August 4, 2000
Rating: YA--according to my own experience... ^_^;; Mature audience only, please... and note: maturity is not measured by age (otherwise I'd never be allowed out of my room! ^_^)
Pairings: 3+4, 1+2+5
Warnings: Yaoi and Yuri themes. Sappy in some areas (blame it on the romantic). Angst in other areas. Incoherence and random POV switching throughout. LEMON in some parts.
Feedback: C&C is always welcomed and adored. Flames may be met with hexes and curses though! ^_^
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 me either. Sometimes they just get stuck in my brain and refuse to get out. ^_^
Notes: This story takes our favorite boys and subjects them to the worse horrors known to men. (I'll explain soon, promise!) ^_^ Gotta luv that! This is NOT the sequel to "Have You Ever..." but DOES take place in the same universe. Anyone who hasn't already guessed that Heero, Duo, and Wufei will all make-up and live happily-ever-after, don't know me well enough! ^_^
This story takes place in a slightly altered universe, but nothing major, I hope. For time-line purposes, "Oh Baby, Baby" is approximately 8 years after "Have You Ever..." (203 AC), placing the boys at ~23-24 years of age.
The cool spring breeze brushed pass his still form, caressing sun-kissed skin, playing with the freed ebony waves that fell beyond well-toned shoulders and slightly-curled dark eyelashes. He sat beneath one of the large trees, out of reach from the sun's warm rays. The jade-green grass beneath him provided a more-than comfortable blanket and surrounded him with its sweet fragrance. Even the wild flowers that grew rampant in this area smiled at his presence and did their best to look as pretty as possible.
To the passerby, he looked like he was napping beneath the large, shady tree. Napping as the children played in an open field behind him--kicking a ball back and forth with eager shouts and cries of glee. Napping as teenagers bustled by, talking energetically about this or that and isn't that guy so cute? Napping as mothers ushered their children to and from the small playground to his left.
Napping as all that he had fought to protect surrounded him.
But he wasn't asleep. In fact, he was more aware of what each person was doing than they themselves were. He was soaking it in, becoming one with this world almost. It is hard to describe how and what he was, other than a man... a man who had become the breeze that touched his skin... the breeze that swept down into that field to brush away the heated sweat from flushed faces... the breeze that encircled that playground and coaxed swings to push their occupants farther and higher... the breeze that embraced those delighted cries, took them up into itself, into himself... and rejoiced.
So in tune was he with his environment, that, when the little ball of giggling energy jumped into his lap and wrapped chubby little arms around his neck, he was not surprised as another may be. Pulling the 'ball' closer, he rolled completely over and then onto his back, holding the 'ball' up in the air above him.
The toddler screamed with delight.
"Kit! Kit! Where did you go! Kit!"
The child was too busy laughing to pay heed to its mother. Wufei, however, was under no such limitation. Smiling, he tucked the child to his side as he stood to greet the approaching mother.
"AH! There you are! And what have you found, huh?" the woman said, a beautiful smile lighting her face and her eyes. A toss of her head sent raven bangs flying back to the side of her radiating face. "Hello Wufei," she said, placing fists on her shapely hips.
He nodded his head, the smile still firmly in place. "Hello Noin," he replied, moving to embrace the woman. "Long time no see."
Her arms wrapped around him, squeezing tight before pulling away. "Well I've been around," she said with a laugh. "Though I can't say the same for you. It's good to see you back. How was your trip?"
"Refreshing," he replied, shifting the child on his hip. The child seemed delighted with his hair and had promptly began to tangle its tiny little hands into it. "Sometimes it amazes me how beautiful the earth is."
"Yes, it is, isn't it?" She studied him, an amused look on her face. "You look a lot more relaxed, Wufei. It's a good look for you."
He laughed. "I feel a lot more relaxed," he answered. "The mountains of China have always been able to soothe my spirit."
"Well I'm glad," she laughed. Her head tilted and she studied him for another minute, captivated by the sight the young man made with a toddler in his arms. Two small hands were slapping his cheeks as the 2-year old giggled. Wufei chucked, the deep sound rumbling up from his chest, causing the child to giggle more. Twisting his face Wufei seized one of those tiny hands with his lips and began nibbling on them--increasing the child's delight.
"You know," Noin said, not even trying to hide the joy that shined in her dark eyes as she looked at her baby. "You look good with a kid, Wufei," she told him. "I bet you'd make a great dad."
The Chinese boy stiffened and turned to look at her. A hand reached up and brushed back dark blue-black-almost-purple curls away from the child's laughing pale-blue eyes. "It is not my destiny to be a father," he replied, brushing the child's cheek with a finger before relinquishing her to her mother's arms.
"If you'll excuse me, I think Heero's looking for me," he said hoarsely, executing a small bow before brushing past her. He was gone before her startled face could register, or her concerned questions could be spoken.
"Wufei...." Noin breathed after him, bouncing her daughter on her hip. Kit looked after the Chinese boy with a look of hurt at being abandoned so suddenly.
"Woo-faye...?"
"Oh, I don't know... I'd say the next will be a boy."
"Oh! That would be wonderful!"
"It'll be a girl. Watch."
"Nonsense."
"It's not nonsense. That man is doomed to be surrounded by women! Mark my words!"
"That's silly, I mean, reall--"
"HEADS UP!! INCOMING!!!"
Four women's heads snapped up from the large picnic table where they were preparing food for their picnic. Four sets of eyes widened as a long chestnut braid went flying past their table, hurtling at full speed in direction of the two firing grills, an ear-shattering screech following in it's wake.
"HEERO!!! SAVE ME!!!!"
The braided-boy launched himself behind the protective barrier of a stunned Heero Yuy.
"What the--"
"DUO!!!!! I'm gonna KILL YOU!!!!"
"Now, now, Quatre... don't say that," the boy in question was saying. "You were looking oh-so-serious! You needed a distraction!"
"I was *working* on the Behenna Reports! OF COURSE I WAS LOOKING SERIOUS!!!"
A dripping wet Quatre Raberba Winner came into the picture, his blue eyes swirling to a light aquamarine coloring.
"But it's a PICNIC!!! You're not supposed to *work* during a *picnic*!!!" Duo shouted back, still half-hiding behind Heero.
"He's got a point," Heero said softly, his lips twitching slightly. An aquamarine glare shot in his direction... causing those lips to twitch more noticeably.
"It's a company picnic," Quatre returned, shaking excess water off his arms. "Which means business."
"You mean you have *how* many sisters and not *one* of them is capable of covering you for one little day?" Duo asked, peeking around Heero's shoulder (since the Japanese boy was now a good 6 inches taller than him).
"The Behenna Reports?" Trowa asked, stepping away from the burning grills. He was wiping his hands on a frilly pink apron that read: KISS Me, I'm the Cook. "Anything interesting?"
Aquamarine eyes darkened to a teal shade as they turned on his love. He smiled and a - a - an almost hopeful look sprang to the face of his mate. He nodded. "Fatina thinks she's worked it out. It's just a matter of testing..."
Trowa's face *did* brighten then and he laughed, wrapping strong arms around his mate and hugging him tight. "That's great news," he whispered hoarsely.
"What? What's great news? What?" Duo asked, coming out of hiding.
The couple turned towards Heero and Duo, smiling. "Trowa and I have been looking into... into having a child. Our own child," Quatre said almost shyly.
Shocked violet eyes moved from one to the other and then back again.
"Oh! Quatre! That's wonderful news!" a voice called from behind them, reminding the four that they were not alone.
"I think that's a great idea," another woman said, and the four turned.
Relena wrapped her arms around first Quatre and then Trowa. "Simply wonderful!"
"Though, I think it only far to warn you that raising children is not an easy task," Sally was saying, smiling brightly.
"'Easy'?" Dorothy asked with an arched eyebrow. A smile always played at her lips. "I think it's down-right torture!" She laughed.
Only one person was frowning. "It would effect your availability to work with the Preventers," Une said softly.
Trowa and Quatre turned to the woman, a sad smile playing on their lips. "We really haven't been working much with the Preventers in the past two years, Une," Quatre said. "And... and... I was planning on officially withdrawing in a couple of months anyway."
Une looked from one to the other and then nodded. "I wish you both the best of luck then," she said after another moment. "We will miss you at the office."
"Thank you," Trowa said softly, a hand at his mate's back, the golden band there catching in the sun light and sparkling.
"Oiya! Guys! Why such the serious atmosphere here?" Hilde called, walking up to the table and snatching a carrot stick. "The boys have got all the tables set up and the kids are helping. All we need is the food!"
"Okay, guys!" Sally said, snapping her fingers and slapping Hilde's hand away from another carrot. "I think this stuff is all set to go. How are the burgers and dogs?"
"All set," Heero called, moving away from his lover's side to return to the grills. Trowa followed him. "Chicken's almost done, too."
"Great!" Relena cried. "Let's just get all this stuff onto the tables and then we can call everyone to eat!"
"Food? I'm game!" Duo cried.
It had been a perfect day for a company-reunion picnic. The sun had shined from sunrise to sunset without threat of a spring shower. The spring breeze had prevented the sun's warmth from becoming too hot. And the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers and chicken cooking on the grill mixed with the sweet scent of the grass and the flowers. All-in-all making it a perfect day.
The not-so-small group of friends had tried to gather at least once each year, but busy schedules were usually hard to work with. In fact, this was the first time in three years everyone had made it--even the Manganacs and their families--and everyone was in high cheer.
They had played a game of baseball--insisted upon by Duo. And then they'd been dragged into a water balloon fight--again, courtesy of Duo. They had dried off by flying kites and then a bubble contest to see who could blow the biggest bubble. Sally had won--much to the chagrin of one Duo Maxwell. They had roasted the squishy marshmallows before calling it a day and heading back to the local Winner estate.
Now the little ones were tucked away in bed, fast asleep and the adults were all relaxing and conversing about old times, good times, bad times, times to come. One small circle of friends was lounging in the library. Friends whom, at one time or another had all been enemies. Each was content in his or her own quiet; each to his or her own thoughts as the comfortable silence embraced them.
Off in one of the large corner armchairs, large bay window to his left, the rest of the room to his right, Chang Wufei reclined with a book. Wire-rimmed glasses were perched on his proud nose, sliding down occasionally only to be pushed-absentmindedly- back into place. His ebony-silk hair floated free around his shoulders. A dark-multi-colored polo shirt hugged his chest and torso. Long legs were encased in dark-colored pants as they stretched out before him, ankles crossed. He looked like an average intelligent young adult. A hand moved to turn the page and the lamp light caught the quick gleam of gold.
On one of the two sofas in the room, Heero Yuy was resting back into the cushions, leaning one arm on the armrest as the other wrapped lazily around his koi's body. His Prussian blue eyes were closed for the moment, a small smile playing over his lips as his hand and fingers trailed patterns over Duo's body. A small golden band blinked out from the background of the dark clothing. Duo Maxwell, for his part, was leaning fully on Heero. His head was pillowed in the crutch of Heero's shoulder and, arm. His own arm was wrapped behind his koi's back, hugging him as the other rested over Heero's lap, his fingers and nails playing over the tight blue demin there, a golden light reflecting with each tiny movement. Both boys were comfortable in their blue jeans and tee's--Heero's white, Duo's navy blue (*dark* navy blue--almost black, really).
Across from the pair, on the matching sofa, the man known only as Trowa Barton and his lifemate, Quatre Raberba Winner were in the exact same position, though Quatre was sitting on the sofa beside Trowa, not stretched out like Duo. Trowa's chin rested on Quatre's head, occasionally dipping to kiss the blond strands that tickled his throat. In his lap, his hand was intertwined with both of Quatre's. Two gold bands winked.
A loveseat connected the two sofas in a 'U' shape, two large armchairs completing the corners. On the loveseat, a man with long pale hair was stretched out; a smaller feminine body was snuggled up against him, her long jean-clad legs resting comfortably between his. The man known as both Milliardo Peacecraft and Zechs Marquise had his arms draped lovingly around hers. The woman, Lucrezia Noin. His arms hugged hers, their hands clasped over her stomach, two matching yellow and white gold bands sparkling in the relaxed light. Both people were smiling peacefully---they were allowed, their little one had *finally* fallen asleep.
In an armchair to the left, their sister, Relena Dorian, a.k.a. Relena Peacecraft, was sitting in an armchair, leaning back comfortably, a secret smile playing over her lips. Her back and shoulders were straight, her legs together and tucked slightly beneath her chair bespoke her royal heritage; the simple white blouse and soft cotton skirt she wore denied it. She had come a long way from the child she had been, but she had finally grown up. (Much to the relief of more than just one person in the room.)
In the armchair's counterpart sat Sally Po, reading through several reports Lady Une had handed her a short while ago. Her ginger-blond curly hair was sectioned off in its customary fashion. Her olive green slacks and matching tank top accented the slight tint in her skin in a admiring contrast. The small hint of her Chinese heritage was hidden behind black-rimmed glasses as she frowned at the words she was reading.
The woman known as Lady Une was sitting in yet another armchair--this one matching the reclining one Wufei sat in--resting. Her light brown hair was half up, half down resting around her shoulders. The baby-pink shell and the charcoal slacks she wore accented her small build and relaxed the air of tension and authority that always seemed to surround her.
On the floor beside the reclining woman, a young girl of perhaps fourteen or fifteen years of age was laying on her stomach, legs kicking the air happily. Spread out around her were numerous letters that her china blue eyes read carefully, almost reverently, worshiping each word that was scrawled across the yellowing page. Her long red-silk hair was pulled up into a ponytail that fell past her shoulders to pool on the floor. The young woman was known to the world as Marie Une--Lady Une's daughter... The select group of individuals gathered here tonight knew her by a different name, however... that of Mariemeia Barton Khushrenada, the daughter of General Trieze Khushrenada.
Quatre sighed, sounding more like a purring kitten than the head of one of the largest organizations in the Earth Sphere Alliance. "It feels so right to have everyone here," he said softly, breaking the silence without opening an eye. Trowa smiled, reinforcing the statement with silence.
"It does, doesn't it?" Relena replied, equally as soft. "Did you ever imagine that we could all be gathered in the same room without being at each other's throats?" she asked with an amused smile.
Duo smiled, eyes still closed. "Did you ever think you'd survive the war without Heero killin' ya?" He asked, cracking one violet eye to gauge a reaction.
But it was Milliardo who answered with a deep, warm laugh. "No," he said, an arm brushing his wife's arm in a gentle caress.
"Hn. Baka," Heero replied warmly, giving the end of the braid in his hand a little tug. There was no effect other than a smiling, shifting Duo in his arms as the braided boy tried to wiggle closer.
"Face it, Hee-chan. You got soft." Duo grinned cheekily up at him. "There's not one person in this room that you haven't threatened to kill at least one time or another." He leaned up and kissed the frowning Japanese boy lightly on the lips. "Not that I'm complaining about you not, of course... well, except for Relena." He grinned with that dig and settled back down.
"Hey!" the woman in question balked.
Quatre and Trowa were smiling. As were the others.
"Hn. Even *I* thought about doing that myself," Wufei replied calmly, not looking away from his book. "You were one of the most annoying females I have ever met."
"I wasn't *that* bad, surely," Relena was saying, looking around her with surprise.
"You *were* a handful," Noin said, cozying into her husband's chest and arms.
"I still remember the young woman who had the audacity to aim a gun at me," Une said softly, not bothering to hide the amused smile from her lips.
"Hn. At least she didn't fly in between you and a battling Gundam shouting for your opponent to 'kill that madman'," Zechs said.
"Or following you all around the globe screeching 'HEEEEEEEROOO! Come back and kill me!!'" Duo said in a high falsetto.
The red staining the young woman's cheeks darkened. Heero rolled his eyes in mock-horror as the others chuckled. Relena crossed her arms and pouted. Sally took pity on the young woman and attempted to change the subject.
"I am surprised Une let you out of school, Marie," she said to the auburn-haired girl on the floor. The girl in question looked up and then away with a guilty flush.
"She, sort of didn't," the fifteen-soon-to-be-sixteen year old mumbled.
"What was that?" Sally asked with an amused smile, looking over to the girl and then to her "mother".
"She was expelled from another boarding school," Une replied with a wry smile. It was hard to tell if she was amused by the facts or annoyed.
"Whatever for?" Relena asked turning from child to guardian.
"Marie had a... difference of opinions with another student," the older woman supplied eventually when the child refused to answer, the cool smile not leaving her lips.
"A... difference of opinions?" Quatre asked, sitting up a bit and now joining his gaze to the others in the room as they stared at the girl on the floor. .
"That must have been one helluva difference," Duo cooed, ear-to-ear grin shaping his lips into an amused expression.
"I'd say," Trowa said with a smile as he studied the girl he was rather close to--in a brotherly-uncle-type of way, even though there was no blood shared between the two.
Une made a noise of agreement as the girl buried her face further into the letters she was reading. "Yes," she said, still smiling. "It left the other girl with a black eye and a chipped tooth."
Duo whistled while Relena looked horrified. Heero and Trowa exchanged an amused look, while Wufei frowned, making a noise sounding suspiciously like a 'humph'. Sally and Noin were looking amused as well, while the two blondes were... well, surprised.
"You got in a fight?" Quatre asked, sitting up fully now, unaware of the subtle shift of his love's body as Trowa shifted freeing Quatre to move.
"Over what?" Zechs asked--err, rather, demanded, sitting up as well and off setting a startled Noin.
"What does not matter," Wufei said calmly. "What does is that she fought. She fought and she injured one weaker than herself."
Zechs' face was coloring. "I still want to know for what reason you would strike another person, Mariemeia."
Une waited for the child to answer but Marie had no intention of saying a word as she stared down at the letters, her eyes stinging terribly. Une studied the girl she had come to love as a child of her own flesh, thinking 'like father, like daughter...too proud...' She looked up to the others and told them with an amused note, "Over the previous administration and the people behind it."
"Previous--" Relena began before biting her lip.
'Looks' shot from one person in the room to another before settling either on herself or the child. Une laughed then, her rich alto startling the child who looked up with wide blue eyes. Tears burned those blue eyes. 'How dare she laugh...?'
"What Karyn Tenachu said was a horrible lie!" she cried scrambling to her feet. "Everything she said was lies!" she shouted before rushing from the room.
"Oh my," Dorothy said in an amused voice, walking into the room just as the girl rushed out. She held the drink tray high for another moment before turning back into the room. "It seems I've missed something..."
"Nothing you weren't already aware of," Une told her.
"What was the... the disagreement about?" Quatre asked softly.
"Oh, that again?" Dorothy said, setting the tray of drinks down on a table. She handed one cup of tea to Relena, taking another for herself, and sat on the sofa armrest at Duo's feet beside Relena. "It was... beautiful really," she told them, sipping from her tea. "Apparently another girl at school was saying...poor things about... certain people," she continued, not looking at anyone in particular, "And Mariemeia came to their defense. Such beautiful loyalty in that young girl."
Une's smile dropped from her face. "Perhaps, but she *was* in the wrong, Dorothy." Lady Une frowned. "I had thought I had taught her better than that... that there was no need to fight over silly things."
Dorothy lifted her shoulders in a shrug.
"There should be no need to fight at all," Relena said forcefully.
"There will always be a need to fight," Heero told her calmly. "As long as there is free will, there will be fighting."
Relena frowned but didn't say anything else.
"There are better ways to handle a disagreement then bringing harm to a weaker advisory," Wufei said calmly.
"Perhaps you are right," Dorothy said with a cool smile. "But Mariemeia is still young."
"That is no excuse," Noin said softly. Behind her, her husband's chest rumbled.
"Who... who were the people?" Zechs asked lowly. "Who was Mariemeia defending?"
Dorothy smiled. "Why, you and Mister Trieze, and the Gundam pilots of course," the blonde woman answered. "It is truly beautiful and honorable that that child could come to the defense of not only the people who are like a surrogate family to her, but also to the father she never really knew."
"Hmn," Une said, sitting up and collecting the scrambled letters on the floor. Her finger brushed over the script of one page. "The father she never really knew," she repeated softly to herself.
"It may be honorable," Relena was saying, "But I sincerely doubt Trieze would appreciate knowing his daughter was fighting because of him."
"No parent likes to know their child is suffering because of their mistakes," Noin said, her fingers laced tightly with those of her husband, squeezing.
"Mistakes or not, children live with the legacy their parents give them," Sally said, taking a glass of amber liquid and swishing the liquid.
"We can only pray that we don't screw up their lives like we screwed up our own," Zechs murmured, accepting the glass his sister handed him, sipping it before handing it to his wife.
"Hai," Heero said softly, brushing back silky hair from his love's face.
"To our children then," Quatre said, holding up his cup in a toast.
"Yes, to our children," Noin said, smiling at the young man.
The others raised their cups and glasses.
"To our children," the chorus replied.
********** End of "Oh Baby, Baby" Part One**********
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com