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}, Julien)
Catalonia-Dorian Family (Dorothy Catalonia + Relena Dorian, Regina)
Une-Po Family (Lady Une + Sally Po, Marie Une*, Michael Braddocks, Mark Braddocks, Matthew Braddocks)
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.
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.
***These stories and the ideas contained within are copyright of the author. No reprinting or posting without permission of said author.***
~May AC 227 @ the Caro Festival into June~
Tristan did all the talking for the first half hour. Mara Jade didn't say a word, overly conscious and stubbornly determined to keep her promise to her sister. She would not fight with Tristan. That and the over-all uncomfortable awareness that she and he were alone, the others having taken off in different directions, kept Mara Jade's mouth staunchly shut.
The second half hour he gave up trying to carry a conversation by himself and they lapsed into a tight silence. It pulled at both Mara Jade and Tristan, making what would have been a casual stroll about the Festival uneasy and uncomfortable.
Finally the tension snapped and Tristan grabbed Mara Jade's wrist, twirling her into an empty alleyway and pushing her back against the stonewall facing. He held her there with his body, leaning in close until his face hovered inches away from hers. Their chests rose and fell rapidly in concord. And then he kissed her.
Gently at first, the kiss was a simple meeting of lips, flesh pressed lightly against flesh. And then it grew, became more exploratory as lips parted and sucked delicately at lips. His hands cupped her face; her arms rested at his waist-barely touching, but touching enough.
It was like eternity lived out in the space of a second; over before it began, and he pulled away far enough to look into her face. Not for the first time he couldn't help but be in awe of how beautiful she was. Large, almond shaped dark blue eyes - so dark they were like the blue of night, so deep it was looking into the inner portions of her soul every time he looked into their depths. High cheeks, flushed with color. Full lips, that were too tempting when pulled into a pout, were now engorged with blood, looking rosy and glossy and begging to be kissed again.
Tristan swallowed and took another step back, allowing the cool spring breeze to rush between their bodies in an attempt to cool his more arduous emotions. "I'm sorry," he breathed. "But I've been wanting to do that for the last six days. I couldn't believe you tasted as good as I remembered."
Mara Jade licked her lips, not daring to blink least she miss another movement from him. Still, she managed to breathe out one word: "And?"
"I have a faulty memory," Tristan grinned down at her as the frown pulled at her beautiful face. The pad of his thumb traced her full lower lip. "You taste better that I remembered," he whispered, barely repressing a moan when her tongue braved a quick flicker over the pad of his thumb, and then the digit was surrounded by her lips. He did moan then. The sheer decadence of it all hitting him. Here he was, the son of Winner Enterprises, holed up in an alleyway with Mara Jade Chang, and she was sucking on his thumb.
Regretfully, he pulled away from her, pulling her away from the wall as he backed up. "If this is you on a first date," he teased, pulling her against his side and leading her out of the alleyway, "I can't wait to see you on the second and third and fourth and fifth dates!"
With a wry expression, she elbowed him in the gut - a lot lighter than she would have one week earlier.
In the first three weeks of his courtship of the Chinese-American-Japanese girl, Tristan dragged Mara Jade to picnics on the beach (2 hours away-by private jet), to cinemas and playhouses (box seats that were right next to the stage), to the planetarium and sea aquarium, and even to his aunt's circus. Never once, however, did the two of them go off alone; always one or another, or the entire group of their siblings tagged along. This mixed attendance was a blessing and a curse.
In the moments the two did catch alone Tristan reminded Mara Jade that he still loved her and was interested in her. His kisses told her he found her desirable, and the gentle touch of his fingers playing with hers was a constant reminder that he wanted her with him. Tristan was back in school again, having elected to take courses over the summer. Mara Jade found herself making excuses to go into town, just to meet the blond boy for lunch.
It was inevitable that it would happen. After all, they'd started spending an alarmingly amount of time in each other's company, and Tristan *was* the son of WEI. They were sitting in a mom and pop diner two blocks away from the University when the media struck.
"Tristan! Tristan! Have you been avoiding us?"
The blond young man next to Mara Jade smiled charmingly and moved away from her, moved closer to the camera that was being shoved in his face. "Ah, you've caught me, Clare," this man said, turning that smile up notches for the woman in the garish glasses.
"Auh, now, Tristan, that's not very nice," the woman reprimanded lightly, in a voice that made Mara Jade's stomach curdle. "And who is this ravishing young thing next to you? A new girlfriend, Tristan?"
This new man who was sitting next to her turned to look at Mara Jade. His eyes seemed to search hers for something - what she didn't know - after a moment he turned back to the camera, smiling still. "No, no," he said, laughing. "Clare, may I present Mara Jade Chang. Her family and mine have been friends since before I was even a twinkle in a scientist's eye. She was in town today and stopped by to have lunch with me. Saved me the despair of lunching alone."
"Oh, Tristan! You could have just called me up! I would have loved to lunch with you! And a hundred other young women, I'm sure!" He and the middle-aged woman - Clare - laughed, a twittering laugh that ate at Mara Jade's nerves.
"That's nice," she thought she heard the woman say, but by then Mara Jade had really turned a deaf ear to his and her light-hearted chatter. She didn't
think she could've paid attention even if she tried-her blood seemed to be roaring past her ears, making other sound impossible.
The woman grilled Tristan for scandals and other juicy information - I saw your brother the other week. Is there a possible marriage in Winner Enterprises' future? I understand your baby sister is preparing to replace your father as CEO of Winner Enterprises. Any hard feelings? Your fathers are starting to inch up there in years. How is their health holding up?
It seemed like forever but was probably only ten or fifteen minutes before the woman left. Tristan became Tristan again and tried to inch closer to her, but Mara Jade scooted away. He tried to take her hand as they got up to leave, but she evaded.
"Mara Jade?"
She could hear the frown in his voice without having to look. Had she grown so accustomed to his mannerisms so soon? If so, why hadn't she'd been prepared for what had just happened? And why did it upset her so much?
"I promised my father I'd pick up some papers from the office," she said instead, ignoring the question in his voice. "I'll see you later, all right, Tristan? Thanks for lunch."
That was it. She turned the corner and walked back to her car without him.
Slipping behind the wheel of her silver A-con '25 she didn't start the engine up right away - not for the longest time. Instead she just sat there, arms crossed over the steering wheel, face hidden in the space between, and cried her eyes out, cursing herself as each new hot tear fell. She hated being emotional, she hated crying more than any other emotional outburst - and if there was anything she hated worse than being emotional and crying, it was being emotional and not understanding why the hell she was crying.
Tristan called that night; she told her sister to take a message. He called again later, but she cried off talking to him, telling her father she was sleepy and going to bed. The blond young man called again the next morning, but she'd made sure she was out of the house early. He called again, and again, and again. She didn't see or speak to Tristan again for over a week.
And then, before anyone knew it, it was June and time for Adrian's coronation.
End Part 9
Readwolf: Oh oh. Someone's in a pissy mood...
Mara Jade: I am *not* in a 'pissy mood'!
Readwolf: Then how'd you know I was talking about you?
Mara Jade: ..... {sizzles}
Tristan: Now, now. Don't tease the Dragon-girl. People tend to get hurt
when that happens.
Mara Jade: ...... {crackling}
Tristan: {quickly changes subject} So, I hear Sank really throws one hell of
a party.
Adrian:...... {panicking}
Trinity:..... :) {administrating some TLC}
Tristan: All-righty then! No help from that corner. {all smiles} Now, now,
Mara J... maybe we could talk this out? over dinner and some champange
maybe?
Mara Jade: ..... {glaring death}
Tristan: Then again, maybe not! I'm outta here! See ya guys later!
Readwolf: Ne, 'Drea-chan, didn't you say you would be working more with
Triton and Kit?
Andrea: ..........
Readwolf: 'Drea? 'Drea? Don't pretend to sleep on me!
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com