Hey there, welcome back for another chapter of Halmea, Last Embrace. No-one reviewed so I am writing this out of pure pleasure! I have decided that Dearka is going to do the disclamer!
Dearka: What! (he was asleep when I was talking...again.:)
ME: Say it, Dearka!
Dearka: Fine, she doesn't own the series or anything related to it. She wouldn't be writing fanfics if she did people. Put two and two together!
ME: The answer is always four! What Dearka is trying to say is: I own it about as much as anyone else on the website! Or he means that: It shall be the last thing I own... or second last, for I am not, I repeat, not counting. In the last chapter I confused people. Anzu didn't want to wear the blue dress, so she took another one that wouldn't bring grief to Ezaria. Let us begin!
Chapter 9: Dokouiruno (Where are you?)
Anzu stood at the door looking out at the snow... The year was C.E. 78.
"Mamma!" a little childs voice intruded her thoughts. She turned to see a girl about four years old, with purple eyes and silvery-brown hair tugging on her skirt.
"Sakura-chan. What is it? If it is about Daddy, he won't be home for another hour or more" Anzu sighed. Her daughter could be so impatient all of the time.
"No, Mamma, it isn't about Daddy. It is about Isaac. He just ate a crayon" Anzu sighed much more heavily when she heard the words Isaac, ate and crayon. Yep, that sounded like her son alright. Sakura guided her mother to the play room and found Isaac sitting down on a chair looking ill.
"Why did you eat the crayons?" Anzu asked her four year old son. His silver hair came from his father, but his aqua-marine eyes? They were the eyes of Anzu's dad. He was definetly going to be tall, that was assured, and he liked to pick on his little sister. But when she in trouble, he was the first to stand up for her. It was weird the way bigger brothers worked.
"I ate it cuase it looked good enough to eat!" Isaac was no fool when it came to Mamma's question and answer round.
"Well then, seeing as you're full up on crayon, I won't make dinner for you, or otherwise, you'll get sick from eating too much!" Anzu liked to torment her children. She was going to teach Isaac a lesson. He would miss dinner and have stargazing time with Daddy and then bed. Sometimes she wished that Yzak could see what she was doing. He would think she was great at dicipline. Yzak was a member of the supreme council of the Orb nation. He represented the Noventa Faction. The faction that Anzu started and let him lead.
"I'm home early!" Yzak yelled as he got through the door. Anzu was happy he was home early. He could help the children with their homework.
"Maths homework. NOW!" An yelled at her kids as they ran upstairs to collect their things. Now Anzu had him gto herself for about five minutes.
"Hey honey" she said as she walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Let me guess, I have to help them with maths" Yzak knew the answer, but still he wanted to confirm it.
"Yes!" Anzu said as she kissed him again, on the lips this time.
"Ew!" came the combined screams of a boy and girl in the door way of the play room.
"What is wrong with you two? Mamma is allowed to get her kissies from Daddy too you know!" she yelled as she ran over and grabbed both of her children. One under each arm.
'She is really good with children' Yzak thought. Then another little lithe girl walked in.
"Hey Diana!" Sakura yelled. Yzak and Anzu had adopted her after they were wed. Ally and Zoey lived with Tobias, but they popped in a lot. And Ally and Zoey slept over a lot. Tonight was not an exception. Except, only Ally slept over.
"Hey sis! Only I am over tonight, as Zoey is with her boy friend!" Ally confirmed Anzu worst wish. It seemed that since she had an arranged marriage that she thought everyone else would too. But no, Zoey got to choose who she feel in love with. And that still didn't help Anzu, for she had actually fallen in love with her arranged fiancee.
"Hey Ally, Diana, would you guys do me a favour?" Anzu thought that since Yzak had made an effort to get home early, she should spend time with him. They both nodded and Anzu continued. "Can you guys help Sakura and Isaac with their maths homework?" Ally shuddered and Diana nodded. Diana had been mute since she was two. Ally gathered them up and went upstairs, she seemed to have guessed what Anzu meant by that.
"So..." Yzak said as he motioned her into the kitchen and sat down. "How've things been here?" Yzak motioned a hand towards his wife's belly. True she was seven months pregnant with their third child, but Anzu still felt as though nothing had changed.
"Baby Fatimah is fine, Yzak, but you look like you have worn yourself out again. Is Mrs Canaver not a good boss or too lazy so you do her work?"
"She is not lazy. I just over worked myself, trying to get done some of tomorrow's work so I can be here at least a few hours early!" just like Yzak to protect his boss. She was a good lady after all.
"Oh, that reminds me!" Anzu remebered who she had run into whilst shopping. "I saw Lacus and she said that everyone was getting together at Cagalli's tomorrow night and she said that we should come! I've told her were coming, so you can't back out!" Yzak hated to disappoint his wife, but he hated Athrun Zala more. "You are coming, it's final. I wont change my mind no matter what you try! H-hey... what are you...?" Yzak was kissing up his wife's neck. Anzu tried to move, but she was rooted to the spot. Yzak had won.
"We are still going!" Yzak whispered, "but when we leave, you are mine!" Anzu pulled away.
"Think of your new daughter please! We won't have time, and no, we aren't dropping all our kids off onto Kira and Lacus so we can have time. They must want their time to themselves too!" Anzu hated being a burden to others, especially since Lacus and Kira had done so much for her already.
"But they use Caridad and Rev. Malchio when they want time. Maybe Milly and Dearka would watch them?" Yzak really wanted to win this one, but Anzu knew he wouldn't.
"Or maybe you can hold off your male instincts until she is two!" Anzu had proved her point. They weren't going to have any time for themselves when Fatimah was born.
"But, maybe, Tobias would watch them! We know he loves kids!" Yzak had a strong point that time. He had won again, but Anzu wasn't going to let him know it.
"We'll see when she is born, honey. We'll see"
...family...
Next day:
Cagalli was rushing around getting things ready. She knew everyone would bring their kids. Dearka and Milly would bring Tolle, Mu and Murrue would bring Minna, Raul, Rey, Neo, Canard and Natalie. Lacus and Kira would bring Roy and Riza, and Yzak and Anzy would bring Sakura, Isaac, Diana and Ally. Cagalli and Athrun's child was excited. "Mummy! When are they coming?" he would ask over and over again. For a three year old, he asked a lot of questions.
"At six, Athur!" Cagalli would yell back. All of the kids would be upstairs playing and the adults would be downstairs talking. It was only four thirty so no-one would be there yet. Cagalli expected that, only to hear and loud "DING DONG" noise from down stairs.
"Who is it Hans?" Cagalli could answer it herself, so the butlor did it.
"It is Master Kira and Miss Lacus, Lady Cagalli. Do I let them in?" Hans was famous for stupid questions.
"Of course, Idiot!" Cagalli threw her shoe at him and the next theng she new she was topled over by her neice and nephew.
"Hey you guys, you're early!" Cagalli laughed as she tried to stand up, and it worked; the standing, I mean.
"Well, Caridad needed us out of there, so we thought we would come here!" Lacus said, as cheerful as always. War hadn't changed her a bit. "Oh, and when Anzu arrives... Well, you should see her!" Lacus was talking about her being pregnant. The last time everyone had seen Anzu (that was about five months ago) she didn't look pregnant, but now... Only Lacus and Yzak knew how big she'd gotten in five months. In fact, only Lacus and Yzak knew she was pregnant. The last time she was with everyone, she had told no-one, and Lacus wanted to make it something Yzak and Anzu should announce.
Cagalli was confused by this. "What, has she gained weight, lost weight; something to do with weight? If she gained weight, it is normal when you are married to gain some pounds. I am surprised she hasn't gained any until now!" Cagalli only had it half right. Yes she gained weight, but not how she thought.
Lacus just laughed and said "Weight 'til you see her!" (note the pun)
...friends...
Later that night:
Everyone had arrived, except Anzu and Yzak. Only Kira and Cagalli knew there was something different about Anzu, and only Lacus knew the reason. Then, in walked Diana, Ally, Isaac and Sakura. Ally was about to ask, when Cagalli said "They are upstairs!" Ally and Diana guided the two younger children upstairs and Cagalli couldn't help but notice the Joule trademark scowl that was plastered on Isaac's face. Sakura was trying to say something to him, most probably "You know what Mamma said, that if you keep scowling, you're face will stay that way forever!" Sakura was a lot like Anzu. And Isaac was a clone of Yzak with a capital C. Then in walked Yzak helping along a very pregnant Anzu.
"Hey!" Milly yelled as she ran over to help Anzu. Everyone else was dumbfounded.
Then Lacus piped up, "I told you there was something different, didn't I Cagalli! How many months Anzu?"
"Seven and a half" Anzu mumbled, sheepishly. She was given a seat and was turning red. Then Yzak went over to the guys, and girls crowded Anzu.
"Hey Yzak! You didn't tell me she was pumping out another one!" Dearka joked, but that only earned him a punch in the arm from Mu. 'Hey! What was that for?' he mouthed back at Mu, Mu shrugged and said something about it not being nice to put it that way.
"What is it?" Athrun said, looking at how clucky Cagalli got when he saw the women were talking about babies and gulped.
"It is a baby, stupid!" Yzak said defiantly and everyone laughed.
"You know what I mean; is it a boy or a girl?" Athrun hated to have to repeat his questions.
"A girl, who's name is Fatimah, after Anzu's father's birthplace in Fatimah, Portugal" Yzak sure had studied.
Back with Anzu:
"So Anzu, what is it and what are you going to name it?" that question belonged to Murrue, who already had six children of her own.
"It is a girl who is going to be named Fatimah, after my father's birthplace in Fatimah, Portugal"
"Wow, your thrid one! How are you going to manage. I mean sure, Murrue's had six kids, but hey, she is older, sorry Murrue, but you are older than Anzu! But anyways, if you need sometime alone, I am sure any one of us, besides Murrue, would be glad to take your kids for a while!" Cagalli said, she knew that Milly, Lacus and heself would help. She even knew that Shima, Lucy, Marry, Tobias and Anzu's other siblings would help her. Then Ally came downstairs.
"I believe I can get all the little ones to sleep! But, Anzu, you are going to need to sing to Sakura, she wont sleep without it!" Anzu nodded and walked, slowly, up the stairs.
"Hey, Sakura, do you want me to sing?" Sakura nodded and Anzu sat on the bed. She pulled her daughter close and motioned for Isaac to come over. Isaac scowled and shook his head.
"Fine then, does everyone else want to be sung a lullabye?" all the other children nodded. "Okay then, some of you might know this one, if you do, you can sing along quietly!"
"You are my sunshine; my only sunshine,
You make me happy, when skies are grey.
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you,
Just please don't take my sunshine away"
When Anzu opened her eyes, Isaac was snuggled into her right side. 'I knew you liked Mamma's melodies, my little one' she thought. The children went back to their own beds and Anzu exited turning out the light. Ally and Diana, it seemed, had gone to bed too.
"Cute" she smiled and a tear fell from her eye to the carpet. This was one of the times that she felt as though she was little again with her family and her mamma was singing that song with her (or to her). Pain then riddled her body. "Quiet down in there, Fatimah, Mamma's not ready to have you yet, but in a little while. Can you hold on, Mamma is at a friends house" Anzu said calmly as she walked, slowly, back down the stairs.
...baby...
When Anzu got back downstairs, she noticed that people were still talking. Then Hans walked in.
"Dinner is served!" he yelled. Then he truned around, but kept talking. "Lady Cagalli has ordered that their be no entree, so the main course is served" then he walked away.
"Funny" said Anzu. Tears were still in her eyes, but not from remembrance, but from pain. Then the pain left, slowly, but Anzu had a daunting feeling that that wasn't the end of it.
They walked into the dining hall and one by one, they sat down. Just as Anzu did, the pain returned. But this wasn't ordinary pain. It was the pain of a contraction. She felt wet, heavy and dizzy. 'Bad timing' she thought to herself and mentally scolded her baby. Her waters had broken. 'Shit' was her next exciting thought.
"OW..." she yelled as she fell to the floor. She heard Yzak yell "ANZU!" and run towards her, but that was it. Nothing more, only the solitary silence of her screams of pain.
...screams...
During the time Anzu was passed out, Yzak had yelled for a doctor and heard her say "The baby is coming". He was sure she was speaking to herself though, as she couldn't hear anything he or anyone else said. The girls and Yzak were trying to calm Anzu. Lacus had gone to get water, Milly went to get towels, Cagalli phoned for a doctor, Murrue was there with Anzu; saying calm things to her, even though Anzu couldn't hear. What Yzak didn't know was, she was trying to calm him. Yzak was holding his wife in his arms, tears were fresh in his eyes and beads of sweat on his forehead. Some of the beads dropped and stung his eyes, but he kept them open. Kira had gone to fetch his car, just in case a doctor couldn't come and they had to get her to the hospital. Dearka had fetched one of the doctors about the Attha mansion, just in case she would have to have the baby here and they couldn't get a doctor (so then unexperienced doctors and nurses had to pull off the procedure they had seen dozens of times in videos from Med school), Athrun was helping Dearka get every doctor they could, Mu was with Andy and they were at the hospital reserving a place, just in case. Everything was going good, but the timing was wrong. What if everything went wrong and one of them had to do it? Most likely it would be Athrun, Murrue, Milly or Cagalli who did it, but what if? Yzak couldn't bring himself to think of that, the only thing he wanted to his wife and his child at home, in his arms.
...what if?...
Early morning (around twelve thirty):
Anzu's birth had been a success. She had given birth to Fatimah Michelle five minutes ago. Yzak wasn't in the waiting room with the rest of them, he was in Anzu's room with her and Fatimah. Fatimah's first and second name were a tribute to Anzu's dad (who's name was Michael and he was born in Fatimah, Portugal). "Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, are you here to see Mrs Joule by any chance?" a young nurse, about twenty, said. When they all nodded, she continued. "You can see her now. Room 208" and then she left.
When they finally found 208, they saw Anzu lying in bed with a tired smile on her worn out face and Yzak, facing the window holding his daughter.
"Hey guys" Anzu said exhaustion dripping in her voice.At this Yzak turned around. His face was puffy from crying, and by the looks of it, he still was. But this time tears of happiness. During the procedure, Anzu had "died" three times and his daughter was born still-born. But they were both okay. When they had been told his wife had "died" for the first time, he gave up being strong and became sad and shallow. He let down his gaurd, like he had done for Anzu many times. Everyone conforted him, even Athrun did. But now, he was on cloud nine. Sakura and Isaac came in to see their new sister. Isaac was sad to be out numbered by girls, but Yzak had said, next time. Oh how Anzu had wanted to kill him!
"You were the one who got me in to this potion, Yzak Joule! Don't think I will doing it again anytime soon!"
But Yzak had replied with a smooth, "It takes two to tango, so next time, don't let me!"
"If there even is a next time and it is your fault!" Anzu was really angry now. So she threw a pillow at him, but since she was so weak, it missed by miles.
"Well then, lady, next time keep your legs closed! It is so not my fault! You agreed, woman!" and with that, Yzak turned back to the window, still holding Fatimah and he stayed like that. He didn't mean anything he had said and Anzu was too tired to know what she was doing. But in that room, were all the members of Yzak's family. He even considered Athrun like a brother, since they faught like two brothers (or children) And then their was his wife. His koibito. And his new child. His baby. His princess. His koishii. His everything. His world...
...My light; my queen; is burning bright, but tonight, she only burns for me...
A/n: Well this is a blast into the future. I just thought that I should and the title was perfect. So I did. I am gong to try to re-post chapter three or four, since I think it gives to much away. Koibito means lover, koishii means beloved, get it? got it? good! I have made a vow to update all of my stories before next term. I may have made people a bit OOC, but hey, a baby was being born, so there! I didn't make Yzak more stubborn and I mad ethis chapter longer. This is going to be used when I write a separate epilogue to this. So remember this. I am not finished the real story, but curiosity killed the plot bunny, so there! My saying at the end. It basically means that Yzak's queen (Anzu) only keeps gong for him. The light is the queen and she only burns for him. Yeah, that is what it means. I don't own the "Sushine" song, but my nephew was singing it today, so there! It is his lullaby, so I thought it shall be the kids as well. Isaac is a little Yzak. He didn't want to be sen as a wuss, so he didn't go over to his mother, but when everyone else went, he thought it was okay, so he went over. He let down his tough exterior to be in a state of child-like pleasure. Like Yzak when he lets down his wall to remember how to be a child. Next chapter is going to involve tissues (but not for you). Someone gets sick. Before you read the next chapter, re-cap chapter eight. This chapter doesn't tie onto it or chapter ten. It only ties onto my epilogue!
Chapter: 10. Title: Kaze O Hiku (To Catch A Cold)
See you then,
TSA