Epilogue: Part II
Continued….
As the weeks passed Genki noticed a change in Holly. She was very anxious and yet calm. Smiling to himself he sat with her and the couch one night.
"Its soon isn't it?"
"Yes very. I can feel it."
"Do you wish to have the birth here in the house or should I arrange for us to go to the cave you like so much?" she looked up at him.
"Here…easier to get Akka when we need her."
"You mean if we need her." She felt his soft caress on her large belly; she knew he was just as excited.
"Yes if we need her. I will tell you when it is time."
"Alright. I spoke with the ambassador earlier telling him the terms. He said he would be in contact with us again soon. He has to speak with the president."
"Alright just make sure its after our child is born."
"I will"
"I worry about those in your world…. having enough food…"
"I know Hun. I know." Holding her close he felt her shaking. "What is it? Why are you shaking Holly?" concern smothering his question.
"I'm just afraid….what if I can't be a good mother or I die like…." His lips cut her off. When he pulled back she looked into his eyes.
"No what if-ing. All it does is add stress. None of that if going to happen. I won't let it."
"Some things can't be helped."
"Holly I will do everything in my power to save you…no matter what you will be safe." He held her tight, she realized what he fear most was losing her. * Am I just scaring him….he's lost so much. * She felt his heart beat rise at her next words.
"Genki you don't have power over life and death…" she felt him hold his breath knowing she shouldn't have said that.
"Believe what you want Holly. I need to go take care of something I left out in the barn. Paint will dry out other wise." He rose and walked out of the house. She saw a tear fall as he left knowing she had hurt him bad. * Why did I say that…. he's already worried about me…I'm just hurting him worse. *
In the barn Genki silently cried as he covered up the paint can. He hadn't lied to her about it but it was a convenient excuse. * Holly why do you always look down on things… * he sat in his work chair, his head in his hands upset with his wife. Holly silently walked in seeing him there she looked to the floor. Silently she walked over to him putting her hand on his shoulder neither saying a thing.
"Genki I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said that."
"No you're right…I can't control that." He stood walking away from her. She grabbed his arm seeing tear stains on his face.
"Genki I shouldn't have…"
"Just forget it Holly….lets get to bed." He pulled away walking towards the house. She had never seen him so mad and hurt before. * What have I done? * She followed looking at the ground as she did. He closed the door locking it as she kept her eyes to the floor. She felt him lift her chin. Her eyes questioning his now.
"Don't get that down trodden look Holly. I have seen you with it all to often."
"Genki I never meant to hurt you…."
"I know that. Don't look down on everything especially on your life or your self. Things will be just fine." He pulled her close into an embrace. She buried her face in his chest. "Holly its alright you don't need to be afraid…I will never leave you. Just please have some faith. Not only in me but in our future and in your self."
"I'm trying to but its just so hard…nothing has ever gone right for me."
"Mu is destroyed again. You have a loving husband. Caring friends. How can you say nothing has gone right?" she stayed silent for she had over looked those things. "Holly count the blessings you have a keep them close. Don't over look them for what bad has or will happen."
"I'll try Genki" he lifted her up in his arms carrying her up stairs carefully after blowing out the candles. He lit a candle by the bed on each side. Setting her down on the bed he smiled gently to his wife.
"Holly you're as beautiful today as you were when I met you if not more so." She flushed smiling back.
"Thank you." He pulled off his shirt getting ready for bed as she stood doing the same. Climbing in his arms found their way around her, playfully squeezing her breast before pulling her close to snuggle. Her giggle floated out into the darkness.
"Pervert."
"Yeah but your just as perverted and you know it." Once again a light giggle lit the air.
"Maybe but you've always been that way."
"Lets rest Holly. We have much preparing to do in the morning."
"Alright love." His lips found her cheek in the darkness planting a loving kiss before he sighed and closed his eyes.
When the sun rose the next day he felt Holly stirring next to him. Suddenly she gasp, her water had broken early.
"Genki wake up" she shook him furiously
"What is it?" his voice filled with sleep came slowly.
"My water broke"
"What?!" he took a deep breath calming himself. "Ok you stay here I'll get the things we need." She nodded laying down after shedding her under garments that would become a problem later. He returned in a hurry with a basin of warm water and an arm full of towels. Putting them down on the dresser he came to her side taking a thick towel and placing it under her. "You alright?"
"Yeah…contractions started…. but it may be awhile till our daughter comes." She saw him smile gently.
"Just take your time. No rush love." He leaned over kissing her lovingly. When he pulled back she began to pant slightly.
"Genki thank you. You're a wonderful husband."
"And you're a wonderful wife Holly."
Within the next few hours her contractions increased, Genki remained by her side faithfully. Helping her as best he could.
"Holly push come on" Holly bore down with all her bodies strength but could only hold it a few moments before tiring and stopping to rest. Genki remained patent through this knowing she was also in a lot of pain. "Come on Holly…you can do it."
"I know Genki…I'm just tired…" resting a moment longer she bore down again.
"Holly she's almost out. One more push." Holly nodded as she forced herself to push as hard as she could. She felt the child slid out as Genki caught her. Taking a wet rag he carefully cleaned her off. Taking a knife he cut the umbilical cord carefully and tied it. Then took her to the dresser to clean her up as she cried in protest. Wrapping her in a towel he smiled gently and proudly as he gave her to Holly. "She is beautiful Holly."
"That she is." Holly felt another contraction. Lesser then before and pushed feeling the afterbirth slide out easily. Genki smiled and went about cleaning Holly up a bit making her giggle at him until he blushed. Holly unwrapped their child to look her over smiling proudly as she wrapped her back up. Small dark brown eyes watched her as she looked over her child. The bed sagged with her fathers weight making the child look over at him.
"Hey my little girl. Its nice to finally meet you." The baby looked up at him with curiosity before reaching for him. He looked to Holly who smiled and handed him his daughter. Holding her carefully and gently. A proud smile spread across his face.
"I'm going to clean up and change clothes. I think you can watch her while I do that."
"I sure can" he rocked his daughter in his arms making her giggle in delight. "What should your name be my little girl?" she giggled at him with pure innocence. He held her with one arm as he cleaned up after Holly with the other. Removing the bloody towels and after birth and placing it near the door to be taking down and disposed of or washed. His daughter started to cry. He stopped to rock her gently trying to sooth her. Holly walked out in new attire raising a brow at him. "She's hungry I think" his wife smiled and came to get her daughter. Unbuttoning her shirt she fed her daughter as Genki came to sit beside her on the bed after taking the dirty laundry and other things down stairs.
"So have you thought of a name Genki?"
"Yes. I think we should call her Kiatlin."
"What's it mean?"
"Pure"
"Hmm…Kiatlin it is then." She smiled proudly as her daughter yawned and fell asleep after her meal. "Time for us to eat I think. And you need to bring in the crib."
"Yep." He left to go grab it. Holly walked down stairs to find Aaka waiting for her there.
"I see you two managed with out me."
"Genki wanted to be the one to help me with this."
"He's a wonderful husband for you. And he obviously knows what he is doing."
"Yeah he does."
"She's beautiful."
"Thank you Aaka…her names Kiatlin."
"Pure…in essence…a beautiful name." Holly shook her head.
"Figured you would know the meaning of her name."
"May I?" Aaka walked over to her. Holly nodded handing her Kiat with out a second thought. Aaka rocked the child in her arms gently as Kiat giggled. "You're a special girl Kiat." She looked to Holly with a smile. "She's a lot like you in many ways."
"Yes but she has some of Genki in her features. And some features of her own or from relations I don't know."
"That's true." Genki strode in with a worried look on his face.
"What is it?"
"It was the ambassador…he wants us to come to my world to see about that deal…. its up to you Holly. This is your decision to make, whenever you think our child is ready for travel…" she stared at him her brow furrowed with worry.
"I have an idea" Aaka spoke up, "tell him he'll have to wait a few months…that you just had your child. By then she'll be old enough that you can travel." Holly looked to the older woman and nodded.
"Alright I'll do that then dear." He left to call the ambassador back.
"Aaka gather the others we should celebrate."
"Sure thing." A smile graced the mother like figures lips as she handed the baby girl back to Holly and strode out. Holly followed Genki into the kitchen as she held their sleeping daughter.
"Yes you heard me right. We will be able to come then. All right I will await your call then. Thank you bye."
"Well?"
"Set for august 2nd…two months from now. He's grateful we are willing to help."
"I'm sure." He walked to her catching her lips for a kiss. "I will never tire of your kisses."
"Nor I of yours."
"Come we have a party to prepare for…" he smiled knowing what this was about with out asking.
All the arrangements made, Holly and Genki enjoyed themselves mingling at the party with their child until the night was late. Genki had already brought the crib up to their room. Holy felt exhausted from the days events. Aaka assured her it would pass. She was right as the days passed Holly regained her strength despite her having to get up to feed Kiat at night. As time passed Holly began to feel the strain of getting up every 3 - 4 hrs Genki pulled her aside one night after they laid Kiat down to sleep.
"Maybe we should let her sleep with us. Then she could just eat when she felt like it. It'd give you some rest." Holly looked up at him tiredly and nodded. After they were ready she took Kiat carefully and lay down with her. Positioning their child near her uncovered breast as Genki held them both and pulled the covers up enough to provide warmth for her but not cover their child's head. Holly drifted off almost immediately; Genki smiled and relaxed willing sleep to come. Through out the night their child fed when she woke hungry but Holly didn't feel her suckling at all.
As the weeks passed Holly continued taking her child to bed with them. Realizing Genki had been right about how much stress that relieved from her. When the appointed time came Genki and Holly left for the gateway. Meeting up with the Ambassador they walked through together. Holly looked around the small room they stood in taking in all she saw. Genki took her hand reassuringly and followed their escort with her in tow. Once out side Genki realized they were at a military base. Neail guided them into a small private jet where Holly sat comfortably. Half of her wished to fly again, she hated to admit it but she rather enjoyed that. Her warm gaze went to their sleeping child a moment before returning to Mr. Ladum.
"As agreed upon you will be able to show your wife some of this worlds greatest places. And you will meet with the president directly along with the vice president to discuss the parameters of this agreement." Holly looked at him rather confused.
"Put normally we will meet with the leader of this country and his executive helper to discuss what will and what won't be permitted in trade between the worlds if we help." She nodded as Genki looked at Neail "say it so she can understand please. Language is much less formal in our world then here. You just like toting big words around. Don't."
"Very well Genki."
Genki took Holly to all the greatest places he had been. And some he hadn't been to. Hawaii, yellow stone, Niagara, pictured rocks, the great lakes, mammoth cave, some Missouri caves, the rocky and application mountains, Bahamas, England's great castles, Arizonas painted desert, New York, and even Africa for a time. He made sure they watched the discovery channel, TLC, animal planet, and the travel channel so she could learn even more about that world. After all this traveling they were given a chance to rest for a week before meeting with the president. On the night before the meeting Holly snuggled up with Genki on the couch looking like she had something on her mind.
"Genki this world is so different….yet some tribes live in the old ways….some progress rapidly…I never thought I would see so many tall buildings or such big and magnificent castles looking old and decrepit…your world is full of wonders and yet so much violence…the dark ages were…very evil…the world wars blood. Yet none of them really should have happened."
"The dark ages were named that for a reason. Wars will always happen if someone in power gets a fat head…unfortunately. The question is do you wish to help this world or not."
"I do… I just wish this world could be less corrupt…."
"This world is screwed when it comes to that. That's why I refused to raise our daughter here."
"Sex is so openly spoke of…even a 7 year old knows of it…"
"Holly we can't change this world…we can only save it…is it worth saving as it is?" she was silent for along time. He just held her close comfortingly waiting for her decision.
"Yes…I am not their judge and jury…. I will not kill thousands because of my opinion of this place…"
"More like millions but I thought you might say that. I would have supported you either way." Her orbs shifted to look into his then with a slight nod she leaned against him with a sigh.
"Genki lets go to bed so we can get tomorrow over with…" in the next moment his lips found hers, pouring sweet love into her.
"Alright but don't let the stress get to you…. its fine, just a conversation and a treaty."
"I understand Genki." With one motion he lifted her up into his arms and carried her off to bed. Fetching their child he lay down with her and his daughter.
In the morning they dressed nicely, Holly in the nicest dress of their world, Genki in a shirt and tunic she had made for him. They were lead into the presidents meeting room and shown a chair. The president rose to meet them shaking their hands and even shaking their young daughter's hand, making her giggle. Once settled the formalities were set aside.
"You already know why I have called to meet with you. We are willing to do anything in order to save our people." To Genki's surprise Holly spoke first.
"Yes he informed us that your war has cost you all your usable farm land. However from what I have seen there is very little our worlds have in common."
"You are correct Mrs. Sakura. However we do need your worlds help none-the-less. Our world has much we can offer in trade for the food we need."
"Mr. President if we agree to this there will be a definite restriction on what can and can not be traded. We do not want our world corrupted as yours is." President Kirkland looked at Genki with a raised brow.
"This was once your world Genki Sakura."
"No longer. I never did like it here."
"Gentlemen…now Genki and I talked with some of the people of our world. We know what you can trade for the food you require however we use old means of farming. I will not have you using technology in my world period with out our express permission. You may trade textiles, furniture, pottery, and medieval type weapons. Nothing else or the agreement is terminated." Holly's voice came so strong and decisive that Genki was slightly taken by surprise.
"Alright you are quite firm on this I can see. We will limit what we trade to those items stated. How do you propose you get enough food for this planet?"
"I think we could allow an area to use machines, however it will be out of site of the general public. How long will it take for the land to recover?" Genki asked calmly.
"According to our scientists…about 6 years…then it will be healed enough to bare crops."
"Very well for six years this treaty will last. No longer." Holly now interjected.
"No one from your world is permitted to come to ours with out papers and permission. Any illegal aliens will be jailed or executed." Genki glance to his wife as she tended to their child who was now fusing. He'd never seen such ferocity in her before. The president was also taken aback by the statement.
"Very well passports and prior permission will be required. How shall we contact you?"
"Through the walkie talkie we have I suppose. There are no towers or satellites so phones are out of the question. Just contact us through the base General Lopez had.
"Alright secretary do you have a treaty ready for them to review based on what we have said?"
"Yes sir" a young women with dark auburn hair approached them handing each a copy she had printed. Genki and Holly took their copies looking them over along with the president and vice president. Each party took a pen and circled what they thought needed to be worked over.
Several hours later they finally had a final copy of the treaty. Each party signed it. A second copy was made and signed for Genki and Holly to keep as proof of their agreement. The young couple returned to their suite and plopped down on the bed.
"Genki why to politics have to take so long?"
"Not sure Hun. How's Kait?"
"Fine…she's asleep for now."
"Good." He pulled her close into a passionate kiss. Minutes passed as they let their love and passion flare. When they parted Genki could see a fire in Holly's eyes. "I love you more then words will ever express Holly" she snuggled against him finding comfort in his strong embrace.
"I know you do. And so do I Love." Both could hear their daughter calling now. With a deep sigh Holly rose to get her. Opening the top of her dress she let her daughter eat as she walked to the couch. Genki awaited her and pulled her closer as she rested against him.
"Well where are we going to stick those machines for the farm lands?"
"In the mountain platues…no one goes up there. Not enough water for humans."
"Good…we could do irrigation if needed. I know you can do it" he grinned.
"Yes I could but those facilities will be manned by those we pick out."
"That it will. We could always allow the families of those we pick to stay during harvesting season. Some things have to be hand harvested anyway. Like grapes and berries."
"Yes that's a very good point but those don't have to be in the mountains either."
"You are right Hun. We will finalize that at home as promised. We can always send the president a letter."
"True. Thank you for helping me Genki…I couldn't have done this alone."
"You could have it would just have been harder." Her eyes were met with a soft and loving gaze.
"Let's rest now… I'm beat after all that." She rose taking his hand softly and towing him upstairs child still in arm.
In a week they had returned home. Holly had stated she preferred their world and liked the peace and quiet of the village they lived near. They prepared the area for which the farming would be done and carefully laid out exactly what could be used. Genki had some housing built near where the berries, orchards, and vineyards would be. And oversight building and hangers for the equipment were built on the platues. Once all was set Holly and Genki wrote a letter to the president. Within a week they had a box of applications for those willing to undertake the job. Genki and Holly spent the next month going through the documents and choosing who they thought would be their best workers for their world. Finally they chose a work crew of 50 families. Housing had already been made for that many and they sent back their choices in a letter. Keeping all the records in the box; especially those who they had allowed to come to their world. In 3 days passports for each family and family member arrived for them to verify and sign. Once done they sent them back and awaited their new workers arrival. In just under a month and a half everything had been prepared and verified. Rather fast for politics. But Genki and Holly had no will to wait.
In another 3 weeks all the workers, equipment, and supplies had arrived and work began. The young couple made it their personal business to get to know each and every person who came. Everyone was eager to meet them and learn about them. No one ever thought they would meet those who ruled over this world. Genki and Holly professed that they did not own the world they were merely the best equipped for the job of ambassador. As the months went on the couple and their friends knew they had done the right thing. For their world, their daughter, and Genki's birth world. With content and love filled hearts they continued to ambassador for their world but to their friends they would always just be Genki and Holly.