Reunited

Chapter 3: Memories of Old

"My, my…Things are progressing quickly between you two."A cooing voice called from the living room doorway. Both of them jumped, leaning over and looking to see Mamoru leaning in the doorway, Ludwig right behind him.

"Ah! Pa-Papa! Pappi! Hendrick, get off!"Theo flailed, Hendrick getting off and pulling Theo up with him.

"Sorry, sorry…"Hendrick apologized.

"What the hell is wrong with you? What's wrong with me?! This is too early for anything to happen but I know myself! I know I wouldn't rush into things! What the fuck did you two do to me? To him?!"Theo said, pulling himself away and pointing to his parents. Mamoru and Ludwig looked to each other, then to Theo who was panting, looking bothered and irritated.

"We've told you before that its--"Mamoru tried to explain. "Calm down before you have an attack!"

"How can I calm down?! I can't even feel like I have control over my own body!"Theo said as he shook his head, wobbling a little. A little after that, he hit the floor, Hendrick catching his head.

"Mamoru, go get his medicine."Ludwig sighed as he walked around and went to go pick the gasping man up in his arms easily. "Hendrick, go with him. Mamoru will explain to you everything."

"Are you sure? Only a day has passed."Mamoru questioned, folding his arms.

"If anything needs to be explained, it needs to be explained now. I'm sure you know the consequences if you don't. I'll talk to Theo later when he's recovered and fill some more gaps."Ludwig said, walking and adjusting Theo in his arms. The Father disappeared, Mamoru waiting for Hendrick to follow him.

Hendrick ended up being lead to a back room of the manor that Theo hadn't shown him. There seemed to be a series of bottles containing many different remedies, some of them even odder than the previous. Mamoru stopped at one shelf, taking down a wooden box.

"Hendrick, do you know what the meaning of reincarnation is? It's the return of one's soul to the living world reborn as a new being."Mamoru explained, looking to Hendrick who was still in awe of the different remedies. Most likely, the young successor probably took the modern day pills.

"I see…So what does that have to do with myself and Therodorea?"He asked.

"A long time ago, my father and Ludwig's father met. They fell in love but before they died, years before, they had bound their souls together in order for my father to save Ludwig's father's life. When they died, their souls were still bound."Mamoru continued, carrying the box with him and out of the room again. Walking down a long hall then up the stairs, he looked over his shoulder.

"We searched all over the world for many years trying to find their reincarnations. You probably don't remember this, but we visited your family as well when you were smaller. Do you remember the portraits in the hallway just to the right here?"He continued, stopping at the top of the stairs.

"Wait…The boys in the pictures and the two older men…Those boys were you?"Hendrick paused, his eyes widening.

"Of course. Silly child, of course they would have to be us. Anyway, continuing on…We used the older men's portraits and showed them to any children we came across that resembled them. In the end, we also ended up finding others that we hadn't expected to find. It was when Theo was a child that we knew that we had found one of them, but because it is harder to locate someone outside of the followers of Reyah. It's when we saw your face in the news one year that we knew that we had found you as well."Mamoru finished, stopping at Theo's bedroom door. "You are the reincarnation of Ludwig's father, Hezekiah Von Grayharte."

Hendrick paused, standing there and staring wide eyed. He didn't know how to…take in this information so quickly. First it was reincarnation and now his soul was from this man's other father? It was crazy! Just how off the rocker was Theo's family to believe in such a thing?

"So…what does that make Therodorea?"He asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Theodorea is the reincarnation of my father, Theron. The man with the long hair in the portrait is him."Mamoru said, opening the door to the bedroom. "Your souls are bound together…It's not only fate, but by the attraction and love that they had. They're calling for each other. It's not that you don't have any control, but it's become so natural."

"I see you've just finished explaining."Ludwig said as he listened in, smiling softly. "He's calmed down some but not completely."

"I see. We'll light it and see how he feels in an hour. Hopefully, it won't cause him to have another attack."Mamoru sighed as he opened the box, removing a black block from it and moved over to a jar that had a hole in the side. Hendrick couldn't explain it, but some how he lit it in the same motion as butting it in the jar, stepping away. The block smelt sweet and even he could feel his own airway, a little congested from a small allergy, clear up.

"Would you like to join us in the library or do you need some time?"Ludwig asked, extending a hand to him.

Hendrick looked from the jar to Ludwig, then to Theo who was resting quietly but breathing a little heavily. "I need time…Please…I'll stay in here a little while. Maybe being close or something will 'awaken old memories'."He sighed, the fathers looking at each other and then nodding almost in unison. They ruffled his hair, patted his shoulder and left him alone to stare.

Stare at someone who was connected to him in a way that was above understanding. Walking over to the bed, he looked down at him, sinking down to his knees and resting his head on the mattress of the bed.

This was science fiction. All of this was some cruel joke that was so Stephen King that it would blow his mind eventually. Shifting so he was sitting on the floor, his back resting against the bed, he hugged his knees.

He was supposed to marry some nice girl, have a home with her and live the way he wanted to, right? That was how people did it but…Ugh, it just frustrated him! He tried closing his eyes to drift to sleep, hoping that he was just wake up again at the house by the sea.

"Hezekiah? Are you feeling alright?"A kind voice called out. Who was…Oh right, that was apparently 'him'.

"No…I feel so confused…"He answered.

"Poor dear…Let's get you up off of the floor and into bed, shall we? It's far too cold to be down there."The voice spoke again, Hendrick raising 'his' head to see an exhausted face, a body dressed in green bath robes mixed with Japanese kimonos somewhere. They smiled so sweetly, he felt an ache that wanted to make him stretch his arms out and hug him.

"I don't want to…I feel better down here…"He spoke, groaning when he felt a pair of arms lift under his shoulders, forcing him to his feet. However, it felt like he was floating more than anything, that his body was just moving on it's own.

"You're being childish now. That's not like you. You truly must feel sick…I'll mix you up something good for your health and tuck you in. How does that sound?"The stranger spoke, moving him over to a bed that hazily resembled something out of a storybook fairytale. There were drapes around the bed, big fluffy pillows that called him and a warm body he just wanted to hug onto. He was laid down to rest, feeling a soft hand caress his cheek.

"Stay with me? I just want you to stay…"Hendrick whined, pulling them down and hugging onto them. The beautiful, warm person smiled, sighing and nodding as he was covered up, the warmth joining him.

"I'll have to, it's sort of my room…Mamoru would have a fit if I didn't stay here…"Another more awake voice spoke, Hendrick's eyes popping open as he jerked his head up. He noticed that he was no longer on the floor, having partially clamored on to the bed and clung to a pair of warm appendages. Peeking up, Theo looked down at him, a little pale but smiling.

"What was I doing?"Hendrick asked, releasing him and sliding off him, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Talking in your sleep. You grabbed my legs and scared the crap out of me."Theo frowned, shifting a little and crawling to his side. "Who were you talking to? Ugh, and what did Pappi bring in here?"

Theo looked over to the jar next to his bed, moving over and grabbing it, sticking his hand in to grab the black block that had died out and still had bits remaining. Sniffing it, he sighed and threw it back in through the hole. "That stuff…"He sighed.

"What was it?"Hendrick asked, scratching the back of his head.

"It's a really old remedy for people with breathing problems like myself and Yoshiru…but he mixed in something with it. I remember smelling it at some point and having these really weird dreams. It felt real, almost as if the person was actually there. When I woke up, no one would be but I would have this immensely satisfied feeling."Theo explained, reaching up and running his fingers through his long hair with a heavy sigh.

Well that explained it. Hendrick noticed that he felt better when he woke up than before, touching his cheek where he had been caressed. Looking to Theo, he noticed many similarities between the beautiful person in his dream and Theo's outward appearance. "Do you know what Mamoru told me?"He asked, the tanned man raising an eyebrow.

"I expect something similar to what they have told me already. 'You are tied to someone you haven't met yet but when you do expect things to happen.' I thought it was just hocus-pocus bullshit until I felt something…when you…you know…"Theo mumbled, his face reddening. He straightened out some, crawling back under the covers and lying down again.

"What did it feel like?"Hendrick asked.

"Like a hand just reaching out and touching something deep inside. It doesn't squeeze or anything, just brushes against it and I feel like I'm ready to reach out and do the same."Theo tried to explain, reaching a hand upwards and turning it over to look at his palm. Two paler ones grabbed it gently, bringing it back down and the owner, back down to earth.

"I felt the same…Funny how sometimes your parents can be right about something all along."He chuckled throatily, kissing the back of Theo's hand. "Well then…Therodorea…What do you think our course of action should be?"

"Action?"Theo blinked.

"Should we just go with the flow or go against it? I don't think you're fathers would like the second and frankly…neither do I…"Hendrick sighed, kissing the back of Theo's hand again. Theo reddened more, his fingers twitching a little as his face contorted.

"T-then…Will you…wait? I know things were rushed before…but would you mind if we just did it the old fashioned way? As much as the prospects of a good lay are wonderful…I know you only as the guy I have to take care of. Can I get to know you better?"Theo mumbled, his face reddening more.

Hendrick smiled, leaning down and planting a kiss to his lips, pulling away. "It's a date."He chuckled, brushing some hair from Theo's face. "I'll come get you for lunch."

"A lunch date?"Theo laughed drowsily.

"Of course."Hendrick smiled, rising from the bed and leaving the bedroom. Theo snuggled back down, running the pads of his hand down the one that had been touched, caressed and kissed repetitively.


"Coming here was a good idea…"A hoarse whisper sounded off in his ear, making him flinch.

"That tickles…"Theo laughed lazily. "Here…?"

"The shore just near the castle…You can heal, the boys can play…I spend time with all of you…"The voice hummed, a pair of familiar hands coming about him and squeezing tightly.

"Castle…?"Theo questioned.

"You're head must be still a little scrambled from tripping…Always a little clumsy when you try your hardest not to be…I'll take care of you. I promised remember?"The same voice chuckled a little, Theo feeling a little heavier as he leaned back some.

"Promise?"He sighed, snuggling back against a sun-warm body, drifting off to sleep. "Don't promise such a silly thing…"


Theo's eyes slipped open to see Mamoru hovering over him, feeling his forehead. He smiled upon seeing his youngest son awake. "You look much better. Come on, Lunch is ready."Mamoru smiled, helping him to sit up. Theo looked around the room, spotting Hendrick hovering around the door, shifting a little uncomfortably.

"What happened to him?"Theo asked, sliding his feet over the bed and walking briskly to the door. Putting a hand on Hendrick's cheek, he could feel that it was burning up from embarrassment.

"He accidentally walked in on us."Mamoru chuckled, Theo's eyebrows raising.

"Walked in doing what?"He asked, paling a little.

"I…I walked in on them…doing…well…you know…What couples usually do. It's not the first time I've seen it though but…They're your parents, not mine…"Hendrick flushed brightly, getting a friendly pat on the shoulder from the father figure.

"Pappi, what did I tell you about locking the door when we have guests over? At least make it known that you're unavailable at the time while you're getting your---"Theo growled, putting his hands on his hips.

"Finish that sentence and you'll be in the gym for two days doing swimming bouts."Mamoru tsked, flicking Theo on the forehead. "Lunch is in the big Gazebo."

"Right, right."Theo sighed, rubbing the spot. Still, he felt a swift smack on his backside, yelping and running a little faster with the end of his bathrobe trailing behind him, Hendrick following after him holding his own.

"Your family is really active…"Hendrick laughed a little as Theo paused to rub his butt.

"Yes, well we have to be for some odd reason or another. Each of us does something and excels at it or we get something like that done to us. I used to do swimming all through school, I still do. You'll have to watch me practice."Theo chuckled as he lead Hezekiah towards the back of the massive house to a back door. The back door lead down a long netted wooden pathway to another large structure in the back.

They could already hear the arguing and laughter ensuing in the gazebo.

"You should have seen the look on his face!"

"Derrick, you didn't have to go that far. Mamoru was embarrassed too."

"Still, you didn't have to be that mean. You too Ari. I heard you two were sneaking about and planning to trick him like that."They could hear Yoshiru scold.

"It's a welcoming ceremony for him by us of course. He has to be exposed to this sort of thing while he's still young."Ari chuckled, leaning back in his chair.

"So, it was you two."Theo growled, standing with his arms crossed. "Assholes…Did you really have to embarrass him like that? It's just his first day here!"

"He's one of the family now isn't he?"Gary said, his mouth filled with sandwich. "I think he can take it. He's hanging with Theo isn't he?"

"And what's the matter with me?"Theo growled again, slamming his hands on the table.

"You're a Fish but you've got the temper of a firecracker."Ari smirked.

"Says you you frickin' Pyro!"Theo sneered.

"That's enough."Hendrick spoke up, gently touching Theo's shoulder. "I'll get them back. I'm the oldest of almost a dozen kids…I'm sure I can figure something out."He smiled, looking up to Ari and Derrick who seemed to shrink down in their seats from a glare of teal eyes that threatened to tear apart their very souls.

Theo stopped growling at them, standing straight and looking back at him, sighing and sitting down. "Okay…"He mumbled.

The rest of the men around the table looked around at each other, a little at awe but amused. Theo never liked to listen to anyone and felt he had to bark at anyone who provoked him in anyway. Hendrick had managed to calm him down with just a touch. He had even made Ari and Derrick, two of the most troublesome of all the siblings, tremble in their seats.

Ludwig broke the silence with a laugh. "Well, I think now he is now. Have a seat, Hendrick."He laughed, smiling ear to ear. Mamoru had come in, holding a tray with pitchers of drinks, raising an eyebrow at all the wary faces mixed with smiling ones.

"I must have missed out on something fun."Mamoru pouted. "I've brought cola, milk, water and juice. You know the rules."He sighed as he set the pitchers in the middle of the table.

"Rules?"Hendrick questioned, looking around. "Is it a game or something?"

"It's a messy rule. Anyone who spills something, has to clean up the table at the end of a meal. Each one of us has done it once…well, except Theo and Yoshiru."Greg explained, smirking. "Of course, Theo's a little cheater and Yoshiru can't do it by himself so he's out."

"I don't cheat. I just have mad skills."Theo grinned, picking up his sandwich.

Hendrick looked at him oddly, shaking his head and looking back to his plate. Raising an eyebrow though, he saw that his own lunch had disappeared, looking around the table. Everyone was busy eating or shoving each other playfully so he didn't even know who was the one who did it. There was a plate in the middle of the table, Hendrick reaching over to grab another sandwich, this time holding onto it warily.

"Hendrick, sweetheart, is there something the matter?"Mamoru asked, touching his shoulder.

"No…but I keep getting this weird feeling like someone stole my first sandwich."Hendrick pouted.

"Boys!"Mamoru scolded, the whole table flinching.

"It was just me this time, Pappi."Yoshiru spoke up with the most innocent smile on his face. "I was just being playful…Plus, he hadn't touched it yet."

Everyone looked down the table, Ludwig even raising an eyebrow. "Yoshiru actually played a joke?" "Yoshi never does anything tricky like that." "Way to go Yoshi!" "That was mean, he's a guest." "Yoshi, just because Ari and Derrick are jerks doesn't mean join in the pile."

"Either way, it's my sandwich now. Sorry, Hendrick."Yoshiru chuckled triumphantly, picking up his claimed sandwich and taking a bit bite from it.

"I guess that's alright…Finder's keepers right? How did you do it without moving from your spot?"Hendrick questioned, forks dropping. Mamoru and Ludwig looked at each other, Mamoru chuckling.

"He probably got help from the others, isn't that right?"He said, narrowing his eyes down the table. Everyone nodded in agreement, turning back to their lunch.

"Weird…"Hendrick mumbled, turning back to his own lunch.


After lunch, Therodorea took Hendrick back to his bedroom so he could change clothes, still dressed in his bathrobe. Rummaging through his drawers, he pulled out a few items of clothing, looking over his shoulder. Hendrick was looking around the room, admiring the color.

"You really like the color green."He commented, smiling.

"I do. I think it's a very earthy color. My father has always told me green was a flattering color but it's good for some occasions…but…I don't like being told to like something at all…It's miserable."Theo sighed, pushing some of his hair back over his shoulder and then looking to the curious face.

"I can see that…Do you have a home outside of this place?"Hendrick asked.

"Of course. If I lived here all of the time, I would go crazy. I love my family and the area…but I want to walk on my own two feet."Theo sighed, taking his clothes and walking behind a changing screen. Hendrick saw the bathrobe being thrown over, the sound of a pair of jeans being tugged on with a grunt. "I have an apartment in the city."

"Is it downtown?"Hendrick asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, it's right above my shop. Maybe when things cool down in the city, I'll take you there."Theo said, stepping around. He was wearing a pair of dark jeans that were a little snug on him, a white shirt and a black vest. Walking over to another dresser, he pulled from a small drawer, a hair brush which he took with him to a reclining chair, sitting down and brushing his hair out.

"That would be great…Theo…has there been any news about my mother and siblings?"Hendrick asked, Theo's brushing pausing. He raised his eyes, his eyebrows furrowed.

"No…Ludwig has been keeping track of the news. No talk of your mother or siblings yet other than that they're alive and someone saw them sneaking out the back of the mansion. I have a feeling that they've made it somewhere safe."Theo smiled, getting up and plopping down in front of Hendrick with the brush in hand. "Brush me."

"I…Alright."Hendrick sighed, shaking his head with a little smile. He knew Theo was trying to distract him from feeling guilty or sad about anything but he was grateful for the effort. Brushing out the long tangles of hair, Theo hummed a little song, fidgeting a little.

"You really can't sit still can you?"Hendrick laughed, grabbing Theo's shoulders to sit him still.

"No I can't. I feel like I want to run around right now."Theo said, hopping up and down.

"Well, I'm done brushing your hair. I'm sorry about your hair band…Do you have any ribbon?"Hendrick asked, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Ribbon?"Theo questioned, looking up at him.

"My younger sisters used to ask me to help with their hair all the time…"He blushed, twiddling his thumbs. Theo got up, smiling and leaning down to kiss his cheek.

"Of course I do. I'll go grab it."Theo grinned, stepping away and moving over to the same drawer he had pulled out a black ribbon, almost skipping over. Sitting down in front of him, he handed Hendrick the ribbon and sat patiently. Hendrick sighed heavily, braiding Theo's hair and tying it with the ribbon.

"What do you want to do? Is there any where you want to go explore? I have video games."Theo said, hopping up quickly and taking Hendrick's hand.

"I'm a little full from lunch, but I wouldn't mind watching a movie though…"Hendrick smiled drowsily.

"I've got a big entertainment center in the basement. How about I pop in an action movie?"Theo grinned, pulling Hendrick along by his hand out of the door and towards the downstairs. He had a hard time keeping up, being dragged down another flight. Dragged past the wreck room, another gym and then into a in-home theater. Along the walls were lined with DVDs and video tapes, Theo finally stopping.

Hendrick panted, looking around. "R-really? All of these?"He breathed, wiping his forehead.

"Yep. Have your pick."Theo beamed, finally going to sit down and wait patiently. The exhausted guest sighed, looking over to the shelves. He wasn't sure exactly how these things were organized, staring with one end of the shelf and all the way down. He found an old black and white movie, popped it in then joined Theo on the large, roomy couch.

"Mm? This is such an old movie…Do you really like this stuff?"Theo sighed, leaning against his shoulder.

"I used to watch these all the time with my family…Allow me to reminisce some…"Hendrick chuckled, reaching an arm around and giving Theo's shoulder a squeeze.

"Fine…"Theo yawned, snuggling down some. As the movie went on, Theo and Hendrick seemed to sink slowly deeper into the couch. Theo lay on top of Hendrick lazily, his cheek resting on his chest while Hendrick lay with his head propped up, his eyelids drooping heavily.


'I miss having this time with you…'A soft voice spoke up, a deeper one chuckling.

'It's been a while…Nearly three months.'The deeper cooed softly, Theo twitching as he felt something trace along his back, moving up to his neck and sliding back down to his tailbone.

'Pfft, that tickles! I'm so exhausted though…I don't think I have the energy to laugh.'The soft one spoke, looking up to a warm but sleepless face. 'You should avoid candlelight for a while…'

'As should you.'The deeper one retorted, raising an eyebrow. 'Let's go for a nap…I think there's a spot in the garden calling our name.'

'The garden?'Theo felt the curiosity build, Hendrick raising an eyebrow. 'Oooh…I see…Avoid the most likely places they'll search. Shall I sneak a blanket, Your Majesty?'

"Blanket?"Hendrick responded, his eyes cracking open, seeing a dark figure drape something over him and Theo. 'No…your robes will do…'

"Robes?"Theo mumbled, his eyes slipping open. Peeking over to the door, he saw no one there but peeked up to see Hendrick fast asleep. The movie had long ended and they had both slipped off to sleep…

...but who were the ones talking?