Author's Note

The final chapter. It felt like a longer process than it was writing this story, but I feel content with the final outcome.

Of Mind and Heart

Things went along smoothly after the marriage and births. The family was sincerely happy. For the next five years, not much changed. There was still an unresolved piece of the puzzle though, and it was about to fall right into their laps. One early afternoon, there was a knock at the door. Harmonic was getting ready to go out with the kids, so Atmospheric answered the door. There was a large group standing outside the door. She instantly recognized them.

"It's...You guys!?"

"Hi, sweetie," her mother said. Her family and Harmonic's were all standing together.

"Honey, come down here!!!"

Harmonic quickly came down from the upstairs room.

"What's up!?"

"Look. We have visitors."

He peaked out the door.

"So you guys finally showed up. I was wondering if we'd ever cross paths again."

"Wait," Atmospheric's father said, "did you just call him honey!!!?"

Their families were speechless.

"Me and Harmonic got married over five years ago."

"Oh my gosh! That's wonderful," Harmonic's mother exclaimed.

"Harmonic, can you get the kids from upstairs?"

"WHAT," everyone said in shock.

Atmospheric smiled.

"We have two children; a boy and a girl."

"Holy crap, bro," Harmonic's brother said, "You married your friend and had kids with her. You're the only one in our family that's done that. Guess that makes you a legend."

"Hold on. Let me get them," Harmonic replied. He left the room.

"Is he okay," his mother asked.

"It's a long story."

"Their names are Melodic Death and Hard Core," Harmonic spoke when he came back downstairs.

"Those names are really unusual," Atmospheric's mother stated.

"I actually have an idea about why they chose those names," Harmonic's brother responded, "Remember when Harmonic was born? I said from the beginning he would love heavier music."

"You're right," Atmospheric said.

"I'm about to take the kids out for a bit," Harmonic interjected, "Can you guys stay here until I get back?"

"Of course, son," his mother told him.

Harmonic moved through them and left the house with his children.

"He seems really tense," Harmonic's father mentioned.

"Come inside. I'll explain everything."

They all sat down on the floor of the house.

"He's really been struggling to keep it together. I stayed in the first town I found for a long time, but he traveled around. He saw a lot of bad stuff."

"Like what," his mother asked with concern."

"Violence, sexual assault, and a little girl's suicide."

"Oh my dear lunar savior," his mother expressed.

"He's been dealing with a lot of mental problems and tried to kill himself a long time ago. He was even afraid to be intimate with me until he proposed. We've only made love one time because we wanted kids."

"Does that bother you," his mother wondered.

"No. I think it's really sweet actually. He only wanted love because he was alone for so long. Where better to give and get it than starting a family?"

"He sounds like a good guy," Harmonic's brother said.

"He is."

"We should tell her why we're here," Harmonic's older sister thought out loud.

"No. It's okay. I think i know why. We feel like it's better not to know."

"But you deserve the truth," Harmonic's mother insisted.

"We've already figured enough of it out. We were born in some kind of research lab, right?"

"How did you know?"

"The architecture from the photographs. Most places don't look like that."

"It was a facility for psychological testing," Harmonic's younger sister spoke, "There was a risk that growing up in that environment would've caused its own issues."

"The research we volunteered for was considered too cruel and was abandoned," Harmonic's mother finished, "We were already struggling to support ourselves."

"So you guys left us where you thought we'd have a better chance for decent futures," Atmospheric finished the story.

"Exactly. By the time his younger sister was born, we had a better income."

"Did you look for us?"

"Not as thoroughly as we should've. We were scared of what would happen when we found you."

"I don't think you have to worry anymore."

"What about our son? From what you told us, he wasn't doing very well."

"Wasn't is the key word. He took medication until the doctor told him he could stop. When the kids were born, I don't think anyone in the world could've been happier. They're the ones who really brought meaning to his life."

"Does he hate us?"

"Not a chance. He was hurt for a while, but when he took whatever reasons you had into account, he shifted his focus to trying to better himself."

"That makes me feel a little better."

"Did you know your son is a hero?"

"How so?"

"He saved a little girl from being crushed after the second story of a building collapsed."

"Heck yeah! That's my bro," Harmonic's brother praised.

"He's been training for a long time in case he needed the extra strength."

"Does he use weights," his brother asked.

"He used to lift heavier stuff when he was working, but he hasn't had to for a while."

"I think I know what i'm getting him for his birthday."

"What do you guys do these days," Harmonic's mother questioned.

"We record music. We've started teaching the kids how to play too."

"Can I check out some of the records you guys have," his brother inquired.

"You'll find them upstairs."

"Cool. Thanks."

"Do you guys want something to eat?"

"Sure. That'd be great," Harmonic's mother replied.

Harmonic returned home after about two hours. Everyone was waiting for him outside.

"Hey bro. How are you holding up?"

"Pretty good. Got some ice cream with the kids and did some clothes shopping."

"Atmospheric told us what happened," his mom said, "I'm sorry. I didn't know things were getting to you so much."

"It's okay. Bad things happen. I only have control of my own actions, and I have to make better choices each day than I did the day before."

"If you ever need us, don't hesitate to call," his older sister told him.

"Don't try that again or I'll kick your rump," his younger sister said.

"I love you, son," his dad spoke.

"Keep training, bro," his brother vocalized, "keep saving as many lives as you can."

"I will. I love you guys too."

Atmospheric's father came up to him.

"Take care of our little girl."

"Stop by sometime to see your grandkids."

"I might start coming around a bit too much," he laughed.

"By the way," Atmospheric's mother asked, "are they starting school soon?"

"Yep. Kindergarten."

"We'll pick up their supplies."

"I appreciate it."

"We'll see you later," Harmonic's mom vocalized.

"Alright. Bye, mom."

His mother smiled. Everyone left, save for Harmonic, Atmospheric, Melodic, and Hard Core.

"You took it pretty well."

"The kids deserve to grow up knowing them, and I've got you guys. That's all I could ever ask for."

"Daddy, I'm sleepy," Melodic said.

Harmonic nuzzled his daughter.

"Go ahead and take a nap, sweetheart. I love you."

"Wuv you too."

"Are you tired too, sweetie," Atmospheric asked their son. He nodded, "I think we could all use a nap," she got the impression.

"Right," Harmonic agreed. He lifted Hard Core onto his head while Atmospheric cradled Melodic. All that was on their minds in that moment was how much they loved each other and how bright the future was. Nothing would ever crush their spirits again, because they would make sure of it.