24-July-2002
READWOLF: Auh, now, look up on the bright side a bit.
ANDREA: {mumbles something from her position, buried under piles of blankets
on the bed}
READWOLF: You only have two and a half more weeks, luv. and then you can
leave this city behind and--
ANDREA: If I don't pass this class, I don't graduate, and if I don't
graduate I can't start that job, so just shush up and post the next part
already! {hides back under her covers}
READWOLF:....yes ma'am.....
A Matter of Heart: Heirs to the Legacy
By: Andrea Readwolf
Email:
Rating: YA/Mature
Families: YMC Fam (Yuy-Maxwell-Chang Family: Trinity, Mara Jade,
and Dylan);
Winner Fam (Quatre + Trowa, Triton&Tristan, and little sis
Calista)
Peacecraft Family (Zechs Marquise/Milliard + Lucrezia/Noin
Peacecraft,Kit/Katarynna, Adrian, and Nicolette/Nicole)
Mazzolla Family (Mariemeia + Jake Mazzolla {OC}, Julian)
Catalonia-Dorian Family (Dorothy Catalonia + Relena Dorian,
Regina)
Une-Po Family (Lady Une + Sally Po, Marie Une*, Michael Braddocks,
Mark Braddocks, Matthew Braddocks)
Pairings: Trinity + Adrian, Mara Jade + Tristan, Kit + Triton (hoped
for), Calista + Dylan (hinted at)
plus: 1+2+3+4+5
Archive: Yes-- www.gwaddiction.com
Warnings: The following story contains scenes that are humorous,
sappy,fluff, with Incoherence, random PoV switching, and
Sexual innuendos abound.
Original Characters are presented; all characters are IC according to
the author's interpretation of them. Mainly heterosexual
situations, with hints of YAOI and YURI.
Spoilers: Previous Matter of Heart Series Arc stories: "Dance of the
Heart" Arc and "Oh Baby, Baby" Arc. Built off of "Traditions".
Feedback: C&C is always welcomed and adored.
Acknowledgements: There have been some wonderful people who have
made my sojourn in GW-fanfiction more than just enjoyable and have
inspired me to write, write, and write some more. Thank you.
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 too, the Berh
Siblings, Jake Mazzolla and "the chibis", are original and hence, the
author's own creation.
Notes: This is the story of the children, the nine children of the 6
gundam pilots (Heero--Zechs) plus the grandchild of Treize
Khushrenada. This story will not focus primarily on the characters
from the series, but rather, the generation after them. This story is
not for all die-hard fans, but runs along the lines of a more
original piece.
Additional Note: 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 often times refer to each other as
"husband"; please refer back to "Promise of the Rings" Part 15 if this
causes confusion.
Additional Note 2: The chibis often times refer to their parents'
friends and partners as "Uncle" or "Aunt"--in this case, the
term is used simply as one of respect since, with the exception
of Kit & Adrian's relation to Relena and all of Quatre's sisters,
none of the parents have siblings.
***These stories and the ideas contained within are copyright of the author. No reprinting or posting without permission of said author. ***
~ That Same Evening~
Mara Jade was in her room, losing herself in a good book, when Triton knocked softly at her door before entering. For some reason, he didn't feel any reserve entering her bedroom. Maybe because it was Mara Jade's room; maybe because it was Tristan's Mara Jade. He sat on the bed before she even noticed he was there.
Mara Jade started when the bed moved under her, crying out as her book fell out of her hands. It took her an extra minute to realize it was Triton, not Tristan, in her room, sitting on her bed. "What are you doing here?" quickly turned into, "When did you get back?"
She moved to hug him, and he allowed it, smiling. "Hello, Jade. Long time no see, huh? But I understand you've been busy."
She pulled away quickly, eyeing him harshly with narrowed indigo eyes. "You 're not here to tell me what I should or shouldn't do, are you?"
Triton laughed. "No. I'd be much to frightened to argue with a pregnant woman."
"You know already." He face fell black-no frown, no smile. Just stark reality.
"Well," Triton smiled softly, fingering her soft dark hair as if petting a child. "Did you really think I wouldn't? Just how long do you think you can keep something like this secret from family?" He forced her to look at him. "Whether you like it or not, you're carrying a Winner baby, Mara Jade, and with that comes repercussions."
"Try-"
"I know Tristan thinks he can protect you and the baby from the media-he thinks he can keep this out of the news just as well as he's kept those blood hounds from latching onto you-but word's going to get out, Jade, and when it does, they won't stop. Twenty years from now, you'll still be the girl who Tristan Winner got pregnant. What you have to decided, Mara Jade, is how you're going to deal with that?"
"Tristan hasn't protect-"
"Yes," Triton smiled. "He has. He's been protecting you more than you know." He squeezed her hand and pulled her up into a hug. "I'm glad you two are together."
Mara Jade smiled and hid her face against his shoulder. He was different she realized when the gesture didn't seem as comfortable as she'd always thought it. He was Tristan's twin, but he wasn't Tristan. Her stomach rumbled and they both laughed, breaking free from their individual thoughts.
"Let's go eat, huh? I believe your dad said Wufei was in the kitchen."
It was a surprise to find Zechs downstairs helping Wufei with dinner. The Chinese man said something and the light-haired man laughed, flipping the long blond strands over one shoulder. For some reason, the laugh grated on Mara jade's nerves. It wasn't Zechs's normal, deep, hearty laugh. but rather, more of a chuckling, amused laugh.
Before the two men could notice the two young people spying on them from the stairway, the kitchen door swung open and Duo waltzed in with Tristan shortly behind. The braided-haired man, moved smoothly up behind his Chinese husband, wrapping his arms around Wufei's waist and smooching his cheek. "That smells really good," he announced. "Ready to eat?"
Wufei playfully nudged Duo loose, turning and handing him two bowls-one of fresh tossed salad and one of cooked broccoli. "Here, put these on the table. Someone get the bread, fruit, and cheese and we'll be ready."
They herded out of the kitchen and around the table and commenced a rather estranged dinner. Zechs, who was unaware of the reason, was very aware of the tension. Triton and Tristan flanked Mara Jade at the familiar round table; Duo and Wufei on either side of them. It was the perfect setting for an argument, and one started the minute Mara Jade tried to pass by the broccoli.
"You should eat more greens; they're good for you."
"I don't want any. Thank you anyway."
"Here, eat 'em."
"I just said--!"
"They're high in vitamins. You should be upping your intake--"
"Will you just leave me alone?"
"All I'm saying is--"
"I know what you're saying. No, stop. Stop it right there. I am perfectly capable of taking good care of myself."
"But it's not just yourself anymore, MaraJ--"
"Dammit, Tristan!" Mara Jade shouted, tossing her napkin down on her plate. "Millions of women get pregnant every year and have fine, healthy babies, and you know what? They do it without YOU looking over their shoulders!"
"I realize that, but--"
"And further more, hundreds of men have gone through this very same process and THEY didn't need your advice, either!"
"True enough, but still--"
"If you're so all-fired enthused about proper nutrition and health care, why don't you go out and get pregnant--"
"Okay."
"And then you can--what did you say?"
"Okay."
"Okay, what?"
"Next baby, if that's what you want, I'll carry it." At her look of disbelief he asked, "What? How hard can it be? My dad did it. Your dads did it-"
By this point, Duo and Wufei are struggling not to burst out laughing, while Zechs looked perplexed? Surprised? Slightly amused? All of the above?
"Who said there was even going to BE a next time!" Mara Jade looked at him incredulously.
"Well, I guess if you don't want another one," Tristan started, trying to hide his disappointment. "Well, that would be fine."
" 'Another One?' I don't even want this one!"
Triton cleared his throat. "A little late for that." Mara Jade turned her best glare on him.
"Stop being stubborn, Mara Jade, and just eat some more," Tristan groused, dumping a spoon full of the green mash onto her plate before adding some to his own. "You're only saying no because I suggested it."
"You know," Zechs hazard to say, "It's strange. I'm getting an uncanny sense of de ja vu. You picking it up, Duo?" the blond asked with twitching lips and twinkling eyes.
"Oh, most definitely," the braided man agreed, grinning broadly. "Very reminiscent."
Triton looked at them interest pricked. "Of what?"
Duo, snickering, answered, "Heero was always very picky about what Wu-babe and I could and could not eat while we were carrying. Don't get me wrong--your dad was pretty bad about it, too, but at least Trowa could get away with a lot more than we could. It wasn't so bad the first time, but with Mara Jade and Dylan-" The longhaired man whistled.
"It was not that bad," Wufei scoffed.
"Hn. You weren't the one having to sneak in hot fudge sundaes at 3 am," Duo groused.
"What I remember," Wufei grumped, "Was having to get up to cut you fresh pineapple with peanut butter and chocolate chips."
"Oh, you're making that up!"
"Am not."
"What I remember," Zechs broke in, laughing lightly, "Is Noin asking for Gordon's watermelon candies. Now, let me tell you, my wife is the sole reason Gordon's watermelon candies can be found on Mars."
"Are food cravings really that bad?" Mara Jade asked tentatively through their laughter.
"No, not at all," the three men rushed to assure her. "It's just your body trying to get the nutrients it needs to feed the baby,"
"I remember Maria making tons of broccoli and cheese casserole for Trowa when he was carrying the twins," Duo put in. "But the second time around, man! Just one whiff of broccoli and cheese, and that man was running for the toilet."
"Always been rather found of Maria's broccoli and cheese casseroles," Tristan smirked, winking at his brother.
"Every pregnancy is different," Zechs put in. "With Kit it was watermelon candies. With Adrian, soy candy bars; with Nikki, cakes. And mind you, it didn't matter what kind of cake, so long as it was cake."
"Yes, I remember," Wufei grimaced. "Dylan never wanted to leave whenever we visited Bridgelight."
Duo smiled. "The boy likes to eat."
"Anyone save me any dinner?" a voice called out from the foyer.
"Speak of the devil..."
End Part 21
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com