Chapter Six: ARGENT

They dropped Elisa Maxwell Joule in the hotel. Yzak decided to go back to Athrun since he has something to ask. The drive home was silent. Even little Shawn lost interest.

"He's unusually quiet…" Yzak peeked from the back seat.

Xeth smiled. "Tired…he's always like this, you know… Every after play time, every energy is drained."

Yzak looked at the sleeping boy. "It hurts huh?"

Xeth swallowed hard. She knew exactly what Yzak is asking. "Yeah…it does. But…but he needs a family…and I'm not a family…" She fought tears but lost. She suddenly felt Yzak's hands wiping her tears away. "I'm sorry… I…I'm just a little emotional… I really wanted the best for him but…"

Yzak smiled ruefully. "Hey…you did what you can…" His gazed went back to Shawn. "Whoever left him is an idiot…" He whispered.

At that moment, Xeth would have wanted to tell him but she can't. I can't destroy his life now… She sighed and breathed in. "Well…things you sacrifice for the ones you love… hehe…" She wiped off a tear again.

Yzak looked down. Things you sacrifice for the ones you love huh… He mused to himself. "I guess…"

Xeth looked through the back mirror. "You okay? Did you and Elisa have a fight?"

Yzak smirked. "We always do…" He chuckled a bit.

"Oh…I'm sorry. I didn't want to…" Xeth apologized.

"No. It's okay. I've been looking for someone to talk about this…" Yzak laughed bitterly. "You know…" He hesitated at first. "You know…I was about to look for you after that party and tell…you I'd leave everything else…" He said silently.

Xeth kept to herself. If I only knew, Yzak. If I only knew I was pregnant with Shawn… She said to herself. She never knew back then until she reached the moon colony. "It's okay. We're not for each other, I guess…" Xeth smiled ruefully.

"No. We are…" Yzak answered without looking. He kept his gaze outside the window. "I screwed it up, that's all…" He added softly.

Xeth could hear the remorse in his voice. Talk about torture… She said to herself. She feels guilty all the more seeing Yzak suffer a lot. And here I am keeping his son from him… She kept silent.

"You know…that morning I really am stupid to not realize that I am in love with you." He said in a hushed tone. He kept his voice down even more when he uttered, "…and I still am…Xeth…"

Xeth parked the car. They stayed inside for a couple of minutes. "It's…funny, huh? Too many things unsaid…" She looked back at Yzak. They stared at each other. She smiled sadly. "But life goes on…" She took Shawn and got out of the car. Yzak followed behind her. They stopped in front of the door. "But things will work out…" She smiled again as she pressed the doorbell.

Athrun opened the door and was shocked to see Xeth carrying Shawn and Yzak beside her. "Uuuhhh…" He stared.

Yzak raised a brow. "What's wrong?"

Athrun laughed sheepishly. "N-Nothing!" He laughed. "Come on in!" He opened the door wider. They really do look like a family… He took Shawn from Xeth but was surprise to have Yzak interrupt him.

"Here, let me…" Yzak took hold of the boy. "I wasn't able to wrestle with little Shawn since I was with Elisa… I'd like to hold him a bit."

Xeth and Athrun stared at each other. Athrun nodded. "You should take him to the gazebo, Yzak." Xeth suggested. "I must change my clothes for now… Wait for me there…" She saw Yzak nod and went for the gardens.

"You should tell him, Xeth." Athrun said, worried. "He really loves the boy… I've been with Yzak most of my military days and this…this is not him at all…" He explained.

"I know…but what about his wife?" Xeth asked sounding like she's desperate. "I don't want to destroy their marriage, Athrun."

"That is a problem…" Athrun sighed. "How did things get so complicated…" He shook his head in defeat. "I understand what you mean, Xeth."

Xeth went for the rooms.

Yzak looked at the boy. "You know…you remind me so much about myself…and your mom…" He whispered. What am I doing?! This is silly! He laughed feeling a bit foolish. But he feels at peace. He rocked the boy back and forth. It makes him feel happy. Perhaps it's because I'm wishing this is my son… He said to himself. "Shawn…little Shawn… You know…I loved your mom…no… I still love your mom. Whoever your father is, he's an idiot for leaving you and your mom…" He continued whispering. He slowly combed the boy's hair with his fingers. "Ah…if only things worked out…" He sighed. Suddenly, something caught his eyes. He browsed through the boy's scalp. Silver? He stopped. Silver hair… The realization struck him. How old did they say Shawn is?! Three? He stared at the boy in his hands. It's possible…and…who the heck in the moon colonies have silver hair?! My family is the only clan with silver hair! He stood up with Shawn in his arms. When he turned around he saw Xeth. His eyes turned to slits. "Why did you keep him from me?"

Xeth opened her mouth in shock. How did he know?! She panicked inside. She looked away.

Yzak took the woman by the arm. "Look at me, Xeth. Why?" He asked again.

Xeth looked up with tears in her eyes. "Because I don't want to destroy you." She answered firmly.

Yzak stepped back at this. "Destroy me? What are you talking about?" His face is contorted in anger now.

Xeth's eyes also burned in years of kept anger. "Commander Yzak Joule…your ambitions are not unknown to me… I knew you wanted to climb up the top, Yzak. I knew all that… Why you agreed to being married to Elisa… Why you did everything in the PLANTS to benefit your family… And I don't want to destroy that…" She answered.

Yzak's eyes began to water at this. "But…but I told you I love you, Xeth. How can you destroy me?"

Xeth laughed bitterly. "When, Yzak? Now?" She wiped her tears. "It's too late. Things are too complicated to understand." She stared at her son in the arms of the man in front of her. Slowly, she took Shawn away. "It's too late." She sniffed.

Yzak let her have the boy. "Xeth…you could have told me he's my son." His eyes speak of controlled anger. "At least you could have let me know. How could you do this?"

Xeth turned her back. "And what could you have done? Would you have left your ambitions? Would you have denied your fiancé? I don't think so, Yzak…"

"How could you accuse me!" Yzak shouted now holding Xeth's right shoulder and turning her to face him.

"You never ran after me, that's why..." Xeth answered smiling bitterly with tears in her eyes. "You never told me you loved me. If you do, then why did you not run after me in the moon colonies? It's just an airfield away, Yzak…" She walked away a few feet and stopped. "Don't tell me you love me…because you don't."

"Yes, I do!" Yzak shouted.

At this very moment, Shawn woke up crying. "Auntie…huhuhu.. What's happening?"

Xeth worriedly hugged her child closer. "It's nothing, honey… It's nothing." She cooed.

"And you even let your own son call you auntie…" Yzak said in a low tone still looking very angry.

"Shush! I never want to see you ever again." Xeth hissed and walked off. "You know where the door is, Yzak." With that she walked into the house leaving the silver-haired man alone in the garden.

To be Continued