The Heart Never Forgets
Chapter 7
Hours later, Lady Une lay inside her tent, just at the top of the embankment, listening to the silence. Occasionally she would hear the buzz of an insect or the twitter of a bird. That was all.
She breathed deeply, ignoring the thoughts that hammered her mind. They were screaming at her: 'You cold, unfeeling woman. Noin's right! You're a cow! It's all your fault this has happened. You deserved to lose Treize! You deserved to lose your baby! You deserve everything you get!'
Une felt a lump rising in her throat and her chest begin to heave as she tried not to weep. The sound of voices in the tent nearby abruptly extinguished any outburst. She stopped herself to catch on to what they were saying. It was definately Sally and Noin's voices. Maybe they were relaying the days events and discussing Lady Une's cruel persona. Une listened hard.
" Oh, Noin, do you have a flashlight?" Sally was asking.
Didn't sound much like slander to Une's ears as yet.
" No," Noin replied in a whisper, though in the silence of the night, almost anything was audible. " What's wrong?"
" I...I'm not sure...I just want to use the bathroom, that's all."
" Sally, there is no bathroom."
" I know..um... the bushes, then."
Une might have chuckled at this but Sally's voice wasn't in the least humorous. She sounded frightened.
There was rustling which lasted a few minutes, then the sound of Sally returning to the tent. She zipped it up. " Noin, I'm having a baby."
" I know you are - "
" NOW!"
Une gasped, the composed her herself and listened harder.
" Right....now?" Noin asked uneasily.
Sally's voice sounded both frantic. " When I got out of the tent, my water broke. I don't know what I'll do if the contractions don't start and I can't get to a hospital to be induced..."
" Are you having contractions?"
" No, not yet ---------- oooooooooomph --------yep, I think so!"
On hearing this, Lady Une wriggled out of her sleeping bag, grabbed her own flashlight and hurried to get the supplies on the remaining aircraft. Hearing the disturbance, a few agents popped their curious heads out of their tents. They were met with a threatening look from their senior and retreated.
Zechs, knowing Noin was involved in whatever was going on, followed Une, who knew he would not resist her attempts to send him away.
Inside the tent, Sally was struggling to retain a brave face. She knew this was going to be no pushover. So far, her pains weren't unbearable but how long would that last? She was afraid of what would happen when she was pushed over the pain threshold.
Une and Zechs crawled into the tent moments later. Sally cast a wary glance at Une, though right now she could only think of bringing her child into the world safely, and she couldn't risk that over any feud.
Une was carrying the first aid kit, antiseptic and some water, which she had hurriedly heated. It was going to be risky delivering a baby in an unsterile environment but there was no time to do much else.
" How are your contractions coming?" Noin asked anxiously.
Sally couldn't even answer. She was clenching her teeth so tightly she thought her jaw might splinter. Every three or four minutes she'd feel a bout of pain. She had read about childbirth in books when she was gaining medical schooling. Some labors could take far over twelve hours. This was all happening too fast.
Suddenly, she reached out and snatched Noin's slim hand, squeezing it so hard the poor woman almost yelped. But Sally was sure it was nothing to side of the pain she was feeling. It was like bolts of electricity, a kick in the gut, the worst kind of agony.
" Okay, Zechs, I think we need your help," Une ordered in her military bark. " It appears Noin isn't strong enough to be gripped so hard."
Heeding his orders, the tall man crawled behind Sally and supported her from behind. Sally grasped the curve of his arm, digging in with her nails, trying to make him suffer. Noin held her other hand, stroking it and making soothing noises.
" Arggghhhhh," Sally groaned, bracing herself against Zechs' chest and squeezing his arm. " Damn you, damn you, Wufei!"
This went on for at least another hour. All four of them were utterly exhausted, especially Sally. Her chest was heaving. There was a humidity about the air and sweat poured from each one of their foreheads. Sally's clothes were soaked through and through.
" How much longer?" Noin asked, " I hate to see her suffer."
Lady Une was holding up her composure well. She was almost smiling. " Not long, I can assure you."
Zechs was battling pain too; he had pins and needles in his legs and Sally's nails had left merciless dents in his arm. Still, she continued to add more.
Une was sure of it now. " Just one more push....that's it....I got it!"
A small cry immediatley hit the air. In the dim light of the tent, Noin felt the tears rush to her eyes. Even Zechs stared in awe and wonder. The only one who's eyes were tightly closed was Sally.
" Sally," Une whispered. " Open your eyes. You have a son."
Sally stirred and Zechs have her a gentle shove from behind so she could sit up. Her blue eyes blinked at the site of her own baby held firmly in Une's arms. As her comrade shifted the infant into his mother's arms, she dissolved into tears, feeling a new heartbeat against her own. " Oh God, thank you God...."
**************************************************************************** *****************
" You were wonderful, Zechs," Noin encouraged him as they left the tent. Une had volunteered to stay with Sally and Noin would take over her sleeping spot. She wasn't going to share with Zechs, ESPECIALLY after seeing poor Sally's ordeal. Noin didn't trust her own emotions.
" My, Sally's got some force," Zechs replied, presenting his bruised and dented arm. " Not to mention the cramp in my leg."
Noin smiled wistfully.
" I hope you're not getting broody," Zechs growled, though in good humor. " Because when we're married, we're NOT having a single child after what I just witnessed. If that's how unflappable Sally Po behaved, you'd be lethal!"
Noin let out a small giggle. She gripped his waist and poked her fingers mischievously through the buttons of his shirt, tickling his tummy.
" Who says I'm marrying you?" she said tossing her head.
" Says me."
" Is that an official offer or idle speculation?" Noin purred.
" It's official if you make it official," he answered matter-of-factly. " As in come with me to a church and..."
" Okay, Zechs, please re-phrase that," Noin answered, hardly able to contain her elation. This was the moment she had been waiting for for years. Her dreams had actually materialised right from when she had first become a love-sick school girl.
" Lucrezia Noin, will you be my wife?" Zechs said solemnly.
She nodded equally as formally. " Yes, Zechs."
The two stared strangely at each other for a split second, then he took her in his arms and their lips met in a loving kiss.
" There'll be big diamond ring as soon as we get off this island," Zechs promised her, as they finally broke free.
" And how do you think your sister, Relena, will feel about this new arrangement?"
Zechs grinned gruffly and arched a knowing eyebrow at his fianceƩ. " I think she'll have a few skeletons in the closet *cough* Heero Yuy *cough**cough* of her own, I can assure you."
**************************************************************************** *****************
Lady Une huddled awkwardly against her sleeping bag. The two flashlights remained switched on, casting a warm glow over the mother who was lovingly cradling her baby. Sally had barely spoken a word to Une, it was as if at that moment, the world only contained herself and her child. Une tried to arrange her face into a smile but could not. The wound was hurting inside, too much hurt...
The baby boy began to squirm and whimper. " Ssssh," whispered Sally, rocking him gently against her breast. " Ssssh, don't cry. Your momma's real tired, you know."
Lady Une finally cracked. She couldn't hold her grief in any longer. She felt her tears spill from her eyes and dribble down her cheeks, leaving their bitter salty taste on her lips.
Sally turned her head around on hearing this. She felt the knot in her stomach and that angry tightening feeling in her chest, one that taught her that she hated this woman. Hated her for how she had treated her, how she had treated Wufei...but there was another sensation too, one that reminded her that Lady Une had been her friend, and bridges were better mended than left broken.
" Une, what is wrong?" she chanced, wondering whether the sobbing woman would answer.
Lady Une buried her face in her hands, her chestnut hair draping round her shoulders. " Sally," she choked. " I....I...hate myself."
Sally inhaled deeply. She didn't know in what way to answer. The infant sniffled again and she stroked his dark hair and kissed his soft forehead.
" I...never meant for this to happen to Wufei....he wounded me, that's all," Une continued, her voice wavering. " In his anger, he reminded me of Treize, of everything I'd lost. He told me I wasn't worthy of Treize...and I know he was right. I wasn't even worthy to carry his child...."
" Child?" Sally exclaimed.
Lady Une's face crumpled once again. It was obvious this was painful for her. " A few days after Treize died, I found I was pregnant with his child - it only took once for this to happen. You see why I was so angry with you and Wufei...."
Une paused to wipe away a teardrop.
"...however, a few weeks later, I miscarried the child and since then, I have been fatally wounded. I have failed Mister Treize, I could not even bring his child into the world. So I adopted Mariemaia later and tried to blot everything else out. But it's so hard...I can't forget..."
"Oh, Une!" Sally replied with the greatest sympathy. Une's whole attitude had been because she was still grieving. " I am so sorry."
" No, I am," Une wept. " You see, I could not stand to see love and happiness going on around me, people moving on, and I was still living in the past because you see I have NOTHING left!"
" You have us - your friends," Sally answered. " You are greatly valued."
" I don't have Treize or my own child," Une mourned. " I make myself believe that they are together in Heaven, waiting for me."
" Then I will believe it too," Sally declared.
" You're exhausted, Sally," Une said finally. " I should not burden you with this right now. Get some sleep. I shall hold your son for you."
Sally handed over the baby and Une took him in her arms, wondering how she could have ever thought to deprive him of a father. His almond eyes stared curiously up at her face, then he reached for her finger and clasped it in his tiny hand. He had forgiven her.
" Une," Sally spoke up, before closing her eyes. " Don't forget that Treize has a child who is alive, too. Remember that. Whilst she is alive, you'll always have a family."
**************************************************************************** *****************
Chang Wufei slowly opened his eyes to find himself lying in a hospital ward. Painkillers had numbed the ache of his wounds and there was nothing left to do but revel in the fortune that he was alive at all.
" Wufei," a nurse called, pacing over to his bed. " You're wife is here to see you."
Wufei opened his mouth; " I don't have a - "
Then he knew why she might have thought that. His heart leapt when he saw Sally Po, though she wasn't alone. What she held in her arms made released the strangest sensation in his soul.
" Wufei," Sally said softy, kneeling at his bedside. " I'd like you to meet your son."
The Chinese man could not stop himself from blinking at the sight of the sleeping infant that he had helped to create. He was too perfect for words.
" I...I...he's the most beautiful child I've ever seen," he gasped. " When was he born?"
" Last night," Sally told him. " At the camp. Zechs, Noin and Une were a great help. The hospital let me use their facilities this morning when I flew over. I got shots of antibiotics, the usual procedures."
" But are you sure you're both okay?" Wufei insisted.
" Fine. I only hope you're the same. Don't you want to hold him?" Sally asked softly. Wufei nodded, so she shifted the infant into his outstretched arms.
" Mind his head," Sally chided gently.
" I don't need you to tell me how to hold my child, woman," Wufei answered, sounding comfortingly like his usual self.
He looked down upon the infant's face and thought how much it resembled him.
" Well, we deserved something terrible..," Wufei began.
" What are you talking about?" Sally asked, her brow furrowing.
" For an act of dishonour, we got a blessing from the heavens," Wufei grinned. "Injustice has never looked so sweet."
Sally laughed. " Well there'll be no more acts of dishonour, I can assure you that."
" Well then, I suppose I'll just have to marry you."
Sally's lips curved into a wry smile; " Wufei Chang! What a terrible thing to say!"
Wufei's expression blanked for a second or two; " But I thought marriage was the good and proper way to do things..."
" No! I was talking about the 'suppose' part!"
End Of Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Hours later, Lady Une lay inside her tent, just at the top of the embankment, listening to the silence. Occasionally she would hear the buzz of an insect or the twitter of a bird. That was all.
She breathed deeply, ignoring the thoughts that hammered her mind. They were screaming at her: 'You cold, unfeeling woman. Noin's right! You're a cow! It's all your fault this has happened. You deserved to lose Treize! You deserved to lose your baby! You deserve everything you get!'
Une felt a lump rising in her throat and her chest begin to heave as she tried not to weep. The sound of voices in the tent nearby abruptly extinguished any outburst. She stopped herself to catch on to what they were saying. It was definately Sally and Noin's voices. Maybe they were relaying the days events and discussing Lady Une's cruel persona. Une listened hard.
" Oh, Noin, do you have a flashlight?" Sally was asking.
Didn't sound much like slander to Une's ears as yet.
" No," Noin replied in a whisper, though in the silence of the night, almost anything was audible. " What's wrong?"
" I...I'm not sure...I just want to use the bathroom, that's all."
" Sally, there is no bathroom."
" I know..um... the bushes, then."
Une might have chuckled at this but Sally's voice wasn't in the least humorous. She sounded frightened.
There was rustling which lasted a few minutes, then the sound of Sally returning to the tent. She zipped it up. " Noin, I'm having a baby."
" I know you are - "
" NOW!"
Une gasped, the composed her herself and listened harder.
" Right....now?" Noin asked uneasily.
Sally's voice sounded both frantic. " When I got out of the tent, my water broke. I don't know what I'll do if the contractions don't start and I can't get to a hospital to be induced..."
" Are you having contractions?"
" No, not yet ---------- oooooooooomph --------yep, I think so!"
On hearing this, Lady Une wriggled out of her sleeping bag, grabbed her own flashlight and hurried to get the supplies on the remaining aircraft. Hearing the disturbance, a few agents popped their curious heads out of their tents. They were met with a threatening look from their senior and retreated.
Zechs, knowing Noin was involved in whatever was going on, followed Une, who knew he would not resist her attempts to send him away.
Inside the tent, Sally was struggling to retain a brave face. She knew this was going to be no pushover. So far, her pains weren't unbearable but how long would that last? She was afraid of what would happen when she was pushed over the pain threshold.
Une and Zechs crawled into the tent moments later. Sally cast a wary glance at Une, though right now she could only think of bringing her child into the world safely, and she couldn't risk that over any feud.
Une was carrying the first aid kit, antiseptic and some water, which she had hurriedly heated. It was going to be risky delivering a baby in an unsterile environment but there was no time to do much else.
" How are your contractions coming?" Noin asked anxiously.
Sally couldn't even answer. She was clenching her teeth so tightly she thought her jaw might splinter. Every three or four minutes she'd feel a bout of pain. She had read about childbirth in books when she was gaining medical schooling. Some labors could take far over twelve hours. This was all happening too fast.
Suddenly, she reached out and snatched Noin's slim hand, squeezing it so hard the poor woman almost yelped. But Sally was sure it was nothing to side of the pain she was feeling. It was like bolts of electricity, a kick in the gut, the worst kind of agony.
" Okay, Zechs, I think we need your help," Une ordered in her military bark. " It appears Noin isn't strong enough to be gripped so hard."
Heeding his orders, the tall man crawled behind Sally and supported her from behind. Sally grasped the curve of his arm, digging in with her nails, trying to make him suffer. Noin held her other hand, stroking it and making soothing noises.
" Arggghhhhh," Sally groaned, bracing herself against Zechs' chest and squeezing his arm. " Damn you, damn you, Wufei!"
This went on for at least another hour. All four of them were utterly exhausted, especially Sally. Her chest was heaving. There was a humidity about the air and sweat poured from each one of their foreheads. Sally's clothes were soaked through and through.
" How much longer?" Noin asked, " I hate to see her suffer."
Lady Une was holding up her composure well. She was almost smiling. " Not long, I can assure you."
Zechs was battling pain too; he had pins and needles in his legs and Sally's nails had left merciless dents in his arm. Still, she continued to add more.
Une was sure of it now. " Just one more push....that's it....I got it!"
A small cry immediatley hit the air. In the dim light of the tent, Noin felt the tears rush to her eyes. Even Zechs stared in awe and wonder. The only one who's eyes were tightly closed was Sally.
" Sally," Une whispered. " Open your eyes. You have a son."
Sally stirred and Zechs have her a gentle shove from behind so she could sit up. Her blue eyes blinked at the site of her own baby held firmly in Une's arms. As her comrade shifted the infant into his mother's arms, she dissolved into tears, feeling a new heartbeat against her own. " Oh God, thank you God...."
**************************************************************************** *****************
" You were wonderful, Zechs," Noin encouraged him as they left the tent. Une had volunteered to stay with Sally and Noin would take over her sleeping spot. She wasn't going to share with Zechs, ESPECIALLY after seeing poor Sally's ordeal. Noin didn't trust her own emotions.
" My, Sally's got some force," Zechs replied, presenting his bruised and dented arm. " Not to mention the cramp in my leg."
Noin smiled wistfully.
" I hope you're not getting broody," Zechs growled, though in good humor. " Because when we're married, we're NOT having a single child after what I just witnessed. If that's how unflappable Sally Po behaved, you'd be lethal!"
Noin let out a small giggle. She gripped his waist and poked her fingers mischievously through the buttons of his shirt, tickling his tummy.
" Who says I'm marrying you?" she said tossing her head.
" Says me."
" Is that an official offer or idle speculation?" Noin purred.
" It's official if you make it official," he answered matter-of-factly. " As in come with me to a church and..."
" Okay, Zechs, please re-phrase that," Noin answered, hardly able to contain her elation. This was the moment she had been waiting for for years. Her dreams had actually materialised right from when she had first become a love-sick school girl.
" Lucrezia Noin, will you be my wife?" Zechs said solemnly.
She nodded equally as formally. " Yes, Zechs."
The two stared strangely at each other for a split second, then he took her in his arms and their lips met in a loving kiss.
" There'll be big diamond ring as soon as we get off this island," Zechs promised her, as they finally broke free.
" And how do you think your sister, Relena, will feel about this new arrangement?"
Zechs grinned gruffly and arched a knowing eyebrow at his fianceƩ. " I think she'll have a few skeletons in the closet *cough* Heero Yuy *cough**cough* of her own, I can assure you."
**************************************************************************** *****************
Lady Une huddled awkwardly against her sleeping bag. The two flashlights remained switched on, casting a warm glow over the mother who was lovingly cradling her baby. Sally had barely spoken a word to Une, it was as if at that moment, the world only contained herself and her child. Une tried to arrange her face into a smile but could not. The wound was hurting inside, too much hurt...
The baby boy began to squirm and whimper. " Ssssh," whispered Sally, rocking him gently against her breast. " Ssssh, don't cry. Your momma's real tired, you know."
Lady Une finally cracked. She couldn't hold her grief in any longer. She felt her tears spill from her eyes and dribble down her cheeks, leaving their bitter salty taste on her lips.
Sally turned her head around on hearing this. She felt the knot in her stomach and that angry tightening feeling in her chest, one that taught her that she hated this woman. Hated her for how she had treated her, how she had treated Wufei...but there was another sensation too, one that reminded her that Lady Une had been her friend, and bridges were better mended than left broken.
" Une, what is wrong?" she chanced, wondering whether the sobbing woman would answer.
Lady Une buried her face in her hands, her chestnut hair draping round her shoulders. " Sally," she choked. " I....I...hate myself."
Sally inhaled deeply. She didn't know in what way to answer. The infant sniffled again and she stroked his dark hair and kissed his soft forehead.
" I...never meant for this to happen to Wufei....he wounded me, that's all," Une continued, her voice wavering. " In his anger, he reminded me of Treize, of everything I'd lost. He told me I wasn't worthy of Treize...and I know he was right. I wasn't even worthy to carry his child...."
" Child?" Sally exclaimed.
Lady Une's face crumpled once again. It was obvious this was painful for her. " A few days after Treize died, I found I was pregnant with his child - it only took once for this to happen. You see why I was so angry with you and Wufei...."
Une paused to wipe away a teardrop.
"...however, a few weeks later, I miscarried the child and since then, I have been fatally wounded. I have failed Mister Treize, I could not even bring his child into the world. So I adopted Mariemaia later and tried to blot everything else out. But it's so hard...I can't forget..."
"Oh, Une!" Sally replied with the greatest sympathy. Une's whole attitude had been because she was still grieving. " I am so sorry."
" No, I am," Une wept. " You see, I could not stand to see love and happiness going on around me, people moving on, and I was still living in the past because you see I have NOTHING left!"
" You have us - your friends," Sally answered. " You are greatly valued."
" I don't have Treize or my own child," Une mourned. " I make myself believe that they are together in Heaven, waiting for me."
" Then I will believe it too," Sally declared.
" You're exhausted, Sally," Une said finally. " I should not burden you with this right now. Get some sleep. I shall hold your son for you."
Sally handed over the baby and Une took him in her arms, wondering how she could have ever thought to deprive him of a father. His almond eyes stared curiously up at her face, then he reached for her finger and clasped it in his tiny hand. He had forgiven her.
" Une," Sally spoke up, before closing her eyes. " Don't forget that Treize has a child who is alive, too. Remember that. Whilst she is alive, you'll always have a family."
**************************************************************************** *****************
Chang Wufei slowly opened his eyes to find himself lying in a hospital ward. Painkillers had numbed the ache of his wounds and there was nothing left to do but revel in the fortune that he was alive at all.
" Wufei," a nurse called, pacing over to his bed. " You're wife is here to see you."
Wufei opened his mouth; " I don't have a - "
Then he knew why she might have thought that. His heart leapt when he saw Sally Po, though she wasn't alone. What she held in her arms made released the strangest sensation in his soul.
" Wufei," Sally said softy, kneeling at his bedside. " I'd like you to meet your son."
The Chinese man could not stop himself from blinking at the sight of the sleeping infant that he had helped to create. He was too perfect for words.
" I...I...he's the most beautiful child I've ever seen," he gasped. " When was he born?"
" Last night," Sally told him. " At the camp. Zechs, Noin and Une were a great help. The hospital let me use their facilities this morning when I flew over. I got shots of antibiotics, the usual procedures."
" But are you sure you're both okay?" Wufei insisted.
" Fine. I only hope you're the same. Don't you want to hold him?" Sally asked softly. Wufei nodded, so she shifted the infant into his outstretched arms.
" Mind his head," Sally chided gently.
" I don't need you to tell me how to hold my child, woman," Wufei answered, sounding comfortingly like his usual self.
He looked down upon the infant's face and thought how much it resembled him.
" Well, we deserved something terrible..," Wufei began.
" What are you talking about?" Sally asked, her brow furrowing.
" For an act of dishonour, we got a blessing from the heavens," Wufei grinned. "Injustice has never looked so sweet."
Sally laughed. " Well there'll be no more acts of dishonour, I can assure you that."
" Well then, I suppose I'll just have to marry you."
Sally's lips curved into a wry smile; " Wufei Chang! What a terrible thing to say!"
Wufei's expression blanked for a second or two; " But I thought marriage was the good and proper way to do things..."
" No! I was talking about the 'suppose' part!"
End Of Chapter 7
