*(Walks into the room dressed in her hospital scrubs). Ladies and Gentlemen? You may see Chapter 21 now, right this way... (Walks out)*
"Young girl, don't cry,
I'll be right here when your world starts to fall...
Young girl, it's all right,
Your tears will dry you'll soon be free to fly..."
~The Voice Within
-Christina Aguilara
"I'm her Momma, and I'm about to be yers too if you don't show me where the ER is." - Julia Newman
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*"Somebody help me!!"*~
Pain, searing through her body, tearing her apart. She was hurting so bad, yet she didn't know where it was coming from...
~*"Please, somebody, anybody, HELP ME!!"*~
Her screams, answered with silence, echoed through the darkness of the unknown world around her, surrounding her like a thick, choking blanket. She finally fell silent, the sudden feeling of being swept into something overcoming her.
*Flash*
~*"Naida...? Naida!"*~
~*"...W..What?"*~
~*"Naida, open your eyes."*~
Slowly, she obeyed the strange but familiar voice, and almost jumped when her lime eyes connected with large forest green ones.
~*"...Are you alright?"*~ The sweet voice came to her ears again.
~*"I..I think so,"*~ She stammered, glancing around. However, walls of dark, wavy brown hair blocked her view of anything.
~*"...Good."*~ The girl sat up, and immedietly Naida's jaw dropped.
~*"..Teale?!"*~
The younger Al Bhed smiled slightly, flipping a locke of rebellious dark hair out of her tan face.
~"*Yeah..it's me."*~
In one swift move, Naida shot up from her spot lying in Teale's lap, tackling the young girl and wrapping her in a tight hug. The younger woman laughed, returning the embrace.
~*"I've missed you so much,"*~ Naida breathed through the thick mix of her and her sister's hair.
~*"I've missed you too, Naid, I'm glad I could see you again..."*~
Naida sat back, happy tears streaming down her face.
~*"The joy of being dead, eh?"*~ She laughed a little.
Teale looked at her, green eyes welling up as well as she laughed a little.
~*"Well..not quite..you see..you're-"*~
~*"And I don't supposed either of you saved some of that family love for me?"*~
She was interrupted by a deep voice, and both girls turned to see Leon standing, muscular arms folded across his chest.
~*"Leon!!"*~ Naida yelled, jumping up from the white floor and tackling her older brother. The older Al Bhed yelped in surprise, falling back onto the floor. After a moment, he laughed, returning his younger sister's embrace tightly.
~*"Guess that's a yes,"*~ He managed. Naida laughed and fell back, sitting on the plaster-feeling white floor with her legs folded underneath her. He sat up, leaning foreward onto his knees and looking at her with a smile.
~*"Wow.."*~ He breathed, laughing a little more, ~*"...Look at you..gettin' prettier every day."*~
Naida laughed, punching him playfully, ~*"You're such a dork, Leon."*~
He smiled, before looking to Teale, ~*"Hasn't changed a bit, has she?"*~
The youngest of the three smiled, shaking her head, ~*"Not in the least."*~
He looked back to her, smiling at her necklace, ~*"See you've got my tags."*~
Instictively, she reached up and grabbed them, before moving one hand to remove them. ~*"You want them back?"*~
He held up a hand, ~*"No no no..they're yours. Besides..I can't take things from the living."*~
~*"Oh, alright that's-"*~
She stopped, raising her eyebrow, ~*"What?...But..I thought.."*~
~*"I tried to tell you,"*~Teale said, scooting to sit beside her, ~*"You're not dead."*~
Naida looked at her, then to Leon, ~*"But then..how am I here..if I'm alive..and you're.."*~
~*"Not?"*~ Teale finished. Naida nodded.
~*"Well Naid,"*~Leon started, ~*"It's a little complicated..but..you see, you're in a coma... a really..really..deep coma."*~
~*"So deep, you practically are dead."*~ Teale added.
Naida looked between them again, then looked down, ~*"Oh..well that's..nice."*~
Teale took a deep breath, reaching over to hold her sister's hand, ~*"You're in a part of the Farplane right now, Naida..a sort of..border."*~
~*"Where ones who ARE dead can go to meet those who're almost dead, and try to help them,"*~ Leon tacked, ~*"Before it's too late."*~
She looked at him, ~*"..Too late?"*~
~*"Before you die,"*~ Teale answered.
Naida looked at her, shaking her head, ~*"But..I don't understand..can no one on Spira help me?"*~
~*"Nope,"*~Leon replied,~*"You're Spiran body is extremely contaminated..you got hit with a Multi-Status ball, remember?"*~
She looked at him, then down, blinking slowly, ~*"...Yeah..Viranda.."*~ She shook her head again, anger rising as the game came back to her, ~*"Viranda was gonna kill Keepa!"*~
~*"But she didn't,"*~Teale reassured, squeezing her hand,~*"He's safe, thanks to you."*~
Naida took a breath, nodding, ~*"...Good."*~
~*"But now, you're sick,"*~Leon said,~*"And it's up to us to send you back."*~
She looked up at him,~*"But..why?"*~
~*"Why what?"*~
~*"...Why do you want to send me back?"*~
~*"Do you not WANT to go back?"*~ Teale asked, raising an eyebrow.
~*"Oh no..it's not that..it's just.."*~ She looked at her,~*"..What about you guys?"*~
~*"Our time was up a while back,"*~ Leon said, reaching out to take Naida's other hand, ~*"We're your Guardians now...and you're the only one who can take care of the things we left behind."*~
~*"We know..it's not fair,"*~ Teale added,~*"And we're sorry..but there's not much we can to about it, except protect you along the way."*~
She glanced between them, then looked down.
~*"It's alright."*~She breathed,~*"I know..I know it's not your fault."*~
Taking another slow breath, she looked back up to Teale.
~*"So..when do I go back?"*~
The young Al Bhed looked at her, then to Leon, who nodded. She looked down, pulling her hands from Naida's and folding them in her lap.
~*"Yevon.."*~She muttered, ~*"Bmayca maht sa ouin bufanc.."*~
Naida scooted closer to Leon as Teale talked, wrapping her arms around one of his and leaning on his shoulder.
~*"Leon..."*~
~*"It's alright, kid,"*~ He said softly, kissing her on the head, ~*"She knows what she's doin'."*~
~*"Ramb sa caht drec Al Bhed plyg du Spira.."*~
She looked up, eyes glowing a strange green, and her hair blowing behind her at the force of something unknown and unfelt to Naida or Leon. She leaned foreward, crawling on all fours toward the two as she continued her spell.
~*"Eh dra hesa uv Spira..Yevon..yht Yu Yevon..Amen."*~
She stopped inches from Naida's face, and slid her legs under her small body. Before Naida even had time to ask, the younger woman reached up and pressed her glowing hands to both sides of Naida's face.
~*"Breathe!"*~ She yelled.
Naida did so. A choking, gasping breath that hurt her, causing her to grip her brothers arm as she fell backwards, eyes rolling back into her head and returning her to darkness before she hit the floor.
Silence..again.
(Hello? Hello!)
Her own voice, lost inside her mind, unable to escape from the lips she couldn't feel.
(Teale? Leon? Where are you? Where did you send me? I'm all alone again...)
~*"Botta, come here!"*~
(..Who was that?..Botta?..But that voice..it doesn't sound familiar..)
~*"Hal, help me, please!"*~
~*Hang on, Arica, I'm coming!"*~
(Hal..Arica..but..they're..)
*Flash*
Naida turned around just in time to see a man run past her in a blur of blue and red. Fierce wind whipped around her, causing her to notice she now wore a grey cloak over her body. The rain poured from the hood, falling harmlessly in front of her face as she stepped back, the rail of the boat stopping her from moving any further.
(A Goer uniform..) She thought as she watched him scramble to the front of the boat, (And that hair..it looks just like..)
~*"Hal!!"*~
Her thoughts were interrupted when the woman cried out again, causing Naida to look toward the voice.
She was young, obviously not much older than Naida herself, long, dark gold lockes matted to her pretty tan face as she looked up at the man with scared blue eyes from her place lying on the rainslick deck, a young child tucked securely in her arms as she waited for the man to reach her.
~*"Arica, hold o-"*~
He was cut off when the ship jerked, sending him flying toward the edge.
~*"Hal!!!"*~ She shrieked, gripping the child with one arm and staggering to her feet to try and make her way to the man.
He continued to roll across the deck, finally stopping when he hit the wooden footrail at the edge. He reached up and grabbed one of the metal rails, hoisting himself to face the woman as she made her way to him. She looked up at him, and he opened his mouth to say something, when the ship rocked again. This time, the woman fell foreward, and the man rushed and caught her before she could fall. Once she was in his arms, he picked both her and the child up, then began making his way to the stairwell of the ship.
Naida watched with growing interest, unsure if what she was seeing was real, or just an image.
(Whatever it is..)She thought(..It sure is creepy..)
The man slid as he came to the stairwell, regaining his balance a few feet away, then staggering back toward it. He reached the wooden pole holding up the upper deck, but slammed into it when the boat rocked once again, this time, sending the child to the deck surface.
~*"Botta!!!"*~ The woman screamed, stretching out to him as he helplessly slid out of reach.
(Botta..?!) Naida raised an eyebrow (But..if that's Botta..then the man is..) Her eyes widened, (Those..those ARE his parents!)
Instictively, the seemingly invisible Al Bhed rushed foreward to the child as he continued to slide dangeroulsy close to the edge. She went to grab him up, but fell with a gasp when her hand went right through him. She landed on her side, watching in a horrified trance as he continued toward the edge of the boat.
(I can't..touch him..)She thought, eyes wide as she stared at him, (I can't..touch them..)
Behind her, Hal set Arica down in the stairwell, then turned and ran as fast as he could to reach his son.
(I'm on the ship that sank..20 years ago..when Sin attacked Besaid.)
The ship rocked again, sending the man to his knees. He twisted up and to the side, letting his weight make him slide faster. He hit Naida, but, like his son, he went right through her. She gasped again, sitting up.
(They died on this ship.)
He reached his son seconds before they both reached the edge. In one swift movement, he scooped Botta up with one arm, and grabbed the rail with the other, holding them close to it to keep them from going over.
(I..I have to watch them die.)
Naida shook her head, turning to look at Arica, who sat on the top step in the stairwell, staring through Naida to her husband and son with wide, fear-filled eyes. The Al Bhed breathed in slowly, then turned back to Hal and Botta, who were both occupied with their own problems. Botta had his little face buried into the fabric of his father's uniform, crying, while Hal looked around at the sky, his face becoming more visible each time the lighting flashed.
~*"Hal!"*~
Both of them turned to face Arica, who's rough voice barely sounded through the roar of the raging waters and the booming thunder. She leaned foreward on the steps, stretching her arms out toward her husband and coaxing him to come to her. He looked at her, before glancing around once again, then back to her. He was about to move toward her, when suddenly a shrill voice came from above them.
~*"Everyone get under the deck!!! Sin is coming!!!"*~
All three of the older ones that were above deck craned their necks to stare at the flashing silhouette of the lookout that stood above them, clinging to the mast loyally as he fufilled the duty he had sworn. His eyes, however, weren't on them, but on the dark, towering mass that was slowly making its way toward their tiny ship.
~*"Sin..?"*~ Hal echoed, causing Naida to look at him, ~*"But..why would it come all the way out here..? It's impossible.."*~
~*"Oh, no it isn't."*~ Naida said softly, wishing he could hear her, ~*"No it isn't..."*~
Lightning flashed again, and the lookout continued to scream.
~*"Sin is coming!!! Sin is coming!! Sin is-"*~
He was cut off by a loud screeching roar. Lightning flashed once again, and the thunder blared. A bright light flashed high above, blinding them all. Naida ducked, covering her ears and shutting her eyes tight. The next thing she heard was a loud crack, then an even louder crash. She opened her eyes, and screamed.
Lying next to her was the scorched body of the lookout. Half of it anyway.
Naida screamed again, crawling away from it, until she was almost next to the stairwell. She tore her eyes from the body long enough to examine the damage that Sin had done. The mast had fallen completely across the deck, smashing through to the bottom, and crushing anyone that might have been down below. Pressing a hand over her mouth, she shut her eyes.
(This isn't happening this isn't happening this isn't happening...)
~*"Arica!! ARICA!!"*~
Her eyes shot back open at Hal's voice. Twisting around, she turned to look at the place where the young woman had just been, and saw she was no longer there. Naida crawled to the edge of the stairwell, and was about to look down, when Arica's head shot up, going straigh through Naida's as she crawled back out of the stairwell. The Al Bhed fell back on her legs, watching as the older woman gripped the top stair for support and looked out over the deck for her husband.
~*"I'm here, Hal!! Where are you?!"*~
~*"Here!"*~
Both of their gazes stopped on the mast, focusing on the small space that was between the sail and the actual wood itself. About halfway across it, was Hal's face, the only thing visible through it.
~*"Hal!"*~ She cried happily, pulling herself out of the stairwell. Slowly, she made her way to the mast, pressing a kiss through the small opening to her husband when she reached him.
~*"Are you alright?"*~ He asked, reaching a hand through to wipe the trickle of blood that streamed down the side of her face.
~*"I'm fine,"*~She assured him, taking his hand, ~*"Where's Botta?"*~
~*"Right here,"*~ He held their crying son up to the opening, ~*"Look Botta, there's Mommy, see? It's okay?"*~
The two year old child looked through to see his mother, and stretched out to her. Arica took his hand with her free one, pressing a kiss to it.
~*"It's okay, sweetie..everything's fine, Mommy's not gonna let anything happen to you."*~
She turned her gaze to her husband, voice low.
~*"Can you get through?"*~
~*"No,"*~He replied, tapping the sail, ~*"The knots that hold this thing are down below..and we're sinking."*~
As if to emphasize his point, the sudden sound of rushing water filled the air. Everyone turned toward the front of the ship, which was no longer visible, slowly sliding under the sea, inch by inch.
Arica twisted back around to her husband, ~*"Hal.."*~ She said softly.
Without a word, the former Auroch reached through the small opening to his wife, wrapping his strong arms around her as she got as close as she could to the fallen mast. Botta clung to his father's neck, holdling on as best as his little arms would allow him, and watched as the ship he was on began to tip downward, gravity trying to tear his mother away from him. Hal held onto her, until the water rose and began to devour her legs.
Watching all the while, Naida stood on the water, having stepped off the deathvessel minutes before it reached Arica's slender legs. She winced as she watched the older woman gasp in shock at the chill of the water.
(Cold Season..)She thought, (They died during Cold Season...)
Gripping her husband's arms for comfort, she looked up into his blue-green eyes, her own light blue full of fear and pain as the water rose to her waist.
~*"Hal.."*~ She said shakily, breathing steam, ~*"..L..let..g..g-g.go..of. .m..me.
S..save..y..yourself..and our...s..son."*~
The words left her slowly bluing lips, but her vicelike grip on Hal's arms remained the same.
~*"I'm not letting you go."*~ He said firmly, pressing another kiss to her cold lips as the water rose up to her neck. She pressed as close as she could to the sail, knowing once she was under, there was no coming up.
~*"I love you,"*~ Was the last thing she whispered before the sea claimed her face.
Hal held onto her, taking deep breaths and passing them to her under the water, until finally, the sail began to go under as well, taking Hal with it.
Naida watched on, shaking her head slightly.
(Horrible..simply..awful..)
She walked to the last place she'd seen the couple, and knelt down.
~*"But..Botta?"*~ She said softly, ~*"..How did you survive?"*~
As if on cue, the water beneath her began to churn, and seconds later, little Botta Trapper burst out of the sea that had claimed his parents only moments before. Naida stepped back, watching as the child paddled furiously against the now calming waves, searching for something to grab on to, something to save him, anything.
Instictively, the Al Bhed reached out to him, growling in frustration when she got the same results as earlier. Sighing, she stepped back, and watched the child anxiously as he continued to cry out for his mother and father, paddling aimlessly in the semi-raging sea.
Just as Naida was beginning to wonder how the child could have possibly swam all the way to Kilika, another part of the water began to churn, and seconds later, a large board appeared. It was brown on one side, and white on the other with the blurred letters "S.S. C-" across it.
(Part of the ship,)She thought, (..It must've struck something underwater that ripped it apart..)
Before her mind could wander to all of the horrible things that could have happened to Hal and Arica, another small cry escaped Botta as he clambered onto the board, collapsing on top of it and breathing heavily. His whimpers soon faded as he closed his large crystal eyes, leaving his life to the board as it carried him through the sea to a place unknown to the little one.
But Naida knew, and as she turned to leave the child, she slipped into black momentarily, before opening her eyes to find she was no longer on water, but on sand.
(What now?) She thought, looking out over the sea next to her.
~*"What in Spira?"*~
She turned to see a young man, about Letty's age, walking along the beach. Hands shoved deep into the pockets of his tatterd khaki shorts that stopped just below his knees. Rainwater rolled down his tan bare back as he walked, and for a moment, Naida had no idea who the handsome stranger was.
He stopped when he reached a small bundle of seaweed and something else that had washed up on the shore, looking around the area for some sort of explanation. Medium-lengthed, slightly spikey chocolate hair blew gently about his chizzled face, blending with the even darker brown eyes that darted straight through Naida as she stepped foreward for a closer look.
The man knelt down next to the bundle, poking it gently with one finger. He paused for a moment, and was about to get back up when suddenly a whimper emerged from the tangled mess.
(It's Botta,)Naida thought, eyes widening slightly, (That's..that's Botta!)
Almost horrified, the man quickly unwrapped the child from his seaweed prison, eyes widening even more as he gazed on him. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the sunburned thing close to him as he stood up, looking back over the sea.
~*"My Yevon..."*~He said softly.
He exhaled slowly, turning to look back at the small town that floated out on the sea not too far from him.
~*"Julia.."*~
Without another word, he turned and began walking back to the town, cradling the child close to him as he went.
Naida watched him go, making no effort to follow him. She knew what was going to happen to that child he had found. She knew every last detail.
(So..that was Uncle Matt,) She shook her head, (..All of them were so young..and forced to live where Sin could take away their family at any time..how horrible.)
She glanced out at the sea momentarily, before looking back down.
(Not that we're much different...)
Letting her thought trail off, she closed her eyes, feeling the sensation of falling taking over again, and when she opened them, she was once again in her world of darkness.
(What's going on..why am I not waking up? Am I still dying..?)
Darkness was the only answered, she sighed in her mind.
(I wonder how everyone on Spira's doing..I hope they're not too worried about me...)
~*"Where are they taking her?!"*~
~*"I-I'm sorry, Miss. She's going into ER r-right now to have her b-baby.."*~
(What?? Another scene..? But that..that sounds like..)
~*"Where's the ER"*~
~*"M-Miss..there's o-only family members a-allowed.."*~
*Flash*
Naida opened her eyes to find herself in the hallway of the Besaid hospital. Only..it was a whole lot smaller, and it was packed.
Through the crowds of nurses, doctors and patients, Naida could see the back of a woman. Short in her height, but muscular nonetheless. She wore a pair of bathing suit shorts with a spaghetti strap top, and chaps not unlike Naida's graced her tan legs. The most Naida could see of her head was her dark curly hair, which was pulled back into a ponytail that hung a little past her shoulders. At the moment, the young woman had a young doctor by his coat collar, standing on her tiptoes to come just up to his chin.
~*"Where is she..?"*~ Her voice was low but dangerous.
~*"A-are you family?"*~ He stammered.
In one sudden move, the woman tightened her grip on the man's collar and jerked him down to her face-level.
~*"Yeah,"*~ She said, ~*"I'm her Momma, and I'm about to be yers too if you don't show me where the ER is."*~
Shakily, the Doctor pointed a hand toward a set of double doors near the end of the hallway.
~*"Through there..t-then..the next d-d-door on the right.."*~
~*"Thank you."*~ Her voice was suddenly sweet, and very, VERY familiar.
She turned and took a glance at the crowded room, giving Naida the chance to finally see her face.
(Aunt Julia!) She grinned, (I should have known! She must be looking for Raida..)She laughed, (You are such a liar, you didn't tell me you almost beat the tar out of a doctor..)
The 23 year old Aunt Julia turned back and began jogging down the hallway, leaving the nervous Doctor to his job. Naida ran after her, walking through people without a problem.
Moments later, she caught up with the still-older woman, and followed her through the doors of the ER. The small room was nearly empty, with the exception of a couple of Nurses, who competely ignored Aunt Julia as she came in.
Lying on the bed in the middle of the room was a screaming young woman, black hair matted to her pale face, sided by a few blood red streaks that fell in front of her multi-colored eyes.
~*"Blood pressure's 120 over 70,"*~ One of the Nurses said
~*"Give her something to stable it!"*~ the other yelled.
The first Nurse disappeared into the back to get the medication, and Aunt Julia stepped up next to the young woman lying on the bed. She reached down, taking her hand.
~*"Raida.."*~ She said softly through her screams, ~*"Raida..it's me..."*~
~*"J-Julia?"*~ The younger woman choked out, twisting her head on the pillow to look at her friend, ~*"W..What are you doing here? I th-thought you were with M-M..M-"*~
She let out another scream as the pain excelled on her, gripping Aunt Julia's hand for all she could. The older woman gripped back, kneeling down next to the bed and pressing a cold hand to Raida's forehead.
~*"Shh..don't worry about that.."*~ She soothed,~*"All that matters is I'm here now..alright? And we're gonna get you through this.."*~
The young half Al Bhed nodded, shutting her eyes tight as she let out yet another scream. Moments later, the first Nurse came back in with the shot for her blood pressure.
~*"This should help."*~ She said, preparing the needle.
~*"No,"*~ The other said,~*"Don't give it to her yet."*~
Everyone in the room looked at the second Nurse as she explained.
~*"The baby's too big, we're gonna have to do a C-Section."*~
Raida screamed, and Aunt Julia winced, looking down at her.
~*"Don't worry, honey, it'll be all right.."*~
~*"N-No.."*~ She gasped, ~*"The..the baby..it's.it's coming!"*~
With another yell, she pressed her head back into the pillow, gritting her teeth. Aunt Julia looked up at the two Nurses.
~*"Well? What are you gonna do? If that baby comes out on it's own, it'll kill her!"*~
They looked at her, then to eachother, before the second Nurse went around to the end of the bed to size up the situation.
~*"She's right,"*~ She said, looking up, ~*"The baby IS coming..and there's nothing we can do for her."*~
Aunt Julia stared at the Nurse, ~*"Nothing? You're not even gonna try?!"*~
~*"There's nothing we can do, Miss."*~ The first Nurse said, ~*"According to the charts we pulled up, this baby wasn't even supposed to be here for another 3 months."*~
~*"3 Months?!"*~ Aunt Julia looked down at Raida, ~*"Raid, why's the baby so big if you're havin' it 3 months early??"*~
~*".S-Sin.."*~ She opened her black and red eyes and stared into her friend's hazel ones.~*"I.. I was too..c-close to it..and.."*~
She took a deep breath, then went on, ~*"I..th-thought it was only when you're near the Farplane..that it..it speeds your pregnancy..b-but.."*~ She gritted her teeth, swallowing another scream,~*"B..but I guess since..I was near so many..that we-..were dying or dead that it..it."*~
She cut off again, this time unable to surpress her pain. The second Nurse pulled her mask up further on her face.
~*"Here it comes, now Raida, on the count of five, I want you to push, alright?"*~
But the young woman was still trying to choke out the story to Aunt Julia, and barely heard the warning.
~*"N..Neil tried to g-get me out..and..the h-house fell in on him.."*~ She said, eyes locked onto Aunt Julia's.
~*"One..."*~
~*"I t-tried..so hard..to get as many of the kids out as I could.."*~
~*"Two..!"*~
~*"Roch, Diana, Alicia, Wes..and now I'm hearing Arica and Hal too, w-with Botta..and..some of ...my new f-friends..the Smithsons..a-and th..the Korbits..they've got k-kids too.."*~
~*"Three..."*~
~*"E's cunno, Julia.."*~ She slipped into her native tongue, ~*"E's cu..cu..cunno.."*~
~*"Four..!!"*~
Aunt Julia squeezed her young friends hand, ~*"It's alright, sweetheart..you don't worry about a thing..I'll take care of everything.."*~
~*"Five!"*~
With a loud scream, Raida pushed for all she was worth, and moments later, a tiny cry broke into the room.
(Datto..)Naida smiled from the corner of the room, the darkness of her cloak making her feel almost like a harbringer of Death.
The child was cleaned off, wrapped up, and handed to his mother to hold. She cradled him weakly, a bright smile across her face as she stared down into the pale eyes of her son.
~"*He's beautiful.."*~ Aunt Julia said, leaning over the two, ~*"..He has Neil's eyes."*~
~*"Mmm.."*~ Raida leaned foreward, pressing a kiss to her child's forehead, ~*"..He's my little Datto..Datto Lukas Perigan.."*~
~*"Great name,"*~ Aunt Julia smiled, resting a hand on the back of Raida's soaked head.
Suddenly, the young woman tore her gaze from her son and looked up at her friend, eyes full of concern.
~*"Julia?"*~ She said, voice becoming weaker as she spoke, ~*"Take care of him for me, please."*~
Aunt Julia's eyes widened slightly, ~*"W-what? Raida..it's all right, you're gonna be fine.."*~
~*"No,"*~ She shook her head, ~*"..I'm gonna die..and.."*~ She looked back to Aunt Julia, ~*"I want to go knowing my son is in good hands."*~
Aunt Julia stared at Raida for a moment, before letting out a breath and looked down.
~*"Raida, I.."*~
~*"Please Julia,"*~ The younger woman reached out with one hand and took hers, ~*"Please..promise me..That you'll take care of him..you and Matt are all that's left for him and the others now.."*~
Aunt Julia looked back to her friend, feeling hot tears well up in her deep hazel eyes.
~*"..Alright Raida.."*~ She said softly, ~*"I promise.."*~
The half Al Bhed sighed contently, and pulled her hand back to hold her son. She layed back onto the bed, cradling him close to her as he reached up curiously to tug on the red strands in her hair. She smiled slightly, and took a deep breath. She exhaled, and began singing the Hymn.
Aunt Julia stood quietly next to her, eyes closed as she listened to her friend's beautiful voice as it rang through the quiet ER. The two nurses stood just as silent next to the supplies closet, watching.
A minute later, the young woman finished the song, taking another deep breath in and kissing her son. Only this time, after she exhaled, her chest didn't rise again, and her head rolled back onto Aunt Julia's arm as a small smile spread on her pale lips. She was gone.
~*"Oh, Raida.."*~ Aunt Julia said softly, brushing her friend's hair out of her face.
Suddenly, Datto started crying. Instictively, Aunt Julia reached over and picked him up from his mother's limp arms, cradling him in her own.
~*"Hello, Datto.."*~ She said, tears streaming down her face, ~*"..I'm your Aunt Julia..I'm gonna raise you for a long while..alright?"*~
He stopped crying, looking up at the woman with his large pale, red and black speckled eyes. After a moment, he laughed, grabbing hold of one of the straps to Aunt Julia's top and tugging it with childish interest.
She smiled, then looked back to Raida on the bed. Silently, she leaned foreward, kissing her on the head, then straightening up to look at the Nurses. The first one came foreward, holding out her arms.
~*"We'll get you the paperwork, Miss.."*~
~*"Newman."*~ Aunt Julia filled in,~*"Julia Newman.."*~
~*"All right then, Miss Newman, well get you the paperwork. Are you planning on staying in Besaid very long?"*~
~*"Actually, I'm here to pick up my nephew, Keepa."*~
~*"Ahh...Roch and Alicia's boy."*~
~*"That's him."*~
~*"Well,"*~ The Nurse took Datto from Aunt Julia's arms, sending him into his fit of crying again,~*"Good luck, Miss Newman, we'll have Datto ready for you to come get him in about a week."*~
~*"Thank you,"*~She replied, turning before the scene before the urge to take Datto back became too much. She walked to the double doors, lowering her head as she went past Naida.
~*"Matt..."*~She said softly, tears continuing to stream down her face, ~*"Where are you..?"*~
Naida sighed as she went out the doors, and turned to follow her, only when she went through them, she entered darkness.
(Here again? What's the big idea?)
Nothing.
(You know, it would figure that Teale sent me to the wrong place.)
~*"What are you doing out here?"*~
~*"Walking, what's it look like?"*~
(More voices? Joy, I'm a regular schitzo.)
~*"Adam, it's pouring down rain."*~
~*"So?"*~
(Adam...?! But that's my..!)
*Flash*
Naida twisted around to find herself standing in the rain yet again, only this time, she was outside, on a wooden dock. Dark crates formed a small wall behind her, save the small opening on the end that gave just enough room to get to the walkway, while in front of her was the stretch of wood that went out over the sea. She looked up, and gasped.
In front of her, were the 17 and 18 year old versions of her mother and father.
~*"You'll catch your death out here!"*~ She stated, stamping one booted foot in the water, splashing some up on Adam's Goer uniform.
~*"I will not,"*~ He argued, looking down at her with his dark green eyes,~*"You can keep me warm."*~
She smiled back up at him, light green eyes shining prettily in the dim streetlamp light. Her short, dark brown hair stuck to the sides of her face, and she brushed them away with one no-finger gloved hand, before sliding both hands behind her back, twisting absently at the belt loop of her cut-off shorts.
Adam stepped foreward, pulling the short woman into his arms and pressing a kiss to her forehead, before turning back to the sea, green eyes getting lost in the waves as they rolled in and out, some splashing up onto the dock and over his sandled feet.
Erin stared at his back for a moment, before tilting her head to the side.
~*"...Adam..?"*~ She said softly, ~*"Is..everything okay?"*~
He never looked back at her, but nodded. She sighed, dropping her hands back to her sides.
~*"Adam, you suck at lying."*~
This caused the Al Bhed to smile a bit, but he never turned around. She took a step foreward to him, running a hand over her wet hair.
~*"..It's alright if you don't want to talk about it..just..know that I'm here if you need me."*~
Adam lowered his head, rain rolling down and off his dirty blonde hair and chin.
~*"You mean the world to me.."*~ He said softly.
Erin smiled slightly, putting her small hand on his shoulder,~*"You ARE my world."*~
He turned and looked at her out of the corner of his eye, watching her.
~*"It's just...Sin could come at any time..anywhere any place..and take you away from me..and I don't like that at all Erin..not one bit."*~
The Al Bhed woman let out a sigh. A deep, jaded sigh that let Naida know that the form of her Mother in front of her wasn't just 17, but 17 with so much drama in her life that it was almost unbelievable.
(Not with Sin around..)She thought, pulling herself onto one of the crates to sit.
She continued to watch at her mother took another step foreward, sliding her hand into Adam's and leaning over on his shoulder.
~*"Adam.."*~ She trailed off, placing her other hand on his arm to let him know how she felt.
He looked down at her, gazing at the top of her head for a moment, before stepping away, and looking back out over the sea.
~*"Erin,"*~ He started, not even looking at her as she took a step back, almost hurt by him pulling away, ~*"I don't ever want to lose you. If Sin comes, and I have to get up and fight it to keep it from taking you, I'll do it. If it throws you out into the sea, I'll go out there and save you..."*~
He turned back to her, eyes wild with something that Naida could only identify as love.
~*"And if it takes you away from here, if it takes you somewhere to die..I want to go to, so I can die with you."*~
Erin stood in the dim light, eyes beginning to well up with tears as she pressed a hand over her mouth and stared at the man she loved.
~*"What I'm trying to say is.."*~ He went on, walking toward her, ~*"...I would do ANYTHING, to be with you for the rest of my life..I would go anywhere..do anything..because..I love you."*~
He stopped, and watched as she put both hands over her mouth, eyes widening slightly.
~*"And...and I don't care if you feel the same way..I just..I had to let you know..before.. anything could happen.."*~
She stared at him for a moment longer, before breathing in deeply and pulling her hands down in front of her.
~*"Adam Dark.."*~ She said shakily, ~*"..I..I would follow you..to the ends of Spira..if you wanted me to..I would go through Ifrit's fire..just to be with you..I would..I..."*~
She trailed off, before exhaling and dropping her head slightly, ~*"I love you."*~ She looked back up at him, tears streaming down her face, ~*"..Yevon..I love you so much..."*~
With that, she ran foreward into his open arms, letting her tears of both joy and pain flow down her tan face as she wrapped her arms around his waist. He hugged her back tightly, pressing his face into her hair and letting himself get lost in her scent.
After a moment, he stepped back, looking into her eyes. She continued to look at him, even as he knelt down in front of her, pulling a small box out of the front of his uniform.
~*"Erin Aurora Kilian.."*~ He said, opening the black thing to reveal a silver butterfly ring, ~*"I love you..with all my heart..and..and ..I want to be with you..for the rest of my life.. and..I hope that you..feel the same way.."*~
Erin stared at him for a minute, before a beautiful smile suddenly spread across her face.
~*"I do.."*~ She said, letting him slip the ring on her finger, ~*"And I will be with you..for the rest of our lives."*~
Without another word, she fell into his arms again, this time kissing him passionately. He wrapped his arms around her legs and picked her up, breaking the kiss with a laugh. She looked down at him and smiled, placing her hands on his shoulders as he spun her around in the rain. Finally, he stopped, and gazed up at her for another minute, before letting her slide down to be just above his face. She leaned down and kissed him again.
Right at that moment, a bright flash illuminated the darkness.
~*"AHAHAHAHA!!!"*~ Came a loud, feminine laugh from the opening in the crates, ~*"I got that on CAMERA!!!"*~
The couple and Naida twisted around to see 16 year old Raida Perigan run out into the open with a camera, dancing around.
~*"I got you on camera, I got you on camera!"*~ She sang.
~*"Yeah, but that camera ain't gonna last if you keep it out in the rain, Raid."*~
17 year old Aunt Julia stepped up behind her. The young half Al Bhed looked at her, then her camera.
~*"Dangit, yer right!"*~ She ran back into the the shelter of the crates to hide it.
~*"So, you lovebirds, what's happenin'?"*~ Came Uncle Matt's voice as he walked up behind Aunt Julia, wrapping his strong arms around her small waist.
~*"Oh..nothing"*~ Erin said playfully as Adam set her back down. She reached up with her ringed hand and brushed a strand of hair out of her face.
Of course, the gesture didn't go unnoticed, and soon, Aunt Julia had tackled the young woman to the ground.
~*"NO WAY!! LET ME SEE IT!!!"*~
The pinned Al Bhed laughed as she held up her hand to show off her new ring, letting the curly-haired woman gaze at it. She was soon joined by an awestruck Raida, who stared at it and muttered something about her camera.
~*"What now? What'd I miss?"*~
The guys and Naida looked over to see 19 year old Hal Trapper walk through the small opening in the crates, blue-green eyes glittering in the dim light. He saw the scene with Erin, Raida, and Aunt Julia, and laughed.
~*"You asked her, didn't ya?"*~ He asked as he walked over to his two friends.
~*"Sure did,"*~Adam grinned, looking over at her, ~*"It was great."*~
~*"It was probably the biggest mush fest in the world."*~ Uncle Matt said with a grin, punching Adam on the shoulder playfully,~*"You know how Dark is."*~
Hal smiled, and then the three men laughed.
Naida smiled from her perch on the crates, brushing a locke of blonde hair out of her face as she continued to gaze at the happy scene.
(They were so happy then...)She thought,(They were happy last I remembered too, but..not like this..)
She sighed, before pushing off of the crate and glancing up at the sky.
(But...why?) She shook her head, the hood of her cloak falling off, (...Why am I seeing this? What does all of this mean..?)
She took another deep breath, and turned to walk out of the exit hole in the crates.
~*"Wait!"*~
Naida froze.
(...What?!..Are they talking to me..?)
~*"Naida, come back, please!"*~
The Al Bhed orphan's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at the familiar voice calling her name. Slowly, she turned around.
~*"...Mom?!"*~
She looked back to the dock to see only her mother and father now, both the 41 and 40 ages they died at. Her mother was a bit taller, and her eyes were back to their light blue she had remembered them as. Her father looked at bit more age-worn, his skin a little darker, and his eyes a deep dark green, like Teale's.
~*"Naida, honey.."*~ Her Mother said with tears in her eyes as she walked foreward.
~*"Mom!"*~ She yelled, running the distance between them and falling into her mother's tight embrace. The two held eachother for a moment, taking in the time they had together, before they stepped apart, and Naida looked to her father.
~*"Dad.."*~ She said softly, smiling a little as tears ran down her face.
~*"Hey sweetheart,"*~ He said with a smile as he pulled her into a big hug.
~*"I've missed you so much.."*~ She managed to get out.
~*"And we've missed you,"*~ Erin said, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder, ~*"You've grown into a beautiful young woman, Naida."*~
The young Al Bhed reached up and held her mother's hand. Smiling slightly.
~*"I'm glad I could see you again.."*~
~*"We're glad we could see you,"*~ Her father replied, kissing her head, ~*"And..we're sorry you had to see all of this."*~
Naida stepped back, looking between her parents, ~*"You..you two did all this?"*~
~*"The visions, yes,"*~Her mother replied, ~*"But that's all."*~
~*"So..that's why Teale's spell didn't work,"*~ She said, raising an eyebrow.
~*"Right."*~
The blonde woman nodded in understanding, then looked back up to her father.
~*"But...why?"*~ She asked, ~*"Why did you show me all this...? Hal and Arica..Uncle Matt..Aunt Julia and Raida..and then you two...why?"*~
~*"Well,"*~ Her mother started, ~*"...It's hard to explain..you see.."*~
~*"We can't tell you what's to come in the future,"*~ Her father helped, ~*" We can't give you direct information that we know..because of..certain barriers..in this world."*~
~*"..Barriers?"*~
~*"Yes,"*~Her mother picked up,~*"..Forsay, we can't bring ourselves back to life, we can't go back in time and change the future, but we can show you things that will help you in yours, because you're still alive..we can help you live."*~
~*"You mean...you can't tell me what's going to happen in the future, but you can show me clips of it?"*~
~*"Yes."*~
~*"But...those weren't clips of the future..those were things from the past."*~
~*"Naida,"*~ Her father went on,~*"We didn't show you the future, because that isn't what will help you..seeing these past experiences..is what will help you."*~
~*"But..why can't you just tell me?"*~
~*"Because..it's a barrier..we just CAN'T."*~
~*"Oh.."*~ She looked down,~*"..All right."*~
They stood in silence for a moment, before she shook her head, ~*"But..those clips..what does it mean? Is something bad going to happen? Can't I just stay here with you?"*~
~*"Sweetie,"*~ Her mother took her hands, ~*"There are things left on Spira..that need to be taken care of..things..out of our control..I know it's not fair, but.."*~
~*"It's alright, Mom,"*~ She said, laughing a little, ~*"You're starting to sound like Leon now.."*~
Her mother smiled, hugging her, ~*"Oh..Naida.."*~
~*"But..I just wish I knew why,"*~ She said softly, hugging back.
They stepped apart, her mother brushing a locke of Naida's hair away from her face.
~*"Well..I'll show you one reason.."*~ She said softly, looking at Adam. He nodded, and knelt down to the dock, sticking his hand into a puddle of water.
The water shimmered, and suddenly an image appeared. Naida stepped foreward, and looked in.
~*"...Botta..."*~She said quietly, taking her hands from her mother and kneeling down next to her father.
In the image, was the hospital room in Luca. Her unconcious body was lying on the bed in the corner, and Botta was seated next to it, head resting on the plastic guardrail.
~*"I don't think you really want to leave him.."*~ Her mother said behind her.
Naida blinked slowly, never turning away from the scene. She reached down to touch it, when her father grabbed her suddenly and pushed her in.
Before she could scream, she opened her eyes. She was in the hospital room, standing behind Botta. She looked behind her to see her parents, shaking her head and smiling slightly as Adam grinned.
She turned back to the scene, stepping foreward on the white floor until she was next to the redheaded Auroch. She looked down at him, and was about to say something, when she heard his voice.
~*"Naida.."*~ His voice seemed to echo in her world, ~*"Naida..please..don't die.."*~
~*"Botta,"*~ she said softly, reaching out to touch him, but her hand passing right through him. She sighed, and turned to look at her form lying on the bed. Her face was deathly pale, and her skin still shimmered lightly with the infection. An oxygen tube was strapped across her face, IVs and other things were stuck in her arms. To say in the least, she looked like Death in a hospital gown.
She looked down her body's arm to the ID bracelet strapped on her wrist. Naida Raine Dark. She shuddered slightly, just a day before, she'd been wearing one of those, and now there she was, wearing another one, only for different causes.
She continued to stare at the bracelet, until she saw something move. For a moment, she thought it was her hand, but then she stepped foreward, and her jaw dropped.
Botta was holding her hand.
~*"Naida.."*~His voice echoed around her again, ~*"..Don't leave me..please..I need you here..with me..."*~
Naida reached up with one hand and covered her mouth, the other one absently holding her tags. After a minute, she whirled around and looked at her mother and father.
~*"Mom, Dad,"*~ She started, tears welling in her eyes again.
~*Shhhh..."*~ Her mother stepped foreward, pulling her into her strong arms, ~*"It's alright, honey, I know..I know.."*~
~*"I..I don't want to leave him.."*~She said softly, ~*"..I can't leave him..I..I'm so sorry.."*~
~*"Hey kiddo, it's okay,"*~ Her father said, hugging both her and her mother, ~*"..Just..close your eyes..and try to relax..."*~
Naida paused, before nodding. Slowly, she closed her eyes, burying her face into her mother's shoulder as she took a deep breath. She felt both her mother and her father kiss her on the cheek and the top of her head, and her father saying something softly.
~*"Goodbye, Naida,"*~ Her mother whispered.
She went to respond, but nothing came out. She opened her eyes. Darkness again.
(Mom? Dad?) Her mind called (...What's happening?)
She blinked, and suddenly, an array of scenes flashed before her.
In the Calm Lands, Botta glaring at her behind the counter. On the Airship, her looking up at him after he caught her when she tripped. In Besaid, when she'd fallen onto him after he'd taken her towel. On the lookout, the night he'd kissed her. In Luca's hospital, when he was walking out of the door to her room, and then the Sphere, him pulling her body close to his as she fell limp in the water.
*Flash*
Darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~Author's Note: Oh gee...this is just great. I had ALL of the chapters ready to go, and then I wrote this one out in detail, and saw it was too long, so I cut it in half, and here it is! I'm so sorry this took so long! *looks at it* I don't think it's really that great...just a bunch of flashbacks and such. The good stuff I'm hoping to put in the next chapter! I'm sorry if I've got a bunch of lifelines tangled up (EX. Uncle Matt finding Botta washed ashore, in chapter 9 I said he'd washed ashore in a boat, not on a board), I'm gettin a bit mixed up, but I PROMISE I'll fix everything before this is all over with!
Okay, once again, I'm doin' quick thankios!
Tio: I love the Tiggs one shot you did! I really, I would try my own, but it wouldn't be near as good! You're an awesome writer, and I CAN'T WAIT for the next chapter of Strange Glue!!
Carter: You're on vacay!! Hope yer havin' a great time!
Daemon: I like the fic you've got so far, good origional character, and I can't wait to read the rest of it!
DA, Soldier of Mercy: Hey, it's alright if yer not reading, but I'm puttin' you here just in case you are, and I don't want to leave you out!
Nikki: Hey woman, I'm gonna go check and see if you've updated yer page and all that greatness! Shame on me for not checkin' in on it sooner! ^_^
FlamingCross: I'm still I'm still a checkin' yer site for anything! Thanks for readin'!
DragonScales: I'm gonna check for updates on yer story (. I'm sorry for not readin' the whole thing by now!!)
Echo: My goodness, you're so sweet! I really don't deserve all of the compliments you give, really I don't! Thank you for reading, and I can't wait to finish readin' that fic you sent me!
Drea: Good holy cow, woman!! I don't care what you say, your fic is freakin' AWESOME!!! I really really like it, and I can't wait to see what happens! ^_^ It doesn't suck, no matter what you say. And if you ever get stuck in some part of it, just holla! Lol me and Echo'll be here ta help you out!
Well now, I guess those thankios weren't as short as I thought! I hope you guys have a great week, and I want y'all to stay safe!!! ^_^ Biya!
-Keeping It "Real,"
~Ari
"Young girl, don't cry,
I'll be right here when your world starts to fall...
Young girl, it's all right,
Your tears will dry you'll soon be free to fly..."
~The Voice Within
-Christina Aguilara
"I'm her Momma, and I'm about to be yers too if you don't show me where the ER is." - Julia Newman
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*"Somebody help me!!"*~
Pain, searing through her body, tearing her apart. She was hurting so bad, yet she didn't know where it was coming from...
~*"Please, somebody, anybody, HELP ME!!"*~
Her screams, answered with silence, echoed through the darkness of the unknown world around her, surrounding her like a thick, choking blanket. She finally fell silent, the sudden feeling of being swept into something overcoming her.
*Flash*
~*"Naida...? Naida!"*~
~*"...W..What?"*~
~*"Naida, open your eyes."*~
Slowly, she obeyed the strange but familiar voice, and almost jumped when her lime eyes connected with large forest green ones.
~*"...Are you alright?"*~ The sweet voice came to her ears again.
~*"I..I think so,"*~ She stammered, glancing around. However, walls of dark, wavy brown hair blocked her view of anything.
~*"...Good."*~ The girl sat up, and immedietly Naida's jaw dropped.
~*"..Teale?!"*~
The younger Al Bhed smiled slightly, flipping a locke of rebellious dark hair out of her tan face.
~"*Yeah..it's me."*~
In one swift move, Naida shot up from her spot lying in Teale's lap, tackling the young girl and wrapping her in a tight hug. The younger woman laughed, returning the embrace.
~*"I've missed you so much,"*~ Naida breathed through the thick mix of her and her sister's hair.
~*"I've missed you too, Naid, I'm glad I could see you again..."*~
Naida sat back, happy tears streaming down her face.
~*"The joy of being dead, eh?"*~ She laughed a little.
Teale looked at her, green eyes welling up as well as she laughed a little.
~*"Well..not quite..you see..you're-"*~
~*"And I don't supposed either of you saved some of that family love for me?"*~
She was interrupted by a deep voice, and both girls turned to see Leon standing, muscular arms folded across his chest.
~*"Leon!!"*~ Naida yelled, jumping up from the white floor and tackling her older brother. The older Al Bhed yelped in surprise, falling back onto the floor. After a moment, he laughed, returning his younger sister's embrace tightly.
~*"Guess that's a yes,"*~ He managed. Naida laughed and fell back, sitting on the plaster-feeling white floor with her legs folded underneath her. He sat up, leaning foreward onto his knees and looking at her with a smile.
~*"Wow.."*~ He breathed, laughing a little more, ~*"...Look at you..gettin' prettier every day."*~
Naida laughed, punching him playfully, ~*"You're such a dork, Leon."*~
He smiled, before looking to Teale, ~*"Hasn't changed a bit, has she?"*~
The youngest of the three smiled, shaking her head, ~*"Not in the least."*~
He looked back to her, smiling at her necklace, ~*"See you've got my tags."*~
Instictively, she reached up and grabbed them, before moving one hand to remove them. ~*"You want them back?"*~
He held up a hand, ~*"No no no..they're yours. Besides..I can't take things from the living."*~
~*"Oh, alright that's-"*~
She stopped, raising her eyebrow, ~*"What?...But..I thought.."*~
~*"I tried to tell you,"*~Teale said, scooting to sit beside her, ~*"You're not dead."*~
Naida looked at her, then to Leon, ~*"But then..how am I here..if I'm alive..and you're.."*~
~*"Not?"*~ Teale finished. Naida nodded.
~*"Well Naid,"*~Leon started, ~*"It's a little complicated..but..you see, you're in a coma... a really..really..deep coma."*~
~*"So deep, you practically are dead."*~ Teale added.
Naida looked between them again, then looked down, ~*"Oh..well that's..nice."*~
Teale took a deep breath, reaching over to hold her sister's hand, ~*"You're in a part of the Farplane right now, Naida..a sort of..border."*~
~*"Where ones who ARE dead can go to meet those who're almost dead, and try to help them,"*~ Leon tacked, ~*"Before it's too late."*~
She looked at him, ~*"..Too late?"*~
~*"Before you die,"*~ Teale answered.
Naida looked at her, shaking her head, ~*"But..I don't understand..can no one on Spira help me?"*~
~*"Nope,"*~Leon replied,~*"You're Spiran body is extremely contaminated..you got hit with a Multi-Status ball, remember?"*~
She looked at him, then down, blinking slowly, ~*"...Yeah..Viranda.."*~ She shook her head again, anger rising as the game came back to her, ~*"Viranda was gonna kill Keepa!"*~
~*"But she didn't,"*~Teale reassured, squeezing her hand,~*"He's safe, thanks to you."*~
Naida took a breath, nodding, ~*"...Good."*~
~*"But now, you're sick,"*~Leon said,~*"And it's up to us to send you back."*~
She looked up at him,~*"But..why?"*~
~*"Why what?"*~
~*"...Why do you want to send me back?"*~
~*"Do you not WANT to go back?"*~ Teale asked, raising an eyebrow.
~*"Oh no..it's not that..it's just.."*~ She looked at her,~*"..What about you guys?"*~
~*"Our time was up a while back,"*~ Leon said, reaching out to take Naida's other hand, ~*"We're your Guardians now...and you're the only one who can take care of the things we left behind."*~
~*"We know..it's not fair,"*~ Teale added,~*"And we're sorry..but there's not much we can to about it, except protect you along the way."*~
She glanced between them, then looked down.
~*"It's alright."*~She breathed,~*"I know..I know it's not your fault."*~
Taking another slow breath, she looked back up to Teale.
~*"So..when do I go back?"*~
The young Al Bhed looked at her, then to Leon, who nodded. She looked down, pulling her hands from Naida's and folding them in her lap.
~*"Yevon.."*~She muttered, ~*"Bmayca maht sa ouin bufanc.."*~
Naida scooted closer to Leon as Teale talked, wrapping her arms around one of his and leaning on his shoulder.
~*"Leon..."*~
~*"It's alright, kid,"*~ He said softly, kissing her on the head, ~*"She knows what she's doin'."*~
~*"Ramb sa caht drec Al Bhed plyg du Spira.."*~
She looked up, eyes glowing a strange green, and her hair blowing behind her at the force of something unknown and unfelt to Naida or Leon. She leaned foreward, crawling on all fours toward the two as she continued her spell.
~*"Eh dra hesa uv Spira..Yevon..yht Yu Yevon..Amen."*~
She stopped inches from Naida's face, and slid her legs under her small body. Before Naida even had time to ask, the younger woman reached up and pressed her glowing hands to both sides of Naida's face.
~*"Breathe!"*~ She yelled.
Naida did so. A choking, gasping breath that hurt her, causing her to grip her brothers arm as she fell backwards, eyes rolling back into her head and returning her to darkness before she hit the floor.
Silence..again.
(Hello? Hello!)
Her own voice, lost inside her mind, unable to escape from the lips she couldn't feel.
(Teale? Leon? Where are you? Where did you send me? I'm all alone again...)
~*"Botta, come here!"*~
(..Who was that?..Botta?..But that voice..it doesn't sound familiar..)
~*"Hal, help me, please!"*~
~*Hang on, Arica, I'm coming!"*~
(Hal..Arica..but..they're..)
*Flash*
Naida turned around just in time to see a man run past her in a blur of blue and red. Fierce wind whipped around her, causing her to notice she now wore a grey cloak over her body. The rain poured from the hood, falling harmlessly in front of her face as she stepped back, the rail of the boat stopping her from moving any further.
(A Goer uniform..) She thought as she watched him scramble to the front of the boat, (And that hair..it looks just like..)
~*"Hal!!"*~
Her thoughts were interrupted when the woman cried out again, causing Naida to look toward the voice.
She was young, obviously not much older than Naida herself, long, dark gold lockes matted to her pretty tan face as she looked up at the man with scared blue eyes from her place lying on the rainslick deck, a young child tucked securely in her arms as she waited for the man to reach her.
~*"Arica, hold o-"*~
He was cut off when the ship jerked, sending him flying toward the edge.
~*"Hal!!!"*~ She shrieked, gripping the child with one arm and staggering to her feet to try and make her way to the man.
He continued to roll across the deck, finally stopping when he hit the wooden footrail at the edge. He reached up and grabbed one of the metal rails, hoisting himself to face the woman as she made her way to him. She looked up at him, and he opened his mouth to say something, when the ship rocked again. This time, the woman fell foreward, and the man rushed and caught her before she could fall. Once she was in his arms, he picked both her and the child up, then began making his way to the stairwell of the ship.
Naida watched with growing interest, unsure if what she was seeing was real, or just an image.
(Whatever it is..)She thought(..It sure is creepy..)
The man slid as he came to the stairwell, regaining his balance a few feet away, then staggering back toward it. He reached the wooden pole holding up the upper deck, but slammed into it when the boat rocked once again, this time, sending the child to the deck surface.
~*"Botta!!!"*~ The woman screamed, stretching out to him as he helplessly slid out of reach.
(Botta..?!) Naida raised an eyebrow (But..if that's Botta..then the man is..) Her eyes widened, (Those..those ARE his parents!)
Instictively, the seemingly invisible Al Bhed rushed foreward to the child as he continued to slide dangeroulsy close to the edge. She went to grab him up, but fell with a gasp when her hand went right through him. She landed on her side, watching in a horrified trance as he continued toward the edge of the boat.
(I can't..touch him..)She thought, eyes wide as she stared at him, (I can't..touch them..)
Behind her, Hal set Arica down in the stairwell, then turned and ran as fast as he could to reach his son.
(I'm on the ship that sank..20 years ago..when Sin attacked Besaid.)
The ship rocked again, sending the man to his knees. He twisted up and to the side, letting his weight make him slide faster. He hit Naida, but, like his son, he went right through her. She gasped again, sitting up.
(They died on this ship.)
He reached his son seconds before they both reached the edge. In one swift movement, he scooped Botta up with one arm, and grabbed the rail with the other, holding them close to it to keep them from going over.
(I..I have to watch them die.)
Naida shook her head, turning to look at Arica, who sat on the top step in the stairwell, staring through Naida to her husband and son with wide, fear-filled eyes. The Al Bhed breathed in slowly, then turned back to Hal and Botta, who were both occupied with their own problems. Botta had his little face buried into the fabric of his father's uniform, crying, while Hal looked around at the sky, his face becoming more visible each time the lighting flashed.
~*"Hal!"*~
Both of them turned to face Arica, who's rough voice barely sounded through the roar of the raging waters and the booming thunder. She leaned foreward on the steps, stretching her arms out toward her husband and coaxing him to come to her. He looked at her, before glancing around once again, then back to her. He was about to move toward her, when suddenly a shrill voice came from above them.
~*"Everyone get under the deck!!! Sin is coming!!!"*~
All three of the older ones that were above deck craned their necks to stare at the flashing silhouette of the lookout that stood above them, clinging to the mast loyally as he fufilled the duty he had sworn. His eyes, however, weren't on them, but on the dark, towering mass that was slowly making its way toward their tiny ship.
~*"Sin..?"*~ Hal echoed, causing Naida to look at him, ~*"But..why would it come all the way out here..? It's impossible.."*~
~*"Oh, no it isn't."*~ Naida said softly, wishing he could hear her, ~*"No it isn't..."*~
Lightning flashed again, and the lookout continued to scream.
~*"Sin is coming!!! Sin is coming!! Sin is-"*~
He was cut off by a loud screeching roar. Lightning flashed once again, and the thunder blared. A bright light flashed high above, blinding them all. Naida ducked, covering her ears and shutting her eyes tight. The next thing she heard was a loud crack, then an even louder crash. She opened her eyes, and screamed.
Lying next to her was the scorched body of the lookout. Half of it anyway.
Naida screamed again, crawling away from it, until she was almost next to the stairwell. She tore her eyes from the body long enough to examine the damage that Sin had done. The mast had fallen completely across the deck, smashing through to the bottom, and crushing anyone that might have been down below. Pressing a hand over her mouth, she shut her eyes.
(This isn't happening this isn't happening this isn't happening...)
~*"Arica!! ARICA!!"*~
Her eyes shot back open at Hal's voice. Twisting around, she turned to look at the place where the young woman had just been, and saw she was no longer there. Naida crawled to the edge of the stairwell, and was about to look down, when Arica's head shot up, going straigh through Naida's as she crawled back out of the stairwell. The Al Bhed fell back on her legs, watching as the older woman gripped the top stair for support and looked out over the deck for her husband.
~*"I'm here, Hal!! Where are you?!"*~
~*"Here!"*~
Both of their gazes stopped on the mast, focusing on the small space that was between the sail and the actual wood itself. About halfway across it, was Hal's face, the only thing visible through it.
~*"Hal!"*~ She cried happily, pulling herself out of the stairwell. Slowly, she made her way to the mast, pressing a kiss through the small opening to her husband when she reached him.
~*"Are you alright?"*~ He asked, reaching a hand through to wipe the trickle of blood that streamed down the side of her face.
~*"I'm fine,"*~She assured him, taking his hand, ~*"Where's Botta?"*~
~*"Right here,"*~ He held their crying son up to the opening, ~*"Look Botta, there's Mommy, see? It's okay?"*~
The two year old child looked through to see his mother, and stretched out to her. Arica took his hand with her free one, pressing a kiss to it.
~*"It's okay, sweetie..everything's fine, Mommy's not gonna let anything happen to you."*~
She turned her gaze to her husband, voice low.
~*"Can you get through?"*~
~*"No,"*~He replied, tapping the sail, ~*"The knots that hold this thing are down below..and we're sinking."*~
As if to emphasize his point, the sudden sound of rushing water filled the air. Everyone turned toward the front of the ship, which was no longer visible, slowly sliding under the sea, inch by inch.
Arica twisted back around to her husband, ~*"Hal.."*~ She said softly.
Without a word, the former Auroch reached through the small opening to his wife, wrapping his strong arms around her as she got as close as she could to the fallen mast. Botta clung to his father's neck, holdling on as best as his little arms would allow him, and watched as the ship he was on began to tip downward, gravity trying to tear his mother away from him. Hal held onto her, until the water rose and began to devour her legs.
Watching all the while, Naida stood on the water, having stepped off the deathvessel minutes before it reached Arica's slender legs. She winced as she watched the older woman gasp in shock at the chill of the water.
(Cold Season..)She thought, (They died during Cold Season...)
Gripping her husband's arms for comfort, she looked up into his blue-green eyes, her own light blue full of fear and pain as the water rose to her waist.
~*"Hal.."*~ She said shakily, breathing steam, ~*"..L..let..g..g-g.go..of. .m..me.
S..save..y..yourself..and our...s..son."*~
The words left her slowly bluing lips, but her vicelike grip on Hal's arms remained the same.
~*"I'm not letting you go."*~ He said firmly, pressing another kiss to her cold lips as the water rose up to her neck. She pressed as close as she could to the sail, knowing once she was under, there was no coming up.
~*"I love you,"*~ Was the last thing she whispered before the sea claimed her face.
Hal held onto her, taking deep breaths and passing them to her under the water, until finally, the sail began to go under as well, taking Hal with it.
Naida watched on, shaking her head slightly.
(Horrible..simply..awful..)
She walked to the last place she'd seen the couple, and knelt down.
~*"But..Botta?"*~ She said softly, ~*"..How did you survive?"*~
As if on cue, the water beneath her began to churn, and seconds later, little Botta Trapper burst out of the sea that had claimed his parents only moments before. Naida stepped back, watching as the child paddled furiously against the now calming waves, searching for something to grab on to, something to save him, anything.
Instictively, the Al Bhed reached out to him, growling in frustration when she got the same results as earlier. Sighing, she stepped back, and watched the child anxiously as he continued to cry out for his mother and father, paddling aimlessly in the semi-raging sea.
Just as Naida was beginning to wonder how the child could have possibly swam all the way to Kilika, another part of the water began to churn, and seconds later, a large board appeared. It was brown on one side, and white on the other with the blurred letters "S.S. C-" across it.
(Part of the ship,)She thought, (..It must've struck something underwater that ripped it apart..)
Before her mind could wander to all of the horrible things that could have happened to Hal and Arica, another small cry escaped Botta as he clambered onto the board, collapsing on top of it and breathing heavily. His whimpers soon faded as he closed his large crystal eyes, leaving his life to the board as it carried him through the sea to a place unknown to the little one.
But Naida knew, and as she turned to leave the child, she slipped into black momentarily, before opening her eyes to find she was no longer on water, but on sand.
(What now?) She thought, looking out over the sea next to her.
~*"What in Spira?"*~
She turned to see a young man, about Letty's age, walking along the beach. Hands shoved deep into the pockets of his tatterd khaki shorts that stopped just below his knees. Rainwater rolled down his tan bare back as he walked, and for a moment, Naida had no idea who the handsome stranger was.
He stopped when he reached a small bundle of seaweed and something else that had washed up on the shore, looking around the area for some sort of explanation. Medium-lengthed, slightly spikey chocolate hair blew gently about his chizzled face, blending with the even darker brown eyes that darted straight through Naida as she stepped foreward for a closer look.
The man knelt down next to the bundle, poking it gently with one finger. He paused for a moment, and was about to get back up when suddenly a whimper emerged from the tangled mess.
(It's Botta,)Naida thought, eyes widening slightly, (That's..that's Botta!)
Almost horrified, the man quickly unwrapped the child from his seaweed prison, eyes widening even more as he gazed on him. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the sunburned thing close to him as he stood up, looking back over the sea.
~*"My Yevon..."*~He said softly.
He exhaled slowly, turning to look back at the small town that floated out on the sea not too far from him.
~*"Julia.."*~
Without another word, he turned and began walking back to the town, cradling the child close to him as he went.
Naida watched him go, making no effort to follow him. She knew what was going to happen to that child he had found. She knew every last detail.
(So..that was Uncle Matt,) She shook her head, (..All of them were so young..and forced to live where Sin could take away their family at any time..how horrible.)
She glanced out at the sea momentarily, before looking back down.
(Not that we're much different...)
Letting her thought trail off, she closed her eyes, feeling the sensation of falling taking over again, and when she opened them, she was once again in her world of darkness.
(What's going on..why am I not waking up? Am I still dying..?)
Darkness was the only answered, she sighed in her mind.
(I wonder how everyone on Spira's doing..I hope they're not too worried about me...)
~*"Where are they taking her?!"*~
~*"I-I'm sorry, Miss. She's going into ER r-right now to have her b-baby.."*~
(What?? Another scene..? But that..that sounds like..)
~*"Where's the ER"*~
~*"M-Miss..there's o-only family members a-allowed.."*~
*Flash*
Naida opened her eyes to find herself in the hallway of the Besaid hospital. Only..it was a whole lot smaller, and it was packed.
Through the crowds of nurses, doctors and patients, Naida could see the back of a woman. Short in her height, but muscular nonetheless. She wore a pair of bathing suit shorts with a spaghetti strap top, and chaps not unlike Naida's graced her tan legs. The most Naida could see of her head was her dark curly hair, which was pulled back into a ponytail that hung a little past her shoulders. At the moment, the young woman had a young doctor by his coat collar, standing on her tiptoes to come just up to his chin.
~*"Where is she..?"*~ Her voice was low but dangerous.
~*"A-are you family?"*~ He stammered.
In one sudden move, the woman tightened her grip on the man's collar and jerked him down to her face-level.
~*"Yeah,"*~ She said, ~*"I'm her Momma, and I'm about to be yers too if you don't show me where the ER is."*~
Shakily, the Doctor pointed a hand toward a set of double doors near the end of the hallway.
~*"Through there..t-then..the next d-d-door on the right.."*~
~*"Thank you."*~ Her voice was suddenly sweet, and very, VERY familiar.
She turned and took a glance at the crowded room, giving Naida the chance to finally see her face.
(Aunt Julia!) She grinned, (I should have known! She must be looking for Raida..)She laughed, (You are such a liar, you didn't tell me you almost beat the tar out of a doctor..)
The 23 year old Aunt Julia turned back and began jogging down the hallway, leaving the nervous Doctor to his job. Naida ran after her, walking through people without a problem.
Moments later, she caught up with the still-older woman, and followed her through the doors of the ER. The small room was nearly empty, with the exception of a couple of Nurses, who competely ignored Aunt Julia as she came in.
Lying on the bed in the middle of the room was a screaming young woman, black hair matted to her pale face, sided by a few blood red streaks that fell in front of her multi-colored eyes.
~*"Blood pressure's 120 over 70,"*~ One of the Nurses said
~*"Give her something to stable it!"*~ the other yelled.
The first Nurse disappeared into the back to get the medication, and Aunt Julia stepped up next to the young woman lying on the bed. She reached down, taking her hand.
~*"Raida.."*~ She said softly through her screams, ~*"Raida..it's me..."*~
~*"J-Julia?"*~ The younger woman choked out, twisting her head on the pillow to look at her friend, ~*"W..What are you doing here? I th-thought you were with M-M..M-"*~
She let out another scream as the pain excelled on her, gripping Aunt Julia's hand for all she could. The older woman gripped back, kneeling down next to the bed and pressing a cold hand to Raida's forehead.
~*"Shh..don't worry about that.."*~ She soothed,~*"All that matters is I'm here now..alright? And we're gonna get you through this.."*~
The young half Al Bhed nodded, shutting her eyes tight as she let out yet another scream. Moments later, the first Nurse came back in with the shot for her blood pressure.
~*"This should help."*~ She said, preparing the needle.
~*"No,"*~ The other said,~*"Don't give it to her yet."*~
Everyone in the room looked at the second Nurse as she explained.
~*"The baby's too big, we're gonna have to do a C-Section."*~
Raida screamed, and Aunt Julia winced, looking down at her.
~*"Don't worry, honey, it'll be all right.."*~
~*"N-No.."*~ She gasped, ~*"The..the baby..it's.it's coming!"*~
With another yell, she pressed her head back into the pillow, gritting her teeth. Aunt Julia looked up at the two Nurses.
~*"Well? What are you gonna do? If that baby comes out on it's own, it'll kill her!"*~
They looked at her, then to eachother, before the second Nurse went around to the end of the bed to size up the situation.
~*"She's right,"*~ She said, looking up, ~*"The baby IS coming..and there's nothing we can do for her."*~
Aunt Julia stared at the Nurse, ~*"Nothing? You're not even gonna try?!"*~
~*"There's nothing we can do, Miss."*~ The first Nurse said, ~*"According to the charts we pulled up, this baby wasn't even supposed to be here for another 3 months."*~
~*"3 Months?!"*~ Aunt Julia looked down at Raida, ~*"Raid, why's the baby so big if you're havin' it 3 months early??"*~
~*".S-Sin.."*~ She opened her black and red eyes and stared into her friend's hazel ones.~*"I.. I was too..c-close to it..and.."*~
She took a deep breath, then went on, ~*"I..th-thought it was only when you're near the Farplane..that it..it speeds your pregnancy..b-but.."*~ She gritted her teeth, swallowing another scream,~*"B..but I guess since..I was near so many..that we-..were dying or dead that it..it."*~
She cut off again, this time unable to surpress her pain. The second Nurse pulled her mask up further on her face.
~*"Here it comes, now Raida, on the count of five, I want you to push, alright?"*~
But the young woman was still trying to choke out the story to Aunt Julia, and barely heard the warning.
~*"N..Neil tried to g-get me out..and..the h-house fell in on him.."*~ She said, eyes locked onto Aunt Julia's.
~*"One..."*~
~*"I t-tried..so hard..to get as many of the kids out as I could.."*~
~*"Two..!"*~
~*"Roch, Diana, Alicia, Wes..and now I'm hearing Arica and Hal too, w-with Botta..and..some of ...my new f-friends..the Smithsons..a-and th..the Korbits..they've got k-kids too.."*~
~*"Three..."*~
~*"E's cunno, Julia.."*~ She slipped into her native tongue, ~*"E's cu..cu..cunno.."*~
~*"Four..!!"*~
Aunt Julia squeezed her young friends hand, ~*"It's alright, sweetheart..you don't worry about a thing..I'll take care of everything.."*~
~*"Five!"*~
With a loud scream, Raida pushed for all she was worth, and moments later, a tiny cry broke into the room.
(Datto..)Naida smiled from the corner of the room, the darkness of her cloak making her feel almost like a harbringer of Death.
The child was cleaned off, wrapped up, and handed to his mother to hold. She cradled him weakly, a bright smile across her face as she stared down into the pale eyes of her son.
~"*He's beautiful.."*~ Aunt Julia said, leaning over the two, ~*"..He has Neil's eyes."*~
~*"Mmm.."*~ Raida leaned foreward, pressing a kiss to her child's forehead, ~*"..He's my little Datto..Datto Lukas Perigan.."*~
~*"Great name,"*~ Aunt Julia smiled, resting a hand on the back of Raida's soaked head.
Suddenly, the young woman tore her gaze from her son and looked up at her friend, eyes full of concern.
~*"Julia?"*~ She said, voice becoming weaker as she spoke, ~*"Take care of him for me, please."*~
Aunt Julia's eyes widened slightly, ~*"W-what? Raida..it's all right, you're gonna be fine.."*~
~*"No,"*~ She shook her head, ~*"..I'm gonna die..and.."*~ She looked back to Aunt Julia, ~*"I want to go knowing my son is in good hands."*~
Aunt Julia stared at Raida for a moment, before letting out a breath and looked down.
~*"Raida, I.."*~
~*"Please Julia,"*~ The younger woman reached out with one hand and took hers, ~*"Please..promise me..That you'll take care of him..you and Matt are all that's left for him and the others now.."*~
Aunt Julia looked back to her friend, feeling hot tears well up in her deep hazel eyes.
~*"..Alright Raida.."*~ She said softly, ~*"I promise.."*~
The half Al Bhed sighed contently, and pulled her hand back to hold her son. She layed back onto the bed, cradling him close to her as he reached up curiously to tug on the red strands in her hair. She smiled slightly, and took a deep breath. She exhaled, and began singing the Hymn.
Aunt Julia stood quietly next to her, eyes closed as she listened to her friend's beautiful voice as it rang through the quiet ER. The two nurses stood just as silent next to the supplies closet, watching.
A minute later, the young woman finished the song, taking another deep breath in and kissing her son. Only this time, after she exhaled, her chest didn't rise again, and her head rolled back onto Aunt Julia's arm as a small smile spread on her pale lips. She was gone.
~*"Oh, Raida.."*~ Aunt Julia said softly, brushing her friend's hair out of her face.
Suddenly, Datto started crying. Instictively, Aunt Julia reached over and picked him up from his mother's limp arms, cradling him in her own.
~*"Hello, Datto.."*~ She said, tears streaming down her face, ~*"..I'm your Aunt Julia..I'm gonna raise you for a long while..alright?"*~
He stopped crying, looking up at the woman with his large pale, red and black speckled eyes. After a moment, he laughed, grabbing hold of one of the straps to Aunt Julia's top and tugging it with childish interest.
She smiled, then looked back to Raida on the bed. Silently, she leaned foreward, kissing her on the head, then straightening up to look at the Nurses. The first one came foreward, holding out her arms.
~*"We'll get you the paperwork, Miss.."*~
~*"Newman."*~ Aunt Julia filled in,~*"Julia Newman.."*~
~*"All right then, Miss Newman, well get you the paperwork. Are you planning on staying in Besaid very long?"*~
~*"Actually, I'm here to pick up my nephew, Keepa."*~
~*"Ahh...Roch and Alicia's boy."*~
~*"That's him."*~
~*"Well,"*~ The Nurse took Datto from Aunt Julia's arms, sending him into his fit of crying again,~*"Good luck, Miss Newman, we'll have Datto ready for you to come get him in about a week."*~
~*"Thank you,"*~She replied, turning before the scene before the urge to take Datto back became too much. She walked to the double doors, lowering her head as she went past Naida.
~*"Matt..."*~She said softly, tears continuing to stream down her face, ~*"Where are you..?"*~
Naida sighed as she went out the doors, and turned to follow her, only when she went through them, she entered darkness.
(Here again? What's the big idea?)
Nothing.
(You know, it would figure that Teale sent me to the wrong place.)
~*"What are you doing out here?"*~
~*"Walking, what's it look like?"*~
(More voices? Joy, I'm a regular schitzo.)
~*"Adam, it's pouring down rain."*~
~*"So?"*~
(Adam...?! But that's my..!)
*Flash*
Naida twisted around to find herself standing in the rain yet again, only this time, she was outside, on a wooden dock. Dark crates formed a small wall behind her, save the small opening on the end that gave just enough room to get to the walkway, while in front of her was the stretch of wood that went out over the sea. She looked up, and gasped.
In front of her, were the 17 and 18 year old versions of her mother and father.
~*"You'll catch your death out here!"*~ She stated, stamping one booted foot in the water, splashing some up on Adam's Goer uniform.
~*"I will not,"*~ He argued, looking down at her with his dark green eyes,~*"You can keep me warm."*~
She smiled back up at him, light green eyes shining prettily in the dim streetlamp light. Her short, dark brown hair stuck to the sides of her face, and she brushed them away with one no-finger gloved hand, before sliding both hands behind her back, twisting absently at the belt loop of her cut-off shorts.
Adam stepped foreward, pulling the short woman into his arms and pressing a kiss to her forehead, before turning back to the sea, green eyes getting lost in the waves as they rolled in and out, some splashing up onto the dock and over his sandled feet.
Erin stared at his back for a moment, before tilting her head to the side.
~*"...Adam..?"*~ She said softly, ~*"Is..everything okay?"*~
He never looked back at her, but nodded. She sighed, dropping her hands back to her sides.
~*"Adam, you suck at lying."*~
This caused the Al Bhed to smile a bit, but he never turned around. She took a step foreward to him, running a hand over her wet hair.
~*"..It's alright if you don't want to talk about it..just..know that I'm here if you need me."*~
Adam lowered his head, rain rolling down and off his dirty blonde hair and chin.
~*"You mean the world to me.."*~ He said softly.
Erin smiled slightly, putting her small hand on his shoulder,~*"You ARE my world."*~
He turned and looked at her out of the corner of his eye, watching her.
~*"It's just...Sin could come at any time..anywhere any place..and take you away from me..and I don't like that at all Erin..not one bit."*~
The Al Bhed woman let out a sigh. A deep, jaded sigh that let Naida know that the form of her Mother in front of her wasn't just 17, but 17 with so much drama in her life that it was almost unbelievable.
(Not with Sin around..)She thought, pulling herself onto one of the crates to sit.
She continued to watch at her mother took another step foreward, sliding her hand into Adam's and leaning over on his shoulder.
~*"Adam.."*~ She trailed off, placing her other hand on his arm to let him know how she felt.
He looked down at her, gazing at the top of her head for a moment, before stepping away, and looking back out over the sea.
~*"Erin,"*~ He started, not even looking at her as she took a step back, almost hurt by him pulling away, ~*"I don't ever want to lose you. If Sin comes, and I have to get up and fight it to keep it from taking you, I'll do it. If it throws you out into the sea, I'll go out there and save you..."*~
He turned back to her, eyes wild with something that Naida could only identify as love.
~*"And if it takes you away from here, if it takes you somewhere to die..I want to go to, so I can die with you."*~
Erin stood in the dim light, eyes beginning to well up with tears as she pressed a hand over her mouth and stared at the man she loved.
~*"What I'm trying to say is.."*~ He went on, walking toward her, ~*"...I would do ANYTHING, to be with you for the rest of my life..I would go anywhere..do anything..because..I love you."*~
He stopped, and watched as she put both hands over her mouth, eyes widening slightly.
~*"And...and I don't care if you feel the same way..I just..I had to let you know..before.. anything could happen.."*~
She stared at him for a moment longer, before breathing in deeply and pulling her hands down in front of her.
~*"Adam Dark.."*~ She said shakily, ~*"..I..I would follow you..to the ends of Spira..if you wanted me to..I would go through Ifrit's fire..just to be with you..I would..I..."*~
She trailed off, before exhaling and dropping her head slightly, ~*"I love you."*~ She looked back up at him, tears streaming down her face, ~*"..Yevon..I love you so much..."*~
With that, she ran foreward into his open arms, letting her tears of both joy and pain flow down her tan face as she wrapped her arms around his waist. He hugged her back tightly, pressing his face into her hair and letting himself get lost in her scent.
After a moment, he stepped back, looking into her eyes. She continued to look at him, even as he knelt down in front of her, pulling a small box out of the front of his uniform.
~*"Erin Aurora Kilian.."*~ He said, opening the black thing to reveal a silver butterfly ring, ~*"I love you..with all my heart..and..and ..I want to be with you..for the rest of my life.. and..I hope that you..feel the same way.."*~
Erin stared at him for a minute, before a beautiful smile suddenly spread across her face.
~*"I do.."*~ She said, letting him slip the ring on her finger, ~*"And I will be with you..for the rest of our lives."*~
Without another word, she fell into his arms again, this time kissing him passionately. He wrapped his arms around her legs and picked her up, breaking the kiss with a laugh. She looked down at him and smiled, placing her hands on his shoulders as he spun her around in the rain. Finally, he stopped, and gazed up at her for another minute, before letting her slide down to be just above his face. She leaned down and kissed him again.
Right at that moment, a bright flash illuminated the darkness.
~*"AHAHAHAHA!!!"*~ Came a loud, feminine laugh from the opening in the crates, ~*"I got that on CAMERA!!!"*~
The couple and Naida twisted around to see 16 year old Raida Perigan run out into the open with a camera, dancing around.
~*"I got you on camera, I got you on camera!"*~ She sang.
~*"Yeah, but that camera ain't gonna last if you keep it out in the rain, Raid."*~
17 year old Aunt Julia stepped up behind her. The young half Al Bhed looked at her, then her camera.
~*"Dangit, yer right!"*~ She ran back into the the shelter of the crates to hide it.
~*"So, you lovebirds, what's happenin'?"*~ Came Uncle Matt's voice as he walked up behind Aunt Julia, wrapping his strong arms around her small waist.
~*"Oh..nothing"*~ Erin said playfully as Adam set her back down. She reached up with her ringed hand and brushed a strand of hair out of her face.
Of course, the gesture didn't go unnoticed, and soon, Aunt Julia had tackled the young woman to the ground.
~*"NO WAY!! LET ME SEE IT!!!"*~
The pinned Al Bhed laughed as she held up her hand to show off her new ring, letting the curly-haired woman gaze at it. She was soon joined by an awestruck Raida, who stared at it and muttered something about her camera.
~*"What now? What'd I miss?"*~
The guys and Naida looked over to see 19 year old Hal Trapper walk through the small opening in the crates, blue-green eyes glittering in the dim light. He saw the scene with Erin, Raida, and Aunt Julia, and laughed.
~*"You asked her, didn't ya?"*~ He asked as he walked over to his two friends.
~*"Sure did,"*~Adam grinned, looking over at her, ~*"It was great."*~
~*"It was probably the biggest mush fest in the world."*~ Uncle Matt said with a grin, punching Adam on the shoulder playfully,~*"You know how Dark is."*~
Hal smiled, and then the three men laughed.
Naida smiled from her perch on the crates, brushing a locke of blonde hair out of her face as she continued to gaze at the happy scene.
(They were so happy then...)She thought,(They were happy last I remembered too, but..not like this..)
She sighed, before pushing off of the crate and glancing up at the sky.
(But...why?) She shook her head, the hood of her cloak falling off, (...Why am I seeing this? What does all of this mean..?)
She took another deep breath, and turned to walk out of the exit hole in the crates.
~*"Wait!"*~
Naida froze.
(...What?!..Are they talking to me..?)
~*"Naida, come back, please!"*~
The Al Bhed orphan's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at the familiar voice calling her name. Slowly, she turned around.
~*"...Mom?!"*~
She looked back to the dock to see only her mother and father now, both the 41 and 40 ages they died at. Her mother was a bit taller, and her eyes were back to their light blue she had remembered them as. Her father looked at bit more age-worn, his skin a little darker, and his eyes a deep dark green, like Teale's.
~*"Naida, honey.."*~ Her Mother said with tears in her eyes as she walked foreward.
~*"Mom!"*~ She yelled, running the distance between them and falling into her mother's tight embrace. The two held eachother for a moment, taking in the time they had together, before they stepped apart, and Naida looked to her father.
~*"Dad.."*~ She said softly, smiling a little as tears ran down her face.
~*"Hey sweetheart,"*~ He said with a smile as he pulled her into a big hug.
~*"I've missed you so much.."*~ She managed to get out.
~*"And we've missed you,"*~ Erin said, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder, ~*"You've grown into a beautiful young woman, Naida."*~
The young Al Bhed reached up and held her mother's hand. Smiling slightly.
~*"I'm glad I could see you again.."*~
~*"We're glad we could see you,"*~ Her father replied, kissing her head, ~*"And..we're sorry you had to see all of this."*~
Naida stepped back, looking between her parents, ~*"You..you two did all this?"*~
~*"The visions, yes,"*~Her mother replied, ~*"But that's all."*~
~*"So..that's why Teale's spell didn't work,"*~ She said, raising an eyebrow.
~*"Right."*~
The blonde woman nodded in understanding, then looked back up to her father.
~*"But...why?"*~ She asked, ~*"Why did you show me all this...? Hal and Arica..Uncle Matt..Aunt Julia and Raida..and then you two...why?"*~
~*"Well,"*~ Her mother started, ~*"...It's hard to explain..you see.."*~
~*"We can't tell you what's to come in the future,"*~ Her father helped, ~*" We can't give you direct information that we know..because of..certain barriers..in this world."*~
~*"..Barriers?"*~
~*"Yes,"*~Her mother picked up,~*"..Forsay, we can't bring ourselves back to life, we can't go back in time and change the future, but we can show you things that will help you in yours, because you're still alive..we can help you live."*~
~*"You mean...you can't tell me what's going to happen in the future, but you can show me clips of it?"*~
~*"Yes."*~
~*"But...those weren't clips of the future..those were things from the past."*~
~*"Naida,"*~ Her father went on,~*"We didn't show you the future, because that isn't what will help you..seeing these past experiences..is what will help you."*~
~*"But..why can't you just tell me?"*~
~*"Because..it's a barrier..we just CAN'T."*~
~*"Oh.."*~ She looked down,~*"..All right."*~
They stood in silence for a moment, before she shook her head, ~*"But..those clips..what does it mean? Is something bad going to happen? Can't I just stay here with you?"*~
~*"Sweetie,"*~ Her mother took her hands, ~*"There are things left on Spira..that need to be taken care of..things..out of our control..I know it's not fair, but.."*~
~*"It's alright, Mom,"*~ She said, laughing a little, ~*"You're starting to sound like Leon now.."*~
Her mother smiled, hugging her, ~*"Oh..Naida.."*~
~*"But..I just wish I knew why,"*~ She said softly, hugging back.
They stepped apart, her mother brushing a locke of Naida's hair away from her face.
~*"Well..I'll show you one reason.."*~ She said softly, looking at Adam. He nodded, and knelt down to the dock, sticking his hand into a puddle of water.
The water shimmered, and suddenly an image appeared. Naida stepped foreward, and looked in.
~*"...Botta..."*~She said quietly, taking her hands from her mother and kneeling down next to her father.
In the image, was the hospital room in Luca. Her unconcious body was lying on the bed in the corner, and Botta was seated next to it, head resting on the plastic guardrail.
~*"I don't think you really want to leave him.."*~ Her mother said behind her.
Naida blinked slowly, never turning away from the scene. She reached down to touch it, when her father grabbed her suddenly and pushed her in.
Before she could scream, she opened her eyes. She was in the hospital room, standing behind Botta. She looked behind her to see her parents, shaking her head and smiling slightly as Adam grinned.
She turned back to the scene, stepping foreward on the white floor until she was next to the redheaded Auroch. She looked down at him, and was about to say something, when she heard his voice.
~*"Naida.."*~ His voice seemed to echo in her world, ~*"Naida..please..don't die.."*~
~*"Botta,"*~ she said softly, reaching out to touch him, but her hand passing right through him. She sighed, and turned to look at her form lying on the bed. Her face was deathly pale, and her skin still shimmered lightly with the infection. An oxygen tube was strapped across her face, IVs and other things were stuck in her arms. To say in the least, she looked like Death in a hospital gown.
She looked down her body's arm to the ID bracelet strapped on her wrist. Naida Raine Dark. She shuddered slightly, just a day before, she'd been wearing one of those, and now there she was, wearing another one, only for different causes.
She continued to stare at the bracelet, until she saw something move. For a moment, she thought it was her hand, but then she stepped foreward, and her jaw dropped.
Botta was holding her hand.
~*"Naida.."*~His voice echoed around her again, ~*"..Don't leave me..please..I need you here..with me..."*~
Naida reached up with one hand and covered her mouth, the other one absently holding her tags. After a minute, she whirled around and looked at her mother and father.
~*"Mom, Dad,"*~ She started, tears welling in her eyes again.
~*Shhhh..."*~ Her mother stepped foreward, pulling her into her strong arms, ~*"It's alright, honey, I know..I know.."*~
~*"I..I don't want to leave him.."*~She said softly, ~*"..I can't leave him..I..I'm so sorry.."*~
~*"Hey kiddo, it's okay,"*~ Her father said, hugging both her and her mother, ~*"..Just..close your eyes..and try to relax..."*~
Naida paused, before nodding. Slowly, she closed her eyes, burying her face into her mother's shoulder as she took a deep breath. She felt both her mother and her father kiss her on the cheek and the top of her head, and her father saying something softly.
~*"Goodbye, Naida,"*~ Her mother whispered.
She went to respond, but nothing came out. She opened her eyes. Darkness again.
(Mom? Dad?) Her mind called (...What's happening?)
She blinked, and suddenly, an array of scenes flashed before her.
In the Calm Lands, Botta glaring at her behind the counter. On the Airship, her looking up at him after he caught her when she tripped. In Besaid, when she'd fallen onto him after he'd taken her towel. On the lookout, the night he'd kissed her. In Luca's hospital, when he was walking out of the door to her room, and then the Sphere, him pulling her body close to his as she fell limp in the water.
*Flash*
Darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~Author's Note: Oh gee...this is just great. I had ALL of the chapters ready to go, and then I wrote this one out in detail, and saw it was too long, so I cut it in half, and here it is! I'm so sorry this took so long! *looks at it* I don't think it's really that great...just a bunch of flashbacks and such. The good stuff I'm hoping to put in the next chapter! I'm sorry if I've got a bunch of lifelines tangled up (EX. Uncle Matt finding Botta washed ashore, in chapter 9 I said he'd washed ashore in a boat, not on a board), I'm gettin a bit mixed up, but I PROMISE I'll fix everything before this is all over with!
Okay, once again, I'm doin' quick thankios!
Tio: I love the Tiggs one shot you did! I really, I would try my own, but it wouldn't be near as good! You're an awesome writer, and I CAN'T WAIT for the next chapter of Strange Glue!!
Carter: You're on vacay!! Hope yer havin' a great time!
Daemon: I like the fic you've got so far, good origional character, and I can't wait to read the rest of it!
DA, Soldier of Mercy: Hey, it's alright if yer not reading, but I'm puttin' you here just in case you are, and I don't want to leave you out!
Nikki: Hey woman, I'm gonna go check and see if you've updated yer page and all that greatness! Shame on me for not checkin' in on it sooner! ^_^
FlamingCross: I'm still I'm still a checkin' yer site for anything! Thanks for readin'!
DragonScales: I'm gonna check for updates on yer story (. I'm sorry for not readin' the whole thing by now!!)
Echo: My goodness, you're so sweet! I really don't deserve all of the compliments you give, really I don't! Thank you for reading, and I can't wait to finish readin' that fic you sent me!
Drea: Good holy cow, woman!! I don't care what you say, your fic is freakin' AWESOME!!! I really really like it, and I can't wait to see what happens! ^_^ It doesn't suck, no matter what you say. And if you ever get stuck in some part of it, just holla! Lol me and Echo'll be here ta help you out!
Well now, I guess those thankios weren't as short as I thought! I hope you guys have a great week, and I want y'all to stay safe!!! ^_^ Biya!
-Keeping It "Real,"
~Ari
