Author's note: Hi, everyone! I'm back with another update! Sorry it took so long, but we had another ice storm and my power was out again. I'm ready for freakin' summer already!!!
Ryou: You got that right! And you had a bad accident!
Shelly: Yeah, a tree fell on my car while I was coming home from work. But I'm okay.
Ryou: Thank goodness!
Shelly: Thanks everyone for all the wonderful reviews! It's all downhill from here, and I'm glad you all enjoyed the last chapter! For some reason, when I upload the chapters, the spaces between scenes seem to disappear. I'm not doing that on purpose! Hope you all enjoy the next chapter!
The Most Precious Gift by Shelly
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Van and Raven walked the area where the Death Stinger had been, both Shadow and Zeke searching as well for any sign that Tania was okay. Both hoped that she had somehow survived, but they also knew that there was a good chance that she had died today, had died for them both in a selfless act of sacrifice. Tears ran down Van's face as he showed his grief openly, but for Raven there were no tears as he had none to share. He cared for Tania, of course, but he had done too much in his lifetime to afford the luxury of tears. He didn't deserve to cry.
Coming up behind a nearby boulder, he stopped to rest a bit and something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. The fluttering of clothing and hair in the desert breeze, and his heart leapt up in his chest as he saw it was Tania lying face down in the dirt. But was she alive?
Taking hold of her, he turned her over and heard her gasp for breath, telling him she was alive after all, although he couldn't imagine how. "Tania, can you hear me?" he asked worriedly, feeling for a pulse at her neck and relieved to find it weak but steady. It was probably just exhaustion then that made her so weak.
She cracked open burning eyes, shutting them again when the sun's light stabbed into her eyes. "Yes, Raven, I can hear you," she croaked.
He smiled, the first real smile he had ever allowed to cross his face, and he gathered her close to him to hold her, grateful that she was alive. Moving her gently into a sitting position, he propped her back up against the boulder and watched as she caught her breath. Here she was covered in dust and looking generally rough around the edges, and all he could think of was how beautiful she was at this moment. The exhaustion she felt showed in her eyes, but there was also happiness in their depths, a happiness that made them shine despite her weariness.
She saw the way Raven looked at her, and it made her a little uncomfortable, but she didn't care as the threat to her life was over. Now she could return to her husband with the knowledge that they could live their lives together free of worry and fear. "Where is Van?" she asked.
"He's still looking around for you," he replied with a smile.
She fixed him with a wearied glare, which had no effect on him whatsoever. "And why haven't you told him you've found me yet?"
"Because I wanted to have a little time alone with you right now," he replied in a low voice. "Because once we return to the Empire, you'll return to being the loving wife to your loving husband, and on top of that there will be numerous awards and ceremonies to be held in your honor."
She allowed a smile to cross her face. "You're hopeless, do you know that?" she asked him, earning an amused chuckle from him. Then she gazed into his eyes, her own becoming serious all of a sudden. "Thank you, Raven, for helping us," she said. "You didn't have to do it, but you did. And we couldn't have done it without you," she added as she took his hand in hers.
He gazed deep into her own eyes, his gray matching her lavender as he brushed his thumb along her cheek, and what she saw there sent chills down her spine. He wanted her, and badly, but he couldn't have her as she was happily married to another, which was why he had come to a decision which had been very painful for him to make.
"You know I want to kiss you right now," he whispered as he leaned close and brushed his lips against her forehead in a feather-light kiss, his breath caressing her cheek, warm and quick with longing. But before he could go any further, he sat back on his heels in front of her, studying her closely for her reaction on what he was going to tell her as well as to put some distance between them. "Tania, I may not return with you and Van to the Empire," he finally said.
It took a few moments for his words to sink in. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not one for all that ceremonial stuff, if even they include me in it," he continued. "I've done too much to be so easily forgiven, no matter what I did. So I think it would be best if I laid low for awhile and let things blow over. Perhaps in time I may be forgiven, but then again maybe I'm just wishing for something that may never happen."
She reached up to lay her hand on his cheek. "I think you will be, Raven," she assured him. "It may take some time, but it will happen, I'm sure of it."
He smiled at her confidence, a feeling he wished he could share with her. "I guess this is goodbye then," he said as he rose to his feet.
She looked up at him, strangely feeling as if she was losing a dear friend, and perhaps she was. "I guess so," she replied. "I wish you luck in whatever you do."
He smiled, the barest hint of moisture in his eyes. "I'll see ya around," he said as he turned and walked away, letting Van know where she was.
She sat there as she waited for Van to arrive, resisting the urge to call Raven back and plead with him not to leave. But she knew that it was for the best that he leave as he wouldn't be happy if he stayed. That's just the way he was, and she knew he would be okay on his own. Soon Van's anxious face came into her view, and she smiled to see him.
"Tania, I'm so glad you're alive," he said as he knelt down and embraced her tightly.
She held onto him for dear life, feeling the tears return and not having the energy to fight them this time. He merely held her and let her cry on his shoulder, unable to even imagine what she must be going through but offering her his full support anyway. He stroked her hair and whispered words of comfort in her ear. "Ssh, it's all right, Tania," he said. "It's over. You won't be bothered by him anymore."
"I'm just so exhausted, Van," she told him through her tears. "I haven't any energy left at all."
"I know," he agreed. "You've been through a lot lately. How about we get you back where Karl can see you? He thinks you're dead, as well as Thomas and Erin. I would radio them but communications are limited out here."
She wiped at her tears and nodded. "That sounds good," she agreed. "Although I'm afraid you'll have to carry me. I don't have the strength to walk," she added sheepishly.
Van got her inside the Blade Liger, and they left to return to the Empire. He asked her where Raven was as he didn't see the Genobreaker, and she told him he didn't want to return with them, which he understood and felt the same way she did. Soon the base appeared where Hiltz had attacked, and the base personnel had started on any repairs that needed to be done.
As soon as they had come into range, Van had radioed the base and told them that Tania was okay. Now a group was anxiously awaiting their arrival, although the celebrations were limited as Tania had to be rushed to a hospital to get checked over by a doctor. Still, everyone gathered around Van to hear about the battle, and he told it so well that they all wished they had been there to see it.
The only one who wasn't there to listen was Karl as he was worriedly awaiting word about his wife outside the hospital room. They had not allowed him to come in, not until they were through, and he patiently waited outside, grateful just to have her back alive and secure in the knowledge that the threat to her life was gone. Now they could concentrate on each other and spend their lives together the way they were supposed to.
The doctor soon gave him permission to enter, and he walked slowly inside to see her sitting up in bed with a couple of pillows at her back, a strange expression on her face. Whatever it was, it caused her eyes to glow with happiness. Maybe it was just seeing him that put it there.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, careful not to hurt her, and leaned forward to kiss her lovingly. "How are you feeling?" he asked, concerned when he saw the IV that was taped to her wrist.
"The doctor says I'm suffering from exhaustion," she told him. "That can be helped with plenty of rest."
He smiled as he looked into her eyes. "Then rest you shall get," he assured her as he took her hand in his and held it. "I love you, Tania," he told her, not needing a reason to say it but saying it anyway.
"I love you, too," she replied, her eyes alight with love. "Especially now," she added with a secret smile.
"What do you mean?" he asked, confused at to what she meant.
She bit her lower lip to keep her smile under control. "Only the best thing that could ever happen to us," she hinted.
It took him awhile to figure out what she meant, but when he did, his eyes grew as wide as saucers and he became speechless all of a sudden. "You...you mean...?"
She allowed her laughter to bubble forth. "Yes, my beloved husband, we may be having a carbon copy of yourself soon."
"Or one of you," he returned then thought a moment. "Oh, what am I getting myself into?" he asked. "I can't handle one of you, much less two."
"Oh, you're too funny, Mr. Shubaltz," she cried, trying to tickle him with her free hand and being unsuccessful in her condition. He merely caught her hand and pulled her close for a heated kiss so full of passion and love it threatened to undo them both. "I love you so much, Karl," she whispered against his mouth.
"I love you, too," he replied.
******************
Oh, they're going to have a child together! *sniff* It's so sweet!
And I have a question for you all. Would you all like Thomas to get married in this fic? I got to thinking about it and realized that it was a little soon for him and Erin to get married. So I thought about letting Tania have her baby and then having Thomas and Erin get married. What do you guys think?
Thanks for reading! C-ya!
Ryou: You got that right! And you had a bad accident!
Shelly: Yeah, a tree fell on my car while I was coming home from work. But I'm okay.
Ryou: Thank goodness!
Shelly: Thanks everyone for all the wonderful reviews! It's all downhill from here, and I'm glad you all enjoyed the last chapter! For some reason, when I upload the chapters, the spaces between scenes seem to disappear. I'm not doing that on purpose! Hope you all enjoy the next chapter!
The Most Precious Gift by Shelly
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Van and Raven walked the area where the Death Stinger had been, both Shadow and Zeke searching as well for any sign that Tania was okay. Both hoped that she had somehow survived, but they also knew that there was a good chance that she had died today, had died for them both in a selfless act of sacrifice. Tears ran down Van's face as he showed his grief openly, but for Raven there were no tears as he had none to share. He cared for Tania, of course, but he had done too much in his lifetime to afford the luxury of tears. He didn't deserve to cry.
Coming up behind a nearby boulder, he stopped to rest a bit and something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. The fluttering of clothing and hair in the desert breeze, and his heart leapt up in his chest as he saw it was Tania lying face down in the dirt. But was she alive?
Taking hold of her, he turned her over and heard her gasp for breath, telling him she was alive after all, although he couldn't imagine how. "Tania, can you hear me?" he asked worriedly, feeling for a pulse at her neck and relieved to find it weak but steady. It was probably just exhaustion then that made her so weak.
She cracked open burning eyes, shutting them again when the sun's light stabbed into her eyes. "Yes, Raven, I can hear you," she croaked.
He smiled, the first real smile he had ever allowed to cross his face, and he gathered her close to him to hold her, grateful that she was alive. Moving her gently into a sitting position, he propped her back up against the boulder and watched as she caught her breath. Here she was covered in dust and looking generally rough around the edges, and all he could think of was how beautiful she was at this moment. The exhaustion she felt showed in her eyes, but there was also happiness in their depths, a happiness that made them shine despite her weariness.
She saw the way Raven looked at her, and it made her a little uncomfortable, but she didn't care as the threat to her life was over. Now she could return to her husband with the knowledge that they could live their lives together free of worry and fear. "Where is Van?" she asked.
"He's still looking around for you," he replied with a smile.
She fixed him with a wearied glare, which had no effect on him whatsoever. "And why haven't you told him you've found me yet?"
"Because I wanted to have a little time alone with you right now," he replied in a low voice. "Because once we return to the Empire, you'll return to being the loving wife to your loving husband, and on top of that there will be numerous awards and ceremonies to be held in your honor."
She allowed a smile to cross her face. "You're hopeless, do you know that?" she asked him, earning an amused chuckle from him. Then she gazed into his eyes, her own becoming serious all of a sudden. "Thank you, Raven, for helping us," she said. "You didn't have to do it, but you did. And we couldn't have done it without you," she added as she took his hand in hers.
He gazed deep into her own eyes, his gray matching her lavender as he brushed his thumb along her cheek, and what she saw there sent chills down her spine. He wanted her, and badly, but he couldn't have her as she was happily married to another, which was why he had come to a decision which had been very painful for him to make.
"You know I want to kiss you right now," he whispered as he leaned close and brushed his lips against her forehead in a feather-light kiss, his breath caressing her cheek, warm and quick with longing. But before he could go any further, he sat back on his heels in front of her, studying her closely for her reaction on what he was going to tell her as well as to put some distance between them. "Tania, I may not return with you and Van to the Empire," he finally said.
It took a few moments for his words to sink in. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not one for all that ceremonial stuff, if even they include me in it," he continued. "I've done too much to be so easily forgiven, no matter what I did. So I think it would be best if I laid low for awhile and let things blow over. Perhaps in time I may be forgiven, but then again maybe I'm just wishing for something that may never happen."
She reached up to lay her hand on his cheek. "I think you will be, Raven," she assured him. "It may take some time, but it will happen, I'm sure of it."
He smiled at her confidence, a feeling he wished he could share with her. "I guess this is goodbye then," he said as he rose to his feet.
She looked up at him, strangely feeling as if she was losing a dear friend, and perhaps she was. "I guess so," she replied. "I wish you luck in whatever you do."
He smiled, the barest hint of moisture in his eyes. "I'll see ya around," he said as he turned and walked away, letting Van know where she was.
She sat there as she waited for Van to arrive, resisting the urge to call Raven back and plead with him not to leave. But she knew that it was for the best that he leave as he wouldn't be happy if he stayed. That's just the way he was, and she knew he would be okay on his own. Soon Van's anxious face came into her view, and she smiled to see him.
"Tania, I'm so glad you're alive," he said as he knelt down and embraced her tightly.
She held onto him for dear life, feeling the tears return and not having the energy to fight them this time. He merely held her and let her cry on his shoulder, unable to even imagine what she must be going through but offering her his full support anyway. He stroked her hair and whispered words of comfort in her ear. "Ssh, it's all right, Tania," he said. "It's over. You won't be bothered by him anymore."
"I'm just so exhausted, Van," she told him through her tears. "I haven't any energy left at all."
"I know," he agreed. "You've been through a lot lately. How about we get you back where Karl can see you? He thinks you're dead, as well as Thomas and Erin. I would radio them but communications are limited out here."
She wiped at her tears and nodded. "That sounds good," she agreed. "Although I'm afraid you'll have to carry me. I don't have the strength to walk," she added sheepishly.
Van got her inside the Blade Liger, and they left to return to the Empire. He asked her where Raven was as he didn't see the Genobreaker, and she told him he didn't want to return with them, which he understood and felt the same way she did. Soon the base appeared where Hiltz had attacked, and the base personnel had started on any repairs that needed to be done.
As soon as they had come into range, Van had radioed the base and told them that Tania was okay. Now a group was anxiously awaiting their arrival, although the celebrations were limited as Tania had to be rushed to a hospital to get checked over by a doctor. Still, everyone gathered around Van to hear about the battle, and he told it so well that they all wished they had been there to see it.
The only one who wasn't there to listen was Karl as he was worriedly awaiting word about his wife outside the hospital room. They had not allowed him to come in, not until they were through, and he patiently waited outside, grateful just to have her back alive and secure in the knowledge that the threat to her life was gone. Now they could concentrate on each other and spend their lives together the way they were supposed to.
The doctor soon gave him permission to enter, and he walked slowly inside to see her sitting up in bed with a couple of pillows at her back, a strange expression on her face. Whatever it was, it caused her eyes to glow with happiness. Maybe it was just seeing him that put it there.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, careful not to hurt her, and leaned forward to kiss her lovingly. "How are you feeling?" he asked, concerned when he saw the IV that was taped to her wrist.
"The doctor says I'm suffering from exhaustion," she told him. "That can be helped with plenty of rest."
He smiled as he looked into her eyes. "Then rest you shall get," he assured her as he took her hand in his and held it. "I love you, Tania," he told her, not needing a reason to say it but saying it anyway.
"I love you, too," she replied, her eyes alight with love. "Especially now," she added with a secret smile.
"What do you mean?" he asked, confused at to what she meant.
She bit her lower lip to keep her smile under control. "Only the best thing that could ever happen to us," she hinted.
It took him awhile to figure out what she meant, but when he did, his eyes grew as wide as saucers and he became speechless all of a sudden. "You...you mean...?"
She allowed her laughter to bubble forth. "Yes, my beloved husband, we may be having a carbon copy of yourself soon."
"Or one of you," he returned then thought a moment. "Oh, what am I getting myself into?" he asked. "I can't handle one of you, much less two."
"Oh, you're too funny, Mr. Shubaltz," she cried, trying to tickle him with her free hand and being unsuccessful in her condition. He merely caught her hand and pulled her close for a heated kiss so full of passion and love it threatened to undo them both. "I love you so much, Karl," she whispered against his mouth.
"I love you, too," he replied.
******************
Oh, they're going to have a child together! *sniff* It's so sweet!
And I have a question for you all. Would you all like Thomas to get married in this fic? I got to thinking about it and realized that it was a little soon for him and Erin to get married. So I thought about letting Tania have her baby and then having Thomas and Erin get married. What do you guys think?
Thanks for reading! C-ya!