Authors Note:

Okay, so I am back, but I don't know how this will turn out. We shall see. I hope you all enjoy it!

I do NOT own Slayers or the characters.


Chapter Four:


"Lina, you say that we can't keep Eliyah, but how do you really intend to find her a good family while we are traveling? Do you really know anyone who would be good at raising a child?" Gourry shook his head.

As Eliyah cooed Gourry tickled her belly gently. "I mean seriously Lina, how could you give up such a helpless baby to someone you know nothing, about?

Sucking in her breath and biting her lip Lina considered what Gourry just said.

He's right! AGAIN! How many times is he going to do that in one day. I'm starting to get really confused and freaked out here! How is Gourry making so much sense!

Gourry surveyed Lina as he waited for an answer. There was nothing that he wanted more at the moment, than to tell Lina...

No, I have to take things one step at a time... I'm sure she is already reeling from my 'out of character behavior'.

It was then that Gourry had a crazy and possibly risky, idea. "Here Lina you hold Eliyah for a minute. I need to get a quick snack."

I know that I shouldn't trick Lina like this. But I know if Lina takes care of Eliyah for long enough... I just know she'll get attached and want to keep her! This might be the only way to convince her.

Before Lina had a chance to include her input on this development, Gourry had already disappeared into the thick crowded street of the city.

Looking down at Eliyah, Lina tried to figure out what she was going to do with Eliyah.

How are we possibly going to keep her around when we are on the road all the time! Still, Gourry is right, I can't really go handing her off to some family I don't know. That could turn out just as bad as taking her with us... There has to be some way to solve this whole thing! There's one other thing bothering me. Why is Gourry so clear headed today? Or is it that he is just acting normal today and he was acting this whole time? ... My mind feels like it's going to explode!

Glancing down at the baby in her arms, it occurred to Lina how tiny and fragile Eliyah really was. Then what hit her next few people would have been able to guess. Lina Inverse, Enemy of All Who Live, Dragon Spooker, ect. began to experience something that was quite uncommon to her. Fear. For at that moment, the sorceress realized that she had NO idea how to take care of a baby.

Am I holding her right? Am I squeezing her to tight? What was it Mom said about babies needing support... Their head? Or neck? What do I do... WHAT DO I DO!

Finally, Gourry was sure he was far enough away from Lina that she wouldn't be able to find him without fighting through the massive crown. And if she tried, Gourry was sitting on the steps of the capitol building of the city. From where he sat, he could see Lina and watch what she was doing.

There has to be more I can do to convince Lina that we should keep Eliyah...

A thought forced its way into the forefront of Gourry's mind.

You could tell her that you love her and want to get married and start a family.

The thought was almost piercing and it was difficult for Gourry to shake it loose and change mind set.

NO! She would shoot me down and probably horribly maim me for saying something like that! I have to take small steps closer to her so that she won't get scared away! Saying something like that would ABSOLUTELY scare her away and I would probably have next to... no. Make that NO chance of surviving.

As always, there is no reasoning with yourself. You cannot win... Or is it you cannot lose? Either way, Gourry was mentally arguing with himself. And it seemed likely that he was going to lose.

How do you lose an argument against yourself? Well, if I knew how, then I might not be losing right now! Okay, this is getting confusing. Okay, so I know I love Lina, and I want to marry her... What kind of 'advances' as they are sometimes referred to, should I attempt? Should I buy her dinner just her and me? No. That isn't much of a difference from any other day. I KNOW! I can buy her jewelry! I know Lina loves jewels! That is something that would subtly show her my intentions. But not be so... aggressive, that she would want to kill me.


"I love you!..."

...

There was an uncomfortable atmosphere on one side, and on the other, complete and total bewilderment. No. Not because of what had just been said. That in and of itself, was not entirely shocking the the young princess. No. What had our justice loving princess tongue tide was the somewhat random and sudden outburst.

Zel froze. Realizing what he had just revealed. Although he had been contemplating confessing to Amelia, he, first off, intended to be much more eloquent with his words. And second, he had always wanted to build the scene a little more. To explain in more detail what he loved about her. In sum. Zelgadiss wanted to use eloquence. This explosion was far from eloquent.

Time continued to lapse in front of the couple.

She hasn't said anything. Why hasn't she said anything? Did I say something funny? No idiot. You only said 'I love you'. How could that be mind blowing? Okay, so that wasn't the best word to use. Still! It shouldn't be hard for her to process. Or did she not hear me?

Inside Amelia's head was another internal monologue.

He finally said it! HE FINALLY SAID IT! You need to respond. RESPOND! Hello! This isn't time to day dream!

Amelia's mind had wondered into a elaborate day dream about what their wedding would look like... and other details in the future that were not useful for the current circumstances.

Amelia is trying to come up with a nice way of telling you that she doesn't like you. That she even despises you... NO! She is just fantasizing or something...

Silence continued. The longer it drew on the more Zelgadiss shrunk into his chair, at the same time as bickering with himself mentally. It wasn't obvious whether he was winning or losing the debates. Yet since they were all internalized one could say that you win and lose because you are only arguing with yourself...


Kyoudaichan:

Okay, so it's kind of late at night. So I decided to stop. I know it isn't a good ending to a chapter. But I hope you will forgive me!