04-Jan-2001
Title: Heero's Chrismas Lesson (An Extended Family Fic/Songfic)
Author: von (sablexo1@yahoo.com)
Archive: GW Addiction and if she chooses, Darkflame
Category: sap, AU
Rating: PG
Spoilers: just for Mission: Arcadia
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners. Our stuff is ours. No money being made here.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
WARNINGS: AU (Alternate Universe), Original Characters
Notes: This is about the characters from the 'Mission: Arcadia'
fic, whom we also wrote about in 'Mini's Trick or Treat'. It is an homage to 'Kenny's Gifts' by Bonne. If you haven't read MA, this might not make any sense. Curious? Check it out from my and Bonne's, or Ravyn's sections on GW Addiction or at Darkflame's Archive. I offer my deepest apologies for using my friend's wonderful characters, but it was Christmas and this just popped in there! ^__~
It is dedicated with all my love to the authors of the Ex-Fam team:
Bonnejeanne, RavynFyre, Diane Davis, and Kateri Marie.
Heero got Christmas. For him, however, it was a time always tempered with pain. Christmas Eve, most especially, brought back memories of war. This time, however, everything was different and almost quite new.
He watched, with some interest, as his koi had carefully pulled the entire thing together in that magical way that was Duo's forte. With each element, the songs, the tree and decorations, he saw the response manifested in the wide-eyed innocent eyes of the little ones. Searching his memory, the Perfect Soldier surprised himself by finding a few moments in his own life where he, too, had enjoyed such pure joy as he saw before him. Invariably, his eyes moved to Kenny. With that uncanny sense that they both shared, Heero knew without words that something was not right. Instinctively, he moved to where Kenny was and quietly sat down. Immediately, his Prussian blue eyes detected slight changes in the little boy's body. He could almost feel Kenny relax and for awhile that was all that was necessary. He would not intrude. Heero's plan was just to be there for whatever came.
Glancing up, Heero's eyes swept the room. Within each face, he saw the bittersweet sadness mixed with hopeful joy. Everyone is trying, he thought. And that is what it's all about. It became abundantly clear to him that initiating a war at this time of the year, while strategically sound, was the cruelest cut of all. In short, it sucked, even for a man who claimed no god, or religion, because the meaning of the season had grown far beyond any one sect or affiliation.
As his eyes turned towards Kenny once more, he felt a stab of pain in his heart so profound that it took his breath away as he battled guilt and depression for every life he'd stolen in the senseless war. His mind supplied him with the vision of Kenny lined up in Wing's sights, and then changed to show all of the kids on the killing side of the falling buildings, replaced by the little girl and her puppy.
Swallowing hard, Heero looked up and found violet eyes looking back with understanding. He saw the lopsided grin and reached up quickly catching a small, foil wrapped candy that Duo had aimed at him. He saw Duo shrug, then smiled at the small piece of candy labeled Kiss in his hand. The pain around his heart subsided, as Heero felt himself drawn back to the present. He unwrapped the candy and placed it in his mouth as he gave Duo a short nod of approval. Later, he would show him what the moment had meant and what lessons he had learned. Feeling eyes on him, Heero glanced around to find Kenny watching him too. He acknowledged with another 'all clear' nod, watching as Kenny returned with a "Hn" before returning to what he had been doing.
Suddenly, Heero looked down as Duan sat in his lap. "So Heero, you buy this Santa Claus thing?" the braided boy asked.
"Hn," Heero responded, affirmatively.
Duan frowned deeply. "So, what proof do you have?" he asked.
"You're here, aren't you?" Heero responded evenly, watching as Duan processed the information and then grinned.
Amazing, Heero thought, feeling his sense of equilibrium return. Without him, without all of them, I am just a tool. With them, I exist. Remember.
As the evening wore on, Heero kept an eye out for Kenny. Something was not right.
A long time later, Heero's eyes opened in the darkness. He smiled, feeling Duo wrapped around him like a living Christmas ribbon. Blinking, his head turned towards the door as that 'not quite right' feeling washed over him again.
Carefully, he extricated himself from the braided one. He kissed Duo softly on the cheek and stood up, pulling on pants and a sweater. Reaching the door, Heero moved out.
It wasn't long before he spotted his target. It was Kenny.
Not intruding, Heero caught Kenny moving from the Computer room out the door. Resisting the strong urge to follow him, Heero slipped into the room where Kenny had been and brought up the information on the screen. Moments later, Heero smiled. He finally understood.
Operation Silent Tail was underway.
With great curiosity, Heero watched as Kenny walked around the neighborhood. Everything about him was full concentration. Several times, Heero thought to break cover, but decided against it. Something inside told him that this was Kenny's mission. He knew that Kenny would figure it out.
While watching, Heero thought of a few things that had been worrying him, as well. Issues such as how was he going to be a good parent and how the hell was he going to provide guidance for them without screwing them up like he was screwed up. Suddenly, he saw Kenny nod to himself and move with more determination.
"Mission Accomplished," he said, quietly.
As he moved back to his room, Heero nodded to himself. He, too, had a plan.
Slipping back into bed, quietly, Heero heard the front door open and shut. Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms around Duo and settled back down. Merry Christmas, Kenny, he thought, knowing what his next moves would be.
Waking up again, Heero smiled as he read Kenny's note. Taking the ring, he tried to slip it on his long slender fingers. Heero felt his skin tingle as the plain gold band take position on his finger as if it belonged there all along. Looking down at the bed, he saw Duo, still asleep and a note left not too far from his hand as well. Leaning down, Heero moved the long braid aside and kissed the back of Duo's neck. "Merry Christmas, Duo. I'm going out for a minute. You might wanna open your eyes. Santa Claus came last night," he said against Duo's ear.
"Hn?" he heard his koi mutter.
"Ai shiteru, Duo," Heero said, softly, then stood and dressed again.
Across the street, the older son of the family, Patrick, opened the door. Looking up, he saw one of the Stepford people, as his parents had referred to them. Personally, Patrick had no problem with them. As far as he could detect, they didn't seem to have many females across the street and that fact only served to impress him.
"Hello," he said, "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Heero said, looking down at the ten year old. "Is your Mother awake?"
"She's up. Come on in. I'm Patrick. Sorry about my psycho sister. I saw those guys jumping off the roof and into the tree..That was cool."
Heero followed the little boy. "But it was dangerous too," he said.
"Yeah, but that's what made it fun. Still, those guys looked like they knew what they were doing." Then, "Hey MOM! We got company!" he called out.
Looking back at Heero, he said, "Don't let her scare you. She just freaks out all of the time. Girls are like that."
Heero watched with some interest and nodded, remembering Relena's reaction to him years before.
The lady of the house paled when she saw 'That Boy From Across The Street'. He was standing in her house... On Christmas day... She took a few deep breaths to gain her composure.
"Merry Christmas," she said, tightly.
"Merry Christmas," Heero repeated, as he stopped himself from giving his usual "Hn" reply. "Look, I'm sure you want to get back to your family, so I'll be brief. I'm sure I'm not the best parent there ever was. I don't have your experience. I just wanted you to know that I'm the best those kids have got. I know my kids and I know what they're capable of. They are special and they do special things. That's not to say that we'll let 'em do anything and everything they want, we won't. I'm sorry if they scare you. They're good kids with big hearts. They been hurt a lot and we're just trying to give them a chance at a better life. I hope you can understand that."
The lady of the house blinked. She looked at the young man before her, then glanced at her son. Just then, her little girl walked into the room and gasped.
"Stepford!" she cried out and watched as her mother turned sharply in her direction.
"Out!" the lady said, distinctly. "Now!" Turning back to the young man, she smiled warmly. "Please excuse my daughter's outburst, Mr..."
"Yuy," Heero replied, taking the woman's offered hand. "Heero Yuy."
"Mr. Yuy. Please call me Madeline. Your children are... special needs children, right?" she said, with great compassion. "I now understand."
"You do?" Heero asked, somewhat puzzled.
The lady nodded. "And may I say, what brave people you are to take on such a task. I applaud your courage Mr. Yuy. As a mother and a parent, I understand that it is not easy to raise a child. They don't exactly come with a manual. However, to take on the challenge of foster parenting children who aren't even your own, well that puts you pretty high up in my books," she said, very moved.
Patrick looked up at Heero and gave him a 'thumbs up'. His estimation of the older boy skyrocketed as he watched his mother dissolve into a quiet puddle.
"Hn," Heero remarked. "Thank you," he said, catching himself.
"Can I offer you something to drink?" the lady said, regaining her composure.
"No thank you," Heero replied. "I've gotta get back to my..family."
A short while later, Heero pushed open the door to the house. The first thing that he felt was warmth. For the first time, he realized that the house was not a fortress to seal the world out, but a place to come back to. He heard the voices of the children and smelled scent of cinnamon and baking in the air.
//Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I closed my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open //
Moving a little further in, he saw Tryan sitting cross-legged on the floor. In his lap, was a little kitten who both mewed and purred as he, Duan and Carter took turns petting it.
//Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open //
The door to the kitchen opened and Heero smiled as he watched Duo emerge with a saucer of milk. He watched as his love bent down and placed the milk near the boys, then sat down beside them. Without you, I only exist, he thought. All of this Christmas had come about because of Duo and Heero made a silent vow that in the years to come, it would be one shared by the both of them.
He moved a little further inside and his eyes fell on each of the little boys. First Wufan, then Carter, then Tryan, Duan and then Kenny.
//If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope he's not like me
I hope he understands
As Heero moved towards the little group, he heard laughter from the kitchen, two voices belonging to Wufei and Sallah, blending. He saw Kenny with that impossible smile on his face, and one hand wrapped around Duan's braid. He'd gotten it. Kenny had found Christmas. It was Heero's turn next.
//That he can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world
With arms wide open...//
He saw the little boy's head turn and anticipated the reaction in those eyes that were so much like his own. For the merest of seconds, Heero saw the question form in Kenny's face. 'Is it ok?'
Heero smiled. 'Hai' his soul responded. He knelt down and glanced up at Duo. Without words, he slid his arms around Kenny and Duan. I will never again withhold my heart, he promised, silently. "Merry Christmas," he said softly, then hugged each of the boys and gave them his pledge in turn.
Finally, he settled next to Duo and slid his arm around the violet-eyed pilot with both protection and the physical need to be in his presence. Leaning over, he startled Duo by kissing him deeply as he renewed all the promises and words spoken between them. Giving all of himself to the ones he loved, was Heero's Christmas lesson.
Owari
von
Please send comments to: sablexo1@yahoo.com