Chapter 14: Going Back

A week had passed since the birth of Dilandra. Setsuna cradled her newly born daughter in her arms as she sat outside under a large willow tree in the courtyard enjoying the warm summer weather with Millerna and the others. Allen, Dryden and Van were mostly enjoying the temporary break from the war. Millerna and Merle sat by the small pond chatting mindless to each other. Van practiced his swordsmanship with Allen for a while until Allen quit. He was getting bored with continuously beating Van. Allen sheathed his sword and walked over towards Setsuna and the young Dilandra. He then sat down next to her and smiled.

"She's very beautiful, just like yourself." He said to her in a sweet voice. Setsuna blushed at the remark but she knew what he was doing and wasn't going to allow him to succeed. She was well aware of his infamous reputation.

"Why thank you Sir Allen Schezar." He laughed as she called him by his full title.

"How many times must I tell you to call me by just Allen?" He asked Setsuna, still smiling at her.

"Is it just me or does it look like Allen's trying to court Setsuna?" Merle asked Millerna who then looked at the couple under the tree.

"That wouldn't be too shocking." Millerna replied with a laugh to the cat girl.

Two months had passed since the birth of Dilandra. Setsuna had been on Gaea for a year and a month. It didn't feel that long to her. Time sure flies, she thought. But she did miss her home. All she could think about now was her home, Earth.

When she had left it was only the third week of the new school year. She wondered if anyone missed her or how everyone was dealing with her disappearance. She wanted to go back but she didn't want to in a way.

Where would I go with Dilandra? I can't take her to my home. Not with my father being there. Not only would he most likely try to beat me but he would try to hit her as well. Why does this have to be so confusing and frustrating? Setsuna wondered mindlessly to herself as she tucked Dilandra into the cradle in her bedroom. She caressed the child's soft face before walking out onto the balcony to watch the sunset, alone.

Allen walked into her room without knocking, as usual. He made his way out onto the balcony to join her. She's simply beautiful, he thought to himself. Setsuna wore a deep blue, velvet dress that clung to the curves of her chest and hips gently. Setsuna was aware that he had been flirting with her and every time he did, she would refuse to respond. Her heart belonged to one man only. Even if she would never see him again, it would forever belong to him.

"Beautiful sunset isn't it," Allen stated as he moved closer to her. She simply moved away and nodded at the comment. He smiled at her, "Just like yourself." All she could do was blush. He would often make comments like that to her, but she had to be strong. She wouldn't let her heart be won over by blondie knight.

"Why thank you Sir Allen." She said to annoy him. She knew very well that he hated it when she called him that.

"I thought we already went through this Setsuna." He said, grinning at her. She smiled back and moved towards the railing of the balcony. The sky darkened as the sun faded into the horizon. Tiny stars lit up the sky slowly, likethousands of candles. Setsuna clutched her stomach. She felt odd. She had felt that way before but when? Her eyes widened as she found herself surrounded by thatbrillant whitepillar of light. It wasthe same lightthat brought her to this world in the first place. Allen looked on stunned and then ran towards the light but was too late, she was gone.

Setsuna awoke in her bedroom feeling dazed and confused. She sat up slowly and looked around. Am…am I really home? She wondered, her eyes wide in shock. Was it all a dream? She stood up and walked over to the door but was startled when a young woman with long, straight brunette hair opened it. The woman looked to be middle aged but who was she?

"Oh good you're awake Setsuna." The woman said with a smile as she walked into the room holding a pile of neatly folded clothes. "Here, you better get dressed or you'll be late for school." Her voice was kind and sweet.

"Um…who are you?" Setsuna managed to ask. The woman laughed at herself.

"Oh how rude of me! I'm Naoko Mizu, I'm your family's social worker." Social worker? Her family had gotten a social worker? It was shocking to Setsuna considering her father refused to speak to one.

Naoko handed Setsuna the clothes and left, shutting the door behind her quietly. As Setsuna went to undress she realized that she was wearing her deep blue dress that she wore on Gaea. So it wasn't a dream… she thought with a smile, which soon faded. Oh my God! Dilandra! She's still on Gaea! A feeling of fear washed over her. She would have to find a way back to Gaea and soon.

Once she had changed into her old school uniform she walked down the stairs to the kitchen where Naoko was making breakfast. Naoko turned to Setsuna and handed her a plate with a slice of buttered toast and a glass of milk. Setsuna accepted the food graciously and sat down at the table. When she finished eating she put her dishes in the sink and headed for the door.

"Oh Setsuna, here's your timetable okay." Naoko handed her a piece of paper as Setsuna left the house.

Setsuna felt awkward at school. It had been over a year since she had been there. She would be behind all of her old classmates. The first thing she did when she arrived at school was go to her old locker. Everything looked the way she had left it. She looked over her schedule and grabbed her old binders. They would do for the time being.

"Setsuna?" A familiar voice came from behind her. She turned around instantly to see the owner of the voice. "Oh my God Setsuna! You're really back!" The young teenaged brunette squealed in excitement.

"Tika! It's so good to see you again!" Setsuna hugged the girl tightly. "I missed you so much!" They both broke the hug when they heard the first bell. "What lunch do you have?" Setsuna asked quickly.

"Uh...forth, you?"

"Ditto. Meet me at the caff ok." Tika nodded and the two went their separate ways to class. It took the first two classes for Setsuna to get use to her old routine. At lunch she met up with her best friend Tika and the two girls went and sat down at a table with a few other girls their age.

"Where the fuck have you been!" Was Tika's first question but Setsuna wasn't surprised at all, she was actually expecting it. Setsuna went on to tell her and her other friends about Gaea and how she fell in love with Dilandau. She didn't tell them about her daughter. She didn't feel comfortable enough to tell them that just yet. Once she finished telling them her little tale she couldn't help but ask Tika about all that had happened when she left.