Hey guys! Here's chapter 2, this story gets kinda intense later on, but i hope people continue to read and enjoy. Please R&R thanks to Liverpool and Danya for their reviews! oh and i don't own GS or GSD,
Keeping Faith Chapter 2
"Morning Commander," Otis saluted as Yzak entered the dining area with Dearka. Yzak was done with the younger recruit's ass-kissing. He had been dealing with his crew for only a few weeks now and he could barely take it.
"Otis, cut the shit. You don't have to kiss my ass, I'm not going to like any of you better," Yzak snapped. Otis let his arm fall to his side. Annie giggled, she had secretly been hoping that the commander would see through Otis' charade. Otis glared at her and she rolled her eyes.
Yzak began to pour himself some coffee.
"You seem extra cheerful this morning," Dearka commented.
"I don't sleep enough," he said angrily. Dearka snickered.
"Obviously not."
"Where's Yamato and Zala?" he asked collapsing into a desk chair.
"I think Kira is talking to Lacus on the phone screen…are you going to call Shiho?" Yzak paused. He hadn't done so in awhile and he hated doing it because it always left him so distraught.
"I guess that would be a good idea. I haven't in awhile," he scoffed.
"Why aren't you here?" Shiho practically threw her towel on the floor in anger. "I can't go through this again…and on my own," she said glancing back towards the positive pregnancy test. As if on cue, the phone rang. "Shit," she said.
"I answer! I answer!" Keeley yelled running by the door.
"Wait Keeley!" Sophie called down the hall.
"Hewo? Jouwe house," she said formally, Shiho laughed, praying that it was someone she knew well. "DADDY!" she cheered.
"Yzak…" she whispered. She had to tell him. It wasn't as though he would be mad, she just knew he'd be disappointed that he wasn't home.
"Mommy! I can't find the scween!" Keeley called from the other room.
"Coming!" she said. She took the phone from Keeley and pulled up the screen. She saw Yzak's face light up.
"Hey," he said. "How are you guys?" he smiled sadly.
"We're very good. Your mother's coming by for dinner tonight," Shiho said.
"Really?" Yzak was slightly surprised.
"Grandma says she has a gift for me!" Keeley cheered.
"Keeley, why don't you go find the picture you drew for your father," Shiho suggested. Keeley nodded and went sprinting off to her room.
"I miss you, a lot. I can't sleep," he said angrily. She smiled thinking of Yzak tossing and turning and getting extremely aggravated at himself.
"I miss you too," she said. "I have…news," she said quietly. He sat up a bit.
"Good or bad?" She could see panic running across his face.
"It's good…"
"Well spit it out!" he said hurriedly. She laughed.
"I'm pregnant again."
"Really?" he asked smiling.
"Yeah…but I wish you were here," she sighed. "I hope I'm not as sick as I was with Keeley." Yzak frowned remembering how Shiho had spent most of her pregnancy in bed because she was so tired and sick.
"I hope you're not either…my mother will be willing to help you though, you know that," he said. He wanted to be there for her. He jumped as the door opened.
"Oh…c…Commander Joule!" Annie saluted.
"Ms. Douglas," he saluted back.
"I'm sorry for interrupting! I didn't realize anyone was in here," she said.
"Yzak, who's with you?" Shiho asked.
"Oh, this is Annie Douglas, one of the younger pilots on the team. Annie this is my wife Shiho," he said.
"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Joule," she said.
"Hello Annie! It's nice to see more female pilots. Don't let the men push you around. Especially this one!" she teased.
"Shiho! I'm her Commander! She's supposed to listen to me!" he yelled.
"He just likes being in charge." Shiho laughed.
"Was there something you needed, Annie?" Yzak asked.
"Oh…I was just going to call my parents but I'll wait," she said and saluted before she began to walk away.
"Let her use the phone. You can call me another time," Shiho said.
"Alright. Well keep me informed about the baby. Oh, let me say bye to Keels," he said. Shiho called for her and she came running down the hall. She showed her drawings to him and he laughed. "You're going to be a famous artist. They're wonderful, princess," he praised. She clapped her hands. Annie wondered why Yzak had so willing left. He was a Councilor and had a decent amount of power. There really was no need for him to command at all.
"Tank you," she smiled proudly. "Bye Daddy!" she waved.
"Bye!" he waved
"Love you!" Shiho said and blew him a kiss. The screen went black
"Love you too…" he said quietly. He clasped his fist as though he'd caught her kiss. Annie was surprised, from what she had heard and seen, Yzak Joule was a brutal and tough commander and person. His temper usually got the better of him and the only person he seemed to actually talk to was Dearka. Yet she had just seen him as the father and husband who truly loved his wife and daughter.
"Your daughter, how old is she? She's very cute?" Annie asked.
"3, going to be 4 in two months," he said, thinking about how he wouldn't be home.
"Are you going to have another kid?" Annie asked, inferring from what she had heard. Yzak found Annie's forwardness slightly amusing. It was naïve but this made him chuckle a bit. He was also pleased to be able to talk about Shiho and Keeley, it gave him comfort. He paused.
"Yes…Shiho is pregnant." He knew Shiho would never say anything, but she was scared. She didn't want to be sick again, especially with him not there. He would be extremely inaccessible. "You know…Annie," he began. "I'm glad that you feel you can chat with me and I love talking about Shiho, but most Commanders would find these questions disrespectful." She blushed and looked at her shoes.
"I'm sorry sir!" she said professionally.
"Like I said, I personally don't mind, but for future reference," he said. "If you'll excuse me," he said.
Dearka was flirting with Joliette in the lounge when Yzak went to find him. He pulled him aside to Dearka's dismay.
"I have one word for you: Miriallia!" Yzak whispered harshly.
"She's not here…she'll never know," Dearka responded. Yzak shushed him.
"Whatever…listen Shiho's pregnant again."
"Congrats man!" Dearka cheered.
"I need to be there for her," he said strongly.
"You can't! You know what the Council said!" Dearka warned angrily.
"Of course I know! Doesn't mean I don't want to change it!" he snapped.
"You're just not used to getting what you want!" Dearka teased. Yzak frowned and Dearka knew he'd crossed the line.
"Go back to flirting with Joliette!" he snapped and stormed off to the bridge.
Otis hated Yzak Joule. He hated his easily provoked temper. He especially hated that he liked Annie. Before he'd joined the crew of the Voltaire, he'd been one of the favorites. He'd given Joule respect and been nice and he'd been rewarded by being called an ass-kisser…which…he was, but he didn't like being called out for it. And yet, the Commander adored Annie. Annie! The amateur pilot, she was naïve and didn't know her place, yet Yzak Joule was actually NICE to her. He allowed her silly naïvete. It was so infuriating and he didn't understand why Joule's reputation was not following suit for Annie. He was never bothered by her and it was this that bothered Otis.
"Otis…hello? You're sneering?" Otis awoke from his thoughts to face Annie, the one person he didn't want to see.
"Yeah…so?" he began to walk away, but she followed.
"You hungry? I wanted to know if…"
"Why are you so happy all the time?" he said turning to face her.
"What?" she asked.
"We're fighting ANOTHER fucking war and you're always cheerful and happy. Don't you realize this?" he yelled. She looked at him, shocked and sadness washed over her face.
"Of course I know." She paused and looked down. "My uncle…was murdered by terrorists. I love him greatly. So I understand, but why should we act sad all the time." Suddenly Otis felt bad.
"I guess…" he said, finally after a long pause.
"Well, I'm going to go eat," Annie said and began to walk away quickly.
"Annie! Wait!" Otis called after her. She stopped, wiped her eyes and then she turned around. "Can I join you?" he asked.
"Uh…yeah; you can," she said.
"I'm…uh…sorry," he offered. Annie just smile.
"It's ok, but I have to grab something in my room. I'll be right there." She walked towards the hallway. He watched her leave, thinking that she was sorta pretty, even in just the ZAFT uniform.
"Hey kiddies!" Joliette said as she entered the dining hall and sat next to Otis and Annie.
"Hey Jolie," Annie said politely.
"Just claming my spot," she said as she left once again to get food.
"You room with her?" Otis said.
"She's actually nice," Annie said defending her roommate. "She's given good guy advice and…what not?" Annie tried.
"She's given advice?" Otis slapped his forehead.
"Well I like having roommate," Annie said.
"Yeah…Dearka is cool."
"Commander Joule requests the presence of all Mobile Suit pilots on the bridge," An announcement boomed over the loudspeaker.
"Guess this lunch is to go," Joliette said, as the three left the cafeteria.
Tada! I hope you guys liked this next chapter! I'll probably be updating later this week, since I'm on vacation this week!
Please R&R!