Author's Note: Don't hurt me.
Darkness in the Twilight
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
By Psycho Ferret and LunarCrystal
And The Veil Lifted
Allen knew the men at the academy understood why there were times he couldn't show. He held the child often, caring for her gently when Celena could not bring herself to do so. He knew what it would be like for his daughter and he promised himself he'd always be there to help her.
Ethan was distinctly heartbroken when he heard the news and he felt horrible for Allen and his sister. They'd been so happy, and now this. They suffered too much, those two. It was like someone had it out for them, really. It was thoroughly disturbing. But he was glad to see that they still cared for her, they still made sure the child was accommodated for. What else could they do, anyway?
Chris, being Allen ever faithful friend and student, came often bearing gifts for the little one. He'd finally found a job working for a school, social advisement councilor - or something like that. A lot of the time, he would visit and Allen would have the crying babe in his arms as he answered the door. He wondered if today it would be the same, as Celena had been so prone to being bedridden.
He knocked softly on the door to their apartment, holding a fuzzy plush rabbit of some sort of pinkish color.
Allen sighed softly, standing, the child held close, protectively as usual. Allen worried over Celena and Angelina both. He couldn't raise this child alone, but Celena often enough had no assistance to offer. At this rate, he wouldn't be able to return to work... and he wouldn't be able to support the three of them. But, determined as usual, he intended on doing it. The blonde opened the door quietly, arching a brow in question. Several of his students had stopped by before, as well as the trio that had originally taken care of them.
"It's Chris," he said automatically, fiddling with the plush toy.
"Ah? Please... come in." Quiet, like he'd been recently. Weary. He'd still managed to go to classes a bit, but that paired with taking care of the child so much, well... it was wearing him out.
"I brought the little one a gift." Chris said, stepping inside and closing the door. He followed Allen into the main room, seeing Celena asleep on the bed - his brows furrowed. "How have you been, Allen? You look like a wreck."
Allen sighed, slumping onto the couch, shaking his head. "I can't keep this up, Chris. I can't raise a child myself and that's pretty much what I've been doing. I can't keep not attending work like this." The blonde's shoulders slumped slightly.
He was blind, just like his daughter. That meant raising the child would be even more difficult. "I can't raise a blind child alone, Chris, but Celena, it's... it's like she's just wasting away."
Chris bent down on one knee in front of his weary friend, pulling out an envelope from his pocket. He set the plush toy down on the couch, while he stared at the thick envelope, smiling solemnly to himself. Now that he had a good job, things had been easier - and he would be able to help his friend. "Nikki, Ethan and I were thinking about you, Allen. Through all this shit you have to go through." He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before he could let himself continue.
"We took the liberty of looking into something for you. Something that will help you. The examination is free, but if the doctor says you're eligible . . . Allen, you could get your sight back. And then you'd be able to care for Angelina, and Celena both. Things will be easier for you. . . . and I know what you're thinking. This kind of surgery - it's expensive." The envelope gently touched Allen's hand, Chris nudging it gently, "That's twenty six hundred dollars and it should cover it if the docs say they can do it. Nick, Ethan and I - we've been saving up since Angelina was born . . ." he explained.
Allen listened to the other, his hopes, despite his weariness, rising. By gods... but even so... "I... I can't take this money from you, Chris. Surely you three need this." Allen bit down on his bottom lip gently. Chris, Nikki and Ethan... they'd done so much for them already. They'd helped he and his sister constantly, they couldn't repay them for what they'd done so far, much less this.
The blonde shook his head slightly. "How can I accept this? I... you already have my gratitude for all you've done for us. And now... more?" Allen was shocked, they'd been saving this... for him, all this time. For him. He could see again, perhaps...
Chris watched the babe writhe in Allen's trembling arms. She cooed and whimpered - the sounds coming from her seemed so small. So helpless was the little one. . . Celena had begun to stir in her dreamless slumber. He stood and sat next to Allen, enough to be able to speak to him quietly and not disturb Celena.
"Accept it for the sake of your sister and child." said Chris simply. "Besides," he quipped, "Think of it as a birthday present."
Allen sighed softly, shaking his head a little and finally clasping the envelope in hand. Holding the child close, he leaned into Chris, hugging him one-armed, sitting down gently on his bottom lip. The knight trembled slightly, resting his chin on the other's shoulder. "Thank you," he murmured softly, unable to keep the waves of emotion from flickering into the sounds.
Chris and the others were giving back something that he'd never even dreamed of having returned to him.
~
They made the arrangements to see the specialist, Dr. William Toby. Nikki baby sat Celena at home while Chris and Ethan brought Allen to the medical center. Now he sat on the examination table, Dr. Toby looking at a chart that gave a brief description of what the problem was. He kept humming to himself, in thought more than melody.
"Alright. I suppose we should have a look at those eyes then," he said nonchalantly, bringing out a flashlight and holding the beam directly into Allen's eye. "Do you see the beam at all?"
Allen didn't react to the light at all, slowly arching a brow. "Ah... no." The blonde was nervous about this. It wouldn't only be if he qualified... granted, he had no idea what the qualifications were to begin with.
"Okay," said the doctor, looking into Allen's cornflower eyes deeply. The pupils were already slightly dilated but they were paralyzed that way. He looked passed the pupil, examining the inner walls of the eye for a moment before pulling back with a sigh.
The blonde wasn't sure that was a good sign or not. Nibbling lightly on the inside of his bottom lip, Allen waited for the man's answer anxiously. Ethan was silent as he glanced at his brother, a little worried. He could only hope that Allen was able to be part of the surgery.
"Well, we can do the surgery," began Dr. Toby with a sigh that said there's a but attached to the end of his statement. "But I'll be honest with you, and I won't confuse you with the details unless you insist. Your pupils are paralyzed, and you've had no protection from the sun for two years?"
Well, at least they could do the surgery. Allen cocked his head to the side slightly at the question, shaking his head a bit. "No.. no, I haven't." Allen frowned a little. There was some catch, of course. There always was.
"We can restore your vision, Mr. Schezar," Dr. Toby said kindly, noting the way Allen frowned. "Though because you've had no U.V. protection for so long, your night vision will be totally gone."
"Then at night it will be no difference from how I can see now, is that what you're saying?" Allen sighed softly, relieved. If that's all... then he'd be perfectly fine with that. He was used to darkness by now.
"Only in low light." answered the doctor, making notes on the clipboard. "And your vision might actually be a little distorted, blurry - but that could be corrected with glasses."
Allen smiled, nodding a bit. "Then there's no trouble. Those circumstances are fine by me." Though he had a bit of a time imagining himself with glasses. He'd just have to wait and see.
The surgery was scheduled, of course, as soon as they could possibly fit him in. When Celena had been told of the news, she actually seemed healthy enough to join them at the hospital when it came time for Allen's operation. She was still a little tired, but the news made her happy, even as she held her blind infant in her arms. The bags from her eyes were gone for now as she waited, wearing her black skirts and lace top, the infant wrapped in a fuzzy little blue blanket.
They all waited. Chris and Nikki sitting together, not unlike when they waited for Angelina to be born. It seemed like so many hours went by until a nurse finally came to inform Allen that he was in a room and he would be ready to go home in an hour as they'd used lasers in surgery instead of barbaric knives . . . No one could have stopped Celena from running to the room, still careful of her precious cargo.
Allen glanced up as she entered. She was a little blurry, but he'd been told about that. The lights were low, his eyes still rather sensitive to the light. He could see her form...
When she drew near, he lifted a hand cupping her cheek gently. The blonde man smiled brilliantly. "I know your face," he murmured softly, his voice trembling faintly. His sight... by gods... his sight. "I can see you, Celena..."
She was leaned in close to his handsome face, and she just burst with tears - her eyes searching his . . . nothing changed them. Nothing. They were so beautiful. The tears just dripped from her eyes, as she'd been holding them back since she heard the news that he was out of surgery. She still held Angelina, briefly looked down at her before handing the babe to him.
Allen carefully took her familiar form into his arms, letting his eyes trail down to her. He laughed weakly, that smile on his lips, drawing the child close. "Beautiful," he murmured softly. "Both of you..."
She watched as he held Angelina, stroking a hand through his hair and planting a firm kiss on his forehead. "I love you, Allen" she said shakily as she pulled back, "And I'm so proud to call you my husband. She is beautiful, isn't she?"
"There is no doubt in my mind that I love both of you." Allen smiled softly, turning his blurry gaze back to Celena. "No doubt in my mind at all."
~
Since that day, it had been rather cut and dry. Allen was given prescription wire-frame glasses and went back to work while Celena was healthy enough to take care of Angelina at home. It was her heart that felt lighter for those days. It was odd, to see him without his cane anymore. Though because of his sight, he had to be shown where some things were again, since the routes were not visually in his mind.
Quiet days were spent with herself, really. Though she still fell asleep far too often, she tried her best to care for her babe.
Allen had surprised his students with his vision, the glasses perched lightly on the bridge of his nose. And really... they did kind of suit him. After getting over the first bit of disorientation, Allen was back to his normal self. Though now his form was back to something far more natural, easier. He kept contact with Sarah Mills, telling her of the surgery and how well it went, that he could actually see and read again. And, of course, he mentioned how much he'd appreciated her help and wished her the best of luck with everything.
He continued to teach Chris. At first, he'd been a little surprised by just how the trio looked--especially Nikki and Ethan. Allen had been quick to wonder about the variety of piercings each of them had, shaking his head a little, unable to understand just why someone would do it. He was glad that Celena was crawling back to what she had been like before, excited beyond belief. Things seemed to be going almost perfectly.
Almost.
The baby was screaming in her crib, but her mother was not there to tend to her. Oh, how the poor child tore its shrill voice from her throat, calling attention to anyone within the apartment complex. She was hungry, that's all. But no one came to her. Celena had been about to feed her, but now she lay on the floor, the warm bottle had fallen away from her grasp - she could hardly breathe. Her lungs burned and tightened, gasping for air - but there was hardly any to be had. Her eyes fluttered closed as her brain began to lose oxygen to keep her awake.
Allen had just been stepping in the door from yet another day at work when he heard the screaming. The blonde frowned a little, thinking Celena had stepped outside for some thing or another. With a sigh, raking a hand through his blonde locks, the man hurried into the room to work on quieting the child... but he froze in the doorway. Celena. Oh gods.
Snatching up the cell phone and quickly dialing the 911 services, he crouched down beside his sister, resting a hand on her shoulder. She was still breathing, if only slightly. He was panicked, but listened to the voice on the phone. Checking her pulse to make sure it was still there, rolling her onto her back and tipping her head slightly back to try and clear the air passages. The ambulance was already on its way, so they had said, but he couldn't picture it getting there fast enough. She looked horrible. Absolutely horrible. The baby cried on in the background, but he ignored her for now.
Celena was already fading into unconsciousness, though she tried with a vengeance to keep her eyes open - in time to see Allen fussing over her, pushing his glasses upon his nose. Weakly, she smiled. Her lungs worked hard to bring in the air, but her body refused to accept the new oxygen. Her vision was already starting to close in on itself. She felt like falling asleep - and she couldn't explain why.
For a second, her eyes opened enough to take in the sight of him, his beauty in his worry, and in his love. And for that brief moment, she found air enough to breath out her last words to him, "Thank you, Allen."
"No! Celena, gods, Celena, just hold on..." Allen bit back a whimper, resting his hands on her shoulders, shaking his head. It couldn't be. He couldn't be losing her. He couldn't be losing her after everything they'd gone through. "Stay awake, please!" Don't leave me... "Celena, I love you, please don't go..."
The baby cried on, and Celena's eyes closed - her breath escaped her, and her head settled gently onto the floor. Her silver curls still shined, her skin was still glowing white porcelain, but the soft blush of her cheeks was fading. Her sweet pink lips dulled only slightly.
Allen felt tears slip over his cheeks, grasping her narrow shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Celena! Please... please, don't do this... don't do this to me..." The blonde's shoulders shook with sobs, tugging her close to him. This wasn't any death mistaken this time... she was going to die and he could do nothing. "I just got you back so little ago.. please..."
Her head lolled to the side, moving limply as he held her. Her body was no longer wracked with pain in trying to breathe, but suddenly light and so very still.
And the babe still cried.
The paramedics had finally come, only too late. They had moved Celena onto the bed, checking over her life signs. When there were none, they shook there heads sorrowfully. Such a tragedy for a beautiful young woman to pass on so soon. . . Barely 21 years old. The ambulance was preparing to take her body to the hospital, and so was still parked outside, but not until after Allen had had enough time to grieve.
Allen had numbly taken care of the child, keeping her close. He couldn't lose her, too. The tears had finally stopped, but his grief had not. His sister... he'd lost her all over again. And this time, there would be no Gaddes to tell him that she really was alive, that she needed his help. He was alone here, with no other contacts to his home world.
Did he have someone to contact here? Allen nodded slightly but made no move to call those that had helped them. They had dealt with enough of their problems already.
Both Chris and Ethan were already on their way there, whether Allen called or not. Chris had seen the paramedics parked out in front, and he felt something had gone terribly wrong - went back to get his brother, his sister was still at work. With Ethan trailing behind him, he came through the doors, quickly explaining to the paramedics that he was a family friend.
The sight that met his eyes broke his heart, shattered it completely. Celena lay on the bed, her hands gently lay across her middle, and a peaceful look on her face. Allen had his back to them, holding his child. He couldn't even speak. Could hardly breathe from the grief he felt in the small little room. . . .
And barely noticed the faint glow coming from Allen's chest.
Allen's lithe frame trembled, his eyes on the stiff form before him, willing her to move. Willing her to live. Panic and worry had no room... he knew she would not return to him this time. He'd lost her. He'd lost her all over again... after so long, after so very long...
Ethan froze. "Oh God, no," he whispered softly, horrified. The pallid set of her skin and the lack of movement of any kind gave it all away. Numbly, the youngest brother moved to walk towards Allen shakily. Numb. He'd never seen Allen look so morose, so hurt... but he could understand why. He'd loved his sister... and here she was. Hadn't he said she was the only family he had, besides the child?
The light of Allen's pendant suddenly filled the room. It burst into light! The light swallowed them in, framing them - Celena where she lay, Allen with his daughter, Ethan, and eventually Chris. The light surrounded them - though it came from the pendant obscured by Allen's chest. The young Terran couldn't explain it, it just awed him.
His head turned this way and that, frantically looking at the light. He could see nothing!
"Ethan!" he called.
Ethan started a bit at the light and Allen slowly lifted his head. Home. "Look, Celena," he murmured softly, his voice trembling as tears began to spill forth all over again, booted feet already lifting off the ground, "we're... going home." Allen sobbed, holding the child close to him, unaware of Chris and Ethan both in the light as well. The younger sibling turned to face where he'd come from, wincing at the light, reaching out his hand.
"Chris! What's going on!?"
"I don't . . .," he started to yell. He dropped into two feet of snow. Yelping from the cold, his long sleeve dress shirt failed keep out. Chris scrambled onto his feet, his leg sinking into the deep snow to his knees. He was frantic, and confused. He looked around, panting. What the hell was going on?
He saw Ethan not far from him, also fallen in the snow, only by the looks of it, he took a head-on dive.
Ethan had rolled a bit in the snow, lying still for a moment, shivering. It would just be his luck that it was snow. Dressed in a clingy, vinyl t-shirt... well, that didn't do anything to warm him. He clutched his arms to his chest, stumbling to his feet, shivering roughly. It was cold... and now he was wet, too. His hair plastered to his face, he turned about, looking around frantically. They weren't in Allen's apartment...
Slowly, his eyes trailed over the wooden fort before him, the towering timbers pulled together, the building still standing.
Allen clutched Angelina close to him, wrapping the blanket tightly around her, though careful not to suffocate her in any way. He himself was shivering. The sight of the fort filled him with relief, though there were bits of damage here and there. Still standing... by the gods...
The blonde stumbled through the snow numbly towards the fort, staring up at it. Asturia.
Chris only had a moment to look at his brother, too much confusion plaguing his mind, and no questions could get passed his lips. He grabbed his brother's arm before really thinking about it, chasing after the knight. The snow kept him from getting anywhere too fast, having to practically jump out of the stuff with every step.
"Allen!" he called out, "Allen, wait up!"
Allen paused, turning to look over at them, his eyes widening slightly. "You... as well?" Luckily, Celena had fallen near the fort. He picked her out easily, the black of her clothes against the white snow. He crouched beside her, looking at her, then turned his gaze to the fort. He couldn't open the doors here, not outside...
"Gaddes!" he cried, shivering. He could only hope his best friend was still alive... "Riden! For the love of... It's Allen! Open up the gate!!"
Ethan stared over at Chris, then back over to Allen. He knew this place...
"C-Chris...? D'you think... w-we're in Gaea...?"
A guard took but a second to peak out of his post at the tower, to see who shouted up and demanded the gates to be opened - he had heard the name but being a soldier, he had to make sure. His shouts to the other tower were clear as the winter that surrounded them, frantic.
"Sir Allen approaches! Quickly! Open the Gates!!" he cried out, and the other soldier on duty nearly stumbled to do as he was told, cranking the large wheel and willing the timber gates to break open.
Chris could hardly speak, looking at his brother in a wide-eyed state of confusion and fear. His brow worked, a frown on his lips as he just realized . . .
"You're not speaking English," he said, eyes widening even more as he looked down at himself, patting about himself and touching his throat. "Neither am I!"
Allen shuddered at the cold, glancing over his shoulder at Ethan and Chris, motioning them forward vaguely. He shielded the child from the wind with his back, making his way inside, coughing a little at the biting cold. Thankfully, his glasses had remained on, the small wire frames glittering silver in the light. Once inside the fort, he wheezed softly, turning to look at Chris.
"There... ah... Celena. Go get her. I... I can't." Allen shook his head slightly, a bout of grief welling up within him.
Ethan stared at Allen, then at Chris, bewildered. "How!?" The redhead started, grasping his brother's arm. "What the hell are we doing here!?"
Chris just shook his head. He couldn't answer. His throat constricted, and his teeth were chattering. If they stood there for much longer, their legs would suffer frost bite. He pulled his brother along with him, over to Celena's prone form. The young man picked her up gently, emotions waving and flowing through him in a heavy fog. He clenched his teeth, holding the girl.
"Come on," he managed. They would discuss the why and how later. For now, they followed Allen inside the fort. His head bowed. The snow was not as deep once they entered the parade grounds. Soldiers were walking along the wooden walls while they were on duty, but Chris saw none of it. He only followed.
Gaddes had come running out of the front of the castle, the rest of his crew trailing behind him. It was Allen alright. but he seemed different. The glasses, the child - behind him the two young men, one of whom carried a very pale Celena in black clothing. He was confused, and so that confusion blocked out whatever grief that might have filled him. There would be time to grieve later.
Their commander was home.
"Allen!" he came up to the blonde man, unsure of what to do or say, not knowing what had happened but - from the look of Allen's clothes, and the two young men, - he could guess.
Allen looked up at Gaddes wearily, giving a weak little half-smile. "So... someone's alive," he murmured, slipping to his knees, clasping the child close to him. His shoulders shook and he sobbed, his head bowed. They were home... even if Celena wasn't alive to see it, they were home.
Ethan stared, shuffling numbly along with his brother, pushing some of his hair behind him with a shaking hand. Soldiers. Allen was known here, they were where Allen was from...? The boy glanced at Celena, shuddering both from the cold, as well as the sight of her lifeless form. He saw Allen fall, saw him begin to cry and his heart wrenched.
Chris only swallowed, stumbling forward slowly with his charge, and coming to a stop behind Allen. Gaddes was so confused, but the sight of his friend so begrieved and heart broken - Celena was gone. He knelt beside him, a firm arm across his shoulders. He couldn't grieve with him, yet. It was too soon to be real for him. Too soon for Celena to be dead.
He only let Allen sob for a few moment, speaking into his ear, "It's cold. Come inside."
Allen stumbled to his feet, letting himself be led inside. Celena... wouldn't want him to die. She wouldn't want him to suffer. Drawing shuddering breaths, he turned his head, looking at Chris and Ethan, nodding to them. "Come on," he said, his voice still trembling, "fire and dry clothes... they'll do us good."
The two men only looked at each other for a second, before following him.