Mere minutes passed.
Claire was with Gabriel while Garrett was with his general. Each one of them talking to the other.
"Thank you, Gabriel. Really," Claire began. "Thank you so much for going out of your way to bring me here. To let me see my brother.".
To her words, he replied with a smile as his eyes remained looking upon what they initially landed on. Her eyes.
But then as a thought entered his head, though, without his notice, the smile on his lips began to wear off. Although Gabriel didn't notice such a change, Claire did.
She gulped silently. "Is everything okay?".
At first, he furrowed his brows. "Yeah, why do you ask?".
She looked into his eyes, her gaze remaining there before her mouth opened ever so slightly. But no words came out. Then, all she managed to mutter out was, "Your smile...". She took a deep breath. "I noticed your smile go away.".
And upon mentioning such a thing, a small, sheepish smirk took its place on Gabriel's lips. Then, he averted his eyes from Claire to the ground. "I hope you know that we have to leave soon... they are waiting for us.".
And with hearing those words, almost immediately, she understood why that smile of his decided to recede.
"I-I know. I know, Gabriel.".
Following her words came the silence that descended amongst them both.
Then, just as Garrett finished his conversation with the General, he turned around on his heels and walked over to Claire and Gabriel.
"Captain, I would recommend both you and Claire to leave the town as soon as possible. We just got the news that the situation nearby is slowly getting more and more heated. With each second that passes, the town is becoming less and less safe," Garrett spoke, his gaze frequently changing between Claire and Gabriel. "Even now, anything can happen at any moment.".
As Garrett finished his sentence, a soldier came running down the corridor. "General! Seargent!".
Everyone turned towards the soldier that approached them.
"Yes?" the greying General replied, taking a step forward.
"We've got some news. There are reports of planes coming our way," the soldier replied.
The General stood still for a moment before he rose his gaze towards Garrett. "We must stay in the buildings. Armed, ready for an attack if something was to happen.". Then, he looked at Claire and Gabriel. "You cannot leave. If they see you two in the car, it will raise suspicions... You shouldn't have come here in the first place.".
To the General's words, Gabriel lowered his head ever so slightly. He wanted to reply, confront the General's words, but he knew better than that. So he remained quiet.
Claire felt guilty. The words the General said left a sour aftertaste in her mouth. So, from the ground, she looked up at the General.
"It's all my fault, Sir. I apologise," Claire spoke up, defending Gabriel. "Captain Macintosh did nothing wrong...". She looked at Gabriel who had his gaze on her. Confusion was present on his face. "I was the one who asked him if he could drive me here. He told me that it was safe enough to come here. I accepted his offer for him to drive me here.".
"I don't have the time, nor the will to continue with this conversation. Is that clear?" the General replied. "It's your Captain's fault and no one else's. Conversation over.". And with that, he turned on his heels before he returned into the room where he came out of.
Garrett had his eyes on both Gabriel and Claire throughout the conversation, switching his glances from one to the other. Then, he approached them both.
"We must stay away from all the windows and go down to the lowest floor. Please follow me," he spoke as he began to lead both Claire and Gabriel.
"I'm sorry..." Claire spoke out moments later.
"For what?" Gabriel inquired, giving her a look of confusion. "You did nothing wrong, Claire.". A pause. "Regardless of what he said, that man in front of us is your damn brother. I'd have suffered more if we were to both be sitting in that tent not even 30 minutes from here. If we stayed there, with the knowledge of your brother being here, in Agluf," he added. 'With how the war is... I couldn't help but feel as if... any second, any chance she gets to spend with him, it might as well be their very last.'. Frustration grew within him at his own thoughts.
Minutes later, they began descending down a flight of stairs.
When they reached the ground, bullet casing scattered the cemented floor, as bullet holes perforated the walls around them.
"As you can see... at some point it got pretty bad here. Who knows for how long this building has been abandoned for," Garrett spoke as he still lead the group.
Not too long passed before they reached another flight of stairs. Further descent sent them to the dark first floor. Taking out his flashlight, Garrett shone the path before them.
They reached a double door, and upon opening it and exiting the room they were just in, they found themselves in a hallway.
"We are almost there," Garrett said as he walked forward. Just as he said, they reached a door and on the other side of it, the sound of chatter was heard.
Garrett opened the door and there, Gabriel and Claire saw more soldiers. Some sat by the table, playing card games while others laid wherever they could and slept.
Upon seeing the two foreign faces, the chatter stopped - abruptly. Everyone had their eyes on both Claire and Gabriel.
"What's the meaning of this, Seargent? Who are these two?" one of the men at the table asked.
"These two are my fellow friends, they will be spending a night with us - or at least until the planes stop looming through the sky for a bit," Garrett replied.
"We never saw their faces," another man from the table spoke up. "How can we trust them enough to allow them to spend the night with us?".
"She is my sister and this is her Captain. They both made quite a journey to come and visit me. So, I trusted them both enough to allow them to join us for a bit," Garrett replied.
From there, another wave of silence spread through the crowd. But, after a second or two, slight murmurs were heard throughout the room. They grew with each passing second, becoming only louder and louder.
But neither did this last for long. Silence became deafening once more when the sound of the planes was heard.
"They must be the planes that that soldier was talking about..." Claire muttered under her breath as her eyes darted up to the ceiling, acting as if she could see the planes through the ceiling.
The noise produced by the planes only grew louder with each second that passed. They got closer to Agluf with each moment that passed.
At one point, the noise of the planes got so loud, that chimes of the ceramic dished were heard vibrating off of one another. Any liquid present produced tiny waves from the vibrations.
It wasn't until minutes later that the noise quietened down. Another minute or two passed before the planes were to no longer be heard.
And for the hours that followed, the periods of silence, periods where they thought they were finally safe would have been shattered, obliterated by the sound of the planes - once again - flying over the city.
When the sun has set behind the mountains that looked down at the town, it seemed as if it was then that the planes called it a day.
"Do you think it'll be safe for us to return now?" Claire asked, looking at both her brother and Gabriel.
"Even if it was to be safe, you can't go anywhere," Garrett replied, before taking out his pocket watch. The one his father gave him. "It's past 8. The curfew has begun," he continued. "Now you have no other choice but to spend a night here.".
"Curfew? Do they still do that here?" Gabriel asked.
"Ever since the war intensified, yeah," Garrett replied. "Either way, the risk is too great. Yous can't risk getting caught. Except if you drive with no headlight - but that's very much illegal.".
Gabriel let out a gentle sigh. Then, from looking at the ground, his gaze averted to Claire, before he looked at Garrett.
"When can we leave tomorrow then? When does the curfew end?".
"At 6 tomorrow morning.".
---
Hours passed and Claire, Gabriel and Garrett were sharing a room with a few other soldiers. The soldiers were fast asleep, all while Claire, Gabriel and Garrett were still awake.
Claire tried to fall asleep. She twisted and turned on her, so-called, bed, but simply didn't manage to get her peace.
So she sat up and instantly, she grabbed Gabriel's attention.
"Can't sleep?" Gabriel inquired silently, looking at her. His words caused Garrett to turn and face Claire.
Before giving him any form of a verbal reply, a small, sheepish smile appeared on her lips. "I... I don't know. I'm worried that something might happen. I'm scared that something might happen to you both, Captain," Claire whispered a reply. Her brother was right next to her, so she had no other choice but to call him 'Captain'.
To her words, Garrett couldn't help himself but chuckle ever so slightly. "You don't have to worry, Claire. Both Captain Macintosh and I are awake. We are both on the lookout.". A pause followed. "Now, try to sleep, there is absolutely nothing you have to worry about.".
Claire couldn't help but smile at his words. "You know, are as caring as always. Even when I was smaller, there wasn't a single moment where you weren't protective of me.".
"I am your older brother after all. What else should a big brother do if not be protective of his younger siblings?" Garrett responded, a big smile forming on his lips. After that, a brief moment of silence descended between both Claire and Garrett. "God... you grew up so, so fast, Claire. You know that?".
To his words, once more, Claire let out another, gentle chuckle. "So I see that your aim of the night is to make me cry, eh?" she said as, bit by bit, she felt her eyes well with tears.
Garrett said nothing, instead, the smile on his lips receded ever so slightly as he moved closer to Claire. Wrapping both his arms around her, he pulled her in for a hug. "And you know that you crying will make me cry too.".
A moment of silence was shared between both Claire and Garrett as Gabriel was sat by the window. Occasionally, he'd look back at both Garrett and Claire, smiling, before he'd look back out the window.
"Did you hear about the news?" Claire asked after they separated from their hug.
"About what?".
"About Meghan's pregnancy," Claire replied.
She noticed a smile grow on Garrett's lips as he searched with his hand the inside of his jacket. He pulled out a folded page. A letter. The two letters that gave him the good news. "Yes, yes I have.".
Though he wasn't facing them, he listened to their conversation and smiled.
"Has a name been decided yet?".
Garrett kept his eyes on Claire, a small smile grew on his lips. "Both Meghan and I talked about this the day before I had to leave. We decided that if it's a girl, we'll name her Grace.".
"And what if it's twins? What if it's a girl and a boy?".
The smile on Garrett's lips went away ever so slightly. "I said I'll let her choose the name of the baby if it is to be a boy. We haven't really touched upon that subject as much if they'll be twins...". A pause. "All I knew what that I was getting a daughter and look, I got her now.". His sentence was marked complete with a gentle chuckle.
"I still cannot believe that I've become an aunt..." Claire spoke under her breath, a small smile growing on her lips as a result of her words.
"At a young age of 20... you've become an aunt," Garrett added to her words. He couldn't believe it either. The fact that he has become a father.
But then, remembering the time, he cleared his throat. "You should try and get some sleep, Claire. Tomorrow will be a busy day.".
Claire looked at her brother, silence becoming all too deafening between them both. She answers with a nod as a sheepish smile grew on her lips. "Okay.". With that, she averted her eyes to Gabriel. She saw him looking out the window. "Good night," she voiced lowly. Though her eyes remained on Gabriel, she meant the words she said for both Gabriel and Garrett.
She laid back on the pillow she was given, and with the closing of her eyes, she tried to follow Garrett's words. She tried to fall asleep.
Garrett made sure that minutes passed before he made any noise. He approached Claire to see if she was asleep. Because of what he wanted to let Gabriel in on, he knew all too well that Claire would not like the sound of it. Not in the slightest.
'She's sound asleep...' Garrett thought to himself and then he looked at Gabriel. He walked back over to him. "Captain?".
"Hm? Is everything okay?" Gabriel responded.
"I need to talk to you about something...". He paused. "I think I have a plan.".
---
*Some time ago*
Back home in Arritoria, a few thousand kilometres from Agluf, both Maria and Adrian were in Meghan's parent's house. They were sat in the living room with both of Meghan's parents as they patiently waited.
"Ian? What did the doctor say?" Meghan's mother asked.
"What I told you the last time, Mary. He hasn't gotten back to me ever since," he replied.
"Okay..." Mary replied as her eyes went down to her twiddling thumbs.
"There's no need to worry, Mary," Maria began. "The doctor is the best one in town.".
"It's not that. I know how skilled he is. I'm just nervous...". A pause followed her words. "I never thought I'd have awaited this day. The day where my daughter will give birth to my grandchild.". She let out a gentle sigh, averting her eyes to the ground before she looked back at Maria. "Did you hear from Garrett and Claire yet?".
Maria nodded to her words. "I have. Garrett is still in that town... what's it called?".
"Agluf," Adrian jumped in.
"Yes. While Claire was aboard a ship. I don't know if they have arrived ashore yet, or if they are still in transit," Maria continued. "But they told me that they are both well.". By the end of her sentence, a small smile of contentment grew on Maria's lips.
Mary was just about to pose another question when they heard quickened footsteps coming from the stairs. It was the doctor. He entered the living room.
"How is my daughter, Doctor?" Mary stood up and spoke out the second she saw the doctor.
"Good. The baby is very close to being ready to come out. The rate of her contractions has increased. I was asked to bring up the two grandmothers. Meghan's wishes," the doctor replied.
After hearing such words, Maria too sprung up to her feet before she looked at Mary as Mary looked at her. "Already!?" they both spoke in unison.
"Quick! Quick, let's go!!" Mary exclaimed with Maria following Mary as they walked up the steps.
"Now, for the grandfathers, I'll ask you that you both stay here for the time being, is that okay?".
Ian, Meghan's father, chuckled ever so slightly. "Yes, of course, it is. If I was there, the nurses would have to tend to me, not Meghan...". A pause followed as Ian looked at Adrian. "When Mary gave birth to Meghan, when I had to cut the umbilical cord, I was ready to faint. Even felt the dizziness itself beginning to kick in.".
Adrian smiled at his words. "Who wouldn't? I know I was in a situation similar to that too.".
By the time they looked to see where the doctor was, they noticed that he was gone. "When did he leave?" asked Ian.
---
Meghan held tightly onto the hands of both Maria and Mary. She clenched her teeth as the contractions continued.
"Mom... Mom, mom I can feel it..." Meghan said, her eyes widening.
"Doctor! She is ready!!" A midwife spoke out. She looked up at Meghan. "Okay, Hunny, I'm going to need you to begin to push for me. Okay?".
Meghan did as she was told. She began to push and with each push, she let out a grunt.
"Push! Again, Hunny, push!".
Meghan pushed again and again and again. She felt sweat accumulate on her forehead as she continued pushing.
"Mom... mom, I-..." Meghan spoke up as she looked up at her mom.
"You are going to have to, baby, okay? It'll be over before you know it.".
"Hunny, feel free to take a few deep breaths. We are almost there, I can see the head. But for this one, I am going to have to need you to give it all you have, okay? I need you to push, push as hard as you can, okay?" the Midwife spoke out as she looked at Meghan.
As a reply, Meghan nodded to her request.
"Okay... now, push. Push for me, push as hard as you can for me.".
She did as she was told. She pushed, and after that, she pushed again - harder than before. And then, for the third, and final time, she took a deep breath before she gave it all she had. She pushed as hard as she could.
She allowed her head to lean back against her pillow as she let out an agonizing scream.
Seconds pass before...
Silence...
And then...
A cry. A cry of a baby.
The moment of pure tension was to be released in that instant when the cries of Meghan's newborn baby filled the room.
"It's a girl!" the midwife exclaimed. They proceeded on wrapping the baby in the prepared cloth on the table before the baby was given to its mother.
She was lowered gently into Meghan's hands. And she couldn't help herself but melt when she saw her baby in her arms. Meghan's and Garrett's baby.
"Have you decided on a name yet?" the midwife asked moments later.
To her question, Meghan let a small smile appear on her lips. "Yes... both Garrett and I decided on a perfect name for our little angel. As if we knew we'd get a daughter..." she replied as her eyes welled with tears, a tear or two managing to break the barrier and fall down her cheeks.
"Grace.".