Chapter Six
THE WIFE
MORGANRATE MOBILE SUIT CONVENTION
Several pilots were invited to do an exhibition of the different mobile suits that Morganrate had created. It is actually the 3rd anniversary of the peace treaty between Zaft and Orb. Shawn excitedly seated himself at the frontlines with his mommy, Cagalli Yula Attha – Zala. They are surrounded by several Emirs. He looked at the program.
JUSTICE GUNDAMCommander Athrun Zala
FREEDOM GUNDAMKira Yamato
AEGIS GUNDAMCommander Yzak Joule
BUSTER GUNDAMLt. Walter Rivers
STRIKE GUNDAMLt. Jared Laurence
TEMPO GUNDAM1st Lt. Jesse Arden
RAGE GUNDAMCol. Adam Raize
VENOM GUNDAMCommander Eric Raize
STORM GUNDAMLt. Samantha Arden
PULSE GUNDAMCol. Major Xeth Cobalt
"Papa and Uncle Kira are also joining in! I'm so excited…" He laughed and looked at his mommy. "Isn't the Aegis, papa's? Well… Uncle Yzak is going to drive it… And Auntie Xeth is piloting Pulse… And Auntie Jesse is piloting Tempo… And…"
Cagalli covered Shawn's mouth. "I know, honey… You don't have to shout it all out…" She kissed her forehead. "Let's just watch, okay? The program is about to start…" She looked about and smiled. It's nice to see everyone present. Suddenly, she regretted what she said. She spotted Elisa Maxwell – Joule enter the exhibition area. Oh no…
The exhibition went well. In the end all the GUNDAMs line up and their pilots exited the cockpit. Shawn cheered happily by the exhibition area. "PAPA! UNCLE JARED! AUNTIE XETH!"
Elisa Maxwell – Joule turned towards the voice and saw a little boy waving at the pilots. Xeth? That name… Her blood boiled. She immediately walked to the frontlines and watched the pilots carefully. She took a glance at the program and spotted the pilot of the Pulse walking to the center, waving at the fans. So…she's Xeth… She crumpled the program in hand. The bitch… She smiled evilly. We'll see then, Xeth… You're nothing but trash… She hissed inside her mind. "YZAK, DARLING!" She shouted, flipping her long azure hair and waving stylishly. "I'm here, sweetheart!" She got the attention of almost everyone in the tent.
Yzak froze at the voice. Oh God not now… He looks towards the exhibition area where his wife is smiling seductively at him.
"So…she's the wife…" Athrun grins. "She looks good, Yzak…"
Yzak gritted his teeth in annoyance as his wife kept on calling. "Yeah…and annoying…" He muttered. "I should go to where she is…or there'll be chaos. See you later, Athrun." He passed by Xeth not looking at her.
Xeth smiled sadly. Yes, Yzak… Go be a good husband… She sighed and joined the others in the middle of the field to take a bow. That night, Xeth lulled Shawn to sleep and ended up sitting in the garden gazebo of the Attha Mansion with Shawn cuddled in her arms. She looked at her son lovingly. Will you ever forgive me, Shawn? I'm prying you away from him…I'm sorry. But your papa has a family of his own… She wiped her tears away.
The next day, she was surprised that Yzak Joule and his wife, Elisa Maxwell Joule is chatting and having breakfast with her cousin and Athrun Zala. She slowly walked towards the large dining room. "Good morning." She greeted with a sweet smile.
Elisa Maxwell stood up with a big smile. 'Well, good morning! So this is Xeth Cobalt? I've heard so much about you, major…" She sat back and gave her husband a knowing look. It was obvious her husband is fond of the young woman. Yzak has been chatting about Xeth since they were not yet married.
Xeth reddened at the statement. "Well…that's nice to hear, Mrs. Joule." She took a seat beside Cagalli.
Athrun smiled despite the sudden awkwardness of the situation. "Well, I'm glad you're awake, Xeth. You see…Elisa wants a tour around Orb. Would you accompany her?"
Xeth stared at Athrun and then at Cagalli. Are you kidding me?! You both know I don't like the idea! She tried to tell them with her eyes but to no avail. "I'd love to." She finally smiled.
Elisa grinned. "I thought you'd deny the request…" She took hold of her husband's arms. "Yzak…you're coming, right?"
Yzak couldn't look at Xeth. Maybe it's better I'm with them since I don't really want Xeth hurt… He knew his wife has a sharp tongue. "I'll go with you…" He answered plainly.
Cagalli raised a brow at her cousin. "Hey…why don't you take Shawn with you?" She smirked.
Xeth gave her cousin a what-the-heck-are-you-planning look. "Why…that would be a bit…hard….Cagalli…." She laughed nervously.
Cagalli pouted playfully. "But cousin…I'll be facing the Emirs today and Athrun is busy. Don't you think it's bad to leave little Shawn alone?" Cagalli pushed on. "Besides, you don't want to be left out… With Mr and Mrs Joule together, you'd be a bit alone. Shawn needs watching. Elisa wouldn't mind, right?" She posed the question to the smiling blonde.
"Of course not, deary. Bring the bra – I mean the kid along…" Elisa said nonchalantly.
"So?" Cagalli now faced Xeth.
"Fine…" Xeth smiled. Cagalli's right. She needs someone to take her attention from the two love birds. And besides, she loves being with her Shawn. "I'll be back then…I'll wake up little Shawn and ready him." She stood up and took her leave. She sighed as she made her way to her son's room. She hates that woman. She knew there's something about that evil aura of Elisa Maxwell. Maybe she wants me to be jealous… She knew the woman knows Yzak had some relationship with her and that ticks her off. She opened the door to Shawn's room and found the little boy yawning. "Hello, little Shawn…" She greeted.
"Auntie!" Shawn immediately ran towards her. "You taking me out? Hm? Hm?" He beamed.
Xeth nodded. "Now, let's take a bath…"
"YEHEY!" Shawn leaped up and was caught by his auntie. "Where we going? Morganrate? Air Field? Where, where?" He kept on asking questions as his auntie took off his pajamas and placed him in the hot tub.
"Somewhere nice… We're off to tour Uncle Yzak and…" She paused for a while. "…Auntie Elisa."
"Who's auntie Elisa?" Shawn asked, confused. He played with the bubbles as he waited for the answer.
Xeth scrubbed the little boy gently. She wanted to tell him, She's the wicked witch of the west in disguise! But that would be bad… "She's your Uncle Yzak's wife." Xeth informed.
"Ooohhh…" Shawn answered rather sadly.
"Why are you sad?" Xeth curiously asked as she rinsed the boy. "Is something wrong?"
"Well…I thought Uncle Yzak is alone…like auntie…" Shawn grinned.
Xeth immediately realized what the little boy would like to do with them. "Ah! You're too mischievous!" She tickled the kid. They laughed until Shawn gave up. She changed him into a cute boy version of the orb military uniform. "There you go… We'd be visiting the air field, I promise." Xeth smiled as she finished brushing the boy's long jet black hair. "Promise to behave?"
"I will!" Shawn shouted and took his auntie's hand. He dragged her out of the room. "Let's go!"
The car trip is filled with Shawn's laughter. Xeth drove keeping to herself. It is obvious that Mrs. Joule is not enjoying at all. She could see her through the back mirror pouting. Yzak is playing with Shawn, this placed a smile across her face. At first, she placed the boy in the front seat beside her…but the boy transferred with the help of a willing Yzak.
"You know…I wonder why you have silver hair…uncle…" Shawn took hold of Yzak's hair. "It looks weird…" He laughed.
"Oh really?" Yzak chuckled. "It's normal… Have you seen your Auntie Lacus' hair? It's pink."
Shawn's eyes bulged at the information. "REALLY?! I haven't! I haven't!" He turned to the driver's seat. "Auntie? When can I see Auntie Lacus?! I want to see her pink hair!"
Xeth chuckled. "Now, now…your Uncle Kira won't be visiting until Auntie Lacus give birth to their second child…" She informed. "She's due this month, Yzak…"
"Really?" Yzak smiled, Shawn still in his arms pointing outside the window once in a while. Kira is having his second child and I'm still trying to have one… He looked at Elisa beside him who is looking out the window.
"That's the Rochester Orchestra!" Shawn pointed. He was disturbed by Yzak's sudden silence. "Hey, hey Auntie Elisa?"
Elisa looked at the child on Yzak's lap. "Yes?" She asked.
"Why aren't you talking with uncle?" Shawn asked. "Uncle's your husband right? It means…you live together?"
Elisa smiled coyly. "Of course, my little man. We live…together." She looked at Yzak and back at the child again. "You're really very intelligent for such a young boy…" She complimented. She does want to make Yzak know that she too can handle a child. As long as I don't cuddle him or….carry him around or….urgh…
"Oh! He is…" Xeth smiled. "He's attending school next year since he passed the entrance exam. He's really intelligent."
Elisa snorted a bit. "Of course…his father is a coordinator…" She stated.
"Elisa!" Yzak warned with an angry look.
Xeth bit her lips. She wanted to slap the woman. The term is no longer used because it rouses discrimination.
"Coordinator? What's that?" Shawn innocently asked.
Yzak sighed heavily. He held the boy closer. "It means your daddy is good with coordinating his body, Shawn. He's intelligent…just like you." He explained.
"Of course! He's Chairman Athrun Zala!" Shawn beamed. "I want to be like papa when I grow up! I will be like him… I will pilot a gundam too! I will fly in the air…"
Yzak laughed. "You? You want to be a gundam pilot?"
"Uhuh…" Shawn answered.
"But you're short!" Yzak teased.
"I'll grow, right auntie?" Shawn addressed the question to Xeth. He beamed when he saw a nod. "See? See?!" He then noticed his Aunt Elisa's angry face. "Why is your face so…red, Auntie Elisa?"
Elisa immediately glared at the child. "What did you say?!"
This made Shawn cower in Yzak's embrace. "Hey…lighten up, Elisa… It's just a kid." Yzak said as he hugged the boy.
"A kid?! Just a kid?!" Elisa raised her voice. "That prick has taken your attention since the beginning of the trip!" She pointed accusingly.
Xeth furrowed her eyebrows in anger but reprimanded Shawn instead. "Now Shawn…you said you'd be a good boy…"
Shawn's eyes began to water. "I'm sorry…" He pouted apologetically. "I didn't mean it, auntie…"
Yzak sighed.
Xeth parked the car outside the Airfield. "Oh well…since we're here…" She got out and took the boy from Yzak. "You should take your wife's side, Yzak… She looks really hurt, you know…" Xeth whispered and left with Shawn in her hands.
Yzak gritted his teeth. He faced his wife. "Tell me, Elisa. Why are you here?" He put his hands in his pocket and looked up at the sky.
Elisa looked at her husband. "Isn't it obvious? I want to be with you, darling…" She smiled slyly.
Yzak immediately looked at Elisa. "I know what's in your head, Elisa. You better not do anything to Xeth…" He warned.
Elisa chuckled. "Or what?! Ahahaha! You think I don't know yet? That boy is her child. The poor girl got herself pregnant…probably got desperate when you left her… Ahahaha!" She was suddenly being held by the shoulders. "Yzak…that hurts!" She cried.
"You listen, Elisa. Don't you ever get any ideas of hurting her family or you will answer to me…" Yzak hissed and let go. He wanted to join the mother and son who are playing with a ball a few feet away from them but he knew he couldn't…not when Elisa is watching him…
"You seem to be very protective, Yzak…" Elisa looked down. She was shocked at her husband's outrage. Perhaps she shouldn't be. She knew before they were married that Yzak Joule is a man who tolerated little in this world. "Is it because you want a son?"
This took Yzak's attention. He faced Elisa. "You know I do…" He said firmly.
Elisa looked away. She loves the idea of Yzak Joule as her husband. But deep inside, she doesn't really love him. I don't love the way he gets angry and the way he demands on things…and…and a lot more… But the prestige? I'd do anything… It thrills her to know how manly and influential her husband is. But she doesn't like him wanting a child. She hates children. They're nuisances.
Yzak sighed and watched Xeth playing with Shawn. That's all I can do…watch her…
To be Conitnued…
