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. ***
~ Life after June AC 228 ~
Surprisingly, life went on with some sense of normality. In three months' time after Mara Jade's and Tristan's wedding, the couple finally left with Meiran for the honeymoon at the Sands. In that seemingly short period of time of their absence Heero, Wufei, and Duo made their decision.
The house was too empty with just the three of them. It had started seemingly too empty for them when Trinity come home that day over a year ago and announced her engagement. The emptiness had been kept at bay for a while, first with Tristan's almost constant presence and then more recently with Meiran's arrival. But Tristan, Mara Jade, and their little baby girl weren't here now. Trinity and Dylan weren't here either. The three men had their first real taste of free time in over twenty years with no chibis there to demand their attention. No minor emergency or bruise to fix. No laughing. No screaming. Nothing.
They discovered something.
Silence could be a very scary thing.
The house they had built for their family was empty. Their home silent. Trinity in Sank. Mara Jade at the White Sands in Africa only to return to Emerald Gardens, not Whispering Pines. And Dylan... Dylan was who knew where.
It wasn't like his fathers didn't send out searches for him. Oh, they did. Heero and Duo had both sent their influences out over the electronic veins of the Sphere, followed each tiniest lead to all their ends with no son to show for it. Wufei had taken the more traditional approach and sent out an inquiry and request to all Preventer agents for the 20-year old. No one had seen hair or tail of him. In the end they were left with a mixed feeling of pride and loss.
They debated selling Whispering Pines but quickly rejected the idea. It wasn't necessary. They did, however, clear out the attic and junk rooms; they cleaned and tidied the entire hour from top to bottom; they cut utilities and services to bear minimum, and packed up all their personal belongings to take with them, and then they left.
The old but primed jeep was packed, the large room-for-six-adults sedan was packed, and it only took them one trip, though they made one last sweep. When Heero, who was last out on that final trip, closed and locked the door he climbed down the steps to stand with his husbands looking back at the house they had molded into a home.
Their home.
Heero eyed the porch deck that he and his husbands had built, the extra wing they had struggled over, the trellises covered with summer blooms, the sandstone steps that led around each side of the house to the back where he knew was the pool deck and gardens. He sighed. His husbands sighed. They looked at each other.
"This is the right thing, right?" Duo asked, his hands slipping into Heero's and Wufei's.
Wufei squeezed gently. "Nothing's saying we have to stay if it's not," he replied.
"Except Quatre," Heero answered, amused. They smiled and leaned into each other.
"This is just another end of a chapter in our memoirs," Wufei sighed. "A happy chapter. May another happy chapter awaits us."
"Just as long as you're writing it, Wu-bear."
Quatre and Trowa were spending more quality time together now that their three children were very competently running WEI. Quatre's time that was previously interrupted by the arrival of his three middle-aged husbands from Whispering Pines, quickly became expanded to encompass Heero, Duo, and Wufei.
Triton Winner was as often home and he was away--his travels frequently taking him into and through the colonies. Tristan and Mara Jade's return went smoothly as well, for all intents and purposes, the young family seemed to fit right in within the preexisting framework. It only took a few short years before the youngest daughter of Quatre and Trowa balked and left home to go build her own WEI headquarters in Miami.
The King and Queen in Sank were keeping afloat, barely. Trinity was constantly amazed at the amount of paperwork the small country generated; meanwhile, Adrian was just wondering if it would ever end.
Despite appearances at Bridgelight, all was not well. Nicolette was asked to perform in a musical. Her mother agreed and planned to accompany her eleven-year-old daughter to England. Her father, however, was adamantly against the idea.
"It's too much publicity," he argued, but Nikki pleaded to go, and eventually Zechs agreed. He had wanted to go with them... but Lucrezia had vetoed the idea. After all, it was easy to give the daughter a stage name... not so easy to hide her father's resemblance to Milliardo Peacecraft. A strain had been placed on a marriage that would not heal.
And somewhere throughout the United Earth Sphere Alliance a wanderer passed through cities and towns, helping those who needed help, spending several months with Habitat for Humanity, building houses for those who were in need, or crawling into the depths of the metal stomachs in countless colonies, braving the harsh climates of Mars, and even the cold chill off the Deep Space Colonies. All this he did for seemingly no profit, no gain. He helped so many lives and received so very little in return. Who was he?
"Who are you?"
The young pregnant girl stared at him with wide betrayed and frightened eyes, a fistful of money clenched with the envelope the other young person had tossed at her in passing.
"What do you want?" she growled. "I won't be sucking no cock for this money so you can just take it back. Here!"
But he hadn't stopped; he just kept walking down the sidewalk. "Take it," he said. "Go get something to eat. Then head on over to 34th St, past 59th Avenue. You'll find a Home there for people who need help getting off the streets, getting back on their feet. Maxwell House will help you."
"What? Are you for real? Who are you?"
But he didn't stop walking or answer, and now he was a good distance away.
"Hey! Hey, Mister! You didn't tell me your name!"
Finally he stopped, looking back over his shoulder and inch. "How bout you just call me 'Maxwell'?" he said before moving off, turning a corner. Prussian blue eyes clouded with mixed emotions and thoughts, he smiled and walked away.
~ The Courtship of Princess Peacecraft AC 229-30~
Triton moved them gracefully over the dance floor in a manner that easily made them the most attractive couple out there. It didn't hurt, of course, that either of them could be considered "eye candy" without effort.
"I'm delighted you called me up and asked me out," Kit said, sipping her wine back at their dinner table. "Will you be staying in L1 long?"
"Not very," Triton replied, pushing his fettuccini alfredo across his plate.
Long enough to take her out dancing again the next night, though.
His PC trilled as the incoming text message registered in his mailbox. Eagerly abandoning the papers he was looking at, Tristan turned to his laptop, opening it and then the message from "Kitty-Kat".
::Have a couple of days off and thinking of testing out the beaches of Jamaica. Wouldn't mind if some company showed up.
April 28th-May 12th::
Triton grinned--a couple of days, indeed--and buzzed his secretary to schedule him the two weeks off for vacation in Jamaica.
It was a private little stretch of beach. How he had gotten it, she didn't know, but she definitely appreciated it. Basking in the warm glow of the late morning sun as it sparkled off of the ocean, she moaned and stretched before gasping as something wet and cool splayed over her bare flesh. Shielding her eyes and looking up, she saw a grinning Triton shaking water off, right next to her. She laughed and tackled him. Laughing, he fell. Rolling, they squirmed until finally, on the hard wet sand, Triton won, grinning as he hovered over her.
And then the grin faded, and his eyes searched her face for a moment before dipping and gently brushing his lips over hers.
Maybe it was the sun getting to them both. Or maybe it was the crazy atmosphere of these beautiful islands. Perhaps it was even a secret tropical fantasy surfacing. Whatever it was, it captured them both that holiday and changed their relationship from friends...to friends with special benefits.
Triton wouldn't say he had a lover--even if his secretary secretly suspected such. Neither would Kit... but then, if they weren't now lovers, what were they?
They experienced their first real fight in October when Katarynna said she wasn't planning on coming down to Earth for the holidays. The couple were laying in bed after as rousing bout of 'exercise' when she announced her intentions of remaining in space throughout the whole of December. Triton thought that a foolish idea and wasted no time in saying so.
They didn't speak to each other until mid-November, when he called her to bounce the idea of him running an inspection tour of his colonial sectors the day after Christmas, to which she replied her father had guilt-tripped her into agreeing to come home. Triton smiled and just said, "Those inspections can wait till January."
It was hard to meet privately at home with all their families around, though, without rising suspicions. Tristan, Callie, and he was sure Mara Jade now all knew why he and Kat wanted to be alone, however their fathers weren't supposed to know. (Okay, well, maybe his dad knew--Trowa tended to know everything, after all---but he didn't think his father suspected anything, and hopefully not Kat's father. Oh boy! Wouldn't things it the fan, then!)
New Year's Eve he made sure to find a private corner to properly welcome in the new year (and if he and Kat actually had to slipped into an unoccupied guest bedroom.... for several hours... )
In mid-February came the news of Mara Jade's second pregnancy, and the thought of children seemed to take root in Triton's brain. Unlike Tristan, he had never seen any of his future descendents through the Crystal, only the past, and when he broached the subject of children with Kat he wasn't sure if he was content with her reaction.
"Children? Me?" she'd laughed. "I'm really not very good with kids. I mean, look how I treated you when we were younger? Besides, I'm really too selfish to be a mother. When you're a mother, you're expected to devote your entire life to your child, and I just don't think I could do that. Do you?"
Triton had started at his question being redirected at himself. "I don't know," he hedged. "I mean, I think I could... but I would definitely want to retain some part of myself, too, you know? Like my fathers."
Kit had frowned then. "I don't think my parents *wanted* to retain any part of their selves... I think... I think.... that I was somehow supposed to be an answer for them, or a catalyst, maybe, that would help their relationship."
"If that was true, if they were really having marital problems even back then, do you really think that Adrian or Nikki would be here?" Triton asked, referring to one of his good friends, her younger brother, and her kid sister.
Kit shrugged and grinned, rolling over onto him. "What can I say? The sex must have been good!"
Triton borrowed his niece one afternoon and kidnapped Kit, taking both ladies to the New Hope Memorial Zoo. Although he doubted she knew it, Triton kept a close eye on the way his girlfriend (yes, he was finally willing and able to call her that now--though it was still hush-hush) and his niece interacted. Despite her reservations about being a mother, Triton secretly thought Katarynna Peacecraft would make an excellent parent.
Kit had been finding more reasons than not to visit Earth and finally she just up and quit her job in L1 to return to work for the Preventers--Lady Une was, of course, properly thrilled to have the young, sharp-minded woman back under her employ--although she staunchly refused to live at Bridgelight with her father and Julian. Instead, the young woman took up residence in a fancy apartment suite that promised her privacy and comfort. More nights than not, Triton was there enjoying that comfort and privacy with her.
And one day, fairly early in June, as they were both lying naked in bed, cooling off, Triton wormed his fingers into hers and squeezed her hand gently, asking, "Why don't we get married?" softly.
For a moment, Kit didn't think she'd heard right and said, "Excuse me?"
He shifted, turning onto his side to look at her. "I mean it. Why don't we get married? We could go get our blood tests tomorrow, and within one week, we could visit a Justice of the Peace. We could be married by Father's Day."
"Are you crazy?" was the first capable thing out of her mouth. "We can't get *married*! I mean, *really*! I can't believe you even seriously suggested such a think."
"Why not?"
"Well, for one, I mean, were would we live, hmm?" she replied sensibly. "You're too caught up in your family to want to move out of Emerald Gardens, and with your dads and your uncles there, plus your brother and Mara Jade and Meiran, and the baby on the way.... It's no wonder Calista moved out! There's no way I would want to move in there with everybody. I enjoy my privacy too much."
"We could live here," Triton answered reasonably. "The lease is already in your name, and I doubt it would take much to buy out the building--if Winner Enterprises doesn't already own it, that is."
"Well, I mean--" Kit hadn't thought Triton would be so willing to move out of his fathers' home... "What about children? Even though you've never said as much, I know you want children."
Triton frowned now. "Yes, that's true. I would want at least one child. To pass on the family name and business, and all that." He grinned. "But we could work out the details of that later."
Kit stared at him in shock. "Why?' she asked finally. "Why would you want to marry me?"
He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. "Because I did a foolish thing," he answered, smiling.
"What?" was the breathy request.
"I dared to fall in love with a spoiled princess," he answered before engaging her in another rousing romp through the blankets.
[MoH: Traditions: Father's Day #6]
June 230 AC
They had to reserve the entire room for their one party, but it was just as well--they were a loud crew with 17 members.
"Okay, I have a question!" Zechs announced, drawing half the people's attention. "Who's picking up the check for this thing?"
Trinity laughed at her father-in-law. "I think between the lot of us, we can figure it out, Dad."
"Okay, okay--so I have another question," he added, sipping his drink again and eyeing the young monarch. "When are you going to give me a grandbaby?"
"Dad!" Adrian laughingly reproached his father.
"Don't 'dad' me. Look at Mara Jade and Tristan! They sure aren't having any problems!"
"Dad!"
"Look at me and die," Mara Jade replied.
"They can't help themselves," Tristan teased his pregnant wife, kissing her hand. "You're beautiful."
"You just keep saying that for another four months."
"I'll keep saying it for another fifty years," he promised her, grinning. "After that I make no promises."
Mara Jade threw her napkin at her husband.
"What about you, Triton?" Duo asked, pulling his attention away from his 2-year old granddaughter in Wufei's lap long enough to cast a glance towards the older twin. "When are you gonna start catching up with your brother?"
"Never," Kit replied from next to him. "Not if I have any say in the matter."
"I didn't know you did," her father returned, leaning across the table to look down at her.
Color rose in both Kit's and Triton's cheeks.
"Funny thing, that--" Triton began only to have Kit interrupting with, "Well, you see--"
The table froze--all except little Merien Winner who was happily playing with her grandpa Wu-bear's salt-and-pepper long hair.
"Do you have something you want to tell us?" Quatre asked pointedly, looking first at his son and then the oldest Peacecraft girl, before turning to Triton again.
"We--ah--" Triton began before looking over to the woman seated next to him.
Sighing and smiling a little shyly, Kit lifted her left hand from under the table and held it up so that the light in the room twinkled off the simple gold band and diamond nestled on her fourth finger. "We sort of visited a justice of the peace earlier today," she told them.
"Surprise!" Triton added. "Happy Father's Day!"
The North move south, the South move north,
A star is born, a star dies out,
The only the thing, that stay the same
Is everything changes, and everything changes
And Time marches on... Time marches on... (1)
The End
(1) 'Time Marches On' is preformed by Alan Jackson and I couldn't help think but it was the perfect theme song for this section.
It will be a little while before the Next Story comes out, but it will pretty much pick up the story of Dylan, Calista, Julian, and Nicolette...
Have a wonderful and safe Holiday, minna!
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com