Shirayuki's heart was racing. It was Zen. The one she loved, and even now she still loved him. She noticed Zen pale when Akamori called her 'mom'. Shirayuki's guilt resurfaced and her mind barraged her with the memories of 7 years ago.
Flashback
Shirayuki hadn't been feeling well. She had had nausea, her stomach hurt, and she was so tired. The redhead was just off these past days, unless you don't count almost running into a few walls.
Just a few days ago she had tangled with Zen for the first time (first time with anyone actually). Since then, she had not been able to look him in the eyes. Luckily, he knew it was because of her embarrassment, because one: the red face, and two: Because it's Zen.
As Shirayuki walked into the medical wing (not running into the wall thankfully), She caught the chief's attention.
"Shirayuki, are you feeling alright? You seem unwell." The chief asked.
"I'm completely fine! nothings wrong at all." At the moment Ryu was not in today, as it was his day off, leaving it to be just Shirayuki and Chief Garak.
"Come over here and sit down. By the way, you should work on your lying."
Shirayuki complied, knowing there was no point in arguing with her boss. Since she couldn't do her work, she might as well head over to the stool before the chief. Chief Garak felt her forehead, following with just a regular check up.
After a few moments, the chief sighed.
"Is it that bad?" Shirayuki asked fearfully.
"No, but i am a little surprised. Shirayuki...I think you might be...Pregnant." The chief tried to let that sink in. She stood and went off to do something else, probably knowing who was most likely the father.
Meanwhile, Shirayuki was frozen. She was pregnant. Pregnant with not just any child but a prince's too.
Zen. Oh god Zen. What am I going to do? We aren't even married or at the very least public. How will this look if He just suddenly had a child with a commoner no less? How do I even tell him?
Shirayuki was conflicted. There was rustling outside, and as Shirayuki turned, Obi appeared.
"Obi..." Shirayuki whispered.
Obi himself knew something was wrong. He hadn't heard what was going on, but he saw Shirayuki receive information from the chief. Info that seemed important.
"Hey, thought you might want an escort back to your room if you're not feeling well. What'd the Chief tell you?" Obi spoke. He didn't expect an answer, merely getting a nod as Shirayuki stood to walk back. Through the entire path back to her room, she didn't say anything, and they departed in silence.
When Shirayuki got inside her room, she sat for sometime. Shirayuki thought about what to do, and her hand subconsciously moved to her stomach. It was so cute to think a piece of Zen and herself were being made inside of her even right now.
She smiled sadly, and decided. She was going back to Tanbarun. She would leave and raise her child on her own, so as to not shame Zen.
She packed for the rest of her day, even though she didn't have much stuff. And once again, she stepped out the door, leaving a note and her pharmacist life in look for yet another one.
End of Flashback
Zen gaped. Did the girl just call Shirayuki...mommy?! What the hell was going on?!
"I... um..." Shirayuki couldn't find any words to say. Mitsuhide and Kiki hadn't said a word yet, they were to stunned.
Zen looked at Shirayuki, so many things caught in his eyes. Shirayuki's hair was so much longer than before. She looked like she was going well and was in good health. Zen assumed she must have still been dealing with pharmaceutical stuff since her bag had different plant poking from it. Just how much of what he assumed was right? Was their time together really just a big, fat lie?
Shirayuki was still stumbling for words, when Zen stepped forward.
"I would like to ask for an explanation, Shirayuki. May I?" Zen declared, trying to hide the pained fear in his voice. He was terrified that Shirayuki had just left and found someone else, That everything they had had was nothing more than a sham.
"I..I guess that would be a given. We can go back to where I live. Come on Akamori." Shirayuki held out her hand to her daughter, Akamori taking it happily.
As they journeyed on, the paths looked familiar. Zen recognized it as the Lions of the mountains village was near here. Before he could ask, Shirayuki clarified that they indeed were going to the village. She neither said nor answered anything else till they got there.
At their arrival, everyone said hello. Zen remembered that they had found out that Shirayuki was born here, that these people were always meant to be her family. They looked as if they cherished her more than anything. And as they began walking towards the houses, Shirayuki leaned down to Akamori.
"Akamori, I want you to go find Grandpa, ok?" She said with a big smile. The little girl smiled and started off.
Shirayuki asked if they would follow her to her home, the prince and aides came to a stop at a big house, and Shirayuki entered, gesturing for them to follow. When you walked in, it had a sitting area near the door. She asked for them to sit down as she said she was going to make tea.
As she went off, Zen looked around more. The house was made of wood, and it's design highlighted with green colors. As they were in the sitting area by the door, there was a staircase on the other side of the room. It must have led up to the bedrooms or something like it, Zen supposed. As Shirayuki came back with a tea tray, she opened the sliding wooden doors, revealing a wide spread kitchen. The place felt very homely.
"I know that this is not really what you would have wanted," Shirayuki started as she sat down across from them. "But I did what I thought I had to."
Zen was taken aback at her statement.
She thought she needed to run away and have a child with another guy, not even telling me anything at all?
"I'm pretty sure that Both Prince Zen and Mr. Mitsuhide are thinking the same thing. Miss Kiki is smart and cunning, so I'm sure she has placed the pieces together already."
Figure what out? And why is she calling me 'Prince'? Zen thought.
"So, why don't you tell Mitsuhide and I what the truth is, prove that we're just stupid guys who don't understand." Zen questioned Shirayuki, his nerves on end with worry and irritation. If the child wasn't some other guy's, than what the hell?