Love Trials


Chapter VI: Goodbye

The day seemed to fly by. The atmosphere in the Mansion was indescribable. Due to the situation the parents were all required to sign confidentiality waivers. After having long talks with their children they left. Shortly after they parted a therapist came in for the first post-war session. The day was truly draining. Miriallia could only watch Dearka as he pretended it was just another day.

They all sat around the large dinner table. It was past ten and everyone had long finished eating. They knew once they went to sleep that was it. When morning would come Dearka would be gone from their lives forever. The PLANTs needed to put blame for the internal turmoil on someone, and he was it. Mir seemed to know this more than anyone, seeming like a zombie for the past couple hours.

"Miriallia?" Kira said. But he received no response. She was in such a state at this point that not even Dearka could get her to speak to him. Standing up he walked over and put his hand reassuringly on her shoulder. "We're going to go to bed now. We'll see you both in the morning."

Everyone got up from the table. Soon it was just the two of them sitting at the table. They both knew that they had limited time left. There was nothing that they could do to fix it.

"I'm sorry" he finally said. She look at him confused.

"Why? What do you have to be sorry for?"

"For coming to Orb, for getting you to even consider there being something between us. If I had just left you would have believed I was living a happy life in the PLANTs."

"Just because it would be easier doesn't mean that it would have been right" she replied. "I wouldn't give the last day and a half up for anything. I'll hold on to those memories forever" She said leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Then I guess I won't really die" she looked up at him strange, unsure of what he meant. "I'll be living on in your memory"

"What if that's not enough" she asked.

"It has to be." he said standing up. Taking hold of her hands he pulled her to her feet.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"I'm tired. And there is no one I'd rather spend my last night on Earth with then you" he leaned towards her a passionately kissed her.

She pulled away, hiding her face she whispered "I think I could have loved you."

It broke his heart to hear her say this. "I think I could have loved you too" kissing her on the forehead he then said. "Maybe in the next life we'll find each other again, and things will work out better for us."

Taking hold of her hand he lead her up to his bedroom. They laid in bed together in silence at first. He didn't like the silence. He didn't want there last night together to be sad and speechless. So he worked his magic and convinced her to talk. They ignored the time as they spoke like two people who were never enemies.

She told him all about growing up in Orb. How she ended up in Heliopolis. That she and the others unknowingly were aiding Morgenroete with development for technology that would be used by the military. She told him about meeting Tolle when they were just kids. That he was her best friend and a relationship just seemed like a natural transition. She was honest with him and explain that she didn't know how she really felt for Tolle. Her true feels were so mixed up between them being friends and the war going on around him.

In exchange he told her things he had never told any girl before. He told her about growing up and the kindness his mother taught him, a kindness his father loathed. He believed kindness was weakness and showed Dearka what that weakness would bring him. He told her how the two of them would get into physical fights that he would always lose. He even revealed he filed and won emancipation the year before he became a ZAFT soldier. She started to see him in a whole new light. His life hadn't been perfect or privileged. He was damaged but amazed her at the same time.

They talked and talked throughout the night until they weren't talking. Their mouths were too busy. Deep passionate kisses and wandering hands were invading the rest of their night. They were done with talking, done with thinking. It was the last time they would be together, the last time he would ever be with anyone. This caused a desperation neither of them had ever felt before.

They didn't sleep that night. After cuddling for a while they put on robes, sat on the balcony and watched the sunrise. "It's beautiful" He whispered being memorized by the yellow, orange and red hues spreading across the sky. He looked over at her and could see how crushed she was. "No tears today okay?" He asked. "It's just going to make it harder to walk away."

"I can't make any promises." She said "But I'll try"

"Thank you"

They waited upstairs as long as they could. Soon the time was there. Time for the final goodbye. They walked down the stairs hand in hand. On each side of the foyer their friends stood. The somber tone was felt by all. Standing in front of the door was Tad Elsman and two ZAFT soldiers, a male and a female. The male soldier Dearka recognized instantly, and fact that he was one of the ones there hurt more than seeing his father. Yzak Joule, he was his former comrade and best friend. Of course his father would insist on bring him.

Dearka chose not to give his father the satisfaction of knowing how much it bothered him. Instead he chose to take his own shot at his father. When he and Miriallia reached the bottom of the stairs his kiss her long and deep. It was to be their last kiss, a final goodbye. When they broke the kiss he leaned his forehead against hers and smiled at her. She then walked over and stood by Sai. Turning toward the three in front of the door he could see the shook on the two ZAFT soldiers face and the anger on his father's.

Ignoring his own anger Tad stepped forward. "Dearka Elsman of ZAFT with these two soldiers as witnesses today you are under arrest for the following offenses: Assisting the enemy, Corresponding with the enemy, Disobeying orders, Failing to rejoin ZAFT Forces after being released from an enemy prison, Taking part in a mutiny, Striking and/or Threatening a superior officer, Refusing to obey a general order, Deserting the military, Along with treason against the PLANTs itself. Now put your hands behind your head and get on your knees."

Dearka held his head up high as slowly placed his hands behind his head. He then knelt down on his knees. His eyes focused on his father as Yzak reluctantly walked forward. He went behind his friend and pulling his arms down bond his hands together. The female soldier then walked forward and help Yzak bring him to his feet.

Once on his feet he spoke "You're going to regret this someday. There will come a day you'll realize I didn't do anything wrong. I protected the PLANTs, helped to save them. And when you finally see that, but it will be too late. I'll be long dead and you'll have to live with the fact that you took your wife's only child away from her for no reason"

"Kristen has no use for a traitor of a son." He confessed.

Dearka smirked. "She would never say something like that. Have you even told her?"

"Enough talk. Hahnenfuss, Joule it's time" He spat in anger. Turning he left out the doors to wait for them outside. The three followed slowly behind, leaving the Attha Mansion.

"I'm sorry… I'll find a way to get you out of this." Yzak promised in a hush tone.

"You and I both know this over for me. Don't risk your future fighting a battle you can't possibly win. I've made my peace with things. I've said my goodbyes."

"That doesn't mean it over" Yzak replied. The last thing he wanted was to watch his friend be executed. Especially after the both made it through the war alive. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair.