A Matter of Heart: Heirs to the Legacy 2 (The Second Set)
A Gundam Wing Fanfiction By: Andrea Readwolf
Email: andrea_readwolf @hotmail.com
Rating: YA/Mature
Families: First Generation
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)
Families: Second Generation
The Royal Peacecraft Family: King Adrian, Queen Trinity, twins Yuy (10-f)
and Maxwell (10-m)
The Winner Family (#1): Tristan + Mara Jade = Meiran (14-f), Dakota (12-f),
Jasmine (11-f), Galen (8-m), Bryce (5-m), Adrianna (4-f), Fletcher (2-m),
Hakeem (8 1/2 PN-m) *(a lot ^__^'')
The Winner Family (#2): Triton + Katarynna (Kit/Kat ^__^v) = Gabriel (6-m)
Pairings: Dylan Maxwell + Nicole Peacecraft (hoped for by Nikki); Julian
Mazzolla + Calista Winner (hoped for by Julian) [AN: has anyone else
noticed that really on Trinity and Adrian *wanted* each other from the
first? None of this 'hoped for' business...]
Archive: Yes-- www.gwaddiction.com
Warnings: The following story contains scenes that are humorous,
sappy,fluff, with rampant Incoherence, random PoV switching, and
Sexual innuendoes 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 (from the "older" crowd... and
*some* references to Dylan's past).
Spoilers: None to the original Gundam Wing Series at first; However, once
Julian has been commissioned by Calista for a special project, expect a lot
of rehashing of the series. It would be a plus to have read the previous
Matter of Heart Series Arc stories: "Dance of the Heart" Arc and "Oh Baby,
Baby" Arc. "Heirs to the Legacy" is built off of the stories forming
"Traditions".
Feedback: C&C is always welcomed and adored.
Acknowledgements: It's been three years... Three long bloody years. Hn.
And this damn story *still* isn't finished! Acknowledgements go out to all
the people who have helped me throughout this incredibly long Series--it
ain't over yet! Special Thanks go out to Zan, who must be my longest-kept
beta-reader to date! (And also a very good friend.... "How many more days
till A-kon?" "AW-what?" "What to you mean it's pronounced 'yeowie'? It's
spelt like 'ya-o-ee'." "Okay, now, seriously here; how squicked out do you
think people will be if I happen to mention the sexual relationship between
the twins? I mean, Triton and Tristan are very affectionate and all,
but...." ^___^)
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" [and thus the grandchildren might at one point refer to all five
men (six in Zech's case) as "grandfather"]; please refer back to "Promise of
the Rings" Part 13 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, all of Quatre's sisters, and
Trowa's Catherine, none of the parents really have siblings.
Additional Note 3: As hinted at in Heirs to the Legacy #1, Zechs and Noin
have separated. Zechs has somehow been coerced into living with our boys at
Emerald Gardens (we've had the 5-somes; anyone up to a 6-some?)
Translation Note: Tousan/Otousan, father, represents Heero. Chichi is often
times used for Wufei. Daddy, Duo.
***These stories and the ideas contained within are copyright of the author. No reprinting or posting without permission of said author. ***
~Emerald Gardens, December 25, AC 242 through December 31, AC 243 ~
Word came at three am Christmas morning. Everyone in the TV room was sleeping, save for Dylan and Meiran. The fourteen year old girl sat in a large armchair, feet tucked under, her nose buried in a book. The thirty-three year old man sat stiff against the sofa, his wife tucked against him, eyes closed as his mind raced.
The others barely stirred when the phone rang, but Meiran stopped reading as her uncle answered.
"Maxwell, go."
There was a tense silence as Meiran waited.
"So you'll be coming home then?".... "Okay, that's good." ... "We'll be here." ... "Yes, everyone's asleep except Mei and me. We'll be ready." ... "No, they went right off, sleeping like kittens." ... "Okay, we'll see you then." ... "I love you, too. Take care."
Dylan turned off the phone and leaned his head back to take a deep breath. Fear held Meiran's tongue still, waiting for her uncle to speak.
"Everyone will be coming home in a couple of hours," he replied before adding, "With your mom."
"...Is she all right?" she asked finally, her book lowering to her lap.
Dylan eyed her up.
It was strange seeing the same intense stare looking out at her from her Uncle's face.
"What does your gut tell you?" he returned.
Meiran was not at all happy with his reply, but she complied, reaching deep into her "gut" for an impression of what was going on. Her family was gifted, she was well aware of the fact; nothing fancy, really. Just some impressions and sometimes prophetic dreams. Meiran never considered herself very talented, but she knew to follow her feelings when she had them.
Now she went searching for that gut feeling... and it wasn't telling her anything good. Fear. Sadness. Anger. A bit of small relief. Sadly, she shook her head.
"Your mom's really sick," her uncle finally answered, breaking into her thoughtful concentration with soft, gentle, but hurtful words. "The doctors are recommending surgery to help her get better, but that's a big decision to make."
Dylan was playfully fingering some of the blonde curls that had escaped their fastening on his wife's head.
"Tell me," he began again after some silence. "Do you know what the story Julian's writing is about?"
Meiran nodded solemnly, but her uncle wasn't looking. "The others, they think they know what it is--a story about the Eve Wars--but they don't understand that that is just a small part of Uncle Julian's story, because it's about the gundam pilots, and that is why he's writing his story here, because this is where the gundam pilots are."
Dylan shot a critical glance her way. "Someone tell you that or are you just figuring that out on your own?"
But he didn't wait for her reply before continuing. "Yeah, well, the gundam pilots were given special medicine... vitamins, you could say, to help them be better pilots. Your mom, dad, and I, and even your Aunt Trinity and Aunt Calista, and Uncle Triton, we all have that medicine inside of us."
Meiran nodded, too caught up in the listening to be aware of her own gestures. No one had ever really talked to her this candidly about 'adult' problems.
"I don't know if anyone told you," Dylan went on in a hollow voice. "But your mom almost died giving birth to you."
"...No... They hadn't."
"Well, it's because of that medicine inside us. There were different types of medicine given to the gundam pilots, just like there are different types of vitamins. It was like a triple whammy for her body, because suddenly, it was forced to deal with all of the medicine; not just the half we received from our fathers, but also the half from your father's fathers. Her body couldn't take it and she almost died.
"We thought we'd fixed the problem. We thought everything was fine because here she is popping off baby after baby and nothing seemed to be going wrong..." He swallowed. "But it seems like the medicine inside of us is causing problems again...." (1)
Christmas Day was tense. The children, minus Meiran, were relieved to see their mother and aunt back and they promptly forgot their worry from the night before. The adults, however, could not forget. They noticed how pale Mara Jade looked, how she didn't insist that she could or should hold her infant, Michael. They noticed how she offered to help clear away the dishes and soon grew tired and had to rest.
They noticed and they refused to fall asleep without some answers--or at least explanations.
Thankfully, because it was Christmas, the children found plenty to exhaust themselves with and before it was too late, even the older ones were ready for bed earlier than normal. Meiran helped herd the smaller ones upstairs with the promise of two bedtime stories, and Leah was more than happy to have a sleepover with her grandmothers. Yes, even Julian stuck around to hear what was going on.
"They are recommending a hysterectomy."
"They suggested it before," Tristan picked up where his wife left off, "shortly after 'Soka was born..."
"I hate surgery," Mara Jade hissed. "I hate the idea of losing consciousness for any period of time and waking up to find I'm empty."
"The doctors said if we didn't, and she got pregnant again, they couldn't guarantee she'll live."
What could anyone say?
"Well, it's not like you *need* another kid," Dylan commented. His fathers shot him a scathing look, but the younger Maxwell ignored it. "Better to be feeling a little bit empty than a lot dead."
Mara Jade looked up at her baby brother, and not for the first time noticed how much he'd grown up over the years he'd been away. They shared a look, one of shared pain and fear, and for the first time in her life, Mara Jade actually felt like she had found a kindred spirit in her brother. She nodded, swallowing the large lump of fear that seemed like it wanted to choke her, and answered, "I know. That's why we've already scheduled the date."
January 29th seemed so far away and yet so close.
At Whispering Pines business was booming.
Every day there were children and adults running around the place. Some came for Nicole Craft's School of Dance, some for Self Defense Martial Arts, and some for both. It seemed as if there was never quite a dull moment.
The Winner brood, as Dylan was fond of calling his sister's children, were more likely than not to be found skipping the distance between Emerald Gardens and Whispering Pines after school and on the weekends and whiling away the time with their uncle or helping their new aunt. Since they were all used to martial arts from their grandfathers, they liked to help their uncle's other students more than anything, all except Dakota who insisted she was looking for someone she could beat up.
Adrienne joined dance class, but none of her other siblings did. Occasionally Galen and Gabriel would go downstairs to help out--but Dylan quickly discovered the reason for the two boys' sudden interest in dance lessons: Galen and Gabriel were eyeing the same girl. He debated telling his friends what their sons were doing but was distracted when his fathers 'showed up' to 'see how things were going'--or so they said.
Dylan loved his fathers dearly, but he wished they wouldn't come over during lessons. No, it wasn't that they belittled his instructions, or even that they questioned his teaching styles, because his fathers were very good at not doing those things. No, his fathers would sit back and watch him work with the children or young adults. And then they would ask if they could see a demonstration.
His fathers were ex-terrorists. Despite their claims to hate war and fighting, his fathers loved martial arts. And they loved to spar with their son, constantly trying tricks to see if they could surprise him. When he was still a child, living under this same roof with them, Dylan occasionally won, but more than often lost to his fathers. Now that time had past, and he had conditioned himself into a deadly weapon, he rarely lost.
He knew such a feat made his fathers proud. "Maxwell-sensei is strong, intelligent, and wise; you are very lucky to be able to study under his hand," they would tell his students when they thought he was too far away to hear. But to Dylan, such a feat was proof that time had not been so kind to his fathers. Heero's punches were weaker, and the man was not holding back. Wufei's kicks weren't as sharp, and his bones hurt him something fierce afterwards.
Still, Dylan would not have traded his current life for much of anything. He was glad to be home, to be there for his sister when she needed him, being able to keep a closer eye on his nieces and nephews and even bribe Dakota into giving more of an effort at school, glad to be living back at Whispering Pines (though to sleep in the master bedroom--his fathers' bedroom--took a bit of getting used to), glad to wake up to his wife's merry humming and fall asleep to her smiling face. No, he would not have traded his life for much at all.
Most people set their alarm clocks to go off in the morning, to wake them up. He set his alarm clock for night, 10 pm to be exact. That was the time he would set his drafts and notes aside and go to the phone. That was the time Calista called.
Sometimes they talked for hours; sometimes for only minutes, but every night since New Year's they met over phone lines.
They talked about this and that, how the book was coming along, if a meeting she had went well, a movie that just came out, if Leah, Julian's daughter, was doing well.... And then one night, out of the blue, Calista asked him.
"Why haven't you asked me to marry you, yet?"
Julian looked at the image on his side of the vidscreen with open surprise. "You told me you never planned on getting married, remember? You said you weren't the marrying type. Why? Did you want me to ask you?" he teased. "Would you say 'yes' or 'no' if I did? Wouldn't want to risk rejection, you know."
Calista laughed back at him. "I don't know yet. You'll have to ask to find out!"
"Sounds dangerous," Julian grinned, "But I'll keep the question in mind."
That was the end of February, a week before the panicked call came in from Whispering Pines. It was Dakota on the other end. Aunt Nikki had collapsed in a puddle of blood.
The young blonde was downstairs in the dance room with a small group of 9 and 10 year olds. Her husband was upstairs in the back, working with his nieces and nephews when the girls downstairs started screaming.
"What's going on down there?" Dylan teasingly called. "Don't tell me we have rats!"
"Sensei! Come quick! She's bleeding!"
The girl's voice belonged to Tina, a sensible 10 year old who also took lessons from Dylan, the same girl who had managed to snare his nephews' attention. He didn't think he'd ever heard her raise her voice. Ever.
He bounded down the steps, three at a time, and broke through the lopsided circle the girls created around Nicole. Tina's petite body shook as she held Nicole's unconscious body to her small chest, her leotard and tights staining with blood. Dylan's face paled.
"Dakota! Call your grandfathers! Tell them to get over here quick! Gabriel! Call your mother and tell her to meet us at the hospital!"
Jasmine and Galen came rushing down the stairs, took one look at the scene before urging the crying girls out of the dance room. Galen returned to find Tina struggling with an arm full of towels. He took some, laying them out over the floor to try and pick up some of the blood, while Tina handed the rest to his uncle who wrapped them carefully around Nicole. Galen didn't know a lot about women, but he knew this much blood couldn't be a good thing.
Dylan used gentle hands to lift his wife up into his arms and then carry her up the steps. Dakota met them at the top, looking as white-faced and worried as Galen had ever seen his sister. She looked more like their older sister, Meiran, he thought, that Dakota.
"They're on their way," she said, eyeing her aunt and swallowing. "I also called the girls' parents to come pick them up early."
"Thank you."
He didn't care to know how many speed limits his fathers broke to get there, but by the time he had carried Nicole into the front room, a car was squealing up the drive. Three men barged in and the only thing that saved Dylan from falling over was his good sense to stay clear of the door. Nicole's students cried out louder, however.
"I called your dads," Duo said, pushing Zechs through the door. "They're already in the city, said they'd meet us there."
"I'll stay here with the girls," Trowa offered, slipping in behind Duo. "I'll catch up with you after their parents have arrived."
Zechs reached out to lift his daughter, but her husband staunchly refused without saying a word.
"Wufei's in the car waiting," the senior man said, finally ushering Dylan out the door with his precious charge
Nicole was resting on the hospital bed, her skin pale grey against the bleach white sheets. At least the room wasn't completely white, Dylan thought as his thumbs rubbed over the cold hand he held. He waited for her to wake up.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Wufei asked calmly, masking the hurt he felt for his son.
Dylan didn't look away from his wife's face to answer, but he replied is a soft voice. "We didn't want you to get your hopes up in case we wouldn't be able to have children naturally. This is our third miscarriage," he added with a whisper.
There was a hissing intake of breaths.
"The doctor warned us the first time that we might not be able to have children naturally," Dylan went on when no one said anything. "Her body's small you see, not strongly suited for carrying."
"Dylan..."
"There's a chance she won't be able to have children at all, but she's... she's stubborn," he choked out. "She insists that it will happen even if we don't try anything."
Hands tightened around Wufei's middle and the lean man leaned back against his longhaired husband's chest. Heero stood close by, leaning back against the wall, chin buried against his chest as he said nothing. On the other side of the bed, in the remaining chair, sat Nicole's father, silent as well.
Finally, someone spoke up.
"You weren't conceived naturally," Heero said, clearing his throat. "But that doesn't mean you were loved any less."
"I know."
Nikki was allowed to leave later that day, with the promise she would take it easy and rest for the next week. Soon the house was a colourful display of get well cards sent by her students, but the well wishes and wonderful promises only made her smile for a short time. For most of the week, Nicole moped around the house. A listlessness seemed to have settled over her, and even when the week had passed and she was back teaching, a melancholy remained in the air.
Spring
With the children running over to Whispering Pines every afternoon and their parents up in space attending a convention that thankfully Quatre was not required to attend (even though he'd been invited), the six men were able to spend a little more quality time. With just the six of them, they decided to do some things they hadn't done together in a while--like go horseback riding into the back lands and enjoy a picnic, or go skinny dipping and sun bathe nude, or open that 'toy' chest in the very back of Quatre's closet and pretend that they were sixteen instead of sixty...
"I'm bored."
Coming from the white-haired patriarch, this statement was not to be taken lightly.
They sat vegetating around the boob tube, not really all that interested in the space colonization documentary that was on. Quatre peeked an eye open and appreciated the sight opposite him: Duo lay against Trowa, Trowa lay against Zechs, and Zechs lay sprawled all over the couch.
It was truly a spectacular sight with all that hair laying around. Hair fetish? Quatre? Oh hell yes.
'Now if only Heero and Wufei weren't fooling around over at Whispering Pines,' Quatre sighed.
Duo yawned and stretched out against Trowa, mumbling, "As long as I don't have to move..."
Quatre smiled sleepily and decided to crawl over and take a nap. After all, who could resist such an appealing bed as a Duo, a Trowa, and a Zechs?
That was the sight that greeted him when Julian popped his head in later to run over a few drafts with the men. He rolled his eyes but smiled as he walked in, placed four piles of papers out on the coffee table, snatched up four different pens to leave with the drafts, and then took himself back out. Maybe a surprise call to Miami was in order.
That same sight greeted Heero and Wufei when they returned home. The two men shared a twinkling gaze, before heading off in separate ways to gather the materials they wanted. Both men returned in short order, grinning as they mixed different oils in several small bowls. Heero mixed the almond, lavender, and patchouli scented oils before pouring some in his hands to warm; Wufei the grape, lavender, and dragon's blood. With mischievous grins they ran their hands lightly over the bodies on display, Heero taking care of Quatre and Duo while Wufei applied himself to Zechs and Trowa. (2)
Despite the season, the air was hot and heavy, and the four men wore light clothing that allowed Heero and Wufei easy access to their skin. With light, caressing strokes, they quickly covered each body with a sheen of fragrant oil, where Duo and Trowa met, the oils from Heero and Wufei collided.
"Mmm... don't stop," Quatre ordered, rubbing his body against Heero's as he reached up around the other man and trailed his fingers lightly up and down his back.
"Feel too good to move," Duo agreed, dragging his own hand up around Quatre's chest.
Zechs's face tipped as he nibbled at Wufei's neck. "What a yummy way to wake up."
"Then go over to the other couch," Trowa growled, "to fool around and let people sleep."
Heero and Wufei laughed at them, pulling back enough for disentangle themselves from the other men. "While you were sleeping, Jules came by and dropped us off some work. You should stop slacking off."
The boys grumbled a protest.
Before anyone really realized it, summer was upon them. Meiran came home from Saint Gabriel's for a few weeks, the Winner Brood practically spent every waking minute at Whispering Pines, and Julian's wife died.
Summer
Julian was writing like a man crazed.
Every other day he presented the gundam pilots with a new or revised manuscript, and while he waited for each man to read and comment, he would work on another piece of the story. It was surprising, and yet, not surprising at all, when the ginger haired man walked into the family room one evening after dinner and dropped six heavy manuscripts in front of the older men.
"That's about the first Eve war," he nodded at them. "I plan on getting the second story out in a shorter fashion. Should have it finished up by the end of the week, but take a look at that, and make sure everything's as it should be."
"Yes, we will," Quatre answered, but none reached out toward the story. It was as if they were afraid to touch it.
The phone had rung while Julian was presenting his story to the gundam pilots, and Jasmine had answered it. Now she returned from the hall. "Uncle Julian? Someone's on the phone for you. Said his name was Richard-something."
Julian's face paled, but he thanked the girl as he left the room.
Wufei looked at his other husbands, concern plainly written in his questioning expression, before he got up and followed the young man out into the hallway. What he heard, made him stop cold.
"Yes, I understand. No, no, I'll come. Yes, I'll stay for the cremation and burial. No, I know. Where's Leah now?"
There was a pause, obviously Julian was waiting for his daughter to come to the phone.
"I know, I know, baby. I'm going to try and get there as soon as possible. Okay, baby. Hey, Leah! I love you. Okay, you just hang in there, and I'll be there soon. I love you. Yes, you too. Bye-bye..."
With a sigh, the auburn haired man hung up the phone, his shoulders drooped as he reached up to rub the back of his neck.
"Lillian died this morning," he said, not turning around to look at the other man, but knowing he was there all the same. "I need to get up there, Leah needs me now."
"A child will always need her parent no matter how old either may become," Wufei answered as he closed the distance. He enveloped the younger man in an embrace, squeezing tightly and allowing the other to hang on for as long as he needed. When Julian finally relaxed Wufei continued. "Perhaps you should asked Quatre or Tristan if you could borrow a jet. I'm sure they would allow you to. And has any one told your mother or grandmothers?"
"Yes, that's a good idea, I'll do that, and no, they haven't been told, yet."
"Then I will call them," Wufei offered, "While you ask Quatre."
It was horrible, even for July. You couldn't walk outside without becoming drenched in sweat.
And in that sopping heat, thoughts of death and life without the company of one or another spouse, parent, child filled the minds of Emerald Gardens, Whispering Pines, Bridgelight, the Sank Kingdom Palace, and a condo suite in Miami.
Julian was gone for six days, and when he returned, he wasn't alone. Leah had met the people from Emerald Gardens before, but they were still practically strangers to her, that piled on top of her just losing her mother, made Julian's daughter very determined to stick close to her father. Her grandmothers, Anne and Sally, had offered to have her to stay with them in the city--she would get to sleep in the very same room her Grandmother Mei slept in and everything, but Leah refused.
Thankfully, Quatre was a very understanding and generous man who welcomed the new addition to his household whole-heartedly.
In the beginning, Leah chose to stay as close to her father as possible--she slept in the room next to his, many a nights crawling into bed with him; she stayed in the same room he worked in, reading while he wrote and eating only when he was there to force her to eat. It was the first time since Julian started working on this project that he showed up regularly to meals.
Some days after that, one person or another managed to drag his daughter away. Sometimes she would be wheedled into going downstairs and playing piano; sometimes her grandmothers would order a "Shopping Day" and drag her into the city, and some days she would be forcibly dragged over to Whispering Pines by the other children. And some days after that, she started going willing over to Whispering Pines.
It seemed she had made a friend of one of the students and had begun to show an interest in learning dancing and martial arts with this friend, Dylan informed him one night. Julian was pleased and very relieved.
It was hard watching his daughter hurt; hard knowing there was very little he could do for her but to be there for her. It wasn't hard for him to have lost Lillian, though he understood it was hard for his daughter to lose her mother. Unlike his daughter, Julian had known his ex-wife had been dying, her health failing increasingly. True, it had been a shock, the death had come so quickly, but he had been expecting it to come sooner or later. That wasn't the only reason losing Lillian wasn't very hard for him, though. The other reason, the real reason you might think, was because he didn't love his ex-wife and never had. He had always been in love with another woman, and it seemed recently, that other woman might just love him back.
The real shocker came one night leading into fall when Dylan and Nicole were over, sipping cups of coffee and tea while playing doubles against their fathers in a game of cards. On the floor, the kids were imitating the grownups with their own game of rummy.
"We've decided to try and have a baby."
Zechs frowned at his cards, before selecting to pick from the pile. "I thought the doctors told you that was a bad idea."
Heero nudged him, none too softly, as Nicole picked from the stack and laid down almost as quickly as he did.
"They did," Dylan replied, picking up the card his father dropped and laying down two runs and a three pair before discarding the same card. "But they didn't say anything about me carrying."
"Oiya! What did I miss?" Duo complained as he carted in three whopping bowls of ice cream with the 'works'.
"Dylan decided to get pregnant," Heero answered, plucking one of the bowls free from his husband's clutches.
"Eh? Wondered when he'd get to that decision," the elder braided-man replied, swooping down to steal the ice cream off Heero's spoon.
"Get your butt out of the air," Wufei quipped, banging his hip against said butt as he passed Duo with his own arrangement of ice cream bowls--Quatre, Tristan, and Hilde behind him loaded with the same and setting them down at a table for the kids and Trowa and Mara Jade who were on the floor and keeping the games fair.
"Hey, 'Fei! Guess what! Dylan's getting himself a bun in the oven!" Duo cooed.
Hilde snorted. "It's about time men got it through their heads to start sharing in the birthing of babies!"
But Tristan dipped ice cream onto Adrienne's and Hisoka's noses. "Hey, I offered and was trounced upon for it! I was told, and I quote, 'to keep my crazy ideas to myself before I mess something up'."
Mara Jade frowned up from her hand. "I don't remember saying that."
Her husband grinned and gave her a wet, chocolaty kiss. "You didn't, my brother did."
"I was going to say," his wife huffed.
"Hey, I offered, but you kept getting pregnant."
"And whose fault is that?"
"Well, I wasn't going to say it's anyone's fault," Tristan pouted moving away with the bowl he'd brought with her.
"Remove that ice cream and start sleeping on the couch..." she growled, eyeing the bowl from the corner of her eyes. Immediately the bowl started its way back towards her.
"Now, see, unlike *some* people," Mara Jade grinned at her fathers, "I don't make threats I can't follow through on."
Duo just stuck his tongue out at her.
~Emerald Gardens, Fall-Winter AC 243 ~
The wonderful thing about being in love was that you could act silly and everyone would excuse you because you're in love. The bad thing about being in love and having to hide it was that even though you desperately wanted to act silly, you couldn't, because no one would understand and they'd just think you're having a midlife crisis.
Calista was home more often then ever before since she'd left. It made seeing Julian and Leah, and her family, of course, a lot easier, but leaving them harder and harder.
Her family suspected something was up, she was sure, even if they didn't ask right out front 'what's going on?' she knew they knew. She knew they understood. She knew they supported her in this adventure. That didn't mean she lacked any doubts... oh no. She often wondered if she, herself, knew and understood what it was she was asking for? Trouble, to be sure, but also the opportunity for... for what? Steadiness? A constant?
Who the hell was she kidding? She couldn't do this. It was crazy to even think about such a thing. She had been right when she'd told Julian she wasn't the marrying type.... but....
Dylan was two months pregnant. Next May, Dylan would be a father. Nicole would be a mother.
And she would still be single. Maybe it was that feeling of competitiveness that was pushing. After all, Calista had never wanted children before, never wanted to be tied down to any one person before, so way was she feeling this way now?
Why had it been nearly a year since she'd slept with any other man than Julian?
This was crazy. It was absolutely insane. She couldn't believe she was feeling this way, any of it. She didn't want to be a mother and she definitely didn't want to be a wife, right? Those things were never for her, she knew that, but suddenly, those thoughts were there....
She cared for Julian, true... but did she care enough for him to marry him? To commit to just one man for the rest of her life? Isn't that how she had been living this past year?
She didn't know what had possessed her to ask him why he hadn't asked her to marry him yet. She counted herself a hundred types of fools for doing that, for putting the thought in his head, and especially for not being sure which answer she would ever give him if he ever asked.
She consoled herself with the belief Julian wouldn't have taken her seriously and thus would never ask her. Her consolation lasted only until the end of October.
They were both tipsy from several glasses of champagne, but at least the champagne wasn't hot like the sake. She'd commented on that, bringing fresh to mind the first time they had copulated, and then, quickly, every time after that, including the last bout from just a few minutes ago.
He was back in Neo North America, down in the capital of South Florida, Miami, curled up around the sexy blonde COE(1) early one afternoon. They were playing hooky from work again--but, then, when you're your own boss you can play hooky and not get in trouble.
Calista, he had discovered, was actually a very tactile person--she liked to touch and loved to be touched, which was fine with Julian. He didn't mind in the least running his fingers up and down her arms or swirling patterns over her flat tummy. Lillian never liked to touch.
"I'm going up to space for a while," he murmured lazily.
Calista barely stirred. "So you've decided what to write next?"
"Mmmhmm." Julian stretched, yawning. "After hearing so much about the Sweepers from Uncle Duo, I really am interested in their lifestyle."
He waited for her to reply... but apparently, she had no comment. "I should only be gone for a couple of months. I figure that I can get all their statements and then bring those back here to work on."
She wanted to ask him what would happen to Leah, and was shocked to realize that she actually cared more about his daughter than about herself. She forcibly buried that thought.
"I don't think I'd be able to get up to space very often," she mused.
His arms tightened around her. "I know."
They said nothing for a moment, and then Julian commented. "I'll be back for Christmas. Leah has decided she wants to stay here with her friends, and since your fathers said it's fine and my grandmothers are close, I gave her my permission to stay, but..."
He hugged her more closely. "I'll miss not being able to see her... or you."
"Two months is not that long a time," she scoffed lightly, but refusing to turn around and look at him. "I will be home for Christmas, so we will see each other then."
"Yes, but...."
She began to pull away; Julian tried to pull her back. "I have a meeting I need to get to," she offered.
"Callie, wait." He snatched at her hand and stayed her. "Let's get married. When I come back to Earth. Let's get married."
She tugged her hand free from his and began picking up her discarded clothing. "I have to get going."
"Callie...?"
"I hate these meetings, but hey! Work can't be all fun, now can it?"
"Calista?"
"Have a safe trip if I don't see you again before you leave."
"Calista Winner! Will you wait just a minute!" Julian shouted, now climbing up out of the bed, too. "I asked you a question; the least you could do is answer it!"
Calista swallowed, still refusing to turn around and look at him, but she could see him plainly in the mirror hanging behind the door. Damn him--standing naked in the center of her bedroom. What the hell was he thinking?!
"No," she answered sounding calmer than she really was. "You made a statement."
"I beg your pardon then, Calista Winner. Will you do me the honor of giving me your hand in marriage and agreeing to be my wife?"
Her nails were biting into her palm; she could feel the tiny drops of blood staining her fingertips. "Julian..."
"Will you accept me as your husband and allow me to be with you?"
"We can't do this..." she whispered.
"Why?"
It was a soft, hurt-filled question, and it stabbed into her chest.
Calista swallowed.
"I--I told you before. I'm not the marrying type."
She fled into the other room to hurriedly dress herself, thankful that Julian didn't follow her.
:~:~:Isn't it rich? Are we a pair?:~:~:
Calista didn't waste time in checking to make sure her clothes were on straight and her makeup fixed. These things she could do later, once she was out of her apartment, and she didn't waste time escaping.
Escaping. That's what it was. She was running away, and she knew it, but she didn't stop till she was safe in the elevator.
:~:~:Me here at last on the ground and you in mid-air:~:~:
She found out later that Julian had left straight for the spaceport. She found his note resting innocently on her counter.
:~:~:Isn't it bliss? Don't you approve? :~:~:
She spent the rest of the week sulking--which meant she completely threw herself into work. Her secretaries complimented her on her positive and productive attitude. She managed to refrain from firing them.
:~:~:One who keeps tearing around and one who can't move:~:~:
She wanted to lock herself up in her apartment, to hide out, but she kept herself in a frenzy. Maybe if she kept busy she wouldn't think of him. Julian... she didn't hear from him.
He was probably holed up on one of the Sweepers' frigates, she thought before mentally reprimanding herself for thinking about him at all.
It was really amusing if you stopped to think about it. Here she was, a young, attractive woman who could have any man she wanted--and she had wanted more than her fair share, to be sure--and now, the one man she'd gone and fallen in love with... she'd... she'd...
She really screwed up.
:~:~:But where are the clowns? Send in the clowns:~:~:
Oh sweet gundams!
What had she been thinking?
Men were meant to be used; to be enjoyed and then tossed away. (2)
:~:~:Just when I stopped opening doors:~:~:
How could she have possibly gotten herself involved with only one man for any lengthy amount of time! It was crazy! Absolutely insane!
She, Calista Winner, Chief of Executives of Winner Enterprises Incorporated, only daughter of Quatre Raberba Winner and Trowa Barton Winner, had actually committed herself solely to one man.... She hadn't even considered playing around with anyone else!
Could she have really fallen so far?
:~:~:Finally finding the one that I wanted was yours:~:~:
Could she really have fallen.... in love.... with Julian....
Could she...
She had to...
She should...
She would have to tell him.... wouldn't she?
She decided to fly up to space and tell him in person.
Well, maybe a phone call would be better.
There was nothing wrong with an email, was there?
No, no, she needed to do this.
Her mind set, Calista requested her shuttle be prepped for space and left her office building.
She could do this. She would do this.
:~:~:Making my entrance again with my usual flair:~:~:
It was a sickening screech--one that sent her senses into overdrive. Someone was hurt. She felt bad for them, but she couldn't stop to help them--she had to get to space.
But...
Why couldn't she move?
"Stay still, ma'am. Don't try to move. You'll be all right. It's all right."
He had a nice voice.
:~:~:Sure of my lines Nobody's there:~:~:
It was bright. She could tell that without opening her eyes. But... wasn't space dark? Yes, of course it was, so why was it so bright?
She tried to peek an eye open, but the light was too bright and she ended up wincing instead.
"Shh, baby, don't try to open your eyes, yet. Let me close the blinds first."
Daddy.
But... Why was Daddy here?
The room darkened and she tried to open her eyes again. Everything seemed blurry, though.
"How are you feeling?"
She tried to reply, but found she couldn't because of the obscenely large tube that was shoved down her throat.
"You've had us worried sick," Trowa answered, and she could feel him squeeze her hand. "Your father is with the doctors intimidating them, I'm sure."
She tried to smile at that mental thought, sure of it too, but ended up falling asleep again.
:~:~:Don't you love a farce? My fault, I fear:~:~:
She'd been hit by a car.
She, Calista Winner, blah blah blah! Hit by a car!
How inelegant.
What was even worse was the fact that A.) the Sweepers had already departed on a long haul and could not be caught up to--Julian wouldn't be back until late December-- and B.) even if she wanted to, Calista couldn't chase after him because she was hogtied to a damn hospital bed.
Well, at least the Winner name had enough power to transport that hospital bed back to Emerald Gardens.
"It's only a few broken bones."
She glared. "Uncle Heero... when I get out of this bed..."
Her uncle just waved his hand at her and forced the food tray over her lap. "Eat it all or I'll forget to bring dinner."
"You would've made an *excellent* *nurse*!" she shouted after him, grudgingly picking at the grilled cheese and plain tomato soup.
Julian made an excellent tomato soup--not plain at all. Extra creamy and tangy...
:~:~:I thought that you'd want what I want, sorry my dear:~:~:
Oh, but it was crazy, perhaps, for her to believe Julian would have been content to leave things where they were, wasn't it? After all, it was her own fault for messing things up. It was she who had planted the idea of marriage in his head.
The sex was great-- it was extraordinary between them. But she was the one who had suggested there might be something more between them. She had led him on.
:~:~:But where are the clowns? Send in the clowns:~:~:
She was a fool.
" You're not foolish," Trowa said softly.
Ah, but Calista didn't want to listen to him. She wanted to pout and wallow in misery.
"You're more like me than you might think," her dad mused sounding sad, and even the smile he tried to turn towards her was weak, shadowed with a sadness she didn't understand.
:~:~:Isn't it rich? Isn't it queer? :~:~:
Pushing away the one you love for fear of hurting them or contaminating them or even being hated by them once they learned the truth about you...
Was she really more like her dad than anyone had assumed?
:~:~:Losing my timing this late in my career:~:~:
Time was dragging, and yet it seemed to race. Outside her window, snow was starting to cover the ground. Family was in her rooms everyday, if not one person than another. It was almost annoying, Calista thought.
The children weren't so bad, really, but the adults--all coupled off and joyously happy and all... yes, that was annoying. Especially Nikki, who was cooing like a soon-to-be mother---which she was, even if she wasn't the one carrying the baby---annoyed her.
Oh, but it hurt one afternoon when Leah came bounding into her room all excited about the email she'd received from her daddy. The child had printed it out to share with Calista. After reading it together, Leah turned to her and asked a question that cut through the older woman.
"Are you and daddy fighting?"
Calista started, but quickly recomposed herself. "What would make you think that?"
Leah frowned. "Daddy asked me to tell you to feel better instead of writing you himself."
"Maybe he didn't have enough time to send another message to me," the blonde offered, forcing a smile to remain on her lips though it hurt.
Leah didn't seem convinced, though on her way out a time later she jumped on the bed and hugged Calista quickly, smacking her lips against her cheek before scrambling out.
:~:~:But where are the clowns? Send in the clowns:~:~:
"Now you take it easy, you hear me?" Sally Po growled as she removed the casts and wrapped up Calista's injuries tightly. "I don't care if you feel like you can run a marathon or lift a thousand pounds. Even though your body is practically healed, you need to be gentle with it or you could hurt yourself even worse."
Calista reviewed her wrapped body parts, assessing the damage as she tried out each body part.
"Ready to try standing?" the elderly doctor queried, holding out a pair of crutches.
It was strange to stand up after you'd been forced to stay in bed for practically a month. It was strange, Calista decided, to be able to move around, to feel the air brush against her body again, her feet slapping against the smooth floor. Strange to stand at her window and look out at the grounds below.
"I want to go downstairs," she said, moving to the door and down the hallway to the hidden elevator. Sally followed silently, keeping a careful eye on her charge.
She was in the music room sitting at the piano. Yes, she could play piano. She actually had a piano back in her apartment, but she rarely ever played it. She'd actually forgotten how much she enjoyed playing piano, actually. She'd forgotten how the music seemed to just swell inside her and poor pour out through her fingers. She didn't even need to look at the music sheets that rested on the stand. In fact, her eyes were shut.
She'd taken to coming here more often than not. This room had become her sanctuary. Thankfully, no one bothered her when she was in the Music Room. Even the children, who sometimes stopped in to listen to her play whatever instrument she had picked up that day, didn't try to speak to her. They just listened for a while and then left as quietly as they had entered.
Calista was so accustomed to being left alone while she was in the Music Room that she was actually quite disturbed when someone walked in and instead of sitting quietly they had picked up an instrument and began playing with her. It wasn't that she was unaccustomed to playing with other people--that definitely wasn't the case in her family--it was just that since her incapacitation, she had begun to think of the Music Room as her place of solitude and her family had granted her that peace.
Still, she wasn't about to stop her emotional outlet just because someone had intruded into her private sulk-session. Instead she let the violin follow her piano's lead, electing to remain quiet except for her music. The violin agreeably played support for her melody, whining perfectly right up to the end of the song.
When the last note played out, a voice interrupted Calista's self-loathing thoughts.
:~:~:Don't bother, they're here:~:~:
"I don't think you're a clown," he said. "And, if you don't want to get married, we don't have to."
Calista refused to open her eyes, refused to turn around and look at him. This couldn't be happening. He wasn't supposed to be back for another week....
"I love you," Julian whispered. "And I want to be with you, but I don't have to marry you to do that."
She could feel him, standing right behind her. She could feel his desire to touch her, and her own need to be touched in return flared. Without saying a word, she leaned back, closing the gap between them. Arms wrapped around her and she couldn't help the tears that silently slipped past her defenses.
"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear. "I'm so sorry."
"Iie... ai shiteru."
They were warm and made excuses to go stand outside and cool off.
They stood outside along the railing for the upper balcony, Julian behind and around her, leaning into her. She found she didn't mind. He nuzzled her neck, and she didn't mind that either. It was strange, being willing to give him this much control over her. His hands smoothed from her hips to her stomach, trailing the flashy material of her dress.
"I love your body," he whispered hoarsely.
Calista swallowed a moan, her eyes fluttering shut as she leaned into him. "Is that all you love?" Was that her voice that was so whispery?
"...No..." he groaned, maneuvering so it was he who was against the railing and pulling her to him, hungering for her lips. "Marry me..." he teased in between kisses, "and I'll show you everything I love about you."
She froze. Here it was again--what she was afraid of, what she was unprepared to commit to. Even though he was teasing, even though she knew he was making light of it, she also knew it was his real desire. He really meant it, no matter how much he teased.
She stepped back. "I won't be your substitute mother for Leah."
Her voice was harsh, even though she had no problems with the child and she didn't mind 'mothering' the girl at all, Calista's fear made her voice cold and slightly bitter. His smile, though, threatened to melt her cold fear. Staunchly, she held unto it.
"Quite frankly, my dear, I think you'd make a horrible mother for my daughter," he answered with mild amusement and complete seriousness. She could tell.
She stared at him, open mouthed and aghast, forgetting to be afraid. "Why, I never!"
But he yanked her back to him, locking her against his chest with his arms wrapped around her. "My motives for wanting to marry you are purely selfish, I can assure you of that. I believe if anything, you would be a poor influence on my daughter, teaching her things that I'm sure she should never, ever know, like 'how to get a boyfriend in ten days,' and 'twenty-one ways to dump a man,' or 'how to have orgasmic sex with or without him'...
"I don't think I could take much of you rubbing off on her, but I want you so much... It's my selfishness that wants to marry you, not for Leah's sake, but for my own, because I don't think I can take another night knowing your fathers knowing we're having sex in their home, and we don't have any intention of stopping, ever. Because I know I can't take another year away from you with only a phone call and my hand to keep me company. Because if I have to spend another day waking up without you in my bed or falling asleep without being able to make love to you if I want to or not, I think I might go crazy.
"I love you," he whispered. "And even though everybody in this house already knows that, I don't want to feel like I have to hide it anymore."
She swallowed and licked her suddenly dry lips. "Well, when you put it like that..."
"Marry me," he pleaded against her lips. "Say yes and let's fly down to Sank tomorrow morning and have Adrian marry us like he did Nikki and Dylan. We could stay in Sank, or come home, or go to that little island bungalow of yours, I don't care, just as long as we're married."
"Okay, okay, okay already!" she cried out with frustration. "Will you shut up long enough so I can say 'yes'?"
He grinned back at her, a boyish sort of smile that made her chest squeeze painfully, and dutifully zipped his lips.
"I will agree to marry you on one condition," she said finally, watching him to see if he was going to speak up. He only cocked a questioning eyebrow. She grinned back. "As long as you put me in the dedication to this book you've written, since it's thanks to me, after all, that you even *had* the opportunity to write it...."
He laughed. "Is that all? Already done." He leaned forward and kissed her.
"Well, and of course, if Leah agrees. I wouldn't want her to feel ousted," Calista continued.
"It doesn't matter," Julian replied. "Whether she agrees or not, I plan on marrying you. Of course, it would be nice if she was receptive to the idea, but it isn't necessary." He grinned again. "Mrs. Calista Mazzolla."
The blonde woman pursed her lips. "I think I'll keep Calista Raberba Winner, if you don't mind. Though, you're welcome to change your name to Winner, too."
"What, and mess up my pen name?" He frowned, only slightly disappointed. "I can see we're going to have to draw up prenuptial agreements."
"Oh, without question," she smiled.
"Without question," he agreed, leaning forward to kiss her once again.
Calista leaned forward to meet her future husband halfway.
Pulling back from the curtained window, Leah grinned at her soon to be cousins Dakota, Galen, and Gabriel. "Pay up. I believe the ante was five bucks?"(3)
End Part 14
Whose genes supplied all this interest in gambling? The whole family is
addicted! Really, really enjoyed all the angst.
_Send in the Clowns_ Transcribed by Ron Hontz
http://www.thepeaches.com/music/
(1) The story of the 10 serums, which were created by Hiroshima
Jackson--Heero's mother and Dr. J's daughter in the Matter of Heart
Series--is first mentioned in "Oh Baby, Baby" along with the introduction of
"The Hiroshima Files".
(2) Impromptu scented oil massage! Yippee!
pg 2--COE(1)---Chief of Executives. Not to be confused with "Chief
Executive Officer"
pg 5-- "Men were meant to be used; to be enjoyed and then tossed away."
Zan: Where did this attitude come from? She grew up surrounded with love.
Did something occur to cause this? Problems with gigolo types because of
her wealth?
Andrea: {shrugs} Quite honestly, I couldn't tell you where Callie got this
impression.... But it was one she held to even back in the first Heirs. Not
for Dylan, of course, though I'm sure he's the reason she has the "no dating
friends--it's bad" opinion. If I had to hazard a guess, though, I'd say it
probably had something to do with some 'would-be' boyfriends, yes.
Pg 12--- "Leah grinned at her soon to be cousins Dakota, Galen, and Gabriel.
'Pay up. I believe the ante was five bucks?"'
Zan: Whose genes supplied all this interest in gambling? The whole family
is addicted! Really, really enjoyed all the angst.
Andrea: Ya know, that's a good questions... anou, don't you think all the
gundam pilots were gamblers, though? They gambled with their lives often
enough.... But, really, they do all like to make a friendly wager. It was
probably something Duo started, Trowa answered to, Quatre became amused by,
Wufei just joined the bandwagon, and Heero was always competitive. ^___^
AN: I hope you all enjoyed because this is the end. That's right, the story
is over. Oh, there is, of course, the epilogue--but that part of the story
takes place many, many years into the AC future. I have tossed the idea
around as to whether or not to write a series of stories for the
grandchildren... Already one traditions story is complete, two more have
been started, as well as a new series: Fast Forward. I'm still hesitant on
posting however since those stories are rather removed from the Gundam Wing
story line. They will, however, be posted to GWA upon completion. And now,
to everyone who has stayed with us through the long haul, arigato gozaimasu!
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com