Dearka & Miriallia

Author's Notes: Not much to say in this chapter, except I love how close Miriallia and Dearka are getting. Also, at the bottom is the timeline for the day that started in chapter 5 and ends here in 11 so that you guys can see the timeframe that the events occurred in. Thanks again for the support everyone!

Disclaimer: It is obvious by now if I'm here that I do not own Gundam SEED, Gundam SEED Destiny or any other Gundam Series. But any characters I create to place in this world are mine (But I don't mind if you guys want to use them too. I have no problem with that. You don't even need to ask me. I enjoy sharing to make other stories the best they can be.)

Chapter 11

Mischievous Diversions

In the control room…

Dearka remained still since 9:45 that evening. It had been an over a half an hour since he spoke with Yzak and he didn't have the energy to move. How was he going to tell Miriallia that Cadey was probably in the PLANTs by now?

"What am I going to say to her?" he thought.

As he sat there in silence, he heard the door to the control room swish open.

"Huh?" he said as he looked up from his spot.

Ian entered the room and walked over to Dearka.

"Sorry," was all he could manage to say.

"Why? Because you failed me or because you failed Miriallia?" Dearka asked sarcastically.

Ian was careful when answering the baited question.

"You know I have no intention of moving in on your territory. That is if she is your territory," Ian said.

Dearka glared at him.

"Miriallia doesn't belong to anyone," he answered.

"Really? Because the way it looks, you are acting as though she belongs to you," Ian answered snidely.

Dearka continued to glare at Ian. He didn't like the tone coming from his mouth.
"Who the hell does he think he is?" Dearka thought.

"Look, I don't want to fight with you. I just think Miriallia should decide who she wants around her, that's all. Besides, you are engaged to Cadey whether you like it or not. I don't see how you can just walk away from that," Ian said matter-of-factly.

Dearka had enough and stood from the console.

"Miriallia already decided. So, I'm going to pick her up at the research room now. Do me a favor and stay away from her," Dearka said with a warning in his voice.

Ian watched him head for the door. He wanted so badly to knock the life out of his commander, but refrained from the urge.

"You have to tell her," Ian yelled at his retreating form.

"It's not your decision," Dearka answered.

Ian turned to follow him.

"If you don't, I will. She deserves to know," Ian said.

Dearka twisted around so quickly that it startled Ian. He didn't expect the reaction he received from Dearka. Before he knew it, he was thrown to the wall near the doorway and pushed against it, Dearka's hands gripping his uniform jacket.

"I said stay out of it Ian and stay away from Miriallia," Dearka said through gritted teeth.

Ian could see the anger in his eyes, but felt just as angry.

"What are you going to do? Hit me? Then what? You don't even know what to do about Cadey, do you?" he asked goading him.

Dearka shoved him against the wall again, harder this time and then released him.

"I'm not asking you, I'm ordering you to stay away from Miriallia. I'll deal with Cadey myself," Dearka cautioned.

Dearka exited the room leaving a puzzled Ian behind.

"He didn't hit me. I was sure he was about to. That must have taken a lot of control. You are so much like Cadey sometimes, it scares me Dearka. What scheme are you planning now?" Ian thought.

He could tell from the way Dearka reacted that he was planning something if he forbid him from talking to Miriallia or even seeing her for that matter. He didn't even know Miriallia as a person, only the little from their conversation earlier that day in the rental line. He didn't know what it was that drew him to her, but he couldn't ignore it. Especially not if Dearka was going to use her like this.

"I swear, if you hurt her, you'll be answering to me Dearka Elsman. And what am I going to do about you little Miss Cadey White? I can't trust Dearka to handle it with any sort of diplomacy. She is still my friend, so I should probably help her out of this mess," Ian thought.

Dearka walked down the hallway again toward the elevator. He was going to pick up Miriallia from the research room.

"She has to be exhausted by now," Dearka thought.

He tried to shake the conversation with Ian out of his head. The truth is, Ian was right. He didn't know what to do about Cadey. Here he was ready to jump into Miriallia's arms again and he still had to face that fact that he was engaged. If he weren't the son of a Supreme Council Member, engaged to the daughter of another Supreme Council Member, it would be a no-brainer. But the fact is, it just wasn't like that. He couldn't just walk away from her. Although, he also couldn't just walk away from Miriallia, he wouldn't do that to her a second time.

In the research room…

Miriallia continued to help ZAFT with their investigation as time ticked away. It was a little past eleven now and she had a long day. It was only a little over six hours ago that she was lying in the medical wing, unconscious from an accident due to ZAFT's interference with the EAF. Granted, the EAF were chasing her down to kill her and her injury seemed much less severe a punishment as opposed to death. She not only thought she had killed her daughter in the accident, but was shocked to be reunited with Dearka, the father of her baby all in one moment.

"Thank god Annabella is safe," Miriallia thought.

For a moment she felt relief until she noticed that she didn't know anything about the woman that took her. How did she know Annabella was truly safe?

"For all I know, the girl is a complete nut case," Miriallia thought.

In the end, she could only hope that this girl wouldn't harm Annabella. She had to pray that the fact that Dearka was the father would hold some influence in what that girl did with her.

"If she loves Dearka, then it's doubtful that she will hurt his daughter," Miriallia thought.

She continued to look over the information in front of her and matched up her photographs to the data ZAFT had collected. She filled in the soldiers on what she found and they jotted notes down to give to their Commander. She tried to keep busy, hoping that it would help her to forget the fact that her daughter had been ripped from her life completely. She handed over the last set of notes she made on her photographs to one of the soldiers as the door swished open revealing a smiling Dearka. He walked over to her and she turned to face him.

"Have you done everything you can to help them?" Dearka asked.

"Just about," Miriallia said, "I just hope it helps."

"I can't imagine it didn't," Dearka answered.

Miriallia looked up at him with a small smile of her own. She felt useful here even if she wasn't in the search for their daughter.

"We barely had anything to go on. That is until we met up with you and those beautiful photographs you took," he said slyly.

"And you are trying to avoid the subject that you know I am curious about," she said grinning at him.

She could only hope he had some good news for her.

"There's no word yet Mir, I'm sorry," he said.

Her face dropped from the disappointment.

"Are you sure? Did you call Ian and check?" Miriallia begged.

"He's still out looking for Cadey," Dearka lied.

"Oh," Miriallia said as her hopes fell again.

One of the soldiers came over to Dearka and handed him the report they had been working on.

"Here sir," he said.

"Thank you. I'll look it over and give my orders on the matter in a few hours. Why don't you guys all get some rest until then," he said.

"Thank you sir," the soldier saluted.

The soldier dismissed the remaining group in the research room and Miriallia felt them shuffle by her. Her head was still down toward the floor. She wanted more than anything to know her daughter was going to be safe. Dearka put his arms around Miriallia and drew her close to him. She felt like she should push him away from her frustration, but decided to accept the warmth she received from him. She put her head on his shoulder, keeping her hands against his chest and closed her eyes.

"Are you getting tired?" he asked sincerely.

"A little," she answered.

He just looked down on her still form never letting her out of his embrace.

"I'm also a little hungry too," she said weakly.

"Come on, let's go get something to eat the," he said as he let go of her.

He took her hand and led her out of the research room. They walked down the halls and ended up back at the elevator. Remembering what he had done to her earlier, she hesitated and stepped back.

"What?" he asked concerned.

"I just want to make sure you get in first and that you don't try that move again on me," she said mocking him.

He grinned at her remark.

"I promise, I won't do anything like that to you. You have my word," he replied.

She went against her better judgment and stepped forward. Before she knew it, he grabbed her and held her against the wall next to the elevator. She felt him kiss her fully on the lips. She struggled a little before giving in to him again.

"How does he have this power over me? I melt in his arms every time," she thought.

Although irritated with him, she allowed the kiss to continue. In all honesty, this is what she had been waiting over two years for. As he released his grip on her and parted from her lips, she saw his face blush and hers followed. They stayed silent as the doors to the elevator opened and Dearka stepped inside. Miriallia walked in and looked up at him shyly.

"Well, seems like I'm not the only one who blushes over passionate kisses," she remarked her shyness disappearing.

He smirked at her remark. It was unlike her to be so bold.

"She definitely is a different person than when I first met her," he thought.

He stood silently for a moment before answering her again.

"Yeah well, maybe I'm just a victim of your sexuality," he said as he leaned into whisper in her ear.

She blushed again before realizing he was trying to get a rise out of her. She turned away, only to turn back and hit him in the chest with an open palm.

"What was that for?" he asked laughing at her retaliation.

"That was for trying to seduce me," she answered.

"I thought you said you were going to fight for me?" he asked with an innocent look.

"Right, I am going to fight for you, therefore, you aren't supposed to be putting the moves on me," she smirked back at him.

The elevator opened to the first floor and they exited making their way toward the dining hall.

"So, should I go and find a hotel for the night?" she asked.

He just looked at her as if she had gone insane.

"Where did that come from?" Dearka asked her.

"Well, this is a ZAFT base and I'm not a member of ZAFT, nor am I a Coordinator. So, I just thought maybe I shouldn't be overstaying my welcome," she answered.

Dearka rolled his eyes at her.

"What?" she asked noticing.

"Naturals are really that stupid," he said jumping back to a conversation they had over two years ago and answering his question from that day.

She looked at him and remembered the moment they had shared that day on the Archangel.

Two and a half years prior…

She had just released Dearka from the brig and told him to get off the ship. He tried to stop her to find out what was happening and grabbed her arm. She informed him the Archangel was going to fight with ORB against the EAF.

"That's just nuts. Are Naturals really that stupid?" he had asked.

She remembered her reply. She was so upset when she turned to look at him.

"Who cares what you think? When the fighting starts it's gonna get chaotic around here. I'm sorry, but you're on your own," she answered.

Present…

She smiled at him with a bit of amazement that he remembered that day so vividly. She wondered what else he remembered with such clarity from their time together.

"Every moment of the time we spent together probably seems like just yesterday to him. I guess it's a perk of being a Coordinator," she thought.

"I guess we are," she answered.

"Hey Mir, I was just kidding," he said.

She smiled at him.

"You know, just because I agree with you, doesn't mean I'm mad at you," she said winking at him.

All he could do was watch her as her face fell from the cute smile she had just given to him.

"Besides, all the things I've done in the past two years, the way I treated our daughter just because I was upset at you, it was all stupid," she said with the honesty reflecting in her voice.

"Not stupid," he said as they continued toward the dining hall.

She looked over to him again with interest in what he had to say.

"Justified. If I hadn't returned to ZAFT or gone home, I wouldn't be in such a mess and we would have stayed together. It's all I had wanted…" he said.

"But now?" she asked interrupting him.

"Is it wrong to admit that I'm confused?" Dearka asked in all seriousness.

"No, I can't blame you. You have been with this girl for two years; she is bound to be important to you. And, I did kind of throw it in your face that you were a father," she said rationally.

"How does she know exactly what I feel without me ever having to say it? She really is amazing," he thought.

They reached the dining hall and Dearka held the door open for Miriallia.

"After you," he said politely.

"Thank you," she replied.

They grabbed something to eat and sat down at one of the tables.

"You know, I don't mind that you threw that news at me," he said before she could take a bite.

"Huh?" she looked up confused.

"About Annabella," he answered.

She blushed at his remark.

"Oh, but still, I am sorry. There was probably a better way to tell you," she said.

"Probably, but I didn't mind," he said smiling at her.

She smiled back at him again and they became lost in each other's gaze. That was until Miriallia felt her stomach cramp on her.

"You don't mind if I start eating now, do you? I feel like I'm going to pass out from hunger," she said.

"Oh, yeah, sorry," he said, "Go ahead. I'm pretty hungry too."

As they ate dinner she would occasionally look up at him.

"He really is handsome," she thought.

When they finished dinner and were left drinking their waters, she put her glass down.

"Hey Dearka?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said gulping down the water he had in his mouth.

"You never did tell me why I shouldn't find a place to stay," Miriallia said.

"Well, you can just stay in my room. I'll sleep on the floor or something. But you aren't leaving the base. You are still a target for the EAF since you took those photos," he said.

She looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

"Stay with you, in your room?" she asked.

He looked back at her and furrowed his brow with confusion.

"Yeah. Why? Do you think I'm going to do something to you?" he asked mocking her.

"Well, you did say that same thing at the elevator the second time you kissed me," she said reminding him of his history with those words.

"Yeah, yeah," he said waving his hand at her.

She watched him blow her off.

"Dearka!" she snipped.

"What? I'm not going to do anything. This time I am being completely honest. Unless…" he trailed off.

"Unless what?" she yelled.

"Huh?" he asked.

She was getting irritated with him and his games.

"You heard exactly what I said Dearka Elsman," she snapped at him.

He looked at her with a grin on his face. She continued to glare at him until he gave in and finished the sentence he had started.

"I was going to say," he walked around the table and leaned in close to her from behind, "unless you wanted me to do something to you."

Her eyes shot open wide and she began to feverishly blush again. His hand moved down her back and she her body stiffened for a moment before relaxing from his touch.

"Unless I want you to do something to me," she repeated softly.

He had a devilish grin on his face again. It was the one he was so famous for and she was feeling lightheaded from the thoughts that were now running free inside her mind.

End

Timeline For Chapters 5-11

2:45 pmMiriallia leaves the shuttle port

4:00 pmDearka orders investigation/Ian commands mission

4:30 pmMiriallia is attacked by the EAF/Ian rescues her

5:15 pmMiriallia is brought to the base/Hospitalized

5:45 pmDearka falls asleep next to Miriallia's bedside

7:30 pmMiriallia awakens from being unconscious

8:00 pmCadey overhears Dearka & Miriallia's conversation

8:30 pmCadey kidnaps Annabella

8:45 pmIan chases Cadey/Dearka & Miriallia talk

9:30 pmMiriallia offers to help Dearka with EAF mission

9:45 pmDearka asks Yzak for assistance

10:30 pmDearka contemplating/Ian returns and converses with Dearka

11:00 pmMiriallia notices time and is getting tired

11:15 pmDearka picks Miriallia up from the research room/late dinner

12:30 amDearka brings Miriallia back to his room

Author's Preview: I wonder what is about to happen with Miriallia and Dearka? Hmm… It seems as though Ian won't be pleased though. Please read and review for me so I can continue on my happy way.

Reviewer Response: Hello to all my wonderful reviewers. Thank you so much for all your support and reviews on all my chapters thus far. I love you all so much! Unfortunately due to possible changes in TOS (which is still unconfirmed) all responses are now located on my personal website. Please click on my profile page to link to the website. Thank you.