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It looked about the same as it did when we brought the Brother's to the alleyway where their Family had been taken out by Henrion a year ago now.
Still sooty, there wasn't a sign of life to be seen-
I wanted to cry.
The rains, the snow, the wind, time didn't change the way their Family's final stand ended, they remained upon the grounds, the walls, forever a fixture it seemed of this cold empty alley.
The odd thing was however-
As much as I thought this would get to the Brothers Angel and Arackniss, upon sight of the blackened block still where they'd left it a year ago, they smiled, sadly, but smiled, and settled where they had before.
Arackniss was healed as much as he could ever hope to be now, Angel long since free of Valentino and his drug addiction.
That's about all that had changed in this alleyway as of now-
And yet, they smiled!?
As if reading my confused thoughts, Arackniss, this Famiglia's Don, turned his blinded side my way and smiled weakly, voice shaken but wise with time.
"Principessa?"
"I'm so sorry it looks the way it did the day you both got to say your goodbyes-" I whisper, reaching out a hand to touch his broken shoulder gently.
Instead he shifts himself some and begins to teach me something I would learn from later in my own life-
"Its changed more den you can see, you just have ta know where ta look~" And carefully, his broken arm moved towards a pile of soot and tenderly brushed it aside, revealing a small leafy green plant growing beneath!
"Fire is indeed a killer, a monster dat destroys everyting it touches, but-"
I saw what Angel had been looking around at and gasped softly.
"It also brings forth new life, a fresh start after somethen hard was wrought upon what its touched~"
Poking out here and there, leafy greens had begun to sprout up along the alleyway walls, moss crept along what had been a dumpster, water somewhere nearby!
"It's changed, Principessa~" Arackniss assures before closing his remaining four eyes when a breeze brushes through his fur, touching his face with a gentle hand.
"Time heals wounds in some form or anath'a~" Angel Dust comments, clearing away a few tears from his eyes.
"That's why it's called time! You work hard enough through it, wake up and choose to go forward, you come to realize you've gotten stronger, better, able to stand again after such a blow's been made~"
"My word, you two sound like Philosophers~" Alastor remarks, beaming at this unexpected statement.
"Time, Al, time~"
The Brothers look to each other before getting back up onto their feet.
I see the time spent on his recovery as Arackniss takes careful steps with his twisted leg, fixing his toe claws when they begin to drag as he walks confidently back towards us.
I see the time spent on his recovery as Angel welcomes a hug from Pentious then the rest when before, he hated such affection. His form looks positively healthy and happy nowadays, standing tall and proud as he expresses how he feels right then.
"That's what time did, Baby~" Vaggie whispers to me as I stare blankly at these two Spider Brothers amongst their new Family. Allowing embraces, comfort words, questions to be asked.
"And it's thanks to you-" I didn't mean to forgo her talking but something came to my mind about what had just been shared in this alleyway.
The new life sprouting out of those lives lost.
Lives loved and would be remembered for ages to come-
-
"I thank you for such trust in this, Arackniss~" I chirp, one hand covering his last four eyes as he and Angel are brought outside.
It's been a week now but at LAST, my time had come to show them that their Family would always be remembered, time just had to help them grow first~
"It's still weird but I trust you, Principessa~" He comments as I guide him down the little slope that leads to my surprise.
It faced the same way as the fire shown that horrific night, but soon would be overgrown with actual Remembrance!
"Okay, NOW!" I shout excitedly and release the smaller Spiders eyes as Angel's own open.
"Oh… Oh my.. God.." Angel whispers first, hand touching his face, eyes looking teary.
Arackniss remained silent though-
He didn't move closer but he also didn't move away.
He just stood there looking at the little Remembrance garden the whole of the Hotel Family had worked on this past week.
"Orchids are graceful flowers that symbolize the words, “I love you!"" I start gently, pointing to one area of turned Earth.
"Those will be Gladioli! Those are known for strength of character, the tall, bold blooms symbolize integrity, sincerity, and faithfulness~"
I hear a small tap tap tap of tiny paw pads on Earth and find Arackniss has come up to the garden now and stood before the little stone in the middle of what would one day be a garden of Remembrance Flowers.
"Those will be.. Poppies.. Meant for remembering…" I start then slow then completely go quiet as he settles himself as best as he can on his legs and motions for Angel to join him by his side.
"Dos are da words Nissy spoke dat day, like, de words!" Angel gasps and looks towards where I still stood, hands now holding themselves together.
"A.. A gravestone sort'a.. To mark where they rest amongst the flowers…"
'We thank You, Lord, for the Family's life, for their love, generosity, strength, kindness and humor. Give them their reward for their many gifts to us.'
It was a pretty marble stone, engraved with the words I recalled Arackniss saying in final before he and Angel returned to us, returned and allowed themselves to weep, to be embraced, to let themselves go and be protected at last!
"Principessa…?" I hear and slowly lean myself upon my knees to hear what the Don of this once loving Family had to say.
I'm held close, his thin form pressed into me.
The scent of cigarettes, booze, even blood had since left him, now he smelled like us, like one of the Hotel Family members~
Time again, had made that happen.
As well as this right here!
"Ta…nk.. You so muc…h!" He whimpers out and buries his head into my shoulder.
I wrap my arms around his shaking form and whisper for him and Angel both, "We'll always remember~ It takes time to get there but one day soon-"
The flowers would sprout like the greens in the alleyway, showing the world that what once was lost would be remembered and reborn as something new~