Me again. I know I haven't written any Gundam Wing fics in a while, but I've been stewing on this one for a bit. But since I'm going off to college this fall, this will proably be my last fic for a while. ::wipes a tear:: I'm going to miss you guys! But in the meantime, I have to finish this really quickly, before I leave.
But I'm gonna shut up now and let you guys read.
* * * * *
Past, Present, Future
by Grace Musica
Chapter One
From the Past...
* * * * *
M/N: This is a sequel-ish to 'The Other Maxwell'. I wrote it, and liked the original charaters, so I just stuck 'em in this story, too. If you've got time, I'd go read it first.
But! If you don't, or you've just forgotten the characters, here's a summary:
Elizabeth Maxwell Winner: American, 28. Lizzy grew up on L2 with Duo, and the two of them are the only Maxwell Church survivors by a lucky chance. They're closer than most biological siblings. Her father was married to Quatre's oldest sister when her mother (also his secretary) got pregnant. After multiple assassination attempts, Lizzy was born and lived most of her life out as a boy for cover. Twists of fate and the gods of Irony brought her to the Winner's door, where Quatre hired her (he still though she was a he). After she saved his life and dropped the guise, he eventually fell in love with her. As of now, they've been married two years.
Thomas Calvin Donovan Winner: Arab, 13. Thomas is Quatre's nephew/adopted son and Lizzy's little brother. Thomas looks almost exactally like Quatre (which is not only genetically possible, but REALLY scary), but acts more like Liz. Very overprotective of his sisters and quite a hothead, he's most times a source of comedy in the household.
Natalie Abigail Donovan Winner: Arab, 13. Natalie is Thomas' twin sister, and almost as opinionated as her brother. A bit quiter than most, Natalie has a twisted streak in her that can make her do some odd (and wicked) things.
Audrey Paige Donovan Winner: Arab, 8. Audrey is definately the baby of the family, and could get away with murder... If she was bad. Most times, she tries to help out as much as possible, but ends up making a big mess.
Marianna Maria Winner: Arab/American, 2. The precautious Winner heiress is named after both Lizzy's mother and Quatre's sister (Donovan had a thing for women with the name of 'Mary')
* * * * *
"Well, hey there, stranger!"
Quatre Raberba Winner froze in his position of the stairs, one foot inches above the next step down. Why the hell is my wife answering the door? Does she not know how many people are out to get us?
Trowa Barton, who had been following Quatre down the stairs, laughed at the shocked look on his blonde friend's face. It was even funnier, considering the fact that Quatre had been complaining not five minutes before about his wife's bad habits of putting herself in danger. "Quat, it's Lizzy. The woman laughs off assassination attempts, not to mention she's Maxwell's little sister. Would you expect anything less?"
"Not really," the Arab replied with a grin, lowering his foot to the step.
"Quatre? Quatre! Quatre Rab--oh, there you are!" Lizzy was standing at the bottom of the stairs, their two-year-old daughter perched on her hip. In her short sundress and bare feet, with her hair up in a loose, messy bun, the young American looked most unusual in the Winner house, but a welcome breath of fresh air all the same. This woman was the sole reason for most of the changes in the household, not to mention Quatre's constant good mood.
So it was hard for him to act mad, putting his hands on his hips and standing level on a step. "Woman! What have I told you about answering the door?" he snapped at her half-playfully, half-joking.
Behind him, Trowa bowed at Quatre's back and mouthed 'Wuffers' to Lizzy, refering to a new nickname Duo had given the short Chinese man, one that was looking at a lasting legacy. Children sure do pick up on things.
Lizzy failed to smother a giggle, and Quatre rounded on his friend, eyebrows raised.
Trowa suddenly became very interested in just how clean the stair railing actually was.
"You worry too much, Quatre," Lizzy told him, climbing the stairs to meet him.
Quatre stepped down a few himself and looked her straight in the eye. "Assassin... security breach... last week... ring a bell, dear?" The last was accompanied with a knuckle rap against the lady of the house's head.
Lizzy made a face at her husband. "It's a friend of mine, I told you she was comming by for tea!" she play-scolded, shaking a finger at Quatre.
Quatre caught her hand, and kissed the back of it. "Forgive me, milady, I forgot."
Lizzy looked at Trowa and rolled her eyes, but the brunette could tell she was loving every minute of Quatre's affection. Marianna reached out for her father, who immediately took her.
"Do me a favor and put Marianna down for her nap for me?" she asked innocently, while Quatre groaned.
"But she NEVER goes to sleep for me, Liz--"
Lizzy cut him off with a swift kiss. "Oh, you're just so sweet..."
As she swept downstairs to fetch her friend, Quatre turned and gave Trowa a 'can you believe her?!' look. Trowa just laughed. "You know you'd die without her."
"Yeah..." Quatre grinned sheepishly.
"Uncle Tow-a!" Marianna cried out, holding her hands out towards the brunette. Trowa laughed again, walked down to her and took a small hand in his own.
"Hey, you bad girl. Giving Daddy problems for me?" The precaucious girl nodded furiously, while Quatre gave him a look. Trowa grinned. "Thatta girl."
"Oh, yeah... and I corrupt children, right Quatre?" Lizzy asked sarcastically, climbing the stairs and giving Trowa a look as well.
"That's different. This one was corrupt from the start," Trowa replied, ruffling Marianna's dirty blonde hair, then tickling her. The tiny girl let out a scream of laughter and squirmed furiously, trying to get away from the merciless fingers, but found no relief as her father started in as well. The two Winners busy, Trowa turned his attention to Lizzy and her guest.
"After Marianna's asleep, you two can come and join us, okay, Trowa?"
Trowa nodded dumbly, his eyes rivited to the young woman behind Lizzy, trying not to let his knees give out. Her hair was cut short and dyed dark brown, and she was dressed in a Preventer uniform, not to mention she was twenty-one years older than the last time he'd seen her, but he knew it was her from her eyes.
The same eyes that had accused him.
Judged him.
Cried for him.
And had been the first to shine with anything other than contempt for him...
...Then they were gone, swept up the stairs, following the woman-child Winner to the tea room.
"...a? Trowa, are you okay?"
Trowa snapped out of his reverie, and the waving hand in front of his face ceased moving, then dropped out of his field of vision. His focus shifted, and Quatre's and Marianna's face sharpened. Both were wearing looks of concern, and Quatre tried to peer into his friend's eyes. "Are you feeling okay? You just went white as a sheet, like you'd seen a ghost..."
Trowa looked away. "Yes, I'm fine. Go and put Marianna to sleep, I'll wait for you here."
Quatre looked at him skeptically, but said nothing. He turned and decended the stairs, Marianna peering over his shoulder. Her eyes watched him, and she gave a wave as she turned the corner with her father.
Trowa managed to hold his composure before his knees buckled and he fell hard on his butt on the steps. He put his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands.
I've been alive for thirty-one years... I've been a Gundam pilot, endured a loss of memory twice, killed hundreds of people, and had the closest person to me leave... But seeing her again has just shaken me up more than anything.
I never thought I'd see her again.
Midii Une...
* * * * *
But I'm gonna shut up now and let you guys read.
* * * * *
Past, Present, Future
by Grace Musica
Chapter One
From the Past...
* * * * *
M/N: This is a sequel-ish to 'The Other Maxwell'. I wrote it, and liked the original charaters, so I just stuck 'em in this story, too. If you've got time, I'd go read it first.
But! If you don't, or you've just forgotten the characters, here's a summary:
Elizabeth Maxwell Winner: American, 28. Lizzy grew up on L2 with Duo, and the two of them are the only Maxwell Church survivors by a lucky chance. They're closer than most biological siblings. Her father was married to Quatre's oldest sister when her mother (also his secretary) got pregnant. After multiple assassination attempts, Lizzy was born and lived most of her life out as a boy for cover. Twists of fate and the gods of Irony brought her to the Winner's door, where Quatre hired her (he still though she was a he). After she saved his life and dropped the guise, he eventually fell in love with her. As of now, they've been married two years.
Thomas Calvin Donovan Winner: Arab, 13. Thomas is Quatre's nephew/adopted son and Lizzy's little brother. Thomas looks almost exactally like Quatre (which is not only genetically possible, but REALLY scary), but acts more like Liz. Very overprotective of his sisters and quite a hothead, he's most times a source of comedy in the household.
Natalie Abigail Donovan Winner: Arab, 13. Natalie is Thomas' twin sister, and almost as opinionated as her brother. A bit quiter than most, Natalie has a twisted streak in her that can make her do some odd (and wicked) things.
Audrey Paige Donovan Winner: Arab, 8. Audrey is definately the baby of the family, and could get away with murder... If she was bad. Most times, she tries to help out as much as possible, but ends up making a big mess.
Marianna Maria Winner: Arab/American, 2. The precautious Winner heiress is named after both Lizzy's mother and Quatre's sister (Donovan had a thing for women with the name of 'Mary')
* * * * *
"Well, hey there, stranger!"
Quatre Raberba Winner froze in his position of the stairs, one foot inches above the next step down. Why the hell is my wife answering the door? Does she not know how many people are out to get us?
Trowa Barton, who had been following Quatre down the stairs, laughed at the shocked look on his blonde friend's face. It was even funnier, considering the fact that Quatre had been complaining not five minutes before about his wife's bad habits of putting herself in danger. "Quat, it's Lizzy. The woman laughs off assassination attempts, not to mention she's Maxwell's little sister. Would you expect anything less?"
"Not really," the Arab replied with a grin, lowering his foot to the step.
"Quatre? Quatre! Quatre Rab--oh, there you are!" Lizzy was standing at the bottom of the stairs, their two-year-old daughter perched on her hip. In her short sundress and bare feet, with her hair up in a loose, messy bun, the young American looked most unusual in the Winner house, but a welcome breath of fresh air all the same. This woman was the sole reason for most of the changes in the household, not to mention Quatre's constant good mood.
So it was hard for him to act mad, putting his hands on his hips and standing level on a step. "Woman! What have I told you about answering the door?" he snapped at her half-playfully, half-joking.
Behind him, Trowa bowed at Quatre's back and mouthed 'Wuffers' to Lizzy, refering to a new nickname Duo had given the short Chinese man, one that was looking at a lasting legacy. Children sure do pick up on things.
Lizzy failed to smother a giggle, and Quatre rounded on his friend, eyebrows raised.
Trowa suddenly became very interested in just how clean the stair railing actually was.
"You worry too much, Quatre," Lizzy told him, climbing the stairs to meet him.
Quatre stepped down a few himself and looked her straight in the eye. "Assassin... security breach... last week... ring a bell, dear?" The last was accompanied with a knuckle rap against the lady of the house's head.
Lizzy made a face at her husband. "It's a friend of mine, I told you she was comming by for tea!" she play-scolded, shaking a finger at Quatre.
Quatre caught her hand, and kissed the back of it. "Forgive me, milady, I forgot."
Lizzy looked at Trowa and rolled her eyes, but the brunette could tell she was loving every minute of Quatre's affection. Marianna reached out for her father, who immediately took her.
"Do me a favor and put Marianna down for her nap for me?" she asked innocently, while Quatre groaned.
"But she NEVER goes to sleep for me, Liz--"
Lizzy cut him off with a swift kiss. "Oh, you're just so sweet..."
As she swept downstairs to fetch her friend, Quatre turned and gave Trowa a 'can you believe her?!' look. Trowa just laughed. "You know you'd die without her."
"Yeah..." Quatre grinned sheepishly.
"Uncle Tow-a!" Marianna cried out, holding her hands out towards the brunette. Trowa laughed again, walked down to her and took a small hand in his own.
"Hey, you bad girl. Giving Daddy problems for me?" The precaucious girl nodded furiously, while Quatre gave him a look. Trowa grinned. "Thatta girl."
"Oh, yeah... and I corrupt children, right Quatre?" Lizzy asked sarcastically, climbing the stairs and giving Trowa a look as well.
"That's different. This one was corrupt from the start," Trowa replied, ruffling Marianna's dirty blonde hair, then tickling her. The tiny girl let out a scream of laughter and squirmed furiously, trying to get away from the merciless fingers, but found no relief as her father started in as well. The two Winners busy, Trowa turned his attention to Lizzy and her guest.
"After Marianna's asleep, you two can come and join us, okay, Trowa?"
Trowa nodded dumbly, his eyes rivited to the young woman behind Lizzy, trying not to let his knees give out. Her hair was cut short and dyed dark brown, and she was dressed in a Preventer uniform, not to mention she was twenty-one years older than the last time he'd seen her, but he knew it was her from her eyes.
The same eyes that had accused him.
Judged him.
Cried for him.
And had been the first to shine with anything other than contempt for him...
...Then they were gone, swept up the stairs, following the woman-child Winner to the tea room.
"...a? Trowa, are you okay?"
Trowa snapped out of his reverie, and the waving hand in front of his face ceased moving, then dropped out of his field of vision. His focus shifted, and Quatre's and Marianna's face sharpened. Both were wearing looks of concern, and Quatre tried to peer into his friend's eyes. "Are you feeling okay? You just went white as a sheet, like you'd seen a ghost..."
Trowa looked away. "Yes, I'm fine. Go and put Marianna to sleep, I'll wait for you here."
Quatre looked at him skeptically, but said nothing. He turned and decended the stairs, Marianna peering over his shoulder. Her eyes watched him, and she gave a wave as she turned the corner with her father.
Trowa managed to hold his composure before his knees buckled and he fell hard on his butt on the steps. He put his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands.
I've been alive for thirty-one years... I've been a Gundam pilot, endured a loss of memory twice, killed hundreds of people, and had the closest person to me leave... But seeing her again has just shaken me up more than anything.
I never thought I'd see her again.
Midii Une...
* * * * *