A silence grew as the sun slowly began to fade behind a growing storm cloud. Neither one could think of the words to say to each other. Having said everything with their bodies and emotions. While Nico took care of the horses Faith packed some food and filled the water canteens, putting both into their saddlebags along with any remnants of his family or things that belonged to him which weren’t much as her mother had taken most with her. By the time the sun set, and the storm clouds rolled in both Nico and Faith were ready to leave as she mounted her horse Nico put Blackie on his horse for his legs were too weak to walk such a great distance. And yet the horse didn’t seem to mind.

“Are you ready?”

Just as he was about to mount his horse Nico stopped saying but a word in reply to her “No…”

Dropping the reins Nico ran back into his home and to his parents’ bedroom pushing their bed aside he saw the box his father left for him. Taking the box out, Nico held onto the box as he took one last look – one final goodbye to his home. Though the house was now empty apart from a few pieces of furniture and the ghosts of the past that now haunt this home. Walking around Nico remembered all the good times he had with his family memories he would keep forever.

Standing in the doorway Nico looked back somberly as he pulled the door closed. “Goodbye…”

Faith watched as Nico walked from his home and to his parents’ graves for the first time since they were buried months ago. She wanted to call him back to her, yet she held back because this was something he needed to do. Looking down at their graves, a place Jason and Faith found for them, seeing that it was a perfect place for them. A place where time could never hurt or find them. All around their grave’s wildflowers grew turning something that should have been a somber place into a sanctuary – one that showed the goodness that was in their hearts.

Bending down before his parents still holding firmly to the box Nico fell to his knees “I’ll will set this right. Everyone that was there that day will pay for what they did to you even if it takes the rest of my life. I will set right the wrong I will not do this from hate but love for then it will be justified and pure. I’ll never be like those people, I will never forget you. I will never forget my father’s promise and avenge you mother. Whenever I am scared or lost, I will look to the stars for you to guide me in my heart I will forever hold you. I love you both.”

As tears fell from his eyes, he looked at the box opening it beside his parents and inside the box was a letter from his father. It was the note left years ago on the door by Daniel Scully, the blanket he was found in and his mother’s wedding ring on a chain. A wedding ring she stopped wearing long ago when her fingers began to swell. He put the chain around his neck as he looked at the blanket and the name “Scully” embroidered on it. Holding back the tears he reluctantly opened his father’s letter and began to read.

“Nico…

I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, however the time was never right until now with Liam. What your mother told you is true, your parents abandoned you, why I don’t think we will ever know. Nevertheless, you deserve to know their names, we found their names thanks to Doctor Walsh. Lara and Daniel Scully are the ones that brought you into this world, but we are the ones that gave you life and love.

From the moment I first saw you I knew you were my son – are my son. The moment you looked into my eyes and I into yours I knew this was meant to be. The gods above brought us to you and you to us because they saw that your birth parents weren’t deserving to have such a precious boy like you. You were meant to be ours for all time. Though our skin may be a different color you are my son. Your mother and I may not have given birth to you, but you are ours and always will be even after our time is done here on this earth.

Our skin and hair color do not matter because it is only superficial to us. Other people will try to bring us down to their level because they can’t understand what love truly is for, they see only color. It is not just the white man who is prone to racism and prejudice but every man no matter what color they are. It is in every man’s heart but not ours because we do not see color and neither do you because we walk in both worlds. We love you Nico and always will. You will always be our son, our love brought you life and will make you the man I see that you will become one day.

On the day you found us and you wrapped your hand around my finger I knew my heart belonged to you. It was that very day we named you Nico Samuel Gage, from that moment on we became a family.

You should know Nico that your mother and I discovered that you weren’t the only one born that Christmas day. I didn’t know how to tell you this and perhaps we should have told you long ago. But I just didn’t know how to tell you this, but you deserve to know. You were among three born on that day, you have a brother Daniel Scully the second and a sister Elizabeth Scully. All of you share a birth mark on your ribs. One good thing is this Walsh told us that none of you are identical, you’re all unique. If you want to seek them out one day that is okay just don’t get your hopes up my son because I fear they won’t know you or want to know. If they even know about you.

Forever your father my little “Maijiza”

Coster Nguou Gage

Nico folded the letter not knowing what to think after learning about his siblings. One thing he knew for sure was that Nicole and Coster were his parents, not the ones that gave birth to him because they were like all the other ones that reside here. Putting everything back in the box, he looked down at the graves running his hands gently over the flowers “Goodbye momma, papa. I will see you again once everything is settled.”

Nico stood up and walked back to Faith never once looking back at the graves wanting to remember his family the way they were before all this happened. By the time he came back the sun was nearly gone yet the storm had yet to start though the clouds were dark and ready to burst. Nico didn’t say a word to Faith about the box or the letter, instead he simply placed it into his saddle bag and mounted his horse. Calming the anxiously awaiting Blackie he started his horse walking off slowly as Faith walked behind. Nearing the edge of the farm, he looked back at his home for what was the last time. As he looked back the clouds opened wide, and the rain started to fall. Though the rain didn’t seem to touch them as they rode away.

Before he knew it his home had gone from sight and all that stood before them was the dark horizon and an unknown future. Traveling for days and only stopping to rest at night far from towns and villages. Taking shelter in the forest because the trees protected them from the people who passed by. The journey took longer for them as Blackie was old and needed to rest several times before continuing their way. But Nico didn’t mind for Blackie was family. Ten days after they set off, they arrived at the house Jason had bought.

The house and property were grand because it spanned as far as the eyes could see. The house lay in front of a great mountain range as a freshwater spring ran nearby while a forest wrapped around it and the house. Nico was in awe of the sight for it was beautiful and serene almost like it was never touched by man. The house itself stood two stories and made completely out of logs blending into the background surrounded by a small fence. Jumping off his horse he let Blackie down, no sooner his paws touched the soft green grass Blackie ran as fast as he could almost as if he realized he was safe and home.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Nico.” Faith said as she got off her horse. “I won’t tell them that we had sex not because I’m ashamed rather it meant a lot to me. We made a promise to each other – a promise we both kept.”

Looking down at the green grass Nico sighed. “I’m glad it was you. Remember your other promise to me Faith, you deserved it. Just not with me.”

“I will in time.” Faith nodded taking his hand in hers “I will keep my word.”

Smiling at one another he escorted her to her new home where Jason and Sarah had been waiting for them for days. Both were relieved to see them as they walked up to the house, fearing the worst when they didn’t arrive on time. The moment Sarah saw Nico alive and unharmed she ran up to him, thanking him for bringing her daughter home safe and sound. As much as she hoped he would stay Sarah could see in his eyes that he wasn’t going to stay. A sight Jason could see too. Only Faith remained oblivious to this.

Nico stayed for a short month helping Jason to build another house twenty feet from his and Sarah’s closer to the forest line. A house for faith to call her own and one day raise a family in. Just as the first snow started to fall in the area, he saw Faith’s happiness as he packed his belongings (clothing and the box) into his saddlebag. The rest of his belongings he left with Sarah for safekeeping until he could come back for them one day. There was no sadness as he got ready to depart for everyone knew this day was coming. Nico wanted nothing from them expect for one thing for Faith to watch over Blackie and let him enjoy the years he has left. Faith saw this as an honor because Blackie was the last of his family.

Nico petted Blackie while he licked his face for the last time. In a way both were saying goodbyes to each other. “Good-bye Blackie. You are the best friend and brother I could have ever wished for.” Nico sighed kissing his head. “Take care of him, Faith.”

“I will Nico. He will have a good life with me.”

“Take care and watch your back son because you may never know who to trust in this world. Keep your past guarded Nico for most will not be able to accept your family and upbringing.” Jason cautioned him quietly as he embraced him.

Nico didn’t say a word, just nodded his head in agreement.

“Take care of yourself.” Sarah told him as she kissed his cheek.

Nico kissed her back before placing his saddlebag on his horse then mounting his horse, he looked down at them, especially Faith. He had no words for her because she already knew them and where she lay in his heart. Smiling down at them before he rode away to where he didn’t say but everyone knew where.

Faith and Blackie watched him ride away until he was out of sight as Sarah and Jason went back into their home. Once he was gone Faith went back into her home while Blackie ran through the fresh snow. Faith’s home was now Blackies too for he had grown attached to her.

A year later Blackie found love with a stray wolf like dog that had come onto their land. The wolf dog was just like Blackie in so many ways and just as gentle as him. After a time, she gave birth to a litter of puppies, and all lived to grow to be like him. Of the six puppies Sarah kept one while Faith kept one puppy and the two adults. The other four were given to freed slave families that came into the area to settle and established a home.

Blackie was not the only one to move on and start a family for a few years later after Nico let Sarah and Jason got married. They lived on the farm for the next twenty years, turning it into a home they both wanted. As they grew older Jason hired a farm hand to help with the work. He was a runaway slave from the deep south he went by the name Lucas Rain.

Lucas had ran away when he was ten from a man who was no embedded with evil. Lucas took to drifting from farm to farm picking up many skills for several years until he came upon Jason working in his field twenty years after escaping. After talking with Jason, he told him everything he had done and where he came from. While he was talking, Jason could see an old soul inside him, one that was far older than the thirty years he lived. In time Lucas became a good friend to them and especially to Faith.

It took nearly a year after he arrived for Faith to see Lucas for what he was and not compare him to Nico. For a long time, he courted Faith until he proposed to her on her twenty-fourth birthday. Within five months they got married and their life was ideal for the first few months getting to know each other’s secrets. Secrets that they would never tell.

Over time Faith told Lucas about Nico not the sex part but how much he meant to her. Letting Lucas in Faith let go of Nico after finding love once again. Five years later Faith gave birth to their first child, a daughter Raven. Two years later she gave birth to another daughter Laree. Seven years later she gave birth to their last child, a boy, Nicolas. Together they raised their children but after their son Lucas died five years later. Leaving her to raise them alone with help from her parents.

Once again, she was alone and found herself thinking about Nico once again. Yet in her heart she realized that he was never coming back to her. Believing he was happy with a family too however this was far from the truth.