So I decided to stop being a lurker, because that's what Mondays are for. *smirk* Finally, a 4xD something. Yay! A Ficlet? A short series maybe?

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: yeah, don't own GW. If I did, 4xD would be so totally canon.

Of Earth and Bribes.

By Kanela

*~*~*

"Are we clear, Mr. Winner?"

Silence. He refused to allow her another victory.

"Mister Winner?"

He was defying her and he was going to win this time.

"Quatre?"

Wouldn't budge an inch.

"Quatre."

Nope, he was not giving in.

" Dear…"

Crap.

"Yes?" he asked, more than answered.

"Good," she chirped. "Halim, you may come in."

A young boy about ten ran into the room and launched to Quatre with a dazzling smile plastered on to his face. "Really dad? Wow, thank you! I was hoping you'd say yes, but I wasn't sure so I asked mama. I can't wait! It will be awesome I'm sure, oh I have to tell Fadilah, she'll be so happy!" And just as fast as he was talking, he left the living room. His rambling could still be heard out in the hall.

"See? You made him happy!" she said, in a matter-of-factly tone.

Quatre stood from the sofa and ran a hand through his blond locks.

"You are aware of the consequences, I'm sure," he said, watching her pace around the sunlit room.

"Perhaps." She just shrugged and caressed a rose petal from the vase near the window.

"You pamper him too much."

"And you worry too much."

"Dorothy…"

"What harm is there in your son going to visit the Maganac base?"

"He's not just going to visit, he wants to live there! Aren't you worried that he's going to be all the way down on Earth by himself? For a year? A year!"

"He's my son, he knows how to take care of himself."

"Argh! That's not what I-"

"I know what you're trying to say. And he's not going to be alone. The guys will look after him. I'm sure Rashid will be delighted, don't you think?"

"D-Dorothy?"

Somehow, sometime during his rant, she had managed to close the distance between them, trapping him against the sofa. She lightly put her hands on his shoulders and pushed down, sitting him so she towered above him. Quatre fought down the urge to squirm.

"Dearest," she said, and this time he fidgeted a bit, "when was the last time he went to Earth?"

"Uh…s-sometime before Fadilah was born…"

"And how long has it been?"

"F-fou- five years," he said, correcting himself when his wife's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Very well,"she slowly accepted. But then, those bottomless sea-green eyes of him drew her in, and she gingerly sat on his lap, startling him a bit. She put her arms around his neck, caressing the fine hair at his nape, "So, don't you think it'll be nice if he got to spend some quality time with the men who watched him grow?" Her eyes rested on his mouth, and as he licked his bottom lip, he was sure he saw her eyes sparkle.

"I suppose…" She was too close for his comfort, and the doors were too open for his liking, but… Throwing caution to the wind, his arms circled her waist and he pulled her closer, making her look into his eyes. There it was, the spark of her lust. Oh, he longed for her too.

But no. There was something else, she was not just supporting their son's pledge to go to Earth… And then something clicked inside his mind "What was that about Fadilah being happy?"

Oops.

"No," he closed his eyes and moved a hand from his wife's side to rub the bridge of his nose.

"But Quatr-"

"I said no," he made a move to stand, but Dorothy tightened her hold on him, keeping him in place God knows how, since he could easily stand and let her fall on her behind. She smiled. Her sweet, careful Quatre; always mindful of his strength and his handling of her. So considerate…

"I was her age when I was first sent to the colonies."

"Those times were different," he tried to peel her hands off, but failed miserably.

"Yes, exactly my point. We are at peace now. Peace you helped obtain for all of us. Let our children enjoy it," she whispered in his ear, and she felt more than saw his reaction. His hands tightened to fist at her sides and he turned his head away from her taunting. She kept winning over his reasoning with her sweet talking…

"But she's just four years old…I can't let her-" he was interrupted by a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.

"Please?"

"This is not going to work again." He said a frown in place and a firm voice. Quatre lifted his wife from himself and gingerly placed her on her feet. He almost smirked when he saw her pout, bottom lip trembling, and he was sure she was about to stomp her foot.

"Well, fine!" Yep, she stomped. And turned around to stare out the window. Oh?

"Dorothy, love?" He reached for her, but she slapped his hands away. "What's wrong love? It's not like you to-"

"I know it's not like me!" She whirled around, shocking him with her tear-stained face. "It's not me! But I can't help it. And I h-hate you…" Her slender fingers wiped at her eyes.

And realization came to him with the force of a thousand slaps. Of course, everything had been so obvious from the start. She had started skipping breakfast, she no longer wanted to ride her horse on Thursdays, and she wanted to eat squid every freaking week-end.

She hated squid.

"Oh, you silly Duchess." He hugged her, despite her half-hearted efforts to repel him. Finally she settled into his arms. "How long?" he whispered to her ear.

"A month or so? I was going to tell you, but you've been so busy traveling to the new colony, and I've had hundreds of meetings with the investors…everything has been so hectic…"

"Shh, I know." He kissed her chastely and hugged her some more.

"I'm fine now." She said after a couple of minutes, and he wondered how she managed to look as if she hadn't cried her eyes out just seconds ago. Years of aristocracy he guessed. "So?"

"What?"

"Is Fadilah going too?"

Sigh. "Yes…"

"Then I'm going too."

Hell no! "Dorothy, I won't let y- ok." He had his eyes closed and his right hand caressed his frown, "I know what's going on. Very clever."

She smiled oh so innocently.

"We are all going." She beamed. "But!" He raised his index finger, "I'm taking work with me." She nodded and he interrupted her just when she was about to speak, "And no, you are not working anymore."

"Quatre!" Well, he didn't care if she was furious, he was going to take better care of her.

"A month before Fadilah was born, you collapsed from exhaustion and scared the hell out of me. I'm not letting that happen again. I'm keeping you away from work, you workaholic woman."

"But that's discrimination!"

"Wh-why-what-no! Listen Dorothy, I'm just trying to-"

"There's no one who knows better what the investors want than me."

"Well, no, but-"

"And they are familiar with me and the way I take care of their money."

They stared at each other, her hands on her hips; his, crossed at his chest. Then she smiled.

And he lost.

"I don't know how you do it. Fine, you'll work, but you are to keep a secretary and you'll quit before you are seven months, understood?"

She hugged and kissed him, and didn't let go until he returned her hug.

"My sweet dear Quatre," her smile turned mischievous, "you're so hard to convince."

"Don't start, Catalonia."

***