5-May-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.
Relena looked over at Dorothy as she approached the small group on the arm of the young Tryan. She caught Dorothy's eye and winked.
The other forked eyebrow quirked up for a moment before Dorothy shook her head and offered Relena a tiny smile. Doubtless she'd hear about her stunned state later.
"Ma'am," Tryan said, releasing Dorothy's arm and bowing to her deeply.
Dorothy smiled down at the boy before nodding graciously. "Such manners," she said, glancing up to meet Duo's eyes squarely, "I wonder where they got them from."
Duo grinned back at the woman cheerfully. "Me too. Probably TV."
Duan looked up at Duo, then back to the forked eye-browed woman. "We were taught protocol, ma'am," he said, meeting her blue eyes without flinching.
Relena clasped her hands together as she turned her attention back to the last two boys, glancing from one to the other.
Duo smiled again and rested a hand on either of their shoulders. "And these two are Duan, and Kenny," he said, introducing them.
Duan slowly turned his attention to Relena. He then sighed deeply and offered his hand. "It's an honor to meet you, Vice Minister Dorlan," he said.
Relena sat on her heels again. She took Duan's hand in a firm but gentle clasp. "I'd be very happy if you would just call me Relena, Duan," she said softly.
Duan nodded and smiled a little. "Yes, ma... I mean, Relena," he said, then looked over at Kenny.
"How do you do," Kenny said neutrally. He didn't offer his hand. He knew Duan was more polite than he was but it just didn't feel comfortable to offer his hand to a stranger he just met.
"I'm fine, Kenny," Relena said softly, smiling at him with a kind of bemused wonder. She looked up at Heero, remembering what he'd said in her office about all of them - the words now made a lot more sense. "Thank you for coming with your guardians, I am very glad to have the chance to meet you all."
Kenny nodded and Relena stood up, determined not to push herself on the boy who was so much like Heero.
She looked at the older Japanese boy for a moment. "Will you tell me," she began, and included Duo and the boys with her eyes, as well as Sallah, "How you all came to be together? I'm sure it must be an amazing story."
Heero, who had been watching the various exchanges, glanced over at Duo. "Hn," he remarked, then nodded once.
Duo smiled at his partner briefly, edging slightly closer to the Japanese youth without intruding too much into his personal space. "It's even more amazing how we manage to live together on a day to day basis and not kill each other. Thank god for extra bathrooms!" he joked cheerfully.
Relena smiled. She looked at the group again and sighed slightly. "I'm sure you would all like to sit down. I'm expecting my brother and Lady Une, along with Mariemeia, I've been told by Dorothy they may be a few minutes late." She moved over in the direction of the table. Glancing back, she smiled again. "I don't see any reason why we can't have the appetizers and salad served, though," she said, guessing that five small boys might possibly be hungry.
Heero glanced over at Relena and nodded again. "Come on. Let's sit," he said, moving the small group towards the table. He made sure the kids had seats, then went and held the chairs for Relena and Dorothy. Catching Duo's eye, he signaled for him to do the same for Sallah.
Duo smoothly did so, before double checking to make sure the boys were all situated. Once satisfied, he took a seat of his own and waited for Heero.
"And I hope your fellow pilots, Quatre Winner and Trowa Barton will feel up to joining us," Relena added as she sat. "They got in a bit later that you did."
Heero sat and looked up at Relena. "They're not from here," he said, glancing around the table at the boys.
She cocked her head slightly at Heero's statement. "Not from here...." she repeated curiously. "That certainly sounds intriguing."
A young man and woman came in and began placing salads in front of each of the seated adults and children and also at the remaining empty places. The salads were done with fresh greens, shrimp and feta cheese.
The door opened as the kids were looking hungrily at the salads and eyeing the adults to see if they could eat. Dressed in white traditional clothing, Wufei slipped in the door, bowed briefly to Relena and took a seat next to Sallah and Wufan.
"My apologies for being late," he said quietly.
"I'm glad you could join us, Wufei," Relena said, smiling graciously.
Wufan glanced up at Wufei, then back down again as a little smile etched itself over his features.
Heero lifted the salad fork from the table and glanced around at the kids. "Use this," he said, then nodded for them to begin eating.
Kenny glanced at Duo and then at Relena and then at Duan and attacked his salad.
Duan needed no further invitation as he began to dismantle the food before him.
Tryan followed suit and Wufan began eating his salad as well.
Heero made sure all of the children were eating first, then glanced at Duo before starting to eat himself.
Duo grinned pleasantly at Heero, already having dug into his own salad quite enthusiastically. "This is excellent, Relena," he commented.
The Vice Minister smiled. "I'm glad you are enjoying it, I'll make sure Pargan passes that along to the chef."
Before Duo could respond, a small red-headed whirlwind skipped through the door and curtsied quickly. "Good evening, Miss Relena, everyone," Mariemeia said brightly, "Lady Une and Mister Zechs are right behind me, somewhere."
Duan looked up as the little girl came in. He glanced over at Wufan, then back to Kenny. "Hn," he replied to her greeting, then stuffed a shrimp into his mouth.
Wufan pushed his glasses back up on his nose and smiled over at Mariemeia.
Relena looked at the redhead and her expression became a bit more serious. "Have a seat, Mariemeia," she said in a pleasant tone. "Have you been introduced to Heero and Duo's family, and the Po's?"
"Yes, Miss Relena. We met earlier this afternoon," Mariemeia replied politely as she took he chair across from Wufan. She glanced at him shyly, her smile widening slightly as she noticed the rose.
Kenny glanced at the redhead and then over to Wufan.
"Hn," he remarked.
Sallah couldn't keep herself from grinning as she looked across the table at Mariemeia. Unable to help herself, she gave a wink as she caught the young girl's gaze.
"Hi," Wufan said, and waved at Mariemeia.
"Hi," she replied, biting her lower lip as she distracted herself by carefully placing her napkin on her lap. She turned and gave Sallah a smile, "It's nice to see you again, Miss Po."
Wufei cleared his throat. "Sally's name is no longer Po," he said. "However this is not the Preventer agent you met briefly, Mariemeia. This is Sallah Po. Wufan's mother."
Heero stopped eating and watched the little red-haired girl. She had grown just a bit since the last time he saw her. "Hn," he remarked quietly.
"We met after the tour, actually," Sallah commented to Wufei. "Zechs introduced us."
Wufei's eyebrow lifted and he pressed his lips together slightly. "I see, forgive me, Mariemeia, my error."
Mariemeia was busy studying the contents of her salad. She'd darted a quick look up at Heero when he'd regarded her, and once at Wufei, but quickly looked down again. "That's all right. No apology needed," she said.
Relena, sensing a moment of awkwardness, said, "The resemblance *is* remarkable, Sallah... are you related?"
Sallah cleared her throat, recognizing what would surely become a common question. "Ah, no. It's just a coincidence, I'm afraid."
"Really?" Relena said. "How remarkable!"
Duan frowned deeply and sighed.
Dorothy cleared her throat delicately, her fork poised half over the plate as she regarded the younger boys and Sallah. "Yes. Remarkable. There seems to be a lot of that going around."
"Yeah, it's going around," Kenny said, giving the blond lady a slight glare. His salad bowl was completely empty, there wasn't even any dressing in the bottom.
"Yeah," Tryan said, sitting back from his now empty bowl. "Like measles."
Duan giggled.
Wufan looked over at Tryan and smiled fully.
Dorothy's smile widened a fraction as she nodded at Tryan and Kenny.
Duan, feeling in a much better mood, looked up at Relena. "Excuse me," he said, to the Vice Minister, "Do you have strawberry shortcake here?"
Relena blinked. "I don't think the Chef made one tonight but I'll ask him to be sure and have it for tomorrow," she said, and then looked at Carter, who had started giggling and blushing.
"Thank you, ma'am," Duan said and winked at Carter.
"...I suppose I'll allow your vacation to be cut short, if it's that important to you." A woman's amused voice was heard as the door opened once again. Dressed in a burgundy suit dress, Une entered the dining room, smiling warmly as she glanced at Relena. "Good evening, Relena, every..." Suddenly the brown-haired woman stopped, eyebrows rising as she noted the other guests at the table. "...one," she finished belatedly. After a long moment, she seemed to remember where she was and moved past the door, holding it for the blonde man behind her.
Murmuring his thanks, Zechs stepped into the room a half a moment behind the Director. Knowing from experience what had caused the sudden pause in both momentum and speech, he nodded to her, not unsympathetically, before moving to the far end of the table, smiling briefly at Relena as he passed. "Imouto chan," he acknowledged, in a more informal greeting, pleasantly.
"Milliardo, Lady Une, I'm glad you found your way," Relena said, with a slight twinkle. "Lady Une, you haven't met the additions to Heero and Duo's family, or Miss Po and her son, have you?" She quickly gave the names of all the kids going around the table. "Now, if the other two guests decide to join us we'll be set!"
Taking a seat next to Mariemeia, Une nodded to the others at the table in greeting, arching an eyebrow as she looked briefly at Zechs. The expression seemed to say 'What did you know, and I wasn't informed why?'
Zechs returned the look with one more along the lines of, 'When did you give me time?'
Duan looked up at Lady Une. For a moment, he looked as though he might speak, but stopped himself. He then glanced at Wufan, who nodded silently to him, and then to Kenny.
Kenny blinked, looked at the woman, then glanced at Duan and Wufan. "Lady... Une?" he said tentatively. He looked from Duo to Heero. "What does Une mean?"
"Eleven," Heero answered.
Kenny drew in a breath. "Lev," he said softly.
Duan nodded, looking down at his lap. "Yeah," he said, remembering one of the nicer inhabitants at his old home.
Wufan glanced over at Mariemeia, then back to Lady Une for a moment. He stood, then bowed towards the lady. "It is an honor to meet you, ma'am," he said.
Une's eyebrows had lifted ever so slightly again under the boys' scrutiny, and she blinked as the young Asian boy bowed. "Thank you," she said finally, seeming to relax just a bit. "That's very kind of you. And please, Une is fine," she said to him, glancing at the others to include them in the statement as well.
Wufan nodded and then resumed his seat.
Kenny tilted his head. "Lev was ok," he said quietly. "I guess you are too, maybe," he mentioned, and then glanced at Duo and Heero for confirmation or contradiction.
Duo met the boy's gaze with a gentle one of his own and a slight nod. "Lady Une is in charge of a group called the Preventers. They help try and keep the peace now all over," the braided pilot remarked conversationally.
Kenny blinked. "So you and Heero were like Preventers in Arcadia?" he asked.
"Something like that," Duo replied with a smile.
Heero nodded, then reached down and lifted Duan's chin up a little. "You ok?" he asked, noting that the little boy was looking a bit sad.
"Just remembering some of the good parts back there," he said. "You were an Arcadian Preventer... cool."
Relena's eyes widened but she didn't ask anything, simply drank it all in.
"Arcadia?" Une questioned, looking to Duo and Heero with great curiosity. "I'm not familiar with that name. Where is it?"
The door opened just as Lady Une began speaking and two older boys walked in, looking neat but a little hurried.
Carter sat up as if stung and his eyes opened very wide.
"Quatre, Trowa," Relena said, "I'm so glad you felt up to joining us!"
Trowa, who had been a pace behind Quatre, heard Relena's words and smiled. "Felt... up," he murmured quietly, then stopped as he saw the group around the table.
Quatre had prepared himself for what he saw when he stepped into the dining room; he'd even braced himself mentally before stepping in. But it still didn't keep him from feeling almost like the world had somehow... shifted when he heard the word 'Arcadia'. Blinking hard, he froze when he opened the door fully and saw very, very familiar faces looking back at him. He barely even heard Trowa's comment as he whispered, "It...*was* real...!"
"Hn," Trowa remarked, "Surprise, surprise."
Kenny slipped from his chair and walked around the table and up to the two young men. He stood in front of Quatre, looking up very seriously. He didn't say anything at first and then he reached out and took Quatre's hand. "You forgot," he said, almost to himself. "It's okay. I remember. You played the v-violin. Do you remember me now?"
"I...I do..." Quatre swallowed, eyes wide and shimmering with turbulent emotion as he looked down at the dark-haired boy. Hand tightening slightly around Kenny's, Quatre knelt impulsively, reaching out to tentatively rest his other hand on the boy's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to forget." He gave a small apologetic smile as he gazed into familiar cobalt eyes. "Forgive me?"
Kenny ducked his head. "'Course," he said simply. He looked up at Trowa with an expression that wasn't exactly a smile but was somewhat friendly, for Kenny. Then he pulled Quatre over to the table to the last two empty places.
Carter was all but vibrating out of his chair and his blue-green eyes took up half his face. "It's not your fault!" he burst out softly. "They thought it would be easier for you!" He blushed beet red and subsided for a few seconds before looking up again with eyes still wide as saucers.
Trowa shook his head, slightly. "It's ok, Carter," he said, remembering the little blonde with the wide eyes. "Not as bad as other times." He then glanced around the table to each of the children, remembering their names. His last glance was at Heero and Duo. "You managed it. Good for you," he said.
Quatre gave Kenny's hand another squeeze as he sat down, his smile widening as he looked at Carter. "They... those two, I think I remember them, too," he replied, nodding to himself as memories came to him in waves. "Hi again," he said to the younger blond-haired boy, "hello again, all of you." He was positively beaming as he took in the sight of all the other boys, as well as his old friends, around the table.
"Hi Quatre," Tryan said, then looked up at Trowa. "Hi, Trowa who looks like me.
"Hi Tryan, who looks like me," Trowa replied.
"Quatre!" Carter said, pronouncing the name very carefully. He smiled like sunshine all over a beach. "It's going to be okay," he said, and it seemed as if he were talking about something other than what was happening in this room.
The older blond's smile faltered for just a moment as it suddenly hit him what the child probably knew, and how much.
Carter winced slightly as the thought seemed to magnify a little. "I don't know anything!" he babbled quickly. "Honest! But sometimes... you walk around in my dreams... I'm sorry!"
A pang of guilt struck Quatre at Carter's reaction, and he quickly tried to pull himself back together. "No, don't apologize, please," he said earnestly, suddenly wishing to reassure the boy without knowing quite why. "It's okay. Thank you." He smiled at the boy, trying to somehow return some of the warmth he felt coming from the other.
As soon as the impulse to reassure came to Quatre, Carter smiled, rapidly advancing to a high-wattage beaming expression. He very nearly glowed. "Oh good!" he burst out and then nailed himself down to his seat, but still bouncing just a little. Quatre could almost feel the temperature warming.
Trowa, who had been watching the exchange, glanced over at Tryan and nodded as he saw an answering expression. "When sensitive people get... sensitive," he said, quietly.
Tryan nodded. "Feed 'em... strawberry shortcake," he said to the older boy.
"Hot dogs, with everything on 'em," Trowa replied.
Carter giggled uncontrollably until he covered his mouth with both hands.
Then he gasped, glanced at Trowa with wide eyes, glanced at Quatre, turned red again and all but buried his face in his arms for a few minutes.
Trowa leaned over and bent down next to Carter's ear. "Shhh," he said, conspiratorially.
Kenny jumped up and interceded his body between Carter and Trowa. He reached up and gave Trowa a little push, not mean but serious. "Back off, he needs to breathe," he said. He waited until the taller boy took his seat, patted Carter once, then resumed his seat.
"Can we have the rest of the food now?" he asked pointedly.
Relena blinked, having been fascinated nearly into a trance by all the happenings, and she quickly signaled for the staff to bring in the plates.
Quatre took a quick sip of water, trying to fight off the blush that had flared over his face at Carter's reaction. Smiling what he hoped to be fairly innocently, he nodded to Relena. "I do apologize for running late, Relena. It's good to see you."
Relena smiled. "I'm very, very happy to have this chance to see you as well, Quatre, Trowa... in fact having all of you here could only be more perfect by including the boys and Mariemeia! Milliardo, Dorothy... I wish it was something we could do more often. I do get to see Dorothy, and Lady Une from time to time, but I admit I have missed most of you."
Heero looked over at Duo and then back to Relena. "Hn," he remarked. "Thank you again for having us," he said politely. Then he remembered the agreement about this being the last formal function and looked at Duo.
Duo nodded his agreement to Heero's words as he readjusted his napkin on his lap. "It must not be easy to arrange the time for something like this with your busy schedule," he remarked to Relena.
Relena sighed expressively. "It has been pretty non-stop," she admitted. "But I am hoping that in time things will settle down a little. It sounds as if all of you have been rather busy as well," she mentioned, remarking on some of the references that had been made during the last few minutes.
Duo smiled widely and glanced around at the boys and Sallah before nodding. "Never thought trying to live normal lives would be this... interesting and hectic," he said, "But we all keep each other on our toes, right guys?"
"Toes, heads, necks and shoulders," Duan replied, cheerily.
"Hn," Kenny remarked, tucking away his dinner with almost frightening efficiency.
Carter didn't answer verbally but his head bobbed as if it were on a string.
Duo glanced over at Duan and gave the boy a wink for his reply. Meanwhile, the hand which he'd let drop to his lap had crept over onto Heero's thigh under the table. He gave it a quick, reassuring squeeze, having noticed Heero's discomfort at Relena's mention of another gathering at some time.
Heero stiffened slightly, then relaxed a bit in his chair.
"We go to school," Wufan said, looking up at Mariemeia.
She met his gaze and smiled tentatively at him. "What's it like there?" she asked, curiously.
"Bunch of kids," Tryan said. "Teachers."
"A lot of noise, sometimes," Duan said. "But we have an understanding," he added, alluding to the incident with Bruiser Brody.
"It sounds like fun," Mariemeia said, almost hiding the wistful tone in her voice.
"Sounds like?" Duan asked. "Don't you go to school? And if not, how'd you pull that one off?"
"I have tutors that come and teach me by myself," she said with a small shrug.
"Why?" Duan asked. "Are you like... slow or something?"
She glanced over at the younger braided boy, a tiny smile tugging at her lips for a moment before darting a glance up at Lady Une. "No. I just tried to take over the world," she murmured before turning her attention back to her dinner. "Big People don't like that," she confided in a conspiratorial whisper towards Duan.
Giving the appearance of concentrating on his meal, Zechs offered, "I don't know about that, they just haven't tried yet."
Duan frowned. "You're kidding right?" he said, "Why would grown ups let a kid take over the world in the first place? What would you do with it once you got it?"
With a sidelong glance at Zechs, Wufei said quietly, yet clearly, "Some grownups might help a child if they felt she had a right by virtue of birth, and others might take advantage of such a claim for their own purposes, Duan. The answer is in the question. Remember your lessons."
Duan looked down, thinking a moment. "Hn," he remarked. "Would they listen and do what the kid says, though? I don't know many grown-ups like that. Maybe it's different here though."
Mariemeia, who had been carefully examining her dinner without eating much of it, glanced up at Duan for a moment. Her free hand crept up to her chest, absently stroking just under her collarbone. "No. You're right," she replied softly before returning her attention back to her plate.
"Mariemeia," Wufei said softly.
She glanced up again, turning towards the older Chinese youth, though she refused to fully meet his gaze. "Yes, Wufei?"
The Chinese boy looked troubled, trying to think of something to say to offer the girl some kind of buffer against her realization.
Relena spoke into the quiet pause. "We might as well ask why anyone would listen to me," she said, with a slight, compassionate smile. "I suppose somehow the people in our society have begin to look for answers from those who have a younger perspective. It's a great responsibility, Duan. All each of us can do is try and seek the best answers we can, and be willing to listen to all sides." Her eyes slipped from Mariemeia, to Wufei, and then to her brother at the other end of the table.
Noticing Relena's gaze on him, Zechs dropped his own, returning to pick at the remains of the salad.
Duan sat back in his chair and was quiet. He figured he'd said enough for one evening. Glancing over at Mariemeia, he felt sorry for her.
Une tossed a grateful look in Relena's direction, nodding almost imperceptibly at the younger woman. She knew she couldn't protect Mariemeia from everything, but it was hard to keep from trying to shelter her from painful reminders of the past.
Wufan looked at Mariemeia and smiled. He had been paying very close attention to what had been said and noticed the look that Lady Une had given to Relena. "So, if people are willing to listen to what kids say, then that means that they would try and understand our feelings?" he asked.
"Good people will try," Relena said seriously. She smiled at Heero and his partner. "Good people like your guardians, and your mother," she said, turning to include Wufei and Sallah in her expression. "And Mariemeia, like your guardian, and I hope you will talk to me if I can ever help."
The young red-head nodded mutely.
"Speaking of world domination... Anyone have a planet they don't like too much? I seem to recall I have an 'Ultimate Destruction Title' to regain," Duo remarked conversationally into the silence, watching Zechs from the corner of his violet eyes.
Heero looked up at Duo with a slight frown.
Zechs choked on his wine in surprise. Taking a few seconds to recover, he gave a slight smile at the braided boy, "You're welcome to try," he replied, then in an exaggerated gesture of thought offered, "I've never liked Jupiter that much."
Duo returned Zechs' slight smile with a grin and a salute with his own glass. "I was considering Venus, since it obstructs my view of Mercury.... oh wait. I forgot... That's Marvin blowing up the Earth because it obstructs his view of Venus! There I go again, screwing up my 20th century pop culture. Sorry guys."
"I've always a had a problem with Uranus," Trowa said, quietly.
"Oh darn," Duo replied with a mock pout, "And here I was gonna invite you to play along too... Personally, I kinda like it..."
Relena looked at Dorothy helplessly, trying not to laugh and keep a reasonable expression.
Heero looked up. "So what's wrong with Duo's..." he began, then stopped as he felt something under the table. Duo bit his lower lip, struggling to maintain his "pout" while the hand that had been on Heero's leg "innocently" massaged Heero's inner thigh.
After a moment, Duo looked up and met Relena's eyes. He gave her a very small wink before continuing on blithely, "This is good stuff, Relena. You've got a very talented chef. I may have to go pick his brain later for some recipes for Sallah to fix us."
Relena, who had blushed and covered her face with a napkin at Heero's aborted remark, fanned her face for a second and said, "Of course, Duo." Then she turned to Sallah with a small smile and said, "So what it is like playing Wendy to all these Lost Boys, speaking of twentieth century references..."
"It's wonderful, actually," Sallah replied, grinning as she caught the reference; working in a library certainly had proven useful in acclimatizing to this new place. "Life is most interesting, and delightfully unpredictable." Looking at Duo, she arched an eyebrow. "Nothing flambé, though. I won't have my kitchen jeopardized."
"Hey, last time I checked, you had a strict 'no explosives' policy in the kitchen... That rules me out for cooking. Not like I want to have the kitchen jeopardized either!" Duo retorted cheerfully.
"I should add 'No open flames in the kitchen' to the rules when we get back," Sallah muttered, looking thoughtful.
Relena beamed at this exchange. "It sounds like a lot of fun," she said.
"Only a woman who has never lived with eight guys at once would think of it as 'fun'," Duo remarked wryly.
"Compared to some places I've been, it's an incredible lot of fun," Sallah retorted. "But perhaps my sense of humor and fun is... different than some." She shrugged, grinning at the braided youth.
"Ok, next vid war game sleepover is in Sallah's room!" Tryan called out.
Even Kenny smiled at that.
Relena chuckled.
"Well, now might be a good time for you to ask any questions you may have about how things are going to go tomorrow," she said after a moment. "I've had printed itineraries placed in your rooms but basically, the main events, and Dorothy, correct me if I forget something, the main events are a broadcast of the memorial ceremony at mid day, and then the reception and ball tomorrow night. There are some smaller meetings and subsequent events attached to this but none of them require your presence, although you would be welcome of course."
"Mr. Schmitzengast has been appropriately... dissuaded of his ideas," Dorothy informed Relena with a curiously self-satisfied smile.
The dark blond beamed at her attaché. "Dorothy, you are a miracle worker."
Heero placed his hand on Duo's thigh under the table and squeezed. He glanced briefly up at the braided pilot, his eyes plainly saying, 'See, what I meant. Girls... hell.'
Duo's only response was a slightly quirked eyebrow as his hand worked its way up higher on Heero's inner thigh. His expression plainly said 'That's why you have me.'
Heero sighed, relaxing a bit. Taking Duo's hand on his thigh, he moved it even further up.
"Arigato," he said, quietly.
Wufei glanced over and noticed that only one of each of Heero and Duo's hands was visible.
He took a drink of his wine which had been untouched all evening.
Zechs set down his own glass and asked conversationally, "If it's not too impolite to ask, I've heard the place Arcadia mentioned more than once this evening... I'm afraid I've never heard of it."
Wufei glanced at Duo and Heero.
Duo glanced at Heero, his expression questioning.
"Hn," Heero said, looking up at the blond man. "What do you want to know... specifically?"
Interest sparked again at the glances thrown around the table, Zechs shrugged a bit. "To begin with, what country is it in? I don't have much to start from to ask."
"America," Tryan answered.
Kenny threw a look at Tryan.
"America?" Zechs repeated, a little skeptically. It would have been a little more convincing if the earlier conversation in the day hadn't hinted at green monsters in the sea living in America.
Heero looked down the table at Zechs, "Perhaps another time," he said.
Zechs nodded after a moment, letting the subject slide for the time being. "At your convenience then."
Heero nodded once. "Hn," he remarked.
As the topic of Arcadia was dodged once again, Une glanced from Zechs to Heero and back again. She arched an eyebrow, giving Zechs a significant look. Well, rank could always be pulled at a later time to satisfy her curiosity....
Duo caught the look Une had tossed around, and grinned slightly to himself before giving Heero a deliberate squeeze. "So what exactly will be going on for the most part during the ceremonies and such tomorrow, Relena?" he asked looking up towards the head of the table innocently.
Heero swallowed hard, finding his concentration and interest waning slightly at the dinner. His hand squeezed Duo's and he plastered on a neutral mask, while counting down the seconds. He could only take so much. A low growl escaped his throat as he looked down at the table.
Relena, oblivious to the hanky panky under the table, or appearing so, answered brightly, "We worked very hard to make sure it was going to be a positive occasion. The most solemn moments will be at the end of the ceremony, where a moment of silence will be observed for those who gave their lives for peace. However, that will be preceeded by a series of presentations and delegations from various places, on Earth and in the Colonies, where people have made progress in improving life for themselves and others, showing the achievements we have seen and the steps people have been taking to better life in the Earth Sphere as a whole. These presentations will be taking place from several locations, with the organizing coming from Earth and from our local gathering here. We've planned for the entire program to take about two hours, but people will be holding celebrations through the day, all over the Earth and Space."
"Sounds like quite a party," Duo observed.
Relena nodded. "It's a logistics nightmare, of course, but a great deal of work has been put into it by a lot of people. I've kept your participation to a minimum out of respect for your desire to stay out of the direct spotlight. There will be a number of people present on the presentation platform with me, and I only ask that you consider joining me there, simply to show your participation by your presence. If you wish to participate more fully, that can be easily arranged, but otherwise I haven't planned anything for you."
Relena looked a little anxious, her speech confident enough, but it wasn't too hard to see she was a bit concerned whether she'd tried for the right compromise between honoring them, asking them to show support, and trying not to intrude on their lives too much.
Duo nodded with a thoughtful look on his face. "I don't know about the rest of you guys, but that sounds great to me, Relena. I don't envy you the headaches you must have been fighting off over planning this thing, though," he said, shaking his head slightly.
Relena smiled, and glanced at Quatre and Trowa, and briefly at Wufei. She couldn't quite bring herself to seek Heero's even tacit approval at this point.
Quatre nodded his agreement with Duo, adding, "I would be happy to join you on the platform, and if there's anything else I can do to assist you, please let me know."
Relena beamed at Quatre, feeling another degree of relief.
Heero looked up at Duo for a long moment, then said, "We'll be there, Relena."
"Thank you, Heero," she said quietly.
"I'm in," Trowa said, looking up at Zechs.
Relena smiled at Trowa.
Zechs simply shook his head quietly, to Trowa, then giving his sister an apologetic look he said quietly, but resolutely, "I'm afraid my presence there would undermine your efforts. I haven't earned the right yet. Perhaps next year."
Relena looked across the table at her brother. "Since my efforts are to bring people together, all people, and that includes you, Milliardo, I can't agree, but I respect your decision. I won't try and push you into anything you don't wish to do." She looked down for a moment. "You might be surprised to know we've had some inquiries from several people, most of them just regular citizens, quite a few in the Colonies, to know if you were going to be there. Your service in ending last year's struggle has been recognized, and the Colony people remember you as someone who championed their cause, during that time when they were hesitant to make a decision."
"I was not aware," Zechs replied, choosing his words. "I will, of course, be in attendance."
"I would be proud to have you there," Relena said simply.
The Vice Minister looked around the table and smiled slightly, her eyes brightening as she noted the younger faces, including the boys, as well as Mariemeia.
"I think you might like this," she said, as the staff brought around dishes of desert. "It's apple dumpling with ice cream. I promise, tomorrow, strawberry shortcake at that reception."
Duan looked over at Carter and giggled. He then looked at the dessert in front of him and scooped up a bite. Glancing up at Duo, his eyes grew round and slightly glazed over. "This is great!" he pronounced; he'd finally found a sugar snack that hit the right spot.
Duo echoed both the action, and the sentiment, with a huge smile and a nod at the younger boy.
Relena grinned as well, taking a bite of her own, feeling like she was enjoying it so much more than she would have had the children not been present.
"Thank you, Relena," Tryan said, digging into his dumpling as well.
"Oooooh," Carter exclaimed and plunged into the warm sugary crust to reach the baked apple inside.
Kenny refrained from comment but the desert dish seemed to magically empty.
Wufan simply dismantled his dessert inch by inch, with occasional glances up at Mariemeia.
With the arrival of the desert, Mariemeia seemed to brighten up, glancing up at Wufan occasionally to give him a shaky smile as she worked her way through the treat.
Soon, Duan downed the last bite of his dessert with a little sigh. He glanced around the table, then looked up at Duo. "May we be excused now? I kinda wanted to see outside," he asked.
Duo glanced up at Relena, quirking up an eyebrow in inquiry.
Relena smiled. Then she nodded back.
"That sounds fine. It might be a good idea if someone goes with you though. I'm feeling a little worn out, myself, but maybe Heero might want some fresh air too?" Duo asked, glancing at his partner.
Duan looked up at Duo with a concerned expression on his face. "You ok?" he asked.
"I'm fine, kiddo. Just been a long day," Duo replied cheerfully.
Heero looked over at Duo, then sighed. "Sure," he said to Duan, "But just for a little while. We have stuff to do tomorrow."
"Ok," Duan answered then walked around the table to ask the others.
Kenny simply slipped into place at Duan's side. He wondered why Duo thought they needed an escort, since it was supposed to be safe, but didn't want to raise the question in front of the other people in the room.
Tryan nodded and tapped Carter on the shoulder. He got up from the table to join Duan and Kenny.
"Excuse me," Wufan said, quietly to Wufei. "I need to talk to you about something important, but not right here. Will you be here later or do you have to go back out?"
"I will be here," Wufei said in the same quiet tone.
"Xie xie," Wufan replied, then stood.
Duan looked at Mariemeia. "Do you wanna come outside too?" he asked.
The girl blinked, clearly surprised by the question, before looking up at Lady Une with a hopeful expression.
Une looked back at the red-haired girl, then nodded. "Go ahead," she said with a small smile. "Just let me know if you end up doing anything else."
"Yes, Lady Une," she replied, trying very hard to keep her voice from sounding too excited as she sipped out of her seat and joined the boys.
"C'mon," Duan said, excitedly, then glanced back for Heero.
Heero took a very deep breath and stood. He rested his hand on Duo's shoulder and squeezed gently. "I'll be up shortly," he said.
"Have fun, everyone," Duo said before nodding at Heero with a calm expression that barely hid the mischievous glint in his amethyst eyes.
The small party moved towards the door as Trowa leaned close to Quatre and whispered in his ear. "Looks like Yuy's 'up' already."
Quatre stifled a giggle, but couldn't keep from grinning. Glancing back at Trowa with a wicked look in his eyes, he whispered back, "I hadn't realized that's where your attention has been all this time..."
Trowa looked down at Quatre, with an eyebrow slightly arched. "Just passing time, I assure you," he said. "Besides," he added. "I got your attention right here, Winner... In my pants."
The blond youth choked, flushing bright red. He quickly grabbed for his glass of water, buying a moment of time with which to compose himself, assuming the most neutral and innocent expression he had. Leaning close to the green-eyed pilot, he murmured, "Oh yes, you do indeed have my attention. And with a comment like that, I believe I'll be demanding *your* attention after all this is finished..."
"I look forward to it, my dear Mr. Winner," Trowa said, with a small smile.
Duo watched the exchange with a tiny smirk before rising from his seat. "Thank you for the wonderful dinner, Relena. I think I'm going to take advantage of the momentary peace and quiet and head to bed," he said with a polite nod.
Relena smiled back. "You are very welcome, Duo. I suspect it's been a long day for everyone... I'm swaying as I sit, to be honest. Good night to you, and good night everyone, I think I will retire also. Just let Pargan know if you need anything. I'll see you all tomorrow."
"Good night, Relena. Trowa, Quatre, look forward to talking to you guys tomorrow. Sallah, Wufei," Duo said, once again nodding in their direction.
"Good night, Duo," Trowa called, shaking his head slightly. "Relena," he added.
He then stood and looked down at Quatre. "I think I'll head in too." Then he walked over to Lady Une and took her hand. Kissing it gently, he smiled at her. "It is nice to see you again," he said.
"Gallant as ever," Une said, smiling at the tall youth. "It's good to see you again, too."
Glancing over at Zechs and Dorothy, he bowed slightly. "Good night," he said.
Quatre stood, nodding to everyone at the table. "I must admit, I could use some rest myself. Good night. It's wonderful to see you all again, and to meet you," he inclined his head towards Sallah. "I look forward to all the celebration tomorrow, Relena."
Turning, Trowa headed for the door. Once there, he held it open for Quatre.
Outside, Heero found an empty bench and sat down to contemplate what had just happened. Leaning back, his attention was focused inward as he tried to figure out why the kids needed a chaperone in one of the most secure places on the planet. "Hn," he remarked, glancing up once to see them moving a short distance away.
Wufei inclined his head to Lady Une, and then briefly, to Zechs. He stood up and looked to Sallah, a question in his eyes.
"It's alright, I'll find my way back later," she said. "I wanted to explore the grounds outside a bit...didn't have the chance to do that earlier."
Wufei nodded and then bowed to her slightly and left the room.
TBC
End of Part 19
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