Lost Memories/Amnesia Girl Chapter 13

So what do you think? Good, bad or not good at all?

"I've been thinking," Andy began looking at his lover. Almost every day she was in and out of his office at odd times. She enjoyed giving her lover company but she hated that he was always immersed in his work.

"What?" Aisha asked. She was sipping on cold drink staring off into the distance. At the moment, Andy was mostly working having no real time to chat freely with Aisha.

"Why don't we adopt Amarante?" Andy replied. Aisha swallowed hard looking into Andy's eyes. He only smiled back as she then placed down her drink.

"Are you being serious?" Aisha demanded. In the past he had said that as a joke but this time she wasn't sure.

"Yes. Isn't this my serious tone? She so cute and loving. Don't you think she'd be the perfect edition to our family?" Andy answered. Aisha just stared at him with her mouth opened. She was so surprised that he would actually say something like this. He had loved her like his own daughter but she really didn't believe that he prided her as such.

"I could understand if Amarante was an orphan but she already has a family," Aisha informed. She gave a sigh wandering around his office before standing behind his chair.

"Yeah, yeah…But they don't like her," Andy corrected. Aisha groaned again before tapping her foot impatiently.

"Andy, have you talked to her about this?" Aisha demanded. He always thought that Aisha was cute when she was angry.

"No. Not yet. Let's see how things play out first," Andy replied. He beckoned her to sit on his lap but she only crossed her arms and cocked her hip. With a smile Aisha only shook her head before her smile became wider.

"Oh I got to go. Don't forget that the ball is in three days," Aisha cooed. She gave him a sly wink before leaving. He watched her saunter out of the room before sighing loudly. She always had a knack of telling things at the last minute.

"Now she reminds me," Andy began with a groan. "Oh well, something to pester DaCosta with later." He sifted through the papers on his desk to find a note. It was in Amarante's writing as he opened it. It was small and wasn't that noticeable so it was a little bit of a shock to him. He chuckled softly knowing that the girl would do things like this.

Dear Dad,

Just wanted to say that I love you.

Amarante

Andy chuckled, "Aren't you sweet."

"Hey Amarante. What are you doing so far from the base center?" DaCosta asked approaching her. She continued to look into the sky before focusing her attention on him. She gave him a salute as he approached the girl. He eventually waved it away noticing that she was still pretty distracted.

"Oh just a walk. I have no idea why but I keep getting this funny feeling like…someone is calling me," Amarante replied. She looked back into the sky before shrugging. He tried to keep track of her attention but she couldn't concentrate on anything.

"Maybe it's your imagination?" DaCosta suggested. With a smile Amarante looked back at DaCosta. He could almost never remember a time where she wasn't smiling or a time where she didn't seem happy.

"I hope so," Amarante sighed. Her smile quickly faded as she crossed her arms and cocked her hip. DaCosta began noticing that she was becoming more and more like Aisha and Andy with everyday. He thought of the consequences of these notions getting a sickening feeling in his stomach. He shook the thoughts away before focusing on Amarante.

"Come on…why don't we return to the inner base," DaCosta suggested. He ushered her forward yet he felt her balk. It was odd to see her retaliate.

"There it is again!" Amarante babbled looking into the sky. It was calling her and she felt as she had to go and meet this sound or person. DaCosta looked up at the sky as well but saw nothing and defiantly heard nothing.

"Do you want to go to the infirmary?" DaCosta asked. He took her arm to pull her along. Focusing on where they were going Amarante stop hesitating.

"No. It's not like I feel sick. It just feels weird," Amarante sighed. She looked down as they walked across the base together.

"Are you ready for the ball?" DaCosta asked as they walked back to the base. More soldiers began to appear as they came closer to the base center.

Amarante gasped, "NO! I forgot about that!" She hit her head softly and let out a sigh of frustration. She had been so busy on the LaGOWE that it didn't occur to her to go out and look for a dress or to look online before having to have it altered.

"Don't worry you still have a couple of days right?" DaCosta said hopefully. He patted her back gently trying to reassure her.

"But I don't have time to look for a dress. My schedule is so filled up!" Amarante panicked. She walked around in a tiny circle continuing to hit her head.

"Well you don't need to worry. I've been looking for you Amarante. Thanks for finding her DaCosta," Aisha called out from a distance. She sauntered up to them giving Amarante a little wink. Amarante frowned knowing that she had something up her sleeve.

"You're welcome Ma'am," DaCosta said once Aisha was in front of them.

"Now as for you little miss," Aisha began. "Let's go. We need to find the perfect dress." Like normal Aisha went to pull the girl but Amarante moved back. She was tired of being the puppy on the leash. She wanted to be a person not the puppy.

"I'll just follow. I'm used to it now," Amarante sighed. She always gave up when it came to being pulled along. Although she would be passive aggressive and not struggle.

"It's more fun this way," Aisha giggled snatching the girl's arm and pulling her along. Aisha was surprised to see Amarante not struggling. She always struggled, what was with the new change?

"I'm not going to protest," Amarante muttered slyly. Aisha smirked slyly thinking about ways to get her to protest.

"There are ways," Aisha said back just as sly. With her free hand Aisha began to unzip Amarante's uniform jacket. Amarante's face went red and she began to cry out with protest. The soldiers walking by or working looked over at the struggling girl making her feel more ashamed.

"Stop!" Amarante cried. She felt all the eyes upon her and it made her even more embarrassed.

"See I knew I could get you to protest," Aisha giggled slyly. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Maylam eyeing them. Maylam wanted Aisha to take off the jacket but he knew she wasn't. He just left without a word.

"Let me go," Amarante whispered to her as they went up the steps. The guards let them in and Aisha eventually withdrew her hands. Amarante stumbled forward trying to avoid the gaze of any soldier who came by.

"You know where to go and what to do," Aisha chuckled waving her away with a flick of the hand. Soon after Aisha followed making sure no one was pursuing them. She didn't really like how Maylam eyed her and didn't want him to follow them.

"After trying on all those dresses…You're wearing that one," Aisha gasped. Amarante had probably tried on over 30 dresses. Since she was Aisha's little "pet" Amarante could get away with shirking her duties. Although, Waltfeld sometimes got annoyed with it. He wanted Amarante to be working…not getting dressed up in different dresses.

"I don't know," Amarante replied looking at herself in the mirror. She wore a red strapless dress that descended all the way to the floor. A bow was neatly tied around her waist. The loose ends of the bow continued down her back and to the floor. Jewels circled the dress in a patterns of diamonds.

"I love it on you. You look beautiful," Aisha cooed. She wrapped her arms around the girl giving her a deep and loving hug. Amarante smiled enjoying the hug that Aisha gave her.

"Thank you," Amarante replied.

"Come here, sit down in the chair okay? I want to do your hair," Aisha ordered. Amarante sat in the chair Aisha pointed to. Yet she had another agenda. She loved the girl just as much as Andy did. They worked well together and Amarante's birthday passed over several times without anyone knowing.

"What is it Ma'am?" Amarante asked quietly. She cocked her head innocently like normal trying to figure out what she was going to do.

"Andy and I thought we'd give you an early birthday gift," Aisha cooed securing a necklace around her neck. It was a gold locket with a ruby encrusted in the middle. Amarante's eyes widened seeing the beauty and trying to figure out what the heck she was doing.

"Ms. Aisha! Why did you do that?" Amarante demanded. She didn't need something like that AND Commander Waltfeld was her superior not her friend or her father. Even if she really wanted him to be.

"Shhhhh…We wanted to do something for you. This was the necklace Andy gave me when we started dating. After talking it over…we decided that we wanted to give it to you. Our little shooting star, you'll defiantly go far," Aisha replied wrapping her arms around the little girl's neck. Amarante shook her head disagreeing with her mother figure.

"I can't keep it if it's yours," Amarante replied. She didn't want to take something that wasn't hers. Also it was so special to Andy and Aisha.

"It's a gift but on to more pressing matters, who are you going to the ball with?" Aisha asked. Amarante blushed softly feeling it sting her cheeks. She sounded just like her commander. He always used the phrase, "on to more pressing matters." Aisha giggled seeing the blush on her face.

"No one. No one has asked me," Amarante replied. I kinda want to go with Kirkwood though…Amarante said her blush intensifying.

"Who do you want to go with?" Aisha asked curiously. She gave Amarante a wink and tried to figure out who Amarante wanted to go to.

"No one in particular," Amarante replied her face still dashed with blush. She was so bashful and Aisha thought it made her really cute. Everyone saw how cute Amarante was even the superiors above Commander Waltfeld. She was a cute and sweet girl by nature.

"Well, I'll hang this up for you and then you can get back to your work," Aisha sighed knowing that she wouldn't get it out of her. She hated how secretive Amarante could be. Amarante didn't want to her to know anyways.

"Okay," Amarante said excitedly. She had always hated dresses and she really want to get out of it. Aisha chuckled leaving her to her own devices.

Night of ball

"Now don't you two look stunning?" Waltfeld cooed looking at Aisha and Amarante. Aisha's dress was a light blue halter which followed the curves of her body unlike Amarante's dress which puff out at her waist. Amarante hid behind Aisha blushing heavily. It was hard for Commander Waltfeld to believe that Amarante was only a mere child of 15 AND it was hard to believe that Amarante was a soldier.

"Come on you. You can't hide now," Aisha giggled. She pushed her out in front of her causing her to stumble.

"DaCosta, where's your date?" Waltfeld called out to him. DaCosta cringed hoping he'd be able to sneak by without anyone noticing him. With a sigh he pulled himself to his commander's feet.

"I don't have one sir," DaCosta replied. With a small push Waltfeld pushed Amarante towards DaCosta. She stumbled forward trying to stop herself from falling.

"Well she doesn't have one either. What a perfect match!" Waltfeld teased. DaCosta caught the stumbling young girl. Aisha chuckled as Waltfeld took her arm and lead her away.

DaCosta sighed, "If anything, let me escort you inside." Amarante nodded taking hold of DaCosta's arm. DaCosta was her family too…and she loved him just as much as Aisha and Waltfeld. Walking together Amarante had forgotten how uncomfortable high heels were.

"You look nice!" Amarante chimed lovingly. Caught off guard by the suggestion, DaCosta blushed slightly.

"You should be complimenting yourself," DaCosta replied. Amarante blushed cringing at the thought. DaCosta smiled at the girl's gentle and bashful nature. There were two figures coming closer and closer and soon enough Amarante noticed that it was Maylam and Kirkwood.

"Ah! Kirkwood and Maylam," Amarante squeaked. She hid behind DaCosta trying to make sure they didn't see her. That wasn't possible since her large poofy dress stood out against DaCosta's green uniform.

"Amarante, what are you doing?" DaCosta asked raising an eyebrow. He blinked in confusion as she continued to hide.

"I don't want them to see me," Amarante whispered. She gulped as the footsteps came louder and louder.

"You're hardly noticeable," DaCosta said with sarcasm. They didn't approach them and continued on their way.

"Sorry," Amarante said with a sigh of relief. They continued to the building which encased the ball. Aisha and Andy were standing outside waiting for them. They both had wicked smiles on their faces concerning the two soldiers. Amarante looked up at DaCosta to see that he was looking down at her with the same concerned face.

"Come on! Hurry up, we want to take pictures," Waltfeld called out to them.

"Yes sir!" DaCosta replied hurrying Amarante over to Waltfeld and Aisha. Amarante stumbled along to her commander and his lover. They took several pictures commonly with Amarante blushing and embarrassed. The four of them entered the ball and soon after Amarante parted ways with DaCosta to sit with the other girls without dates. Before parting, Amarante gave him a small curtsey. Looking at all the women in the area… she noticed that they were all guests since the only woman soldier at the base was Amarante.

"Hello," Amarante said softly. Her face had a mild amount of blush as she approached the girls. They invited her into the group as many of them waited to dance with a guy. Amarante found this group boring because all they did was gossip. The dances began and surprisingly Amarante saw someone make a beeline to her. She winced slightly seeing that it was her commander. Many of the women surrounding her suddenly stopped talking to see the man confronting the young girl.

"Hey Little Tiger Cub, may I have this dance?" Waltfeld asked politely. He took her hand pulling her out to the dance floor. She just nodded gently too afraid to say no or yes. Many other couples were already twirling about. On the other side of the dance floor a group of older women were gossiping or talking. One was talking to Aisha.

"Isn't that your date?" the woman asked.

"Yeah. Don't worry he's not into little girls. He's her father figure," Aisha explained. Aisha was leaning against a wall watching the little girl dance with her "father." This would probably be the only thing close enough to a father and daughter dance.

"Don't you want to dance with him?" the woman asked. She still thought it was odd to see a man twice the age of the young maiden dancing together.

"He promised me the last dance and I don't mind. Maybe some boys will be interested in her after they dance," Aisha chuckled. Back on the dance floor Waltfeld twirled her around gracefully. He was a little surprised to see that she was such a picturesque dancer. He noticed that she seemed a little distant or embarrassed.

"What's the matter?" Andy asked placing a hand on her chin. He pushed it up to see her blushing face. She immediately readjusted her face so he couldn't see her blush anymore.

"Nothing. I'm just the only girl to be dancing with her commander," Amarante replied. It was in a low voice as she looked around at the stares of several soldiers and their dates. Becoming even more bashful Amarante began to shrink.

"You're also dancing with your Dad, remember? And the only female soldier" Waltfeld chuckled patting her cheek. After hearing his words Amarante perked up and smiled.

"Right!" Amarante said happily.

"You're such a sweet girl. Don't change okay?" Waltfeld told her as their song ended. War would change everything and anything. She could grow into a heartless killer if she was ever stationed somewhere else. He didn't want to lose her to that.

"Okay?" Amarante replied. In her cute and innocent fashion Amarante cocked her head.

"DaCosta said he'd dance with you tonight. I'm sure he'll come around sometime," Waltfeld told her as he escorted Amarante off the dance floor and back to her new found friends. They talked about their lives and what it was like for Amarante to dance with her commander. Sure enough…20 minutes later DaCosta was escorting her on to the dance floor. Oddly they danced for a few songs before DaCosta allowed her to sit down. 5 minutes later she was up again dancing with Maylam. After about 2 minutes she was down again. There was a break for dinner before the dancing resumed. Aisha noticing that Kirkwood was watching Amarante. He didn't know that Aisha had been watching him for the whole night. Curious, Aisha moved over to the boy. He didn't even notice her walk over.

"You know, if you want to dance with her staring at her won't help," Aisha suggested. He jumped hearing the woman's voice behind him. The boy turned around, his face a light shade of pink. He never really spoke with his commander's lover that often.

"I…I want to," Kirkwood replied. He shifted uneasily trying to figure out what to say to her.

"Then follow your heart and go ask her," Aisha replied. She placed a hand on his arm for encouragement but he only looked away.

"What if she says no?" Kirkwood said softly. He never wanted to hurt Amarante and her feelings…nor did he want to make her uncomfortable.

"You don't know that. She could always say yes," Aisha said cheerfully. She punched his arm playfully as Kirkwood looked away again.

"Right. She looks tired though," Kirkwood explained. He didn't want her to be too tired to dance.

"Go get your girl already," Aisha snapped playfully. Thinking it over Kirkwood made a slow walk over to Amarante. Kirkwood could hear his heart pounding in his head. He gave her a bow before extending a hand to her.

"Would you like to dance with me?" Kirkwood asked. Amarante's heart began to race as their cheeks turned red. She would be dancing with her dream boy.

"Yes," Amarante breathed. He took her to the floor before slowly placing a hand on her side and a hand in hers.

"You look wonderful tonight Amarante," Kirkwood complimented.

"Thank you. You're like my fairy tale prince," Amarante said on accident. Her face turned crimson as they stared into each others eyes. There was a large awkward silence which was uncomfortable for the couple. They only looked away from each other trying to figure out what to say to each other.

"How come you didn't dance with Maylam for that long?" Kirkwood asked changing the subject. She scrunched her nose at the thought.

"Oh…He has two left feet. He kept stepping on my feet," Amarante replied as they continued around the dance floor.

Kirkwood gulped, "How am I doing?" They had been on the dance floor for about 2 minutes.

"You're doing great! This kind of reminds me of Cotillion class," Amarante said cheerfully.

"I had to do that in the PLANTs. It was one of the worst experiences of my life," Kirkwood shared with her. She perked up at his words looking into his eyes.

"Me too! Especially because my sister always got me in trouble!" Amarante replied unconsciously moving her other hand to his shoulder. Awkwardly he move his other hand to her waist.

"Is this alright?" he asked her. She nodded gently feeling more blush coming to her light brown cheeks. Aisha and Andy watched them from a distance. Playfully he held out a hand to her.

"What's that?" Aisha asked.

"The 200...I think we know who won," Andy teased. Aisha cocked her hip and crossed her arms. She raised an eyebrow before getting an idea.

"Oh fine…Well give me your bank card," Aisha teased back. Andy laughed as they went back to watching the young couple. Kirkwood pulled the girl closer and she didn't seem to mind. They looked around the room seeing that Maylam was green with envy.

"Well this isn't going to go over well. I'm going to go talk to him," Andy said returning to his commander state. He began to walk away from her but Aisha grabbed his arm.

"After, you promised me this dance," Aisha reminded seeing that this was the last dance. He was going to retaliate against her but a promise was a promise.

"True," Andy replied taking her to the dance floor.

"Did I tell you that you look wonderful tonight?" Kirkwood whispered into Amarante's ear. He laid his head on top of hers. Kirkwood wanted to kiss her head but he decided against it.

"Yeah and did I tell you that you're my fairy tale prince?" Amarante giggled. He blushed gently nodding against her head.

"Commander Waltfeld is watching us," Kirkwood whispered to her.

"He's just making sure nothing bad happens. Ignore him," Amarante replied. Kirkwood held on to her tightly enjoying his time with her. This could be his first and last time he could hold her like this. He never placed his hands lower then her waist which Waltfeld was pleased with. The ball was soon over and Kirkwood escorted Amarante out.

"Look at that," Waltfeld whispered to DaCosta. DaCosta smiled to see that she was able to find someone to spend her time with.

"Well I'm glad she found a date," DaCosta replied. Being the playful tiger that he is Waltfeld placed DaCosta into a headlock.

"He's stealing YOUR date remember," Waltfeld replied.

"Sir!" DaCosta complained as he tightened his hold. The green struggled to be free but it was almost impossible to get away from the Tiger's grip.

"Thank you for takiing me to my room," Amarante said softly.

"You're welcome," Kirkwood muttered. They stared at each other for over a minute. Amarante gave him a tight hug before releasing him. His cheeks turned pink as she gave him a gentle wink.

"Good night knight," Amarante cooed before going into her room.

"Good night princess," Kirkwood whispered before leaving her the front of her room. The love he felt for her was swelling inside of him as he moved down the hall quietly humming to himself.