A/N: Got the inspiration from the movie: "The Magnificent Ambersons"
*FB2k runs up to
the Bandai (or whoever it is who owns GW) Corporation
Headquarters and blows up the building*
*Makes sure
everyone is dead*
FB2k: Mwhahahah!
Now I and I alone own Gundam Wing! Mwhahaaha! *More
evil laughs*
"Today
Gundam Wing, Tomorrow the World! Mwhahaahahaaa!"
Riiiiigghht. I
don't own Gundam Wing (As if you don't know by now) and the movie
"The Magnificent Ambersons".
A/N:
Got the
inspiration from the movie: "The Magnificent
Ambersons".
Warning:
Characters are *VERY* OOC (I swear Heero probably smiles and
laughs more than the usual Duo in this story and I made it so
that you actually feel some sympathy for the guy!) and the time
frame is set in the late 19th century when the Industrial age was
booming in America.
Important: Bold words
denote Heero's thoughts.
Once again *gets
down on knees* I beg you to review!!! Arigatou minna-san!
Okies on to my
ever so craptastic fic!
Misty Memories
Laughter filled
the Peacecraft mansion as it was swarmed with the well-dressed
aristocrats. It was another extravagant party thrown by the
Peacecrafts, the most affluent family in the wealthy society.
In the large
lobby of the front hall, the orchestra was playing a harmonious
minuet. Flocks and flocks of people danced cheerfully along the
tune. The party was held in Philip's honor since he just came
home from college.
Relena Peacecraft
Bernard and her son, Philip Bernard stood along the reception
line to greet their guests. She greeted them confidently but
dishonestly: "I remember you fondly, very much indeed."
"Heero!
It's so nice of you to come!" Relena Peacecraft Bernard
exclaimed happily and sincerely for the first time as she offered
him her hand, beaming slightly at him. She was dressed in a
beautiful blue ball gown, which enhanced the color of her eyes.
He took her hand
and kissed it and looked back at the young man who was glaring at
him.
"Oh I'm
sorry Philip, I don't believe that the two of you have met.
Heero, this is my son, Philip. Philip, this is a very good friend
of mine, Heero Yuy." She smiled as the two shook hands.
She turned her
attention back to Heero. "It's been quite a while." She
said to him.
Philip seemed to
have disappeared from their sight even if he was just there,
staring at them. Retaining an old flame that never seemed to die
was all that mattered to the two.
"Yes, it has
been. You haven't changed a bit."
They looked at
each other, their gazes locked as if they were in a trance of
some sort.
"Where's
your husband?"
"Oh,
Charles? He's in the study. You know how he isn't the sort who
likes huge parties such as this."
Heero smiled in
contentment.
"Would you
like to dance Relena?"
I
remember the first time I asked her to dance. That was so long
ago, so much time has passed, and yet I remember the whole thing
itself as if it was etched in my heart.
Yes,
eighteen years have passed since then. But her face did not show
any signs of aging at all.
It was
one of these parties her rich family held for no apparent reason.
Yes, they were that rich. They still are. The Peacecrafts seemed
to have every position in society. They owned every kind of
business. Name it, and they surely had it.
We were
about twenty-two that time. I was a young horseless carriage
inventor, who then was struggling to make some money. I was
invited because her sister-in-law, Lucrezia and I were distant
cousins.
I could
still remember what she wore that night. It was a delicate red
ball gown, which was lined with sequins and lace. She had her
hair up in the most orderly fashion and her smile was as bright
and as pleasing as the smile she reserved for me tonight. Even
the shine of the rubies on her neck that matched her red ball
gown was nothing compared to the lustrous shine her eyes beheld.
I could
have sworn that she was the prettiest girl in that party. So many
young men who were far more rich and deserving of her attention
asked her to dance, but she simply refused because she wanted to
dance with me.
Our gazes
were locked only to each other, and no one else. It was
definitely a magic moment.
Long
after the guests have gone, the last bottle of champagne was
drank and even though our feet have grown tired, we still danced.
We moved around in a dark room that only casted a shadow of our
lone figures and danced to a simple sad song played by a lone
violinist.
She told
me she was tired, and I decided it was time for me to go.
We walked
arm in arm down to the main hall to fetch my coat and my hat.
Boy, that was the longest walk I ever had to take. I was glad her
house was that big, that way our moments together would be much,
much longer.
But then,
we were at the front door, and it was time to say goodnight.
And then
it happened far too quickly.
She
leaned in to place a small peck on my cheek, but then I turned
and her lips landed on mine.
When we
broke apart, even though it was dark, I could see her cheeks
color into a crimson shade. I could tell because I felt a blush
on my cheeks too. She smiled and looked down, and bid me goodbye
and she kissed me again.
I took
her to go riding with me in my horseless carriage the next day.
We went everywhere, and she spent the whole day with me. It was
such a beautiful day. But neither of us really cared because we
were too busy trying to steal glimpses of each other.
"Heero?
Heero?"
"I'm sorry,
what did you say?"
"Nothing,
you looked as if you were in deep thought." Relena replied,
lowering her voice a little at the end of the sentence.
"So what
have you been up to lately? Are you still in the automobile
business?" Relena asked cheerfully as they waltzed, trying
to change the subject.
"Yes, the
automobile business is quite prosperous. You should come visit
the factory some time."
The music ended
and they stopped dancing to clap for the orchestra.
Heero offered
Relena his arm as they took a walk along the big house.
"Would you
like to talk to the new Congressman? He's in the lounge."
"Why yes of
course, Relena. I've always known that your family liked to have
someone in the Congress."
Months
and months passed by since the day I asked her to dance and my
visits became more frequent and regular, and her family has grown
fond of me and knew me like a book.
Little
did I know that she was also being courted by an emotionless
coldfish named Charles Bernard.
I was
rather naive then, and I never thought that she would end up
choosing him over me.
That was
before that incident.
Yes, that
incident that quickly led to her marriage to that bastard Charles
Bernard.
I will
regret that mistake till the day I die.
It all
started with Duo's preposterous idea to serenade her under her
window with the local band.
At first,
I felt really edgy about it, and I don't even want to talk about
how Duo talked me into doing it. He told me right after he
serenaded Hilde, she quickly consented to marry him. Well, they
did marry, they've been married for nineteen years now.
The
important thing is, he talked me into doing it, and I did do it.
Duo and
his ways. Duo always has his ways.
Right
before we went to her house, Duo made a pitstop at the local bar
and challenged me "to be a man" and take a couple of
shots of whiskey before marching down to serenade her.
Well, it
went from one to twenty-one.
The next
thing I knew, I was already there, singing like a drunken fool.
I started
to act all clumsy and awkward, singing out of tune.
I
couldn't even see straight.
And then,
I tripped over a damn bass viol.
After
that, I fell to the ground flat on my face.
I just
wanted to disintegrate into the ground and disappear forever.
I was the
laughing stalk of the town.
Not to
mention a social disgrace.
I lifted
my heavy head off of the cement surface and looked up at her
window and saw her face.
I thought
that she was just going to laugh and giggle at me but she would
still love me.
I was
wrong.
Her face
showed emotions of anger, frustration and humiliation. She
slammed the window shut and flung the lace curtains with
annoyance.
"Relena, I
remember the last drink Heero ever had." Millardo called out
as Heero and Relena reached the fireplace in the lounge of their
mansion. Millardo offered Heero his hand and they shook hands
like old friends.
"Heero! It's
so wonderful to see you! It has been so long, so long
indeed!" Lucrezia, Millardo's wife exclaimed merrily as she
hugged Heero. He hugged her back knowing it's good to see the
woman who he loved like his very own elder sister.
"How long
has it been? I can't even count the years anymore." Millardo
chuckled as he asked.
Heero wanted to
say: "Eighteen goddamned years, I've been counting every
minute of it." but instead he simply stated: "Eighteen
years."
"I see that
you've prospered, Heero Yuy. I heard that your horseless carriage
business is flourishing quite well." Millardo stated.
"It's not
only me who is quite prosperous, Congressman."
The large
mahogany doors of the lounge opened, causing the outside noise of
laughter and music from the party to merge in the massive room.
"Mother?
Mother? There you are! I've been looking almost everywhere for
you!" A young male's voice emerged from the background,
looking for his mother.
It was Philip.
"Where was
the dance you promised me?"
"Oh I'm
sorry Heero, I remember promising to dance with Philip tonight.
Surely, you wouldn't mind staying here and you can talk to
Millardo, catch up to what you have missed." She smiled as
she removed her arm from his grasp. She joined Philip who was
waiting for her at the entrance of the lounge.
"Millardo, I
haven't seen Anna tonight. Is she ill?" Heero asked,
wondering.
"My mother?
She died five years ago of pneumonia." Millardo replied,
almost choking the words out of his mouth.
"I'm sorry.
She was a very kind woman. I'm sure you will never forget to
cherish her memory."
"When I was
a little boy, she always wanted me to engage in politics. She
never lived to see that I've fulfilled that dream for her."
"Heero, did
you ever marry?" Lucrezia asked curiously.
"No."
"The
important thing is that Charles got her and kept her."
Millardo pointed out, smirking as he indicated that she was
married but still was available.
Heero only nooded
in silence.
I could
remember the next day I came to visit her house, all well dressed
up and tucked under my arm was a nicely wrapped present. I wanted
to make up for the foolish humiliation I caused the past night.
I skipped
along the front steps and proceeded to the front door.
I knocked
nervously on the door, hoping that she would still have me in
spite of the fact that I degraded her honor that past night.
Instead of standing like a hopeless fool there, I flashed one of
my signature style smiles to cover up my delirium.
A well
trained butler opened a door with a strange look on his face.
"Good
Morning sir." The butler said with an English accent.
"Ah...Yes,
I would like to see Miss Peacecraft?" I clumsily said it in
a question form.
"I'm
sorry sir, but Miss Peacecraft is not here at the moment."
"Oh.
Tell her Mr. Yuy came over to express his most humble apology for
last night's accident and could you give her this wrapped present
too?"
"Yes
sir."
"Thank
You."
"Good
day to you sir." The butler replied as he bowed to me with
courtesy.
"Yes,
to you too."
I smiled
sadly to the butler only to have the doors closed at my face
gently. All hope I knew seemed to have disappeared from the fall.
"May I cut
in?" A familiar voice asked.
Philip glared at
the man who owned the voice.
"Well, you
see I'm dancing with my mother and --"
"Of course
Heero, you may cut in, I'm certain Philip won't mind."
Relena cut in, smiling at her son. She waved a hand to Philip as
he left.
"I can
remember the day you left town a year after my marriage to
Charles..." Relena said as they started dancing in with the
crowd again and paused when she realized what a touchy subject it
was. She decided to talk about something else.
"Tell me,
did you ever marry?" Relena resumed.
"No. There
was never anyone else except you." Heero stated coldly.
"My, my why
do we have to be so blunt, Mr. Yuy? The tone of her voice sounded
a little hurt.
Heero opened his
mouth to reply, but the music ended and whatever he wanted to say
was left forgotten. It seems as if the music always ends on queue
when the conversation starts to get interesting.
"Would you
like something to drink Relena?" Heero asked leading her to
the refreshment table.
"No, thank
you."
"Very well
then, would you like to dance again?"
"Millardo
was right wasn't he?" She stopped and turned to face him,
putting her hands together and sounding overjoyed.
"Don't
answer my question with a question, and besides I don't have the
slightest idea of what you're talking about."
"Remember
when you serenaded me, or at least attempted to?" She asked,
trying not to laugh.
"Yes..."
"And you
were drunk..."
"And tripped
over a bass viol..." He finished for her.
"And...and...fell
flat on your face!" She couldn't take it anymore, she
cracked a giggle and for the first time since eighteen years,
Heero Yuy was glad to see that he managed to get her to laugh
again -- at his expense.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mother, who
was that queer looking duck you were talking to and dancing with
all night?" Philip asked later that night after the party.
Heero had just left a minute ago and was the last guest to depart
the party.
"Oh him?
Didn't I tell you earlier that he was a very good friend of
mine?" They were walking up on the stairs, on the way to
their bedrooms.
"Oh, I
see." Philip replied, not quite believing her. They reached
their destination in silence and in deep thought. Relena stopped
to open the door.
She opened her
bedroom door quietly and found her husband Charles in the room.
"Hello
dear." She said, placing a kiss on his cheek.
"Did you
have a good time at the party?" He said, coughing violently.
"Oh yes, I
had a wonderful time, but Charles, I think you should see a
doctor about your coughing, what if it's not as harmless as you
think?" She asked, concern written all over her face even
though the man she really cared for just walked out the door.
"It's
nothing dear, I assure you." Relena turned back to Philip
who was standing on their doorway. She kissed his cheek and bid
him good night.
"Good night
dear, I'll see you in the morning."
Philip turned to
the hallway to look for his grandfather.
"Grandfather?
Grandfather?" Philip yelled out right before his grandfather
closed the door of his bedroom.
"Yes?"
Major Peacecraft asked irritably, yawning.
"Do you know
that queer looking duck, that Yuy fella?"
"Oh yes, him
and Relena go way back, way back. If there's anything else, I
would like to retire now..." Major Peacecraft replied,
yawing again.
"Wait, what
do you mean by way back?" Philip asked curiously.
"I think we
should discuss this tomorrow morning."
"No, this
can't wait grandfather. Tell me."
"Alright
then, I'll tell you...eighteen years ago, Heero Yuy and your
mother well...fell in love."
"If she
loved him as much as he did her, then why did she marry my
father?"
"Go to
sleep, Philip. If you really want answers, don't bother me,
bother your uncle Millardo. Good night son." Before Philip
could reply and pester his grandfather to the point of
confession, Major Jack Peacecraft shut the door in his face.
Seeing that there
was no one else to question since everybody else left to sleep,
Philip walked to his own bedroom in defeat. Tomorrow. Yes,
tomorrow he would get the real reason why his mother and that
queer- looking Yuy man fell in love but never married and why he
came back after all these years.
Okies that was
Chapter I...I intended for it to be just one chapter, but I'm
afraid, it might be a little too long and it takes too much time
to write it all at the same time...
Questions?
Comments? Rants? Death threats?
Craziereggie392@aol.com
Please review!
Please?