Chapter two:
Second Chance
He didn't understand why he had stayed. This city, with it glorious lights and bustling people was not a place for him. And yet, he had not left it yet.
But it wasn't like he had anyplace to go to. There was no where he needed to be at this time, then where he chose to go or stay.
The Summer in Japan was ending quickly, and soon fall would arrive and bring winter along with it. Already the days had become colder as they entered the month of September, August ending without much of a word or whisper on its passing
Heero looked to cloudy sky and sighed. The sun was hidden, and there was just a slight nip to the air, that kept him with his Jacket zipped to his collar, as he walked with a steady gate through the park once more.
He took the familiar path he took every day, since that warm sunny day in August. And he followed his well worn path in the same manner he always did, looking for the feeling he had felt. Wondering if he could feel it again. If it were possible for him.
Hope was something new to him. He had never felt it before that day. And yet the woman had drug it up from the crevice of his mind where his emotions were stored.
He knew the feelings of madness, and hate. Those he understood, the rest were alien to him, feelings he had never felt before, or had thought himself impossible to feel. But somehow that woman had made him hope
Had made him hope that he still had a purpose in this world. That he could belong in it, even though he was designed to survive in warfare, not everyday life.
And here he was, again he stood on the lonely pathway that the couples had once occupied through the summer days. That was now desolate and empty with leaves falling from the trees as the bitter wind blew against him.
Heero had expected to find the bench empty like he had come across it before on many occasions. Most people would feel despair and disappointment at the sight, but he felt nothing. He would just walk carefully to the bench, his feet silent on the grass, and sit on the bench.
But today it was occupied. A young couple sat there, staring out across the lake, as they cuddled with one another and whispered amongst themselves.
Now he felt it. There was a slight disappointment, as he stared at them. Now he could not even sit on the bench, and enjoy the silence that consumed when he sat there waiting. Waiting for that flicker of emotion to appear once more
"Hello," a soft voice said, and Heero had to wonder why he thought the person was speaking to him For he looked up, and found her standing there, the stroller in front of her. There was a smile on her face, a softness to her gaze as she looked at him. "How are you today," she asked, her mood much more brighter today than the last time they had spoken.
He was never one for small chat, and he felt no need to start now. Heero turned on his heels to leave, but hesitated, when the woman gave a slight laugh. "You're not one for small talk are you," she said her voice filled with laughter.
Heero glanced at her from over his shoulder, unsure how to react to her comment.
"It doesn't bother me," she replied for him. "I talk enough for two people anyway." She started forward, reaching his side, and nudged him forward. Before he knew it, they were walking side by side, down the park's pathway.
"Its cold out," she began to say after a bit of silence. "But its still nice." she lifted one hand from the stroller and pointed to the falling leaves. "Its like a dance, as they fall from their branches. A graceful choreograph, before it ends sadly when they finally land on the ground."
"Their end," she whispered in a staged whisper to him. From within the stroller the baby made a sound and Usagi shook her head, with a smile.
"Dreaming," she answered as if he had asked if the baby was okay. "She dreams of a white Pegasus who promises her great things that will behold of her, in the future."
Another smile touched her lips as she looked at him sideways. "How do I know this you ask," she said thoughtfully. "Why because I dreamed of a white Pegasus, who told me my future would be great, and tedious, but with love I will pull through.
"And one day Chibi Usa will tell me what sage knowledge the Pegasus has given her."
Heero listened, his eyes focused on the pathway ahead of them as they walked. He did not know why he listened, or why he walked with her still. As of yet she did not bother him though, and he felt no reason to leave her.
If anything he was interested, intrigued may be stretching the truth, but there was something there that kept him from walking away and never looking back.
"You probably think what a wonderful child I have," she mused suddenly. "But be fore warned young man, she is not such an angle as you envision. She can be quite the little terror I promise you."
Even as she said this there was a grin on her face. Then she laughed out loud, and he was startled by it. "I look forward to the day you have your own kid," she said aloud. "You will be surprised at what a handful they can be, I know I was."
Heero stared at her skeptically, but before Usagi could say more, Chibi Usa let out a wail so loud, Heero jumped.
Eyes wide, he stared at the stroller in shock, in shock that such a small thing could make such noise. "See!" Usagi shouted, and flung back the hood of the stroller, and un buckled the crying baby. Lifting the pink haired babe from her pile of blankets she gently rocked her back and forth. "You must be hungry," she reasoned with the still crying baby.
Before he could act, Usagi thrusted the baby into his arm, before she bent to the bag stored below the stroller's seat. When she straightened, she held a bottle, and handed it to him. "Go on," she encouraged. "You need to practice somehow anyway."
Unsure what to do with the bottle, Heero looked to Usagi with an unsure expression as Chibi Usa let loose another wail.
The blonde before him took the hand that held the bottle and slowly guided it to the baby's lips. And the crying instantly stopped, as the baby began to suck on the bottle, drinking the milk from within.
Cinnamon eyes stared up at him as she fed, and Heero felt hope spark from within him. "See you are a natural," Usagi cooed, and touched Chibi Usa's head smoothing back her curls. "Hush my little darling," she began to murmur a lullaby he had heard once before. A long time ago, to a moment in his life he did not remember. "Don't say a word."
Heero held the baby gently in his arms, carefully holding the bottle at an angle to feed her as she stared at Usagi petting her daughter's head as she sang a lullaby.
This was how his everyday life could be like. Could feel like. Life could be peaceful, beautiful, and not so lonely.
On his own accord, Heero withdrew the bottle when Chibi Usa finished, and had fallen back to sleep. Like he had seen Usagi do once before, he gently cradled her to his chest, and rocked her back and forth.
Usagi looked up at him then, her smile soft and grateful, as she stared up at him. "Thank you," she whispered so not to wake the child. "You know I don't believe you ever told me your name."
They stared at each other for a long while. She did not expect an answer, but he could see she was hopeful for one. And because of the look on her face, he answered her. "Yui Heero."
"Well Heero, it is a pleasure to meet you," she replied and very carefully leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Come on, lets get out of the cold, my parents house is right down the road from the park."
Because she gave him no choice, Heero followed, Usagi pushing the stroller and Heero carrying the baby in his arms. Not that he minded. The whole way there, consisted of Usagi talking, and him watching Chibi Usa dream of a white Pegasus, that spoke of a great future. One filled with Love, Hope and Happiness. And he knew that, because she had Usagi. He had only known her for a few moments, but he knew, Love, Hope and Happiness was what Usagi was made of. Because she could even inspire him to feel them, when he had never felt such emotions his whole life.
-----
All good things must come to those who wait
For every good reason there's gotta be a very good rhyme
All my life I've been trying to find an answer
And now I know I have to take my time
You got to me without a warning
You got to me when I had nowhere to go
Now I see the color in the night
In black and white
I can't remember how I used to be
And I can't get outta bed but I can dream
You got to me
Maybe it was just the way you held me
When my world was hanging by a string
Maybe it was just the way you knew me
When I didn't know myself
And everything felt
Like Hell
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The Second installment of my little Christmas story. Srry it was updated late . the third one will be added either on christmas or the day after.
LP
