1Disclaimer: I don't own Code Lyoko
Pairings: OxS, UxY
Warnings: eh...none really
Title: Forever Doesn't Always Mean Forever
Chapter: Two - Her News, His Reaction
Point of View: Ulrich's
Author's Note: Glad you all like it. I'm hoping to make it as realistic as possible. So let me know of any changes needed to make this a better fic! Does anyone actually read Author's Notes?
I can't believe I'm so excited. I was just here a few weeks ago, but every time I come back, I get that nervous/excited roller-coaster-stomach-somersault feeling. The plane landed and I made my way through customs and baggage claim thinking about her. Had she changed any these past few weeks? I missed her so much! Sometimes I think going away to school was the worst decision I ever made. Then there are times when I think that there was no other alternative. Either way, I'm almost done with it. Then we'll be together again. Finally.
I exit the terminal and grin when I see two familiar faces in the sea of people. "Odd! Sam!" I call. They look up and grin, making their way over to me.
"Hey," Odd says. He's grinning like a fool and he hugs me. "Long time no see."
"Yeah...right..." I laugh. Sam hugs me, kissing my cheek and Odd play-glares. "Good to see you two," I say. They nod, filling me in on the little details. However I notice, making no mention, or as little as possible, of Yumi. "What's up with Yumi?"
"Oh...this and that. Nothing really. Then again you can talk to her yourself. Want us to drop you off at her place?" Odd asks, wrapping an arm around Sam's waist. She leans her head against his shoulder as we walk into the parking garage and find Odd's convertible.
"Sure, I'll call. Make sure it's okay," I say.
"I'm sure it will be. After all you two are engaged," she points out. I shrug dialing her number anyway.
"Hello?" she asks. I smile, it's so good to hear her voice again.
"Hey," I say. "I'm with Odd and Sam now. Wondering if you have room on your sofa?"
She pauses for a moment and I frown. "Yeah, that'd be great. I'll see you in a few minutes?"
"Yeah. See you." We hang up and I frown at the phone. What was that all about? Usually she answers immediately. My mind spins off in all directions and I swallow. She wouldn't...She couldn't...
"So you staying at her place?" Odd asks again, breaking into my train of thought.
"Huh? Oh...yeah," I reply. An uncomfortable silence fills the air and the only noise is the traffic and wind blowing around the windshield. It plays with my hair and I sigh, leaning against the side of the car, closing my eyes. Yumi would never betray me. I knew that. So why was my mind playing tricks with my heart?
We pulled up in front of her house and Odd helped me get my stuff (which was only one bag) out of the car. "Well, we'd love to stay but we have a busy day tomorrow. Tell Yumi hi for us," he said. I nodded and said goodnight to them, making my way up to her door. She opened it before I even knocked.
She still looked stunning. More beautiful then I remembered, but tired. She smiled at me, hugging me tightly and I returned it. "Missed you," she mumbled and I smiled. See nothing to worry about...
"Missed you too," I reply, kissing her gently. We make our way inside and I deposit my bag by the front door until further instruction is given. "How are you?"
"I'm alright. Want some coffee? How are you?"
I laugh a little. "Yes, and fine," I answer. She smiles and makes the coffee, leaning against the counter. Something's wrong, I can feel it in the air. I walk up to her, wrapping my arms around her and she rests against me. "What's wrong?" I ask softly.
She looks up at me and her eyes are shining with unshed tears. Yumi Ishiyama doesn't cry. I feel my heart tighten, worry flooding through every bloodstream, clogging my brain. "Yumi?" I ask, brushing back her hair.
She shakes her head, swallowing and I hug her again. "Your going to hate me. Your going to hate me so much. And I don't, I won't, blame you," she mumbles into my shoulder.
"Yumi, what are you talking about?" I ask, pulling back to look at her. The tears are still threatening to fall but she's holding them back.
"I want to show you...something," she answers. She leads me into the guest bedroom, turning a light on low and putting a finger to her lips. My eyes adjust to the dimness and I manage to make out a crib against the far wall beneath the window looking into the backyard. I start to ask a question but she hushes me, leading me to the crib.
Inside laid the most exquisite creature I'd ever seen. She had black hair curling softly under her chin and was so small. So very small. She was dressed in a light blue night gown and was sleeping soundly, her little chest rising and falling with each breath she took. Yumi reached in, tucking her in, smiling a loving smile and I swallowed. "Yumi..." I whispered hoarsely. She looked up at me and nodded, leading me out of the room, turning the light off and closing the door partway behind us.
"Yumi..." I began again, trying to make my mouth form the words that were revolving in my head. Finally my tongue returned to normal function and I swallowed. "Yumi...who is she?"
"Maurelle. Her name is Maurelle Aubrie...Stern." Yumi turned, looking at me, her eyes shining still and a few crystalline tears slipped silently down her cheeks. "She's your, our, daughter." I swallowed again, sinking to the sofa. "I chose your last name...since we're engaged..."
It wasn't possible. There was no way. She couldn't be...We couldn't be...
A million-and-one thoughts raced through my head, half finished because another, more important one would take its place. Until I reached the conclusion that it was possible. And it had happened. Maurelle was my daughter. She was Yumi and my daughter.
"Ulrich...Say something. Please?"
I let my head fall back against the back of the sofa, shaking it slowly back and forth. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, finally looking at her. She was pale, drawn into herself, looking like she was expecting me to hit her. Did she really think I was like that?
"I was...I was scared," she answered softly.
"Everyone else knows." It was a statement, not a question but she nodded anyway and I sighed, closing my eyes. "Your parents?" I opened my eyes to see her nod and I swallowed. "And they think I abandoned you."
"No," she answered, shaking her head and walking over to me. She sat next to me, taking my hand in hers. "No. They think you know about her. As far as they know, your finishing school so you can get a job to fully support us," she whispered.
"Yumi..." I just sighed. I couldn't continue this, my body was to full of adrenaline and my mind was to exhausted and over-run to process the data she was giving me fully. "How old is she?"
"Eleven months. She's starting to talk and walk," she replied, smiling a little. I smiled, thinking about what I could miss. What I had missed. What I most likely will miss.
"Why couldn't you tell me? Why were you scared?"
"I thought you'd be mad. I thought you'd hate me. That you'd break the engagement. I was scared for me too. I didn't know what to do..."
I pulled her close and she cuddled up against me, her face buried in my shoulder. "I'm not mad. I don't hate you. I'm not breaking off the engagement. And Yumi, if I'd known...I would've...I would've been there for you. I wouldn't have let you go through this on your own," I whispered into her hair. She nodded faintly and I smiled, gathering her into my arms, carrying her to her room.
She mumbled incoherently as I laid her down on the bed, dressing her in her pajamas. I pulled back the covers, tucking her in. As I turned to go, she grabbed my arm, pulling me back. I smiled, laying down next to her. No matter how hard I tried, my mind kept drifting back to the little person in the room next door. Maurelle Aubrie Stern...my daughter.
Author's Note: How did you like the chapter? I'm taking some advice from you guys (I heard it was hard to read because it was spaced to close together) so I'm spacing it out. Let me know which way you prefer it. Please review. Thank you.
Starr
