"Misato… I think I'm so lucky… to have you…to have our family…"
I turned my head towards Frederica who was gazing through the window. Though I couldn't clearly see her expressions from here, I had a feeling that she was smiling. Her golden - blonde hair swayed gently in the breeze, and the graceful image of her standing beside the window of the meeting chamber in the elf village brought back a lot of memories. The memories of almost everything that had happened so far, after I reached this world.
A lot of painful memories that I want to forget.
A lot of beautiful memories I don't want to forget. And a lot of awkward memories that made me realize how unique this journey has been.
After a few seconds I brought my mind back to the present, and I replied to her - realizing how awfully delayed my words must have seemed.
"I'm glad that you feel so Frederica, and…I feel the same too…I'm so grateful to all of you"
Frederica turned her head towards me when she heard my voice.
"And…now our lives will get even sweeter…" She said with a beautiful smile and a faint blush.
Her charming blue eyes and delicate features of her face become even more irresistible with her heartfelt smile. Don't tempt me like that…I complained a little in my mind, not wanting to ruin the sacred beauty of this moment. Oblivious to my silent fluster, Frederica came closer to me. Her face still radiating the boundless happiness and gratitude flooding her mind.
She stood so close to me - then delicately took my hand. I nearly gasped a little, from that unexpected tenderness. Her soft and warm fingers seemed to share her happiness and love to me through my hand. After a few seconds she gently guided my hand towards her stomach.
"Can you feel it? the new life… I can't wait to see my father and mother again - to tell them that I'm pregnant with your child… and Frenicia will be so happy too" she said with such an irresistible smile and pride.
Her happiness and pride, this beautiful moment - It made me wish, however pointlessly, that nothing ominous and unsettling would ever threaten our peaceful lives. Without realizing it, I found myself looking out the window again.
"Yet…we have to move on… right…" Frederica said with a sad soft sigh as I turned back to her. I could feel my heart sinking.
After a slight hesitation she continued. "My parents…Frenicia…can we see them again after–" She cut herself off and took a deep breath.
I slowly moved my hand from her stomach, feeling her body getting tense with nervousness. I don't know how to comfort her. All I can do was to share my hopes and dreams with her.
I felt an urge to laugh at myself… to laugh at my own frail self.
I…I am not born to be a hero…
"Everything will be alright, Frederica. one day…one day we will all laugh and hold our hands in relief… I believe in all of you…"
I looked at her eyes and tried to have my most confident smile.
But I knew… it was just a hope. And she knew it too. We all did. Still, we couldn't live without it.
Frederica smiled weakly. Her eyes started to tear up a little. Yet she tried to muster courage and retain her composure. After a few moments of silence she looked at me again.
"I know Misato…I know that one day we will all finally relax and lay on the soft meadows, free of our worries, looking at the blue sky with our children… Let's move on" she said with dreamy eyes.
"Frederica…" I called her from the depths of my heart. I stepped closer and embraced her. And, she hugged me back. We stood like that for a few moments. In those moments I felt like the rest of the world faded away. It's only me, Frederica and our child within her.
After a few moments she stirred a little.
"We'll be going back to the county tomorrow, right… it's such a shame that the elves can't come with us" she murmured within our embrace.
"At least Del and a few others will be there with us. So we won't miss them entirely." I said as I gently stroked her back.
"It'll be hard for them…painful too. Yet, they're still coming with us. That's why…that's why I said I'm so lucky to have our family" Frederica whispered softly as she rubbed her cheek against my chest.
I am so lucky too Frederica…
Who would have thought that a random, ordinary young man from earth would found such a beautiful family in another world - and be spoiled by their love and care…
And…and that love and care is the only thing that keeps me moving forward. To see your smiles, to wipe your tears.
I took a deep breath.
Our beautiful vacation is coming to an end tomorrow. Now it's time to return.
It's time to get back and restore the world, for my family and my children.
to clear the mist with my family.