Changing Winds

Part 13

 

By Yuki Wildstar

 

 

 

4 months later . . . .

 

 

It was nonstop for Derek and Nova Wildstar. Even with the nanny, nights were long and no sleep. They both walked around in a fog from their twin’s nightly ritual. DJ and Lexie Wildstar did not have the same sleeping habits making their parents walk around like zombies. Mrs. Ogawa was a god sent. She managed to keep Alex busy so that Nova and Derek could sleep when they could. She’d come early in the morning before Alex was up while Nova and Derek feed their twins. Mrs. Ogawa was in her late 50’s, widowed, with grown children that now were married and live far away. She missed the sound of children and decided to get a job as a nanny. When Nova interview her they hit it off. Derek met her later and fell in love with the older woman. Alex took a shine to her instantly when he came home and she had cookies and milk waiting for him. It was a grandmother he didn’t have. Derek pulled up to their home and took a deep breath. He knew that the news he had will make her upset or even worst, mad. But it was something he thought about for a week and if he wanted to make Captain it would be the only way. As their twins grew their night schedule became easier. They now slept through the night. He giggled to himself as he looked at his house for the first time they slept through the night. Nova and He were up every hour checking them as he placed a mirror under their nose to check if they were breathing. It was a funny night for them. He walked into his house and place his things down as Alex ran into his arms to greet him. Mrs. Ogawa bid her goodbyes for the night and Nova waved at her as she walked out the house. Derek thanked her for helping out and made his way to his wife. He kissed her as she held on to his daughter. “Hey, how are things with the kiddo’s?”

 

She smiled and placed Lexie into the playpen next to her twin brother. “Long.” She said. “How was work?”

 

“Long.” Making them both laugh.

 

“Let me finish dinner. Should be ready in about 20 minutes.”

 

“Okay, I need to shower. I spent most of my day on the docks and the smell is still on me.”

 

Nova sat across from him and noticed how distant he was this evening. They put DJ and Lexie to bed first and then Alex. Derek sat on his bed and told him stories about their time in space on the way to Iscandar. 20 minutes later he was fast asleep. They walked down the path to their private beach area hand in hand. He was extra quiet, and she knew something was bugging him. “What’s up Wildstar.” She asked. She could see a smirk on his face knowing that she could always read his mind.

 

“I have some news and I’m not sure how you’re going to take it. No, I know you’re going to hate it.”

 

“What?” she stopped walking and made him face her.

 

Derek looked past her to the dark night sky. “I was offered orders.”

 

“Oh. How long? And when?”

 

“The mission leaves in a few months.”

 

“How long?” her eyes narrowed and stared at him.

 

“It’s a little longer than my last mission.”

 

“Your last mission was a year. How much longer will this one be?” She asked weary.

 

“About 36 months more.”

 

“36 months! That’s 3 years! Are you insane!” she snapped. “Alex will be almost 8 and the twins will be 3.”

 

“Nova, I need to make Captain, and this is the only way to do it.”

 

“No! There are other ways. And you just said it’s an offer, so you don’t have to take it.”

 

He took a deep breath and tried to calm her down. “Baby, you know as well as I do that after my last mission and the outcome of the situation that this is the only way. I don’t want to go but,”

 

“BUT WHAT!” she yelled. “Its three years, Derek. THREE! Or have you not forgotten that we have three kids now and they need their father! Anything can happen in space and the longer the time the more possibilities things can go wrong. NO! you’re not going.” She screamed and walked back to the house.

 

He stood outside for a long time before heading back. She was angry and upset. To continue the conversation tonight would only make things worse. He walked back into the house and to their room. He could hear her crying in the bathroom, and he was heartbroken that she didn’t support his career. “Nova?” he said through the door of their bathroom.

 

She swung opened the door and pushed past him. “You’ve already made your decision, haven’t you?” she said.

 

He nodded his head. “Nov,”

 

“NO! you accepted it without speaking to me first.”

 

“I’ve wanted to talk to you about it, but they gave me a short amount of time to give them an answer.”

 

“How long?” she snapped. He looked away and she yelled louder, “I asked you how long did they give you!”

 

“It’s been a week.” He said looking away.

 

He could see her anger grow. Tears ran down her face and she walked back into the bathroom slamming the door shut hard. He cringed and hoped that she didn’t wake up their twins. He made his way to their room and looked in. They both slept in one crib for now. He closed the door and walked over to Alex room and found him sleeping. He sat in the living room and tried to watch some TV to avoid his wife. Morning was worse. She didn’t speak let alone look at him. He tried to help with the twins, and she pushed him away. “I don’t need your help. I guess I better get used to dealing with it all since I will be a single parent for the next three years.” She snapped. He got dressed and headed to work. Dinner was the same, she avoided his looks and focused on her children. As she ready herself for sleep he walked into the room and closed the door.

 

“Nova, can we talk?” he asked.

 

“No. You’ve made your decision and I wasn’t part of it. It’s obvious that you didn’t consider me or the kids.”

 

“I was thinking of you and the kids. I am also thinking of my career. I am the only star force member besides you that haven’t made captain.”

 

“And who’s fault is that!” she snapped.

 

He took a long deep breath. Eventually it would come back to haunt him. “I thought we were past that.” He spoke softly.

 

She never wanted to bring it up to his face but, because of his affair they held it over his head. “I wasn’t, but you going to space for three fucking years only makes me think about who you will be with to keep your bed warm.”

 

“Come on Nova, you know I would never do that to you again. I love you too much to lose you. I promise I will call every chance I get, I’ll write and send pictures. Please I need you to support me in this. I would do it for you.”

 

Her heartbeat faster out of love and anger. He stood there pleading with her. All she could do was cry. He was going away for three years. He was leaving her and their children. Her fear would be his fidelity to her. Would he go away and have a long-time affair with someone else? Would he fall in love and leave her to raise their children alone? Would he come home? Would he disappear in deep space? So many questions. She knew that anything could go wrong out in space. So many go and never come back, leaving their loved ones to wonder what happened. She wiped the tears from her face and stare at him. He wanted her to support him in this decision and if she didn’t, he would hate her forever. But if she let him go, she could still lose him. You can’t be selfish Nova. It’s his career and he was working hard to make rank. It’s what he does. She would ruin it if she didn’t stand by him and tell him to stay. Her tears ran down harder to what she had to do, and it broke her heart. She had to let him go or he would hate her if he stayed. Slowly he took her into his arms and hugged her. She cried into his chest and finally said. “Go Derek. I will support you. It’s who you are and what you do. But you better call every chance and speak to our children.” She hit him on his chest.

 

He put his hand on her chin and brought her to look at him. “I promise. Every chance I get. I love you.” All she could do was hold him tight and never want to let him go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 months later . . . .

 

 

 

 

She sat in the doctor’s office waiting for him to arrive. He walked in 10 minutes later and sat down behind his desk. He opened up her file and took a deep breath. “Nova, the scan and test results are back. I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone.” Doctor Murthy said. “I’m afraid to tell you that we found a mass, the size of a golf ball on your small intestine and we should start treatment right away. It’s a solid mass so it can be treated. We are thinking 6 treatments of chemo should do the trick.”

 

Her heart almost stopped. She was barely 30 years old, and she was told she had cancer. She hadn’t heard from Derek in months, and she prayed that he was getting her emails or letters. Now she needed him the most and he was gone for another two years. She sat back and took in everything, but her mind only wanted him there with her. She was alone. All she thought about was suppose this turns to more than just what he was telling her. Who will take care of her children. “NOVA!” her doctor brought her back to the present. “I’m sorry to tell you this. I know it’s a lot to take in. Right now, you need some support. I know that your husband is gone, but is there any way for you to get in touch with him?”

 

She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I’ll have to go to headquarters and see if Sandor can pull strings. I should go, I need to go and see if they can find him.” She nervously picked up her things and raced out the door. She wasn’t sure how she got to his office, but she was now almost in tears. “I need to see him.” She told Sandor’s assistant.

 

“He’s on the phone on a conference. If you just have a seat,” he was saying, and she barged into his office. “Commander!”

 

“Stephen, I need to get in touch with Derek.” She began to cry.

 

Stephen Sandor talked into the phone and said, “I need to go. Can we finish this tomorrow? Thank you,” he said and placed the phone on its cradle. He stood up and sat her down. “What’s going on.” She never barged into his office, so he knew something was important.

 

“I need to get in touch with Derek. I need him home ASAP.” She demanded.

“We’ve been trying for weeks. He is beyond reach. I can send a message to all ship out in space. What’s wrong?”

 

“Please Stephen, I need him home.”

 

“Okay, but I need you to calm down and tell me what’s going on.” She began to cry harder and told him what her doctor found in her results. He listened and then held her tight. His heart beating faster. “Come on we can go to the communication room.” They walked down and enter a large dark room. He walked over to one of the communication officers and spoke to him. Instantly he began to push buttons and talk into a mic. He tried for 20 minutes when he finally looked up to Sandor and shook his head. “Keep trying. Send out word to all ships in space. Have them pass on the information,” he ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Be Continue . . . . . .