobs, but I didn't see this coming."
"Balalaika? She's not so tough. She's just like you, underneath that hard exterior, she's just a girl." Chang replied.
"She still carry?"
Chang laughed, "She takes that damn Stechkin with her wherever she goes. She could at least bring a smaller gun. How about you? Still have the Cutlass?"
"My boys? I'll never part with them, though nowadays, they're more along the lines of display pieces." She reached behind her retrieving a smaller gun, "I did get old man Praiyachat to send me one of these though."
She handed Chang her new weapon of choice, a slimmer Beretta 21 Bobcat Inox. It had been modified per her usual requests. The barrel and slide were extended an inch, the gun wore her typical ivory grips and Praiyachat had engraved the slide similar to the way he had her M92's ".25 Auto Switchblade"
Chang couldn't help but burst into friendly laughter at the sight of her new weapon.
Quickly hopping on the defensive, Revy replied, "Hey, that thing works pretty nice believe it or not."
"Guess we'll have to call you 'One-Hand' now huh?"
His protégé smiled as she reached behind her retrieving a duplicate, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
Chang erupted in a loud laughter at the sight of the duplicate weapon, "Now that's my girl!"
-
5:30 in the morning rolled around and the group remained outside enjoying either beers or cordials and awaiting the sun rise.
"You know Rock, looking around as were driving up here; we were kinda surprised you picked such a place to live."
"Actually Revy picked the place. She wanted to settle down some place quiet." Rock smiled, "Just wait, in about 5 minutes, you'll understand why we love it here."
"So how 'bout you Revy? You goin' to PTA meetings these days?" Dutch asked with a smile.
Her children fast asleep, his old gunslinger laughed out loud acting like the Revy of old, "Not a fuckin' chance. Sure I take the kids to school, but that'll be the fuckin' day you catch me having coffee and crumpets with those fucking stiffs. 'Mrs. Okajima, you need to participate in the school's activities.' Blow me you old bags."
As she laughed, Balalaika asked, "So what are you doing to keep yourself busy?"
"I'm actually bouncing at a biker bar down the road. I applied for job and the owner laughed at me so I pulled my guns on him."
"Those little pea-shooters from earlier?" Chang asked with a smile.
"No, I took the cutlass for that trip." Revy replied, "Guy said he liked my style. Ever since then I bounce there every other night."
"You ever watch her work Rock?" Benny asked.
"It's actually pretty amusing. Every guy's first reaction when she goes to cool down a situation is to hit on her. They usually end up with a broken nose, headache or both, and that's if they don't put a hand on her…"
She finished Rock's thought, "…Drew says soon as someone lays a hand on me I've got his permission to draw a gun. That usually solves things real quick."
"Some guy actually drew on her a few weeks back." Rock added.
Revy smiled wide, "Oh was that a good day. This fuckin' asshole starts a brawl in my bar and then thinks he's gonna draw on me?! It'd been so long since I shot anyone, boy did that feel good."
"Same old 'Two-hands'." Dutch commented.
As the sun came over the horizon, Rock commented, "Well ladies and gentlemen, here it comes."
As the sun slowly passed over the horizon, Revy laid her head onto Rock's shoulder and closed her eyes.
"Now that is beautiful." Chang commented.
"Indeed." Balalaika replied before noticing Revy's eyes were closed. Curious, she asked, "You're not looking Rebecca?"
Revy smiled as she replied, "I don't have to anymore. I can just feel the sunrise on my face and it doesn't matter where I am; I'm always home."
And that is all for this tale of Rock and Revy. I really loved doing these. I hope that those of you who have stayed with them enjoyed this last entry. I know some of it was a stretch, but just go with it ;)
As I said, this is the end of the story, but I may very well do more that could slot in between any of these, and I actually have a pretty good idea for a precursor to Revy fix Rock fix Revy. We'll see what happens I suppose.
Again, thanks for reading,
jm