Off to Join the Circus Author's Note: Just so you know - this story takes place in an alternate universe. Some of the elements from the series are in it but none of the boys are gundam pilots. I have no idea if names are ever mentioned for any of the pilot's parents, so I have given them names as needed. Warning: There is reference to rape in the story - no details, and death. That is why I have categorized the story as a drama.

Standard Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Gundam characters. [Wish I did own one, or maybe two, or maybe three, or... of them, but doesn't everyone? ~_^] The story plot is mine, as well as, the original characters.

Story Summery: Trowa and Catherine are born and raised in the circus. As they travel, they come across a few interesting people and incorporate them into their little "family" group. One of their adopties unknowingly brings trouble that could be life threatening for at least one of them. Can they find a way out? [That is the future plot, but it is going to take some time to get there.]

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Off to Join the Circus!
Chapter 1 ~ Rosemary Bloom
By West Wind

Rosemary Bloom was in her early 20's enjoying life. She had grown up in the circus with her parents and older brother Robert. She loved the circus life and thrived on the travel and the chance to meet new people. Wherever they stopped, she the would explore the city in her spare time. She loved people. She loved entertaining them, making them laugh, talking to them. She was an outgoing caring individual that exuded joy and comfort to all that she meet. Her brother was amazed at the number of pen pals Rose had and that she keep in touch with most of them. Her second passion was nature and animals. She was as good with the animals as she was with people, and she loved to stroll through the town, the park, or the countryside where they stopped.

"Robert, I am going to the park. You want to come?" Rosemary asked.

"I can't right now. I have to finish what I am working on."

"I can wait," she cheerfully answered.

"Nah, go on," he encouraged. "I don't know how long I will be."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Maybe April or Samantha would go with you."

"I'll go see."

Robert smiled as he watched his sister bound away in search of her friends and marveled at the child like joy she took from life.

~@~

It was nearing lunch time and Robert had not seen Rosemary return yet. His mother had sent him to find her when he ran into her two friends.

"Have you seen Rose?" he asked.

"Not sence she asked if we wanted to go for a walk," answered Sam.

"You didn't go with her?"

"No, we had to finish practicing," said April.

Robert had a sinking feeling in his gut and fear shot through him. Rose had been gone too long and she would never be late for a meal. He thanked the two girls and made inquiries of others he ran into. No one had seen Rose since this morning. Robert bolted for the park he knew she liked to walk in. He ran the entire way there. His leg muscles began to burn from the pace he had set for himself. He arrived at the park and leaned against the entrance post gasping for breath before continuing his search. His gulping for air slowly decreased in intensity and he sprinted down one of the paths. He called her name as he combed the area.

A tear filled and muffled "Rob?" drifted to his ears. He slowed his pace and looked around. By a bush, he saw the huddled form of his red-headed sister. Her body was shaking and tears ran down her face. He took in her disheveled appearance and there was murder in his eyes. He did not know who had done this to his sister, but Robert would make them pay.

He slowly approached her and began to place an arm around her. At first she shied away from him. He could not believe it.

"It's only me. Your brother Robert," he cooed gently and she through herself into his arms sobbing.

"He wouldn't stop, he wouldn't stop," she murmured into his shoulder.

"It's alright. It is not your fault," he comforted as he rubbed her back to sooth her.

"I just want to go home," she whispered.

"I think you should talk to the police first."

Panic and fear filled her eyes and face. Robert held her close and told her it would be alright. After much coaxing, he got her to talk to the police and their parents were called.

They finally caught the man after two more women were attacked in the same park. Rose had been the lucky one of being his first victim. Physically Rose was only battered and bruised but emotionally she was a wreck and to top it off she was pregnant with the rapist's child. The doctor that had examined her after the incident had given her the options of adoption or an abortion, and she told the doctor that she would have to think about it.

Two weeks had gone by and she had keep to herself. She would sit quietly by one of the animal cages after patting them in greeting. She would watch them move back and forth in their cage. Most people left her alone. They did not know how to handle the quiet, withdrawn Rose. Her friends did try, but Rose would give them a sad smile and say she wanted to be alone. Everyone keep an eye on her to make sure she did not try anything drastic – the benefit of having a large family.

One evening she entered the tent where Robert was working on the generator. Robert looked up to see her approach and he noted a change. The innocence was gone and the joy and carefreeness had not returned, but there was a look of determination in her movements and in her face.

"I am keeping the baby," she flatly announced to him as she protectively place a hand on her abdomen.

Robert blinked at her a few times and wondered how to respond to the announcement. He could see there was no changing her mind and he was not going to try. He had been pondering her options since they found out she was pregnant, and he did not know how one could make that decision. It was a life, but it was a symbol of what had been forced upon her. If she gave it up for adoption, she would still have to carry it. Surely it would be a reminder of her pain and suffering? If she keep it, would the relationship between child and mother be tainted? Robert did not know the answer to the questions or how a person could make the choice.

"O.K.," was all he said.

She sat down on the ground beside him with knees to her chest. He continued working and patiently waited for her to continue the conversation.

"Ginger had her puppies," Rose said in a distant tone. "Five of them survived. One was dead at birth."

Rose paused and looked up at the top of the tent as if there was nothing more to say. Robert continued to work and glanced at his sister periodically with concern. He was relieved that she was at least talking.

Time passed and Rose spoke again.

"Ginger nudged at the lifeless pup after it was born. When there was no response, she seamed to morn over its loss before she gently moved it to the side of her kennel and attended to the next offspring." She paused again and looked at her brother. "Life is special and precious. All things need a chance to experience life and love no matter how they come into being. This child deserves to know life. It does not deserve to be condemned for the sins of his/her father. It is innocent and it is a part of me. It is just as much a part of me as it is him. For my child I will strive to put my shattered life back together, to live each day one step in front of the other."

She was done talking and Robert gave her a hug.

"If you need any help, I will always be there for you," he informed.

"I know," she replied gently a gave him a slight smile.

"You better," he teased and touched his greasy finger to her nose leaving a black smug on its tip.

Robert laughed at her soiled nose.

"You got grease on me," she accused.

She playfully punched him and gave him a genuine smile. It warmed his heart to see a true smile grace her face once again.

~@~

Rose watched her family perform from her post behind the flaps in the back of the tent. Jeff Barton stood beside her after finishing his act. Jeff had joined the circus three months ago after his circus had disbanded. He had been smitten with Rose from the day he meet her, but Rose held him an arms length away. Rose was slowly acting more like her old self, but she keep strangers at a distance, especially men. Jeff had quickly learned of her experience and was waiting with the patience of Job for her to accept him.

"Oh…" Rose gasped as she placed her hand on her extended belly.

Jeff looked at her with concern.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"The baby is coming" she announced.

"Let's get you to the hospital!"

"My family…"

"They will come as soon as they finish their performance."

Rose knew Jeff was right as another spasm rolled across her abdomen. She could not interrupt the show, and she could not wait for them.

Jeff moved her toward the car and flagged down one of their fellow performers. Lou promised to tell the others as soon as they were done with their act. With that taken care of, Jeff helped Rose into the car and headed to the hospital.

Jeff filled out the paperwork while the hospital workers helped Rose into a wheelchair. A nurse started to wheel Rose off and she held her hand out to Jeff.

"I don't want to be alone. Please, come with me," Rose pleaded as panic rose within her.

"Don't worry. Your husband will be ushered to you room as soon as he finished the paper work," said the nurse.

Rose watched as the only person she knew disappeared from sight, and she was rolled into a room. She was moved to a bed and asked questions by the nurse. Jeff entered just as the nurse finished.

"How are you?" he asked tentatively as he moved to her side.

"In pain," she commented as another contraction hit.

Jeff took her hand and she held on with all her might until the pain subsided.

"The doctor will be with you soon," assured the nurse.

"My family?" she asked.

Jeff gently brushed the bangs from her eyes.

"They are not here yet. Soon."

Rose let out a scream while the process of her child's birth continued.

~@~

A sharp slap rang through the room followed by a baby's wail as Rose's child took her first breath of air.

"It's a girl," the doctor announced as she handed the baby to the waiting nurse.

Rose slumped back exhausted. Jeff was still at her side giving her words of comfort and encouragement. She smiled up at him in thanks. The whole process was harder than she had ever imagined, but it seemed worth it when the nurse placed the wiggling wrinkled girl in her arms. Rose caressed the baby's cheek with her finger in greeting. The baby turned toward the caress.

"Do you have a name picked our?" whispered Jeff.

"Yes," she answered dreamily. "Catherine Rose Bloom."

"You might want to inform the rest of the family," said a nurse. "They are in the waiting room. They can all see her once she and the baby are settled in."

Jeff took his leave of Rose who's attention was wrapped up with the bundle in her arms and did not notice his exit.

~@~

Time passed and Catherine grew. She brought a joy to all she came in contact with. Especially her mother. Rose once again found the joy she had been lacking since Catherine's conception.

Every one commented on how Catherine was so much like her mother in manner and appearance, although her hair was not the fire red of Rose's but a soft reddish-brown. Catherine was outgoing and friendly. Very inquisitive and slightly mischievous. She absolutely adored Jeff and Uncle Robert. If she was not with her mother, she was with one of them.

When Catherine was a little over one, Rose married Jeff and the three became a family, and when she was three her mother was going to have another baby.

The day came that once again Jeff and Rose found themselves in the hospital as she gave birth. This time was harder than the first and Rose knew something was not right. Finally, the child emerged and announced his presence. Rose breathed a sigh of relief and asked to see him. The nurse handed her the bundle containing her son while the doctor and nurse continued to work.

"Welcome to the family, my dear Trowa," she whispered in greeting. "Isn't he beautiful?"

"He definitely is," responded Jeff.

She smiled at her spouse lovingly before resting her head against the headboard.

A continuous monotone beep filled the room. One nurse took the baby, another escorted Jeff out of the room, while the doctor tried to resuscitate the mother.

~@~

Jeff paced back and forth in the waiting room in fear for his wife's life. The rest of the family sat quietly and watched. The doctor entered.

"Mr. Barton, I am sorry. Your wife is gone. We tried everything to save her, but there were some unseen complications…"

Jeff did not hear anything past the fact that Rose was gone. She would never return to him, never cuddle up next to him in bed. He felt as if his reason for living had been ripped from him as he let out a heart wrenching scream and fell to his knees.

How he got through the next few days Jeff never knew. He continued living because that was what Rose would have wanted plus he had their children to look after. He could not desert them. They needed his love and support.

~@~

The day they burred Rose was fittingly overcast. The family stood around the casket to say their last farewell to their beloved flower. Catherine placed a white rose on her mother's casket with the help of her uncle.

"Good bye, Mommy," said Catherine. "Wave to me from Heaven."

Robert wiped a lone tear off his cheek after putting his niece back on the ground. Jeff approached the casket next.

"I will always love you," he whispered. "Wait for me."

He kissed his and and placed it on the casket. He walked back to his seat. Once seated he looked down at Trowa in his arms. His son was quiet. The loudest protest Jeff had heard from Trowa was at his birth. It was like he knew that his mother had died giving him life, and he mourned her passing with the rest of them.

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Author's Note: I don't know about you as you read this, but I cried while I wrote it. I really hated to kill Rose off. I had the story line [including her dying giving birth to Trowa] plotted before I wrote this section and had no idea how emotionally attached I would become to her as I unfolded her tale. I just regret that Rose and Jeff did not have more time together, but I have to keep Catherine and Trowa close in age for the rest of the story to fall into place.

I will warn you now that I will probably be slow in posting chapters for this story. Spring is here and there are things I need to tend to outside ~ away from my computer and writing fics. = ( Plus, I have two different story lines rattling around in my head begging to be expressed in electronic representation of words via my wordprocessor, and maybe the brief wisps of another chapter to my Marimeia story as well. Please be patient with me, and don't forget to tell me what you think. Thanks for reading.