23 June 2001
Rating: YA/fluff
Pairings: YMC Fam (Yuy-Maxwell-Chang Family: Trinity);
Winner Fam (Quatre + Trowa, Triton&Tristan)
Peacecraft Family (Zechs Marquise/Milliard + Lucrezia/Noin Peacecraft,
Kit/Katarynna, Adrian)
***These fics and the ideas contained within are copyright of the author. No reprinting or posting without permission of said author. ***
December 25, 204AC
"Are you sure you're alright? Do you need anything? I can get you something. Something to drink? Are you thirsty? Or would you like something to eat? I can--"
"Duo," Trowa's tired and drug-hazed voice interrupted him. "Shut up."
Duo's jaw snapped shut and then he relaxed and settled onto the bed next to the prone man. "Sorry," the braided man apologized with a rueful grin. "Guess I was going off there a bit." He wrinkled his nose and tried to wring a smiled from the other man. "You know how I just go on and on when I'm nervous or something and--"
Trowa raised a hand from the bed sheets to ward off any more verbal onslaught, and Duo fell silent again. Trowa's hand fell into Duo's lap and he squeezed the braided man's hand, hoping to reassure him. "Thank you," he whispered, eyes closed, face pointed to the ceiling. "You saved our lives."
Trowa turned fractionally to look up at Duo, a weak smile tugging at his lips. "Thank you for being there with me."
"Hey," Duo replied softly, leaning farther over the bed until his forward tapped lightly with Trowa's. "I just wish I could have done something more. Maybe we could've prevented this mess, ya'know?"
A grimace stole over Trowa's features and he looked away. "That was my own fault," he admitted softly. "I should have said something about the pains instead of keeping it to myself."
"The important thing is, you're all alright now," Duo whispered, brushing the bangs back from the man's forehead.
"Mmm... Where's Quatre?"
With a sigh, Duo pushed back from the bed. "He's watching over the boys, making sure no one tries to steal them away--though," Duo laughed, "With as many Mangunac soldiers swarming around this place right now, I don't know who would get a chance. And you know, things'll only get worse when we get back home--what with all the in-laws there, getting ready for the party."
Trowa groaned. "I forgot about the party..."
"Don't worry," Duo replied. "Those girls have it under control. And Heero and Wufei are making sure everything's ready so we can get out of here and go home *too*!"
"That would be nice..."
"Hey, why don't you take some time out and get some sleep?" Duo shrugged but the other man was already drifting off. "Ain't got anything better to do in the meantime," he whispered, allowing the frown he'd been fighting to overtake his features as he stared down at the now-sleeping new-father who they'd almost lost.
*{Four days later}
"Why didn't you call me sooner!" the curly-topped redhead berated, bopping the braided man over the head with her purse.
"Hey! Hey! Don't take it out on *me*!" Duo complained, cringing away from another hang-bag assault. "Things have been *hectic* you know?"
"That's why *men* should leave the birthin' to the wom'n!" Catherine pronounced sagely, raising her righteous finger.
"Perhaps," a voice behind her replied, causing both to whip around. "But then you wouldn't be the aunt to these two little princes," Trowa told her, standing next to Quatre, an infant each, entering the entertainment room.
"Oh! Let me see 'em!" the older woman cooed, darting across the room in an instant and plucking the infant from her brother's arms. "Oh! He's just so *precious*! Aren't you? Aren't you just the sweetest little thing one ever did see?"
"That's Triton," Quatre said, nodding to the baby Catherine was holding. "And this little guy, is his little brother, Tristan."
"Triton?" Catherine looked up, tears sparkling in her large blue-grey eyes.
Trowa shrugged. "I'm too used to 'Trowa' now to try and become someone else." He nodded to the sleeping baby and brushed a cheek with a fingertip, watching and smiling as the baby turned his head, reaching for the finger with his tiny, rose-bud lips. "So, we thought, maybe, he might get some use out of the name."
Catherine was beaming at him, tears running unchecked down her cheeks. "I
think it's perfect!" She leaned up and kissed her brother's cheek. "Just like
his father."
July 5, 205AC
~6 Months Old~
The excited babble of four children along with the splish-splash of water filled the back yard, mixing with the summer heat and bright sunshine. Heero and Duo were trying to teach Trinity and Adrian to swim--Noin having left to take Kit to ballet class--in the big pool. Wufei, who had been watching them, had gotten up five minutes ago to grab some refreshments for all. He returned with five large glasses filled with ice, a pitcher, two training cups and two bottles, (the last four filled with apple juice).
Trowa looked up from where he was sitting next to the kiddie-pool with Triton and Tristan--the two boys splashing each other happily, babbling back and forth. "I think that's enough play-time for one day," he said to the two, standing up. Both boys looked up at him and smiled their toothless-pink-gums- and-rosy-lips smile, holding their arms up out for him.
Smiling and shaking his head, thinking not for the first time how smart his children were, Trowa reached for two towels waiting at ready on the small push- table next to the shallow pool, throwing one over his shoulder and opening the other. Triton was first out of the water--Tristan having turned around to chase one of the bobbing boats.
"Need a hand?" Wufei asked, coming up behind him, snatching up the towel slung over his shoulder.
"Thanks," Trowa answered as Wufei scooped Tristan up from the water. The boy looked startled at first and then turned to look at Wufei. He babbled a question towards the Chinese man. "It's time to eat," Wufei replied, seating the child in his arm against his side, Tristan hooking an arm over Wufei's shoulder to steady himself.
Again the child babbled something and Wufei replied, "You will be drinking apple juice this afternoon." He smiled at the child's delighted response. "I trust that meets with your approval?"
Tristan leaned over and smacked a wet kiss on Wufei's cheek before the man could slip the baby into his high chair. Behind them, Heero and Duo were pulling out of the water, Trinity and Adrian clinging to their sides. The twins stroke up a captivating discussion that only the two could understand before Trowa busied their mouths with bottles.
"Here, Trini," Wufei said, setting a cup down in front of her booster chair. "Come drink your apple juice."
The toddler eagerly wiggled away from Heero and tottered over to her chair, holding her arms up until Wufei lifted her up into her chair. Adrian, not one to be left behind, was quick to follow Trinity's example, leaving Heero and Duo to follow them their own leisure.
"I trust we have something more enjoyable than apple juice on the menu?" Duo quipped, plunking down into one of the five seats.
"Lemonade," Wufei replied, filling a tall glass of the lemony drink and handing it over to his long-haired love. "I met up with Quatre inside. He'll be bringing the food in a moment."
"He's off the phone?" Trowa asked, accepting his own glass and taking a sip. Wufei nodded and a second latter, the patio glass door slid open, the blond in question popping out with another tray.
"Who's hungry?" Quatre sing-sang.
"I am!" Duo was first to answer, sitting up and flicking his head--swinging his wet rope of hair out of danger's way a moment before Heero's hand could snatch it up. Duo waved the end of the dripping braid at his love. "Uh uh uh!"
"That was Cladsmar on the line," Quatre told them, setting the tray down and passing out the plates.
"Oh?"
"Mmm." He fell into the last remaining chair at the table.
"You need to go." It wasn't a question, or maybe it was. Sometimes it was hard to tell with the uni-banged young man.
"I told them I couldn't," Quatre replied, reaching for some cheese and fruit.
"If you're needed, you should go," Trowa said, reaching for the crackers and handing one to each of the boys.
"I don't want to leave you and the boys," Quatre returned, just as evenly, handing over a square of cheese to compliment their cracker.
Heero, Wufei, and Duo wisely remained quiet as the two held a conversationalized argument, every-now-and-then slipping a piece of fruit or cracker to Trinity and Adrian--who were both falling asleep in their chairs.
"We're six months old now, Quatre," Trowa answered. "We're big boys. Besides, the others are here to help us if we need it."
Drats! Dragged into it anyway. Trinity yawned. Adrian was already off.
"I don't feel right leaving you now," Quatre admitted, a small frown puzzling his face.
"It will only be for a few days," Trowa replied. "We will miss you, and then we will rejoice in your safe return to us."
Quatre wasn't happy with the decision, but in the end, he left anyway. It was the first time he'd be away from 'home' in six months.
September 23, 205AC
~8 Months Old~
The... noise--he didn't want to say 'rackit'--was coming from the back room he deducted, trailing down the hallway that lead to the rear of the house. As he approached, the noise grew louder. Turning the corner that would take him to... the sound, he stopped and smiled.
The two boys were sitting on the floor, two shiny brass pots set before them, large wooden spoons in hands, banging away happily as their fathers sat on the sofa behind them, flute and violin in hand, playing along with them.
Heero shook his head and went back out.
October 8, 205AC
~9 Months Old~
They were gathered in the study. All of them; the five young man and their three young children. Trinity was off in a corner, playing with rainbow-colored logs. Duo was trying to build a tower with the blocks, but Trinity kept tumbling it over with a delighted giggle. Wufei was in his chair, reading a book; Sabb curled up under his ottoman. Heero was stretched out over the sofa, reading over reports. Quatre was behind his desk, likewise dealing with the tedious paperwork. Trowa was curled up on the matching sofa, with an open magazine.
Triton was using the table to try to stand up. Tristan was creeping across the floor, trying to sneak up on the unsuspecting black cat.
"You know," Duo broke the comfortable quiet of the room, "I've been thinking."
A rustle of papers and the tumble of logs was the only sound that answered his announcement.
"I was thinking, that, maybe, we should--Heero, Fei, Trini, and me, Imean--Maybe we should move out and, you know, leave Quatre, Trowa, and the boys to their own."
*That* caught the others' attention--or at least two's. Quatre sat up, looking across the room at Duo, who wasn't looking away from his pile of blocks; Trowa's magazine fell to his lap unnoticed as he looked from Duo, to Heero, to Quatre, to Wufei, and then back to Duo again; Heero closed one file and reached for another; Wufei yawned.
"You... want to leave?" Quatre asked, his face marring over with a frown.
"Well," Duo replied, sitting up Indian-style. "Trini's getting older, and the boys, too, and, well..." He scratched his head and started pulling at his braid. "I was thinking it might be better if we... lived apart, you know? As two families?"
Trowa looked at Quatre. Quatre looked at Trowa. Then both young men turned to the other two. "Do you feel this way, too?" Quatre asked, looking at first at Heero, then Wufei.
"The idea has merit," Wufei allowed, closed his book and laid it down in his lap. The cat howled and streaked from the room. "Sabb would appreciate it at any rate."
Tristan pouted, staring at his fistful of black hairs and then up at Wufei before turning around to look at his fathers.
"And you, Heero?" Trowa asked.
The remaining man snapped the file he'd been reading shut and sat up. He looked at each of them and then proclaimed, "Hn." Heero sighed and then leaned back against the back of the sofa. "I agree."
"I didn't know you were all so unhappy here," Quatre whispered, sounding so dejected.
"Jeeze, Q-man!" Duo stood and wagged his head. He moved over behind the blond and squeezed his shoulders. "Sure we're happy here! Who wouldn't be? This place has everything!"
Wufei sat up as well. "Except, it's not ours. It is *yours*." He nodded towards Quatre. "And you should raise *your* family here. We should raise *ours* in *our* home."
"But, where--"
"There's an estate for sale a little ways from here," Heero cut the blond off, not looking to meet either his or Trowa's eyes.
"You've been considering this for some time," Trowa commented and it was hard to say whether he agreed or disagreed with the idea--whether the idea of the others moving out pleased or displeased him.
"For a couple of weeks now, yeah," Duo admitted, wincing when Quatre tensed up under his hands.
"And when were you going to tell us!" the blond man shouted.
"Well, we just did!" Duo quipped cheekily.
"We haven't made any finalized plans," Wufei added and offered a small smile. "We thought you might like to look over the place first and... give your approval."
Trowa finally smiled. "I should like to see the home all three of you could settle upon."
"Hn. It needs work," Heero answered.
"That's an understatement!" Duo rolled his eyes. "The place is falling apart, really, but, it would be a great activity for us. Keep us busy in between missions, you know?" He skirted around the desk until he could sit on the corner and bang his heels against the sides. "But it has a lot of potential, and it's leak-free. That's what's important right now."
"I think it's a good idea," Trowa said after a moment, before returning to his magazine. Quatre gave a little outraged cry and then left the room without another word. "He will too, just as soon as he gets over the idea that you're abandoning him."
Trinity yelled at Tristan right then, who was gnawing on one of her red logs.
"We'll have to start buying separate toys now," Duo commented while Wufei suggested Trinity start putting away her logs.
"They'll be starting on different toys soon anyway," Heero replied.
"Where's Triton?"
An excited babble as the baby squealed from beneath the table answered him.
December 24, 205AC
~1 Year Old~
A round of "Happy Birthday" hadn't even finished before Tristan fell hands first into the cake, squealing with delight. Triton was crying, slapping his brother who was blissfully covered in cake. Trinity was chasing Adrian around the table. Kit was happily eating her piece of cake and ice cream, oblivious to the adults around her.
Feedback is ADORED!!!
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com