Author's note: Wow! Updating so soon! What am I, sick or something? Ryou, check my temperature, would you?
Ryou: *holds hand to my forehead* You seem fine to me.
Shelly: *shivers* You've got cold hands!
Ryou: Of course! I've been playing out in the snow!
Shelly: o_O What, all three inches of it? You can't even make a snowball out of it.
Ryou: *sigh* I know. I just like looking at it.
Shelly: O-kay. Anyway, to answer Psycho-Kitty's question, Bakura is the evil spirit that resides in the Millennium Ring which he wears. Sometimes he takes over Ryou's body and makes him do all sorts of nasty things.
Ryou: He's not a very pleasant fellow to be around.
Shelly: No, but he sure is hot!!! *drools*
Ryou: o_O *passes out*
Shelly: Oh, well. I guess he can't do my disclaimer. I guess I'll have to get Raven to do it. *kicks Raven* Raven, would you be sweet and do my disclaimer for me while I bring Ryou around here?
Raven: *snorts* Do it yourself. You're more than capable.
Shelly: -_- Raven, don't make me get Bakura back in here to teach you a lesson.
Raven: *snaps to attention* Of course, I'll do anything! ^_^;;;
Shelly: ^____^ That's better!
Raven: *grumbles silently to himself* Shelly doesn't own zoids (thank goodness!), just her own characters.
Shelly: *sigh* I guess that'll be the best I can get out of him. Enjoy everyone!
The Most Precious Gift by Shelly
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The members of the Guardian Force walked wearily down the hallway as they left the stuffy confines of the debriefing, the debate having gone well into the early hours of the morning. They were all very concerned about the startling news Tania had brought them, but of all of them only Van had accepted Raven's presence here, leading him to try and be the one to calm everyone else down.
"I just can't believe that Tania would go and do something like that," Thomas ranted. "After all that he's done to her, almost killing her, she goes and invites him to help us. I, for one, will be keeping a careful eye on him in battle."
"Thomas, Raven isn't the enemy here, Prozen and Hiltz are," Van reminded him calmly.
"And what about that?" the blond lieutenant added. "I thought Prozen was supposed to be dead and here he is alive and well. And working with Hiltz no less! Since when did everything become so crazy?"
Erin sighed and stopped him in the hallway to pull him down for a lengthy kiss which brought forth a giggle from Fiona and a slightly embarrassed smile from Van. By the time they both surfaced for air, Thomas had a beatific smile on his handsome face, his eyes dreamy. "Now that we have some peace and quiet, how about we go get some coffee?" Erin asked with a satisfied smile.
"No thanks, I think we're going to retire for the night," Van replied. "I'm exhausted, and we all need to get some rest while we can before things heat up."
Erin smiled. "All right then. Good night to both of you," she offered, watching as Van and Fiona disappeared down the hall, Van whispering in her ear and Fiona giggling in response. Erin gazed back up at Thomas, who was looking down at her as well with a loving light in his green eyes, a love which she returned completely and without question.
Acting on impulse, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close, loving the way his arms felt around her and the way he smelled. He was so wonderful in so many ways, and she felt incredibly lucky to have met someone who loved her so much in return. "I love you, Thomas," she whispered in his ear.
"I love you, too, Erin," he replied as his arms tightened around her. "I'm glad we're alone. I need to speak with you about something."
She pulled away and looked into his eyes, her own full of questioning. "Okay, where do you want to go?"
"At this time of night, no one should be in the commissary so why don't we go there?" he suggested. She agreed with him, and they walked there in comfortable silence, neither of them really feeling the need to say anything just yet as both of them had a lot on their minds. They both poured themselves a cup of coffee then took a seat in the empty room.
Erin noticed his serious expression, and she reached out to take one of his hands in hers to stroke it gently with her own, knowing what he had to say was very important to him. "Thomas, please talk to me," she whispered. "Something's bothering you, and it isn't about Raven is it?"
Thomas sighed heavily. "No, it isn't," he replied. "Erin, I love you more than anything in this world. More than I ever thought possible. You know that I would die for you if it came down to that."
"I know," she echoed, wondering where he was going with this.
"It is because of my love for you that I ask of you something I know you won't want to do," he said, gazing deep into her eyes as his way of trying to make her see how much this meant to him.
She sat there silent for a moment before it finally dawned on her what he wanted her to do. "You don't want me to take part in this battle," she stated flatly.
"I don't," he agreed.
"Because you love me so much you don't want to lose me," she added.
He nodded, somehow getting the feeling that he had made a mistake in asking her that. But he was going to remain firm in his decision since he did love her with all his heart and soul and didn't want anything to happen to her.
She worried at her lower lip with her teeth for a moment. "Then I must ask that you don't go into battle either," she said.
"What?" he asked, the request surprising him.
"You heard me, Thomas Shubaltz," she retorted. "If you don't want me to fight because you love me, then I must ask the same of you since I love you as well. It's only fair, after all. Unless you think I can't hold my own in a battle as well as you can," she added with a raised eyebrow.
He became a little nervous as he sensed he was treading on thin ice. He had come here with all intentions of keeping her safely away from the fight, but she had turned the tables on him somehow, and now he didn't know what was going on. "No...it's not that..."
"Fine, then it's settled," she decided. "I'll be joining you when the time comes since I know that you took an oath as a member of the Guardian Force to protect both the Empire and Republic from all aggressors. I took the same oath as well, so I am honor bound to fight."
His head sagged to the table as he groaned in dismay. How did women always manage to get their way around men? "Fine, I accept that," he finally conceded. "Just promise me you'll be extra careful and not endanger yourself needlessly."
She smiled then, and it was like the sun shining upon him as she jumped up out of her seat and sat on his lap, giving him a hug and a kiss. "I won't, Thomas," she promised. "As long as you promise to do the same."
He smiled then as he kissed her again, never able to get enough of her no matter how much he loved her. "You can be sure of that," he replied. "There are too many things I want to share with you yet to let it slip through my fingers. You've brought so much into my life. I never realized before what love could be like before I met you. I was foolish to think I was in love with Fiona since what I felt for her doesn't even compare to what I feel for you. That's why I don't want to lose you, Erin, for without you then I will be nothing."
She hushed him with a finger to his lips. "Thomas, hush," she whispered. "Did anyone ever tell you you talk too much?" she asked with a smile as she brushed her lips across his mouth then his cheek.
Karl Shubaltz lie alone in his empty bed, his hand reaching out and caressing the soft pillow by his own which would normally have been occupied by his beloved wife. He couldn't understand why she was being so adamant about Raven. It was strange that barely months ago he had tried to kill her, and now she was defending his presence here. Sure, they could use the formidable power of his zoid on their side, but she didn't have to go as far as to go out there and watch him herself.
He sighed deeply. That was really the thing that was bothering him. She had chosen to be out there with Raven rather than be here with him, although he knew it was only to keep an eye out for his behavior. He sighed again and turned over onto his back, peering at the shadows the two moons cast into the bedroom. It seemed he would never get to sleep this night.
Then he heard a door open and close nearby, and he reached under his pillow for the knife he had hidden under it. Better to be safe than sorry. He lie still with his eyes closed until he heard the bedroom door open, and it was then that he opened his eyes just enough until they were mere slits. He saw the moonlight shine upon a slender figure that was slowly undressing.
Wait a minute...why were they taking their clothes off?
His opened his eyes then and saw the most beautiful sight before him as Tania stood there, finally turning towards him once she felt his gaze on her. He sat up in the bed, letting go of his weapon as he waited to see what she would do next, his heart beating a mile a minute and sounding loud in the stillness of the night.
Tania turned to face him, and she saw the undisguised pain in his eyes which she had put there. She had planned to stay out there all night, a testament to her stubborn nature, but she couldn't stand to be apart from him for too long without missing him. He was too much a part of her, of her body and soul, for her to ever live without him.
Easing towards the bed, she crawled onto it and straddled his legs, taking him in her arms and holding him close. Then she pulled away long enough to run her thumbs across his cheeks before brushing his hair back from his forehead and placing a kiss on his forehead. "I love you so much, Karl," she said as she gazed deep into his eyes. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you."
Already having forgiven her, he silenced her with a soft kiss, feeling her body tremble as his hands brushed against her back. "There's no need to apologize, my love," he replied. "I made a promise to love you for better or worse, and I intend to keep it that way. There are times when we may have a difference of opinion, but I will always love you no matter what. If you feel that strongly about it, then I will support you a hundred percent. I was merely trying to make you aware of the risks involved."
She smiled a little. "I know you were," she replied. "And I reacted like a little child throwing a tantrum when I didn't get my way." She kissed him again, one that was soft and full of the incredible love she felt for him. "I'm so blessed to have you as my husband."
He returned her smile. "As I am to have you for my wife, Mrs. Shubaltz."
She grinned like a little kid at hearing the sound of her married name on his lips. "I like the sound of that, Mr. Shubaltz."
He chuckled deeply. "I'm most glad that you do, for you are stuck with it for the rest of your life, I'm afraid."
She laughed as she began kissing along his neck. "You'll hear no complaints from me," she breathed in his ear.
**************
Aww! Thomas and Erin cuteness on request! As well as a little Karl and Tania.
Ryou: *wipes tear from eye* That was so sweet!
Shelly: Hi, welcome back! (a la Ace Ventura) I see you've recovered. Have a nice nap?
Ryou: *blushes* Sorry about that!
Shelly: *giggles* Isn't he too cute! Thanks for reading everyone! C-ya!
Ryou: *holds hand to my forehead* You seem fine to me.
Shelly: *shivers* You've got cold hands!
Ryou: Of course! I've been playing out in the snow!
Shelly: o_O What, all three inches of it? You can't even make a snowball out of it.
Ryou: *sigh* I know. I just like looking at it.
Shelly: O-kay. Anyway, to answer Psycho-Kitty's question, Bakura is the evil spirit that resides in the Millennium Ring which he wears. Sometimes he takes over Ryou's body and makes him do all sorts of nasty things.
Ryou: He's not a very pleasant fellow to be around.
Shelly: No, but he sure is hot!!! *drools*
Ryou: o_O *passes out*
Shelly: Oh, well. I guess he can't do my disclaimer. I guess I'll have to get Raven to do it. *kicks Raven* Raven, would you be sweet and do my disclaimer for me while I bring Ryou around here?
Raven: *snorts* Do it yourself. You're more than capable.
Shelly: -_- Raven, don't make me get Bakura back in here to teach you a lesson.
Raven: *snaps to attention* Of course, I'll do anything! ^_^;;;
Shelly: ^____^ That's better!
Raven: *grumbles silently to himself* Shelly doesn't own zoids (thank goodness!), just her own characters.
Shelly: *sigh* I guess that'll be the best I can get out of him. Enjoy everyone!
The Most Precious Gift by Shelly
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The members of the Guardian Force walked wearily down the hallway as they left the stuffy confines of the debriefing, the debate having gone well into the early hours of the morning. They were all very concerned about the startling news Tania had brought them, but of all of them only Van had accepted Raven's presence here, leading him to try and be the one to calm everyone else down.
"I just can't believe that Tania would go and do something like that," Thomas ranted. "After all that he's done to her, almost killing her, she goes and invites him to help us. I, for one, will be keeping a careful eye on him in battle."
"Thomas, Raven isn't the enemy here, Prozen and Hiltz are," Van reminded him calmly.
"And what about that?" the blond lieutenant added. "I thought Prozen was supposed to be dead and here he is alive and well. And working with Hiltz no less! Since when did everything become so crazy?"
Erin sighed and stopped him in the hallway to pull him down for a lengthy kiss which brought forth a giggle from Fiona and a slightly embarrassed smile from Van. By the time they both surfaced for air, Thomas had a beatific smile on his handsome face, his eyes dreamy. "Now that we have some peace and quiet, how about we go get some coffee?" Erin asked with a satisfied smile.
"No thanks, I think we're going to retire for the night," Van replied. "I'm exhausted, and we all need to get some rest while we can before things heat up."
Erin smiled. "All right then. Good night to both of you," she offered, watching as Van and Fiona disappeared down the hall, Van whispering in her ear and Fiona giggling in response. Erin gazed back up at Thomas, who was looking down at her as well with a loving light in his green eyes, a love which she returned completely and without question.
Acting on impulse, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close, loving the way his arms felt around her and the way he smelled. He was so wonderful in so many ways, and she felt incredibly lucky to have met someone who loved her so much in return. "I love you, Thomas," she whispered in his ear.
"I love you, too, Erin," he replied as his arms tightened around her. "I'm glad we're alone. I need to speak with you about something."
She pulled away and looked into his eyes, her own full of questioning. "Okay, where do you want to go?"
"At this time of night, no one should be in the commissary so why don't we go there?" he suggested. She agreed with him, and they walked there in comfortable silence, neither of them really feeling the need to say anything just yet as both of them had a lot on their minds. They both poured themselves a cup of coffee then took a seat in the empty room.
Erin noticed his serious expression, and she reached out to take one of his hands in hers to stroke it gently with her own, knowing what he had to say was very important to him. "Thomas, please talk to me," she whispered. "Something's bothering you, and it isn't about Raven is it?"
Thomas sighed heavily. "No, it isn't," he replied. "Erin, I love you more than anything in this world. More than I ever thought possible. You know that I would die for you if it came down to that."
"I know," she echoed, wondering where he was going with this.
"It is because of my love for you that I ask of you something I know you won't want to do," he said, gazing deep into her eyes as his way of trying to make her see how much this meant to him.
She sat there silent for a moment before it finally dawned on her what he wanted her to do. "You don't want me to take part in this battle," she stated flatly.
"I don't," he agreed.
"Because you love me so much you don't want to lose me," she added.
He nodded, somehow getting the feeling that he had made a mistake in asking her that. But he was going to remain firm in his decision since he did love her with all his heart and soul and didn't want anything to happen to her.
She worried at her lower lip with her teeth for a moment. "Then I must ask that you don't go into battle either," she said.
"What?" he asked, the request surprising him.
"You heard me, Thomas Shubaltz," she retorted. "If you don't want me to fight because you love me, then I must ask the same of you since I love you as well. It's only fair, after all. Unless you think I can't hold my own in a battle as well as you can," she added with a raised eyebrow.
He became a little nervous as he sensed he was treading on thin ice. He had come here with all intentions of keeping her safely away from the fight, but she had turned the tables on him somehow, and now he didn't know what was going on. "No...it's not that..."
"Fine, then it's settled," she decided. "I'll be joining you when the time comes since I know that you took an oath as a member of the Guardian Force to protect both the Empire and Republic from all aggressors. I took the same oath as well, so I am honor bound to fight."
His head sagged to the table as he groaned in dismay. How did women always manage to get their way around men? "Fine, I accept that," he finally conceded. "Just promise me you'll be extra careful and not endanger yourself needlessly."
She smiled then, and it was like the sun shining upon him as she jumped up out of her seat and sat on his lap, giving him a hug and a kiss. "I won't, Thomas," she promised. "As long as you promise to do the same."
He smiled then as he kissed her again, never able to get enough of her no matter how much he loved her. "You can be sure of that," he replied. "There are too many things I want to share with you yet to let it slip through my fingers. You've brought so much into my life. I never realized before what love could be like before I met you. I was foolish to think I was in love with Fiona since what I felt for her doesn't even compare to what I feel for you. That's why I don't want to lose you, Erin, for without you then I will be nothing."
She hushed him with a finger to his lips. "Thomas, hush," she whispered. "Did anyone ever tell you you talk too much?" she asked with a smile as she brushed her lips across his mouth then his cheek.
Karl Shubaltz lie alone in his empty bed, his hand reaching out and caressing the soft pillow by his own which would normally have been occupied by his beloved wife. He couldn't understand why she was being so adamant about Raven. It was strange that barely months ago he had tried to kill her, and now she was defending his presence here. Sure, they could use the formidable power of his zoid on their side, but she didn't have to go as far as to go out there and watch him herself.
He sighed deeply. That was really the thing that was bothering him. She had chosen to be out there with Raven rather than be here with him, although he knew it was only to keep an eye out for his behavior. He sighed again and turned over onto his back, peering at the shadows the two moons cast into the bedroom. It seemed he would never get to sleep this night.
Then he heard a door open and close nearby, and he reached under his pillow for the knife he had hidden under it. Better to be safe than sorry. He lie still with his eyes closed until he heard the bedroom door open, and it was then that he opened his eyes just enough until they were mere slits. He saw the moonlight shine upon a slender figure that was slowly undressing.
Wait a minute...why were they taking their clothes off?
His opened his eyes then and saw the most beautiful sight before him as Tania stood there, finally turning towards him once she felt his gaze on her. He sat up in the bed, letting go of his weapon as he waited to see what she would do next, his heart beating a mile a minute and sounding loud in the stillness of the night.
Tania turned to face him, and she saw the undisguised pain in his eyes which she had put there. She had planned to stay out there all night, a testament to her stubborn nature, but she couldn't stand to be apart from him for too long without missing him. He was too much a part of her, of her body and soul, for her to ever live without him.
Easing towards the bed, she crawled onto it and straddled his legs, taking him in her arms and holding him close. Then she pulled away long enough to run her thumbs across his cheeks before brushing his hair back from his forehead and placing a kiss on his forehead. "I love you so much, Karl," she said as she gazed deep into his eyes. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you."
Already having forgiven her, he silenced her with a soft kiss, feeling her body tremble as his hands brushed against her back. "There's no need to apologize, my love," he replied. "I made a promise to love you for better or worse, and I intend to keep it that way. There are times when we may have a difference of opinion, but I will always love you no matter what. If you feel that strongly about it, then I will support you a hundred percent. I was merely trying to make you aware of the risks involved."
She smiled a little. "I know you were," she replied. "And I reacted like a little child throwing a tantrum when I didn't get my way." She kissed him again, one that was soft and full of the incredible love she felt for him. "I'm so blessed to have you as my husband."
He returned her smile. "As I am to have you for my wife, Mrs. Shubaltz."
She grinned like a little kid at hearing the sound of her married name on his lips. "I like the sound of that, Mr. Shubaltz."
He chuckled deeply. "I'm most glad that you do, for you are stuck with it for the rest of your life, I'm afraid."
She laughed as she began kissing along his neck. "You'll hear no complaints from me," she breathed in his ear.
**************
Aww! Thomas and Erin cuteness on request! As well as a little Karl and Tania.
Ryou: *wipes tear from eye* That was so sweet!
Shelly: Hi, welcome back! (a la Ace Ventura) I see you've recovered. Have a nice nap?
Ryou: *blushes* Sorry about that!
Shelly: *giggles* Isn't he too cute! Thanks for reading everyone! C-ya!