29-Apr-2001
Title: Chasing the Crown, an Extended Family Fic
ExFam Authors:
RavynFyre - ravynfyre@hotmail.com
Diane Davis - fenwyck@radiks.net
von - sablexo1@yahoo.com
bonnejeanne - bonnejeanne@yahoo.com
*Special Guest Writer! Nixie the Pixie!*
Nixers - Nixerchan@aol.com
Category: yaoi, AU
Rating: NC-17 for now, that will change
Pairings: 1x2, 3+4
Spoilers: Series, Endless Waltz, Mission: Arcadia
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners.
Kenny, Duan, Wufan, Tryan, Carter, Jack and the Ripper, and everything relating to Rip & Jack's universe are ours. No money being made here.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
Please feel free to direct feedback to any or all of the authors!
WARNINGS: AU (Alternate Universe), Original Characters, LEMON in some sections. Kiddie-Angst.
After leaving Wufei and Sallah, Zechs made his way to his own room, just a level above. The tall man paused halfway down the hall, a distracting noise causing a slight hesitation in his pace. Identifying the source, another thing he'd wanted to do passed briefly through his mind and he stepped towards the door of the director of the Preventers, lifting a hand to knock on the hardwood surface.
Just as Zechs was about to knock, the door flew open and a slightly flustered and aggrieved Une rushed out. Drawing up short as she nearly ran into the blond man, Une nodded curtly at him. "Zechs... good afternoon."
Having taken a half step back unconsciously at the near collision, Zechs dropped his hand and nodded to the flustered woman. "You seem busy.." he trailed off. The woman in front of him had the look of Mission.
Une rolled her eyes slightly, brushing her straight brown hair back from one shoulder. "I seem to have misplaced a young girl," she muttered, giving a frustrated sigh. "If there's something you need, feel free to come along with; I seem to have a search to conduct." There was an implied "again" in the tone of her voice.
"Misplaced?" A single eyebrow arched at that, but he took a step backwards, allowing the Director space to enter the hallway.
Closing the door a bit harder than was necessary, Une sighed again. "Not quite the right word, I realize. But it was better than some of the other things I was thinking." With that, she strode purposefully down the hallway, assuming Zechs would follow. "I try...," she muttered, almost under her breath. "I promised myself I would try, for Treize, for her...I just never realized..."
Having taken one last, wistful glance towards where his own suite was, the man's longer legs easily shortened the distance between himself and the shorter woman. Keeping most of his thoughts to himself for several strides after Une had trailed off he asked, "No chance she'll return in her own time?" It seemed a futile question but...
"If I could predict what 'her own time' was, perhaps..." Une answered, "but even if I knew, it's not safe for her to be wandering alone, with all the guests arriving for the anniversary celebration. Especially since there might be people present who... have hard feelings about past events." Despite her grim expression, a note of worry had crept into her voice. Turning a corner and heading down another corridor, Une paused by one of the posted security staff, detailing the situation to the man and sending him to search the east wing.
The man saluted sharply, unhooking his communicator from his belt as he disappeared quickly down the hallway.
Zechs, watching the man depart, looked at Une. "She would stay away from the populated areas, away from such guests, I'd think," he offered, trying to give some degree of easing for the concern in the woman.
"Possibly," Une replied, continuing again down the hall, "but it's uncertain who might seek her out, or whom she might run into. It's too much of a risk for her to be out unsupervised." Taking a set of side stairs down, she shook her head. "Mariemeia doesn't understand. She seems to think that because she was given so much independence early in her life--despite Dekim Barton's constant presence--that things will and should continue that way. But that aside, you were looking for me for some reason?"
Zechs shook his head. "Nothing important, merely polite conversation," he said. At this point he was beginning to admit to himself that he was following in Une's footsteps mostly out of curiosity. It was a strange sight to see a someone he'd always known as so composed through world disasters, so, well, frazzled. "It has been... nearly a month and a half now?"
Une glanced at Zechs, something almost like a smile twitching up one corner of her lips. "Indeed it has. You've been enjoying your vacation, I trust?"
"At some points today, I'd have rather been at work," he replied, almost under his breath. More audibly he replied. "Yes, it was a thoughtful gesture on your behalf," he said smoothly.
"Glad to hear it's going well," she replied, though she'd raised an eyebrow when he'd spoken to himself. Pausing at a door on the main level, Une frowned, looking thoughtful. "I wonder if she went out onto the grounds," she murmured to herself. Then she looked at Zechs. "I apologize for dragging you along like this. I'd assumed you were needing to discuss something. Normally, I would actually attempt to be sociable," she said.
"It wasn't a problem," he said, taking the words as an unspoken dismissal. He paused and half turned to look at her though. "Though if I were to pick a matter of discussion, would returning half a month early be open to negotiations?"
Hand on the doorknob, Une regarded Zechs. "You're enjoying it that much, are you?" She looked outside, then back to the blond man. "If you don't mind my being distracted, now is as good a time as any to negotiate," she commented dryly.
Glancing back at the unexpected offering, he said, "At your leisure. I don't want to add to your distractions."
"It's no problem," she replied, opening the door and stepping out onto a wide patio, "I'm able to multitask. In fact, it might help me to focus on something else for a bit other than finding my glasses and trying intimidation tactics." Pushing away hair tickling her face in the ocean breezes, she muttered, "Always worked on my subordinates in Oz." Picking a direction, she strode purposefully out into the gardens.
Rejoining the Lady outside before she had slipped out of sight, his lips curved upwards at the wry comments. "It had many fond stories of the glasses to reinforce it, in those days."
"Hm, perhaps I should have you tell her some of those stories," she retorted, the half-smile once again curling her lips. Then it faded as she gave a quiet, softer sigh than she had when she'd first run into Zechs. "Though... I really don't want to be ruling with an iron fist, so to speak. It's just that we butt heads often, and I seem to fall back on old habits." She paused, walking the grounds a moment in silence. "I don't know what I expected raising a child to be like," she said quietly, "but I think directing soldiers in a war, or leading an organization like the Preventers, is a great deal of the time easier."
As they walked through the outside path of the gardens, the object of the search was attempting to stay out of the way of a passing security guard who'd been alerted to look for the small redhead.
Mariemeia heaved a silent sigh of relief as the guard walked past her hiding spot, unaware of the near proximity of his quarry. From his purposeful gait, she knew the search must be on by now, which meant her slight taste of freedom was over for a bit. Now... to get back without getting spotted...
"Going somewhere, Miss Mariemeia? By yourself?" a cool feminine voice asked from around a hedgerow.
The young girl spun around, quickly folding the paper Wufan had given her to try and hide it.
"Miss Dorothy," she said, dropping into a polite curtsey, "I wasn't alone the whole time."
One of Dorothy's eyebrows arched up delicately as she saw Mariemeia carefully stuff the folded sheet of paper in her shirt. The young red-head met her look of inquiry with a challenging look of her own.
"I don't want to get Wufan into trouble with her so quickly," she stated, a firm, stubborn set to her young jaw.
"But getting yourself into trouble is..."
"My own business," Mariemeia snapped before continuing with a small sniff, "Besides. I can handle it myself."
Dorothy's mouth stretched into a small secretive little smirk as she reached down and took Mariemeia's hand.
"Don't be quite so quick to discard what could be a potential ally, Miss Mariemeia," she said softly, a hint of rebuke in her amused voice.
Une came around a bush, with Zechs still walking at her side, and saw the little redheaded child approaching, her hand in that of the Vice Minister's attaché.
"Lady Une," Dorothy called politely, "So good of you to join us. Miss Mariemeia and I were just enjoying the grounds together."
Une's eyes had widened for a moment as she'd caught sight of the pair, then narrowed as she regarded the blond woman. "How lovely," she replied levelly, one eyebrow arching as her gaze shifted to Mariemeia. "I would have appreciated you letting me know you were going out with Dorothy," she said to the red-haired girl, a knowing look in her eyes.
Something challenging flashed in the girl's blue eyes for a moment, but Dorothy's hand tightened on her own, and she settled once more, answering with a polite, though not demure, "Yes, Lady Une."
Looking at Mariemeia, Une gave an almost inaudible sigh. "I... was concerned," she said finally, appearing to want to say more, but falling silent as she glanced quickly at Dorothy and Zechs. She nodded briefly to Dorothy with a tight smile. "Thank you for accompanying Mariemeia."
"It was my pleasure," Dorothy replied smoothly before turning her attention to the girl beside her, "I look forward to speaking to you some more at a later time, Miss Mariemeia. This afternoon was quite enlightening and amusing."
The young girl blinked up at Dorothy for a moment before withdrawing her hand and dropping into a polite curtsey. "I look forward to that too, Miss Dorothy. See you at dinner?"
Dorothy nodded once in agreement, and then tipped her head in Une and Zechs's direction. "Speaking of which, I should go make sure Miss Relena has a chance to get ready. Lady Une. Mister Milliardo." With a polite nod, she turned down another path and slipped away.
Having returned the nod, Zechs turned back to Une for a moment, "It seems negotiations might be cut short before they've begun," he commented.
"I never gave you much of a chance for that, did I?" Une replied with a wry half-smile. "I apologize. The next spare moment, I promise to give it my undivided attention--after dinner, perhaps, or tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow might be better, I've made some previous arrangements for tonight." With a half smile he added, "Unless you'd care to agree right out," with more humor than any expectation.
"That would just be too easy, now wouldn't it?" the brown-haired woman retorted, an amused glint in her eyes. "You'll have to go to the effort to convince me to deal with the paperwork that will result..."
"Nothing that the retinue of aides couldn't handle," he replied. "But perish the thought of a method that didn't require a locked horns of some type."
"Ah, but we have to find our battles where we can these days, don't we?" Une nodded to Zechs, "Thank you again for allowing me to drag you hither and yon... but I'm afraid we need to go to get ready for dinner ourselves."
"Anytime," he said. "Lady, Mariemeia," he acknowledged both with a nod before taking his own leave.
Une gazed down at Mariemeia silently, then sighed again. "Not that long ago, I would have created quite a scene," she said, quietly.
Mariemeia cocked her head to one side as she reached up and took Une's hand. "So what happened, then?"
After taking the girl's hand, Une began walking back towards the mansion. "Your father," she said, frankly. "And other things... it has been pointed out to me that there is more to life than being a hardnosed... ah... witch. I know you think I am too strict, but I do believe I need to be, to a certain extent. Or... perhaps that is not right... I am simply trying to do the right thing."
"For my father," Mariemeia said, walking beside Une easily.
"To some extent, yes," Une replied, honestly. "But for you as well. So you are able to live in a safe, stable environment. I want to give you a strong foundation for your future."
"What good will I do for my future, in an uncertain world, if all I've ever known is certainty? Safe and stable don't allow much room to grow," she said quietly, watching the path under her feet. "But you're right. Nevermind. I'm sorry I worried you."
"No 'nevermind'," Une responded with a shake of her head. "There's been too much of that between us, and it is why we keep going over this again and again." She fell silent, pondering for a moment. "I understand wanting... challenges. But you don't need to test yourself all the time. And you don't need to always face things alone. As your guardian, I should be there to help whenever you need, but I can't do that if I don't know where you are."
"I'm sorry I worried you, Lady Une," Mariemeia replied, "We'll be late getting ready for dinner if we don't hurry."
"Yes, you're right," Une said, continuing along the path, increasing her pace a bit. "Thank you for your apology. And I... I realize I was probably overreacting a bit." She looked down at the red-haired girl, a wry smile on her face. "Perhaps when you think I need to... loosen up, so to speak, you could come talk to me?"
The girl didn't look up, but she nodded, and her step was a little lighter as she replied, "Perhaps."
Wufei slipped into the Estate, disabling sensors for only a bare few seconds to get in. He avoided the main house, trailing silently around to the back of the grounds where a small building stood, dark and apparently as deserted as the rest.
At the back of the building, he moved a large potted plant and then opened the concealed doorway that led down into the passage.
A trip through a pitch-black hallway and then a touch on a door palm-pad. The lock's vocal response had been disabled but it recognized him and opened with a soft click.
The room beyond was large and dominated by bookshelves. In a far corner, a small reading light threw a yellow circle on an empty chair.
Wufei entered, looking around quickly. "Treize?"
"You didn't waste much time," Treize said quietly from a pool of shadows just beyond the splash of light across the room, "I hadn't expected you for a day or so." He stepped forward, standing just barely out of the light, a book open in one palm.
Wufei moved forward, grabbing a backless stool and sitting on it, reaching up to rub his eyes briefly.
"I'd intended to wait until tomorrow," he admitted. "But things have... changed. It seemed wiser not to wait."
Treize stepped forward, his brows drawn together with concern. "Changed? Are you all right, Wufei?"
The Chinese youth stiffened slightly with habitual defensiveness. "I am fine," he said with a touch of Chang haughtiness. Then he exhaled a breath. "Fine," he repeated in a less stiff tone. "Why would I not be? But yes, things have changed. I sent you a message that they intend to search the estate. Yuy has not made his timetable known to me, if he even has one." He shook his head. "He is not behaving like the Heero Yuy of the War."
Treize's eyes narrowed slightly as he took a seat and set the copy of Hamlet he'd been studying aside. "It has begun, has it not?" he murmured quietly.
Wufei looked at him sharply. "You said that Yuy was different," he remarked. "Have you changed your mind?"
"I prayed," Treize replied, looking down and refusing to meet Wufei's eyes, "I have been known to have been wrong before. I'm right, aren't I? It speaks to him..."
Wufei shrugged uneasily. "I don't know. I would not put him on your list of 'fallen' yet. But I will watch him. And someone else is already doing so. Someone who can see more than you or I into that man's soul."
"I'd hoped he could withstand where I did not," Treize said before glancing up to regard Wufei levelly, "Maxwell?"
Wufei returned the look just as directly. "He knows you are alive. He... guessed. I did not lie. I think you should speak with him. He sees a great deal."
At Wufei's statement, Treize's brows lifted into his hairline in surprise. "That is an interesting development. Should I expect another guest shortly?" he asked wryly.
Wufei frowned. "I am suggesting it. I would not have brought him here without your consent. But he knows..." he shrugged, "More than he realizes, I think."
"My apologies, Wufei. The implication was unworthy of you. I am at your, and his, disposal," he said, waving a hand around the darkened room absently, "You've spoken to him at length about this then?"
"No, not at length," Wufei shook his head in a brief denial. His mouth quirked in a somewhat self-derisive grimace. "I'm not even sure how it came about, truthfully. It's... distasteful to lie to a man who tells no lies. And my concealment becomes more of a lie every day."
Treize sighed softly, glancing back down at the book he'd set aside earlier. "I'm sorry, Wufei, to have to ask it of you. I've... cost your honor so much already."
The Chinese boy allowed himself a silent laugh. "Not you, Treize. The necessity. I learned that after our first encounter. I can have unblemished honor or I can do what needs to be done. I owe too much to be that selfish."
Treize shook his head sharply once. "You've paid too much already. But this is an old argument, is it not?" he asked with a bitter smile.
"Ancient," Wufei agreed. He smiled suddenly, and the change in his face was startling. "And not closer to being settled." He looked up at the young man. "We're getting closer," he said, a combination of tension and weariness underlying his tone. "I can feel it. And the... object... I think it is active again."
Treize sighed deeply, resting his arms on the chair as he steepled his fingers before his unfocused gaze. "We will find it," he said quietly, "We *must*. The world cannot survive another cataclysmic war. We will find it, Wufei. Then it will be over."
Wufei studied the former leader of Earth, Oz and Romefeller. "I wonder if it will. I wonder if finding it will be the end, or only the beginning."
The ginger-haired man's eyes snapped up to Wufei's face, pinning him with an inquiring stare.
Wufei returned the stare without looking away. "It isn't just you and I, any more," he said quietly.
"I will speak with him, but that doesn't mean Duo need be dragged into this argument as well," Treize replied.
Wufei made a soft sound. "No one drags Maxwell, or keeps him out either." He shrugged. "Maxwell, Yuy... it's more than that. There are the children..."
Treize's eyes narrowed as he regarded the young man. "Yes. The children. Tell me of them?" he asked, his voice almost tinged with a tiny hint of wistfulness.
Wufei returned an unguarded look for a moment, and then dropped his eyes. "I... can't. The words don't exist. They are... a part of this somehow, and at the same time, completely apart from it. They are as completely good as the thing is evil," he said, and lifted a shoulder, at a loss. "You'll see."
Treize watched Wufei speak, a look of wonderment and almost envy spreading across his face. "You have found it..." he breathed.
Wufei frowned. "What?"
The shadow of envy faded, replaced by sad pleasure. "Salvation."
The Chinese boy stood. "Now you sound like Maxwell," he said. "I don't desired to be saved, Treize. But I recognize when something is worth saving." A flash in the dark eyes was a reminder of a long past, shared event. "I'll arrange for you to meet. The mission should allow me the opportunity to retrieve the book."
Treize shook his head softly and sighed. "Very well. I suspect that you should return soon, before you are missed?"
Wufei nodded, and bowed. "I'll return. If you need me, send word."
"Of course," Treize replied, reaching for his discarded book, "Be careful, Wufei. If this truly is beyond us, now, then there is more at stake than ever."
Wufei acknowledged the instruction with a curt nod and withdrew. A thought crossed his mind that if a resolution were possible, he would see that man waking in the sunlight before he'd consider his mission complete.
Heero opened his eyes in the half light of the room. He felt the warm body pressed against his and sighed, turning on his side to drape his arm around Duo's waist. "Hey," he said sleepily.
Soft violet eyes regarded him calmly as he turned, and Duo leaned forward to brush his lips across Heero's brow.
"Hey. Have a nice nap?"
"Hn," Heero replied, with a nod. He took a deep breath and moved closer feeling relaxed and peaceful.
Duo tightened his arms around Heero for a moment, savoring the feel of his lover pressed so closely. He sighed deeply and then indulged in a quiet chuckle. "I can't believe I'm saying this... But we have to get you dressed."
Heero made a low growl in the back of his throat and burrowed closer to Duo. He threw one leg over Duo and tightened his arm around Duo's waist in silent protest. One sock dangled off of his foot as he sighed deeply.
"Talk about role reversal," Duo said with a quiet laugh, "Never thought I'd see the day where you were the one grousing about getting up, koibito." He shifted a little, drawing Heero more fully into his arms. "Maybe a couple more minutes won't hurt..." his voice trailed off as he nuzzled against his lover, inhaling deeply.
"Hn," Heero remarked quietly and nuzzled against Duo.
They heard a quiet sound just outside the door. It sounded like a deliberate cough.
"I think that's our cue, Hee-chan," Duo murmured.
Heero opened one eye, but did not move.
"Do you think we should wait, or just go without 'em?" Duan's voice was heard to say.
"We're coming, guys... Just give us a couple of minutes," Duo called through the closed door.
"See, toldja," Tryan's voice said.
A sound identifiable as Kenny, "Hn," could be heard in answer.
"Come on, koi," Duo urged, shifting a little under Heero, "I'll make it up to you later... But we have to get those guys fed." Duo's stomach chose that moment to gurgle in complaint. "Me, too," he said with a grin.
Heero opened his eyes and looked at his lover. "We could have them bring something up," he said, logically, waiting to see Duo's reaction.
"You do realize that if we don't go put in an appearance, that she may come looking for us here?" Duo countered with one brow arched in amusement.
Heero sighed deeply. "We'll be out in a second!" he called, then rolled off of Duo and the bed. He then disappeared into the closet.
Duo hopped off the bed and followed, coming up behind Heero to wrap his arms around the other pilot's bare shoulders. "Gomen, koibito."
Heero shrugged. "Not your fault," he said, removing clothes from hangars.
Duo reached out and deftly snagged the white shirt from Heero's hands, smiling softly at his lover as he carefully slid the cloth up Heero's arms, lingering half a heartbeat longer than would have been necessary. He watched Heero's eyes carefully as he moved around to the front and slowly started buttoning the shirt up, fingers caressing along the smooth skin underneath every once in a while as he worked.
Heero watched as Duo buttoned his shirt. He wanted to tell him that it wasn't necessary, but held still, enjoying Duo's nearness. "Arigato," he said, finally as Duo finished.
Duo shook his head once in denial. "No. I owe you one for letting me drag you out of bed... it was nice there. You'll have to think up some way for me to make it up to you," he said with a wink before drawing away, "But something tells me that if I don't get out of here and let you get dressed... we won't be eating dinner tonight."
Heero looked into the violet eyes and nodded once. "Hai," he said affirming Duo's statement.
Duo leaned in for a quick kiss before scampering back out of reach. "I'll go wait with the kids. Love you."
"You too, koi," Heero responded, then set to the task at hand.
Duo turned and strode quickly to the door, opening it and slipping out into the common room where the boys were all undoubtedly waiting. "Heero'll be right out."
Duo saw the four boys who were staying in their suite, all dressed nice and neatly, perched on sofa or chairs, more or less, kicking their feet placidly.
Kenny was wearing a white shirt and neat black trousers. Duan was wearing a pullover top with broad horizontal stripes and a pair of stonewashed jeans. Carter was wearing a soft lavender shirt and gray pants and Tryan was dressed in a forest green turtleneck and jeans.
"Lookin' good, guys. Hungry?" Duo asked.
"We were gonna start in on the plastic flowers but decided to wait," Duan remarked.
"Yeah. Probably a good idea. Hold out for the real flowers, at least. Much tastier," Duo replied with a wink, "You guys get all settled in while Heero and I were napping?"
Kenny nodded for the group. "We scoped out these rooms pretty good. Didn't find any surveillance devices."
"Hm. Good job. Though, I'd have been surprised if you had. Not really Relena's style."
"She's not the only one who lives here I guess," Kenny remarked.
Duo nodded, "Point."
Kenny smirked very slightly.
"Of course the perimeter security sucks," Tryan offered. "There's plenty of places where someone could move in undetected."
"She's an optimist," Duo replied with a small shrug, "That's why we gotta look out for each other. Not that I expect any trouble, mind you."
A few moments later, the door opened and Heero stepped out fully dressed. He glanced over at Kenny and nodded in approval at his attire. They had somehow managed to dress similarly. "Sorry I'm late," he said to the assembled, noting how nice everyone looked.
"No problem," Kenny said quietly. "You must have been tired. We rested too."
"Good," Heero said, glancing up at Duo for a moment, "And I was tired. You guys look ready. Let's go," he added.
The kids jumped up and filed to the door, and Kenny went across the hall to knock on the other suite's door.
Wufan opened the door and smiled up at Kenny. He was dressed in black trousers and a red shirt. His hair was out of its usual ponytail and fell down around his shoulders. "Hi," he said to Kenny, with some excitement as he reached up absently to touch the rose that Sallah had clipped and attached to his lapel.
Kenny looked at Wufan and noticed the flower. His eyebrows lifted slightly. "Hn," he remarked. Then he said, "You ready to go?"
Wufan nodded. "Yes," he said. then glanced back into the room. "Ma! The guys are here! You want us to wait for you?" he called.
"That's all right, I'm ready," Sallah replied as she walked out of the bathroom, clipping her dark blond hair back in a silver barrette. The silk of her black dress slacks and emerald green blouse whispered as she moved up behind Wufan. "Shall we go, then?"
Duo craned his neck slightly, peering past Sallah and Wufan as they exited their suite. "Where's Wufei?" he asked curiously.
"He's not back yet," Wufan offered. "Ma says he had someplace to go and might not make it tonight."
Duo nodded, his eyes zeroing in on the flower for a moment. "Nice rose," he commented.
Wufan looked up at Duo and smiled briefly. "Thank you," he said, "It's from a new friend. I'll tell you about it later, ok?
"Sure," Duo said, nodding, "Bet you guys are as hungry as me!"
"Yeah!" Duan answered, noting the rose, but not saying anything about it just yet. He also noticed the *new friend* comment and looked over at Kenny.
Kenny looked back at Duan. "Hn," he remarked.
Carter smiled. "It smells nice," he said.
Wufan nodded.
"Well, but you can't eat it," Tryan said, "I'm hungry."
Carter giggled.
Kenny nodded. He was with Tryan.
Heero watched the exchanges with some interest. A slight frown creased his brow as he glanced at the rose. He then took a deep breath and followed the party downstairs.
Pargan smiled as he saw the small party approach. "Good evening," he said, with an easy smile. "If you will follow Mr. Helms, he will show you to the dining hall."
"Thank you, Pargan," Duo replied, leading the group into falling into step behind their new guide.
The party was escorted to the dining hall.
This particular dining hall was neither the largest nor the smallest that the mansion possessed and had been chosen to accommodate the particular number of guests for the evening. There were sixteen places set and none of them had place cards to indicate who was to sit where.
There were only two people already in the room, standing at one end of the table talking quietly. One with long yellow-blond hair and remarkable eyebrows and the other with wheat colored hair tied back neatly with a ribbon. The Vice Minister was wearing a simple black dress and a string of pearls.
Both young women looked up as the rather large group entered the room. Relena's eyes widened and her face took on an expression of surprised delight. She'd been expecting children, knew they were boys and about what age, but seeing them was definitely a greater impact than hearing about them. She looked from one to the other, noticing Duan's braid, eyes lighting on the blond Carter and the Asian featured Wufan with growing astonishment. She almost nodded as her eyes lighted on Tryan but when she saw Kenny, walking next to Duan, her eyes took on a shine a pure amazement and her mouth opened into a silent expression of, 'Oh!'
She could hardly tear her eyes away even to look up at Heero. Smiling blindingly, she patted her companion on the arm. "Dorothy, isn't it incredible?" she said softly, and moved forward to greet the newcomers.
Dorothy, meanwhile, had fallen silent, voice drifting off mid-syllable, when the group had entered. Her jaw hung open slackly as her gaze bounced from child to child, darting occasionally up to Heero and Duo, as she took in the scene utterly at a loss. Dimly, she thought she heard Relena say something, and then start to move forward, however, her mind was still too busy processing the scene to recognize the words spoken by the Vice Minister. She remained rooted to the spot for a long moment, simply trying to remember what it was like to breathe again.
Duan nudged Duo quickly. "That's the Princess, right?" he said, without turning his head.
"Vice Minister Relena, yes," Duo replied quietly, reaching down to pat Duan on the shoulder.
"Do we bow or what?" Duan asked distinctly as he noticed the other woman as well.
Relena's eyes crinkled in a cheerful smile. "No, please don't bow," she said, answering the little boy who looked so much like Duo. She nodded to him brightly and then looked to Heero and Duo. "Heero," she said, her voice warm. Still smiling happily she turned to Duo. "Duo Maxwell! It has been quite a while! I am very glad to see you looking so well!"
"You too, Relena," he replied, smiling widely, "These guys keep me in pretty good shape, chasing after them everywhere, ya know."
Relena laughed. "I imagine so!" she said. "Please, will you introduce me to everyone?" she asked, her eyes glancing over to include Sallah.
"Sure. This is Sallah Po," he said, motioning her forward, "And her son Wufan."
Wufan bowed deeply, then looked up to Sallah.
"I'm very pleased to meet you both," Relena said, returning Wufan's bow. Then she held her hand out to Sallah.
Sallah smiled warmly, shaking the Vice Minister's hand. "It's wonderful to meet you. Thank you for having us all here."
"It is truly my pleasure," Relena said warmly. She noticed the absence of a certain Chinese pilot, however did not ask, waiting for the rest of the introductions.
"It is an honor," Wufan said, quietly, then took a deep breath.
Relena smiled. "The honor is mine," she said with natural graciousness. "I see you've had a chance to visit the garden. I'm glad you like our roses. I like them, too," she confided.
Wufan blushed. "They are beautiful and they smell very good," he said with a small smile.
Relena nodded. "I'm glad you brought one in to dinner."
She glanced up at Duo inquiringly.
Duo returned her look with a small grin of his own before continuing, "And this is Carter and Tryan," he said, ushering the two forward.
Carter looked up and smiled. "Hello," he said softly.
"Hello," Tryan said, offering a hand. "I'm Tryan."
"How do you do?" Relena said politely, managing to address the words to both of the boys. She took Tryan's hand in a brief, warm clasp. Her blue eyes twinkled with delight.
"Do you have other animals here, besides horses?" Tryan asked, noticing that the young woman smelled nice.
The Vice Minister's eyebrows lifted. "Yes we do," she said. "We have a pair of afghans, and I think one of the grounds keepers has a ferret... and of course there's Dorothy's Siamese."
Tryan's green eyes widened. He smiled. "Wow," he exclaimed. "Maybe we could see them sometime. Thanks for having us over," he added.
Relena's eyes crinkled again. She came down to sit on her heels. "Of course you can meet them. I'm sure Dorothy would love to have you visit her rooms to become acquainted with Bast, and I can take you out to meet Rich and Berry myself. And I'm very very happy to have you visit, Tryan, and Carter."
Carter smiled, and then he looked up at Dorothy, who was still frozen to the spot a few feet away. "Hello, Miss Dorothy," he said. "It's okay, we're just kids, really."
She snapped her mouth shut and blinked once in surprise. "I... uh.. see that," she replied brilliantly, "A pleasure to meet you."
Tryan smiled, then moved down towards where she was. He executed a forward somersault landing directly in front of her and to one knee. "The pleasure is ours, Miss Dorothy," he said, then stood.
Her eyes widened a bit before an amused smile crossed her features and she nodded graciously at him and the rest of the group. "'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of by your philosophy,'" she quoted, "I see that now. Thank you, Tryan."
Tryan smiled up at the young woman. He didn't know what he'd done, in his eyes nothing, but the customer was always right. He held his hand out to Dorothy, graciously, then said. "Allow me."
One brow arching up delicately, Dorothy slipped her hand into his, her smile widening.
Tryan closed his hand around Dorothy's then guided her the short distance to the rest of his family. "I used to be with the circus," he said, congenially. "But I had to quit."
"You had to quit?" Dorothy asked.
"Oh yes," Tryan answered. "I had to leave town quite suddenly... I found a new home, you see. They wanted to keep me, but I could not stay," he said, in the manner of some of the vids he'd seen recently.
"Ah. A new home. An admirable goal," Dorothy agreed.
TBC
End of Part 18
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