18-Aug-2001
Title: Hereditary Pains 2/2
Author: Sony_Mouse (Sony_Mouse@hotmail.com)
Pairings: If you've read the original (like you should've) you'll
know the pairings. But come on, what's the ONLY thing I write??????
Warnings: I can't think of any warnings, I can't think of any, there's nothing really you should be warned about. Normal Universe, Two OCs (Nate and Lizzy).that's it I think
Archive: www.gwaddiction.com If you've not read the original, 'Hers,
Yours And Mine', I suggest you do. (or not, you'll just not like this one as much)
Disclaimer: GW not mine, kids are
Author's Notes: Ok, BIG mistake, I accidentally made Lizzy 12, she is IN FACT 11. And I should thank a few people, Lady Shinimegami and Shini. They both helped me flesh out a lot of my ideas and read v.1
of the sequel (entitled Crap, I'm not joking either, that was its name). SO you guys ROCK for doing that for me :)
It had been over a month since Duo had made his upsetting discovery about the kids. Since then, he'd spent all of his time buried in deep piles of paperwork and making appeals to the courts. Basically driving everyone nuts along with him. He was very easily annoyed, got little sleep and made everyone around him worry constantly.
This included a young Lizzy Peacecraft who was now in the middle of one of her lessons. It was now October and getting rather chilly outside, the leaves were beginning to fall off the tress, fluttering to the ground as the young blond practiced her moves under Wufei's watchful eye.
She was a very quick learner, and practiced every chance she got. Smart, biting wit and deadly moves, the young heir was quickly growing up to be much like her father.
But on this particular day, she was as distracted as much her surrogate father was. Making her clumsy and completely unable to perform a lot of her difficult moves. Eventually the Chinese warrior realized that there was no use in any more practice and motioned that she should sit down underneath the tree that they practiced near.
Sitting down beside the tired girl, Wufei tried to figure out just what was making her so worried.
"Out with it Yuy, what's eating you up so much that you can't even perform simple tasks."
Sighing, Lizzy knew that she had to tell someone. "It's Duo... I'm worried about him. He's been acting so weird lately and I think it's got something to do with us."
"Ah, I see. Well you are right, it does concern you."
This alarmed the young girl even more. "Really? Do you think he wants to get rid of us, that he's tired of having us around? Maybe he wants to live alone again."
Shaking his head, Wufei opened up to the girl as he would to any adult he respected, she may be a woman, but he knew she wasn't weak, and treated her better than most other people for this very reason.
"It is the exact opposite, he's afraid of being alone again, he's very insecure and I think he fears that he might lose you and your brother. Maxwell's in the process of trying to adopt you right now."
"But we won't leave, we like it here... I couldn't even think about living without Duo, it'd be weird."
Suddenly the blond haired girl brightened, her prussian blue eyes glowing with untold mischief. "Maybe if he had someone else, he wouldn't feel so insecure. He just needs somebody to watch over him."
"I'm not sure Maxwell would appreciate you playing matchmaker for him, he's very picky with who he goes out with. I've only ever known him to ever like one person in that way." Wufei sounded oddly bitter when he said this, but it was so minor that there was no way Lizzy could have picked up on it.
"You don't have mince words, I know that he was with my father, and I know he likes other guys."
Slightly worried at her words, the dark haired man tried his hardest to persuade her against the foolish idea. "It would be impossible for you to find someone he likes AND trusts, he won't just go out with anyone."
Giving Wufei an once-over that made him feel extremely uncomfortable, she smiled to herself, schemes already starting to pop up in her head. "Just leave it to me, I'm sure I'll be able to find someone."
"You what?"
Smiling down at her younger brother, Lizzy walked around him as he sat on the floor drawing some homemade comics about 'The Great Shinigami Man'.
"I want to set Duo up!"
"Again?"
"Well last time didn't work out, but that's because it was someone he didn't know, I just have to find him someone who is single, worthy, and a good friend of Duo."
"Like who?"
Crossing her arms and giving Nate the smuggest grin she could muster, she replied crisply. "Chang Wufei!"
Worry and something else filtered over Nate's small face, betraying his great dislike he carried for the idea. "What? No, no, no, no, no! This is a stupid idea. I don't want Duo to go out with some guy."
"Would you rather have him alone all day waiting for us to come home from school?"
"Yes!"
"Well fine, but I'm going to find him someone to make him happy."
"We make him happy, he doesn't need anyone else!"
Rolling her eyes, Lizzy gave up on trying to convince her little brother. "I guess you're just too much of a baby, too young to understand anything about love. Well I don't need your help, but give me one week and Colonel Chang will be moving in with us."
She left the room practically skipping, leaving her brother to somehow masterfully display a perfect scowl and pout at the same time.
Realizing that his efforts were being wasted on thin air, he decided to go find the one person who would be able to cheer him up.
Throwing his pencil crayons aside, the small boy jumped up and ran out of the room, searching all through the house until he came upon his overworked 'uncle' sorting through mounds of paperwork.
One glance at Nate and Duo was in instant paternal mode, scooping up the upset boy in his arms.
"What's wrong little buddy?"
"Stupid Lizzy."
"Are you two fighting again?
"No... maybe... yes... But it's all her fault, she doesn't think we make you happy."
"Oh, don't think like that. You should know just how happy you make me. You personally saw what I was like before. So don't ever doubt how glad I am that you guys are here with me now."
Looking slightly unsure with himself, Nate asked the question presently on his mind. "Do... do you think you'd be happier if you had a boyfriend?"
Duo froze for about a millisecond, honestly thinking over what the boy had just asked. But before Nate could become even more worried, he grabbed the small chin, forcing the 8-year-old to look directly into his violet-blue eyes.
"Nothing in the world, not a boyfriend, nor a million dollars, nor the ownership of the colonies, could make me happier than I am right now living with you two. I don't crave a boyfriend, nor do I want one. I have all I want right here."
A childish grin spread over the cute features, showing just how happy the boy really was. Duo winked and Nate hugged him back as hard as he could. Being possessive in a way that Duo found incredibly adorable.
"Okay, you get going now. I have to finish up these forms, but when I'm done we can work on your costumes for Halloween. Have you decided what you want to be yet?"
Nodding enthusiastically, Nate yelled out his answer. "I'm going to be Shinigami."
Rolling his eyes, and talking to the ceiling, Duo groaned out loud. "Oi Heero, you've created a monster."
Halloween itself was only a week later, and all four Gundam Boys showed up at Duo's house in ridiculous costumes to take the two children around town.
By the time Quatre and Trowa arrived, Wufei was already discussing justice philosophy with Lizzy, while Nate clung to Duo, telling him all about his day at school.
"And then in band class, the teacher went and dropped... Hey! It's Uncle Quatre and Uncle Trowa. Wow, you guys look great... what are you?"
Trowa was the first to step forward and pose, dressed in long white trousers, and a very formal tunic with lots of accessories, plus an old sword he'd borrowed from Wufei, he spoke in a mock formal voice. "I'm Prince Charming."
"Is he ever!" Dressed in flowing pants, a loose silk shirt, a bandana around his head, another borrowed sword, Quatre dropped his voice low. "And I'm a manly pirate, beware ye ol' prince."
Duo saw a stuffed toy glued to his shoulder and piped up.
"Oi Quatre, is that a dead parrot on your shoulder?"
"It's not dead... it's resting!"
Duo laughed at the two who were putting on the show for the children and in turn presented his own costume. "It was the only thing I could find on such short notice, I've been busy lately as you know."
Quatre was speechless at first, not knowing how to proceed. "You going as a priest?"
Duo was dressed in a long black robe with the familiar white priest neckpiece and had his sleeves rolled down all the way. He stepped forward to show off his rosary. "That's Father Duo to you, ye ol' heathen."
"What about you Wufei?"
Standing up off the couch, the Chinese Colonel walked up beside Duo wearing a similar black robe, but with no white collar. "You may address me as Judge Chang, be careful or I'll find you guilty. I'm the master of justice."
Trowa smirked at the two young men. "I thought you were supposed to dress up as thing you're not normally."
Duo shrugged with indifference. "I tried to go as ugly, but there was nothing able to hide my incredible beauty."
Not able to resist the open target, Wufei added to the comment "You mean there was nothing able to hide your incredible ego."
"Same thing."
Ignoring the mock fighting, Quatre turned to the two small children, giving them a bright smile. "So what are you two supposed to be?"
Lizzy, who was dressed up in a long brown trench coat and a funny looking hat, waved a magnifying glass in front of her. "I'm an undercover detective, solving the world's greatest mysteries."
She was practically shoved aside as Nate jumped in to show what he was. "I'm Shinigami!" He was dressed in a long black robe, much more flowing than either Duo's of Wufei's, and in his right hand, he held a long metal shaft that Duo must have given him.
"What's that Nate?" Smiling, the boy flipped a switch and a long thermal blade shot into the air, nearly slicing the head off of Quatre's 'dead' parrot.
"Shit!" Quatre yelled in surprise. "Duo take that thing away from him right now!"
"Don't worry Q, I taught him everything he needs to know about handling my scythe, safety being the most important thing of course."
"Duo, he nearly chopped my head off. Either take it away from him, or I'll use that thing on you."
Grumbling a bit to himself, Duo turned off the thermal blade that he'd used during the war and put it aside in anther room. He came back out carrying some plastic scythe he had bought just in case. Twirling it in his fingers he handed the harmless toy to the young boy.
"Here, little buddy, guess you'll have to use this one, next time only turn it on when people are further away from you. You know Quatre, he really could handle that thing, I've been teaching him my scythe moves, though I must admit it's more Lizzy's thing."
"That's... better." Quatre said as he looked at Nate play with the toy scythe, he then glared at his braided friend. "Duo, you sure to have an influence on children."
"What can I say, I make an impression on kids."
Wufei rolled his eyes. "I think it has more to do with the fact that you share the same mentality."
"Watch it, justice boy, you're talking to a priest here, I might have you excommunicated!"
Pretending to tremble slightly, Wufei looked all 'worried'. "Oh no! What will my Buddhist guru say when he hears that."
Quatre interrupted the battle of words when he caught sight of the time. "Children, and that means you two." He was pointing at Quatre and Wufei. "Halloween waits for no man. Shall we get going?"
Lizzy immediately jumped into the conversation, trying to put some of her schemes into play. "I want to go with Uncle Trowa and Uncle Quatre, I haven't seen them in awhile, and Nate wants to come too. We can go ahead and you guys can catch up with us later." She pulled at Nate's robe covered arm, but he clung tightly to Duo's hands, knowing exactly what she had planned.
"I don't want to go with them, I want to stay with Duo."
Trying to fix the situation, Duo tried to make a compromise. "Lizzy, you can go on with them, Nate can stay with us."
Putting on her best pout for show, Lizzy looked devastated. "But I really wanted Nate to be there."
"Oh! Well Nate, couldn't you just go with your sister this once?"
"No no no no no no no no!" As Nate repeated the mantra, he dug his hands deeper into the clerical robe and buried his face in Duo's side.
"Com'on Nate, don't be like that, your sister really wants you go with her, we'll be right behind you."
Lower lip extending in an even more powerful pout than his sisters, Nate reluctantly agreed to go, he really couldn't say no to Duo, even when he wanted to. Glaring hard at his sister, he took her hand reluctantly, only turning back to briefly send a death glare in Wufei's direction.
Duo joked as the group walked away. "Hey Nate, smile for me, you might get your face caught in that glare forever. I've seen it happen before, TWICE actually. Just ask Uncle Wufei, he's one of the victims."
"Baka..."
"Hey, I'm just calling it how I see it"
As soon as group was gone, Wufei walked over to the couch and sat down, giving the other Quatre and Trowa a head start on the streets.
"I'm afraid you were just duped, Maxwell."
Slumping down besides his old friend, Duo gave him a goofy grin. "Impossible! I can't be duped."
"Has Lizzy ever tried to set you up?"
"You bet!" Laughing out loud, Duo shared the story with Chinese soldier. "She once had this really attractive teacher back in grade 4. She didn't do her homework for weeks and tried to act badly just so I would be called in and have to meet him. But he wasn't my type, way too happy go lucky. So all she ended up with was extra homework and me teasing her about it for weeks."
"Well, she's trying again."
"Really? With who? I hope it's not that new teacher, she's a real witch."
Shifting uncomfortably Wufei looked straight at Duo with something like apprehension in his eyes, not that the braided man noticed. "You're looking right at him. She told me at our last practice that she was going to try and set you up so you wouldn't be so lonely.
Giving his friend a wide smile, Duo chuckled once again. "That Lizzy, she really does have a kind heart, but she should know that I'm never going to date again. I don't think I ever even dated when I was with Heero. It just kinda... happened." A sad expression suddenly replaced the shinning eyes and bright smile.
"So you don't think you'll ever even try again?"
Shaking his head, Duo smiled bitterly. "Once was enough, and I guess that I'm not really over Heero. What I had with him was special; it was once in a lifetime. There's no way I could ever replace that."
Wufei nodded his head slowly, disappointment just barely seeping through his controlled expression. But Duo wasn't looking; he just stared at the wall with a far off look in his eyes.
"Besides, ever since Lizzy and Nate came to live here, I feel like Heero's back with me. I mean, sure they both have much of him in them, but it's more than that. It's like I can feel him here watching over us. Watching them grow, making sure I stay out of trouble." Shaking his head to get out of his daze, Duo's happy smile returned to his face. "I'm probably just boring you now, maybe even getting all weird on you."
"No Maxwell, unfortunately you are making perfect sense. But if you ever do decide that there is more to life than Heero, then there's lots of people out there who would be honored to be with a man such as yourself."
"Thanks Wufei, that means a lot coming from you. Anyway, enough of this solemn chitchat. The kids will be getting antsy if we don't' show up soon. Race ya!"
With that, Duo shot up from his position on the couch and ran outside in a hurry.
Wufei smiled sadly to himself. To the outsider it may have appeared that that braided man was completely oblivious to what was going on, but Wufei knew better. Duo had just kindly offered him a way out of this without any embarrassment or mess.
As much as Wufei might have wanted more, maybe since the first day he first met the incredible, long-haired pilot, he was still more than happy to just have this wonderful person as his friend. He admitted a certain amount of jealousy when Heero was able to drag Duo out of his shell; he'd wanted to be the one to do that. And for a long time he hated Heero for what he'd done to his friend, one of the many reasons that he'd yelled at him that fated day 3 years ago. But in the end, it was Heero that Duo loved, and neither death nor time would ever change that.
Putting the depressing thoughts aside, he quickly ran after the exuberant young man before he could get to far ahead of him.
"Come back here, you corrupt priest, Justice will not be beaten by the likes of you"
The regent of Sank, Milliardo Peacecraft, stared straight ahead at the offensive porch door. He was in a place he wasn't allowed to be, trying to meet with someone he wasn't allowed to meet, Duo Maxwell.
Although the children were brought every now and then to visit him at the palace, the meetings were always brief. Like Duo was petrified that Milliardo would try to whisk them away if he looked away for just a second. And maybe he would have, who knows.
But now was not a time to dwell on personal vendettas, he was here to make peace, it was his family's legacy that he had to watch out for.
Knocking once again, the menacing door finally opened up to reveal a very surprised and tired looking ex-Gundam Pilot.
"Zechs! What are you doing you here? You could get in a lot of trouble if anyone finds out, you have exactly one minute to explain yourself."
"I need to talk to you about the appeals you've been making, and please don't call me Zechs."
Pointing a finger at the taller blond man, Duo's eyes glared dangerously. "You know, you've got some nerve showing up here. I have every right to make those appeals, you and your stupid government can talk 'behind' my back all you want, and try to prevent me from adopting, but you can't stop me from at least trying."
"That's not why I'm here, I just want to talk, no funny business, I promise."
Throwing his arms up into the air in a show of frustration, Duo gave up. "Fine, I'll talk to you, but don't expect me to change my mind, I'm a better adversary than you ever game me credit for."
The Peacecraft royalty nodded his head in agreement before pushing past the smaller man. "Can I just see Elizabeth and Nate first, I brought them some gifts."
"Fine, fine. Lizzy! Nate! Your uncle's here to see you."
Both children rushed down stairs expecting to see one of the other Gundam Pilots, but were more than pleased to find their one real uncle standing at the doorway.
"Uncle Milliardo! You came to visit us!" Lizzy ran into his open arms, giving him a strong hug, happy to see him once again.
"Yup, and I brought you something. Here, open it." He handed her a nicely wrapped present.
Once opened, it revealed a very elegant lacy, pink dress.
"It's... pink." Looking up into the happy eyes of her uncle, she smiled anyway, telling him just one little white lie. "And I love it, thank you so much."
Nate was jumping up and down impatiently. "Now me, now me." Milliardo handed him another small package; he opened it in a flash of wrapping paper.
"Wow, a computer game. I'm going to go try it out right now."
Looking over at her brother's present in envy, she immediately followed him. "Wait, I'll show you how to use it. I'm older than you, remember!"
Both men smiled as the two children ran off to try the new computer game.
"So Zechs, shall we?"
"Yes please."
Duo led the older man through the house until they came to an old den that he used for 'Operation Adopt'. Sitting himself down he offered a chair to the regent.
"Sorry if it's not what you're used to, I'm only a poor street rat if I recall correctly."
"I'm not here to insult you, or threaten you or do anything like that."
"Then why are you here?"
"To make peace."
Duo couldn't help but roll his eyes at the comment. "Oh god, you really are a Peacecraft. I'm thrilled that you want to make peace and all, but it's not that simple."
"But it can be, I would like to propose something to you."
"Sorry Zechs, I just don't think of you that way, but I'm flattered."
Shaking his head in amusement, Milliardo let a smile creep up. There was just something about Duo Maxwell that put you at ease, even when you should be anything but.
"Very amusing, but I think you might like what I have to say."
"Really? Please continue, this should be good."
"First of all, I want you to understand my position. I have never had much of a family, the only one I ever knew was taken away from me at a young age, I think you can understand what that's like, even if it was under different circumstances." Duo nodded grimly, giving the man that much. " So it was a big blow to lose my only sister that I had just found again, but the one thing that made the blow much easier to bear, was the knowledge that she'd left behind two wonderful children. But thanks to Heero's foresight, my only family was once again ripped away from me, I have tried my best to deal with the situation, and with very little co-operation from you I might add. BUT I think I may have found a solution that would please us both."
Finding sympathy for the man against his will, Duo's face softened as he listened to what the man had to say.
"It's come to my attention that you are trying to adopt the Peacecraft children."
"Yuy children, not Peacecraft."
"Fine, either way, my niece and nephew. Normally this would be an impossible thing to grant, you would have unlimited power with the children, even taking them away from the throne if it suited your needs, or replacing the crown princess with anyone in your family, including yourself. You'd have to right to become regent, take over the country. You can see why this presents a problem."
"Zechs, I know all this, but you know that's not why I want to adopt them."
"I know, and that's why I'm here today. I'm willing to make a deal with you. If you can sign an agreement, or even give me your word, that not only will you do everything in your power to make sure Elizabeth inherits the throne, that you won't make a bid for the throne, nor let anyone else make a bid for it. Let the children keep their last names, AND grant me just once a week with both children to train them in matters of the court, then I will use every ounce of my power as regent, and third heir to the throne, to grant your application for adoption."
Duo was completely taken aback by the elegant man sitting before him. "You'd really do that... you'd really go through all that trouble for me?"
"No, of course I wouldn't. But I'd go through all that trouble for them."
Grin returning to Duo's shocked face; he shot out his hand to shake Milliardo's. "I give you my word as a Gundam Pilot, thief, street rat and whatever the hell else you want me to give my words as, that I'll agree to all those terms above. You, Mr. Marquise, have got yourself a deal."
Taking the offered hand, Milliardo shook it warmly, glad that Duo has at least been willing to listen. Nodding one, he then got up to leave. "You can expect the adoption papers to be delivered tomorrow, sign them and I'll take care of them personally."
Happy beyond belief, Duo showed him to the door. "Sure you don't want to stay for a bit? The kids would love to have a family member stay over for dinner."
"Thanks, but no thanks. I really have to get back before the reporters discover my trail and learn where you live. Besides, I think they already have the most important family member living with them. Don't listen to the news so much, you're a much better father than I would ever have given you credit for. Heero made the right choice in choosing you. Anyway, I'll be back in a week to torture the kids. Good bye."
"Thank you Milliardo, I mean it." With a mock look of shock, the regent turned around as he walked down the pathway.
"Milliardo? And I was getting used to you calling me Zechs."
"Hey I was just being polite, you'll always be Zechs to me."
"Good." With one last wave and a flurry of blond hair, the man turned around and began walking towards a waiting taxi.
Duo closed the door, unable to keep the joy bottled up for long. He ran into the room where Lizzy and Nate were now squabbling.
"Lizzy, it's my game, let me play."
"No, you had your chance and you lost badly, now it's my turn."
"Oi munchkins, can I ask you something?" Both children fell silent to look up at their surrogate father. The bags under his eyes had all but disappeared, like he was reborn.
"What would you say to joining the exclusive and, very small, Maxwell family lineage?"
Lizzy was the first to realize what he was talking about and literally jumped into his arms. "You mean you get to adopt us?"
"You bet. Although you'll have to keep your last name, but as far as the papers are concerned, you're mine, ALL mine! Besides, Nathaniel Maxwell Maxwell would've sound wrong somehow"
Nate ran over to join his sister, tackling the man who was in more ways than one, his real father. He had just been too young to really remember all that much about his birth parents.
Ruffling the small boy's hair, Duo flung him upside down and tickled him while he was defenseless.
"See Nate, I told you I don't need anyone else, you guys make me happy enough."
Lizzy seemed surprised at the words, and realized that were really directed at her, she'd been caught before she'd really begun. Darn!
"Oh, and before I forget, you both have political, diplomatic and royal training with your Uncle Milliardo as of next week. We wouldn't want the heirs to the throne ending up like ME, now would we?"
Both children groaned at the prospect of undergoing the training, but were happy that it was at least with their Uncle.
"You guys finish up here, I have to go write a letter, I'll call you over for supper when it's ready."
As he walked off, he could here the squabbling begin just as easily as it had stopped earlier. But the sibling rivalry only made Duo happier as he prepared himself for writing to an old acquaintance of his. He already knew what he was going to say.
'Dear Heero, You'll never guess what happened today... '
OWARI
The end, well what did you think of my little crossover. I was thinking of giving you a hint of the next one, but that would be WAYYY too mean. Plus it might give away too much. So tell me what you thought about this one (See I told you people out there, Zechs isn't an ass, just hurt like every one else)
K COMMENT NOW. Please sony_mouse@hotmail.com
(:./sony/pains2)
