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. ***
~Paris, France June AC 242 ~
Dylan was quietly and calmly spitting nails. It had been four months since he had agreed to help Nicole out, but there seemed to be no resolution to the threatening letters.
It just didn't make sense. What the hell was going on?
"M. Maxwell?"
It was Maggie, a dumpy woman in her late sixties, the grandmotherly type. She had been with Nicole's crew since before Dylan had come onto the scene. A nice woman with a good voice and great acting ability, she seemed to adore Nicole and mothered her excessively. Right now she looked white and frightened, her hand shaking as she held out a simple white envelope.
"I found it, sir, on the doorstep out back," she whispered, eyeing the letter fearfully.
Dylan wasted no time in taking the blank envelope from her and ripping it open.
::The child is soiled by the bloody hands of the father. The time has arrived to be cleansed. Await your fate with the dignity your father lacked.:: (1)
"Dylan? Dylan, please tell Terry that this outfit is completely unacceptable," Nicole's voice carried from behind.
Hastily, he crammed the letter into his pocket and turned around, and had to maintain incredible control not to start drooling. Terrence, or Terry as Nicole insisted on calling her manager, had impeccable taste when it came to knowing what would look good on his young charge. Unfortunately, that taste could also be very pernicious to a man's libido.
Baby blue coloured feathers were flying through the air as Nicole strode purposefully over to where her boyfriend was standing. She stopped, hands on sequin-covered hips, and glared up at Dylan, waiting for him to say something. The high-thigh, teal-coloured leotard was ribbed with whalebones that stuck into her sides, and blue feathers outlined the bodice.
Dylan's mouth worked several times before anything could come out. "Well," he said carefully, "It's definitely *something*."
Terrence pushed forward, looking stubborn, and answered, "It's for the Guys and Dolls number. Here, Nicole, put on the skirt so he can see," the balding man said, pushing the satiny teal skirt at her.
"I'd rather cancel the number than wear *this* in public," Nicole replied hotly.
Dylan forced a smile to his lips. "I agree," he said, taking the skirt from Terrence as he leaned closer to Nicole to whisper, "But I would like a private showing sometime."
Nicole blushed. Terrence turned red with annoyance.
"Kids!" he shouted, storming off. "What's the matter with these kids today?"
"You okay?" Nicole asked, frowning a bit.
"Fine, why'd you ask?" he replied, still grinning.
Nicole looked at him and then sighed. "I don't know. You just seem... different. It's probably just me." She smiled and leaned up to place a light little kiss on his lips. "Pizza tonight?"
"Pepperoni and Sausage?"
"Peppers and black olives."
"Okay, two pizzas then."
Terrence Flint had been Nicole's manager for twelve years. A lanky man in his late fifties, Nicole Craft was probably the best thing to happen to his career. He'd lost his family in the Eve Wars and grew up on the streets of L3, in a community much better than the best in L2. At the age of twenty, Terrence joined a circus and made his way to Earth where he tried to sell himself as a comedian. He didn't last very long and instead joined the crew of a small playhouse in London. He was never successful as an actor, but his experience did provide him with the know-how of the business and three years later he reemerged in the entertainment scene, this time as a manager.
He'd supported a dozen actors and actresses into the field before they'd left him for bigger and better people. And then, Lucrezia Noin and her eleven-year-old daughter arrived. He'd lived on easy street, relatively, since then. Instead of having to seek out job offers for his young charge, offers sought *him* out. Terrence worked hard, though, to make sure Nicole struck gold. By the age of seventeen she was considered one of the best actresses in the performance business. At twenty-three her career was still going strong and didn't look ready to end anytime soon.
From appearances, Terrence Flint had no reason to threaten Nicole's life, but that didn't mean he wasn't the one sending the threatening letters, Dylan realized.
Out of her cast and crew, the only other person old enough to have a personal grudge against Nicole's father would be Maggie.
Maggie Hearting was in her late sixties, only a few years older than Dylan's parents. She was a native of the American Islands, dark-skinned and still attractive in her older years. She was the youngest child of a family of seven. Both her parents and three of her older siblings were military officers for the Alliance and then Oz and the Trieze Fraction. From what Dylan was able to discover, both of Maggie's parents had been killed in the war. Nothing was said of her older brother or sister, but he did come across a death notice for her second oldest brother who had died in the final battle of the First Eve War.
If she still held a grudge for the deaths and disappearances of her family members, Maggie Hearting could be responsible for the threatening letters.... But Dylan had a hard time believing the sweet and maternal woman capable of threatening Nicole, and he knew Nikki would throw a fit if she knew he suspected the woman.
Still, he had gone through the records of every person who was in close contact with Nicole, and those were the only two people who even came close to a possible suspect. And yet, those were the two people who would be least likely to try and threaten Nicole's life, at least seriously at any rate.
It just didn't add up, and Dylan was getting a killer headache trying to figure this enigma out.
"Daddy! Daddy! You came!"
The strawberry blonde little girl making a mad dash towards them didn't seem to surprise Julian Mazzolla as he caught the girl up and lifted her, twirling her around high and fast while she squealed with delight and laughter.
"Of course I came!" he laughed, swinging the girl into a large hug. "Do you think I'd miss something as important as your birthday?"
"No," the little girl giggled as they touched noses in bunny kisses.
"Good!" He set her back on her own two feet, and she ducked behind him to stare up at the woman standing there, watching them.
"Are you my daddy's girlfriend?"
Calista laughed and kneeled down so she was looking up at the girl instead of looking down. "No," she answered honestly, shooting a look back at Julian to catch the man's frown. "At least not yet, anyway," she added, looking back at the girl. "He hasn't passed the test yet."
"The test?" the ginger-blonde head bobbed to one side as the girl looked at her funny.
Calista nodded.
"What test?"
"Well, 'the boyfriend test,' silly!" Callie touched the girl's nose with a forefinger. "You can't just let *anyone* be your boyfriend, you know."
"You can't?"
Callie shook her head--blonde ringlets dancing from their clasp. "Nope. Only certain men have what it takes to be a boyfriend."
"Well..." the girl frowned. "Daddy's really great! He's handsome and nice and he tells really good stories! That has to be worth something, right?"
Callie smiled at the girl and stood to her full height--all five foot four of it. She caught Julian watching her. "Hai," she whispered.
Julian cleared his throat and stepped up to the two females. "Ah, Leah, I'd like you to meet an old and very special friend of Daddy's. Callie, this is my daughter, Leah Anne Mazzolla."
"Pleased to meet you," both girls murmured politely. "I understand today is your birthday party," Callie continued.
"Yes! I'm going to be 9!" She turned to her father, taking his hand and tugging. "C'mon, Daddy! Wait till you see everything! All the balloons and streamers! And Mommy put large candles all around the pool! C'mon!"
Julian laughed as he was "dragged" away by his little girl. Callie stayed a moment on the sidewalk by herself, just staring after them. Then, with a deep, fortifying sigh and sunhat in hand, she walked towards the house.
"You must be Callie."
Callie wiped her hands dry on a dishtowel and turned around. "And you're Lillian," she answered, matching the sickeningly-sweet condescending tone. It was a tone she'd perfected with insubordinate employees and ex-lovers. "Hello, Lily. You're looking well."
The brown-haired, brown-eyed woman frowned. "I don't believe we've meet," she replied icily, offering her hand.
Callie took it, noting how weak the grip was. "Oh, we have, but then, that was *years* ago, and, really, I wouldn't expect you to remember everyone who was at your wedding. Why, that would be silly!" She laughed lightly, backing up the false sincerity.
Lily had the graciousness to blush. "No, there were a lot of people there," she agreed, bowing her head before recovering. "So, why are you here, if you don't mind my asking?"
Callie played back the false smile. "Why, Julian invited me, Lily, and since I had nothing else to do, well, I thought, 'Why not?'"
That was a lie. Calista Winner had several things she should be doing right now, but this woman didn't need to know that. Didn't need to know that she'd dropped everything--had her secretaries reschedule her entire planner--just so she could come, so she could spend this extra time with this woman's ex-husband.
"Listen here," Lily hissed, dropping all prettiness. "Julian is a very sweet, kind, and loving man, but don't think you can prey off his generosity. He's smarter than that. He doesn't just fall for a pretty face and body. You won't get a dime off--"
Calista shot up a hand to stop the woman's angry prattle. "I don't know whether to thank you or deck you," she said pseudo-calmly. "But I suggest you get your information together before you go in accusing someone."
Lily started up again but a glare shut her up.
"You're looking out for Jules--and I can appreciate that..."
She stepped into the other woman's personal space, a menacing invader. "But don't *ever* try to threaten me. That's how people get hurt," Callie's husky voice was lower then normal, husky with warning. "I'm not after him for his money--"
Lily snorted.
"As far as I'm concerned, he could be piss-ass-broke--"
The other woman blushed.
"I have more money than he'll ever make, so don't worry, Lily. You'll still get your alimony--whether I sleep with him or not."
Callie pushed past her, walking out.
"Just who the hell do you think you are!" Lillian screamed.
Callie paused, just before the door, throwing a confident, knowing smile over her shoulder. "I'm Calista Raberba Winner; COE of Winner Enterprises Incorporated." She pushed on the door, halfway out of the kitchen. "Who are you, Lillian?"
And then she was gone, leaving a ghost-white and trembling woman behind her.
It was crazy. She was crazy.
But, gods, Julian was good in bed.
She really hadn't meant to sleep with him that first night nearly a month ago. She definitely didn't plan on it happening again, but it had. A hundred times over. It was like a drug she was addicted to.
For Calista Winner sex had been a tool, a power game, or even just a playtime activity. She'd had hundreds of men, no exaggeration; she'd used men as she pleased and then threw them out when she'd had enough of them. Never had one captured her attention the way this one did, and the only one who'd come even close had been Dylan.
It was difficult, feeling this way about anyone and especially Julian. Julian was... like her brother, or maybe her cousin. He was a part of her family; perhaps that was why she was having these feelings. He was already her friend, and you just don't go around sleeping with your friends. Everyone knows that's crazy. That's how people got hurt. She'd learned that the hard way.
But...
Julian had tried to apologize that morning, but they ended up falling back into bed together. He missed his book signing appointment; she missed her conference.
And Julian was like a different person in bed. He wasn't the shy, quiet guy she was familiar with, but a more demanding person. Calista found that thrilling; it set off tingling sparks just thinking about it.
But...
What were they doing? It was crazy, this thing between them. It wasn't love, but it wasn't just sex, either. It didn't make sense.
'Are you my daddy's girlfriend?'
Leah was a cute kid. Sweet, a bit innocent, maybe you could go so far as to say naive, but generally, Calista liked her. Not like her mother. No, Calista had never liked Lillian, and she had told Julian as much the night before his wedding. Julian had just laughed at her and teased her about being jealous, but looking back at that time now, Calista noticed certain things she'd missed before.
Julian had behaved like a courteous and caring groom, and he was, but he wasn't a groom in love. No, Calista suspected that Julian had never been in love with his wife, and she almost knew for a fact Lillian was never in love with him. So why did they bother getting married, then? Calista remembered the look on Julian's face when he told her he was engaged, almost... hopeful? And then, that night before the wedding, they'd been alone when he asked her what she thought of Lillian... she'd told him the truth: "I don't think she's good enough for you."
He'd just smiled then, sadly, Calista remembered, and then he'd asked her to dance with him. She remembered the touch of his hand in hers and along the small of her back, the way they waltzed to their own little tune, happily.
With hindsight, Calista wondered if Julian had married Lillian because he'd thought the one he wanted unattainable. She remembered all the times when she was younger and Julian had come to visit for the holidays. She thought of Julian at the university on his graduation day, "A kiss for the graduate?" he'd teased.
Had... had Julian harboured feelings for her and she'd never known of it?
It was almost impossible to believe. After all, she knew practically everything that went on around her at all times, but then, with that thought came another. She'd never purposefully 'scanned' Julian before. In fact, she couldn't ever remember scanning Julian's thoughts.
She did so now, stretching out her senses to where Julian was, in the shower.
He was thinking of his daughter, how happy she'd looked during her birthday party, how big she had grown in such a short amount of time. He thought briefly of Lillian, with a stab of pain and worry. Lillian was dying and Leah didn't know. What would happen to Leah when Lillian was too sick to take care of her?
And then his thoughts jumped to the woman outside, lying in his bed. The hot water had nothing to do with the sudden heat his body was experiencing. She was beautiful, a siren who tempted him. He was crazy to be doing these things, fooling around with her like this when he knew it couldn't last. She'd never been interested in him before, so how could this possibly last? But he didn't want to give it up.
Without really thinking about it, his hand curled around his hardening member and began squeezing and stroking lazily.
It was like a fantasy come true. The opportunity to be with her like this, to touch and taste her. No, she was better than fantasies.
His hand quickened.
He thought about what had just happened in that bed. He thought about this morning. He thought of the first time, and the hundred other times between then and now.
Before he realized it, he was climaxing.
Panting, he leaned his forehead against the tile. This was crazy.
Why was he wasting his time in the shower when he could be in bed with her?
Calista panted, skin flushed. Well, that pretty much answered that question, she thought to herself as she began rearranging the sheets for easier access.
"Grampa! Grampa!"
"Tousan! Tousan!"
Zechs and Heero looked over their shoulders from where they were sitting outside on the patio enjoying tall cool glasses of iced tea to see two hurtling objects heading their way. Reflexes toned from years of dealing with Mara Jade's and Tristan's brood quickly moved the two glasses safely out of the way before the twins could launch themselves at them.
And 'launched' was the word as Sank's ten-year-old Prince and Princess reached their grandfathers. Yuy and Maxwell Peacecraft beamed up at their grandfathers from their laptop perch.
"And where's your mommy?" Heero asked, tickling young Prince Maxwell's sides.
But the boy was too busy giggling to answer, and so his sister, sitting primly upon her Grampa's lap did, saying calmly, "She's inside talking with Chichi and Duo-daddy."
Zechs smiled fondly, petting one silky chestnut braid, smoothing it down Yuy's petite arm. And then he attacked her nose with the end of her own braid, tickling her until she, too, was reduced to infectious giggles. Quatre and Trowa, who were dripping pool water all over the sandstone deck, grinned as they stole sips from Heero's and Zechs's lemonade.
"I think the girls and Galen and Gabriel are inside," Trowa said softly, snapping Quatre's swimming trunks with a smirk. He caught Yuy's grimace, however, before she could hide it.
"I don't suppose we could stay out here?" the ten-year-old asked, batting her eyelashes.
"Yeah!" Maxwell was quick to chime in, fully recovered from his giggle-attack. "Mom made us pack our swim trunks! Can we go swimming with you guys?"
But Quatre frowned. "Don't you want to play with your cousins?" he asked. "You don't get to see them very often."
"You should be inside with your cousins," Trowa quietly agreed, eyeing the two.
Sister and brother were twins who, unlike their uncles, looked nothing alike. Yuy, the older of the two, sported long silky chestnut hair bound in a fishnet braid, not all that unsimilar to her Grampa Duo really. Flashing sapphire-like eyes, which most likely were inherited from Heero, shone out of a pale-skinned oval face, Lucrezia's influence. She was petite, like Wufei, compact wiry muscles in a tiny but appealing package.
Maxwell, on the other hand, was lanky, a precursor to height, in Trowa's opinion, as he was already towering over his older twin sister. Dark coffee-coloured hair that was neatly cut still somehow managed to fall into topaz blue eyes, and a light-natural-tan caressed his skin to make him look like a sun baby.
For all that their looks were different, their personalities were similar. Yuy and Maxwell were fun-loving sprites, and though they didn't always think before they acted, they could be trusted. Both underwent serious training in protocol and social graces, though they were quick to 'drop the act' once out of the limelight. It was one of the reasons the adults insisted the two had the opportunity to get away from Sank as often as possible, and while Yuy and Maxwell *loved* seeing their grandfathers and aunts and uncles and cousins...
"But they're always fighting..." Yuy nearly whined.
"And Dakota promised to beat me up the next time we came," Maxwell added pitifully.
"How long will you be staying?" Quatre cut in before the other three could comment, bravely attempting to swerve away from the topic he knew was inevitable.
"Till Aunt Mara has the baby," Yuy replied helpfully.
But it was too late.
"You should learn to fight so she can't beat you up," Heero interjected, eyeing his grandson sternly. "You should know how to defend yourself."
"Yes," Zechs readily agreed. "I'm surprised your parents don't *insist* you learn self-defense."
"But we do," Yuy replied sullenly.
Trowa frowned. "Then why can't you defend yourself against Dakota? She's not invincible," he added, clearly remembering yesterday morning when first Duo, then Meiran, then Gabriel had brought the other girl down to the mat. Of course, it would only be fair to say perhaps Dakota hadn't been feeling well that morning, either...
Maxwell looked down sulkingly in Zechs's lap. "I just don't think its right to pretend to fight," he said softly. "Why would anyone *want* to pretend to hurt somebody? I don't understand it. I don't want to hurt anyone. Not seriously *or* pretendingly."
"Good gods, you're a pacifist!"
Heero looked at Zechs. Zechs looked at Heero. Trowa just looked at both of them amused.
"Don't look at me," Heero scoffed. "They must get that from your side of the family, though, if I didn't know better, I would think you were Uncle Quatre's grandson."
"Why?" Maxwell and Yuy both asked while Quatre looked on confused, asking, "What's that supposed to mean?"
But Zechs was ready to ask a question. "Have you ever hurt somebody intentionally?" the silver-haired blond asked.
Maxwell thought real hard and, almost defeatedly, he nodded. "Just once."
"And what did you do after you hurt them?" Trowa asked, barely containing the grin reaching for his lips.
"I told them how sorry I was, and then I asked them if there was anything I could do to make it better," Maxwell replied, but his uncle and grandfather were already laughing while Uncle Quatre looked upset about something.
"What?" Yuy and Maxwell asked.
"Nothing," Zechs replied.
"Why won't you tell us?"
"Because there's nothing to tell," Heero said, getting up and switching Yuy with Maxwell.
"You're mean," the boy pouted.
"Yes, very."
Zechs and Heero shared a look over the little ones' heads.
End Part 8
(1) Is Millardo's identy as Zechs public knowledge? He was definitely more
in the public eye than the Gundam pilots during the war, but 'Endless Waltz'
seemed to indicate the public thought Zechs dead. However he was maskless
during the 'Libra incident' so both his identies were rather 'public'.
What's your take on it?
Andrea's reply: That's a tough call... but yes. Milliardo's face is well
known from his stunt with White Fang. Hence, why he prefers to be called
'Zechs' now (well, not really; he's just used to and comfortable being
called 'Zechs'). However, it is widely held public belief that Milliardo
Peacecraft is *dead*... But, who looking upon Zechs's face, noticing the
surname 'Peacecraft' wouldn't hazard a guess at the truth? It is my belief
that Nikki's 'stalker' found out the truth, either by accident or suspicion.
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com