Heart Beat

By Vwolf

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing

(It's being rewritten – so sue me)

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The Silent Clown looked out at the cheering crowd from a slited opening in the tarp walls of the large circus tent, waiting for the announcement of his final act. Looking closely at the hoards of numerous, smiling, happy people, he could spot members of his extended family. Some he hadn't seen for a while... others he probably saw the other day.

Heero and Relena were near the front, 10 year old Christian sitting in the middle of the two. A regular talkative bundle of energy, just like any other happy child. Chris looked almost exactly like his father, right down to the icy glare. His hair was light, however, darker than Relena's, yet lighter than Heero's; and his eyes almost the same exact shade of his mothers. Trowa remembered a time when the child had pranked his father (with the help of his friend Huan Lang and a few super soakers). Yuy never knew what hit him until it was to late. It was something the clown figured that Maxwell, if he were still around, would never let his best friend and brother live down. Relena had told him afterwards that Heero mentioned something about Chris, the braided wonder, and if the boy was really his.

Lifting his eyes to a spot not far from the Yuy's, the Silent Clown could spot his best friend and wife, and hoard of numerous little minions (something the couple often joked about). Seven children with varying shades of blond hair and blue eyes, yet only two of them showed any sign of being emphatic like their father. Trowa thanked whatever god was listening that he wasn't Quatre or Dorothy every night before he slipped into bed beside his own wife. Three kids and one immediate nephew were enough for him. There was no way in hell he'd be able to remember all those names, heck, he barely remembered his own kids names at times... Hilde never let him forget it either with her infernal teasing.

Not that Hilde was there at the moment... She was at their home with their own children. A pair of five year old boys named Erich and Grant, and a three year old by the name of Lars. All beautiful in his and his wife's eyes (though, there were times when he swore they had horns and tail). None of them would be there that day. All three of them and little Abdul Winner had fallen ill with the chicken pox, and were spending the day at home while Hilde played Nurse Mom.

Down farther, a little ways from the Winners sat Wufei (or rather, Uncle Woof), Sally, and their own two children - Meilan and Huan Lang. The girl being the oldest, resembled her father more than her mother, yet, had Sally's same cornflower blue eyes. A book worm through and through she was, already excelling in her martial arts, and, Trowa suspected, had something of a crush on Quatre's oldest son Majeed - whom, Trowa ALSO suspected returned the sentiment. The other child, Huan Lang (the same age as Christian) also seemed to look more like his father than his mother, though, Huan Lang also seemed to have his mother's eyes as well. The boy seemed to have picked up on some of his fathers slightly chauvinistic tendencies (not all of them thankfully), and the need for honor. Although, everyone figured that the urge to prank must have come from Sally's side of the family.

His eyes flicked over the crowds in one last sweep before his act. It was a fruitless search, he knew, but he continued to look anyway. Not giving up on the hope that maybe the last of the pilots would show up one day, maybe with a family of his own, braid to his knees, and laughing cobalt eyes that he more than once longed to laugh with. No, Duo wouldn't be there. The clown often imagined that the ex-pilot of Deathscythe and Deathscythe Hell would show up after one late night show, asking if he still remembered him or not, just as he had long ago. But still, no matter how much he dreamed, he was never there.

Hilde received a package once... It was a birthday present, so the card said. The present had looked like a piece of junk to him. But to Hilde's more experienced mechanics eyes... it was like Christmas had come early. Quatre and Dorothy once received a pre-paid vacation from someone... Trowa had remembered because at that time, both had been looking more than unwell. He also remembered that no-one else knew of Quatre's obsession with waterfalls but his wife and the other pilots. They weren't the only ones that had received things either.

Lady Une received a big box of condoms, a bouquet of flowers, and a card saying 'I love ya sis, and care for you. So take my advice - go out, get drunk, find a nice piece of ass and-' at that point, Une had turned a shade of pink he had never seen on the older woman before. It suited her well.

The other pilots received a few things... Well... Wufei got pranked, and Heero got a black and gold Christmas package, and Trowa... had received a large, soft, plush lion with emerald green eyes. Relena was given a mug. It was pink, and it had many flowers on it... then, when you got past all of the girly 'shit' (as Dorothy so eloquently put it), and read the fine print near the bottom of the mug, it was really quite endearing - If you had a sense of humor that is.

Even Christian received an anonymous present... granted... it was only one present, and Heero had spent the next hour glaring at the only picture he had of one Duo Maxwell. Only HE would send the boy a package of prank things...

Of course... None of this could be related to Maxwell... Not to mention that everything was untraceable... That right there was enough to make them suspect the missing pilot. Though it wasn't proof. Just a suspicion. Or a gut feeling, if you were Trowa.

A small tug on his pants brought the clown back to the present. Looking down, he saw his nephew, Jonathon. The boy looked just like him. In fact, the boy was him. Cloned. Cathy had fallen in love with the silent boy at first site, and as soon as it was allowed (and with much arguing on his, Cathy's and a few others parts) she had adopted him into their small family. Trowa was glad for the boy to be with Catherine at such a young age. Hopefully, he would turn out better than what the original.

"You and Mum will be going on in a few minutes." The boy said. 'At least he smiles more...' "Manager said so."

Trowa nodded silently. That gave him a few more minutes for another fruitless search.

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"…And that's all for today ladies and gents, boys and girls! Thanks for coming…"

The ring masters voice could be heard from outside the tent, announcing that the show was over. Trowa made his way over to his lions. In about three minutes, hoards of young kids would be streaming out of that tent to come pet the animals and to harass their parents into buying them a souvenir or extra cotton candy for the road. If there was one thing he learned from joining the circus - it was that kids held a lot of power over their parents with just puppy dog eyes and pouty faces alone.

The Silent Clown hummed to himself softly. No wonder Maxwell and Winner had gotten away with so many things whenever they ventured out of the safe houses. They seemed to have perfected the cute and/or adorable/innocent look.

A dull roar attracted his attention. He smiled a smile no one saw.

Bring on the midgets.

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