Hesitantly she watched the red head from afar, taking in her matured appearance before letting a frustrated sigh escape her lips.
She'd finally tracked Nagisa down, but now she needed to do the hard part- talk to her.

She'd watched the woman's journey to and from work every day for the past week, willing herself to approach only to back away at the last minute.

Pondering what she'd say she scoffed; 'Somehow I doubt 'Hey Nagisa, sorry for breaking your heart and then ignoring you for the past 6 years but can we pick back up where we left off…' is going to work'

Grimacing she decided to follow the red head; the fact she was technically stalking the younger woman failed to register as she deemed it important research.

Gradually getting closer she finally noticed how emotionless her eyes were, gulping back the gasp which threatened to escape. 'She looks so fragile…'

Guilt, anger and pain rushed over her as the now broken version of her former girlfriend tried to blend into the crowd, to disappear. 'No! I won't let you do that… you can't disappear, I won't let you!'

Skulking back into the crowd she watched the red head approach her work, waiting to make sure she'd arrived safely before grasping at her phone and dialling a number.

"Hello, yes… No, I know I haven't called in a while… yes, I know. No. Sorry. Look can you please help me?"
Pausing she took a steadying breath to calm her agitated nerves whilst the other participant confirmed her request.

"Can you give me Tamao's number? I need to speak to her…"

A fuzzy, bleary feeling over took the red heads senses as she laid there, drowsily coming around from what felt like an extremely long sleep.

Cracking her eyes open slightly she winced at how bright the room was, followed quickly by a thrumming in her head.
Grumbling slightly she snapped her eyes back shut and tried to shuffle away from the bright light, struggling as she felt some form of restraint across her torso.

"Nghh"

Huffing in annoyance she slowly opened her eyes, letting her gaze fall to the source of annoyance. Suddenly annoyance was replaced with confusion as she took in the bandages securely wrapped around herself. 'What…'

She became increasingly aware of the smell of antiseptic clouding her sense of smell, wrinkling her nose in disgust as realisation of her whereabouts dawned upon her. 'Why am I in hospital?'

"Nagisa…"

Snapping her head up she searched for the voice which had called out to her, shock overwhelming her at the figure she was confronted with.

"Shizuma…"

That was all she managed to croak out as her throat constricted painfully, cracking with every syllable. Wincing once more she closed her eyes and tried to will away the pain, physically and emotionally.

"Nagisa, I –I…"

Chocolate eyes met emerald as Nagisa observed the tear stains etched into the older woman's face and the relief which flooded her glistening eyes.
Feeling the urge to sit up the red head tried to raise herself, only to scrunch up her face at the striking pain in her side.
A pair of strong hands were instantly on her shoulders, gently pushing her back down, desperately trying to lessen the woman's pain.

"Don't try to sit up, just relax. Do you need anything? Do you need a nurse? Are you in pain?" the voice which started off imperatively rapidly descended into barely concealed panic and concern.

The red head merely groaned in response before her head lolled to the side and she attempted once again to shut out the impending pain.
A heavy silence hung over the pair then as the elder woman hovered around the bed side, her eyes were flickering the length of Nagisa's body checking for any hint that the woman's condition was deteriorating.

"Shizuma, sit down"

"Right, right… Sit. Sit. Sit down." At the silver haired woman's babbling Nagisa creaked open an eye, watching her continue to shuffle on the spot looking unsure.

"Shizuma…"

"Oh, yes! Sorry I was just-" Nagisa shut off from the woman's rambling, content that she'd eventually sit down, as she closed her eyes once more.
With her eyes closed it was easy for the red head to pretend that Shizuma wasn't there, to block out the insistent chatter near her bedside. That was until she felt a slight, almost hesitant dip on the mattress to her left. A hand gently cupped her cheek and she could no longer contain the frustrated whimper which had been building up since she recognised the woman moments before; resulting in the hand being instantaneously yanked away.

"Sorry! Did I hurt you?"

"What are you doing here Shizuma?" Nagisa's heart constricted painfully as she watched the pain flash across the others face, afraid of the answer but needing to know all the same.

"I came to see you… "

"Why?"

"Because I lov-"

"Don't finish that statement, it's not true." The red head knew she was being bitter and cold towards Shizuma but she'd built her walls up, her defence mechanisms were desperately trying to protect her heart and sanity. The reply she received however was barely audible;

"Nagisa… please."

"You lied to me."

"I know."

Huffing in frustration she continued; annoyed that the silver haired goddess still expected another chance when she knew she was in the wrong. "Then why are you still trying?"

"Because you won't let me explain! I love you Nagisa, despite what you think." The almost desperate plea in the woman's tone made the red head frown slightly in confusion.

"I gave you chance to explain everything to me when you told me about your Uncle…"

"You knew I hadn't finished speaking, but you walked away before I could finish!" Shizuma's voice started to rise slightly as she tried to confirm her point; desperate for the love of her life to at least hear her out.

"Well everything's out in the open now anyway, I know. So why are you still trying?"

"Because I love you! Why can't you understand that? I made mistakes, I'm only human; but I love you Nagisa and I never gave up on us!"

The younger of the pair groaned in despair, she really didn't want to hear any of this, didn't want to have her hopes built up once again to be savagely crushed.
"Why are you doing this to me Shizuma?"

"Because I love y-"

"Alright, I get that part. I mean why do you keep coming back to me? Why do you keep lying?"

"I don't want to lose you, I can't lose you." The slight hint of fear didn't go unnoticed by the red head.

"Is everything out in the open now? Do I know everything?"

"No…"

"What don't I know?"

"There are quite a few things…"

Trying to ignore the flare of indignation which flared within her, the red head gritted her teeth before continuing.

"Care to explain then?"

"I don't know where to begin…"

"How are we ever going to work anything out if you don't talk to me? I thought you wanted a chance to explain? Yet you're acting all coy and avoiding my questions!"

Worrying her lip between her teeth the elder woman bowed her head, the small hope ignited from Nagisa's previous statement fuelling her into confession.

"I'll tell you, however you need to promise me that you'll listen… that you won't abandon me because of what happened- what's still happening- because it all started before I found you, I was trying to live up to everyone's expectations and, well… things didn't turn out as I planned all those years ago with you."

The red head's emotions were a mixture of shock, apprehension and curiosity all at once because of the statement, as an emotional battle took place within her – finally curiosity won.
Raising her gaze to the still apprehensive emerald eyes observing her she whispered.
"Okay"

"I guess I should just come out and tell you the biggest thing in my life at the moment, my biggest secret so to say… I – I – Nagisa, I- I'm"

Taking a shuddering breath she tried to calm her nerves but failed, opting instead for clamping her eyes shut and breathing out her confession.

"I'm pregnant."

Note:

Please don't hate me? :P I dropped hints about Shizuma's little confession in the last couple of chapters. Anywho, how do you think Nagisa will react to this new-found information? :P Do you think she'll keep her promise not to abandon Shizuma?

I apologise for all the angst in recent chapters… I'll try make the next chapter a little bit… lighter? :P

Thanks once again for reading and/or reviewing. (: It makes my day.

Becky. xx

Ps. Still don't own Strawberry Panic.