April 15, 2001
April, 215 AC
Thirty-five year old Heero Yuy sat in one of the large comfortable lounge chairs at one of the four patio tables on Whispering Pines' pool deck as the warm April sun beat down on his small gathering. The spring breeze ruffled his dark bangs as he scanned over the two other occupied tables. Ten children, ages 3 (young Julian Mazzolla sitting on his uncle Michael's lap) to 15 (Kataryna Peacecraft who was *trying* to help 6-year old Regina Dorian). They had gathered here at Whispering Pines with the intent to make Easter baskets for next weekend's egg hunt...
In previous years, he'd had to stand by their sides and help weave the multi-colored dyed straw-strip pieces into a basket-shape for them. This year he'd not even had a chance to demonstrate to the younger ones before the older kids dived in, itching to "get on with it," as Trinity had put it.
A part of him hurt--just a little--realizing how fast his little ones were growing up. Trinity was already preteen--11 last month. His little girl; no longer so little, though still shorter than her three fathers. The baby of the family no longer a baby, but 5 years old--and already in school.
"I can do it myself!"
The tiny shout caught his attention, dragging his eyes away from where Trinity and Adrian Peacecraft were helping Dylan make his basket to the other end of the table where Mara Jade sat, fighting off Tristan's offers of help.
"But you're putting it in the wrong place!" the blond younger twin returned, scowling.
"Will you just let me do it! Do your own!" the dark-haired girl snapped, her twin-braided ponytails bobbing against her shoulders.
"Blue!" Calista Winner's voice cut out her brother's answer.
"Blue?" Triton asked, reaching for the light blue piece closest to her.
"No! Blue!" the little curly-blonde girl shouted, pointing her little finger across the table to the darker blue-purple piece.
"Purple?" Triton responded, reaching for the other piece.
The blonde curls bobbed up and down, falling into crystal-clear, light blue eyes.
"Okay, Jules, what do you think?" Michael Braddocks asked his 3-year old nephew, sitting in his lap. "Yellow or orange?"
The ruddy-haired toddler pointed to the bright yellow strip, which Michael then proceeded to weave into the almost-complete basket. 'Mariemeia will never know how lucky she is to have such a quiet chil--'
"KEEP YOUR HANDS *OFF* *MY* *BASKET*!!!"
Heero winced.
"Hand me the fuchsia," Trinity said, not looking up from the basket in front of her and her brother, completely ignoring her sister's shout, and the raised Winner's voice that answered.
Adrian reached for a bright pink strip.
"Nn, the other one," Trinity stopped him. "Thank you," she added, taking the strip from the Peacecraft boy and telling Dylan, "Here, Dylan, like this," as she began to weave the fat dyed straw into the basket. She handed it over to the five year old who did as his sister instructed--if not as neat and sound.
Heero sighed watching them.
Warm hands smoothed over his shoulders and squeezed, rounded thumbs pushing into the base of his neck. "Sad?" Trowa's quiet-calm voice asked from above.
"Iie," a small movement of head reinforced the word. "Nostalgic," Heero corrected. "They're growing up faster than I'd thought--soon they wont need me here at all."
"Daddy! Daddy! Help me!" Mara jade finally pleaded; highly annoyed with both the straw that would not bend to her wishes and the boy next to her who wouldn't leave her alone.
Trowa smiled as Heero stood, his hands slipping from shoulders to waist with the move. "They will always need you, Heero," he told his Japanese friend and sometimes-lover. "You're their 'Daddy'."
The Japanese man smiled and gave a small nod before turning towards the end table where his youngest daughter was threatening bodily harm to the young Winner twin if he didn't go away. "I'm here, Jade, What seems to be the problem?" he asked.
End of Part 6: Making Easter Baskets
Andrea Readwolf
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