dmims Chapter 163 Angelica
Chapter 163 Angelica
Sunlight streamed into the long corridor, like an amber silk curtain, casting a golden shadow. Moko sat on the sofa beside her, brushing Ella's fur with a soft brush, occasionally stroking Ella's chin like a cat. Ella nestled comfortably on Moko's lap, purring happily. Moko's expression was one of doting affection, and she hummed an unknown lullaby softly, enjoying this rare moment of peace and tranquility.
"...Darling, look, look, the doll I made especially for you, isn't it cute?"
The woman held up a teddy bear and approached Zefa, her eyes blinking as she looked like a child seeking praise, completely unlike someone who was already a mother.
"So cute."
"That's great! Honey, you said it's cute, so the baby will definitely like it. Honey, do you think the baby is a boy or a girl?"
The woman gently touched her protruding pregnant belly, her eyes filled with love and anticipation. At this moment, the radiance emanating from her was more dazzling than the sunlight outside the window, a radiance that one could not bear to look away from once they had just glanced at her.
Zefa guided the woman to sit on his lap, put the teddy bear in her hand aside, leaned down and pressed his head against her pregnant belly, his eyes filled with happiness.
"I like both boys and girls, but I hope it's a daughter. She'll be just as beautiful and lovely as you."
The woman gently patted Zefa's head, a warm smile appearing in her eyes, along with a helpless yet doting look.
"I still hope it's a boy."
Hearing the woman's words, Zefa turned his head in confusion and looked at her. The woman reached out and pinched Zefa's cheek before explaining.
"Because then he can join his father in the navy to protect everyone and become a great hero admired by all."
Zefa was slightly taken aback. Under the woman's smug little gaze, he propped himself up and kissed her forehead, a slight smile playing on his lips, his voice carrying a low laugh as he gently stroked the woman's pregnant belly.
"That's fine then. I'll protect you with him."
The woman gave Zefa a light glare, but her eyes were full of sweetness. As if remembering something, she leaned to the side and reached out to rummage for something. Zefa quickly protected her waist.
"Oh right, I also made you a little bear. I remember putting it here. Hmm, where did it go? Ah, I found it!"
The woman's eyes lit up, and she pulled a smaller teddy bear from the blanket, happily placing it in Zefa's hands.
"Aren't you about to go on a mission? I noticed you haven't been sleeping well lately, so I went to the doctor to get some calming herbs. I've already sewed them into the teddy bear. Just put them by your bedside when you go out, so you can sleep better on the ship."
Looking at the small bear, no bigger than her palm, Zefa's sharp features softened. The warmth she felt was intoxicating. But when she thought of her beloved going out on a mission, a glistening light appeared in her eyes.
The woman raised her hand, her fingertips tracing Zefa's eyebrows and eyes, then stroking his slightly rough face.
“Darling, I’m actually very scared. I’m scared of those dangerous missions, scared that you’ll get hurt… But I know that as a naval officer, you have things you must do, and that’s something to be proud of.”
The woman cupped Zefa's face and pulled him down, her forehead touching Zefa's. "My husband is a respected figure in the underworld. How can I, as his wife, hold him back? Although I don't want you to be in danger, I won't stop you. Darling, please come back safely. The baby and I will be waiting for you at home."
A sense of reluctance lingered between the two. They had only been married a short time, and the woman was pregnant with her baby, with her due date approaching. Zephyr had already requested sufficient leave from the Navy, but the sudden emergency mission ultimately disrupted their vacation plans.
He is an admiral, and cannot refuse a mission. However, he cannot fully dedicate himself to his family nowadays. He has his own dreams and ambitions, otherwise he would not have agreed to be promoted to admiral.
No matter how he tried to justify it, his behavior was unfair to the woman. He felt guilty, especially after hearing what the woman said. Zefa felt even more distressed. Zefa, who had never shed a tear before, suddenly had tears in his eyes. This was the person he loved most, the lover who had waited for him for more than 20 years, and also his most important family member.
"You're crying like that? If your friends see you, they'll laugh at you."
The woman chuckled softly, her soft fingertips gently caressing the corner of Zefa's eye. The tenderness in her eyes still stirred Zefa's heart. Zefa couldn't resist and pulled the woman into his arms, holding her tightly in his embrace.
"I'm sorry, Angelica, for making you wait for me all this time..."
Angelica shook her head in the grown man's arms. "Darling, waiting isn't painful, especially waiting for you. I love you deeply, so waiting for you is the happiest thing."
Zefa's heart softened, his eyes overflowing with love. He couldn't help but kiss Angelica's forehead, while placing the teddy bear with the scent of medicine into the pocket of his shirt closest to his heart.
The sun was shining brightly on the dock, and the navy personnel on the mission had all assembled. They were just waiting for everyone to arrive before they could set off. Garp stood on the dock, listening to the navy personnel's report on their preparations.
"Hey, Zeffa, what brings you here? Isn't Angelica due soon (chewing)?" Hearing the sound behind him, Garp, carrying a basket of senbei, turned around and looked at Zeffa who was walking towards him in confusion.
"Yes, just in the last month or so."
When Angelica was mentioned, Zephyr's usually cold and serious expression softened. Garp blinked and then picked up a senbei and put it in his mouth.
"The general must be really tired. (chewing) But Sengoku is really something. (chewing) Angelica is the one who can't live without you right now."
As he was speaking, Garp suddenly stopped. Seeing Zephyr's eyes gradually dimming, Garp quickly tried to make amends by patting Zephyr's shoulder forcefully.
"Oh, it's alright. This mission involves several people working together, so we'll definitely be back before Angelica gives birth."
“Hmm.” Zephyr’s voice was still somewhat somber.
"Garp, you bastard, you sneaked into my office and stole my senbei again!!"
A loud roar came from behind Sengoku. Garp, unable to continue comforting him, hurriedly swallowed the senbei in his mouth and quickly ran away. Thus, a chase scene inexplicably unfolded at the dock.
“Those two never stop.” Zephyr turned his head and saw Tsuru with her arms crossed and a helpless look in her eyes. Noticing Zephyr’s gaze, Tsuru looked up at Zephyr and smiled. “Come back soon, Angelica is still waiting for you at home.”
"I will be back as soon as possible."
Zephyr nodded, then strode onto the warship. He would get back as soon as possible, Angelica…
In the corridor, Zephyr, who had just finished a mission, ran at top speed. In his panic, he didn't even have time to change out of his navy uniform. As he got closer and closer to the operating room with the red light on, Zephyr's heart became more and more anxious, fearing that something unexpected might happen.
As soon as Zefa stopped at the operating room door, the red light turned green. Zefa stared intently at the operating room door, watching it slowly open. He saw the doctor pushing a hospital bed out, and Angelica was lying on the bed, still breathing. Zefa finally breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Angelica!"
Zefa hurried to the bedside, gripping the bed railing tightly with both hands. Exhausted, Angelica forced her eyes open after hearing Zefa's voice. What came into view was Zefa with a full beard and dark circles under his eyes. It was clear that he had been working tirelessly to complete the mission and rush back. Angelica wanted to touch Zefa's face and tell him that she was fine, but she was too weak to even lift her hand.
"Welcome home, dear."
"I'm back, Angelica, thank you for your hard work."
Zephyr gently held Angelica's hand, as if she were some fragile treasure. Angelica smiled softly and looked at the baby lying beside her. Zephyr followed Angelica's gaze and finally noticed the baby. The baby was so small, like a doll. Even now, Zephyr still felt a sense of unreality. This was his child, his and Angelica's child.
"Awoo~"
The tiny baby let out a soft, babyish whimper, and the adorable sound left Zefa momentarily at a loss for what to do. Angelica couldn't help but chuckle, "Darling, do you want to hold him?"
"well!?"
Encouraged by Angelica, Zephyr picked up the baby with trembling hands. He had never been this nervous, not even when he first took up a sword as a Marine. Moreover, it was a completely different feeling from holding a child before. The baby in his arms was like a ball of water, and Zephyr even had the feeling that the little guy was about to slip away from his hands. It was rare to see the usually composed Zephyr so flustered, and Garp and the others who had come with him immediately showed great joy and burst into laughter.
"Awoo~"
As if it was uncomfortable being held, the baby was about to cry. Zefa frantically reached out to comfort it, but the baby grabbed Zefa's finger. The soft touch made Zefa freeze on the spot, and tears involuntarily streamed down its face.
"Thank you, thank you, Angelica, thank you!"
At this moment, Zefa finally felt it was real. He really had become a father. This was his child, a gift from the person he loved most.
"My dear has become a crybaby."
Angelica smiled gently, her eyes filled with undisguised love. She had regained a little strength and reached out to pinch Zefa's cheek. A warm atmosphere quietly filled the air, and everyone smiled with blessings.
"Dad! Daddy!"
Time flies by, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye. Before Zefa even reached the door, the little one-year-old boy stumbled out of the house. Zefa caught the wobbly boy with his big hand, affectionately nuzzled the boy's cheek, and made the boy giggle.
"Riegel, slow down. I get jealous every time I see Dad come home." Angelica came out of the room with a jealous expression on her face, but her eyes were overflowing with happiness.
"I'm back." Zephyr approached Angelica with a gentle smile.
“Darling, welcome back.” Angelica blinked and smiled, her jealous expression completely vanishing as if it had never existed.
Zephyr bent down and kissed Angelica's lips. At that moment, Angelica also saw the baby Zephyr was holding in his other hand.
Who is this child?
"I saw it on the way back; it seems to have been abandoned by its parents."
How could that be?
Angelica tenderly took the baby and touched its slightly cold cheeks. The baby instinctively moved closer to warmth, and this affectionate gesture instantly melted Angelica's heart.
“Honey, let’s adopt this child. Riggle wants a little sister too, doesn’t he?”
"Ah! Hehehe~"
Whether Rigel understood or not, he just kept waving his little hands in agreement.
“Darling, look, Rigel wants a little sister too.”
Zephyr smiled helplessly, knowing that Angelica had softened her heart, but he didn't point it out. It was just raising another child; as long as Angelica was happy, he was fine with anything. His original plan to send the baby to an orphanage was also immediately abandoned.
"it is good."
"From now on, this child will be called Ain. Ain-chan, I'm your mom. Grow up happily and healthily!"
……
"General Zephyr, I am so sorry we couldn't arrive in time. Your wife and children..."
Zefa could no longer hear anything. The horrific scene in the room stung his eyes. His beloved was lying motionless in a pool of blood. He would never see his wife's smile when she welcomed him home again, nor would he hear his eagerly awaited child calling him "Dad."
He knew nothing about what to do or think. Zeff held the bodies of his lover and child, his mind filled only with the thought of killing those pirates. But then he kept blaming himself. How ridiculous it was that he, as a Marine Admiral, couldn't even protect his own family...
"dad."
A timid voice came from behind, and only a pair of pitiful eyes filled with tears appeared through the crack in the small wooden box. Zefa's eyes narrowed, and he stumbled to the wooden box and took Ain out.
Ain was covered in blood, with a deep, bone-revealing knife wound on her thigh. For a child, such pain must have come from witnessing a desperate scene to stop her from crying. What everyone else could think of, Zephyr certainly could too, but it was too late to say anything now.
"Daddy, Daddy, there are bad people! It's so scary! Mommy and brother were killed by bad people! Mommy, brother, boo-hoo—"
Ain's speech wasn't very fluent, but the sorrowful aura emanating from her made everyone around her turn their heads away in sympathy. Her sobs, almost suffocating, broke everyone's hearts.
Zephyr held Ain tightly, his body trembling, his eyes bloodshot, yet he bit his lip and remained silent. On this day, he had almost lost everything. What use were his dreams? He couldn't even protect his family; what good was becoming stronger?
"Zeff, you said you want to leave the Navy!"
Sengoku stared in disbelief at the utterly dejected man before him and the unwavering determination in Zephyr's eyes, and sighed deeply.
“Zeff, think about it again. The Navy still needs you. I know Angelica’s passing is painful, but Angelica would never want to see you like this. Stay, Zeff.”
Whether it was Sengoku touching on Zephyr's inner pain or not, Zephyr could no longer bear it in front of his friend and burst into tears, slamming his hands hard on the ground, not stopping even when they were covered in blood.
"Sengoku, Angelica is gone. Why couldn't I have gone back sooner that day? If I had gone back sooner, she wouldn't have been hurt. Sengoku, more than the pirates who killed them, I hate myself for not protecting them. I promised her, I promised her I would protect her and the child..."
Looking at the man crying uncontrollably in front of him, Sengoku patted Zephyr's shoulder comfortingly, tilted his head back to hold back his tears, and his expression was equally sorrowful.
"I know, I know... Cry, there won't be anyone else here, no one else will know..."