Animorphs 2.0

The Return

A/N: So this is it. The part I've been waiting for. I think my entire fanfic boils down to these next parts. I know it's a bit choppy, filled with scenes and not a lot of story, but this was mostly written as a way to get out all I wanted between Tobias and Elfangor. It makes me feel really good, and I hope it will do the same for you. Happy reading!

The war was finally over. I now spent most of my time with Rachel and my mom. I'd started going to school again, taking classes online, so I'd be able to go to university. The Animorphs no longer hung out as a group, but we would always be close. The world still tried to get us to expose ourselves, but we were happy with anonymity. We – well the others more than me – still occasionally got recognized and had to deal with the attention, but for the most part, we led normal lives. It helped that we hadn't ever been famous. Instead of constantly being reminded of that time, we got to move on with our lives. Nothing would ever be as it was, yet it seemed that finally everything would be ok.

Except for one thing. I started missing my dad again. I'd never really stopped thinking about him, yet while the war was going on, I felt more of a connection to him. Now that was gone too. And more than that, Ax had gone home. My last connection to my Andalite father was gone.

I thought about him a lot. My mother doesn't remember him, which saddens me. I grew up with them; I knew how much they loved each other. All I want now though, is to be able to live my life in peace, like my father wanted. I had thought that although there were some things I had lost, I couldn't be happier in my life. But that all changed.

I was walking home from Rachel's, taking a shortcut through the woods, when I heard the rustling of leaves. I turned, but there was no one there. I heard the sound again and followed it.

"Hello?" I asked, out loud. If there was someone there, I wanted to see them. The figure stepped into view, and I started. It wasn't strange to see an Andalite here, just unusual. There were many an Andalite at one time on this planet, but never in this area and never alone. I came closer to see if I recognized him and gasped, stopping in my tracks. He noticed me as well and stiffened. I was frozen in place, unable to move. The face, it was one from my dreams. It couldn't be here. I'd only seen it the once, when I'd watched him die, but I'd never forget the face of my father. He can't be here, my head told me. This is a trick. Oh please let it be him, my heart cried. I stepped forward slowly.

<Dad?> I asked, tentatively.

<Tobias.> I heard softly in my mind. It was him. This was real. It could've been a trap, he wasn't supposed to be alive, but I didn't care. All I knew was that my father was, once again, before me. Without thinking, I reacted.

"Dad!" I cried, and ran to him, tears stinging my eyes. I almost hit a tree, not being able to see very well through my tears, but I didn't care. I barreled into him, almost knocking him off his feet, clutching him tight. "Dad!" I sobbed into his chest.

<Tobias.> He said again, wrapping his arms around me. They were weak, but he squeezed as hard as he could. I could feel him crying silently in my mind. Yes, this was him; I had no doubts at all. I squeezed him a little harder. Finally, I let go a little and looked into his face. He put his hands on my shoulders to look at me.

<You're older.> He said. I nodded, unable to speak. <How long Tobias?> He asked.

"What do you mean?" I looked into his eyes, full of compassion.

<How long was the war? How long were you fighting for?>

I looked at the ground. "I can't remember. It was so long. I think about four years though. At least."