Dearka & Miriallia

Book II

Disclaimer: It is obvious by now if I'm here that I do not own Gundam SEED, Gundam SEED Destiny or any other Gundam Series. But any characters I create to place in this world are mine (But I don't mind if you guys want to use them too. I have no problem with that. You don't even need to ask me. I enjoy sharing to make other stories the best they can be.)

Chapter 1

Time Flies

Ezalia slowly made her way up the walk to the Elsman mansion. This wasn't the sort of thing she would normally waste her time with, but Yzak had specifically asked her to help him with this important task. For almost three weeks she sat back and watched Tad Elsman's every move and made sure her contacts kept her informed on the situation within the household. Now seemed like a perfect time as any to finally confront Tad herself and see what she could dig up on Annabella's whereabouts.

Yzak had told her that both Dearka and the mother of this child were now safe and sound on the Voltaire. Yzak had asked if she would be the one to bring Annabella back to Dearka, knowing she would have more pull than any of them would with the Elsmans' on the matter. Unfortunately for all of them, she needed to enlist the help of someone Dearka didn't want to see or hear from again.

As she reached the door, she took a deep breath and sighed before pressing the buzzer. And as expected, Gerald answered the door with his usual monotonous tone.

"Councilwoman Joule, I apologize, I did not know we were expecting you," the man said at the door.

"You weren't expecting me. Is either Councilman or Mrs. Elsman home at the moment?" she inquired forcefully in her own predictable ruthless tone.

Of course she knew that both were currently within the mansion from all her contacts, but she needed to make it seem as though she had no idea and was just interested in seeing them. She was as much of a manipulator as Patrick Zala was. This was the reason he had trusted her before his death over two years prior.

"Of course Madam, I shall announce your arrival," the man said waving his arm by his side for her to enter the premises.

"Thank you," she said shortly entering as instructed.

"Please, have a seat and I shall have Flora bring you some refreshments," he instructed leading her into the living room.

As the butler left the room, Ezalia sighed in relief.

"Part one was successful. I'm in the mansion at least. Now I just have to get Tad to give Annabella's whereabouts up somehow," she thought with the stress building.

On The Voltaire…

Dearka sat in his room on another day of probation from Yzak. He was thoroughly annoyed with him, but couldn't really blame him. It wasn't like he and Ian had left him much choice. The only thing was, Miriallia was still not with him. The loss of her memory and new attachment to Ian had left Yzak no other option but to assign her quarters over on the Rousseau. She had thrown such a fit when they landed on the Voltaire that even Dearka didn't argue with her demands. The last thing he wanted was to upset her in her current condition.

Once again his rebellious side took over and he decided to wander out of his quarters. He knew he would never get away with slipping by to see Miriallia on the Rousseau so he decided to just walk around the ship and collect his thoughts. Sitting in his room wasn't doing him much good and he was bored out of his mind.

"I just wish Yzak would let me see her again. I know I could make her remember everything if I was there with her," Dearka thought as he overrode the code to his room lock.

Yzak was sure to be upset when he notices Dearka wandering freely, but at this moment, Dearka just didn't care. He missed his daughter and Miriallia so much it was killing him. It had felt worse than when he said good-bye to her so many years ago. Dearka continued to walk until he heard someone calling his name.

"Dearka Elsman, what do you think you're doing out of your quarters," the shrieking voice spoke up.

Dearka turned and gave one of his famous grins. It never did bother him to be caught in the act; instead it gave him a rush.

"What's it to you?" he asked sarcastically.

The young woman stared at him in confusion. She couldn't stand it when he acted as though he didn't have a care in the world. All she could do was place her hands on her hips and huff at him in annoyance.

"Fine, I'm going back. I'm not interested in listening to your nagging anyway," he said with a hint of aggravation.

For a moment she paused when she saw him turn with such nonchalance. It was as though he really didn't care about anything anymore. Within seconds she realized what was really bothering him.

"She's fine over there if that's what you were heading to find out. She's even seeing the doctor on the Rousseau to slowly purge the drugs the EAF was feeding her. He said she may soon even start regaining some of her memory," Shiho said with empathy about his situation.

"What makes you think that's why I left my room?" he asked without turning his head to look at her.

"I just thought in case that is what you were doing, I would save you the time and trouble you'll get in with Yzak if you are caught wandering around by him right now," Shiho replied.

"Well thanks for the info, but I was really just going a little stir crazy. That's all," he answered rudely and then headed back to his quarters.

"You don't have to be so obnoxious. I was just trying to help," Shiho yelled back at his retreating form.

Dearka didn't turn even after she had yelled at him. He quietly walked toward his room and contemplated how he was going to get close to Miriallia again. Especially now that Ian had been the one privileged enough to spend time with her after her rescue and not him.

"Don't think you've won Ian. She is the mother of my children and she belongs with me," Dearka thought with his eyes glazing over with fiery anger.

He realized that Ian still had no idea about Miriallia's condition. Or at least as far as he knew, Ian didn't know yet. Although, even if Miriallia told Ian about her condition, she wouldn't remember that Dearka was the father of the baby she was carrying.

When they left the Archangel, Miriallia couldn't remember the crew or even Kira. Part of Dearka felt slightly better when she didn't recognize one of her oldest friends. It no longer made him feel as bad that she couldn't remember him.

Kira had tried to explain to her what her life had been like and even brought up Tolle again. Not something Dearka really felt like remembering himself, but he knew it was necessary to mention every important detail in her life. The only thing Dearka asked Kira not to mention was anything dealing with him. He wanted to be the one to slowly fill her in on their relationship.

Dearka couldn't wait until he had his chance to speak with her again. Once they had arrived back on the Voltaire both he and Ian had basically been smacked down by Yzak and he didn't have a chance to even speak with Miriallia due to the fit she threw.

It was killing him that she felt more comfortable around Ian than him, especially since they had a daughter together from the first war. A bond like that had to spark some type of memory that would leave Ian without a chance to stand in his way with her, but it hadn't. She looked upon him with such unfamiliarity.

Unfortunately for him, he had to wait until the restrictions were removed before he could see how much of the conversation she had with Kira before they had left sank in. Or what she may have even remembered since they returned with the help of the doctor on the Rousseau.

He also couldn't help wondering how the baby was doing. Yzak had mentioned during a visit that the doctor knew not to mention anything to anyone else about her condition and that included Shiho and Ian. And when Yzak heard any word on how she was doing, he would fill Dearka in. But it still bothered him that he wasn't near her.

Then there was the situation with his first-born. He hadn't even thought what his family might do with Annabella after he arrived back. But again, Yzak told him not to worry so much. He had everything being taken care of.

"For once, just trust me Dearka. I have it all worked out. Just stay in your quarters and serve the time you forced me to give you," Yzak had said calmly a few weeks back.

Still, it had been three weeks and Dearka heard nothing but reassuring comments from Yzak that things were going well.

"At this point, I would prefer to just break the doors down and shake the information out of my parents to get her back. It would be quicker than whatever he's been working on," Dearka thought as he re-entered his room.

On The Rousseau...

Miriallia sat patiently in her room until her next appointment with the doctor. She didn't feel very comfortable on a ZAFT ship after what she had tried to do. But she was beginning to feel as though she was drawn to the ship for one reason or another.

As time ticked away, she closed her eyes and thought about the few memories that had returned to her. She could feel the warmth of someone's arms holding her close, but wasn't able to see his face. She knew whomever it was that made her feel that way had to be the same man that she had conceived this child with.

She was still trying to digest all of the things she had been told when she was on the Archangel. The young man Kira, whom she didn't remember, had told her so much about who she was. Miriallia wasn't sure if it was a trick or if it was something believable. She did however hear his voice in her head, even that time on the battlefield calling out his name and felt as though there was a connection between them.

"Aaahhh! Everything is such a blur. It's all jumbled up in my head and I can't make sense out of anything," she cried out to herself in frustration.

One part of her was saying to believe what she had been told and another part was still very wary of what people were trying to fill her head with. All she knew is that she was having dreams about someone with only a silhouette and Ian was the only person she could recognize on sight.

Before long the buzzer to her quarters rang loud and she called out for the person to enter.

"You ready?" the harsh voice asked.

"Yes," she replied in a shy tone and followed obediently.

She walked down the hallway and sighed as she passed the door of the familiar man.

"What's the matter with you?" the same growling voice asked.

"I was wondering if I would be able to visit with him today? I know he is on restriction, but I've been really lonely the past two days," she replied cautiously.

"Fine, if that's what you really want," he replied.

Miriallia kept her head low to the ground. She was a bit intimidated that the Commander himself made his way to the ship every few days to escort her to her appointments. Also, she was feeling so lonely when she was not allowed to see Ian due to the restrictions.

The Commander made exceptions for her when she asked, but she made a point to only ask when she was really lonely as not to abuse the generosity he was showing to her, a former enemy.

They entered the medical wing and Yzak stopped in his tracks. He turned to look at the woman causing so much chaos on his two ships and huffed in aggravation.

"Well, there you go. Just hurry up and I'll escort you to Lieutenant Randall's room afterward," Yzak said shortly.

"Um, yes. I will. Thank you," Miriallia said with the hint of fear still dancing on her voice.

She walked in and saw the doctor sitting at his desk. She entered further into the room and cleared her throat slightly. With the slight sound she made, he looked up from his papers to see her standing there.

"Oh, hello Miriallia. I'm so sorry, I didn't even hear the door open," he apologized standing from his seat.

"That's okay. I'm here for my checkup," she replied following his gesture for her to sit on the reclined chair.

"Yes, well, let's see how everything is going, shall we?" he answered as she lay down on the reclined chair.

She felt him pressing on her womb gently using his hands to measure where her uterus was in order to verify the baby was the size it should be from the ultrasound they had done three weeks prior. Everything had looked fine and made both the doctor and Miriallia quite relieved.

Because he took such care of her unborn child, she felt at ease with the treatments she was receiving from him. Much more than she did with the EAF. She trusted the doctor and looked forward to her visits.

"So how have you been feeling lately?" he asked as he quickly gave her a shot of medicine intended to counterattack the drugs she had been fed by the EAF.

"Okay I guess," she replied wincing slightly.

"Anymore of those dreams you mentioned?" he asked.

"I still can't make out any faces, but I hear a lot of different voices in my head. It's actually a little frightening," she answered honestly.

"Well, that will happen as your mind opens back up to you more. You may even be shocked if you hear a familiar voice and see their face before the memories completely unlock. I just want to warn you before it happens so that you are aware of it," the doctor replied.

"Thank you, but I can't imagine there is anyone up here that I will recognize again from the voices I'm hearing in my dreams. I was told most of my friends are actually on the Archangel and none of them would be up here. Most of the dreams revolve around battle operations," she answered as she waited for the doctor to finish his examination.

"Well, just take it easy please. I don't want you overdoing it right now. You may be remembering events that happened in the prior war. I hear you were the CIC on the Archangel back then," he stated and then nodded that he was done.

"I will. Thank you again for everything," she replied hopping down gently.

"I'll see you in a week this time. The dose I was able to give you today will last about that long to purge some more of the drug dosage in your system," he replied as she walked towards the door.

"Thank you. I'll let the Commander know," she answered heading out the door.

Yzak waited as impatient as always leaning again the wall and tapping his foot with his arms crossed over one another. When she finally exited, he huffed in agitation.

"It's about time," he stated and started to walk down the hall.

She scurried to catch up to him feeling like a hindrance.

"May I ask you a question?" she inquired shyly.

"You just did," he replied with a grunt.

"I..." she stuttered in confusion.

"What do you want to know?" he sighed remembering he had promised Dearka he wouldn't be too cruel to her.

"Um," she started now unsure if she should continue.

"Well, spit it out already. I don't have all day," he said without even looking back at her.

"Okay, well, why are you going to all this trouble to escort me to the doctors and back to my room or Ian's room?" she asked curiously.

"Because, I promised someone I would look out for you. Believe me, this is the last thing I want to be doing, but he's the only real friend I have," Yzak said sincerely.

"Promised someone he would look out for me?" she thought, her curiosity rising.

"That reminds me, when is your next appointment?" he asked as they approached Ian's room.

She quickly snapped out of her contemplation of his words and answered him quickly.

"I'm sorry. It's a week from today. I meant to tell you as soon as I exited," she answered.

"And you remember our deal if you are going to spend time with Lieutenant Randall?" he asked as they stood outside the door.

"Yes, I will not mention anything to Ian about my condition or treatment until you authorize it," she replied with respect to his position.

"Good. I will have Reilly come for you in a few hours to escort you back to your room. I won't be able to make it back here today," Yzak stated as he buzzed Ian's door and then typed the override code.

Ian turned his head from the book he was reading and smiled when he saw Miriallia's face as the door swished open. He was so glad to see her again. It had been a couple of days since he had any company and in another two days, his suspension would be over. That would allow him all the time in the world with Miriallia. But that would also give Dearka access to her as well.

He sat up and frowned when he saw Yzak standing behind her. He would rather not see Dearka's best friend and his Commander from hell at the moment. But he knew he wasn't going to get his wish.

"I will send Reilly to pick Miss Haw up in a few hours. I expect you will conduct yourself as a proper ZAFT soldier until then," Yzak threatened.

Ian stood from the bed and saluted his Commander with respect, the entire time thinking about all the horrible things he'd like to do to him.

"Yes Sir," he replied.

As soon as the formalities were over, Yzak turned to leave as Miriallia stepped further into the room. The door quickly swished closed again allowing both Miriallia and Ian to release a sigh of relief.