Chapter Text
Chance ran to Boothill the moment he got close. "Pa!" He hugged him tight. "I was so worried when you disappeared!"
Boothill hugged him close. "I'm here, kiddo. I'm alive. They ain't gonna get me yet."
"Beloved!" Argenti hugged him tight from behind, burying his face in the other man's hair. "Oh, my dearest Boothill."
Boothill turned and kissed him. "I'm here. I got you. We're okay."
Argenti took his hand. "I'm sorry about Silver." His voice was soft. "There wasn’t anything…"
"He died doin' a good thing. Ain't nothin' to be sorry for, Darlin'." Boothill hugged him again. "It's what he woulda wanted."
Maisie was the next to find them, hugging each one in turn, sobbing when she saw Chance in one piece. Yukon hobbled up behind her having clearly taken a bullet to the knee.
"It's a good thing my old prospectin' days are well behind me." He chuckled when Argenti began to fret over him. "That Doc fella said it should be fine."
"Doc?" Chance looked skeptical.
"Ah, you mean Doctor Veritas Ratio. Indeed. If he has cleared you, you may trust that assessment. He is highly qualified." Argenti beamed.
Maisie looked at Boothill. "What's next? I know I saw the grunts showin' that little blond fucker so respect and a few seemed to even be grovelin'."
Boothill sighs. "Not much, I'm afraid. I ain't able to get those forkers gone. But this should be the last time they attack. I hope. I guess Aventurine's tryin' to get the project details moved to his department… lesser of two evils kinda deal."
The old prospector turned barkeep nodded defeatedly. "New boss, same as the old boss."
"Well, I do hope to be a slightly better boss." Aventurine stated. "Starting with maybe trying to make some amends and opening communications. I know it's not much but…"
"You're Avgin?" Maisie asked, staring at the young man. "You work for them after what they did?"
"Pa said he was the inside man?" Chance said, concerned.
Boothill nodded. Aventurine smirked. "That I am. The same man who ordered the destruction here is the one who lied to my people and denied them protection. He also happens to be a former Nameless." He turned to Maisie. "Now, I have been informed that you, Ma'am are the one I should speak with about potentially starting to find a solution to the problems here?"
"Look. Just 'cause my nephew here trusts ya, don't mean I'm gonna."
"Then let's begin building that trust." Aventurine smiled, his voice as smooth as the silk he was dressed in. "Shall we speak in private, Miss…"
"Maisie. But you can keep using Ma'am for now, boy." She stated, her voice hard. Then she looked at Chance. "I need some time before we speak."
"Of course. I'll be helping with the cleanup." Aventurine nodded and walked back into the crowd.
"He's gonna help me get that forker. He's still not great but…"
"Lesser of many evils?" Chance offered, his father nodded.
"Exactly."
Argenti took Boothill's hand. "We should get moving… we need to help with the clean up."
The next night, after the dead had been given their grace, Boothill found himself brushing Earl out. Something where he could just be alone in the quiet of the small stable. He closed his eyes and leaned into the horse.
"What am I gonna do, Earl? I don't wanna leave Chance here, but… I don’t wanna drag him out there… out into all the dangers 'Genti and I find. He ain't gonna be content to be on the Express like Sakura. But if I lose him again…"
A gentle hand and the smell of roses drew a deep sigh out of the Cowboy.
"You won't, Beloved. Chance is strong enough to handle what we both do." Argenti gently turned Boothill to face him.
"I ain't strong enough to withstand that loss a second time, Darlin'."
Argenti holds him tight. "Even if the worst happened, you would not face it alone. I would be there to share your grief and weep the tears you are unable to shed."
"He's beggin' to come with, ain't he?"
"He lost just as much time with you aa you lost with him. Even more if you consider how much of his life fifteen years is." Argenti's voice is soft and gentle. "You both deserve to have some years together now. So yes, he is pleading his case to Maisie."
"I'm guessin' we need to head in…"
"Only if you've made up your mind."
"You promise you'll be there, no matter what, Darlin'? That you'll be his Dad?" Boothill squeezed his hand. "Even if you gotta do it alone…"
"Especially, if I find myself without you, Boothill. I will do everything to keep our children safe." Argenti kissed his cheek. "They are a true blessing of Idrila. I will always treasure them beyond any gemstone or artwork."
"Okay. Let's go see what Auntie Maisie says…" Boothill set the brush down in the toolbox.
Inside, Maisie, Yukon and Chance all sat at the table together, talking. Chance was nodding as Maisie spoke.
"You listen to your Pa and Dad. I don't wanna hear nothin' 'bout you not behavin' or slackin' off. And if you do get to go huntin', you listen to Boothill like your life depends on it, you hear me Chance?"
"Yes, Auntie." Chance said, trying to stay calm.
She turned to the two men who had just walked in.
"And you two had better make sure that boy behaves, doesn't hurt himself with that damned binder, stays safe, and is a good big brother to Sakura." She states, tears in her eyes. "He might not have been mine…"
"You took him in when he had no one. I could never thank you enough, Auntie." Boothill said softly.
"You saved him, raised him, and now he is going to show the universe the man he has become. One whom you can be very proud of, Maisie." Argenti beamed.
"Can I go pack now?" Chance was trying not to bounce in his seat.
Argenti smiled. "I took the liberty of packing up what I could while you and your Aunt spoke, Chance. Please do check that I got everything."
Boothill looked at Maisie. "You wanna come meet Sakura?"
Maisie blinked. "I… I'm needed here right now. I can't possibly…"
"Maisie," Yukon said softly. "I can take care of any comers in the next few hours. Go meet your great niece and see where your family lives now. We'll still be here when you get back." He kissed her gently. "Go on, get."
Boothill offered his hand as Chance came down with a big suitcase and a backpack.
"Thanks, Argenti. You got everythin'!" He grinned, standing next to the knight. "So, how do we get to space?"
"Like this." Boothill pushed a button on Argenti's phone, and in less than the blink of an eye, the four of them found themselves standing aboard a train.
"Well, this is very lovely. This is your One and Only, Argenti?"
The redhead chuckled. "No, Auntie Maisie. This is the Astral Express."
"And welcome aboard." Himeko smiled at them from the seat behind them. "Boothill and Argenti are good friends of ours. Would you two be related to why the others had to go aid with a battle?"
"That they are. Miss Himeko, may I introduce my Auntie Maisie and…" Boothill looked at Chance, unsure of what to say.
"And Chance, one of the survivors of the battle." Argenti stated. He then whispered to Chance. "Most people don’t know about any of the whys for your father…"
Himeko smiled. "Did you find someone you didn't expect Boothill? It seems strange for you both to not be forward about things."
Maisie smiled. "Chance is Boothill's son. Boothill didn't know he'd survived, but they have been brought back together by Lan."
Chance beamed as Boothill looked anxious.
"Well, your family is always welcome on the Express Boothill. Speaking of…"
"Yeah, can we go see her?"
"She's in the party car practicing. Please, follow me." Himeko smiled as she led the guests through the train.
Sakura looked up when the door opened and was running to them before it closed. "DADDY! PAPA!" She squealed as she ran straight into their arms.
"Hey Sweetie!"
"Our little blossom."
Sakura giggled as she was hugged tight by her Papa. Chance smiled, tears in his eyes.
"We brought a couple of people for ya to meet, Sweetie." Boothill grinned. "Meet your great Auntie Maisie and Chance."
"Hi! I'm Sakura!" She bounced, her smile electric.
"You certainly have your Pa's spunk, little lady. May I give you a hug?" Maisie giggled as the little girl slammed into her.
Chance looked at Boothill. "Let me explain to her?"
Boothill nodded, smiling. "C'mon, Sakura. Don't break her!"
"Are you really my Auntie?" She asked.
"I am indeed. Boothill's my nephew. I was one of his dad's little sisters. Now, I'm the only one left."
"Are you gonna stay with us, Auntie Maisie?"
"I'm afraid not, Sakura. I've got lots to take care of back home. But Chance is gonna stay with you."
Sakura looked at the young man who had gone and sat in one of the booths. "Really?! That's exciting!"
"Why don't you get to know him, Sweetie?" Boothill encouraged. "You might like talkin' to him."
"Okay!" She ran over to the young man as Boothill hugged his aunt tight, not wanting to speak.
"Well hey there, kiddo." Chance said when Sakura sat down across from him.
"I'm Sakura!" She beamed. "My Auntie Maisie said you were staying with me, Daddy and Papa?"
"I hope I am. But I dunno yet." He smiled.
"Why don't you know? Did Papa not say things clearly, or did Daddy use too many words again?" Sakura blinked at him, those grey eyes so strikingly familiar.
"No." He laughed. "And I understand Pa better than most."
"Really?" She looked surprised.
"Yup. I talk the same way. Can I show you something?"
She perked up more unbelievably. "Yes!"
He pulled one of the wanted posters from his backpack. "You can read Galactic Common?"
She giggled. "Yes! I can read short novels. Papa is really impressed. He told me he doesn't like reading."
Chance slid her the wanted poster.
She read quietly. "Loaded Gun. Wanted dead or alive. 80,000 credits… why does he look like my Papa?"
"Because he is, or was."
"Oh yeah! Papa changed his name and body! This is him before he became Boothill?"
Chance nodded. "He told ya that you had a sister, right?"
She looked sad immediately. "Yeah. I have a big sister who never got to be big. It makes Papa really sad to talk about her. Daddy and I try not to bring it up."
"What if I told you she wasn't going to make him sad anymore?"
"How? She's gone into grace as Papa said. She never got to be big like me."
"Well…" He smiles and looks around like he's telling her a secret. "What if she decided to be your big brother instead?" He slid her the other wanted poster.
Sakura looked at him confused, then read the poster. "Wanted: Chance, AKA Clementine." She looked at him.
"Your name is Chance!" She looked between him and the poster a few times. "Are you…" Hope lit her face up.
"Are you okay with a big brother instead of a big sister?"
Sakura crawled around the curved booth seat and hugged Chance tight.
"I have a big sister who gets to be big, and be my big brother!" She squealed, giggling. "You're gonna stay with us?!"
"Yeah, if you want me, oof!" Chance laughed. "And I get a little sister." He says gently, looking up to see his fathers, their fathers, smiling.
"Dang wababoo, I haven't seen one of these posters in years." Boothill chuckled as he picked the poster up. Sakura jumped up and hugged him. Chance stood and joined them, smiling. "We should get to the One and Only. Come on, you two."
Argenti watched. Tears running down his face. He was glad he trusted that sign after the Holy Grail battle. This moment, was pure Beauty.
"'Genti, you comin'? It's your ship after all, Darlin'."
"Of course, my Dear Boothill." Argenti kissed him. Sakura giggled, and Chance rolled his eyes. "It is our ship at this point though. Our ship, and our family."