While the tides of battle were brewing in the Sea of Lorelei, events of a more peaceful nature were underway in the American Midwest. A customized land rover with its two passengers drove along the long stretch of road through the endless waves of fields full of crop of various kinds. From wheat, to corn to trees of various fruits could be found, soon ready to harvest once they ripened to the liking of the local farmers.
The driver of the rover frowns as he studies the map in his lap; he momentarily lifts up the map looking at it closer. “Damn, we’ve been on this road for two hours and I still don’t see the any signs pointing to the address Witz gave us to find his house!”
The woman in the passenger seat gave a small giggle. “Garrod let me see the map.” She insists playfully, holding out her hand expectantly for the map that befuddles her companion. “For someone who’s traveled all his life your sense of direction seems to be slightly off today.”
”It is not off!” He protests lightly, while glaring at the map in his hand. “… I’ve just been distracted by a lot of things, especially my co-pilot.”
”Why thank you for the compliment Garrod, but you’re still giving me that map please.” Tifa says in a sing-song voice still waving her hand for the map. It only took three seconds and a few low-voiced mutters and Garrod conceded and handed over the map. Smiling Tifa holds the map in her lap, bringing a finger down to trace along the road. “Okay we’re on this road here, and Witz and Tonya’s home is supposed to be over here on this spot.” She murmurs in concentration slowly shutting her eyes.
While Tifa Adel, no Tifa Ran now as the two of them had gotten married three years ago in the spring had let go of the pressures of being a so-called Newtype after the discovery of the truth during the 8th Space War, she still kept her talents from being rusty and lax. Instead of totally casting away her powers she simply did not let them dominate her existence and learned to better control them to the degree that she did not pick up stray thoughts from a random person or felt intense psychic feedback from some unknown source.
After all Newtype powers had their perks, such as visualizing the directions the two needed to make to correct to make up for any wrong turns Garrod may have taken or missed. Her eyes open seconds later smiling coyly. “You haven’t missed the turn yet Garrod it’s the next one we’re coming up upon, you just underestimated how long the road is.”
Garrod groans in mild embarrassment a part of himself wanting to bean his head right then and there into the steering wheel. “Now I know why Witz warned me these roads can confuse you.”
”At least we know we’re not lost and will be on time for dinner dear.” Tifa says sweetly resting her hand on top of his own, their wedding bands softly gleaming in the setting sun in the sky.
Smiling at his wife’s gesture of comfort to his lightly wounded male pride he turns to quickly steal a light peck on her lips before returning his eyes to the road. “I love you.”
Tifa’s face flows with a crimson tint while she stares at her husband. “How do you still do that to me?”
”Do what?”
”Just a kiss, and an “I love you” and I’m total putty in your hands.”
”Well, you do the same to me so six of one.” Garrod says while grinning in a maddening way.
Laughing softly Tifa leans her head against his shoulder sighing contently. “It’ll be so nice to see the others again.”
”Yeah it’s nearly been a year since we had that impromptu reunion Carris of all people pulled on us.” Garrod muses, thinking back to their friends and all they’ve been through together in the last nine years.
”I wonder how big the kids have gotten now.” Tifa muses, still resting her head on Garrod’s shoulder finding comfort in this position as always.
”And we have to wonder if Toniya is pregnant again.” Garrod chuckles with a mischievous hilt to his tone.
”Assuming she hasn’t gotten Witz fixed, she might be.” Tifa says with a grin that mirrors her husbands. “Three pregnancies has got to be a toll on any woman. I don’t see how his Mom handled going through five of them. Although I guess it goes to show the men in Witz’s family are pretty virile.” Her expression then becomes wicked with a seductive glint in her eye. “Although I doubt it can compare to yours.” She adds with a seductive purr.
Now it was Garrod’s turn to flush with crimson. “Geez Tifa, the compliment is great but I am kinda driving here.” Oh boy and to think she used to be such a timid girl, if the gang knew even half of how outgoing she’s become in terms of martial perks they might faint.
It wasn’t long after they found the turn off road and took it onto the dirt road path leading into the farm residence of Witz’s family. The home here was modest, two stories mainly consisting of log and cement construction it served the family of five just fine. The nearby wheat fields looked ready to harvest as a testament to the care the family gave to their crop.
As the rover was pulling up a young boy and girl who looked to be no older than six or seven stop their game in a nearby sand box as they spot the car. “MOMMA! UNCKA GARROD AND AUNTIE TIFA ARE HERE!”
Out of the front door of the house a woman with fair tanned skin, beautiful brown eyes and blonde hair strolls out. While nine years older and a mother of three since the 8th Space War, Toniya still looked fantastic. Following her by the hand was a child of three, another girl who unlike her siblings who seemed to favor their father’s features looked like a mini version of her mother.
Smiling at the sight of her friends she waves with her free hand. “About time you showed up, I was about ready to call Witz on the radio and tell him to perform a search and rescue.”
”Oh we’re not that late!” Garrod huffs as he gets out of the rover on the drivers side. No longer a boy of fifteen as when the chain of events that led him to the Gundam X a decade ago Garrod had grown up, now twenty four years old; the dark haired man still kept his hair style (at his wife’s insistence) while his body build had buffed up a bit from all the traveling he and Tifa had done. His outfit was almost identical to his attire from back then except his jacket was blue instead of red and his pants were black.
”AUNTIE!” The twins exclaim as they rush Tifa and hug her legs as she got out of the rover.
”Oh sure they run up and hug you first.” Garrod pouts comically while crossing his arms.
”Oh this little one wants to see you first.” Toniya’s voice catches his attention, cocking his head he sees Toniya before him holding her youngest up whose arms are held out expectantly towards Garrod. “Lilly wants to see her Uncle Garrod don’t you sweety?”
Smiling Garrod takes the young girl into his arms giving a hug as he received one in return when the girl’s small arms wrap around his neck. “Boy you’ve grown Lilly; you used to not be able to get your arms around my neck.” He says proudly flashing a smile on her.
”Thank you Uncka.” The young girl blushes but smiles at the praise she received from her uncle.
”She reminds me of how Tifa used to be when she was all timid back then.” Garrod muses as he gently runs a hand through Lilly’s hair.
”Hmm-hmm, our Tifa’s sure come far from being the anti-social type.” Toniya says getting her hug from Garrod before she turns her gaze to Tifa who was giving the twins her full attention as well as expectant hugs and kisses.
While becoming more outgoing was a big change for Tifa, physically she’d changed as well. Her figure was now that of a full woman. She wasn’t some big-breasted knock-out, but she still possessed a calm beauty that still made heads turn (mostly Garrod’s as he’d deck anyone else eyeing his wife). Her curves weren’t swimsuit-model quality but they were still gorgeous, her modest bust still filled her tank top rather well. Her hairstyle was slightly different in that she currently had two large pigtails going from the back of her head.
”My goodness you both have gotten so big.” Tifa squeals as she continues to shower the twins with her affection. “Tony my goodness you’re looking more like your Father everyday, and Mia you’ve got your mother’s radiance even at your age.”
”Oh geez Tifa give my kids big heads, lord knows Witz and I spoil em’ enough already.” Toniya laughs.
”Speaking of which, where is your husband?” Tifa asks as she finally sets Tony and Mia down to stand up.
Her answer comes as the sounds of an aircraft looms overhead. In the sky the Airmaster Burst Gundam in its flight mode hovers over the homestead. Slowly it makes its descent onto the make-shift landing pad set aside for the Gundam, which transforms into mobile suit mode just as its feet touched the ground. The hum of the reactor and engines die down as it powers down; the cockpit hatch opens moments later and a tow-cable wench slides out allowing the pilot to grasp the cable to descend him down to the ground.
”I see the baggage arrived. So how’s it going Tifa, Garrod?”
Giggling at Witz’s humor Tifa replies. “Quite well Witz, you and the family seem to be well.”
”So the Gundam air-delivery service is still doing good?” Garrod inquires as he walks up to Witz tapping the side of the Airmaster’s foot as he did.
”Oh yeah, she still flies and air transit services are still being restored around the world so I still make a good living with it on the side besides the farming.” Witz smiles looking quite content with life.
“So when should we expect Roybea, Enil and their so-“ Tifa suddenly stops in mid-sentence as her eyes widen, her skin pales and she begins to tremble.
”Auntie?” Mia asks worriedly as she shakes her hand.
”Tifa? Tifa what’s the matter?” Garrod asks concerned as he strides over to touch her face.
Tifa doesn’t respond her eyes tremble as through them she saw a sight she had not seen in over a decade. A GX, although black in color with its satellite cannon charging up for the kill; what she also noticed about this GX was instead of green optics they were a blood red and its aura was screaming for the deaths of its foes. “No….no….no…”
”Mama, Papa what’s that in the sky?”
Witz and Toniya turn their gaze to the sky up where Lilly was pointing. They gasp as they saw an unmistakable sight. “Is that-?”
”A microwave… beam.” Witz’s mouth felt so dry.
Garrod looks up gasping at what was in the sky. Suddenly next to him Tifa fell limp in his arms against him. “Tifa? TIFA?!!”
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(Posted Fri, 24 Aug 2007 04:53)
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