Dearka & Miriallia
Book II
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 15
Frailty
Dearka sat quietly as he watched Miriallia stir awake. Her eyes fluttered from the peaceful state she had been in.
"Dearka, where are we?" she questioned with the look of concern filling her features. The room they were in was a white and lilac mix with crisp eyelet curtains blowing gently with the soft breeze.
"There's no need to worry Mir. We're on PLANT. You were transferred here last night. You've been unconscious since having Nora," he answered standing up from the chair he had been sitting in and moving over to her but never smiling.
Her eyes glistened with an enamored look. "Nora," she repeated with a quiet tone.
"That's still okay isn't it?" Dearka asked hoping that she hadn't changed her mind.
Everything was still as his heart jumped a few beats. And then she spoke again, "Of course, I haven't changed my mind. I told you I thought it was perfect. Are you still okay with her middle name though?" She now felt the same way he just had while awaiting his response.
A flash entered his mind and he remembered Yzak's warning before answering. "Yeah, I can live with the fact that Randall helped name her. But it's only because her name is similar to mine. I still have my ego after all," he teased.
"I know all too well," she joked with him. There was another awkward moment of silence when they finished giggling. He didn't want to laugh with the way things were, but somehow even in the worst situations, she brightened his life.
"I'm really sorry for the way things turned out. I never meant to upset you with all the bickering Randall and I did over you."
"So I really did ruin your friendship with him so much that you don't even call him by his first name anymore," she noted with concern about her part in the whole mess between the two young men.
He didn't know what to say at that moment. Dearka never wanted to make her feel like anything that went wrong in his life was her fault. After all, she didn't really do anything but act like the sweet, gentle woman she is. It had just been the circumstances that led to the way things were now.
"Sooner or later it was going to happen once we met up again. I can't say that I'm not still protective of Cadey and he feels the same way. I think a little of it has to do with you and a lot actually has to do with Cadey in this instance."
"Wait a minute, what's that I hear?" she said with a strange look in her eyes. He wasn't sure what she was about to say and he was afraid he might have said something that was going to upset her again, especially with the mention of Cadey.
"Was that honesty finally slipping from your lips with such ease?" she teased. His features lightened up from the tension that had begun to show from the pause and a small smile escaped.
"I guess it's about time, huh?" he laughed a little embarrassed.
Miriallia looked around the room again and noticed something missing. A look of concern drew across her features as she tried to make sense of her thoughts. She was still a little groggy and unable to gain her composure completely. "Where are they?" she asked starting to get a little frantic.
Dearka knew exactly who had entered her mind and wasted no time in answering her question. "Belle is staying with a friend of mine here and Nora is safe," he said to avoid telling Miriallia anything that would upset her.
"What do you mean by safe Dearka?" she asked ruining his tactic. He wanted to make sure she was kept calm as the doctor ordered, but knew that would be near impossible when she woke up asking for her baby.
Dearka moved in swiftly and sat on the bed next to her. Wrapping his arms around her in an attempt to protect her from the words that were about to spill from his lips. How could he tell her what was happening? He was terrified himself, but he was only following orders by staying in the room and giving the doctors space like the soldier in him demanded.
"Dearka!" she insisted, her heart rate rising. The air thickened as she started having trouble breathing. All of a sudden the pain she had been feeling tripled as she waited for any sound at all to come out of his mouth.
"You need to calm down Mir," Dearka said trying to keep himself together. Her eyes flashed angrily as if a fire had lit behind them. Now wasn't the time to tell her to stay calm, not when they were talking about their baby.
"Tell me now!" she said enraged. The overprotective mothering side revealed itself as she ordered him to tell her where their daughter was.
"She's going to be fine, she's just in the ICU for now. It's only temporary. You have to realize she's over a month early and with all those drugs they gave you in the EAF, we just want to be extra cautious," he lied through his teeth ending the short streak of honesty he had begun. But then again, in this case, one more white lie couldn't hurt when Miriallia's health was at stake, or so he told himself.
The truth was, he didn't know how she was really doing. There were some complications during the transfer due to her early delivery and they really didn't know what affects the drugs had on her on the ship to begin with. All he could do was sit and wait to find out. The worse part is he now had to make Miriallia believe his words.
"I need to see her," she cried softly. Dearka closed his eyes and shook his head at her. There wasn't even a way for him to justify taking her out of her room and especially not when she was still weak and hooked to an IV herself.
"Miriallia, it's not a good idea right now. She's going to be okay, but you have to rest too. How about I send for Belle to come down to see you right now?" he pleaded to any rationality she may have left.
"I said NOW Dearka!" the weakness of her last request faded as the lioness she was shone through. There was no mistaking what it was that made him fall in love with her in the first place. She may be a crybaby at times, but when she was serious she was ferocious.
"Okay," he gave in easily. This side of her always made him fall in line and do whatever it was she asked of him. Now he just had to figure out how to pull it off. The nurses were sure to have an eye on all the doors and he didn't even want to think of the lecture he'd get from the doctor once he was caught.
All that didn't matter anymore. Miriallia wanted to see their baby and he was going to make it happen, somehow. He looked around the room and saw the robe hanging on the door. He stood up and walked over to grab it, turning around to bring it too her, a barley audible scold came from his mouth. "Stop that!" he cried at her.
"What are you doing? You aren't supposed to touch that," he snipped. She had pulled the IV out of her hand and began rubbing the puncture wound roughly.
"I can't very well walk around with the IV still attached to me. Don't you think it would be a little too obvious? Just get me my clothes," she ordered shooing him away from her with the robe.
"I swear you're going to be the end of me Mir," Dearka said shaking his head and obeying her every word. He tossed her clothes onto the bed next to her and stood there with a spacey look on his face.
"Well what are you waiting for?" she asked.
"What?" he responded in confusion.
"Turn around," she ordered. Dearka was definitely lost now. He couldn't believe what he was hearing from her. Out of all things to say to him.
"You've got to be kidding," he stated with offense.
"I'm not, now turn around," she said again.
Dearka turned around in annoyance, huffing and shaking his head in frustration. "Really Mir, this is ridiculous. It's not like…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's not like you haven't seen it all before. I'm not comfortable right now, so just deal with it," she said cutting him off and slipping into her dress.
She tapped him on the shoulder gently and he turned around. She took his breath away again. Already looking like the Miriallia she used to be only a day later. "Impressive bounce back if I do say," he said with a sly grin.
"Don't get any ideas. You're going to have to wait until I heal," she winked. She began walking toward the door and turned back to see he wasn't following.
"Well, what are you waiting for, let's go," she said impatiently.
"You know Miriallia, she needs a little TLC from the doctors still. Are you sure you want to see her in this state?" he asked trying to forewarn her.
"She's our daughter and I don't care how she looks right now, I need to see her," she said with a certainty that made Dearka move from his place.
He hit the door switch and looked around the bend to see where the nurses were positioned. Luckily for him, no one was anywhere to be seen. "Okay, the coast is clear. But once we get to the ICU, I can't promise anything," he said slipping her out of the door with him.
They scurried down the hall and around the corner. Away from the Maternity Ward nurses, they were able to walk normally through the next corridor. Miriallia had heard what he said and took it to heart.
"So, how often have you been down at the ICU?" she asked. He stopped in his tracks and kept his head down for a moment.
"Is she really doing that poorly?" Miriallia asked the question that was really on her mind. Dearka took a deep breath before looking up and turning to look straight into her eyes.
"I've been checking on her every hour until they told me that I wasn't allowed to visit anymore. Since then I've been waiting for you to wake up," he answered.
"Then it isn't a good sign, is it?" she asked hoping the answer wouldn't be what she feared.
"I really don't know Mir," he said honestly. Dearka grabbed her hand and started moving toward the ICU with her. Without a word he looked around and walked over to the nurses' station with her still holding on.
"Lt. Elsman, what are you doing here? I thought the doctor told you she would get you when you could see your daughter again," the nurse said looking up from the desk.
"I need a favor, I want to see Nora one more time. Her mother has to see her. Please I'm begging you to open the doors to the ICU so we can just peek in on her," Dearka pleaded.
"I'm really sorry Sir, but I could lose my job. I can't break a direct order. No one is allowed to enter the ICU at this time. Not even the child's mother," she replied.
"Please it will only be a moment. I'll be quiet, honest. I just have to see my little girl. I haven't even been able to see her yet," Miriallia begged.
"I wish I could, but I don't have the authority," the nurse stated feeling the pain the predicament was causing the couple. Dearka's head dropped in defeat. He was hoping the nurse would let them through for just a moment, but knew that it was a long shot.
"What's the problem, losing your touch," a familiar voice rang out. Dearka shuddered when he heard the noise. How could THAT person be here? He hadn't even told them what was going on. In fact, they hadn't spoken since that day.
Dearka turned to face the familiar voice and stood on edge. Miriallia turned to see the cold eyes looking her up and down. "You may not have the authority to allow entrance, but I do. Please let them into the ICU," the voice demanded.
"Yes, right away," the nurse, replied without hesitation. The doors swung open and Dearka looked between the two.
"Well, what are you waiting for? You wanted in didn't you?" Dearka's eyes slit in anger but he felt the gentle tugging of his fiancée leading him toward the doors. Dearka didn't waste another moment and followed Miriallia through the entrance.
Once in, he took the lead and brought her to the window to see their baby girl. She was so tiny and hooked up to so many machines. Tears formed in Miriallia's eyes as she saw her baby girl in such dire straits. "Why are there so many machines on her? She's too tiny for all those things," Miriallia cried.
Dearka rubbed her shoulders gently and kissed the top of her head. "She's going to be fine, I know it. Don't worry Miriallia, I'll make sure of it."
"And how are you going to pay for all of this Dearka?" the voice intervened.
Miriallia stifled her tears and turned to see that they had been followed in. "I'm sorry, do you personally know him Dearka?" Miriallia asked.
Of course he knew him. It was the one person he'd hoped to never see again. "Miriallia, I'd like you to meet my father, Councilman Tad Elsman," he said with resentment. Miriallia stood there in shock. She had never expected to meet one of his parents this way.
"Is that any way to treat your father, who just came over to help you in your time of need?" Tad asked.
"Help me? I asked for your help once before and I remember quite clearly how you reacted. So yeah, that's the way I treat a father like you," Dearka stated defensively.
Miriallia had turned back around after hearing who he was to look at her little girl again. "You don't need him Dearka," Miriallia said taking note of Dearka's hostility toward the person.
"I know I don't," Dearka replied. Miriallia turned back around and bowed politely.
"Thank you for helping us into the ICU, but we don't need any financial or supportive help. My family is well enough off and can afford any care our daughter needs," Miriallia said respectfully.
"I'm beginning to see that from the way you're dressed and how you act young lady. It's almost like night and day between this one and your official fiancée," Tad stated.
"She's my official fiancée," Dearka answered shortly, his eyes never blinking. The two stood dangerously still as Miriallia's focus turned between them and her baby.
"Were you planning on telling your mother and I about this?" Tad questioned already knowing the answer.
"Not now, I have my daughter to worry about Councilman," Dearka replied and returned his attention on Miriallia and his daughter through the glass.
"You are acting very immature Dearka. I know we raised you better. Besides it was just tough love that your mother and I had shown you that day," he said sounding innocent.
"You call kidnapping my daughter and beating me down, tough love. You've got some nerve showing up here and thinking I'd buy that," Dearka roared never looking back.
Miriallia's eyes widened when she heard his words and turned to look at the face of the man that supposedly took their daughter from him when Dearka had been in charge of caring for her.
"It's funny, even with how much Miriallia's father despises me, the one thing he cared about more than anything was his child and his grandchild. You were amazingly the exact opposite and yet groomed me into thinking that family was the most important thing," Dearka condemned.
"It is the most important thing, when it's a pure family. She seems sweet enough, but you already have an obligation to another woman, or have you forgotten that detail," his father scolded.
"Not this again. Cadey and I broke it off. It was a mutual agreement and nothing that concerns you. Not to mention, I was already obligated to Miriallia. I was with her before I ever returned to PLANT," Dearka countered.
"Enough!" Miriallia yelled. Both men stopped and turned in attention to her cry. She was very insistent when she wanted to be.
"This isn't about him and Cadey and this isn't about who he belongs with or who has a say in his life. Right now this is about our daughter who is hooked up to machines and may not survive. I don't want to hear how disappointed you are that he is with a Natural. I just want you to leave him alone so he can focus on the most important thing in his life right now, his little girl. If you really cared for his happiness, you'll just walk away and leave us be," Miriallia's voice ordered.
The statement threw Tad Elsman off his guard. It was a rare occurrence, but whenever Dearka was privy to it, things tended to work in his favor.
"For now, I'll take my leave. It is not my intention to upset you young lady. Especially since you are a new mother in a horrible situation. But I am not leaving this hospital until my son and I have a discussion," Tad informed them.
"I'm not your son," Dearka stated defiantly.
Tad shook his head as he began to walk away. "The genes say otherwise son. By the way, she is a cute little thing in there, regardless that her mother is a Natural."
Miriallia and Dearka watched him leave in aggravation. But just as quickly as he had gained their attention, he lost it to the sweet angel sleeping on the other side of the glass.