Planet Tierre

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Luna woke up feeling dizzy. The young aeronautics engineer groaned, remembering a very weird about a kid with familiar green eyes. All her thoughts the past few days had caught up with her and made her hallucinate.

Great, Luna said to herself. I need to see a shrink now.

The frustrated one groaned some more and sat up. She didn't even remember falling asleep on the couch.And damn, I have a very uncomfortable couch.

"Oh good. You're awake!"

Luna's gaze fell on a little person, a kid, seated adorably across her.

She almost had a heart attack. Because the small child seated across her looked exactly like her. The resemblance is uncanny. The hair color, the facial and bone structure, the small nose, everything! Well, almost everything. The child had that fascinating emerald eyes--familiar emerald eyes. Those eyes that reminded Luna of someone.

"Hi mom," The kid grinned, showing that she was missing one front teeth, "I lost my tooth. It didn't hurt one bit!" She proudly said.

Luna was still shaken up, her mind can't seem to wrap around the current situation. She finally found her love's home planet after several years but going there seemed impossible, and now some child showed up, looking just like her, and is calling her 'Mom'.

"Wha-... Who are you exactly?" Luna asked. She had to be sure.

The little girl smiled, "I am Lania Amierie Vernoia and I am from Tierre. I am 6 human years old but I am 6 months old in Tierran years. My parents are Luna Hayley Simons and Aimee Vernoia."

And that confirms Luna's theory. Not that she had doubts in the first place. The kid looks exactly like her.

"Okay, wow," Luna took in a deep breath and stood up, walking towards her little girl and kneeling before her, "Can I... Can I hold you?" she asked.

The small child nodded, opening her arms. With trembling hands, Luna reached forward and wrapped her arms around her child's body. Tears sprung in her eyes as Luna finally held the child she thought she never had. It couldn’t be denied. The moment she held Lania, she felt her heart surge and an overwhelming need to protect Lania at all costs almost took over her.

"Oh baby, you are perfect," Luna pulled away and looked at her child once more and found that Lania was crying too; little droplets of tears were running down her pink cheeks. It broke her heart and she swore she would do anything to see her child's bright smile again.

"Mommy..." the little girl sniffed, "It hurt. When my tooth fell off, it hurt," and then the small girl cried again. Luna's heart melted.

"Shhh...," she soothingly rubbed Lania's back to calm her, "It's okay. Mommy's here. I know exactly what to do to make the pain go away."

Then she stood up and led Lania to the kitchen where she carried her and sat her on the kitchen island. She doesn't have the appropriate children's chair for Lania. Hell, all she had was one dining chair.

"Wait here baby. Don't move," then she walked towards her fridge, opening it to get a grape-flavored popsicle. She unwrapped it and gave it to Lania who stared at it for quite a while.

"Go on," she urged her child

Lania shrugged and bit into the popsicle, making Luna cringe. She watched with sheer fascination as Lania actually chewed the ice. That just meant that her child doesn't have tooth sensitivity.

Lania must have had good oral hygiene and genetics.Well, damn right she has good genetics. Her parents are Aimee and I.

Aimee.

"So," Luna cleared her throat, "Where is your other mother?"

Lania peered at me from her long lashes.

"Mother doesn't know I am here," the child replied, enjoying her ice pop once again. Luna's jaws dropped. So, Aimee doesn't know that her daughter, THEIR daughter was with her?

"Why did you run away then?" And Jesus! She's just six! A baby! "We're you alone?"

"Ahuh," Lania said, "Although Eve was guiding me."

Luna's eyes widened. Eve? Her Eve? The Eve on her basement?

"How do you know Eve?" Luna asked.

"I found her on our database. She was listed under ProtoBots under maintenance but she was still active. I tracked her down after I hacked into the system and that's how I got your coordinates."

And her daughter was what? Six years old. But then again, she had a queen and an aerospace engineer as her parents.

"Is your mother gonna find you here?" Luna asked her.

Little Lania shrugged again. "I doubt it. I don't know if she even knows I'm missing."

At that, Luna knotted her eyebrows. What have Aimee done to their daughter?

"Why? What's wrong, biju?" Luna got a paper towel and wiped her daughter's chin.

"Mother... I don't really see her much. She doesn't want to see me. But she lets Bonjita Fructuosè check up on me regularly."

Aimee, what the hell have you been doing with our daughter?

Luna noticed that Lania have been eyeing the apple. "Are you hungry?"

Lania nodded.

If Lania is really her mothers' daughter, she must have a voracious appetite. Luna smiled and proceeded to make something for her daughter.

"Do you know bacon?" The tiny girl shook her head.

Luna grinned, "You have to try it."

And, as Luna prepared her daughter's food, she can't help but notice some of her mannerisms. The way her little eyebrow raised when she examined the room, the way those lips curve into a half-smile/ smirk… Those are Aimee's quirks.

"Mom?" Lania asked.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Do you love Mother?"

Luna stopped what she was doing for a second to answer her daughter's question. "Yes, I do. I do love your Mother," she answered honestly.

"Why aren't you together then?"

Luna let the bacon cook in her pan for a while. What the hell is she supposed to say to her daughter?

"Your Mother and I...are not on the best terms right now." She even hid you away from me. "What did your Mother say about me?"

"She said I don't have another mother," Lania innocently said.

Why that-...

"I didn't believe her. I always knew I had another mother. I didn't look like anyone on my planet. Based on our genetics, a Tierran will always end up looking just like either one of her parents."

Aimee and her mother Nadia. They looked exactly the same. But Lania, she may look like Luna, but she has Aimee's emerald eyes.

Is this because Aimee is half human?

"Mom? If you don't turn that bacon over I believe it's gonna burn."

Luna immediately turned her attention back to what she was cooking. Good thing she saved the bacon. Luna heated up some frozen mac n' cheese and one slice of pizza. For a small girl, that should be enough.

Wait, aren't I supposed to feed her nutritious food?

Luna eyed the apple. She got it and washed it before she started to cut it up.

There, all nutritious.

"There you go baby," Luna got all the food together and now realized that maybe it was a little bit too much for a child.

"Wow," Lania grinned, showing her adorable teeth that is missing one, "Thank you."

"You're welcome baby."

Luna watched her daughter eat. It was so... weird to think that yesterday, she was a single young woman with little to no hope of finding her true love.

And now, this… I have a daughter.

My mother is going to be hella surprised.

****

Luna carefully put her daughter on her bed, her little princess fell asleep on the couch after devouring everything that her mother put on her plate. And guess what her daughter's favorite food is?

Bacon.

She smiled, running her hand over her daughter's hair. Her daughter. She helped make this little angel come to be. She actually made something so innocent, pure and precious.

After watching her daughter sleep for some time, she noticed that Lania was frowning and moving a little too much. So, she rubbed her stomach to calm her child. Like she did to Aimee every time she was about to fall asleep.

It really is a wonder how much alike Lania and Aimee is.

But still, it bothered her why Lania's relationship with Aimee seems a bit strained. She had always imagined Aimee to be a caring mother.

Aimee, what have you done to our daughter?

Luna sighed and headed downstairs. Although she was physically tired, her mind is going hundred miles per hour. She just can't believe that a week ago, she was single. And now, Lania is with her.

Lania, who ran away from their planet. Someone is bound to come and fetch her, seeing that she is their princess. But she is the girl's mother. She has the right to her daughter. She will personally come to Tierre and kick Aimee's butt across the universe is she ever attempt to take their daughter away from her.

She sighed, entering her personal laboratory and turning the lights on. The room was illuminated in an instant. Luna lived in her laboratory. Obsessed with finding Aimee's whereabouts, she spent all her free time down here, doing all her independent research work and working out papers for her PhD. She is working while taking up her Doctorates Degree in Aerospace Engineering under an academic scholarship. She isn't technically entitled to be called a 'Doctor' yet, but she might as well be. Working at NASA is like a dream come true. There, you rub elbows with the real geniuses; people who actually matter. Working on various projects made her feel alive, although her heart had been dead for years. She specializes in working with spacecrafts and is considering adding another degree in Space Sciences.

I have work tomorrow. I have to actually file for a leave, now that Lania is here. I just have to find someone who can watch her for half a day.

She has to find a babysitter at 2:08 am. And she knows just who she can call. Getting her phone from her pocket, she hesitated on punching the numbers in. Friend or not, it was still 2 am. Finally, with a sharp intake of air, she pressed the number 2 and dialed. Luna patiently listened as her friend's phone rang.

"Hello?" A husky voice sounded from the other line, "Luna, are you alright?"

She sighed, thank god she actually had her phone with her.

"Yes, and I am in trouble," Luna paced across the room, "I'm very sorry to have woken you up in the middle of the night, but I really need your help."

She heard shuffling from the other line, then the person replied, "I'll be over in a few minutes," then the line went dead. Luna smiled, knowing that she can always count on her.

After a few minutes, her front door opened and in walked Shannon. Yes, Shannon her ex. When she returned from Tierre, she was devastated. She was depressed for a week and almost failed process her college scholarships, but Shannon helped her through it all.

And it was only then she realized what she felt for Shannon was not love. Shannon was just the representation of her dream love, and the reason she had a hard time letting her go is because she wanted to hold on to her childhood dream love as long as she could. She confided everything in Shannon, and told her that she can't offer more than friendship.

Shannon, being the kind-hearted person that she is, took everything in stride and took care of her in her darkest moments. What she found in Shannon after her ordeal was precious. True friendship.

"Okay, tell me everything," Shannon said and sat down beside Luna.

Luna handed her a warm mug of coffee and took deep breaths, "Okay, this may sound surprising, but I hope you don't freak out."

Shannon took a sip of her coffee, hoping to warm her hands up. Luna didn't normally call her in the middle of the night.

"I have a daughter."

Shannon spit her coffee all over the coffee table and turned towards Luna. Abruptly "What the f**k Luna? This better not be prank or I will kick your ass!"

Luna ran her hands over her hair, frustrated, "It's true! I am not even kidding."

"But I just saw you three days ago!"

Luna stood up, "Follow me, but be quiet," then they slowly tiptoed upstairs to Luna's room.

The light was turned off and only the nightlight was on. Shannon's eyes widened when she indeed saw a small lump on the bed. When they went closer, she saw a child partially covered with her own blonde locks.

"Whoa, whose kid is that?"

Luna brushed Lania's hair away from her face and Shannon's jaw dropped, "Wha-... How?"

Luna leaned in and kissed Lania's forehead and made sure that she's comfy, before signaling Shannon that they should talk downstairs. Shannon was still mesmerized. The little girl... It can't be denied. She is Luna's. The resemblance is... haunting.

They were back on Luna's couch, sipping their now lukewarm coffee.

"Luna, you better explain everything to me."

"So, like I said, I have a daughter. Her name is Lania," Luna started, "And she is Aimee and I's daughter."

And again, Shannon spit her coffee all over again.

"Are you gonna keep on doing that? Because my couch can't handle coffee stains," Luna said, watching Shannon in amusement.

"What the f**k Luna?" Shannon gasped out. Just the mere mention of Aimee's name caused a bit of a shudder. Aimee caused Luna and Shannon a lot of pain and vice versa, and now here was her daughter.

Shannon grew restless, "How is that even possible? Is Aimee here?"

"No," Luna shook her head, "Lania came all by herself."

"What the-... She's a small girl! Are you suggesting that a kid traveled all by herself through space?"

Luna nodded, "I can't believe it either, but she is Aimee's child too."

Shannon nodded, taking every new information in. After a while, she looked at Luna and asked in a serious voice, "How do you feel about all of these?"

Luna sighed, burying her hands on her palms before looking up at Shannon, "I honestly have no clue what to do. But I do realize that I have to take some time off at work before anything else."

"Okay," Shannon nodded, "That's why you called me? To watch her for a while?"

Shannon's a writer and mostly just stays at home, except going out to meet with her editor and publisher, so she have lots of time. The fact that she lives only just two blocks away also made her pretty convenient too babysit.

"I know you have work to do, but please Shannon? Just for half a day," Luna pleaded.

Shannon hugged the slightly smaller girl, "That's fine by me. But why didn't Aimee come with Lania? She let her own daughter wander off on her own and that to me is irresponsible parenting."

"Lania said that she ran away and that Aimee probably doesn't even know that she's gone," worry was evident in Luna's face, "I have a feeling that Aimee's been neglecting our daughter which makes me confused and irritated at the same time. I mean, she didn't notice that her daughter is gone! You have one job as a parent. One. And secondly, to even let our daughter out of her sight is totally unacceptable! What is she thinking?"

Shannon let Luna ramble on. She noticed the fiery, passionate burn in Luna's eyes every time she mentions Aimee.Those eyes spoke and showed her how much Luna longs for Aimee, even when the stubborn engineer doesn't tell her.

After all these years, Luna. It is still Aimee.

"So, it is still highly possible that Aimee's people could come and take Lania away from you?"

"Yes! But I won't let them take Lania. Over my dead body," Luna said seriously, maternal instinct kicking in rapidly.

"What if Aimee personally came and demanded you hand over your daughter?"

Luna froze.

What if indeed? What if she saw Aimee again? What would she do? Should she hug the girl... No, Aimee probably matured into a fine woman. What would she even look like?

It's been too long for her to remember every distinct features of Aimee's face. All she remembers are those emerald eyes that bore into her very soul. Although she can't clearly remember what Aimee looked like, she remembered how Aimee made her feel.

Her mind had forgotten, but her heart remembered.

"Luna?"

Luna was removed from her thoughts when Shannon called her.

"Luna, you have to go and catch some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a big day for you and Lania. I'll just sleep here on this pull out couch," Shannon patted the couch.

She nodded, feeling the stress catching up to her and making her tired.She got both their cups and put it on the sink before going back on the living room.

"Do you want blankets?" she asked.

Shannon shook her head, "I'll wake up in a few hours anyway."

Finally, Luna hugged Shannon goodnight before going upstairs to her bedroom. After she changed into her sleeping clothes, she cautiously slipped into bed being careful not to wake little Lania up. When she finally settled down, she felt Lania stir and in a moment, she found Lania cuddling closer to her.

"Mommy..." Lania whispered, half-asleep and it made Luna's heart swell.

"I'm here biju. I'm here..."