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warpedpuppeteer · 3 days

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It's interesting how Buck's love interests are all written in a way that ends because of the reason they meet/happen in the first place and then of course, we have Eddie.

Abby, who changes Buck's view of a healthy relationship but then turns around and ghosts him, making him wait for months on end and letting him realize she's not coming back on his own.

Ali, who meets Buck during a dangerous situation in his line of work and then leaves him for how dangerous his work is.

Taylor, who lashes out at Buck for using her as a fake date and saying she thought she could trust Buck to be a friend who then ends up using him for her career and chose to put his friends in danger.

Natalia, who's there to help him embrace and deal with his temporary death but it leads to their break up because of the constant talk surrounding death when Buck's not comfortable with it.

We can't confirm for Tommy till it ends but it's important to note how he offers to get Buck into his interests like flying and muay thai yet doesn't show effort with Buck's interests like dressing up according to the bachelor party theme despite Buck being stressed about it. And we also have the fact that the entire reason they got together was due to Buck's jealousy for Eddie which he then claims to be was for Tommy. Makes me think they are either going to end because of differing interests OR because of the jealousy issue popping up again.

Funnily enough, every scene above has an Eddie parallel:

Eddie co-parents with Buck and not only does this not stop after a dangerous event but Eddie also has Buck down as a legal guardian (healthy relationship - Abby).

Eddie is in the same dangerous line of work and they have each other's backs. This happens right off the bat too.(dangerous job - Ali).

The Lawsuit era and The Dispatch era - both where they "betray" each other but manage to work through it (betrayal/lie - Taylor).

Eddie doesn't pressure Buck to talk about his temporary death until Buck's ready and is more focused about him living than in his death (death doula - Natalia).

Eddie who has different interests than Buck (poker, basketball and UFC/MMA) but also manages to show interest and actively takes part in whatever Buck comes up with; he suggests their outfit for the themed party AND ends up staying there for Buck even when others leave (different hobbies & showing interest/taking part - Tommy).

Absolutely fascinating when you start noticing that Buck's relationships keep failing for one reason or another and then we have him and Eddie who face the same sort of situations but they still come out of it stronger together.

It's clear that there's a reason Buck is able to overcome anything when it comes to Eddie (that conversation with Maddie about being there for each other even at their worst 👀) and we've already established that everything Eddie looks for in a partner is already something he has found in Buck. So really, all that's left is for them to realize that hey, the one I'm looking for is right in front of me! 🤷🏽

And yes, it's been said to death (hah) but you don't find it son you make it. And Buck and Eddie have already made it.

#character meta #relationship meta #think whatever you want it's up to you #but narratively tommy is a plot device #there's no if's or but's about it #I'm saying it like it is #the parallels between Buck's LIs and Eddie is insane #i just thought about making one about it since we mostly talk about how Buck fills all the things Eddie needs in a partner #this is my interpretation of how they've basically written themselves into a corner and the only possible way to go forward is with Buddie #doing anything else is a disservice to the characters and narrative so far #as Tim said #it's only natural and this is it #buck and eddie just naturally embody the ideal partner for each other #tim minear if you make me go through another destiel i will actually personally come and eat your kneecaps i can't do it anymore bro #it's literally all there!!#it's a masterpiece #i don't trust you enough but in Oliver ryan and jlh i trust #buddie #911 abc #eddie diaz #evan buckley #evan buck buckley #911 spoilers #I'm too lazy to tag all the characters because they're unimportant #the entire point of the post is Buck's LI vs Eddie anyways #so there

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pilesofnonsense · 2 days

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RQBB 2024 Writer Sign-Ups Open!

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scottmemelordstrashpile · 12 hours

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Survivor Tessa AU (Murder Drones AU Concept???) [Episode 7 Spoilers]

So, you know when you want to make an AU but you also don't want to dedicate to the grueling process of actually writing a story and writing how we got to this part? No? Just me?

Well, regardless here are a couple of potential examples of scenes that could have unfolded

had Tessa been a survivor of the fall of Earth. I guess these are just concepts for potential scenes or something?

Unlikely Alliance

N: Fine. You're right. Maybe I'm not the real N. So I won't pretend to be. But that doesn't mean we can't help eachother! I want the patch to save Uzi, you want it to defeat Cyn. We can make this work!

Tessa: ... *Sigh* Fine. It would be smarter to work as a team for now I suppose.

*Suddenly Tessa presses the barrel of her gun right against the side of N's head*

Tessa: But I swear... if you even dare THINK, of trying to cross me... I'll kill both of you. Understand?!

N: Y-Yes... m'am.

Tessa: Good.

I Found You Faker

*The scene with "Tessa" and Uzi at the chapel unfolds the same until-*

"Tessa": No worries, makes my job easier.

*BANG*

*A gunshot reverberates throughout the chapel as a bullet rips through the back of "Tessa's" helmet and ejecting through her visor leaving a bulletwound behind*

*"Tessa" collapses to the ground bleeding heavily revealing the real Tessa standing behind her with a smoking gun*

Tessa: You must think you're real funny, huh Cyn? Running around impersonating me?!

Uzi: W-What?! W-Who?!

Tessa: Shut it! I'm getting to you. Where is the patch!?

Uzi: The what?!

Tessa: Don't have it? Bloody hell... Then who does?!

The Patch

*N reaches out expecting Tessa to hand over the crucifix usb but she steps back, drawing her gun on N with the other hand*

N: Tessa?

Tessa: No.

N: I-I thought you finally trusted me?!

Tessa: Trust you?! Please! You and that little monster took everything from me! Oh! But you weren't satisfied with just that! Now you oughta' go and destroy everything else while you're at it! Huh?!

N: Tessa... please-

Tessa: No. I won't let you have it. It means too much to me!

*Tessa clutches the crucifix tightly*

Tessa: This, this might be my only chance of finally destroying her. And I won't let you take it away from me too!

N: But... I thought... I thought we were friends.

Tessa: ... No. I was friends with the real N. Not you... You're just a fake...

N: ... Fine. I don't care what happens to me, but please! You have to help Uzi!

Tessa: Why should I? Doesn't she want to kill us all too?! Don't think I didn't overhear that. I'm onto you lot. Can't trust anyone but myself anymore. I learned from my past mistakes...

Old Enemies

Tessa: Fine... just do it already. Finish it!

Cyn: "Manical Laughter" I promised I wouldn't kill you, didn't I? Besides, I wouldn't get the satisfaction of watching you suffer if I do.

Cyn: ... But, there's still a chance. The Solver is pretty chill, maybe you could like join us or something.

Tessa: I'd rather DIE than to serve you!

Cyn: Oh well, it was worth a try. Have fun watching everything you know and love die for the second time. Loser.

I dunno what to call this one but I couldn't not include

*To Tessa most likely*

Cyn: I won't kill you and you can't kill me. I guess we can just sit in this room and glare at eachother until somebody drops dead. But I have a better idea.

End

I don't know what to call this. A proof of concept or something? I don't know. Because sadly I'm too lazy in addition to just not having enough time to make a full genuine AU about this but I thought the idea was interesting so I dunno, if people with more dedication or time on their hands want to steal these ideas for stories, art whatever. I don't care. You don't even need to tag me or credit me or anything.

Basically in general the idea of this AU as I said at the start is the idea of the real Tessa having survived the destruction of the Earth. Now she's hellbent on destroying Cyn whom she perceives as the one that took everything and everyone she loved away from her.

She doesn't trust the disassembly drones in the slightest, not seeing them as her friends from the manor but as crude mockeries of her friends created by Cyn.

Cyn treats the entire thing like a game. Think of it like a sort've reverse Batman and Joker where Cyn refuses to kill Tessa due to her promise to not discard her. However all it does is fuel Tessa's unending rage when she laughs in her face and tosses her aside.

As for Tessa herself I like to imagine she's missing at least one hand and maybe even an eye. Of course her missing hand being replaced with a cybernetic one. (Definitely not a Berserk reference.)

That's about it. I imagine her personality would be totally different from Episode 5 Tessa as well. She'd probably still have funny moments or one liners but in general she'd probably be a lot more deadpan and monotone. When she's not being "Girl too angry to die" anyway. I imagine her in contrast to her past self being very quiet, cold and distant. Not wanting to be hurt again by becoming too attached to those around her.

All she wants is REVENGE. (You could even play with the idea of this desire slowly turning her into a monster too if you want to be really angsty with it.)

I imagine for the most part things would play out MOSTLY the same but with the added element of real Tessa also landing on Copper-9 to find the patch before Cyn (Disguised as Tessa) does. I guess serving as a rouge 4th element or something?

EDIT: I also like to imagine the real Tessa looks similar to canon "Tessa" (Which is just the fake Tessa in this version.) but without the stickers, hat and bow on her suit. Maybe a more visible oxygen system on the back too, like one of those big air tanks or astronaut backpacks. Something like that. Could get more creative with it, but yeah that's how I imagine it.

Oh yeah of course also feel free to like... reblog... whatever. Give your thoughts? I guess? I don't know. I just wanted to get these ideas out of my head I guess and this was the most efficient way to do it.

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greetingfromthedead · 2 days

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Stormy Night (SingleDad!Vash x F!Reader)

Plot: After the culmination of Knives's plans, life took on a different rhythm for Vash and he turned a new leaf with you, hoping to leave the pain of the past behind, but forgetting that he seems to be cursed to bring death to those he loves most in life.

Series: Oneshot, but some thoughts of a part 2 swirling in my head

Pairing: SingleDad!Vash x F!Reader

Raiting: Everyone

Tags: post-Trimax (some spoilers), no use of y/n, pregnancy, childbirth, death, angst, talk of suicide, widow Vash, single father Vash

Word count: 3.9k

Author's Note: @biancalattei, ask and you shall receive. This brought me back to my roots considering I used to write almost exclusively angst. I take no responsibility for any heartache and pain this might cause.

Is he nothing more than an agent of Death? The countless lives that he has taken would suggest so. He is nothing more than doom incarnate, and he can never atone for that. From the crash to his brother's last attempt at genocide and everything in between, the blood of millions stain Vash's hands red. The guilt has chained him for nearly all his life, and he thought nothing could ease it, but you became his constant source of hope. With you by his side, Vash felt like there might be some hope of redemption after all—that as long as he lived, he could do something to lessen his sins.

Some years after the arrival of Earth's forces, life took on a very different rhythm for Vash. He found himself smiling more often and laughing genuinely, feeling a sense of peace that he hadn't experienced in 150 years. A new kind of life dawned before him—a life of peace. He no longer needed to run. He had the chance to see life flourish on Noman's Land with the help and resources of the newcomers. For the first time, he could breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that things were looking up for humanity on this planet. The struggles and hardships of the past were finally behind them. He could now focus on building a future with you.

You settled down around The Garden with other survivors, among them friends you had made along the way, including Milly and Livio, who found each other through mutual grief. Together, you all worked towards creating a sense of community and rebuilding life. The apple tree in the middle of The Garden, became a symbol of hope and new beginnings for all of you, but few knew the true significance behind it. You and Vash looked forward to the future; a strange new prospect for him was that the two of you could grow old together as humans.

Instead of running, you built a home. Instead of cutting short the strands of life, you tied yours together in marriage. Instead of death, there was life—you got pregnant. The future looked brighter than ever before. The tears kept streaming down Vash's face as you broke the news to him. He couldn't believe it, but he was overjoyed to become a father. The joy and excitement in his eyes made all the struggles and uncertainties worth it. No matter what challenges lay ahead, you would face them together as a family.

During your pregnancy, Vash was the happiest he had ever been. He took every opportunity to dote on you, to flaunt his beautiful wife, and to talk about your growing family. He hugged you every chance he got, his hands always resting protectively on your belly. Every morning, he would place a kiss on your forehead and another on your tummy. Each time he noted how much your bump had swollen, a proud smile on his face. He enjoyed every moment he could spend with you and his growing family. And the happiness only increased as he found out you were expecting twins. He couldn't wait to meet his two bundles of joy and hold them in his arms for the first time. His heart was full of love and anticipation for the new chapter of his life that was about to begin. His cheeks felt painful from the wide smile always gracing his face. He felt overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude.

The months went by so slowly, yet so fast, but he knew that every moment was worth the wait. You prepared together by building the nursery and getting clothes and supplies. Vash even practiced by swaddling a stray cat who had become a permanent resident of the new settlement. Peace, like he had never felt before, filled his days.

In his bliss, he forgot the most important truth he had learned from a very young age: he is misfortune, he is death. His happiness is destined to turn to ashes in his mouth. Everyone and everything he has ever loved is doomed to suffer and die. His mother, his brother, his best friend, humanity. You. You are no exception.

Vash was on high alert the moment you started to show signs of discomfort, but you kept assuring him that it wasn't time yet. It should have still been a few weeks before your babies were supposed to arrive. You acted like it was nothing; you had heard it was normal to have fake contractions, so you brushed it all off, but Vash rarely took his eyes off you. After a full day of feeling like you're being punched in the gut, your water broke and the real contractions started.

"Well, I guess they want to arrive early. That's okay!" You tried to calm Vash with a smile. "This just means we get to meet them sooner!"

"Could they have chosen a worse day?" Vash let out a deep sigh. Nothing could change the fact that he felt more terror now than ever before, and the massive sandstorms approaching your area did nothing to help the matter.

"It will be fine, love! I could be in labor for days! Don't worry so much!" You continued with a fake smile as you gathered your things. But Vash knew you too well; he recognized the fear in your eyes.

"Let's get to the hospital; that's all we can do now." Vash tried his best to keep the thoughts of doom off his mind, the worry growing in his heart.

The clinic had been set up by the newcomers and had been provided with all kinds of supplies, but personnel had become harder to come by than ever before. Doctors often went out to the smaller settlements that needed their attention, and so did the one situated in The Garden. There was only a nurse left who looked young and terrified at the prospect of having to take care of someone in labor.

"We must radio the doctor at once! Or Home! Someone!" Vash insisted as he supported you through a painful contraction. His fingers turned purple from your tight grip.

"I'm sorry, sir, all the communications are down due to the storms! We are cut off! And I find it hard to believe anyone could make it through them in one piece!" the nurse said with panic in her voice.

"There must be someone here who can help. There are all kinds of folks settled in; surely someone has some experience," you said, trying your hardest to keep your voice calm.

"I'll go immediately and send someone to ask around!" The nurse nodded and rushed off.

You teetered on your feet, leaning your hands on the bed for support, trying to find a decent position where it hurt less. Vash rushed to the other side of the bed, his hands gripping your shoulders as he looked at you with panic and concern. He leaned his forehead against yours, and it made you feel better.

"It's fine. People do this all the time, right? Giving birth should be the most natural thing in the world, and they aren't that early. It's all going to work out. They will be fine. Everything will be fine."

Vash wasn't sure if your words were meant to comfort you, him, or both. It was so like you to try and stay positive. You had dragged him through the darkest of times with that same mindset. He just nodded, knowing that you are much stronger than he ever has been.

The labor was progressing steadily, and he found solace in your unwavering optimism. Vash held onto your words like a lifeline, reminding himself that you had always been his rock. Your strength and positivity were contagious, filling the room with hope and reassurance. With each passing moment, Vash felt more confident that everything would indeed be fine, even as the situation grew more dire. There was just an old woman who could help the nurse. She had helped a few children into this world, but she was no doctor.

It was the middle of the night. The strong winds shook the clinic, glass bottles clinking together in the background of your screams of pain. The midwife had seen some difficult births before, but this one seemed particularly challenging. The first of the twins arrived without many issues, but the second twin was breached. You were told to stop pushing, and it was the hardest thing anyone could have asked you to do in that moment. You knew the safety of your baby was the most important thing, so you did your best to stay calm and follow the midwife's instructions.

"Oh God!" the young nurse exclaimed as she looked at you.

"You go take care of the baby!" the midwife told her sternly.

Everything that followed became unclear. Little fuzzy dots danced in front of your eyes. You felt dizzy as you leaned more into Vash, who had his arm around you, the other in your loosening grip. The only thought ringing in your head was that of your children. They both must survive.

"You're doing great, sweetheart! Just stay calm! It's okay! It's going to be alright!" Vash's soothing words echoed in your ear as you tried to push through the pain and fear. It was his turn to take the lead and hold on to hope.

"I'm cold," you whispered, your voice barely audible as you tried to calm your erratic and shallow breaths.

Vash's eyes stayed on you the whole time; he saw the color draining from you, your complexion becoming more ashen as whatever the midwife was doing shook your whole body. He felt utterly helpless. Your eyes kept unfocusing and trailing off.

"You have to stay awake!" The panic in Vash's voice grew with every word as he shook your shoulders. "It's nearly over! Hold on!"

Your body was on autopilot; you didn't hear his words; you just saw his sad eyes, the tears welling in them. The only thing that kept the darkness creeping at the edges of your vision at bay was the unbearable pain. One way or another, suddenly, you felt relief. Vash heard blood splattering on the clean, white floor as the midwife rose from between your legs.

"She isn't breathing!" the elderly woman said, unclear to whom.

"Save her!" you exclaimed weakly, unaware of the puddle of blood growing on the floor.

Vash's eyes darted between the midwife and you, but couldn't react before she ran out, leaving the two of you alone since the nurse never returned. Vash was filled with terror and confusion, unsure of what to do next. His babies were rushed off to a different room, one of them in a critical condition. And you. Nobody but him was here to help you, and he knew there was nothing he could do.

"You will be alright," Vash said as he pulled you closer. "You have to hold on for a little while longer. You gotta meet our babies! Right? You have to hold them! And then we can bring them home and watch them grow!" Vash's voice was shaky as he tried to reassure you; his eyes were filled with tears. "Just imagine them running around, playing with each other, and calling you 'mommy'. The trouble they will get into! Our house will be a mess!"

The tears clouded his vision as he kept going, pulling you tight against his chest, trying to find the right words to comfort you. He kept going for what felt like an eternity, until the midwife returned. She stood in the room for a moment before starting to speak in a tender and motherly tone.

"The little girl is alright now. She started breathing on her own and let out a healthy cry. She is with her brother now. The nurse is keeping a very close eye on them." She paused and came closer to Vash, who cradled you in his arms, still quietly talking about your future together with tears streaming down his face. The midwife took your limp arm and kept her fingers on your wrist to confirm what she already knew before putting it back.

"I am very sorry for your loss. There was nothing I could have done to save your wife. It's a miracle we got the second twin out alive, and I think she knew it too. I know no words can bring you comfort in this impossible situation, but your children are still weak; they need you to stay strong," the midwife said as she looked at Vash, whose words had become indistinguishable. He hunched over further, and the encouragements he spoke turned into sobs.

The stormy night was filled with more than the howling of the wind. The screaming wails of a man who has known too much death in his life echoed through the clinic and could be heard even to the surrounding houses. No words could describe his pain. Vash was angry at the world and the universe. How could grief be the price we pay for love? How is it fair to experience so much loss? How did he ever dare to let down his guard again? How did he not see how it would all end in death?

"Mister Vash, your babies are so precious! Won't you see them?" Milly asked the grieving widow beside her after sitting in silence for a long time.

"No." Vash replied just as resolutely to her as he had to the midwife, the nurse, the doctor who arrived days later, Brad, and even Luida. "I don't want to see them."

"But, mister Vash, they are finally home!" Milly tried to be cheerful. "I don't mind helping out at all, but surely they would want their dad too!"

Vash remained quiet, his head filled with images of your body lying in a simple metal coffin. He had buried you two weeks ago after everyone who shared a portion of his grief had made it to town. You had touched the lives of many, but nobody knew you like he did. The hole you left in the center of his being can never be filled.

He had lingered in the house you built together. It felt empty. The only thing that kept him there was the feeling that you could walk through the door at any minute. How could someone like you be gone? How could you be destined to be nothing more than a memory in people's minds? How could he possibly keep going? The burden of death and grief had gotten too heavy; the guilt of not being able to save anyone he loved was weighing down on him like an anchor in the sea of sorrow.

The twins were finally declared healthy enough to go home. What should have been a joyous occasion was a nightmare in Vash's head. He could not bear to look at his own kids. From the moment they were born, he did not even lay a single glance on either of them. He left the clinic the day after you died, unwilling to stay there. All this time, it had been Milly who doted on the children, kept up with their progress, and tried to inform Vash of their wellbeing. But the man wouldn't listen. At first, he stood up and walked away without saying a word, but as Milly learned to be slightly less direct, he stayed seated and ignored her as she spoke. Milly and Luida brought the twins home and settled them into the nursery you had built together. Vash knows the colors you had so carefully chosen, the decor, and the toys, but he has refused to enter that room. It represents his broken dreams and his crushed future. He hasn't been strong enough to face it.

How much can any one man bear before he breaks completely? How many lies can he tell himself until he realizes he can't keep up the facade any longer? Does the agent of Death deserve to live? The answers to all these questions weigh heavily on Vash's conscience.

He sits at the step of the balcony, the cool night air wrapping around him like a shroud as his dark-haired head rests in one of his hands. His tear-soaked face turned towards the ground, the mostly empty bottle of liquor dangling in his line of sight.

Never before has the gun on his hip weighed so much. For the first time in Vash's long life, it bore more than life and death. Tonight, it symbolizes the strength of Vash's will and his resolve to keep to his convictions. He has fought for life, and he always thought he would do so to his last breath. And now he has become a hypocrite. He chooses death willingly, despite all that he has fought for and the ideals he once held dear.

From the moment he realized that you were gone, he wanted to follow you. He wanted to join you in the afterlife, to spend his tomorrows with all whom he has loved and lost. Surely there he could love everyone openly, the act wouldn't doom anyone there to the same fate they had faced in life. And wouldn't his death be a kindness? A way to atone for the pain he has caused? Wouldn't it keep his children safe?

Everyone he loves dies, so he has kept a distance from the twins. He refused to look at them; he refused to meet them, all in the hopes that he could spare them from sharing your fate. He just couldn't bear the thought of losing them or causing them suffering. It's all another lie he tells himself, of course. He can pretend that he doesn't love them, but his heart cries out to them just as much as it does to you. So that's why he must take action before it's too late.

The babies are asleep in the house you built together. In the living room, Milly had set up her bed, and Livio refused to stay behind in their own empty house. Luida is in the guestroom. The house is filled with loving people; surely they will step up where Vash is unable to. How could he face fatherhood alone without you? He is not fit, even if he wasn't cursed. Milly is very loving and grew up with many siblings; Luida had a hand in raising Vash; and Livio came from the orphanage; not to mention, he is more than capable of protecting the little ones. He can leave his children with the people here; they will grow up happy and safe.

Vash rises slowly. He has made up his mind. He goes back inside to get everything in order. He moves through the house like a ghost, careful not to wake anyone up. He takes the last picture he has of you and tucks it safely into his pocket, over his aching heart. He leaves a long note on the kitchen table, detailing his regret and reasoning. He leaves his last request to the people here, and by the time he is ready to walk into the desert with nothing but the picture and his gun, tears stream down his face.

As he is about to open the front door, he hears a little fussing from the nursery. His heart jumps at the little sound he hasn't had the chance to hear before. He can't have anyone in the house wake up now, or they will never let him leave. Surely one little look won't doom them. He takes a deep breath and slowly enters the children's room. In the bassinet under the window, a little infant wiggles in her pink swaddle and looks like she's about to let out a loud cry.

Vash moves closer to the cradle and gently runs his hand along the baby's head, soothing her before she can start crying. But the child still doesn't look quite satisfied, so he picks her up carefully, his large hand supporting her head and neck as he lifts her out of the cradle. He holds her close to his chest and quietly soothes her until her face no longer twists with distress.

His heart swells with love as he looks at his little baby girl, whom he nearly lost too. In the lines of her face, in the shape of her nose, and of her eyes, he recognizes the woman he loves most in life—you. The infant has wiggled the swaddle loose and reaches her tiny hand up towards Vash's face. He hadn't realized just how close he had leaned toward her until the little hand grabs the tip of his sharp nose.

Tears formed in his eyes again, but this time for a much different reason. How could he ever pretend that he doesn't love the children the two of you waited impatiently to arrive? How could he ever tell himself that he did not care? How could he ever let go of the love he feels for them in his heart? He knows all too well what you would say to him if you saw him doubting himself like this. You would scold him for even thinking he could be the one at fault for your death, even if he can't help but blame himself. You would be disappointed in him for not being by the side of your twins after their birth, as they too needed him. You would put an end to his pity party and give him an earful for even thinking about taking his own life and leaving your children to be raised by others.

A sad smile appears on his face as he looks down at his little baby girl. She looks so much like her mother. It's both a comfort and a pain to see her face. But it's clear you never truly left. You will live on. In the memories of others, in his heart, and in your children. Vash will see you in the stars and in every sunrise. He will hear your laugh in the gentle breeze and the song of windchimes. He will feel your presence in the warmth of the suns on his face.

Vash lifts his eyes to look out the window into the dark night. The moons shine brightly, and he whispers to himself, "I miss you more than words can say. Like the suns miss the stars in the morning sky."

As he looks down at his baby again, he could swear he saw a glimpse of you in the reflection of the glass window. An approving smile dancing on your lips. He knows there is no reason to turn around or look up again. You are gone; you aren't really here, but you will forever look over your family. So he must do everything you can't, and that includes taking care of your twins with all the love he has left to give. He will live on for his children and make sure they always feel your love.

He leans his forehead gently against the tiny infant's, tears prickling in his shut eyes. "Daddy's here, and he will never let anything happen to either of you. That's a promise."

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