Yes! 2nd chapter! Don't like it? Well read the ending comment and you'll find out why its so small, and you'll also find out why I had to include this chapter! And the reason it says flashback within a flashback is because this is all Ulquiorra's past life, so technically its sort of a flashback, well thought it sounded cool, don't like it tell me and I'll change it, okay? So with that said read on! :)

Remembrance

Chapter 2: Hauntings

.~.~.~.

"No," he felt himself say. He tossed and turned, trying to shake away those thoughts, but to no avail, he remained imprisoned in his nightmare. "Please, no", he repeated desperately, hoping that it would stop.

Emily awoke from her slumber and found Ulquiorra caught up in a nightmare, his memories recreating themselves in his head. He had been turning from side to side for a while now, and he had broken into a cold sweat. Frightened, Emily shook him softly, hoping she could rescue him from his nightmare.

"Ulquiorra", she begged shaking him a bit harder this time. She started to become frightened and with a more desperate tone she repeated herself. "Honey, please wake up", she pleaded worriedly. Despite her struggle to awaken him he lay there trapped.

"No!" he shouted and finally opened his eyes as he realized it was only a dream. Emily sat next to him, stroking his hair, calming him down. She understood what war did to men, and unfortunately it hadn't spared her husband. He turned to his side and embraced her tightly, not wanting to let go.

Emily was almost in tears, scared about what her husband was enduring, but did her best to contain her fear, she had to be strong for him. She sat there stroking his dark hair, hoping that would relax him. "Don't worry, everything's going to be alright" she convinced softly as she continued to caress him, with her tender soft hands.

And thus it occurred for several weeks, Ulquiorra and his recurring nightmares. They never seemed to cease, but with the help and support from Emily, they lessened. Caressing him, tenderly, hoping that his dreams would pass.

It had been a month now, since Ulquiorra's arrival. They had spent time making up for the years they had remained apart, but Emily made sure they refrained from talking about the war. She was curious and wanted to know a lot, about his survival, obstacles, etc., but she knew it would bring back painful memories, so she did her best to refrain from touching the subject.

In little time Joshua an Ulquiorra had developed a great friendship, and it almost seemed as if they had always known each other. This warmed Emily's heart so much, that she was unable to suppress it, but as happiness rose, so did sadness and her past slowly crawled upwards.

It had been another normal day, as she spent time indoors cleaning and doing whatever chores had to be done as she washed the dishes she looked outside to where Ulquiorra and Joshua were playing in the sun. Both of them enjoying themselves, Joshua ran as fast as he could giggling with laughter. She stared outside, a smile on her face, and then that memory flashed in front of her as she heard Jasmine start crying for the fifth time that day.

[flashback within a flashback]

She walked towards their kitchen to drink some water, it had been about a month and a half since she had had Joshua, and she remained with a fever. She felt terrible, but she withstood the pains without any medications so she could continue to breast feed her child.

As her bare feet made contact with the wooden floor of the kitchen she heard four knocks come from the door. She felt her heart quicken and her body stiff, unsure of what awaited her. She walked towards the door and opened it slowly. It revealed three tall men all dressed in a similar uniform.

"Hello?" she asked afraid of what tidings these men brought to her door. The tallest of the three stretched his hand towards the door making sure it remained open. She stiffened, afraid of the man, but she did her best not to show her fear.

"Why hello, pretty mouse" the tall man answered mockingly. She felt herself frown at the nickname the man had given her, and suddenly she felt afraid of who these men were.

"What do you want?" she asked in a harsher tone than before. She wanted the men to leave as soon as possible. The air in the place became hostile and the only noise heard was the flickering flames coming from the fireplace inside.

"Why thank you, I would love to go inside" the tall man replied as he passed right before her into her house, the two men who were accompanying him right behind him. She had no choice but to turn and wait for them to state why they were here.

"Why are you here?" she asked once again in a firm voice. She stood in the same position and awaited for one of them to say something.

The tallest one of them turned around and gave a wicked smile--

[End of flashback]

The crying continued and she finally awoke from her trance. She looked back up from the running water, and noticed Ulquiorra watching her with concern from outside the window. She forced a smile and turned around to go quiet the crying child.

As she reached the cradle she took out the crying child who turned about frustrated. She couldn't help but feel somewhat hatred at the child, it was the result for what had happened to her that night. She would always shake those thoughts away, but they would eventually come back.

She rocked the child back and forth a bit briskly, wishing it would just stop crying, but to no gain, the child seemed to wail louder. She placed the screaming child back in the crib and just held her head tightly looking down at the baby who didn't seem to cease screaming.

"Just shut up already!" she yelled frustrated. She inclined herself even more and she felt tears run down her face as well as lose hairs. "Please, just stop" she beseeched. She couldn't take it any longer, she felt like running off a cliff, she didn't want to be there, listening to that child screaming, she didn't want her.

Everyday she would convince herself that it wasn't the child's fault, that it never asked to be born, so why should it suffer for something it never did? Everyday she would fight with herself, her feelings confusing her, but in the end she would always pretend. She would pretend that night never happened, that Jasmine wasn't conceived of anger and lust, but rather of love and by the man she loved. But everyday her feelings would contradict her previous resolve.

"Emily." a soft voice said behind her, and at the same time a pair of cold hands appeared on her shoulder. She continued to cry silently bent over the crib.

"Emily, please" Ulquiorra continued as he stroked her back gently, hoping it would ease her pain. He knew what she was going through, he had seen her act strangely before, but he tried his best to cooperate, so she would stop feeling that way, but her thoughts didn't cease.

"Make it stop, please" she sobbed continuously, not bothering to look up at him or move. "Please make it go away, please make her go away" she cried truthfully. Ulquiorra made her turn around now, using a bit of force. She was surprised at his reaction and stood there looking at his emerald eyes dumbfounded and lost in her misery.

"Emily, please, I love you very much, and I know what you're going through, but listen to what you're saying" Ulquiorra answered as he pulled her into a hug. Emily didn't want Jasmine she had never wanted her, but they couldn't do anything about it, they just had to work together and find a way to get through the problem together.

"Its alright, I'll take care of everything, you go and get yourself some sleep," Ulquiorra told her as he placed one of her lose hairs behind her ear and then leaning in to kiss her forehead. Everything was going to be alright, he knew it, and was going to make sure it turned out fine. She was there for him when he had his nightmares, it was his turn to repay her for everything.

Okay! Well I have to cut this chapter short because of the next chapter! Next chapter is very important and will lead to the climax! YES! More tragedies to come! Okay, that's really rude, but yes the most important thing is coming up! And to all you who thought this chapter was boring, it was supposed to be boring, because it really has no real importance except to introduce and emphasize Emily's trauma. But don't worry I'll spice up the next chapter for you guys! *winks* Anyways, please leave any review, blah blah blah, I know you guys won't even bother to look at my profile or finish reading this story :( *sniff* so why bother?

Why? I'll tell you! Cause I was reading this Ulqui x Orihime fic and it had like a hundred reviews! A HUNDRED! Wow! And for and ulquihime fic?? Come on! You all know deep within your hearts that Ulquiorra deserves a caring, loving character! So the point is please review! At least a smiley face? Hey I was thinking of translating this story into Spanish! Will be a challenge, but maybe I could get a broad audience! What do you guys think? Well I'll never know cause you'll never put a review...ok will stop babbling about my grief now... reviews/comments/ even flames (!) are welcome! Just leave something!! :)