Chapter 15:Unexpected Sightings

"Well, your father continued to drink and as usual refused any help until your brother Takato talked him into seeing a social worker. Both of them got the help the needed. Everyone thought you ran away from home because you talked about doing it so often. There were posters of you like everywhere in the school and in some public places like the mall and library." Setsuna sat in shock. Her brother actually tried to do something right. "Naoko-san worked wonders with your dad and brother." Setsuna looked up at her friend. "Your dad hasn't touched a drink in like four months! And Takato is almost over his drug addiction. He's still got quite a ways to go but it's a big improvement."

A small smile formed on Setsuna's face. Things were getting better on Earth. Maybe we can be a family again, she thought with some hope but then she remembered about Dilandra. How can we be a family without her, my daughter. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Setsuna? Is something wrong?" Tika asked her concerned. Setsuna quickly wiped away the tear and shook her head and told her no. "Are you sure?" Tika studied her friend's features carefully. She knew something was up and she was determined to find out what it was. "Let's go for a walk." Tika suggested as she stood up and swung her backpack over her shoulder. Setsuna followed her friend out of the cafeteria. When the reached the outside of the school and were alone, Tika asked her the same question again.

Setsuna sighed in defeat. She knew Tika very well and knew that she could be extremely stubborn. "Ok, fine, I'll tell ya." She looked around to find a place where she could talk to Tika in with a bit of privacy. "Follow me." Setsuna said as she walked over towards the equipment shed by the track. The two sat down on the grass beside the shed and Tika waited patiently for Setsuna to begin.

"Ok, when I went to Gaea, I uh, well, I kinda did more than fighting." Tika looked at her clueless. "I . . . I . . . um, well, I did it." Tika's eyes widened.

"You're-you're not a-a virgin! Oh my God Setsuna! I never thought that you! Of all people, you lost your virginity!"

"SHHHH!" Setsuna tried to hush her friend.

"Sorry! But, man…wow…this is just so weird! I was expecting to lose mine before you but I guess you beat me to it." Setsuna bit her lip.

"That's not all." Setsuna mumbled and Tika looked at her seriously. She had a feeling she knew what Setsuna was going to say. "I have a two month old daughter." Tika was left speechless.

"You're kiddin' with me aren't ya." Tika said in her sly way. Setsuna shock her head no and kept a straight face. Tika knew that Setsuna was horrible at lying, that made her realize that she was telling the truth. "Oh my God Setsuna! Well, where is she?"

"She's on Gaea in Palas Asturia" Setsuna said quietly but she knew she was in good hands. While staying with Millerna and the others, she had learned to trust them. Well most of them. Allen was the exception.

After school Setsuna walked home alone. Something didn't feel right but she didn't know what. She looked around to see if she was being followed but there was no one around. She observed her surroundings and found nothing to be out of the ordinary but she still felt there was something wrong. She quickened her pace and the first thing she did when she stepped into her home was head straight up to her room. She changed out of her blue school uniform and into a pair of blue flared jeans and a red halter top. She laid down on her bed and began to think how she would return to Gaea, return to her baby and to her love.

The following morning went as the pervious one. Naoko greeted her as soon as Setsuna stepped out of her bedroom. She walked to school and met up with Tika on the front steps. The two chatted about whatever came to mind, and then it happened. Out of the corner of her eye Setsuna saw two large pillars of light in the sky and she wasn't the only one who witnessed it either. Many of the other students stopped to watch. When the lights disappeared, two floating objects could be seen in the sky. One was obviously larger than the other and looked all too familiar to Setsuna.

"What are those things?" Tika asked as she stared at the objects in awe.

"The larger one is the floating fortress Vione and the other is the airship Crusade." Setsuna answered, her voice was a serious one.

"Whoa, what a minute! Are you saying those are the things you told me about that they have on Gaea!" Tika asked shocked. She didn't really believe her friend's story; it seemed too farfetched. Setsuna nodded as she stared at the two ships in the sky. How did they get here? Was all Setsuna could think about at the time.