Chapter 24 – Duties and Destiny

After the baby was born Dearka went to tell everyone the good news. They were all excited, all that is accept for Tad Elsman that is. After telling them the news they all went to look at the little bundle of joy. Kristine and Merriam went on and on about how cute and tiny he was and Lacus joined in. He got friendly punches on the arm from Cagalli, Athrun and Kira and Mir's father congratulated him.

After everyone was done looking at the new baby they headed back to the waiting room. Miriallia was resting so they couldn't go visit her, so they decided to wait a few hours but after a while of waiting they had to leave. Dearka decided to have a nap in the waiting room while his parents talked, they were the only ones left there. Before Dearka went to sleep his father told him he had to talk to him when he woke up.

Hours past and soon Dearka was woke up by a nurse who told him that Miriallia was awake. He left the waiting room and was met by his father, his mother was nowhere in sight; this was always bad news.

"Where's Mom?"

"She went to go look at the baby while we talk"

"Mir's awake now I'm going to go see her"

"We are going to talk first"

"I don't know about you but I've had enough talking!" Dearka yelled

"Don't you dare speak to me like that!"

"It's all your fault the baby came early!"

"Would you two please calm down this is a hospital not a wrestling ring" said a passing nurse. They both nodded with faces that showed how annoyed they were interrupted. The two began to walk down the hall towards Miriallia's room.

"What do you want anyways? It's obvious that you weren't interested in seeing Miriallia and I or the baby, so what is it? Business?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"That is the only time you ever contact me"

"You're done"

"Huh?"

"You are leaving for the PLANTs with us tonight"

"What the hell are you talking about! Why would I leave Miriallia and the baby"

"You're going back to ZAFT at the Chairman's request"

"Why?"

"Does it matter you can't deny his request, you remember what happened the trial don't you"

flashback

"Dearka Tad Elsman on the charges of treason and deserting the military we of the council find you…Guilty of all crimes. As such the penalty is death"

Dearka felt his heart drop to his stomach.

"May I say something?" asked a man among the crowd of council members.

"Of course Chairman Dullindal"

"It was us the adults who started this war and we expected these children like the defendant to fight it. I think instead we should make a deal. Dearka we will let you go, return to Orb. Live your life. However of course there is a catch. Should we require your services as a solider you will leave no question asked? If you are to refuse to return you will be arrested and you sentence will be carried out. Do you agree to this?

"Yes sir"

End of Flashback

"What do I tell her?"

"That it's over and for her not to worry"

"Somehow I don't think that will be enough"

Dearka left his father and walked into Miriallia's room.

"Hey honey-bunny" Miriallia said obviously still weak and tired.

"How are you feeling?" Dearka asked with no emotion in his voice

"I feel like a watermelon just came out of me, but it was only a tiny baby" she giggled, but to her surprise Dearka's expression didn't change "Dearka are you okay?"

"It's over" he said, his voice never wavered nor did his expression change

Mir was shocked "W-what"

"It's over, you and I are done. I'm leaving."

"What are you talking about" she said as she fought hard to not cry

"I will pay child support and pay for the house"

"I-I don't understand" she cried

"Goodbye Miriallia" with that said left the room and a hysterically crying Miriallia.

--

He walked down the hall fighting back all his tears when he reached the area of the hospital where the newborns were kept. He went to the nearest nurse and asked if he could hold his baby. She agreed and he went into the room. He sat in a rocking chair and held Kyo in his arms. You're so tiny

He kept looking down at his son until he couldn't take it anymore the tears were falling like crazy down his face. "I'm sorry…Kyo I'm so sorry. D-daddy…daddy doesn't want to leave…but…I have to..." he was having trouble talking though the sobs and even though he knew Kyo couldn't understand him he still felt like he needed to explain himself to someone anyone. "I love you…and I'll always protect you."

"Dearka" he looked up to see his father standing in the doorway. "It's time to go" He got up and went over to the nurse and gave her Kyo, wiping away his tears he headed out the door leaving the two things he had fought so hard to protect.

Dearka didn't trust Dullindal nor did he thing his joining the military was a good sign but he knew he had to leave.

--

"Hi honey"

"Hi mom" Mir's parents and friends had all came back that afternoon to visit and check up on her.

"What's wrong honey? You look like you've been crying"

"I'm just tired I guess"

"Where's Dearka at" asked Athrun. Mir looked at him sadly but she couldn't bring herself to tell them that it was over between them partly because she didn't want to hear their reactions and partly because she didn't know if she could say it.

"You just missed him, he went home"

"So soon"

"Yeah he was…tired" Somehow that excuse seemed to fit, they did just miss him, he was going home; to pack for the PLANTs, and he did look tired, tired maybe of her and the drama that came with her.

"That's too bad"

It was odd at first for Miriallia to wake up with no Dearka by her side, a much smaller stomach and the cries of a baby. It was hard to believe he really left. The only time that she ever would hear from him was when checks would be sent in the mail every other week for her and the baby, but other then that there was nothing. She knew then that Dearka never really loved her it was all just one big act. She was determined though not to let it bring her down, it was her duty to take care of her child with or without her boyfriend.

(A/N - The parts to follow area little bit during and then after Gundam Seed Destiny)

Several months passed and Miriallia soon found herself fighting with the Archangel once again. A new war had started and she was determined she would help end it. Leaving Kyo with her parents she left on the Archangel and two months later the war was over.

--

It was the final battle of the war and tensions were mounting. Dearka, Yzak and Shiho chose to defy the military and fight to protect the Eternal. The battle was tough they watch many die, many they weren't able to help, but they pressed on. Blasts were being fired everywhere, it took their full concentration just to stay alive.

Dearka could feel beads of sweat pouring down his face as he fought to protect the ship and his friends and at the same time try to destroy the Requiem. The fight was hard and draining but he knew he had to keep fighting with the hope of see his son for the first time since the day he was born.

It seemed his original thoughts of Dullindal were right he was up to no good. He was no better then Rau Le Creuset.

Suddenly in the mist of battle the requiem fired! Yzak immediately upon hearing that it was going to fire warned the Eternal and Archangel to pull back their forces. Luckily he told them just in time, seconds later and they would have been toast like many many other ships. It was then that Dearka and everyone else realised that the Chairman had lost it, he was killing his own forces as well!

They knew then that that was only a practise shot the next target was Orb. Dearka felt sick, his son and ex-girlfriend were there; he was barely able to get up in the mornings now without her by his side, if she died now he didn't know what he would do. He put his thrusters to max and started attacking the Requiem like he was some sort of mad man. Luckily Mwu and Athrun were able to break though and stop it before Orb was fired at. Dearka had never felt such relief in his life.

Kira began destroying the structure after that. See everything was being handled there Dearka rushed back to the Eternal to help. He watched as the Eternal and the Freedom began blasting the control center of the Requiem with the Chairman still inside, Dearka had no remorse about this it was because of him that Dearka missed the first year of his son's life. He watched as the Freedom entered and soon after it blew up with no Freedom in sight. Everyone was left wounding once again where's Kira? Suddenly the Freedom emerged from the exploding fortress.

Dearka was fighting a hard battle right now against a major Dullindal supporter. The supporter refused to believe that things were over. The other MS hit Dearka's in the back leaking out his air supply then he attempted to self-destruct on Dearka Mobile Armour, luckily it was strong enough to withstand the blow but he would soon die of suffocation if he did get to a ship soon. Suddenly a transmission came over his speakers along with everyone else's.

"This is Lacus Clyne from the Eternal speaking. I want to inform this to the ZAFT forces' head commanding officer. We believe that it is meaningless to continue further combat in this space region and do not desire such actions. We ask for your agreement of halting your forces at this present time. Will repeat once again we believe that it is meaningless to continue further combat…"

Suddenly the skies filled will hundreds of signal flares that symbolized surrendering, every ship was ready to end it. He had never seen anything like it in his life, it was amazing. Even the Archangel and Eternal sent their flares and many ZAFT ships. It was over, it was really over he could go home.

His happiness was soon over shadowed when he realised he could barely breathe and he was feeling little headed. He looked around for his ship but it was nowhere in sight. He quickly contacted his commander.

"Yzak"

"Dearka, what the hell's going on get back here!"

"My mobile suit is damaged I'm going to get on the closest ship, my oxygen supply wouldn't last much longer."

"Be careful"

"Yes"

Dearka looked around and saw a very familiar ship, the Archangel. Taking a dangerous deep breathe he contacted the ship via written message without leaving his name only his situation. He was quickly accepted onto the ship. Little did he know he would be greeted by the whole ship who was going to check on the commander.

TBC…

Chapter 25 - Pain