Chapter 8: Memories and New Life

Maya was eating to try and relieve her sadness. "Where are you Zer0?" She sighed. "I don't know if I can raise this child on my own." Her ECHO went off and she answered it. "Hello?" She questioned. "It's Gaige." She answered.

"What is it?"

"We found him."

Maya nearly dropped the ECHO when she heard that. "Where." Maya demanded.

"Old Hyperion outpost. There is one thing."

"What?"

"He has no memory."

"I'm still coming."

Maya was sure Gaige was trying to protest, but she hung up and went for the fast-travel station. She travelled to the Eridium Blight and went to the fortress. She simply walked through the open doors and saw Axton sitting in front of the building at the end. "Where is he?" Maya demanded. Axton stood up and opened the door for her.

She walked in to see Salvador and Gaige talking with Zer0. He was shaking his head at them. She felt tears well up in her eyes. "Zer0!" She cried. He looked up at her.

She ran (or the equivalent of a run for a pregnant woman) and hugged him. She felt him slowly put his arms around her. "I'm guessing you're Maya." He commented. "Yes." She cried. "You really don't remember." He smiled apologetically and sighed "I'm sorry, I don't."

She wiped her eyes and proclaimed "It's okay." Gaige jumped in "It is?"

"Yes because I'm going to bring him back."

She looked back at him and smiled. He smiled and exclaimed "I can start by saying you're really pretty." She took his hand and questioned "Where is your room?" He took her up to his room and opened the door. The room was extravagant.

The floor was white marble with a large bed on the right. A large window held a balcony that overlooked the Blight. Several chairs were set around a fire pit near the balcony. "This room is amazing." Maya gasped. "Yep." Zer0 admitted. "It pays to be the big boss's bodyguard."

"I can tell."

"What would you like to do now?"

She took his hand and sat him on the seats by the fire pit. She sat down next to him and sighed "I guess I have to start at the beginning." She told him how he went by "Zer0", and their adventures as Vault Hunters. She told him how he nearly sacrificed himself to save her and it started their relationship. She took off her pendant and placed it in his hand.

"You gave this to me as a promise." She explained as she felt tears run down her face. "A promise to always protect me." He reached up and wiped the tears from her face. She smiled and told the story of the pendant. She told the story of them going to Athenas and discovering the origins of sirens. She traced the scar on his face and sighed "You got this scar trying to save me."

He grabbed her hand and smiled. She placed their hands on her stomach and she finished "And this is our child. You proposed to me when I told you I was pregnant." Zer0 had a look on his face, like he was thinking very hard. He looked at her, the pendant, then to her again. "I'm getting a massive headache right now." He groaned.

"I'm sorry." Maya apologized. "I thought if I reminded you of what we went through, it might trigger something.

"It's okay. It makes a lot of sense."

"I'll go now. Give you some time for your thoughts."

She stood up and was about to go for the door when Zer0 grabbed her hand. "Don't go." He plead. "Please stay." She looked at him with a smile. He stood up and sighed "I don't want you to leave. I feel…complete with you here." He took the pendant and put it around her neck.

"I felt, empty, until you came here." He continued. "I may not remember, but being with feels, right." She wrapped him in a hug and cried "Don't worry. We can make it through this." She looked up and he kissed her. He let her go and she asked "Still nothing?"

"Nothing."

She sighed and went to the bed. She tried to climb in, but was having trouble. She felt Zer0 help her into the bed. "Now you get in," Maya instructed "And sit against the headboard." He climbed in and with his back against the headboard.

She adjusted herself so she was leaned against his chest in between his legs. "You had me start sleeping like this when I started getting big." She pointed out. "Why?" He questioned.

"You said you loved holding me in your arms."

She felt his arms wrap around her and he whispered "This is perfect." She leaned her head back and he kissed her cheek. "Goodnight Maya." He yawned. "Goodnight Zer0." She responded as she fell asleep in her husband's arms.

Maya woke up the next morning, alone. "This seems familiar." She groaned. The door opened and Zer0 backed in. He was pulling a cart with food on it. "Good morning Maya." He beamed.

"Anything yet?" She asked in hope.

"Nothing yet."

She sighed as he pulled the cart to her. He kissed her cheek and proclaimed "Breakfast!" She giggled and questioned "For me? You shouldn't have." Zer0 picked up a piece of bacon and ate it, chuckling "It's also mine." They both laughed and there was a knock at the door.

Zer0 answered it and grew rigid. He stepped aside and Titan walked in. "Sir," Zer0 spat out "this is unexpected." Titan retorted "Indeed, but this is important." He walked over to Maya and sighed "I have wronged you, my dear."

Maya looked at him with a confused look. He pressed on "I required a bodyguard, one of exceptional skill. Zer0 fit my criteria. Knowing he would never work for me, so I wiped his memory." Maya felt anger arise in her. Zer0 had a look of pure shock. Before he could respond, Titan finished "Now seeing what I took from him, I will return what was stolen."

He raised his hand to Zer0's face and grabbed hold. The shadows of the room crawled up is body enveloped Zer0's head. After a moment, the shadows dissipated and he released Zer0. Zer0 dropped to his knees, gasping for air. He stood up and punched Titan.

He grabbed his hand and bellowed in pain. "I deserved that." Titan admitted. Zer0 glared at him, then he looked to Maya. His expression changed to pure joy at her sight. "Maya." He cried.

"Zer0." She cried as well. He ran over to her and hugged her. Something caused the building to shake. Over the ECHO Axton shouted "The Sawteeth are back! They have a lot more this time!" The building shook again. Another person reported "Sawteeth have infiltrated the building!"

At that point Maya wailed in pain. "No!" She cursed. "Not now!" She looked to see the sheets soaked. "Zer0." She cried. Titan hopped onto the ECHO and declared "To battle stations! And get medics to my location!"

Medics were there in minutes. "Help her!" Titan ordered. "Zer0! Stay here and keep your wife safe!" Titan rushed out of the room.

Zer0 let the medics do their work and he stepped out. He shut the door behind him and drew his weapons. Almost instantly, a dozen psychos ran around the corner. Zer0 started popping rounds into them. He charged and slashed them to pieces.

He fought them off as more bandits rounded the corner. "I will fight." He repeated aloud. "I will survive! I will protect my family!" He slashed and shot until he was out of ammo. He slashed and swung his sword at every bandit he saw. He took out every bandit and stood in the blood covered hallway.

Three badass Psychos came around the corner and charged. Zer0 fought them and held them back. He was amazed at how long he was able to keep the psychos back. He hit one psycho, but another hit him in the side, slamming him against the wall. The psychos gathered around him and raised their pipes.

They were about to crush her when a loud shriek filled the hall. Everything seemed quiet except for cries, cries of a child. Two psychos went to the room while the last stayed. One psycho kicked the door down and Zer0 reacted by swinging his sword, cutting the psycho that stayed in half. He then threw his sword and it nailed the psycho that kicked the door in the head.

The psycho collapsed and Zer0 shot over. He grabbed his sword and faced the remaining psycho. He raised his blade and growled "Stay the hell away from my family." The remaining psycho charged and clashed with him. He blocked every blow and dodged one.

Zer0 slashed the psycho's hand off then cut his leg. When the psycho dropped, he cut off his head. The world seemed silent again except for the cries of his child. He sheathed his blade and looked at Maya. She was holding a blanket with joy in her eyes.

He sat on the bed and put his arm around her. He felt tears in his eyes as he looked upon his new born child. "It's a girl." Maya cried as well. "Our baby girl." Zer0 cried. He held a finger to his child, and she grabbed on.

"She's beautiful." He sighed.

"What will we call her?"

"Angel."

"Our little Angel."

He took Angel from Maya and cradled her in his arms. "Hey there Angel." He greeted to the calming new born. "I'm your dad, and I'm going to protect you. Just like your mother." The other Vault Hunters ran into the room with their weapons raised. They lowered their weapons when they saw Zer0. "Everyone," He announced "I'd like you all to meet mine and Maya's daughter, Angel." Gaige was the first to approach.

"Hi Angel." She greeted. "I'm your big sister, Gaige." Everyone got in their introductions, and Zer0 brought Angel back to Maya. "We're parents now." Maya cried as she took Angel. Zer0 sat down next to her and put his arms around her.

The group returned to Sanctuary. "We're going to head home." Zer0 announced. No one argued and let them leave. Maya carried Angel upstairs and set her in the crib made for her. Angel fell asleep almost instantly.

Maya simply watched her newborn sleep. Zer0 put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. "We're going to be good parents." Zer0 assured. She put her arms on his shoulders and agreed "I know. We have each other, and now we have Angel." They both watched their baby sleep.

"I love you Maya."

"I love you too Zer0."

Thank you all for reading, this will not be the last we've seen of Zer0 and his family, more is to come. Keep an eye out for "New Pandora", my next writing detailing the adventures of Angel, Maya and Zer0's daughter. And keep up the writing! I like to read too

-Chief