So... I haven't touched this story since I wrote the first chapter (the possible one-shot). Alas, I have had the idea for the rest of the story for a while now and couldn't ignore it any longer. I plan on making this a fairly long multi-chapter story, but it will probably take a while. I am in the middle of my DMC fanfic and it takes precedence. Anyways, thanks for reading and enjoy.
Chapter two picks up after the group defeats Melbu Frahma and go their separate ways. I explain a bit more later in the chapter, at least the parts that I think are important.
I wearily opened my eyes, not wanting to face another day. It was still early and I wanted nothing more than to lie in bed all day. As I rolled over to face away from the window my stomach gave a low gurgle. I pressed a hand to my belly as I felt a knot forming- and then….
I leapt out of bed with haste and ran to the bathroom down the hall. I barely made it to the toilet before I leaned over and hurled the contents of my stomach. Feeling that another wave might occur I took a seat on the ground and rested my arms on the seat of the porcelain form.
This had been happening for about a week now. I had been feeling very fatigued and sick. It was always in the mornings that I was sick, sometimes it hit me midday. All I knew was that with each passing day my heart felt heavier and my anxiety rose. I just didn't want to believe what was happening, not after everything we had all been through.
Soft footsteps made their way down the hall; they were approaching my current location in the bathroom. I knew who it was, who it always was this early in the morning.
"Meru?" I heard a soft voice call as the door was carefully opened. Shana popped her head into the small room and gave me a worried look. I glanced at her before returning my gaze to the toilet bowl.
Shana leaned down next to me and began to gently rub my back. Her touch was fairly soothing to my queasy state. That was Shana though; she was always helping and looking after others. I guess she was always very motherly, and this was no different.
"Why don't we go to the kitchen and I'll make us some tea? I bet that would help settle your upset stomach."
I nodded my head then offered her a weak smile. Tea did sound nice. Anything would feel good in my empty belly right about now.
Shana and I were seated at the dining table in the cozy kitchen. I sipped my tea and relaxed as the warm liquid ran down my throat. A heavy sigh left me as I prepared for what was coming. We couldn't avoid it any longer and I knew that today would be the day that we talked out it; wanting to dance around the subject for as long as I could though I tried avoiding eye contact.
After another deep drink from my mug I cautiously peered over at Shana, she was staring right at me. Crap!
"Don't give me that look!" I went into defensive mode.
"Meru… what's going on?" Shana looked at me sternly and I immediately felt like a child being scolded.
"I don't know, I don't feel well…"
While it was true that I didn't feel well I did have an inkling of what was wrong. She gave a quick 'mm hmm' and crossed her arms.
"I am a girl too you know, I understand how this all works. You are-"
"Shhh, don't say it out loud!" I put my palm up and cut off her sentence. I felt that if it was said out loud then it would be true, and I wasn't ready for that reality just yet. But in all honesty it couldn't be avoided for much longer.
I slouched my shoulders forward feeling both ashamed and sad at the whole situation.
"I didn't plan on any of this," I began. I glanced out of the large window onto the garden in the front yard- it was a lovely day outside. "This wasn't supposed to happen."
Shana followed my gaze to the front yard and took a turn soaking in the beauty as well. She sighed before speaking. "Who is the father Meru?"
Slowly I turned to gaze at Shana knowing that this was the time to talk about it, about everything. I owed to her; she and Dart had done a lot for me and deserved the truth.
"It's Lloyd's…" I trailed off.
The brunette's eyes immediately saddened at the revelation. She was just now experiencing the hurt that I had been living with since the final battle against Melbu Frahma. I had lost Lloyd and she only now realized what that meant.
"Oh Meru, I'm so sorry, when did it…."
"We had a moment together just before Vellweb."
The memories still hurt to think about. I had been kept very busy and preoccupied over the past weeks and hadn't had much time to think about everything. Talking about it now was bringing back a lot of deep feelings.
"Oh I see, that was when Miranda was traveling with all of you."
I nodded my head in agreement. That's right; Shana hadn't been with us at the time. It all seems like it happened years ago, but those events weren't too far in the past.
"How long ago has that been?" Shana rhythmically tapped her fingertips on the table, probably a nervous habit.
I counted in my head for a moment before answering. "About eight weeks maybe."
"So, two months then."
I drained the last of my tea, feeling both sad and relieved at the same time.
We defeated the Wingly dictator about four weeks ago and had all gone our separate ways. Well, everyone for the most part had split up. I didn't want to go back to the forest so I came here to Seles with Dart and Shana. Albert had returned to his kingdom to marry Princess Emile. As for Haschel, he and Kongol decided to stick together and train; or so I heard.
Overall it was good to get this off of my chest; even though Shana had been on to me all along I assumed. Part of me had been afraid to tell her for more than the fact that it still hurt me. More than that, I knew that it was a tender subject for her as well. She was ready to have a child with Dart.
The two had been inseparable since our return to Seles. They now lived together and were to be married in a small ceremony in a few months. Dart insisted on them waiting until everything was stable and returned to normal. I could tell though that he too was ready to be wed and have a child with his love.
I lived with the pair now in their modest two bedroom cottage. The town itself had begun to rebuild after the incident earlier this year when Shana was captured. I had heard all about it. When we arrived at the end of our long journey much of the town had been restored to its former glory- so Dart and Shana claim.
The small town is cute and cozy. I was very glad that the townspeople accepted me, well for the most part I guess. There were a few of the older generation that knew what I was and looked down on me. I don't let that stuff get to me though. I'm in a good place now.
After our little 'talk' Shana and I began preparing on lunch. Lunch was going to be a new challenge, that was when Dart came home and ate before going out again. He had been lending a hand with the rest of the townspeople who were still in full swing rebuilding. Telling him would be worse that telling Shana I assumed.
I set to work chopping vegetables to go into the soup that Shana was preparing. My mind was racing trying to decide what to say when Dart came home. Maybe I could write it down and let him find the note, or maybe I should just blurt it out and run. Hmm.
"Meru?"
Shana looked over at me while continually stirring the pot in front of her; she had a skeptical look plastered on her face.
"Huh, did you say something?"
"I just wondered if the potatoes were ready yet?"
"Oh, yeah." I walked over to the stove and set down the plate loaded with diced potatoes for her.
As I turned to walk away Shana gently put her arms around me and held me in a warm embrace. She gave me a little squeeze.
"It'll all be okay- I promise. We'll tell dart when he gets home and he'll be so excited." She released me and I turned to face her. "Give me one of those wonderful Meru smiles."
I shined her the best smile that I could muster. Shana smiled back in return.
"We will get through this together. It hurts now, but in a few months you'll have a little baby in your arms and a genuine smile on your face- I just know it."
Hearing this made me smile for real. The corners of my mouth pulled tight and I let out a tiny giggle. She was right; I was going to have a baby. In a few months I would have a tangible piece of Lloyd, something I could hold and love forever.
I love Legend of Dragoon so much and wish that more people had gotten into it. The game, in my humble opinion, is on par with FF7 as far as how fun it was to play. Both hold a special place in my heart though. 3