12-Sep-2001
Title: Chasing the Crown, an Extended Family Fic
ExFam Authors:
RavynFyre - ravynfyre@hotmail.com
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: 1+2+5, 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.
Offered with respect and love and in honor of the losses so many have suffered.
Dawn came too early. In the hour before the first hint of the sun's radiant halo even began to lighten the tips of the cresting waves to the east of the estate, an engrained habit of early mornings held a very unusual struggle in Zechs.
Normally it was simply against a sort of apathetic exhaustion. It was a novelty simply to not want to get up.
The source of it, as ice blue eyes cracked open, still lay beside him, a proof, mingled with a welcome, lingering soreness, of last night not being some conjured up phantom born of his being left alone a couple months too many.
A pair of arms were still comfortably encircling him, undisturbed by the unconscious movement of sleep, and the form they belonged to outlined in the burnished gold light from the desk lamp, lazily falling over contours and angles, interrupted by an occasional glossiness, absent from his memory's archives and unnoticed last night.
In conflict with the warmth left by sleep and comfort, Zechs raised a hand and set it along his sleeping lover's side. He closed his eyes as the pads of his fingertips brushed along the line of a scar in their long caress. Another reminder of the reality.
Releasing a soundless breath, Zechs opened his eyes again and leaned forward slightly, brushing his lips across the bared shoulder of Treize - the only disturbance he would allow himself - then slid out of the comfortable embrace, intent on gathering up the clothes that had scattered across the room.
Even that brief shift was enough to awaken the bed's other occupant, unaccustomed as he was to the surroundings and presence of another person beside him. Treize's eyes blinked open, all traces of sleep and fatigue vanishing even as his pupils contracted to adjust for the equally unaccustomed morning light.
Reaching out reflexively, his fingers closed around Zechs' arm before he could move out of range. "Milliardo?"
If the touch hadn't stopped Zechs instantly, the simple question would have. He sat back on the edge of the bed, half turned to face the other occupant. "Just habit," he said, in both apology and response to whatever question he interpreted in the tone. "It's early. You can probably get away with a few more hours sleep," he continued quietly.
"Ah," Treize replied, the faint edge of a smile crossing his lips as his gaze wandered over the long lines of Zechs' body. "You always were an early riser, Milliardo. A habit which when one rarely sees daylight, is easy to grow out of. Perhaps yet another thing that would do me some good to return to," he mused as he sat up. He reached out and traced the contour of Zechs' cheek with the fingertips of one hand, peering at the Preventer with a kind of wonder that spoke more of his previous loneliness than any words could have. "With incentive such as this, it would be an easy habit to regain."
Zechs' own hand covered the one at his face briefly before trailing along the lines of Treize's forearm. "If it's any consolation," Zechs murmured, closing the distance almost instinctively. "I've always had a hard time picturing you with a tan.... I have to admit, a couple more hours a day is suddenly looking like an appealing prospect now."
Treize smiled more fully, giving in to his impulse to pull Zechs into his arms. A small sigh of contentment escaped him as he rested his head against his lover's shoulder for a moment. "Having any hours in a day has suddenly become more appealing," he said quietly, before continuing in a bare murmur, "All of life has."
Not disagreeing with that, Treize could feel Zechs nod against him. The blond Preventer settled a little closer, a little more fully before letting out a long breath that didn't quite bridge into a sigh. "I started to miss you before we even parted ways. Thinking you were gone didn't help as much as you'd suppose." Arms that had returned the embrace tightened around Treize, loosening only to run hand down the former general's back, as if another reassurance to himself.
"I'm so sorry, Milliardo," Treize breathed. "There are so many debts I owe you. I didn't think that I had a choice... another chance. I've been hunting It. I *am* hunting It, and I didn't want you to mourn me twice. None of it happened as it was supposed to have. It wasn't the vision I'd intended..." he said thickly. "It wasn't supposed to have touched you. Not you. But they've promised to help, and I won't let It harm you again."
"You were going to take It with you." The statement was flat, toneless in its conviction, but Zechs' expression was borne from the sort of anger that rose in the defense of fear.
"I'd thought it was the only fitting reparation I could make for loosing It upon the world," Treize admitted slowly.
"I don't think something like that could ever have been contained enough to lose," Zechs replied, picking up no tone with the statement. The idea of losing the other man before he'd even known he had survived sat like lead. "You taught *me* strategy. There's no contingency if a suicide mission fails."
"I have too much to live for now to consider suicide missions anymore, Milliardo. It was foolish and selfish of me to consider from the beginning. That is one debt which I'm not sure if I possess the power to repay, but I shall try. If it takes me the end of my days, I'll continue to try. If you'll let me," Treize offered, voice betraying none of the hesitance and fear he could feel within him that his earlier confession may have pushed away one of the truly good things left to him.
Zechs shook his head, a sort of tension easing at the promise of that plan being abandoned. "I don't want you to try," he said simply. "I don't want a 'debt' holding you here."
Treize released Zechs, pulling away only far enough so that he had a clear, unobstructed view of the Preventer's face. "No debts then," he conceded quietly, gazing into Zechs' eyes intently. "What of my love for you? Would that suffice?" he asked with painful honesty.
"Suffice?" Zechs repeated, voice breaking a little on the edges. "...No, suffice would be a gross understatement.."
Treize released the breath he hadn't even been aware he'd been holding, once again pulling Zechs into his arms. "Then know this, Milliardo Peacecraft: I love you. I will live my life, not for any debt or obligation, but for myself, so that I may share it with you and the daughter who's love and trust I will somehow truly earn. My time for hiding in shadows is past," he declared with the fire of determination befitting the former General of the most powerful military force on, or off, the Earth.
Before Zechs could respond, Treize turned his head, tipping Zechs' head up towards his own to claim the Preventer's lips for a kiss of matching fervor. "And neither heaven, nor hell, could bar our way," he murmured when he finally drew away for a breath.
Stolen breath gradually returned, the downward tilts of his head and long bangs hid all of Zechs' expression except for a wistful curl of his lips. "'And neither the angels in heaven above, Nor the demons down under the sea, Can ever dissever my soul from you soul,'" he replied quietly.
"Speaking of habits, I see that no one has yet been able to dissuade you from quoting overly melodramatic manic depressives," Treize observed with a smile bordering on wickedly amused. "I'll culture you yet, Milliardo," he continued, pointedly not mentioning that he, himself, had been studying Poe's works intently over his last two years of self-imposed exile.
Almost achieving a deadpan expression, Zechs replied, "I've dragged you down far enough to recognize them, I might sully you yet."
"Caught," Treize admitted as he brushed his lips across Zechs' cheek briefly. "I look forward to it."
Une read the reports for the third time and shook her head. Apparently, Marcus McCormick had vanished into thin air. This did not bode well.
"Keep looking until you find him," she said to the young officer standing before her, effectively dismissing him.
"Yes, ma'am," the young man replied and turned to leave quickly. He felt grateful not to have awakened the lady's full ire, by bearing bleak news, but also more determined to get the job done.
As he left, Lady Une settled back in her chair and tried to approach the problem from a different angle. "Oh, Mr. Treize, how would you handle this?" she mused.
Almost as if in answer to her sighed question, her comm unit beeped imperiously, demanding her attention.
"Yes?" Une said, answering the call.
"Une," Zechs' voice greeted her over the line. Not taking the time for pleasantries of a more casual conversation, he began, "Would it be possible to pull you out of that office for a while, my Lady?"
Lady Une sighed, heavily. "Yes," she said, thinking the proposition over. "Perhaps a little break is needed. What can I do for you, Zechs?"
There was a momentary pause on the line. "Nothing, I think, that wouldn't be better said or done in person," Zechs said.
"That's fine. Where should I meet you?" Une answered.
"At your earliest convenience, the fencing salle in the manor," Zechs replied then with another slight hesitance, he added, "I will be meeting you there with a guest."
"I can be there in ten minutes," Lady Une said.
"Thank you. Until then."
"Until then," Lady Une replied and broke the connection. She didn't spare time for curiosity as she collected her thoughts and bag. Giving instructions to her next in command, she then headed out of the offices and to the Manor.
Just out of view of Zechs' comm unit, his 'guest' smiled wanly before glancing out the window. "I'm not sure if I should be amused at the irony, or fearful of the proximity of meeting with the Lady in a weapons practice room," Treize observed gamely.
"On the positive side, all the weapons have guarded edges," Zechs said, pushing the chair back and standing up. With a slight smile in return he apologized, "I'm sorry for the slight indiscretion, but if I didn't give her any warning again, I'd be in far more danger of practice foils than you might."
"Again?" Treize asked with a delicately arched brow as he closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms about the taller man indulgently.
Completing the embrace naturally, Zech nodded. "Her first meeting with the pilots' new family came after mine. The look afterward could have peeled paint."
"If all of their children are as astute as young Carter, I can well see why," Treize murmured with amusement. He sighed deeply, simply enjoying the fleeting moment of peace before another small chuckle erupted from him. "It occurs to me, Milliardo, that you are a dangerous man to be near."
"Oh? Just now?" Zechs said, feigning light disappointment.
"It occurs to me again," Treize corrected himself contritely as he tightened his arms slightly. "Being near you makes it hard for me to think of anything else," he sighed contentedly. "Feel free to ignore the ramblings of an attention starved hermit, bent on forestalling his fate as long as possible," the ginger-haired man teased gently.
Zechs laughed quietly, pulling back only far enough to trace deliberately lazy fingers along the side of Treize's face, "Not for the world," he murmured. Then, with a slight sigh he seemed to gather himself, "But we should start towards the room... though she might organize as much, I'm not sure Lady Une might be as patient as fate."
"Fate is organized?" Treize asked, pondering it for a moment before he shook his head. "I'm certain that that does frighten me," he murmured, releasing his hold upon Zechs and moving towards the door. "It smacks of a 'glorious destiny' or some grand scheme. I think I've had enough of not controlling that myself."
Catching up to the other man a few steps past the entrance of the room, Zechs shook his head slightly. "To think that everything was completely random, in the face of everything, is worse to me. Too much, in retrospect depended on someone else's decision or a few seconds of action."
"Ah," Treize replied, holding up a finger towards Zechs as he disagreed, "But much of our lives, too much, has been under another's influence." His eyes darkened slightly at the thought before he plowed on. "The randomness of chaos appeals to me. It makes plotting ever so much more challenging," he said with a half-smile. The smile faded after a moment, replaced by a quiet thoughtfulness that was interrupted by a mirthless cough of laughter. "He was right. It *is* easier to break free from It with you."
A startled glance from beneath long bangs flickered in Treize's direction, before Zechs focused again on the wandering hallways. "I wonder if it is because I really haven't done anything, or if what I've done hasn't satisfied, but it feels like it hasn't been as long as it has." With a sudden, sardonic smile, he sighed, "Now who's rambling..."
"Hardly. I believe it's called 'thinking out loud', Milliardo. The time will come." Treize shot Zechs a veiled look as the Preventer opened the door to the fencing salle and indicated that Treize should precede him. "Our time will come."
Lady Une arrived at the Manor and made her way to the fencing salle. She had thought to look in on Mariemeia, but did not want to leave Zechs and his guest waiting.
As she faced the door of the room, she realized that Zechs had not given her very much information at all. It was only then that she wondered who the guest might be. Raising her hand, she knocked on the door, then pushed it open.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting," Lady Une said, her eyes lighting on the tall, blond Preventer.
"Even had that been the case, it would be more than forgivable, in light of how long I've made you wait, Lady," Treize replied, turning to face Une and meeting her eyes with the air of an animal trainer facing his prized lion. Both were in their element, yet the beast could still well turn on the trainer, who was wise to keep that fact in mind.
The unmistakable timbre of voice cause Lady Une to falter a step. Her gaze turned and locked on to the apparition before her. Her brown eyes widened slightly as conflicting messages ran through her mind.
After a moment, she took a half-step forward, then looked over at Zechs, knowing that he would confirm that she was indeed insane. Not waiting for the confirmation, she looked back and saw the same apparition standing in the room. "M...Mr. Treize?" she said, softly, feeling as though she had stepped back in time.
Eyes soft in silent understanding, Treize watched the storm of thoughts and emotions swirl across Une's face for a long moment before he crossed the room to stand before her. Slowly reaching up, he rested his fingers on her cheek, an apologetic smile upon his lips. "I'm real. Milliardo isn't to blame. He's barely known twelve hours himself."
Lady Une felt the very solid fingers against her cheek as she looked up again. The voice resonated through her and she found herself nodding slightly at Treize's words, though she barely understood what he was saying. "How...?" she heard herself say, trying to gain some control of her emotions.
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "Much of the time after my defeat still remains a mystery to me. I do know that I was found, for I tasked the honor of my rescuer, requiring his silence on the subject of my survival." Treize paused there, tilting his head as he took in the smooth planes and soft curves of Une's face, the stunned haze in her brown eyes, the slightly too rapid hitch to her breathing. He felt a fresh pang of regret flash through him for the grief and pain he'd caused her. "At the time, I had thought that I wasn't meant to have lived, Lady. I regretted my new fate for a long while. It was my rescuer, once again, who helped to show me the error of my thoughts." A slow, secretive smile spread over his lips for a moment. "He brought me back. Again. I would ask that he remain free from recrimination."
Une took a breath. "Who?" she asked, watching Treize's face. Then she shook her head. "Forgive me, I don't..." she began, then looked into the blue eyes once again. "Mariemeia... you have a ... daughter," she added in a rush, so as not to forget anything.
Treize nodded, finally lowering his hand from Une's cheek. "I know. She is part of why I have returned. It's time I quit hiding, and assumed my responsibilities again. I haven't the right to ask it of you, who cared for her in my stead this last year, and I have no way of adequately thanking or repaying you for that, but I would like to see her soon... If you think she would have me."
Lady Une looked down, nodding her head. "Of course," she said, feeling some of the implications of this event cross her mind. At Treize's last words, she looked back up. Placing a hand on his chest, she said, "Oh yes. I have no doubt of that at all. You are like a dream to her. You're her Father and I have done my best to let her know that she was not always alone and all that I could about you. You are the only relative she has. I will speak to her, if you would like for me to do so."
"You know her better than I, at this point, Lady. I trust your judgment," Treize answered before shooting a quick glance back to Zechs. "But first, there is much we should probably talk about. Questions I'm sure you have that perhaps I might be able to answer."
Une followed Treize's glance, then stood back a little, reluctantly. "I do, I know. For the life of me, however, I can't think of one, right now," she said. Looking back up at her mentor and friend, not quite believing he wasn't going to vanish, Une felt a great well of emotion build inside. "If you would give me a moment," she said, feeling a sudden lack of air in the room.
A few long paces from both of them, Zechs had discreetly backed away, giving room and a semblance of privacy as soon as it became apparent things were going better than Treize had seemed to anticipate. His attention had sharpened drastically at the explanations of how. There were only three possible, but he had a good instinct... but the conversation had diverted before it could be confirmed.
Not moving from his chosen spot yet, Zechs spoke up in the opening Une left. "You never did get around to who," Zechs prompted, tone not quite leaning one way or another.
"Wufei," Treize replied simply, trusting his lover's, and Une's, integrity where the realities of the Chinese youth and blame intersected.
Lady Une blinked as she turned towards Zechs. "Wufei," she repeated quietly, the irony not lost on her. "Excuse me," she said, and moved to where Zechs stood.
Une placed a hand on his arm as she looked up at the blond man. Her fingers gripped him tightly and Zechs could feel her tremble slightly. "Are you, okay?" she asked, concerned.
Having closed his eyes at Treize's answer, he seemed to give Une's question quite a bit of thought before opening them again. "Okay? I haven't quite figured that out yet," he replied. "But if you are asking if I am going to call Wufei out.. some things have changed recently between the two of us."
At first, Zechs' answer held little meaning for Une, then she understood. "I..." she began, feeling her chest constrict. "No... alright," she said, understanding where Zechs' thoughts were. "I'll be right back," she began again. "I... Just please don't let him disappear," she added, looking up at Zechs through eyes shining with unshed tears.
"My word on it," he said with conviction. He hesitated a moment, unsure of the boundaries of their friendship before settling for taking the hand at her side and giving it a light grip in reassurance, before released it again.
Une nodded once in acknowledgment, not daring to surrender to the promise of reassurance. The only concession she could make was to reach up and brush Zechs' face with her fingertips before turning to exit the room quickly.
Once a short distance away, Lady Une leaned against a nearby wall for support. Suddenly, she felt her knees give way and found herself on the hall floor with her head in her hands unable to hold the emotion and tears back any longer. My god, she thought. He's back... he's safe.
Back in the salle, Zechs walked back to Treize's side with measured steps, silently taking a seat on the practice mat only a short distance from Treize's feet. "Perhaps it wasn't the time to ask that," Zechs said, glancing once towards the doorway.
"If it was in your heart, it was time," Treize answered quietly, his blue eyes locked onto the door Une had just passed through. "I'm done with secrets. You've the right to ask what you will, Milliardo."
Shaking his head slightly, Zechs mentally pushed the subject aside. "You still call me that," he mused out loud.
Treize blinked, turning to glance down at the blond Preventer with a faint look of surprise. "You've always been Milliardo to me. Even before you finally abandoned the mask." He swallowed uncomfortably before kneeling beside Zechs, reaching out tentatively, giving the other man ample time to stop him from gently stroking his cheek. "I... can learn something else... if you wish it."
Not resisting the touch at all, Zechs leaned into it slightly. "No.. there's no need, I haven't given up that mask either."
Treize nodded slowly, shifting to gather Zechs into his arms, as much for the physical comfort, as to prevent his lover from seeing the tight uncertainty, fear, and confusion in his eyes. "As you wish."
"I'm just 'thinking out loud' again," Zechs offered as an apology, though he gave the phrase the same tone as 'rambling'. Shifting his legs beneath him to settle more against the ginger haired man, he murmured reluctantly, "As nice as it is... I'm not sure Une deserves two shocks in so short of a time."
"Agreed," Treize said tonelessly. "Come what may... I loved you, even when I was dead to you, and you were more unattainable dream than flesh to me."
Zechs' eyebrows drew together both at the pitch and the past tense of the other man's words. Even admitting to himself that he was being too sensitive to the space between lines, he slid his arms around Treize, and rested his chin on his shoulder. "Then don't stop, not after this long."
"I couldn't, even if you wanted me to, Milliardo," Treize replied.
"Then you are my safety in this," Zechs said. "Or else my sanity. One or both."
In the hall, Lady Une rose to her feet. Smoothing out the skirt, she collected her thoughts and moved back to the salle.
Remember your boundaries, she thought, mentally ticking off what she could anticipate and what she had previously taken on as a personal debt of honor. She knew that what she felt was the first wave of shock, other emotions would come later, but for now, she had other considerations to address. Unbidden to her mind, came the vision of Mariemeia, heavy-lidded and falling off to sleep. Memories to keep, Une thought as she opened the door, quietly and slipped inside.
Glancing into the room, she stopped suddenly and then nodded slowly to herself as she saw Zechs and Treize together. She then, cleared her throat audibly as a bit of warning and allowed them time to react.
Treize started guiltily, murmuring a very soft, "Too slow, it would seem," to Zechs before releasing the Preventer, rising slowly to his feet, and offering his lover a hand up.
Zechs took the offered gesture and climbed to his feet, not daring to look yet at the door, though a flush of red had colored his ears despite otherwise apparent composure. With a slight nod at Treize's words, he finally turned towards the door, not bothering this time to move away.
Lady Une moved into the room, still not quite able to believe Treize stood there. "Welcome back," she said, simply. "What is it that you, either of you, would have of me?"
Treize caught himself, stifling a wince at the brisk efficiency of her tone and steadying his voice before he replied, "Perhaps that is the question I should ask of you, Lady. I am no longer your Commander, and it is your life which I intrude upon now."
"True enough, but there is no war and I consider you both as friends," Lady Une replied. She then looked down. "You are not my Commander and yet that's what you will remain. As far as intruding, we have both done so. When I found your daughter being controlled and manipulated, I took it upon myself to intervene. I took her in, loved her as much as I could, but she is not my own. I'd like to help you with her, if I could. As to what I could ask of you, perhaps some advice as to how to proceed with a problem I'm facing at this time?"
"Oh, Lady... I'd be honored to have your help. I have the feeling," he said wryly, darting a quick look at Zechs before continuing, "That I shall need all the help I can muster. And I will always be at you service, in any way that I could assist you."
Lady Une looked up at Treize for a moment with great relief. "Thank you," she said, quietly. "It's not that our relationship is an easy one. We don't see eye to eye on things, but I've been trying very hard to look after her. She is a remarkable little girl. You would be proud. She regards you very highly and tries to do what she believes you would wish."
Treize frowned thoughtfully for a moment before meeting Une's eyes with a hint of discomfort. "It's not easy trying to correct another's mistake, Lady. I'm certain that she is not the only one I should be proud of," he said quietly. After a moment, he sighed and his expression cleared. "You mentioned a problem you are facing?"
Une glanced up at Zechs, then nodded. "Yes, I am trying to locate a man who has apparently vanished. He is Sally Po's husband, Marcus McCormick. Zechs put me on to him. He might have infiltrated the Preventers illegally, but to what end, I haven't a clue," she said.
At the news, Zechs face became a little more drawn. "I take it by that you mean disappeared from the guest suites early?" he asked.
"Yes," Une replied, as the shift in conversation brought about a measure of relief from personal matters.
Treize noted the expression on his lover's face with another frown of concentration. "Perhaps someone could fill me in on all the pertinent information when we are finished here," he offered.
"Yes, of course," Lady Une replied, hearing her voice in work-mode. "I'm certain Zechs can fill you in on the details better than I. The Preventers are monitoring all inbound and outbound traffic here and planet-wide. I'm afraid that is the best we can do now."
Looking from Treize to Zechs and back again, Lady Une paused. "So, what plans do you have now?" she asked.
Treize contemplated the question for a moment. "I had thought that perhaps I should finally meet my daughter, but you were planning on speaking to her first?" he inquired.
Une moved closer to Treize. Looking into his eyes, she said, "I think that meeting your daughter is an excellent idea. Please understand, whatever I suggest is just that at the moment... a suggestion. You are Mariemeia's father, I will abide by your wishes entirely."
Treize favored Une with a wan smile, reaching up to gently stroke his fingertips across her cheek. "World conquest is far simpler than children, isn't it?" he murmured with a sigh. "Perhaps you should hear this as much as my daughter should, Lady. I'm just a man. A mortal human being of flesh and blood, capable of making the same sorts of mistakes as anyone else. I have the same sorts of fears and doubts as any other man, and you are the one who actually knows her. In this, I trust your judgment. I have no doubts about your grace," he said, a hint of amusement as he emphasis the last word slightly.
Lady Une smiled. "Yes," she said, "I understand. I will speak to Mariemeia and prepare her as best as I can. All should go well, but if not, just have a bit of patience. She is a person in her own right. I have no doubts that she will love and accept you fully."
Once again, Treize nodded thoughtfully, letting his hand fall back to his side as his brow furrowed. "Patience is something... I have acquired some skill in," he observed wryly.
Une's smiled widened, fractionally. "Patience was never a problem with you," she observed. Then, she placed her fingers on his chin, lifting Treize's face to meet hers. "I have missed you," she said, softly.
"I'm sorry, Lady. I had never intended..." his voice dwindled off before he carefully enfolded her in his arms for a comforting hug. "There are a great many things in my life that I had never intended. It doesn't change the past, however. I'm sorry."
Lady Une closed her eyes for a long moment as her arms rose to circle around Treize. She felt herself relax and whatever protocol had been driven into her head from long ago, quiet. "Hush," she said, "You have no need to apologize. The past is the past. All that matters is that you are alive and well. The rest is rebuilding, or as a wise man once told me, it's all water under the bridge."
"As you wish, Lady," Treize replied. "I should release you to your duties again," he sighed regretfully, "I fear I've already kept you from them too long."
Lady Une took a deep breath. "I do suppose I should get on," she said. "Of course, I could send Preventer Wind in my place, since he is so very anxious to return to work from his somewhat forced vacation," she said, jokingly.
"My Lady, not for the world on a silver platter, would I take your job," Zechs replied in kind, ending it with the slight dip of a bow. "All respect meant, of course."
"Of course," Une said, then looked over her shoulder at the tall man. "Do I guess correctly that you wish to remain on vacation for the time being?" she asked.
He nodded, more soberly, "For a short time at least, if I may."
Reluctantly, Lady Une disentangled herself from Treize's grasp. She walked over to Zechs and took his hand, affectionately. "My offer still stands. Take as long as you like, Zechs," she said.
"Thank you," Zechs said, laying his free hand over hers in a warm grip. "I may still take you up on it."
"Excellent," she replied. "If you are ready now, I will speak to Mariemeia," she said to Treize. "If not, let me know. Right now, I believe she is with Wufei Chang, Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell and their children."
"By all means, then," Treize replied with a nod of his head. "Eight years is long enough to wait, without delaying another day."
"If I may ask another favor," Zechs said, looking back towards Lady Une.
"Yes, Zechs," she said.
"If you manage to meet with the pilots before I can get them a message, please let them know of the same update you gave me of McCormick. His further disappearance might be of importance."
"I will," Lady Une replied. "And I will speak with Mariemeia and call Zechs on his comm. Will that suffice?"
"Imminently," Treize replied gratefully. "Thank you, Lady."
"You are most welcome," Lady Une replied, then glanced up at Zechs before taking her leave.
It was the nearly inaudible crinkle of paper that actually dragged Mariemeia from sleep as she snuggled into her blankets on her bed. It wasn't so much the sound itself that did it, as it was the thought that was instantly conjured up as soon as her waking mind remembered what paper could possibly *be* crinkling under her pillow. Flipping over on her stomach, she delved under her pillow, pulling out the much folded sheet before flipping back onto her back and unfolding it, smiling happily as she held it over her head as far as her arms could stretch.
The white flash of her teeth and she bit gently on her lower lip didn't quite clash with he slow flush spreading up her cheeks, but it was a near thing, especially in conjunction with the oddly lucid-dazed sheen to her blue eyes. As she became aware of the slightly foolish expression on her face, she suddenly was thankful that the artist whose work she was admiring wasn't there to see her.
Not that she really thought Wufan would care all that much, she mused as she folded the Yin Yang drawing again and set it beside her pillow before pushing the blankets from her lap. But the boys would have to leave someday, probably within the week, and it wouldn't do for any of them to see her being so silly, even if it was just because it was so easy to be happy right now.
Pushing the thought of their imminent departure from mind, she hopped out of bed and skipped off to that bathroom for the morning necessaries and a shower. There would be time enough to dwell on the sad stuff later. For now, now she had to get all the good while she could before it got taken away again.
Damp hair dripping lazily into her eyes as she returned to her room again, she dove into her closet and dug out her favorite pair of comfortable jeans and the soft blue shirt that Lady Une had told her before matched her eyes nicely. Maybe it was okay to be a *little* silly after all.
Appropriately dressed, hair combed, shoes tied, and the scattered mess of her shower and closet neatly tidied again, she felt ready to take on the world. Or at least a handful of rambunctious boys. The final touch was the neatly folded paper, carefully tucked into her back pocket.
Wufan woke up early and remembered that he was in Kenny and Duan's bed. Both boys were still asleep and Wufan yawned and stretched his arms out carefully so as not to wake them up. He closed his eyes briefly, thinking that he might go back to sleep, but to no avail. A picture of Mei formed behind his closed lids and his dark eyes snapped open instantly. Concluding that his brain had now turned on and that he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, Wufan carefully slipped from the bed and padded out to the bathroom.
He heard, or thought he heard sounds from the big boy's room, but decided to not bother them. He washed his face and hands, then combed his hair, thinking about the previous day and the time on Earth. Not like we thought, he mused as he remembered the aborted mission. He thought of Mei and smiled to himself. It was ok that the mission was off, or that part of it, because Mei would be safe.
She probably thinks you're a dork, he thought suddenly, frowning slightly at his reflection in the mirror. She likes Carter... but everybody likes Carter. It's almost impossible *not* to like Carter. Duan, he thought. Duan had that hair and those cute bangs. All the girls like Duan. Or maybe Kenny. Kenny was cool. Kenny was very, very cool. Kenny named her Mei.
Wufan shook his head. Maybe he wasn't cool like Kenny or cute like Duan or Carter, or as entertaining as Tryan, but he was ... Chinese. And Mei did seem to like him. She even hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. At that remembered thought, Wufan blushed, then looked around the bathroom guiltily. It wouldn't do to have the guys walk in on him and ask him if he was sick or something. They'd already gone pretty light on him, but Wufan had no idea for how long.
He sighed. Then, the thought suddenly occurred to him that they wouldn't be staying too long on Earth and that he would soon be parting company from his new friend. It made his chest hurt to think about it, so he frowned with determination and made a silent vow to get as much out of this as possible before they had to leave. He also made a mental note to give Mei his comm code at home. He was sure that the others would like to talk to her sometime as much as he did.
Turning quickly, he went outside and to the room. Quietly, he retrieved his pad and wrote a note to Kenny, Duan and Wufei, letting them know that he had left the room to go in search of the little red haired girl.
Minutes later, he slipped from the room and walked down the hall towards Mei's room. Walking up to her door, Wufan raised his hand to knock and started slightly as the door suddenly swung open.
Mei stopped in her tracks, coming up short as she noticed Wufan standing just outside in the hallway, hand still upraised, with a brief look of surprise on his face. She couldn't stop the grin that took over her own expression of its own will.
"Morning, Wufan. I was just coming to see if anyone was up yet," she explained, one foot scuffing against the carpet unconsciously as she smiled at him again.
Wufan smiled himself as he noted that Mei had a very nice smile. "Just me, so far," he said. "The others will be awake soon though. I couldn't get back to sleep. Good morning, Mei."
"Why not?" she asked, cocking her head curiously. She became aware that he was still standing in the hallway, and she was still holding the door open. Shaking her head with chagrin, she glanced back at him and bit her lip sheepishly. "Sorry. Would you like to come in, or go back to your room, or take a walk or something?"
Wufan reached down, unconsciously, and took Mei's hand. "Let's take a walk. By the time we get back, they should be up and dressed," he said. "I couldn't back to sleep because my brain turned on. I started thinking about all of this different things, so I thought maybe I should get up."
She followed him into the hall, shutting the door behind her as she nodded. "I do that too, sometimes. My head will be awake, even if the rest of me isn't, and there's not much you can really do about it except accept the inevitable," she replied. "What kinds of things were you thinking about?"
"Uh, well... I was thinking about the mission and about you," he said. "I've had a good time here."
The fingers in his hand tightened a little as he explained what he'd been thinking about. She caught herself just before blurting out another question to further clarify what had kept him awake, deciding that now *wasn't* the time to be silly. It would probably just make her blush again anyway, and then he might laugh.
"Me too. I like things now. I... I was afraid, before," she admitted slowly, dropping her gaze to her shoes for a moment. "Last night was really fun!" she plowed on excitedly. "I've never gotten a chance to do that kind of stuff before."
"Well, I've never been to the beach before, but I know what you mean," Wufan said. "Come on, let's walk. Before we have to leave, I'll give you our comm code. We can talk to each other over the vid phone. It won't be as good as in person, but we can keep in touch... Umm, if that's ok with you?"
The smile she'd given him at the door to the suite she and Lady Une shared was nothing compared to the bright one she gave him then. Turning quickly, she gave him a brief, but very enthusiastic hug. "I'd like that a lot!" she replied as she released him and took his hand again.
Wufan smiled back, pleased that he had suggested something that caused her to be pleased. He liked the hug too and moved closer to Mei as she released him. Suddenly and for some reason he didn't quite understand, Wufan felt all of his doubts about himself slide away. He put his arms around Mei and hugged her tightly. "You don't have to be afraid, Mei. I'll protect you and so will the guys," he said.
"We'll all protect each other," she replied quietly. "I'm glad you all wanted to let me be your friend. I... I *don't* have to be afraid any more. Thank you."
"Look," Wufan said moving back to look at Mei, "Even if they didn't want to, I would have been your friend. I like you a lot. You're smart, you're cool and you're... you're pretty." Wufan felt his cheeks warm slightly, but felt that what he said was right and expressed what he thought.
Mei blinked in surprise for a long moment, her mouth open in a small, silent "Oh." As a matching flush slowly crept up her own cheeks, a hesitant smile edged onto her lips. "I... I like you a lot... too," she stammered, looking down at her toes as her mouth suddenly became to shy to finish the thought about how she thought he was smart, and cool, and cute, too.
Wufan smiled again. "Come on," he said, leading her down the hall. He knew he had a goofy look on his face, but for once did not mind at all.
Kenny opened his eyes wider after Wufan left the room. Smiling slightly, he sat up, rubbing the back of his hand across his eyes. He tugged Duan's braid gently. "You awake?"
"Yep," Duan answered, then yawned and buried his head under the pillow.
Kenny's smile widened and he got up, pulling on clothes and shoes. "He's got it pretty bad," he commented as he laced his hightops.
Duan pulled the pillow from his head, then slid down and over the side of the bed to the floor. "This is the first time he's kinda noticed one. Those two girls at the base liked him, but he didn't lose it like now," he said, lying on his stomach, looking up at Kenny.
"Well she's a bit different from the girls at the base," Kenny conceded. He shrugged. "I think it's kinda good for 'im."
Duan yawned again, then stood up. "Yes it is," he agreed, then grabbed his own clothes and started to dress. "So, what'll we do now?"
Kenny ran a hand absently through his mop of hair and shrugged. "The big guys might be busy for a while. I think maybe it's time for you and me to regroup. What do you think about all this? Earth... the mission... all the new stuff we've been finding out...?"
"Hn," Duan said, unbraiding his hair. He then retrieved a large toothed comb and his brush and walked over to the bed where Kenny was. "I think it's kinda weird, mostly," he said, handing the brush and comb to Kenny. He sat on the floor in front of him and thought some more. "I'm kinda disappointed about not getting to do the mission. The thing with *Dick* feels like back at the base. He's over the top. I get the feeling that something big is going to happen, but I don't know what. What about you?"
Kenny took up the comb and began carefully working through Duan's silky chestnut hair. "I'm not disappointed about the mission," he said. "It was just a means to an end - more information. Since that Treize guy is alive, we get more information from him than from his stuff if he were dead. Wufan's the history expert but I remember enough, I think. It makes sense that It would have been involved with the Barton attempted coup. These guys sometimes get caught up in their own history. I think It's probably doing something right now, only we don't know what it is yet. We have to be prepared for a big surprise, and ready to react when it comes. I know that when things come out into the open and we can see the enemy, our guys will take care of it. I have total confidence in them. But in the meantime we need to try and be careful, and keep our eyes open." He put down the comb and picked up the brush, pulling it smoothly through the untangled hair with careful strokes.
"That sounds right," Duan said, closing his eyes a minute. "Let's watch out for Mei too, and I'm remembering the others here. So, do you think that Dick is a crazy or what? I'm meaning like at the base."
Kenny nodded. "I think he's about as crazy as the General back at the base. But I don't think he's running things. I bet there's someone smarter who's really in charge. I don't think that guy's clever enough to think himself out of a paper bag if he had to."
"That's true," Duan said. "So what does Dick's boss want?"
"Whatever It wants," Kenny guessed, dividing Duan's hair into three sections. "So far that seems to be the death of the whole human race."
"Ok, that answered my next question. I was gonna ask if you thought Dick might just be a crazy and this was something that wasn't the same as the Crown. Oh yeah, I'm keeping an eye out for Rip and Jack too. We see them and we'll know we're at ground zero," Duan said.
Kenny nodded as he carefully wove the long braid. "I don't think they'll help much until they see if we can take care of ourselves. I think it's maybe a test like the doctor used to throw at me. But if we can keep from blowing it right off, they'll be there."
"Agreed," Duan said, raising his arms up and resting them on Kenny's knees. "We need to get with Carter and Tryan too. Maybe they have some more ideas."
"Hn," Kenny mentioned affirmatively. "Carter has ideas... I'm not sure he'll talk about them yet though."
"Well, he'll have to talk about something, because I wanna know where he went the other night... details," Duan said, with a grin.
"You work on him, then," Kenny said. "If anyone can get him to tell, it's probably you, Duan."
"Ok," Duan said. "We'll feed him first, then... Oh wait a minute. He'll probably know what I'm doin', so I'll go in straight."
Kenny smiled. He handed the end of the braid to Duan to tie off. "Leave it to you," he said.
Duan tied off the end of his braid and tossed it behind him. "Thanks," he said, then put the brush and comb away. "Wanna go see who's up?"
Kenny jumped off the bed. "Hn," he agreed. He stopped for a moment and looked at his friend. He was glad he'd gotten to fix Duan's braid today. He was glad Wufan was enjoying the friendship of Mariemeia because he knew that there wasn't anything in the world better than having a best friend. He had a sudden impulse to hug Duan, but it would seem weird so he settled for looking at him and then smiling briefly. "Whatever happens, long as we stick together..." he said, knowing he did not have to finish the sentence for Duan to know what he was saying.
Duan nodded. Impulsively, he hugged his best friend tightly. "Whatever happens..." he repeated, then let Kenny go.
Kenny felt a warm rush of happiness as he returned the hug and then let go. He grabbed Duan's hand and headed for the door.
Tryan woke with a start and sat up in the bed. He followed his first impulse, which was to check on Carter. Seeing the blond boy asleep next to him, Tryan relaxed. There was the tiniest bit of a frown creasing Carter's brow and Tryan reached down, carefully brushing it smooth. To his mind, having Carter was infinitely better than having Katrina as his big sister.
He did worry over Carter a lot, but Tryan also knew that Carter wasn't as fragile as people thought. Behind the sweet smile and angelic features was a very real and very fierce spirit, every bit as capable as they all were.
You're a little bit out of my range, he thought. But I saw you first and you're my best friend.
Carter smiled in his sleep and then woke up, his teal eyes opening wide with a blink. "Hi Tryan," he said sleepily and yawned.
"Hi Carter," Tryan said. "It's still kinda early. If you wanna sleep some more, I can wake you up later."
Carter shook his head and the blond curls tousled around his head. "I'm awake," he said. Then he smiled. "I'm glad," he said, his eyes dropping.
"Huh?" Tryan asked, then remembered what he was thinking about earlier. He smiled. "Yeah, me too," he said.
He slid down on the bed until he was next to Carter. "You did real good, yesterday. How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine," Carter said, reaching out to take Tryan's hand. "You did good too! When Trowa showed us how to do things with the horses, you already knew everything!" he smiled. "You even stood up on the pony's back! That's so hard!"
"All a matter of balance," Tryan said. "I can teach you some more when we get back."
"Cool!" Carter said happily. "And show me how to do a handstand too?"
"Definitely," Tryan said. "I'll teach you all the stuff I can. That way, later in life, you can get a job with me in the circus."
Carter nodded. "That's a very good idea," he said. He squeezed Tryan's hand in his. "I'll try really hard to learn and be good," he said, smiling.
"You'll be fine," Tryan said, then hugged Carter. "We can bill ourselves as the Magnificent Tryan and his Strawberry Shortcake."
Carter giggled. "Aww... come on!!"
Tryan laughed. "Ok," he said, "Tryan and his Magnificent... strawberry shortcake..?"
Carter shook his head, still giggling. "Okay, I want a favor... let's just make that name secret between us, ok?"
"Ok," Tryan said. "I got it covered. It's our secret... forever."
"Whew!" Carter said, and grinned. "Thank you!" He kicked his feet on the bed. "I wonder if anyone has started looking for breakfast yet?"
"Hn," Tryan said, "Why don't we do it, this time? It'll be a big surprise for old Duan."
Carter nodded and giggled. He jumped up and pulled on his clothes quickly. "Ready, magnificent Tryan!"
"Hey!" Tryan called out, barely getting on his shoes. "I am now, let's go!"
Taking Carter's hand, Tryan dashed out of the door and out of the suite.
TBC
End of Part 47
Please feel free to direct feedback to any or all of the authors!
ravynfyre@hotmail.com,
sablexo1@yahoo.com,
bonnejeanne@yahoo.com, Nixerchan@aol.com.