A Matter of Heart: Heirs to the Legacy
By: Andrea Readwolf
Email: andrea_readwolf @hotmail.com
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. ***
~ February 228AC~
Tristan forced down a yawn, his fake smile never wavering as the obese man across from him droned on and on. He wondered what Mara Jade was doing right now, sending a glance down to his watch. It was already 2 AM back home. She would probably be sleeping seeing as how she had school tomorrow. Something he wished he were doing right now. It might 7PM local time, but Tristan was still on home time. The only time he wished to be up past midnight was when, if, he and Mara Jade were... enjoying one another's company.
He hoped she was okay. When he'd gotten the call Thursday night, the same night they'd had their most recent fight, he'd hopped the next shuttle out early the next morning without the chance to talk to her, tell her where he was going, but he'd left a message for Mara Jade with Triton, so she wouldn't worry and then he'd turned his mind to the matter at hand.
Three months running Pioneer and he'd almost suffered a major loss already. Almost. The problem was averted, the holes patched up now, and Tristan was itching to get back down to Earth, to be with his girlfriend and their daughter. But first he had to put up with this boring fat man across from him. Too bad shoving people out of an airlock was illegal, not that Mr. Pampas Ass would fit.
"Tristan?" called a sugary sweet voice, one he barely recognized. "Tristan Winner! Why it *is* you! I thought so! My dear Tristan how *ARE* you? Oh! Oh my! I'm so sorry! Oh, how horrible! I'm so clumsy!"
Tristan stared on in horrified fascination as someone who *LOOKED* like Katarynna Peacecraft approached his table and *gushed* all over him, and then *accidentally* knocked his wine glass into his lap. He looked down his chest and then back up at the young woman gingerly reaching out a hand with a napkin.
"And wine is *so* hard to remove, too. You better get home and soak that suit in cold water quick! I'm sure your dinner date understands the importance of taking care of one's clothes, don't you sir? There! See?"
Kit--for it *was* Kit--was helping him up, saying goodbye to the fat old man, and then leading him out of the restaurant. Only then did Tristan remember to close his mouth.
"What are you doing?" he asked, shaking his arm free from her grip.
"You looked like you were getting ready to fall asleep with your eyes open in there. I trust you *do* have some other suits, right?" He nodded, too shocked to say much more. Kit was *helping*? *Him*? "Good, then I suggest you get yourself home, or at least to a bed, and then get some sleep. You look like shit. Ja ne!"
And with that, Kit Peacecraft left him, walking down one corner as he continued on straight towards his hotel, shaking his head bemusedly. He just didn't see what his brother saw in that crazy girl... that crazy girl who had just ruined one of his favorite suits. He sighed.
Despite his... dislike of the Peacecraft girl, Tristan took Kit's advice, and he got some sleep before catching the next shuttle down to Earth.
Tristan eyed his watch impatiently. He stopped by at WEI to chat with his brother and sister--his dad surprisingly wasn't there, but, then again, since Try, Trist, and Callie had started taking over the company, Quatre Winner had started spending less time at WEI and more time at PHQ, which was Tristan's next stop. Unfortunately, it was early enough for everyone he was interested in talking with to be still out to lunch, but not late enough yet to pick up Mara Jade at school.
He decided to write a note to Heero, Duo, and Wufei, informing them of his intentions of monopolizing their daughter's time and attention for a good portion of the night, and then he wrote a similar note to his dads telling them not to be expecting him till late tonight. And then he had the misfortune of running into Lady Une. Twenty-five minutes later after protesting signing up for the Preventers even in reserve, Tristan was hightailing it over to campus, praying Mara Jade's class hadn't let out early so he wouldn't miss seeing and surprising her.
Of course, he wasn't expecting her to look so tired, with huge dark smudges under her eyes, nor was he expecting her to pass out when she saw him.
Duo frowned when he saw the page was from Sally Po, cringing at the thought of her telling him it was time for another physical--damn, he hated those, but he still pulled out his communicator to give the Preventer Doctor a call. "What's up, Doc?"
The white-haired woman on the screen shook her head, readjusting her glasses on her nose. "I just thought you three would like to know that Tristan just brought Mara Jade into my office. Apparently she fainted at school. She's fine," Sally rushed on to say. "She woke up for a little bit before I convinced her to take a little nap. Apparently she hasn't been sleeping too well. Tristan left a couple of minutes ago looking none too happy, but promising to be back to pick her up. But, I still felt I should give you three a call. I do trust that 'Fei and Heero are with you?"
Duo nodded. "Um, yeah. They're right here, um, you said she's okay now, right? Should we come over there--?"
Sally cut him off, shaking her head. "She's sleeping, there's nothing really you could do for her right now. Just... just make sure she's getting her sleep. I'm sure I don't have to remind you how tired *you* were when you were pregnant."
"No, no, I remember," Duo offered a small grin. "Um, okay, then. Well, we'll probably stop by anyway in a little while. I'm sure you don't mind, right? And, um... we'll keep a close eye on her and make sure she's getting her rest. Hey, Sal? Thanks."
The man with the long chestnut braid highlighted with silver strands turned to his mates at table 24 with a grimace on his face. "That was Sally," he said needlessly. "Mara Jade fainted at school today. She's all right now, Tristan caught her and brought her in to Sally. That's why she called, to let us know everything's all right now."
"She's doing too much," Quatre frowned.
"You have been neither pregnant nor doing too little," Wufei snapped, "So I hardly think you are in a position to speak on the matter."
The blondish-white haired man opened his mouth to speak but quickly thought better of it and snapped it shut again. Both comments were all too accurate of the senior Winner.
"Tristan's home?" Trowa asked into the silence Quatre's lack of retort created.
Duo nodded. "Yeah, Sally said he just left, but he'd promised to be back." Frowning, the longhaired man mused, "I wonder what was so important that he left Mara Jade like that."
The doors to Triton Winner's office burst open with an angry bang against the walls. Six of the seven people inside jumped with surprise and fright.
"Everyone, out," Tristan ordered, not bothering to look away from the person behind the desk.
No one moved, too startled to jump into action.
"Out, *now*!" Tristan demanded, and this time half the people jumped up without a second thought, while the other half looked to Triton for directions. The young man behind the desk nodded and everyone quickly left.
"I trust you realize that was an important meeting you just interrupted," Triton said calmly.
"Fuck the meeting," Tristan growled, hands clenched at his sides. "Tell me, *brother*. I seem to recall asking you to give a message to Mara Jade for me, but perhaps I'm losing my memory or something 'cause, you know, I just got back from talking with her and she says you told her you had no idea where I was, which we *both* know is pretty damn far from the fucking truth!"
Triton remained silent.
"You better have a fucking damn good reason, because I swear, I'm gonna beat the shit out of you if you don't."
Triton sighed. "You seem very upset for a minor omission of information," he said finally.
Tristan looked ready to pop his top and had to start several times before he could finally get out what he wanted to say. "Minor--? Omission--? Upset?! You--You--You fucking asshole! Do you have any idea what you did?!"
The young man behind the desk sighed with annoyance and finally stood up. "Any idea what I did?" he repeated. "Tell me she wasn't over thrilled to see you again. So happy that she flew into your arms and begged you never to leave her again?" Triton said bitterly. He made the mistake of getting too close to Tristan, though, and received a pulsating jaw for it.
"No! She fucking fainted! On the concrete! In public!" Tristan growled, grabbing Triton by the collar. "You know, I don't go giving you advice about your love life, so stay the hell away from mine!" He pushed Triton back towards the desk with enough momentum to send the other young man sprawling his body for balance.
Panting and looking nearly as angry as his twin, Triton's voice was surprisingly sullen when he asked, "Is she all right?"
"No thanks to you!" Tristan spat. "Flying Gundams! What did you think you were doing! Did you *forget* Mara Jade's pregnant? That she's not *supposed* to be emotionally upset?"
"... I... I'm sorry..."
"Sorry's not good enough! She could have broken something, or even gotten so upset she might've hurt the baby! She hasn't been sleeping well, that's plain to see from just looking at her. Dammit, Try, I asked you to watch out for her for me while I was away, and you do *this*?"
"Well, dammit, Trist! Don't put this all on me! Why the hell didn't you just *call* her? Huh? That would've stopped her from worrying right off, now wouldn't it?"
Tristan's blue-green eyes narrowed dangerously. His voice was venom when he said, "I don't even know you anymore. When you find my brother, please tell him I miss him," and then turned and stalked back out the ruined door.
Triton sighed and turned to look out the wall of windows. "You're not the only one," he whispered. "I miss my brother, too."
He let it stew for a good few days before he went to seek Mara Jade out. Despite her advanced pregnancy, Mara Jade was still physically attending school at New Hope University. She couldn't be that traumatized, he reasoned, if she was still going to classes. Still, he made a point to stop by the coffee house he knew was popular with the University population everyday for a full week. One he knew from Tristan was a frequent haunt of some of Mara Jade's friends, if not constantly herself. His effort paid off on Friday.
Only a handful of minutes after the young business tycoon had established his 'office on the go', commandeering a corner table far away from the large bank of windows, the bell above the door jingled as a small mob of college students poured in, a very pregnant Mara Jade among them. He waited for the group to place their orders and choose a table for their own--not too far away from his own. All too soon Mara Jade glanced his way. She frowned, glanced back, and then frowned even more as she looked away again. Then she stubbornly refused to look back.
Triton grinned despite himself. She was too proud. Too stubborn. Maybe his brother and her really did deserve each other! A well-matched couple indeed, but that still didn't give her the right to treat Tristan so poorly, as if his feelings didn't matter at all. With Mara Jade it was only ever about Mara Jade, and that Triton didn't like.
Was he sorry that he lied to Mara Jade? Not at all. He was sorry that his brother had been worried needlessly--obviously Mara Jade was fine and apparently she still hadn't told his brother that she loved him, or even that she cared!
Yet, in the days that had passed since his brother's return to Earth Tristan had not come home, electing instead to stay at Whispering Pines with *her*. As his father ranted on the other night of his family's lack of love for family life--which was really just an excuse to complain about not seeing his three children together now that he was home regularly--Trowa had shot his eldest son a knowing look.
Triton had the sinking feeling that his father knew why Tristan wasn't coming home. What was he thinking? Of course his father knew. His father knew everything! Trowa had the uncanny ability to know what was going on around and on the grounds of Emerald Gardens without anyone telling him! When they were younger his brother and sister would tried to see how long they could get away with something without their father finding out (and, of course, to some extent they *still* 'played' this 'game'). Trowa hadn't said anything, of course. To do so would not only arise Quatre's interest but also admit openly that the senior man knew more than he was supposed to. Trowa's directed look, however, spoke volumes.
Of course, Mara Jade was nothing less that a mule when it came to stubbornness, but then again, he could be, too. He waited her out. It never failed. Pregnant women always had to go to the bathroom (not that he'd been around many pregnant women to know this from experience). Triton set his workstation to safe mode before following the dark-haired girl.
And then he waited. Again.
It was only five minutes this time--Jeez! Why did girls have to take so long in the bathroom anyway? And then the door was opening. Mara Jade was looking down, talking softly to herself, so she didn't see him right away. When she did she gasped and jumped a little before quickly reining her reaction back in.
"Triton."
"Mara Jade."
Silence.
"You're, um, blocking the way," she pointed out.
"You look well," he returned.
"Thank you," was the automatic reply answered before she registered what was said and frowned. "Though I fail to see why you should pretend to care."
He ignored the jib for one of his own. "Have you told him you love him yet?" he asked, staring directly at her with enough intensity it felt like he was about to burn a hole right through her head!
But with that pointed question Mara Jade gave up any pretense of civility. Passive pleasantness melted from her face as a sour frown took up residence. "If you would excuse me, I don't think this is an appropriate place to air my private affairs," she clipped icily before moving to push pass him.
But Triton blocked her path of departure with a quick sidestep. "Quite the contrary," he replied. "Here there are no parents, no reporters, no cameras. There's only you and me. So I ask you again, have you told Tristan you love him or not?"
"Not that it's any of your business," Mara Jade hissed, "But yes, actually, I *have*. Now, if you please, move."
Triton wasn't satisfied, however, and he refused to move. "When?" he asked suspiciously.
"When what?" Mara Jade growled with high annoyance.
"When did you tell him you love him?" Triton clarified. "Last night? Last week? When?"
Indigo eyes flashed with righteous indignation and she got as much into his face as her extended belly would allow (she wasn't Heero's and Wufei's daughter for nothing!). "Tristan's and my business is just that, ours! I don't care if you're his brother, I don't care if you're his damn *twin*! If we don't tell you something there's a damn good reason--we don't want you to know! It's *not* your business unless we chose to include you, and you know what, we haven't! So stay the hell away us!" She turned to walk away but paused before she was out of the tiny hallway that led to the bathrooms. "And just for your information, I've told Tristan 'I love you' since December."
Triton watched her collect her bag from the table where her friends sat before she walked out without a second glance at him. Truth be told, he was a little shocked at Mara Jade's outburst. Not because she'd exploded as such--no, he was well used to the younger Chang's girl's temper. No... he was in shock for two wholly different yet wonderful reasons. After another moment of standing there in silence Triton went back to his table and collected his things, smiling.
As he left the cafe all he could think about were those two little things.
Mara Jade had used the plural--'our', 'we', and 'us'.
And...
Mara Jade was finally over her school-girl's crush with him and admitting she was in love with his brother.
Tristan was right, they didn't need his help. If anything, Triton was the one who needed help. And he knew just where he wanted to look for it. As he dropped his bags into his car, Triton pulled out his communicator and dialed his secretary. He needed to take a trip to space.
Tristan stuck as close to Mara Jade as she would allow without telling him off for hovering over her. After Mara Jade's little run in with Triton, she started trying to send her boyfriend home, but still, more nights than not the couple stayed at Whispering Pines, and Mara Jade and Tristan both found they were fine with that. Occasionally, they still visited Emerald Gardens, but not for long. It was easy to fall into a routine with the six of them--Heero, Wufei, Duo, Mara Jade, Dylan, and Tristan. They made up a happy little family that wasn't always so happy. Still, since Tristan's sudden absence and just as sudden return (at least for Mara Jade) the young expecting couple seemed to get in less and less fights. Of course, there were still *some* disagreements, but nothing major.
"What are you reading?"
Tristan quickly closed out the window and smiled back over his shoulder. "Oh, nothing. Just some sports' scores."
"Uh huh." The look on her face told him Mara Jade didn't believe him--a look that was supported when she stalked across the room and reopened the window he'd just closed. "'Ten Ways to Become a Better Dad,'" she read aloud.
Tristan flushed very cutely and offered her a smile. "Well... yeah..."
She kissed his shy, embarrassed smile murmuring. "Nice, but I like this article better."
He looked to see what she was referring to. 'Better Sex During Pregnancy' he read and groaned. "Gods, I love you."
"I know."
"My Jade," he whispered, nipping the hand he held up to his lips. "Mine."
"Mine," she repeated, cupping his face and lifting it for a kiss.
Mara Jade finished slicing the sandwiches in half and had begun arranging them on plates while Wufei finished putting away the meats, cheeses, mayo, mustard, lettuce, and tomatoes and brought out the potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, pasta salad, pickles, and olives.
"Why don't you go call Tristan and your father," the ebony-haired man suggest to his daughter, setting out his goods across the kitchen table.
Mara Jade sighed, wiping her hands on a dish towel--which she carelessly tossed on the counter before heading towards the guffaws blurting out of the TV room.
"Fireball!"
The sound of an explosion was quickly followed by decidedly male laughter.
"Here it comes! Here it comes!" Tristan crowed, and then Duo's voice chimed in a chorus of "DragonSlave!"
"Lunch is ready," Mara Jade announced, popping her head into the room.
Her boyfriend and her father were bouncing up and down on the couch like a bunch of elementary boys watching a DBZ episode.
"Come and get it now while there's still some to get," she added before walking back.
"Can you bring it in here, hon?" they called after her.
"No," she called back.
"Please???"
"...."
"But this is the good part!"
Mara Jade sat down across from Wufei and proceeded to dish various foods onto her plate.
"Where are Tristan and Daddy?" Wufei asked, frowning, his sandwich halfway to his mouth.
"Busy forgetting they're not school children anymore," the ebony-haired girl replied.
~Early March AC 228~
The house seemed deserted, too quiet to be inhabited. With Heero in town buying supplies and Duo out helping the Preventers, Wufei was left behind. Trinity's absence from the home was still noted, and the feeling that any day now their lives could change again hung over the members of the household. Dylan, as was his wont lately, was out of the house--most likely hanging around Mariemeia's son, Wufei thought. Not that that was a bad thing. Dylan and Julian got along quite well, especially in the absence left by Calista taking over her father's company.
Tristan had accompanied Heero into town, so that left Wufei and his pregnant daughter alone in the house. He made sandwiches for lunch--making sure there were enough for Heero and Tristan when the two got back--before going to hunt up his daughter. She wasn't in any of the downstairs rooms, and when she wasn't in her bedroom or the nursery, either, he began to get a little worried.
"Mara Jade?" he called out, waiting for an answer. None came. He walked over to the wall security unit. "Locate Mara Jade," Wufei commanded. The screen that was disguised to look like another part of the wall, opened up and a floor plan of Whispering Pines lit up. The two green dots marked himself and Mara Jade, who was apparently up on the third floor. "Thank you," he replied, closing out the wall unit and frowning as he made his way for the stairwell leading to the attic.
"Mara Jade?" he called out again as he neared the top.
"I'm over here," her muffled voice replied from somewhere in the back of the large, dusty room.
Wufei frowned at the dust, already planning a weekend mission to exterminate the offending dirt. "What are you doing up here?" he asked, carefully maneuvering around boxes and old furniture that had been brought up here and quickly forgotten.
"Just going through some things," her voice answered.
Wufei caught sight of the top of her head and quickly went to where she was. "Are you all right?" he asked, noting how she sat on the floor in one of her older dresses, Tristan's sweater pulled about her, looking down at her lap. An open box was in front of her.
"Who is she?" the girl countered, holding up a picture that Wufei would have recognized anywhere. He carried the image of it around with him wherever he went.
"Where did you find this?" he asked carefully, kneeling down beside her.
"I don't remember," Mara Jade answered, staring at the girl in the picture. "I found it a long time ago and kept it. I used to think she was a guardian angel and I slept with her under my pillow for the longest time. I found her here again with some of my old things. Do you know who she is?" she asked again, noticing a small, sad smile on her father's face.
"Hai... Chang Meiran," he told his daughter, taking the faded and worn picture from her, his thumb running along the edge lovingly.
" 'Chang'?" Mara Jade asked, watching him closely. "A relative, then?"
"You could say that," he smiled, looking longingly at the photograph before handing it back to her. "She was my wife, before the war started."
"Your--but, Daddy and--I mean--" After a moment, Mara Jade shut her mouth and looked at him.
"Hai, my wife," Wufei answered smiling almost teasingly at his daughter. "We were married before we were fourteen, an arranged marriage by our families. She had the spirit of a warrior and was fiercely proud. She wanted to protect our family and died in the process. I took up her fight after that and later met your fathers." He stopped here, looking at his daughter with searching, loving eyes before adding, "In a lot of ways, you remind me of her. You have the same pride, same spirit of righteousness..." He grinned. "And you're every inch as stubborn as she ever was."
"Hey!"
He laughed and dragged her into a hug. "I am very proud to have you for a daughter," he whispered against her head.
"I love you," she replied back, just as softly. The moment passed all too quickly, and the two pulled away coughing to waylay any embarrassment.
"I made some sandwiches. If you're not hungry, I'm sure my granddaughter is," Wufei said suddenly, standing up and slapping the dust from his pants.
"Oh, I'm hungry," Mara Jade promised her father and moved her feet under her. "Papa?" she asked before he could leave. He turned to look back at her, finding her standing looking at the picture in her hands. "Do you mind if I keep this?"
"Not at all," Wufei replied. "I have that image stored away safely here," he tapped his head, "And here," he added, patting his chest. "Keep it. May Nataku watch over and protect you always. I.... I think she would like you." He smiled, lips twisting into an almost ironic smirk. "She'd wonder how such a man as I could have such a brave and strong daughter."
He turned and left before Mara Jade could reply. She stared at the empty space where her father had been only seconds before, and then she looked back down at the image in her hands. "Meiran...."
The end of March came too soon, and well...
End Part 41
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com