23 Dec 2000
DISCLAIMER: All Gundam Wing characters are property of Sunrise, Bandai Visuals, Sotsu Agency, and Asahi TV. This work is not written for profit, but for entertainment purposes only.
PAIRINGS: 6x13 in this chapter
WARNINGs: long yaoi lemon scene; sap; angst
Relena had been attending to a few state matters in her office upstairs and was descending the staircase when she thought she heard sobs coming from the drawing room. They were muffled, but when she put an ear up to the door it was clear that Noin was crying.
"Brother," she said softly to herself, "did it really need to be this way..." She frowned at the door and then decided that her brother should at least know how Noin was taking things. Firming her resolve, she set out to find him.
It didn't take long, as he and Treize were still on the terrace, Treize behind Zechs, his arms tight around the blond man. They were looking out over the gardens, towards the lake and talking softly when she came out of the house.
"Brother - I really do need to speak with you."
Zechs turned suddenly, breaking the contact with Treize, but the older man slid an arm casually around his shoulders and regarded Relena with a mild expression.
"What is it, Relena?" Zechs asked quietly.
She looked at Treize, who appeared, against all good manners it seemed to her, to not be going away. Zechs followed her gaze.
"Anything you say to me you can say in front of Treize, Relena. The man has known me for most of my life."
It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but she realized that it wouldn't change anything to argue with him. "Very well, she said, "I want you to know that Noin is in the drawing room, crying. Did you really need to make her cry? Honestly, Zechs, even if you *did* somehow feel compelled to break things off, why couldn't you have done so in a kinder manner?"
Her brother gave her a long look. "It may be difficult for you to believe this, Relena, but it was a decision both Noin *and* I had come to. Noin deserves a husband who can love her as deeply as she loves him and as long as Treize is alive my deepest feelings will always be for him. I can't change that, and I wouldn't want to even if I could."
Treize pulled him closer for a moment and gave his arm a squeeze to say a silent 'thank you.'
"You've broken her heart, you know," Relena said sadly. "But... I suppose your feelings for Treize *are* very deep." She looked up at Treize as she spoke. "I believe you were very kind to my brother when he was alone in the world. I... I thank you for that. Things were so much simpler for me, being younger, and taken in by the Darlians." There was a hesitation in her voice and then she added, "I'm glad someone... glad *you* were there to be with him."
"It was my great pleasure to do so, Princess. From the moment I met your brother, when he was but six years old, I believed him to be the person I wanted with me for the rest of my life." He smiled, very faintly. "Sometimes it happens that way, you know."
"Yes," she said, her tone vague, "I know what that's like."
"Relena," Zechs broke in, "I'll do everything I can to make this easier for Noin. But it seems to me that the one thing that will be most effective is time. I really do hope that in time she will find her happiness with someone who can return everything she has to give. I love her - that's still true - and what I want for her, most of all, is to be happy. I hope you can understand that."
Relena sighed, her face turning towards the gardens, and she wiped one, solitary tear discreetly from her eye. "I suppose I do understand that, Brother. But you're right - feeling better will take some time."
She turned, heading back into the house but stopped at the doors leading in. "Are... are you two going to have a wedding?" she asked, looking back at them.
Zechs looked at Treize, who looked back, an amused smiled on his face.
"Yes indeed we are, Princess," he murmured. "And yours will be the first invitation that we address."
"That's very kind of you," Relena said. "I... I look forward... to that..." Nodding politely at the two of them, she walked slowly back into the house.
"You're pregnant? Noin are you sure?" Sally was staring blankly at her friend, trying without success to understand what was happening.
"Yes, very sure," Noin replied, growing calmer by the minute. "I've taken the test several times - I hope you'll forgive me for taking one of the boxes from your medical bag. I wanted to be sure when it happened."
"You wanted - Noin!" Sally said sharply, "Are you telling me you *planned* this pregnancy?"
"Yes." Noin looked back at her, and didn't flinch a muscle.
"With Zechs or without Zechs?"
"Without. This was entirely my own decision," Noin explained, standing up and walking to the window. "You had told me I was ovulating, and last night, after dinner, I made a decision to take advantage of that piece of knowledge." Her voice was calm, but sad, and she stared out at the gardens with a grim expression.
Sally's head was still spinning, however. "Did the man even know what hit him?"
That brought the ghost of a smile to Noin's lips. "Not really. It was more of an ambush than a direct skirmish."
Sally put a hand to her forehead. "Okay, honey, just tell me one thing. Tell me that you told Zechs about this - about the baby. You did, didn't you?" Her voice was almost pleading.
Still gazing out of the window at the late morning haze, Noin shook her head. "I didn't want him to know. If I'd told him, I know for certain that we'd still be engaged and that he'd be marrying me three days from now."
She crossed her arms over her chest and blinked back tears that were threatening again. "I love him more than life itself, but I would never, ever want to feel that he was with me out of obligation. *Never.*"
"Damn it, Noin!" Sally swore softly. "You need some sense shaken into you! Do you realize how difficult being a single parent is going to be? That's a full-time job, on top of what you do to make the ends meet. Are you ready to take that on?"
"Yes," Noin murmured. "Yes, even though it'll be tough, it's something I want to do."
"And what about the reminder you're going to have every time you look at this baby, Noin? Are you prepared for that, too?"
Noin hesitated but at length she nodded again. "That'll be Zechs's gift to me. I'll think about it every time I look at our child - *our* child, Sally. Something that I can have and hold and love forever - something he and I made, just the two of us."
"Oh, honey..." Sally stood up and crossed the room, wrapping an arm around her friend and pressing their cheeks together.
After several minutes she pulled back a bit and looked her friend squarely in the eye. "And where do you plan to bring up this baby? Will you be staying on as a Preventer? What's the next step?"
"I want to go back to space," the dark-haired woman said firmly. "But not Mars... I contacted Une last night and it seems the new colony in the L4 cluster is looking for a sector chief. I'm leaving tonight."
"Tonight," muttered Sally. "Well than we'd better get that checkup done. Why don't we use your room upstairs."
Noin turned from the window, her face sadly determined. "Right. Then you can help me pack."
"Care to take a walk with me, Treize?" Zechs said softly after Relena had gone into the house.
"Of course," the other man said. "Where is our destination?"
"We don't have one," Zechs answered, reaching out and taking hold of Treize hand.
He walked first to the rose garden and asked Treize to choose a flower. After looking around a bit, the older man pointed out a deep crimson bloom with a hint of gold at the very center. Zechs picked it carefully, gently broke the thorns away from the stem, and slid it behind his own ear. Then, with a sultry smile, he led Treize away down a path that led away from the lake.
They had walked maybe ten minutes in companionable silence when Zechs spoke. "What shall we do for the wedding?" he asked. "I assume not many people know you're alive. Would you like to keep it that way?"
Treize thought for a moment and then replied, "Yes... yes I think I would. Perhaps the ceremony could be small, with just a few friends." He gave Zechs a sidelong glance and a rather teasing smile. "And your sister of course."
The look was returned. "Oh, of course," Zechs said gravely. "Actually I was thinking of asking her to be my best man..."
Treize laughed and shook his head. "No you can't - it would break Howard's heart." He paused for a moment and then added, "Unless, of course, I took him as my Matron of Honor."
That earned his a soft whack on his arm. "Can you never be serious? Even for a moment?" Zechs chided.
"Oh, I suppose I could," Treize drawled, "but it's so much more amusing to do otherwise when I'm around you..." Forked eyebrows were wiggled suggestively at the blond.
"Is it now?" Zechs murmured, lifting his hands to Treize's arms and, still walking, pushing the other man towards the edge of the path.
Treize was now walking backwards and pushing half-heartedly against his attacker. "Yes, dear friend," he said with amusement, "you are ever so much fun to tease. It makes you frown so adorably."
Zechs frowned. "You mean like this?" he said in a softly dangerous voice, pushing Treize farther into the woods off the side of the path they had been walking, the stalking forward, forcing the former General to back up further.
"Yes," Treize breathed, "staring steadily into Zechs's eyes and allowing himself to be pushed backwards. "Just like that... oh God, Miri, but you're a feast for the eyes..."
"For the eyes," Zechs repeated, his voice low and sultry, "and for other parts as well..."
He had backed Treize up to a large linden tree in the middle of a silent woods. The older man looked around briefly, then turned his gaze to Zechs again and slowly smiled. "Oh, Miri," he whispered, "please let me..."
A hint of a smile ghosted over Zechs's lips before he said, "Down on your knees before your King, nobleman. What business have you to be walking in my royal hunting grounds?"
Treize sank happily to the ground, practically smirking up at the blond man above him. He rested his head on the tree trunk behind him and stared up at the vision - pale gold hair spilling over one shoulder, azure eyes flashing in contradiction to the luxuriant bloom in his hair. "I beg you pardon, sire," he said breathy voice, "I was doing something I ought nought to do and deserve the full measure of your punishment. So tell me, your majesty, what can I do to get myself back into your most excellent graces?"
Zechs's own smirk broadened. /Damn, but he's good at this.../ "I suppose if you pay me a tribute I could consider *not* having you thrown into the dungeon."
Treize narrowed his eyes, cat-like, and practically purred. "And what sort of tribute would your royal highness find suitable?" He leaned forward a bit and nuzzled between Zechs's legs. "Something pleasurable, perhaps?"
Letting out a long sigh at the intimate touch, Zechs sighed happily. "Yes... yes I think that would be a good start..." He reached out and leaned one arm against the tree trunk. With the other he reached down and ran his fingers through Treize's hair, tugging the man closer to him and then slowly opening his fly. "Make it good, my noble lord," he growled softly.
The older man let out a soft groan of anticipation and drew Zechs's shaft out, falling on it like starving man would a feast. He could hear Zechs's breathing change as he pleasured him, gradually reaching around the blond to cup him close and drive him deeper in. It felt like heaven to be there, in that green place, doing such a terribly wanton thing.
"That's it, oh, that's the way..." Zechs was moaning softly, his hips beginning a slow rhythm that pushed him deep into the warmth of Treize's mouth. it wasn't long before he felt himself tensing, his thrusts taking him all too quickly to the edge of release. "I'm close," he breathed. "So... close - ahhhhhhn!"
Eyes closed, Zechs through his head back and gave a sharp cry of pleasure. Treize hands held him fast, the older man drinking in all he could before Zechs was spent, and leaned forward heavily, panting, and bracing himself on the tree.
"You are very practiced, my fine man," he said. "Now you can stand, and face the tree, to pay me the second part of your tribute."
Treize was in a warm, pleasant haze of desire and did exactly as he was told. "Anything Miri," he whispered, and stood, face close to Zechs's, lips brushing lips. "Or should I say, 'sire.'" A lean forward, and they fell into a long, lingering kiss.
"Yes, you should," Zechs murmured against his mouth. "Now I want you to stay quite still while I undress you..."
He began with Treize's shirt, clever fingers opening buttons like magic before his hands brushed the fabric aside and he rubbed the older man's nipples firmly.
Treize let out a stifled groan and pushed forward for more contact, taking Zechs's mouth again as he did. As they kissed, he felt Zechs slide his shirt from his shoulders and then brush something soft and velvety against his chest. He broke away gently and looked down to see the rose Zechs had picked. The blond was trailing it over his skin languidly, letting it tease at his nipples and skim the top of his trousers. Looking up, the two men's eyes met and for what seemed to Treize an eternity of moments they simply looked at each other. Their gazes were frank and adoring and the heat that rose between them was almost palpable.
"Now," Zechs breathed, "turn around and lean forward with your hands on the tree."
Smiling with pleasure, Treize nodded. /You underestimate yourself, Zechs... there *is* a kingly bearing in there somewhere... I can *feel* it./ "As you wish... *sire,*" Treize said softly, stealing one last kiss before turning his back to Zechs and leaning forward, braced on the tree trunk.
Zechs drew the rose's petals across Treize's back, at the same time reaching around him and letting down his trousers and underwear. They fell to his ankles and the rose caressed his buttocks and the delicate skin of his inner thighs.
Treize's eyes were closed in bliss. "God, Miri..." he whispered, "what you do to me... what you've always done to me..."
Zechs was pressed close to him now, his lips brushing Treize's ear. "All because I worship you, dear nobleman," he said breathily, and then drew the rose up between the older man's legs.
Treize gave a sharp, trembling cry and let his head fall forward, silky golden brown hair falling over closed eyes. Reaching around him, Zechs collected some of the clear drops of fluid that leaked from Treize's arousal, then continued to caress him with the rose as he parted the tight globes and rubbed at the small, quivering entrance. "Open yourself, Treize," he whispered, "your King demands it."
"Ah, yes!" the other man hissed, pushing back on the probing finger until it slipped inside of him, moving, stretching. It was followed quickly by another, which found the nub of Treize's prostate and rubbed it firmly. "Miri, *please*!!" he cried out, back arching as he pushed against Zechs.
"Are you ready for me," Zechs said, voice low and breathy.
"Yes... yes - ah *please* Miri, I *need* it!!"
"Then you shall have it, my good man," came the softly hissed reply as Zechs withdrew his fingers and slicked them over his own aching erection. Then he positioned himself and gave a long push in.
A pleasured growl was torn from Treize at the feeling of being impaled. His cheek was pressed against the tree's smooth bark as he moaned, "Do it, Miri, make me feel it..."
"You're *mine*, Treize," Zechs panted bringing the rose back around to him. "Just as I'm yours, you will forever be *mine* and mine alone..."
"Only for you," Treize whispered, clinging to the tree for support. "Only give it up for you..."
There was a pause and then Zechs's thrusts became longer and harder. At the same time, he reached around Treize again and gripped his arousal with a fistful of rose petals, crushing them against the man, rubbing in time to his own probing movements. "Treize - my gallant knight," he moaned softly.
Treize's eyes widened and then glazed over. "Ah, *Miri*," he said in a dreamy voice, "give it to me... I want it... everything you have... only yours..."
The fragrance of sex and crushed petals rose between them, both men driving each other toward release. Treize, having pushed back as far as he could onto Zechs, rocked back and forth a few times and then gave a long, low moan, filling the blond man's hand and pounding his fist on the tree, so intense was the pleasure.
That drove Zechs over and he pulled Treize backwards, pushing in as deep as he could go before flooding him. "Mine," he whispered, barely audible. "Mine, mine, mine..."
"Eternally, love," Treize breathed. "For endless time..."
They had returned to the palace two hours later and cleaned up in Zechs's bath. Now Noin was packed and Zechs had asked to drive her to the airport, where she would catch a plane to Paris and from there to the L-4 colony cluster.
The dark-haired woman had said her goodbyes of everyone, excepting Treize, who stayed discreetly in Zechs's suite and napped.
Walking up to Sally, she smiled weakly. "Don't worry about me. I'm pretty tough, you know. I'll be fine, really."
Sally tried to smile back. Her friend had always been understandable, eminently sensible in fact, in everything she did with one exception: anything that had to do with Zechs Marquise. As Sally hugged her, she knew that it would be quite a long time before Noin would be "fine."
As they drove away from the palace in the small, red sports car in which Zechs had found Treize's last note, Noin looked over at the tall blond who'd been part of her life for the last 14 years. It was hard to believe that the time had come to put the dream of him, and a life with him, behind her. But the thought of the baby comforted her and she was able to talk to him about her new post until they arrived at the airport.
Now they stood at the departure gate and it was time for goodbyes. Once more Zechs wrapped long arms around her, holding her as closely as he could. "I love you Noin. I always will. No one else could ever have been what you've been to me. Thank you so much for everything... and every time..."
As she burrowed against his chest, Noin squeezed her eyes tight shut. /It's going to be a boy, Zechs... Sally told me... I hope he looks just like you.../
Then she pulled away from him and gave a last caress to his cheek. Fighting the tears that threatened, she stared into his eyes. "I know you'll be happy and we'll see each other again someday." /Someday... when I'm brave enough to tell you.../
He watched her walk onto the plane, eyes full of anguish, still, at what he knew he'd done to her. She sat down at one of the plane's windows and raised a hand to him. He raised his, and blew her a kiss, then watched as the plane moved away from the terminal and disappeared into the deep blue of the summer sky.
("I Know Him So Well" by Tim Rice, Benny Anderson, & Bjorn Ulvaeus)
Noin kept her eye on Zechs's face as the plane taxied out onto the runway. She watched at the window until she couldn't see him anymore, then turned forwards again and took a photo album out of her bag, opening it to the first page - a picture of the two of them as eleven-year-old cadets at Lake Victoria. Zechs was looking young and very serious. She herself was simply looking proud to be standing next to him...
*Nothing is so good it lasts eternally
Perfect situations must go wrong
But this has never yet prevented me
Wanting far too much for far too long...*
She turned a page and found a collection of photographs of Zechs when he hadn't known she was taking them. These had always been her favorites - the candid looks he gave - because he would smile more often, not looking nearly as serious as he seemed to in formal pictures. He was polishing his boots, watching a mobile suit make a landing, and, in one of them, smiling at the antics of some of his bunk mates. He wore only large sunglasses, and looked very young, and innocent.
*Looking back I could have played it differently
Won a few more moments, who can tell?
But it took time to understand the man
Now at least I know I know him well*
The next several pages were shots of him without his glasses. He had taken them off so rarely, but she could remember the first time she'd seen him, caught him unawares with out them on, and felt the world turn under her. /I could have looked at him for an eternity that afternoon... and after that, it was history.../
*Wasn't it good? Wasn't he fine?
Isn't it madness he can't be mine
But in the end he needs a little bit more than me
More security (he needs his fantasy and freedom)
I know him so well*
Several pages went by with formal shots of their class during parade days and one afternoon when Treize and Dermail stopped by to review the cadets. Treize was in one of the pictures, looking young and extremely handsome, confidently reviewing the troops. /Did I ever have a chance, Zechs? Somehow I just doubt it.../
*No one in your life is with you constantly
No one is completely on your side
And thought I move my world to be with him
Still the gap between us is too wide*
A photo of Zechs receiving the Cadet's Trophy for their class. it had been a close run thing between them, but when it looked too tight, she had deliberately linger for too long on one of her MS repairs, and the award had gone to Zechs. She had to smile when she remembered him eyeing her suspiciously for days afterward.
*Looking back I could have played it differently
Learned about the man before I fell
But I was ever so much younger then
Now at least I know I know him well*
A large photo was next, of the two of them at a formal Academy dance. They had been allowed to dress in civilian clothing and Zechs looked every inch the young nobleman in his evening clothes. She stood beside him, one arm tentatively in his, in a long, emerald colored dress that she had been able to borrow from one of the other girls. He looked calm - she looked desperately happy.
*Wasn't it good? Wasn't he fine?
Isn't it madness he won't be mine
Didn't I know how it would go
If I knew from the start...
why am I falling apart?*
It looked enough like a wedding photograph that the tears came back in a sudden rush. She remembered how she'd felt that night. Her friends had been encouraging her to tell Zechs how she felt about him, but she had again demurred. His feelings for her didn't seem to be anything other than friendly - hadn't been since she'd first met him, but it hadn't changed her feelings. Even then, barely 13 years old, she had been hopelessly in love with him. She had wanted to marry him even then, to have his children and be his partner in everything he did.
/That's all I wanted... was it so much to ask? But what I didn't know was that someone had gotten there ahead of me... gotten into his heart and had become so precious to him that he'd never be able to forget him. Well damn you, Treize Khushrenada... damn you for finding him first, and for doing such an excellent job.../
*Wasn't it good? Wasn't he fine?
Isn't it madness he won't be mine
But in the end he needs a little bit more than me
More security (he needs his fantasy and freedom)
I know him so well*
/At least now I know it's not all my fault - not completely my failure to attract him, seduce him, whatever it would have taken. I was merely a trespasser on ground that was holy to Treize... and battling that particular knight, I was sure to lose. Better to cede to him what truly belongs to him... I have a young knight of my own on the way, and he'll be sweeter and more handsome and more brave than any man alive, save his father./
*But in the end he needs a little bit more than me
More security (he needs his fantasy and freedom)
I know him so well*
She found herself holding her hand against her belly and more tears fell. /I'll take good care of our son, Zechs... he'll have everything you ever wanted for. I promise./
Owari
(:./kumiko/rosen20)
