29-Jun-2001
A Matter of Heart: Heirs to the Legacy Arc: Traditions Story
First Year: Dylan YC-Maxwell
By: Andrea Readwolf
Email: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com
Rating: YA/fluff
Pairings: YMC Fam (Yuy-Maxwell-Chang Family: Trinity, Mara Jade, and Dylan);
Winner Fam (Quatre + Trowa, Triton&Tristan)
Peacecraft Family (Zechs Marquise/Milliard + Lucrezia/Noin Peacecraft,
Kit/Katarynna, Adrian)
Archive: This Series can be found at these wonderful sites-- GWAddiction, P-
chan's Heaven, and Eos's GW Page.
Warnings: The following stories contain scenes that are sappy, fluff, with
Incoherence and random POV switching, Sexual innuendos abound as well as dirty
diapers. Original Characters are presented, all characters are IC according to
the author's interpretation of them. YAOI, with a splash of hetero.
Feedback: C&C is ADORED
Acknowledgements go out to all the wonderful people who have made my sojourn in
GW-fanfiction more than just enjoyable. Thanks, ladies and gent!
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters belong to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu
Agency and are only being used for non-profit entertainment purposes.
References to printed texts, films, sitcoms, musical pieces, and/or other
fanfictions don't belong to the author either. Original Characters, including
but not limited "the chibis", are original and hence, the author's own
creation.
***These fics and the ideas contained within are copyright of the author. No
reprinting or posting without permission of said author. ***
May 5th, 209AC
"Well," Trowa said, placing a hand behind Heero's shoulder, his thin lips twitching into a full smile as he stood staring into the nursery window. "You won't have to worry about anyone wondering if he's yours."
"Hn." Cobalt blue eyes didn't flicker away from the tiny bundle the nurses were swarming around—his son. Heero felt his throat tighten with pride and love.
"Now, before you go in there," the salt-and-peppered-haired, middle-aged woman was saying at his side, "I want to warn you."
That caught his attention. He finally looked away from the window to stare at the woman who had created him.
"He's going to be out of it for a while and pretty darn groggy when he *does* wake up," Hiroshima Jackson informed him, holding her hands up against anything he might say. "He was whining and bellyaching something terrible so instead of a local anesthesia, we put him all the way under."
Instead of scowling at her like she expected, 29-year-old Heero Yuy grinned. "He was bitching all the way in, huh?"
Hiroshima Jackson couldn't stop the smile that cracked over her face if you paid her; dark eyes twinkling with amusement. "You could say that. The nurses practically begged me to put him under—and he was right there begging along with them." Her son shook his head and gave off something that sounded much like a laugh, turning back towards the window. She felt an overwhelming gladness, looking at him, watching him. Seeing how relaxed and *free* he looked.
"The nurses are almost done in there," she added. "If you want to wait in the room, I'll bring him in just as soon as they're done."
Heero nodded but didn't move away from the window.
"Quatre and Wufei should be here any minute with the girls," Trowa commented, noting the time on the wall. Again, Heero nodded but stayed rooted where he was. "Come on, Heero. Let's go check on Duo."
His husband's name broke him from his reverie. Heero turned and Trowa followed him into the room down the hallway where the braided man was sleeping off the remainder of his drugs. Quatre and Wufei were just getting off the elevator and weren't far behind, catching the door before it closed and entering the shaded room.
"Hey, guys," a mumbled voice greeted them.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Trinity cried, dropping her uncle's hand in favor of running into Heero's arms, her pigtails flapping like black streamers behind her. Heero caught her with an "oomph!" and lifted her up to his side while she threaded her arms around his neck. "Is my new baby brother here yet?"
Heero nodded and smiled at her. "Are you excited to meet him?" The little girl nodded back, a bright smile lighting her face.
"How's he doing?" Wufei asked little above a whisper, leaving the stroller with the sleeping toddler pushed off to a corner of the room.
"You coul' try askin' me," Duo slurred, eyes still closed.
"He's awake," Heero informed his other husband, frowning.
"Obviously." Wufei replied dryly, sitting on the edge of the bed and placing a hand on Duo's arm. "How are you feeling?"
"Can' feel a thing," the long-haired man replied, his voice a slur of breath and sounds.
"Enjoy it while it lasts," Wufei advised his love, squeezing his hand and leaning over to drop a small, quick kiss on the drowsy man's lips.
"Here we are!" Hiroshima announced as she entered the room with the blue bundle. "Who wants to hold him first?" It was an unnecessary question since she was already handing the newborn over to Wufei—Heero already having his arms occupied by Trinity, who, coincidently enough was straining to look over Wufei's shoulder.
He pulled back the blue blanket. Reddish brown tuffs of hair spiked over the small, round face, almost hiding the cracked, slanted eyes that were blinking open. The small, button nose wrinkled as the gaping lips worked before the babe sneezed-cough. Deep blue eyes stared up at him, surprised.
Wufei laughed, looking up with shining eyes. "He looks just like you, love."
"That's what I told him." Trowa, still grinning, pulled Quatre back against him, wrapping his long arms around his husband's waist.
"Can I see! Can I see!" Trinity cried, trying to scramble down Heero's side and climbing up the bed—and over Duo—in an effort to get to Wufei and her new baby brother.
"Careful! Careful!" Heero and Wufei both charged the child. Heero helped her off the bed and maneuvering her around Wufei's side. "We have to be very careful with Daddy right now while he gets better."
"I'm sorry," the girl said, looking properly contrite with large indigo eyes turned up at them—the quick, excited peep at the blue bundled newborn ruined the effect, however. "I didn't mean to hurt him worse."
"It's okay, baby," Duo's voice drifted up from the bed. "Right now Daddy can't feel a thing. Why don't you tell me if you like your new baby brother, huh?" The anesthesia was wearing off a little more quickly than the braided man wanted to admit, but he was too caught up with the excitement of his family's reaction to their new member to give into the exhaustion his body was threatening him with.
Trinity peeked into the blanket her Father was holding and was greeted with very much the same picture Wufei had received, only, now, the babe was wide awake and looking right back at her. Trinity smiled and reached in to fit her finger in his tiny palm, which he immediately clutched. "Hello baby brother," she said, shaking his fist. And then she looked up at her father.
"What's his name?"
"Good question," Quatre chimed in. He'd been watching the scene with his own husband off in the corner chair near the stroller; just watching contentedly. "Have you settled on a name yet?"
"Yes," Heero answered as Wufei smiled.
"It's not Howard Augustus, is it?" the blond couldn't help but ask, swallowing the laughter that threatened to accompany the question.
"No," Wufei replied, shaking his head and watching transfixed as the loose black strands fell over the newborn's face. "Dylan."
"Dylan Yuy-Chang-Maxwell," Heero clarified.
Trowa and Quatre both looked surprised—though, Quatre looked decidedly more surprised by far. "Not Yuy-Maxwell-Chang like the girls?" he voiced.
Wufei was smiling when he looked up. "'Dylan Maxwell' had a much nicer ring than 'Dylan Chang'," he explained.
Trowa just chuckled, though Quatre continued to stare for another moment before shaking his head and settling back into Trowa's arms.
September 28, 209AC
~(almost) 5 Months~
They were walking along the lane that led down to the gated entrance to their property one evening as all around them, the traces of an Indian Summer slipped away in the beginnings of scarlet reds, crisp yellows, burning browns. Heero in his blue tee shirt and jeans; Wufei in red with tan slacks; Duo in a baggy pair of grey sweat pants and a white tee. They strolled along behind the two- seater stroller that Trinity was happily pushing for them, walking hand-in- hand, not needing to say a word; just content with the life they'd made for themselves.
"You should join us in the morning," Wufei commented lazily, studying the flame- colored leaves in the trees they passed.
Duo yawned and pretended like this wasn't a worn-thin topic. "Perhaps you're right," he replied like he'd always replied when Wufei mentioned his joining the others in their rigorous, every-day, morning exercises. "But we both know there's no way you're getting my ass outta bed at five-thirty every morning just to run a few laps and touch some toes."
"It would do you good to get some exercise," Wufei returned, as conversationally as if he was discussing the change of seasons. "And it would be easier to bring the girls and Dylan with you there."
"It's starting to get cold," Duo said, frowning. "I don't think it's such a hot idea to be taking him outside in the mornings before sun-up."
"You're avoiding the subject," Wufei accused.
"Now, listen. You know right well that there's only one thing that will get my ass up at five-thirty in the fucking morning!" the braided man hissed loud enough so that only his two husbands could hear.
Heero's fingers slid from his, gliding up Duo's arm and neck before dropping low, his palm settling over Duo's backside. "Oh?" he asked with amusement. "What's that?" Duo just growled and folded in on him, burying his face in Heero's shoulder while the other man hummed his appreciation of the movement. "We should get the kids to bed first, don't you think?"
"Trinity!" Wufei called, catching their daughter's attention. "It's time to turn around." Happy to comply, the six year old maneuvered a wide u-turn and soon was passing them on their way back to the house.
"You guys can keep up with your training," Duo murmured, resting his head on Heero's shoulder, his hand tugging playfully in Wufei's as they strolled back up the lane. "I'll just be domesticated, thankyouverymuch."
October 31, 209AC
~(almost) 6 Months~
They agreed to meet at the Shopping District at 15:00 hours. Every year, the stores would provide big bowls of candy for trick-or-treaters and at the end of the day, a costume contest was held for the different age groups. Quatre's and theirs had already met up and were calmly following their excited little ones as they raced from store to store to fill their bags with candy. Heero holding back a little as he managed to double-seater stroller.
Trinity was a fairy princess for the day—her black hair loosened from their pigtails and a plastic, rhinestone-studded tiara caught haphazardly in the straggly curls. Her lavender ballerina's dress fell past her knees and instead of the glass slippers she'd asked for, she was wearing soft slippers, but, waving her glittery wand around and swinging her already grandly accumulated candy bag, she didn't seem to mind too much.
Triton and Tristan looked sharp in their cowboy suits—Triton's blue, Tristan's red. Their checkered shirts were tucked in neatly to crisp blue jeans that ended in silver-toed boots with spurs, and they even had two toy guns resting in their holsters. Somewhere along the way they'd lost their hats—recovered by Trowa—and were now running around bareheaded.
Heero continued pushing the stroller but every-once-in-a-while he had to stop so strangers could gawk and coo at the "beautiful little princess" in the front seat, sucking on a lollipop, and the "adorable little dragon" in the back seat, wondering how he could get him some candy too. He could still make out the back of Trowa's head, though, about fifteen feet ahead.
"And just what are *you* supposed to be?" an amused voice asked from behind him. Two streaks rushed by Heero on either side—a pirate and a… well, he wasn't sure what Katarynna was dressed as, but at least he recognized her.
Face void of expression, Heero turned and raised a gun—that had appeared almost magically in his hand—to the speaker's chest. "Omae o korosu."
Zechs grinned, and then laughed—his large shiny, silver shoulder pads rocking with the effort. "No, wait, let me guess. Black spandex, green tank top… Gundam pilot, right? Am I right? No! Let me go one farther." He held up a hand though no one tried to say anything. "I would *have* to guess… pilot 01, ne?" The large man was laughing again.
Heero pulled the trigger and pulled a satisfied smile as a stream of water squirted over Zechs's dome-shaped masked and down the other man's back. "And just what are *you* supposed to be?" Heero asked, returning the water pistol to its snug fit in the back band of his shorts.
Zechs stopped laughing and stood to his full height, shoulders back, head high, the sun glinting off his silver helmet. "I am Rayden, God of Lightening!" It took him another moment to realize Heero was doubled over, laughing.
"There was no talking him out of it," Noin said, pushing forward to stand beside her husband, arms crossed over her plum-colored muslin layered dress.
"Hey, bucket head!" Duo was calling, returning with the others, kids in tow. "I thought we'd passed this phase?" The braided man rapped on Zechs helmet.
In the stroller, Dylan gave out a delighted squeal as his sister presented him with a piece of candy from her bag.
"I believe they're getting ready to start the costume contest," Quatre informed them, a broad smile for everyone.
December 12, 209AC
~7 Months Old~
The squeals of delight were echoed by the girlish giggles and mock cries of abuse and the ever-present, tell-tale sound of a *lot* of splashing water panging off tile.
"It's not *my* bath time!" Duo cried. More giggles answered him. "Come on now. Trini-baby, you hold Dylan for me while I wash the shampoo off Mara J, okay?"
"Okay!" The baby happily transferred from one sister to the other in the warm bath water. "Oooh! Oooh! Oooh!" Trinity cried, raising Dylan's hands over his head and then splashing them back into the water. It was a game the boy was quick to pick up on.
"Hey! Hey! You're getting Daddy wet!" Duo complained—although he was already thoroughly soaked. He poured a cup of water over his youngest daughter's head without warning. Mara Jade reciprocated by splashing him. Trinity fell back in the tub, giggling hysterically. Dylan looked up and gave a tooth-less smile to something behind Duo's back.
Curious, Duo wiped the water from his face and turned around—just as he heard a
Heero grinned at him and slipped the camera safely away as he leaned sideways against the doorframe. His green shirt molded over his shoulders and pulled at his jeans as he crossed his arms and just…grinned, unrepentant. "Hurry up girls. It's bedtime. If you want your story tonight, you have five minutes to be dress and under the sheets." Both girls were scrambling up over the edge of the tub, butt-naked, and scurried, squealing and giggling, to their room, water and straggly hair trailing them all the way before he'd even finished.
"Where are your towels!" Wufei's voice could be heard. "Running around naked like a pair of uncouth barbarians!"
Duo's shoulders hunched over as he tried to swallow his laughter. "Come on, Dylan," he said to the baby, pulling him up from the bathtub and wrapping a towel around him. "We should go get dressed too, huh?"
Heero didn't move from the doorway to let him pass, and Duo looked up at him, questioningly. Heero smiled, wiping away a plastered bang from his mate's face. He leaned over and kissed him, whispering against his lips, "Love you."
And then he was gone, chasing after the two girls in attempt to placate his other mate by getting the girls dried and dressed before they soaked their beds.
April 8, 210AC
~11 Months Old~
"'Willie and Chuck promised to be the best of friends forever!'" Trinity pronounced, closing the book in her lap with a beaming smile. She looked down to see her brother's reaction to her favorite story and found him chewing on a purple-colored building log and more interested in looking over her shoulder instead of her book. Her sister had fallen asleep on the rug behind her and her Daddies were doing grown-up stuff. In her arms, Dylan kicked and let out a half-cry.
Trinity's nose wrinkled as the familiar, unpleasant aroma wafted up. Climbing to her feet, juggling her growing brother in her arms, Trinity went up over to her Daddy, standing quietly and staring until she got his attention.
Heero lowered the file he was reading enough to view his daughter's face. "Yes, Trinity?"
The girl bit her lip and started swinging side-to-side from her torso up, Dylan's face scrounging up unhappily as his diaper smushed. "I think Dylan needs his diaper changed again," she informed him solemnly.
Heero nodded, letting his daughter know he understood the situation, and set the folder he was reading for the Preventers down on the coffee table. Sliding the glasses off that he'd begun wearing for reading and setting them on top of the open folder, he stood and followed her as she lead the way up the steps into Dylan's room.
"Can I change him this time?" she asked, jiggling the fussy baby as Heero retrieved a fresh diaper.
Heero turned, took one look at his seven-year-old daughter, swinging and jiggling her upset baby brother, wearing the cutest pleading little look on her face… He smiled and nodded an affirmative, snatching up the dressing blanket from the table and spreading it over the bed. Trinity carefully laid the boy on his back and lifted his shirt up out of the way before removing the dirty diaper.
She looked up at her father and nodded. "Yep," she said, handing him the heavy soiled item. Heero removed the offensive diaper from sight and returned to find her holding out the soiled baby wipes. He sighed and reached for the rubbish bin, holding it out for her.
"Good job," he said later watching carefully as they went back down the steps.
"Does that mean I can change his diaper from now on?" she asked, looking up at her daddy with large shining eyes.
"You can *help*," Heero nodded, smiling at first his daughter and then his husbands as they entered the family room.
May 5, 210AC
~1 Year~
"Kids! Come on! We're gonna cut the cake!" Noin bellowed across the backyard, snagging their attention from inside the bouncing blow-up castle Quatre had brought over for the day.
Tristan, Adrian, Kit, Trinity, and Triton with Mara Jade (in that order) came tumbling out of the swaying castle and streaking across the yard to arrive, breathless, red-faced, sweaty, and ready for cake and ice cream at the decorated table.
"Okay, everybody grab a seat!" Duo said, passing out the triangular funny- looking hats (with the paper trimmings at the edges), and noise markers, and horn blowers. "Ready?"
In his high chair, Dylan was looking every which way with a puzzled look on his face. Wufei absently tried to brush the dark brown bangs from the 1-year-old's eyes, but the obstinate locks kept falling right back. He looked over to the back door where Heero was hovering with the cake and nodded.
It took a moment for everyone to join in and the effect of the many different voices was like that of a round rather than a unified song, but, as the last note clung in the air and Heero set the cake with its one brightly glowing candle down in front of Dylan's high chair…
Dylan's eyes lit up with recognition. CAKE! The boy lunged forward, both hands reaching out for the sweet treat, mouth open wide with a happy squeal— that was abruptly cut off with the first sugary taste of icing, which was followed by cake as he fell face first into the cake. He blinked as his world was righted and looked up at his friends and family, surprised. They were all laughing. He laughed too.
"He may *look* like Heero," Wufei told them, reaching for the wet wash cloth he'd had ready, " ...but he has *Duo's* appetite!"
The End
(Until later...)
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com