Chapter 11: Catherine Anna(Part II)

Author's Note: Well this is it. I apologize if it seem too short, but I wanted to end this in a unique way. I hope you've enjoyed my work.

The story of the island's characters seemed to intertwine even as they rarely met. The story thus ends and begins with period of long peace and reconciliation. It was already decided. There are so many unanswered questions that do not need answering. It was a rather interesting act of serendipity. So it was that one man, once so scorned by country of where he lived, went to accomplish the rather menial task of collecting a friend from the airport. "She" was one he spoke of and worried about constantly during and after the war. Yet both had a rather unusual encounter. She had been delivered to the wrong city to some mechanical gremlins, something "he" could relate to. So "she" was lost, trying to find her way through a city she knew little about to meet "him". But in that same city, lived a young couple; one half of which was still grieving for the loss of a sister. She had taken in her son, who was sad, withdrawn and angry. What could be expected from a kid who had no experience with death tragedy? As both the young man and woman tried their best to raise their own child and this kid, it was extremely difficult. For the man who used all his masculinity and compassion to appeal to the child's heart, he could not bring the child out of his shell. So the child ran away. For days they searched until one day several days later that child appeared on their doorstep; it was the same day another child was born early on a distant island could be welcomed into their parent's home. "She" had encountered him and "she" wanted the child. She fell in love with the child, as more mechanical gremlins in her car forced them to walk for many miles. It was difficult for the couple, who was not one to simply throw away a child's existence. But it was the man who spent 2 months killing soldiers from the land "she" was from in 2010 who learned the story and child nudged his opinion along. It was a rather difficult decision, but hearing that sad story soften the young couple. Soon, all of the red tape would be cleared up, and a broken family in another country would be whole again. So for the troubled Yuke pilot with many secrets, the arousing altruist, and the cunning soldier and motorcycle afficionado, the story had come to a happy ending. But they were all away...away from the momentous celebration that was about to occur that same day. A little child named after a young man's family, one living and one dead, was finally coming home...

February 21, 2012

Mallora Island

"Okay! Here they come! Hide!" someone said.

The house was very small so it was hard to hide all the friends and family that had come out to welcome a baby that did not just belong to David and Kei...but to all of them. Their parents prepared to welcome the fifth generation of the Lovecraft family. It seemed strangely placed. It wasn't too long ago that three people died here not 150 yards away in December 2011. It had been a long and windy road for everyone over days, months, years, and in some cases many years.

Meanwhile, an oblivious couple walked into the "driveway" which was merely a patch of dirt. Kei held Catherine in her arms simply looking at her so much that she nearly walked right into a tree. Catherine was a beady brown-eyed girl that shared her mother's looks. David had joked once that his child eyes were brown marbles. Of course, there was a bit of playful discontent from Kei. They had not been the "Razgriz" for many, many months. There was no need for them now. What really drove their enthusiasm was the fact was their offspring would not have to endure what they, Grimm, Chopper, Snow, Damien, Quara, Claude, Mari, and Captain Bartlett had to experience...the dark side of humanity that was war. At least they hoped... hope springs eternal. Or so at least Kei thought. David was as practical as he was skeptical. Nothing was eternal, but he kept his doubts to himself.

"Look at it. It's your new home. Don't you like it?" David said while turning to face his daughter and pointing at their quaint house.

"She doesn't understand you." Kei said.

"Hey, she gets it. She just can't...acknowledge it just yet." said David.

Okay, keep quiet.

Turn that cell phone off, you idiot!

"What the was...I get it."

"What?"

"They think they fooled us. I wonder who's phone that was?"

"Your ears never lie. Let's just act surpised."

"Funny. You said I had better eyes than ears."

"No. I thought your eyes were pretty. You said my eyes were good. But then again..."

Kei simply moved towards him and her lips brushed his own again. It was the cure for her husband's tendency to ramble on and on about nothing. It was the same thing she did after the SOLG went down in flames. He went on and on about what the future was gonna bring and what he wanted to do and such and such. As the two enjoyed their momentary but pleasent distraction...

Aw, isn't that cute?

You never did strike me as the touchy guy, Jack.

Hey, I always knew those two would end up so...hugged up with each other.

Okay you two, get a room. Let's go.

Well it's their house, man.

No! I mean, your daughter and Grimm in the corner over there!

Van, what the hell are you talking about...oh my god.

Would you two be quiet!

Why are we here? Aren't the ladies supposed to give the baby shower?

We're breaking down barriers man! This kid belongs to all of us.

What the...hell are you talking about?

Here they come!

It was one of those moments where a forced facade was necessary. There was, lying in the "not so surprise scenario",pretty much every friend and family member of the pair. Never was there so much attention focused on a tiny female life. She was far from being a newborn since she was born almost 3 months early. There was really no explanation as to why it happened; then again, in David's view, 90 percent of doctors don't know a damn thing.

"Wow, she looks just like you. So'd you ever find out who the father was?" asked Claude joking.

Everyone froze and most gave Claude a few hateful looks. David nearly laughed himself. The others were not used to Claude's black humor.

"What? I was just kidding!"

"I know you wanted to be a comedian, but for our sakes stick to your day job."

"You people are too uptight."

The joking and playing continued for what seemed like forever. The story was no longer about the people in the room, but the child in their arms.

But now it is time to end the story and begin the new one. Of course, this story never was about the people in the room. The writings are mine, and mine alone. It is my story. The story of me. The story of my birth. The names are different, but they are real. They exsisted. I thank my family for being so honest. They were more open than I thought on a level even more so than my brothers. I'm only thinking of the events as I write them. It's been so long since the story has been told. Therefore it up to me to tell it.

It was interesting that first meeting. I never remembered looking into that man's eyes when he was only a mere two years old. The man that reads the story now. The young couple was us. The others were the children of my brother's friend and my own aunt. My grandparents were the old people on that hill.

October 27, 2036

Somewhere on Mallora Island

There was only us. My writing in his hands. He looks back and forth at me and the story. He's quite an attractive man. I write even as he reads my own hand's work.

"Wow," he says, "That's a fascinating story. I had no idea your parent's were..."

"So famous? Infamous?" I say with a twinkle in my eye, "I felt the need to lay myself bare."

I wonder what he thinks, even now...

It was strange being in a family of fighter pilots, much less a quartet of complete oddballs. I saw her all the time as a child. Who knew she'd be more than simply a childhood friend? Well, it wasn't so unexpected. Even Catherine tells me her parents told her they seemed to be made for each other. They were completely honest with her. Even my father wouldn't go into those details of what happened to him in Verusa. But it was strange. Everything was. Mr. Piccaro teaching me how to play the violin. My own fiancee being a fourth generation fighter pilot...

But then as I look into her glassy brown eyes, there is something there I cannot see. For this is not mere romantic get together. This is a farewell. Ironic that the child of a man who she tells me hates war so much is preparing to leave for it. But then there was the even more bizzare thing. Behind those green eyes lie an anticipation unlike anything I can only see, as I only know it. I, Van Orel II, know the truth. I am looking at a woman who's the direct opposite of her parents.

The names roll of her tongue, Rickenbacker, Immelmann, Bolcke, Johnson, Gabreski, Cunningham, Richie, endless number of aces. The battles she knows and studies constantly. She can tell you about anything war related.

She is in love with two things, one intangible and one tangible. She loves me...and war. The question in my greatest doubts was which one she loves more...

The End...or is it?