Hey guys! Sorry this took SOO long to post. I had a hard time finishing this chapter, but here it is! Please R&R and I don't own Gundam Seed! :)

Keeping Faith Chapter 9

Yzak was able to leave the hospital within three days of being there. Shiho, however, was unaware of this fact. So when the call came from Dearka that she was needed at the hospital, she started panicking. Ezalia immediately came to pick her and Keeley up.

"What could possibly be wrong?" she asked nervously. "I thought he was doing better?"

"I don't know," Ezalia admitted sadly.

"God that man is going to give me a heart attack," she said sighed as she got out of the car.

"Does she know?" Yzak asked Dearka, while they stood out of the hospital room.

"Not a clue…you're real mean, you know that," Dearka said teasing. Yzak laughed.

"I guess but imagine how surprised she'll be."

"Sure," Dearka shrugged. "How old are you? 27? 28?"

"Oh like you're any better," Yzak snapped

"Daddy!" Keeley squealed as she turned the corner. She ran over and Yzak picked her up.

"Hey there Princess," he kissed her cheek. Shiho froze and frowned. She walked slowly towards him.

"You jerk," she said hugging him. He kissed her lightly.

"I've really missed being able to do that," he said.

"You horny bastard!" she punched his arm. "I can't believe you! You had me all worried!" she yelled.

"But wasn't the surprise worth it?" he smirked.

"I suppose so, " she said.

"Sorry for worrying you. I know stress isn't something you need right now.

"It's ok. I suppose I can forgive you," she said smiling. "Can we…go home?" she asked. Keeley tightened her grip on Yzak's neck.

"But I think I need to make a stop first," he said.

"Where?" she asked.

"Ms. Douglas' house. From what I hear she isn't coming out her room," he explained as he, Dearka, Ezalia and Shiho made their way to the car.

"What? Annie, really? She always seemed so cheerful, what could've happened," Dearka said.

"The young girl who came in when we were on the phone?" Shiho asked.

"Yes…that's her and as to what happened," he glanced at Keeley sitting on his lap. She was fiddling with her bunny stuffed animal. He paused and frowned.

"Yzak...?" Dearka said.

"It was awful…I couldn't do anything. I watched…I watched," he whispered angrily. The other passengers stared intently at him. "I didn't want to. I wanted to stop them, but really, there wasn't anything I could do," he said. He opened the door as the car pulled up to the house.

"Do you mind if I come with you?" Shiho asked.

"I'd love that," he said quietly.

It was true, Annie hadn't come out of her room since she'd gotten home from the hospital a few days ago. She hadn't told anyone anything and she'd refused all visitors. Doctors had come twice and Otis had come more than 5 times and she wouldn't even open up for her parents. She was barely eating. She only came out to use the bathroom and get water. When she did she was wrapped tightly in her comforter. She didn't want anyone to see her, especially Otis.

Her parents were worried, as they should've been. When Annie heard the doorbell ring. She buried her head under the covers. If it was Otis again, she would feel terrible for turning him away again, but she couldn't see him. Her mother opened the door and was extremely surprised by the people standing in their doorway.

"C…Councilman Joule and Mrs. Joule, what a surprise?" she said. "Come in, come in. Sit down. I'm Michelle, can I get you two anything?" she said scurrying to fix the pillow.

"No thank you and please Yzak is fine and this is Shiho my wife. I was hoping to speak with your daughter." Her face fell.

"If you can get her to talk or even just come out of her room," she sighed loudly. Annie's father entered the room.

"Oh…" he said surprised. "Councilman Joule," he said. He held out his hand. "Jonathan Douglas." Yzak grasped the man's hand and tightly shook it.

"Yzak is fine," he said.

"Do you know…what happened, to make her like this," her mother stuttered quietly.

"I…do…but I think it's only fair that she tell you herself…Mrs. Douglas, if you must know, I'd like Annie to come back to my team. She's an amazing pilot." Michelle Douglas frowned. She didn't like the idea of Annie going back and having her leave again. But she knew that Councilman Yzak Joule was a powerful man and was rarely denied what he wanted. She also knew Annie and Annie would want to fight.

"Well…if you can get her to talk…" the Douglas' led Yzak to her door.

"Annie Douglas…this is your Commander. May we chat?" he said knocking on the door.

"Commander…" she whispered. She had to listen to him, he was her commander after all and besides he already knew. There was silence for a while, until finally she opened the door. Her mother gasped.

"Good," he said smiling.

"I'll talk with you…only you," she whispered. He stood in her doorway.

"I think your parents deserve an explanation. I think you need to eat and I also think I need my best pilot back."

"I can't talk about it…" she said. Annie's mother opened the door wider.

"We're here for you sweetheart. We'll support you no matter what," she said.

"You can talk about it," Yzak said.

"No I can't!" she yelled and started crying. "They won't like me! They'll…they'll think I'm a whore!"

"Annie! Stop it…you know damn right well that's not true!" Yzak yelled. Shiho squeezed his hand. Annie was sobbing.

"Yzak…maybe we should," Shiho said.

"No! Shiho. I will not lose one of the greatest pilots due to some fucking assholes. Annie, listen to me, we want to help you."

"Please tell us sweetie," her mother begged. Annie slid the blanket off of herself.

"Well…they…took off my…and touched everywhere," Annie said quietly. Her mother hugged her, crying.

"Did they rape you?" her mother asked. Annie nodded. "You couldn't…stop them?" she said. Yzak lowered his eyes and shook his head.

"YOU BASTARD! " her father screamed and grabbed Yzak by the collar. Shiho gasped. Yzak winced as he slammed him against the wall. "I bet you watched. You watched as my daughter was violated and you didn't even try to help you sick rich bastard!"

"Jon!" Michelle Douglas screamed. "He's a councilmember! You can't just…!"

"NO! The only reason he's on the goddamn corrupt council is because of his money! This man…this.

"Dad please stop! Commander Joule couldn't do anything. He was tied up! It wasn't his fault!" Annie yelled. Jonathan Douglas released Yzak.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me…" he said sadly.

"It's alright. You're angry…I understand. But I promise you, I plan to get these guys. I plan to avenge this as best as I can. I'm sick of these damn terrorists. Will you help me Annie?" he asked. Annie looked at him. "It's a lot to ask. I understand."

"I…I can't, "she said sadly. Yzak nodded.

"Well make sure you see a doctor and Otis. He's worried, I'm sure. I'll keep in touch. " Jon stayed with Annie as Michelle walked them to the door.

'Thank you. Thank you so much. We're very grateful and please excuse my husband's behavior, he sometimes can't control his anger."

"We're no strangers to anger, right Yzak?" Shiho teased. He scoffed.

"Tell Annie to contact me if she changes her mind," he said.

"Well Mr. Joule, I've never seen you so caring," Shiho teased once they were back at home. They were sitting on the couch watching T.V, after putting Keeley to bed. Yzak enjoyed the relaxing, it had been so hectic recently and now suddenly everything was so normal.

"Please…I'm caring to you and Keeley all the time," he kissed her head.

"Sure…sure you are," she paused. "It's nice to have you home," she said and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"It's really nice to be here. By the way…Dearka tells me you created quite a scene on the council." Shiho blushed.

"I did…why didn't you tell me they forced you to go to the front lines!"

"Because…of your father."

"That man…how could he…" Shiho said shaking.

"Shiho, Shiho, it's done…" Yzak grabbed her hands in his.

"No Yzak it's not. He calls me all the time trying to apologize and now that you're back he thinks it's done! But that's not true…" he cut her off by kissing her.

"You're the sexiest woman, I've ever known," he whispered resting his forehead against hers. He slid his hand up and down her thigh.

"I better be," she laughed. He kissed her again, but with more passion. He ran his hand along the inseam of her leg.

"Did I already tell you how much I missed you?" he asked. She laughed but pulled away. She stood up.

"I missed you too, but I'm tired. You seem to forget, I'm pregnant," she said pointing to her stomach. "I can't do stuff like that." He stood up and wrapped his arms around her.

"I could never forget that," he said. He kissed her neck. "I love you and thank you, for fighting for me," he said.

"I love you too," she turned to face him. "I can't forgive him; my father…"

"I understand." Of course he understood. If someone had taken Shiho from him, he wouldn't forgive that person either. "We'll see how things go when we go back tomorrow."

Alright, I hope this chapter was satisfying. I tried to make it cute :) So much love to everyone who reviews and those who read and don't review, drop a review but even if you don't im glad you're reading :)! Much love :) Oh and everyone should check out LockLore's gundam seed story: Gundam Seed The Aftermath, it's really great! :)