DGM belongs to Katsura Hoshino, and I'm just playing in the haven of her fictional world.

The Change That Was Allen Walker

Chapter 10; Introducing: Family

This is the last chapter, thanks for reading this far. :)

3 years later;

Allen chewed on his lip silently, staring fixedly at the painting in front of him. Streaks of red and orange were thrown around the canvas, accompanied with splatters of green and yellow. He couldn't figure it out. Giving up, he proceeded to walk on to the next exhibit. It was too bad Fou wasn't in his History class, or she would have accompanied him to the museum and he could at least have someone to talk to. It wasn't as if he didn't have friends, just that everyone had their own cliques and he didn't bother attaching himself to any group. Hands in his pocket, he stared absent-mindedly out of the large glass windows. Snow drifted lazily down from the sky, carpeting the pavements. He decided that he would bring Timothy and Daisya out to make snowmen when he got home.

A hair of red entered the café across the street.

Eyes widening, Allen stood frozen in his spot.

Could it be?

Allen huffed, deciding that it wouldn't hurt to try. He jogged up to his History teacher, Mr. Dopp.

"Sir, I'll be in the bathroom if you need me."

Mr. Dopp nodded. "Hurry boy, only fifteen minutes left before we leave."

Running out of the doors of the museum, he didn't bother looking out for cars as he dashed across the street. Honks filled the air behind him, growing softer as he entered the small café. Immediately, his eyes scanned the place for that familiar shade of red.

None.

Sighing in defeat, he turned to leave. It was then that he noticed him sitting at the very corner, sipping a cup of coffee while staring out the window. A flurry of emotions ran through Allen.

Should he be happy? Or should he be angry that he didn't even bother to visit once?

He probably doesn't even want to see me, Allen thought glumly. He made sure to walk out the door without bringing any attention to himself. (Which was hard, mind you, given his hair and scar.)

"Allen?" Said boy stopped in his tracks. "Allen, is that you?"

He turned around slowly, just in time to see Lavi wave to him and motion for him to take a seat. Sighing inwardly, he made his way to the seat and sat down.

There was a moment of awkward silence. So much for a happy reunion.

"Hi, Lavi." Allen said carefully, not looking Lavi in the eye.

"Hi."

"What're you doing here?"

"Notin' much. You?"

"Class excursion."

"Ah."

The silence stretched on again, filled with tension.

"Hey, uhm… Well, I'm sorry man. For not visiting." Lavi began nervously, running his hands through his hair. It was still as unruly as ever.

"Hn. Doesn't matter." Allen said, as if he didn't care at all. Inside, though, a million questions were running through his head.

"I actually have an explanation for that." he said, looking proud of himself.

"Really? What's that?" Allen propped his elbows up on the table and interlocked his fingers, before resting his chin on them.

"College was a blur. Tests everyday and everything. I didn't have time."

"You could have made time for family."

Lavi didn't know what to say, shrinking under Allen's sudden profound glare.

"Look, I'm sorry okay?"

"We were worried. And we missed you."

"I was actually planning on visiting this weekend."

"Nope. You're gonna be visiting today." Allen smiled.

"I can't. I have projects to complete." Lavi insisted.

"You're gonna bring your work with you then." Allen said simply, his tone of voice hinting that there would be no argument.

"Man, Allen, you sure have gotten more bitchy!" Lavi grunted.

"Uh-huh. I'll meet you outside that museum in ten minutes." Allen instructed, standing up. "And if you're not there, I will kill you, literally, the next time I see you." With that, he exited the café and ran back to the museum.

"Walker! You're late!" Mr. Dopp reprimanded. The whole class was already assembled and waiting for him.

"Sorry sir. Bad stomach." Allen apologized, joining the rest. Mr. Dopp gave a debrief, giving Allen some time to arrange his thoughts. His head was telling him to be angry at Lavi for not keeping contact, yet his heart couldn't be happier to see the redhead well and alive. He missed Lavi. Mr. Dopp dismissed them and everyone slowly filed out of the museum. Trudging outside, Allen noticed that the redhead wasn't there.

Not that he expected him to be there, anyway.

Sighing in disappointment, he walked off slowly, kicking the snow around him.

"Stupid Lavi. Stupid, stupid, stupid as-"

"Who's the stupid ass?" Allen jumped, giving a surprised squeak as Lavi crept up on him from behind.

"You!" Allen yelled, spinning around and glared at the grinning man. Lavi laughed merrily. Allen smiled in response. He hadn't heard that laugh in so long.

Lavi brought Allen into a chokehold, which Allen strongly protested to. "C'mon buddy, let's go!" he laughed once more, dragging Allen with him as the both of them walked towards the train station.

"Can't catch me!" Timothy yelled, running from a snow-covered Allen. Catching up to him, Allen tackled him to the ground. Laughter and screams resonated in the air as everyone played outside in the snow. Lenalee lay in the snow, making a snow angel as Lavi built a snowman beside her. They chatted happily, with Lavi getting up ever so often to wrestle Daisya. Fou sat on the fence with Eva, who had just came back for a visit from college. Kanda sat on the front steps with bowl of hot soba on his lap, an annoyed look crossing his features ever so often when an especially loud scream rang through the air. The only one who wasn't back was Komui, who was working full time in order to be able to provide some money for the Home.

Panting, Allen lay on his back, staring as the clouds drifted across the sky lazily.

"I wish we could all just stay like this forever." he sighed. "Soon, everyone will leave here."

Lavi unwound his scarf and tied it round his snowman's neck.

"We're a family, remember?" Lavi said to the younger boy, standing up and looking down with pride at his completed work. He smiled at Allen. "We don't break apart that easily."

A/N: Hellooooo. This is the last chapter. Sorry that it's so short, I kinda wanted it that way. Thanks to all my reviewers and those who story-alerted/favourited this. And thanks for those who read this far and enjoyed the story. I love you guys :{D