~~~ The others~~~~
Heero shook his head as Wufei let himself be dragged by Micheal. Trowa and Quatre were waiting at his car.
"How are we going to do this?" Quatre asked glancing over the kids.
"I'll ride with Fei!" Micheal shouted.
Wufei turned onyx eyes onto him. "I rode my bike this morning Micheal."
Micheal face fell. "Dang." The Chinese teen snorted.
"Okay then. Nora, Micheal and Chris you ride Trowa and Quatre. The rest of you ride with me." Heero stated as he unlocked his car. He placed the half asleep girl in the back seat while Wufei did the same with the dozing boy in his arms. Sarah grinned and climbed into the front seat buckling in, she all but bounced in her seat.
"Where to?" Heero asked.
"McDonalds?" Quatre asked.
"Sounds good." Heero nodded to the blonde. "See you shortly."
The others nodded and once the children were in Trowa and Quatre's car they all set out. Wufei was the first to leave, his motorcycle speading out of the garage. Heero shook his head and followed the man out. Once he hit the highway he slid the car into third gear and pressed on the gas. His car easily picked up speed and he was headed down the road at a nice rate. Sarah clapped her hands and pointed out the window when she saw Wufei's bike riding along beside them. She waved at the man and he waved back at her before he pulled ahead of them and glided over into the far lane before he dropped his speed.
Heero grinned as the man came up beside him and pointed to his phone. He passed Heero a few hand signs and then placed his hand back on the handle bars. Heero picked up his phone and quickly got what Wufei was trying to say. He nimbly dialed Zokuri's number. He waited while it rang.
"Hello?"
"Wufei would like me to tell you to stop calling him." Heero chuckled. "He says the vibrating is very distracting when he's trying not to wreck his bike."
Zokuri gasped. "Oh god. That would be why he wasn't answering." Came the muttered reply.
"How many times have you called him?"
"Seven."
Heero laughed and shook his head. "What did you need?"
"I was going to see if he wanted to have lunch."
"Actually he has a date with six kids. Sorry about your luck."
"Oh that's right. Damn, how could I forget that?" Zokuri snorted and mummbled something to one of his co-workers. "Alright when you get a chance tell him to call me when he can."
"I can do that."
"Heero." Sarah whispered.
"Yes?" He turned to her.
"Can I talk to him?!"
"Uh.. Zokuri?" He glanced at her nervously.
"Yes?" The man on the other end answered quickly.
"Sarah would like to talk to you."
The man coughed. "Alright?"
Heero handed her the phone. "Hello!" She grinned into Heero's phone. Oh dear.
She began to tell him all about the trip to the docks. Heero shook his head and glanced into the back, both kids were out like a light.
They met Wufei in the parking lot. Heero unlocked the doors and Wufei opened the door to let Sarah out.
"And we rode the Farris Wheel! It was so cool!" She squealed into the phone. Heero got out of the car laughing. Trowa pulled in next to Heero and the two got out of the car. They looked at Sarah. The girl was twirling around. "And we went on the moonbounce and we had hotdogs and snowcones!"
"Who is she talking to?" Wufei asked as he looked at Heero. The man was still trying to contain his laughter.
"Yes we did! You should come with us next time! You'll have fun!" She grinned into the phone and bounced on the balls of her feet.
"Heero who is she talking to?" Quatre asked concrened as his friend started to turn a lovely shade of red.
"Zo-zokuri." He gasped.
Wufei's face drained of color. "Sarah?!" He turned sharply.
"Yes?" The girl asked sweetly.
"Who are you talking to?" He demand.
"Zozo!" She grinned. "Yes I am talking to Dad." Pause. "Okay." Pause. "I can do that!" She held out the phone to Wufei. "He wants to say hi!" She giggled.
Wufei groaned as he took the phone. "Hello." His lips twitched at something Zokuri said. "No. I didn't." The man must have said something rather comical becuase Wufei started to laugh as he looked at Sarah. "Alright, alright." He shook his head as he handed the phone back to Sarah.
She grinned and took the phone. "Hello again!"
"No. Yes. No, yes and yes." She looked at Wufei. "That's for Dad to decide." Wufei raised an eye brow. "Do you want to ask him?" Pause. "Okays! Dad, Zozo wants to know if he can join us for lunch! Can he, can he, can he?" She turned pleading eyes on him.
Wufei felt his shields faulter. "It's up to Daddy." He shot Heero a look.
Sarah turned to Heero. "Ask Baba." Heero pointed to Trowa.
Trowa glared at Heero and pointed to Quatre.
"Papa pleeeeeeeeeease?!"
Quatre looked paniced. "Uhhhm..." He glanced at the other three, finally his eyes settled on Wufei. Onyx eyes stared at him. "Yes."
Sarah cheered. "Hear that?! Papa said yes!" She danced around in a circle. "Yep." She handed the phone back to Wufei. "He wants to talk to you again!" She grinned like the cherusire cat.
Wufei took the phone like it might blow up at any second. "Yes?" He asked caustiously. His eyes flickered to the door. The other three got the hint and Sarah, Chris and Trowa, who was carrying Nora walked inside with Quatre.
Heero nodded Micheal over to Marrie. "Can you carry her?" Micheal nodded and picked the sleeping girl up. Heero gently removed Zander from the car. The child wrapped his arms around Heero's neck and his legs wrapped around Heero's waist. "Mmmm."
Heero kicked his doors shut and turned to see Wufei with his head bowed and smile playing at his lips. His eyes were lite with love and his whole stance was relaxed.
Heero shook his head and walked in the resturaunt with Micheal on his heels. He spotted Trowa and Quatre with ease. Sitting in the seat across from them Heero sighed as he shifted Zander to rest on one knee. Micheal stood their holding Marrie, he looked like he had done it many times before and knowing Micheal, he had.
Micheal was the oldest of the group of children. Soon to be eleven, he was what the others called big brother. Sarah and Chris had done it a few times at the orphanage, Sister had scolded them lightly but they never stopped calling him big bro. It was the way they were. Micheal was the one they ran to when they had a problem. Micheal accepted his roll with a smile in place. Micheal had been in and out of way to many foster homes to count. He'd been at the Orphanage since the tender age of two. He was a honorary vetrian.
Heero brought Micheal out of his thoughts by gently taking Marrie from him. He handed her over without complaint. "Why don't you go see if you can find out what they want to eat." Micheal nodded and slowly made his way out to where Sarah and Chris were playing on the playground thing.
"He's so...calm for a ten year old." Quatre commented after Micheal had closed the door. "And they listen to him."
"That would be becuase he's been at the Orphanage the longest." Heero comented as he shifted Marrie. The girl slowly let her eyes open and she looked around confused. Her green eyes landed on Quatre and she smiled slightly. "Marrie?" She leaned back against him and lifted her head back. "Why don't you go play?" She looked out the glass door as Micheal threw a ball at Chris. She nodded softly and slowly made her way to the door. Micheal saw her coming and pulled it open for her. She smiled and placed a kiss to his cheek before running off after Sarah.
Heero shook his head and looked down at Zander. "Zander. Wake up little one." Eyelids fluttered before sleepy violet eyes scanned the room. He gingerly pushed himself from Heero's chest. Blinking he looked around. "Why don't you go play with the others." Heero nodded out to the playground. Zander nodded and slid from Heero's lap. He slowly trugged over to the door where Micheal once again opened it.
Trowa looked down at Nora. The little girl looked so peaceful that he didn't want to wake her. He shifted her so she was laying on the bench between him and Quatre, with her head in his lap. Quatre drapped his jacket over her.
Teal eyes landed on Trowa before flickering to the Heero. Fathers. It's obvious now. They want to be fathers, but are scared. Quatre snorted and shook his head. He looked to the door as Wufei walked in with Sally and Alanso. A little girl had her hand in Sally's and she was talking to Alanso.
"Not uh!" She stuck her tongue out at him before turning to look up at Sally. "Moma tell him he's wrong."
Sally gave a nervous laugh and looked at Alanso. "Mira."
"You are Moma no matter what Daddy says. Odette doesn't have say either." She stampted her foot on the ground.
Alanso sighed and fell into the seat by Heero heavily. "Mira. Sally is not your Moma."
"But you're dating her, aren't you? She's important to you isn't she?" She turned serious brown eyes on him.
"Yes I am and yes she is, but that doens't make her your-"
"It does!"
Alanso groaned. "No, Mira it doesn't."
"Does too!" She shouted.
"Mira we're inside. Don't shout." He scolded. She flinched slightly.
"But she iiiiiisss."
Sally stood awkwardly as the child gripped her hand and agrued with her father.
"No, it doesn't make Sally your Moma Miranda." He stated firmly.
The girl pouted and glared at him. She turned and looked up at Sally. "Moma~ Tell him he's wrong." She pleaded.
"Mira, hunny, I can't do that." Sally knelt and met her brown eyes with a soft caring look.
"Why not?" She demanded.
"Because what he says is true."
Mira frowned and shook her head. Tears formed in her eyes and she took off out to the playground, wipping at her eyes. Alanso sighed defeatedly and covered his face with his hands. "This is so not going well." He all but slammed his elbows down on the table. His face still in his hands. "Sally, do you have any idea why she's so hung up on this?"
"Sorry love, I don't." She slid into the seat by him. "I really don't." Her blue eyes went out the window to look at the group of children playing. She menatally counted them. "Heero. You're missing a child."
Heero's head snapped up to look out the window. "No. I'm missing two." He bolted from his seat and was out the door in record time.
Micheal turned to him sharply as he came running out the door. "Where are Sarah and Zander?!" Heero asked as his eyes scanned the playground. Alanso took off to look for his daughter.
Micheal turned back to the slide. "Sarah was just there." He whispered. "Sarah!" He screamed and took off up the steps.
"Zander! Sarah!" Heero called from the other side of the playground.
A blonde head popped out from inside one of the slides. "Yes?"
Heero's heart stopped before picking up quickly. "Come here."
Zander slid down the slide. Heero was standing at the bottom and snatched him before he was fully down. "Oh god." He whispered and wrapped his arms around the child. "Where were you?" He demanded.
"In the tunnel." Zander pointed to the playground.
Heero pulled back and looked to where the little hand was pointing. A tunnel was at the top of the playground, it lead down into another slide before it tappered off into three other slides.
"Sarah!" Chris raced around the bottom of the playground, amber eyes full of panic.
"SARAH!" Micheal shouted from the rope bridge.
Heero looked around the playground frantically. Marrie ran over to him and gripped his jeans. "Damnit Sarah." He muttered. How could I lose a child?!
"AHH!" The scream drew his attention to the gate that led into the parking lot. Zokuri walked through it with Sarah slung over his shoulder.
He stalked over to the ball pin. "I'll teach you to attack me."
"NO!" She shrieked.
He grinned as he tossed her over the top of the net and into the ball pin. He crossed his arms over the top and looked in. Sarah popped up suddenly, grinning.
"Sarah!" Micheal and Chris both took off for the little girl. She climbed out of the ball pin with Zokuri's help.
"Where were you." Micheal demanded furiously.
She blinked. "I was saying hello to Zozo." She slipped behind the man as Micheals eyes flashed in his anger.
"You should have told someone Sarah." Heero's voice was deep and rough. He placed Zander on the ground and stalked over to Sarah. He knelt and pointed one finger at her. He motioned her forward. She held her breath as she stepped out from around Zokuri.
"Heero-" Zokuri cut himself off when he saw Wufei shake his head from the door.
Sarah stopped right in front of Heero.
"You could have been hurt." He breathed. "Anything could have happened. Never do that again. Always tell someone before you decide to run off Sarah." He grabbed the bottom of her chin when she went to look away from him. "Do you understand me Sarah?"
The girls eyes watered. "Do you understand me?" She nodded as tears spilled over. "Good." He pulled her to him and hugged her tightly. He let her go and wipped away her tears.
"Never do that again." Micheal said as he pulled her into a hug. "Never Sarah." She wrapped her arms around him and nodded.
"Inside now." Heero ordered them all. Every child obeyed and walked inside. Wufei held the door for each of them.
Zokuri stopped beside him. "Did I do something wrong?" He whispered hotly into Wufei's ear.
"No. You did something really right." He whsipered over his shoulder. He watched on in silence as Heero picked Zander up and carried him in, his hands holding the child thightly.
Once everyone was sitting at the table Heero let himself relax a tad bit. Sarah was sitting between him and Micheal, Zander was sitting in his lap, Marrie was on his other side between himself and Alason. On the other side Trowa and Quatre sat with Nora in the middle and Chris on Quatre's other side. Wufei and Zokuri sat at the head of the table. Sally sat to Wufei's left, Miranada in between her and Alanso. Heero's arms tightened around Zander and the child shifted back so he was flush against Heero.
"Okay so food." Sally's voice was the first one that broke the weird silence that had settled. She looked at each child. They softly told her what they would like. She wrote it down on a napkin so she wouldn't forget. She then turned the others, one by one they told her what they wanted.
Alanso stood, nudged Heero's arm and nodded to the counter. Heero nodded and passed Zander off to Wufei. The Chinese teen took the child as his eyes scanned Heero's. Heero shook his head and stood. The two took the napkins from Sally and started towards the counter.
"Heero!" The teen turned back in time to see Quatre toss his wallet. Hands caught it nimbly. "My treat." Teal eyes flashed, daring Heero to argue.
Alanso opened his mouth to tell Quatre no. "Don't." Heero ordered softly. "He's a diplimate, he'll cream you in a verbal debate within seconds." Alanso nodded and turned back to walk to the counter.
At the counter they gave their order and paid. "You know, that's the way any father would have reacted to their child going missing." Alanso comented as they were getting the drinks.
Heero froze. "It was simply the rational reaction any one would have taken." He countered sharply.
"Keep telling yourself that Heero. But it's the way a father would have reacted if his daughter and son disappeared suddenly. Panic set in me when you said two. I thought Mira was gone." Alanso smiled softly. "I was relieved to find her on the monkey bars. Tell me, when you found Zander how relieved were you? And Sarah? When you saw Zokuri walk through the gate with her, how much relief did you feel?"
Heero cast him a sideways glare before his features took a defeated look. "My heart stopped when Sally said I had a child missing, let alone two. When I found Zander I wanted to cry. But when I couldn't find Sarah, I thought the worst. When Zokuri walked through the gates, I thought my heart was going to burst." Heero placed his hands on the metal railing.
"Then to answer the question from earlier, to the full exent of knowledge I now possess. Yes, you are ready to be a father. You'd make a great father at that." Alanso grinned and carried four of the drinks back to the table.
Heero watched him go. "Unbeliveable." He muttered. Alanso bent over his daughter and lifted her head back. She grinned, placed a kiss to his lips and giggled. Sally smiled at the sight. Mira turned to Sally and did the same thing. Alanso snickered as Sally blushed.
He shook his head and waited for the food. Alanso came back and grabbbed the rest of the drinks. When the food was placed on the counter he took both trays and carried them back to the table. The food was passed out quickly and Zander was handed back to Heero.
Small talk was passed as they ate. The children joined in and soon the adults were laughing at their out view on the world. Micheal and Chris had made some comment about why people had to be so prejudice about gay couples. They fell into a slightly heated debate with each other over the out looks and the reasons. The time passed quickly and soon all had to be going their seperate ways again. Alanso carried his sleeping daughter out to his car. He kissed Sally good bye as she climbed into her car and headed out. Zokuri and Wufei shared a quick kiss before going their spereate ways. Trowa and Quatre helped Heero place the sleeping children in the back seat. Micheal was quick to get in the passengers seat.
Heero nodded his goodbyes to Trowa and Quatre as they headed out. He turned to Alanso.
"Well we sure cleared out faster then we came here." He smirked at Heero. "You know Heero. You would make a great father." Alanso chuckled. "Well there goes the rest of my day with her." He said softly as he looked down through his back window. "Who knew your kids could wear her out like this? I should ask you to bring them around next time. She can go for hours without stopping I tell you."
Heero snorted. "Shes a child. She has the natural right to."
Alanso laughed. "Looks like yours will sleep good tonight." He nodded to the six sleeping children. Micheal had finally passed out.
Heero faultered. "How the hell am I going to get them all in the house?" He muttered to himself.
"I would say one at a time." The mocha man sighed. "I would love to sit and talk with you but I should probably get her into a bed." He frowned looking back at his car. "I really would Heero. But as I said my daughter comes first, she wins over talking anyday." He winked at the Japanese teen.
"Would like to come back to my house?" Heero asked suddenly.
"Come again?"
"Their are more then enough beds in my house. As you said I'd like to talk to you more." Heero seemed skeptical.
Alanso picked up on the underling message. "Ah, well then, lead the way." Heero nodded curtly and quickly pulled out of the parking lot. Alanso followed the teen's car to his house. He pulled into the drive way beside Heero. "Might I ask why you don't use your garage?"
"Duo's car remains inside. It has since he left. I can't bring myself to open the garage for some reason." Heero admitted looking at the closed doors.
"Ah. Alright then." He would accept the answer. "Okay the kids." He turned back to his car and pulled his daughter from the back seat. Alanso then gently tapped on the passengerside window. Micheal blinked open blurry eyes and looked out the window. Alanso pointed to Heero's front door. Micheal nodded and unbuckled his seatbelt. Alanso opened the door and he stummbled out. He fell face first into the taller mans legs. Alanso laughed as he helped straighten the boy.
Heero was busy getting Sarah out of the car. When he pulled back he was surprised to see Alanso silently laughing at Micheal. Micheal was standing dead on his feet, leaning against the other man.
"This is going to be a challange." Alanso muttered.
"Here." Heero tossed the man his keys. "The blue key." Was all he said as he picked Micheal up with little effort.
The boy basically threw himself over Heero's shoulder. "I'm tired." He groaned. "Mmmmm."
"Oh that's so wrong. You make it look so easy." Alanso muttered as he unlocked the car. Heero stepped around him and turned left when the hallway split. He pointed to the door right in front of Alanso. "That would be the spare room Trowa and Quatre use whenever they're here."
"Uh where are you putting all of them?" Alanso asked looking down the hall at Heero.
"My room." Heero stated as he opened the door to his bed room.
"Mind if I toss Mira in with them?"
"Not in the least. But will she be okay with it? I know they won't freak out about another body laying near theirs."
Alanso followed Heero into his room. He let out a low whistle as he looked around. "Damn." He muttered. "No she won't. She's use to sleeping with other people. I can't get her out of my bed when she stays the weekend with me."
Heero chuckled. "She doesn't see you as much as she likes. It's a given that she'll want to be with you every moment when she is with you."
"Are you sure you're not a father? You have great sense of kids. I hadn't even thought of it like that before." He asked as he placed Mira on the bed. He removed her shoes and looked at Heero. The other teen was untying Sarah's shoes.
"No I'm not a...father." He looked up at Sarah. "Well I am, but not. Does that make sense?" He turned to Alanso after he pulled the shoes off the girl.
"Yeah it does to me." Alanso picked up Micheals shoes and the two left the bedroom to head back out to the car.
Marrie and Nora went with Alanso as Heero grabbed Zander and Chris. They shut the car doors and walked into the house. They followed the same percidjure they did with the other three kids in Heero's bedroom. Once all of the kids were placed on the bed Heero and Alanso left the room.
Sitting in the kitchen with cups of coffee at the table, Alanso leaned back in his chair and studdied Heero. The teen had a contemplating look as he stared into his cup.
"What are you so afraid of?"
Heero looked up sharply at the sudden question. "What?"
"What are you so afraid of? They love you the way you are. You love them because of they way they are." Alanso set his cup down and leaned forawrd, folding his arms on the table. "Are you afraid that in some way you're going to screw up? Some where along the way they'll turn out to hate you? Because if you are then welcome to parenting. When I found out Odette was pregnant, I freaked. I started second guessing myself and it was my best friends mom who set me straight."
Brown eyes met blue. "She told me that in anything you do, there is no way you can screw up as long as you love them and show it. You can't break them. They won't hate you if you tell them no. Be angry and annoyed yes, but hate you no. Because they love you and you love them. Show them that you're scared and they'll help you. They are your rock. You help them, they help you. Your child depends on you and whether you know it or not, you depend on them just as much." Alanso smiled. "So what are you afraid of?"
Heero frowned and looked out the kitchen window. "Everything. The man I love, my best friend and my solid place in life, is lying in a bed in the hospital. He's in a coma and I can't help him. There is a child in my bedroom who lost his parents on my mission and is asking me if he can stay with me. I have four other children who want to call me their father but aren't asking me to adopt them. I'm slowly losing my mind and I can't do anything about it. I want them to stay on one level but on another I know I can't handle it. I want the man I love to wake up so I can tell him how much he means to me and I'm terrified I'm going to lose him again." Heero sighed and ran frustrated hands through his hair. "I'm terrified that in some way I'm going to end up pushing someone away and I don't want that. For two years I've been terrified that I've lost him and now that I have him back, I don't want to lose him again. There are four children who think I'm the most important person to them. How can I support them when I can't even support myself?"
Alanso bit his lip. "I can't answer all of your questions Heero. But what I can offer you is help. If you let them stay, then I'm here to help anytime you need if I'm not half way around the world." Alanso smirked. "Children are a blessing in disguise. I'm also here to help because it's what friends do. They support each other."
Heero looked at him shocked. "Friends...support each other." Heero let out a low laugh. He had told Duo that a long time ago, after one of their mission had gone wrong and they were nearly killed. It had been Heero who saved Duo. When Duo asked him why. Heero had replied becuase friends helped and supported each other. Duo had laughed at the reason Heero had come up with.
"Trowa's already smitten with Nora, Wufei and Quatre are more then willing to help with the others. You know Sally and Ceira will help. Hilde probably will as well. Wufei's boyfriend seems to enjoy the children as well." Alanso chuckled. "So tell me Heero, now that you have support what are you going to do?"
"I-I can't really say until he wakes up." Heero admitted softly. "I won't be able to tell anyone anything until Duo wakes up. I need to tell him."
Alanso nodded. "Well then, he better hurry up." Heero's lips twitched. "Not only for you, but for me as well. I would like to meet Sally's other little brother. I hear he's quite the catch."
"He is." Heero snorted. "He'll have you played in no time. He'll threaten you with bodily harm if you harm Sally, then he'll make best friends with you once you swear to him you won't ever harm her."
Alanso laughed. "You all are really protective of your family aren't you?"
"You harm one of us, you harm us all. You threaten one, you threaten us all. It's how it works." Heero shrugged. "We've lost to many people close to us during the wars."
"I can understand that. Okay so tell me about this mysterious young man that Sally affectionatly calls her little brother?"
"Duo is, Duo's a truely remarkable person. He grew up on the streets of L2 and survived it all. He lost everything important to him twice and yet he still smiles. He then took up a cause that no one else would fight for. Even after the colonies gave up on us he still faught for their freedom. He told me once that he was tired of seeing his home suppressed by miliatary rule. It was part of his reason for fighting. The other part was reveange. But, he wouldn't let it blind him. He was always reasonable. He took everything we dished out and just threw it aside before offering his hand in friendship. Even after I told him no countless times he was still there offering it. Eventually he became my best friend in some way. Other's he became my worst enemy, because he could see through my mask. He could read me with out trying."
"He himself hides behind what we call a jokers mask. He turns everything into a joke so he wont let his anger get the best of him. He smiles because it's what he was taught. Smile to hide your pain. He has street smarts and is one of the smartest people I know. He hides it behind his happy go lucky attitude. For the longest time Wufei thought he wasn't as smart as he was." Heero chuckled.
"How did he find out different?" Alanso inquired.
"He got his ass handed to him in a proverb battle one night. Duo shot qoute after qoute after quote at Wufei. Every quote was from some historical book. Wufei never challenged him to another proverb battle. Trowa tried to win at scrabble against him. He lost miserably. Duo has won every politcial and democratic arguement he and Quatre have ever had." Heero smiled fondly. "Duo hides it well but to those who have seen it. We know different. The differnce in his smiles and his grins. We know the difference from his tones of voice to his actions. We know it all."
"So this Duo person is quite the person. He sounds interesting."
"He has a wicked sense of humor and can out prank any man in a heartbeat. He's quick on the up take and first to take action. He's the perfect friend and ideal man." Heero smirked. "Not that we're any less. It's just Duo has this auora about him. It screams friendship and kindness. It shines and glitters anywhere."
"I like this guy already." Alanso said with a grin. "He completes the lot of you."
"How do you figure?"
"Well from what Sally's told me, you are the solider, Wufei is the judge, Trowa is the silent clown, and Quatre is the peace keeper. Duo is the joker, one who can lighten any mood and be happy when all else is dark and dingy. The clown is one who directs all attention to him, but is passed over quickly. The peace keeper is one who can calm any emotional turmoil in a split second. The judge is the one who passes final judgement, he sees over everything, takes it in and then gives his verdict. You the soldier are the fighter, he is one who will fight for what is right when all else fails him. His heart and hands are the only thing left to him to fight with." Alanso grinned. "See the joker completes you."
Heero blinked and blinked at the mocha skinned man. "The...joker you say." Heero snorted before he broke out into laughter. "That is the perfect descirpition."
Alanso chuckled. "I can't wait to meet him. He sounds pretty cool."
Heero smirked. "That he is." Glancing at the clock he sighed. They had sat and talked for almost three hours. It was roughly somewhere around four now, and the others got off at five. "I should start dinner. The others will be here soon."
"They're coming back tonight?" Alanso blinked.
"Hai. As long as I have the group of children here they'll be back. Trowa for the simple fact of Nora. Quatre because he loves kids and Wufei becuase he would rather be with the three of us then at his apartment." Heero started to pull pots and pans from one of the bottom cabinets.
"What's for dinner?" Alanso asked.
"Spegettie. Are you staying?" Heero inquired as he placed a pot on the stove.
"I probably shouldn't." Alanso admitted softly. "I should get Mira home before her mother flips out on me."
"Tell her Miranda fell asleep and you didn't want to wake her. When she woke you took her out to dinner. It's nothing but true anyways."
"Odette will yell at me one way or another. If it's alright by you then yes, I'd like to stay for dinner."
Heero chuckled. "My door is normally open to my family. So feel free to walk in anytime."
Alanso laughed. "Sally is really close to you all isn't she?"
"She helped us alot durning the war, and she's been there through eveyrthing after." Heero placed the pot of water on the stove and added oil. He pulled out a skillet and turned on another burner. "They should be getting up any time now." He muttered to himself.
The water in the pot started to boil and a loud crash sounded through out the house. "OW!" Heero chuckled as he heard Micheal voice his pain. "Dangit Sarah."
Alanso turned to the doorway at about the same time Micheal came wobbeling into the kitchen. The boy rolled his shoulder. "I don't know why I sleep with her. Everytime I end up hurt." He muttered.
Heero laughed. "Are you the only one up?"
"Zander and Miranda were rolling out of the bed when I left the room." Micheal looked to the door as the two walked in. Okay more like tummbled in.
"Daddy." Miranda mumbled before stummbling over to Alanso. The man chuckled and pulled her into his lap.
"Good morning sunshine." He whispered into her hair. She curled up on his lap and tucked her head into his arm.
Micheal helped Zander up into a chair before turning back to Heero. "May I get something to drink?" Heero placed four glasses on the counter. "Thank you." Micheal took two glasses and placed them on the table before going back for the other two. He turned to the fridge and pulled the Orange Juice from the shelf. He held it up to Zander. The blonde head bobbed once before dropping back onto fold arms. He turned to Mira.
"S'good." She mummbled and Micheal looked to Alanso. "Daddy says its fine too." She told him when the man didn't respond. "He likes Orange Juice."
Heero chuckled. "Then you will get along well with Duo."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Orange Juice is Duo's favorite drink. That isn't a soda that is. He preffers uncarbonated drinks anyway."
Alanso chuckled. "Go figure." Micheal shook the carton and walked over to the table. He placed the carton on the table, climbed into a chair and knelt in the chair. Opening the carton he carefully poured the juice into the glasses. He put the carton off to the side and picked up his glass. "Mmmmm."
"That is another thing I can fully blame on Duo." Heero muttered. "He got you addicted to it." He looked pointedly at Micheal.
"But I only get to drink a lot of it when I'm here." Micheal grinned. "Sister won't let us have alot of it at the Orphanage."
Mira pushed her self up and reached for her glass. She took a sip and let her dad take it from her. "Thank you." She said to Heero.
"You are most welcome. Do you like spegetti Miranada?"
She wrinkled her nose. "Mira. And yes I do."
"Okay, Mira it is then." Heero chuckled. "Well that's a good thing. Alanso why don't you call Sally."
"Moma's coming?!" Mira perked up.
Alanso groaned. "No. Sally is coming."
"Moma."
"Miranda." Alanso warned. The girl shut her mouth with a clack. Alanso dug in his pocket and pulled out his cell. He qucikly dialed Sally's number and placed his daughter in the seat. He walked from the room as Sally answered.
"Is Moma coming?" Mira asked Heero.
"Sally might be coming Mira." Heero paused and turned back to the girl. "Mira why do you insist on calling Sally Moma?" Alanso stopped in the doorway.
"Because, she's imoprtant to Daddy and he loves her. I like her and she makes Odette mad. She doesn't like Moma because she has Daddy's attention. I like being with Daddy and Daddy likes being with Moma. So, I call her Moma because I like her and I want her to be." She said smartly. "Plus Moma is awsome!" She squeeled.
Alanso dropped his head in defeat. "You're not giving that up are you?"
Mira froze and looked to door and her father. She bit her bottom lip. "No." She muttered.
Alanso sighed heavily. "Mira...your mother is not going to like this."
"She doesn't have to know."
"But she'll find out somehow, she always does." He gave her a soft look. "I'm sorry hunny but you really shouldn't call Sally Moma."
Her brown eyes shimmered with tears. "I don't want to stay with her! She never lets you do anything with me. I hate living with her!"
"You don't have a choice hunny. She won the custody battle." Alanso shut his eyes tightly as his daughter ran from the kitchen. He looked back at Heero's room. "Damnit." He sighed and quickly finished his call to Sally. He snapped the phone shut minutes later.
Micheal was watching him. "Why don't you take her to court again?"
"I would, but she's dating the judge."
"And he'll take her side." Micheal concluded. "That's wrong."
"No kidding." Alanso muttered.
"Why not let Papa help out?" Micheal turned to Heero. "Would he?"
Heero looked up from the skillet. "He would. But it isn't a guarentee Micheal."
"Quatre? How would he help?" Alanso asked.
Heero turned to stare at him. "Quatre is a very...powerful person Alanso."
Micheal snickered. "Do you know his last name?"
"Winner. But what does that-" Brown eyes widened. "Wait, Quatre Winner as in Quatre Raberba WINNER? Head of WEI?"
"That would be Papa." Micheal snickered as Alanso paled.
"Holy shit."
"Bad word." Zander mumbled from his arm.
"Forgive me. But I mean...I had a full length conversation with him last night, ate lunch with him today and...holy crap." He ran a hand through his hair.
Heero laughed. "Just don't tell him we told you. He doesn't really like people to see him for his money and his name."
"Papa likes people to look at him as just Quatre." Micheal said mater-of-factly as he poured himself more juice.
"He doesn't like people to look at him like he's a mutli billionair. He likes the hard working Preventer look, because its who he is." Heero took the noddles off the stove and moved to the sink to strain them. "He preffers to earn things."
"Who preffers to earn things?" Quatre asked from the doorway. Heero looked back over his shoulder and ignored the blonde.
"Alanso, he's still the man you met the other night. Nothing has changed."
"Who are you two talking about?" Quatre demanded.
"Nothing Quatre." Heero gunted as he hefted the strainer out of the sink. He shifted the noddles and watched the water drain.
"Bull." The blonde hissed.
"They're talking about you love." Trowa's voice came from behind him.
Quatre groaned. "Heero~"
"Not me." He said defensivly.
"Micheal." Quatre turned on the boy sipping at his juice.
His eyes widened. "Thanks daddy." He hissed after setting down the glass. He turned back to Quatre. "He was going to find out sooner or later. Plus he needs your help!"
Quatre rose an eye brow. "My help?"
"Yes. He wants custody of his daughter, but the mother is dating the judge. Mira's rather upset over the fact."
"So you volenteered my help?" Quatre's brow crinkled in confussion.
Micheal shook his head. "No. I said he should ask you to help and that you might help him."
"He merely asked why and the truth behind your name came out somewhere along the way." Heero finished as he dumped the noddles back into the pot. "Mira wants to call Sally Moma, Alanso said she shouldn't, she said she doesn't want to live with her mother and he said she doesn't have choice. That was the basic of the conversation."
Quatre frowned. "Hmm. Why don't you take her to court again."
"She dating the judge." Micheal pipped up.
"As I said last night, I'd lose in a heartbeat." Alanso sighed. "I just can't believe that Sally's little brother is THE Winner heir." He pursed his lips. "And my boss on top of that." He muttered.
"Your boss?" Quatre turned to him.
"Yeah. I pilot for WEI airports." He laughed half heartedly. "Go figure."
Everyone in the room turned to him. "Are you for real?" Micheal asked.
"Yes. I pilot anything that needs to be flown somewhere. Cargo, people, airplane or shuttle. Doesn't matter. I pilot it all."
Quatre broke into laughter. "Oh that's priceless. Of course I'll help. I just have to contact a few people. Might take a couple of months though."
Alanso perked up. "Seriously?"
Quatre smiled at him. "You make my sister happy. Of course I'm going to help you. What the woman is doing is wrong. I'm sure you'll have full custody of your daughter by the end of the year."
Alanso grinned at him. "Thank you."
"In exchange though," Quatre looked him in the eye. "I remain Quatre, Sallys little brother. Nothing more."
Alanso laughed. "Agreed."
Quatre shook his hand and grinned. "Does this mean that your daughter is here? Or did you take her back to her mother already?"
"No she's here. She's pouting in Heero's room." Alanso coughed. "She ran off when I told she doesn't have a choice."
"Poor child. She must not like her mother at all."
"She doesn't."
Heero tapped the pot with the wooden spoon. "Okay spegetti is ready. Now for-" Heero rummaged through his cabinets muttering to himself. Quatre snickered. "Make yourself useful and go help your lover wake the children." He glared at the blonde.
"Yes, yes I'm removing myself from your kitchen." Quatre shook his head and left the room.
"So just Quatre, the protective blonde headed menace-as Sally calls him- huh? Nothing more?" Alanso questioned once he was sure that the blonde was in Heero's room.
"Hai. Just Quatre the irritable, crazy blonde that you met last night. Not your boss or Mister Winner, C.E.O. of W.E.I." Heero nodded under the open cabinet door. He grinned at Alanso. "That is, when you aren't at work. Here or whenever you should meet him randomly, he's Quatre. When you're on duty then it's Mr. Winner. He likes to keep personal and proffesional seperate."
"I can understand that. And I can do that." Alanso nodded to himself. Micheal snickered as Sarah came tumbbling in with Marrie on her heels.
Sarah groaned and head for one of the chairs. "Ugh." She groaned again as she hit the chair. Micheal's snickering turned into laughter.
"Sarah." Quatre sighed as he bent to lift the half sleeping girl into the chair. Marrie walked over to Heero and lifted her arms up. Heero obidently picked her up.
Trowa walked into the room with Nora in his arms and Chris fell into the back of his legs when he stopped. "Ow." He muttered into the back of Trowa's legs. "Baba." Trowa snickered.
Quatre looked up and grinned. Nora was leaning over Trowa's shoulder to look behind him. Chris tilted his head up and grinned. " 'Ello Nora." She giggled and waved.
"Nora." Trowa muttered. The little girl turned back to him. "Be careful." She beamed at him and nodded before looking back over his shoulder.
"Rawr." Chris groaned at her. She giggled and 'hid' in Trowa's shoulder. Trowa shook his head and walked forward. He found it difficult with Chris clinging to his pant's legs growling at the girl in his arms. She would giggle and hide behind Trowa's shoulder.
Heero snorted at the sight and set Marrie on the counter. When Trowa went to put her down she clung to him.
Quatre laughed. "Trowa you can't put her down with the mean Chris on the prowel." He scolded playfully. Trowa looked at his lover in confussion. The blonde winked and took Nora from him. "Fear not my lady! You are safe now." Quatre snickered as Chris made a 'jump' for Nora.
She laughed and leaned over his shoulder. "No, no." She giggled.
Quatre snickered and picked up one of the wooden tools Heero was using. He stuck it out in front of him in a defensive manner. "Back, back." He brandished it at Chris. Heero shook his head. Micheal and Zander looked at each other and nodded. They slid from their seats and went to help Chris. "Ack! Their's more!"
Trowa laughed softly at the sight of his lover and the children. Quatre's eyes widened as the three pounced on him. Sarah was laughing from her chair and Mira was peeking in the kitchen. Her father sat laughing softly at the scene. Mira shuffled into the room and Alanso turned to her. She froze when his brown eyes landed on her.
Alanso stared into brown eyes so much like his own. He smiled and motioned her forward. She ran to him and he lifted her onto his lap. Both turned their gaze back to scene.
Quatre sqwaked as Zander clung to his left leg while Micheal was hanging off the arm he wasn't using to lift Nora. The girl was laughing into his shoulder. Heero rolled his eyes and hooked an arm around Zander's middle. He did the same to Micheal and carried them back to the table. He sat them in seats and 'banished' them. He then turned and did the same to Chris.
Quatre was laughing by the end. "Oh the Great King Heero has banished the foul beasts from his lands. What bravery." Nora's laughter rang out in the kitchen.
"And he steals the Princess from the White Knight." Heero snorted and yanked the spoon from Quatre's hand. He placed it on the counter grinning.
"What? I don't remember-" Quatre cut himself off as Heero took Nora from him. "Oh that is so wrong."
Heero laughed and sat Nora on the counter by Marrie. "Ready to help?"
She grinned and her eyes lit up. "Yes."
Heero grinned. "Good." He turned back to the group. "If you're not in here to help, then get out."
Quatre snorted. "You take my Princess and then you expect me to help? Tch you're full of it." He walked from the kitchen grinning.
Trowa shook his head and grinned at Heero. "I'm game."
"Good. Anyone else?" Heero asked.
The other occupaints looked at each other and shook their heads. "Then go keep the blonde out of trouble."
Chris and Micheal ran out of the kitchen with Zander and Sarah on their heels. Alanso snorted as he rose from the seat with his daughter. Mira squirmed and he set her down. She ran from the kitchen and soon Quatre's screams echoed in the house.
Trowa looked out the doorframe. Heero laughed. "Aren't you going to help him?"
"No." Trowa turned back to him. "I'm here to help with dinner."
"Alright. We need some other side dish and dessert."
"Cheesy potatoes?" Nora asked, blue eyes sparkling.
Heero frowned. "If I have potatoes." Trowa went to search through his cabinets. "Okay while he's doing that. Dessert. Any suggestions?"
Marrie's green eyes gleamed. Heero looked at her. "Cake?" She shook her head. "Brownies?" She shook her head again. "My chocolate eclair?" Her red curls bounced as she nodded her head. "Good choice." She grinned at him.
"Agreed Marrie. I haven't had that in a long time." Trowa's voice as he came out of a cabinet. "Potatoes." He held out the basket.
"How long have they been there?" Heero snorted.
"They're still good. I think." Trowa tossed one to Heero.
Heero examined it. "Looks good."
"Cheesy potatoes?" Nora asked again excitedly.
"Yes." Heero grinned at her and she clapped her hands.
"You like them I take it?" Trowa asked, laughter in his voice.
"Love them." She grinned. Marrie nodded by her. "Can't wait to taste yours Daddy." Both Heero and Trowa turned to the girl. Her eyes glittered and she smiled at them.
Heero chuckled. "Well that officially makes five." He shook his head. Trowa grinned at her, she grinned back.
Heero handed Marrie and Nora peelers and the potatoes. "Can you?"
"Gladly!" Nora started to peel the potatoes. She helped Marrie, explaining how to hold the peeler and how to hold the potatoe.
Trowa came up beside Heero. "Well, that was unexpected." He whispered.
"It was." Heero glanced at the two girls. "It means what exactly?"
"That she trusts us I suppose." Trowa frowned and looked over at them. "Right?"
"I have no idea. What I do know is that she's comfortable with us. She doesn't flinch when we try to touch her anymore."
"I think the other children have something to do with that too."
"Agreed." Heero glanced at Trowa. "Do you want children?"
Trowa nearly dropped the bowl in his hands. He turned to Heero sharply. "What makes you ask that?"
Heero frowned and mixed the mashed potatoes harshly. "Micheal said something thats been bothering me. Alanso made a couple things clear as well. I'm questioning myself."
Trowa blinked. "Heero. You'd make a good father either way." Heero turned to him, hands stopping. "You've already gained their trust. It's not like they're asking you to adopt them." Trowa blinked. "That's whats bothering you, isn't it."
Heero sighed. "Micheal said that they weren't asking me to adopt them. On some levels I want to, but on the other I don't. I know right now I can't make that desicion."
"Duo." Trowa summarized.
"Yes. Until I get that over with, I can't think about anything else." Heero sighed and braced his elbows on the counter. He placed his face into his hands. "I keep thinking about everything and it just makes me confussed and agitated."
Trowa nodded. "I can understand that. With everything that's going on, it's reasonable." Trowa tapped Heero's hand. Heero looked at him. "Give it the two weeks you promised Zander and go from their. If Duo hasn't woken up by then, then send Zander to the Orphanage and when Duo wakes, explain to him everything thats going on. He'll help you straighten it out."
"After I tell him." Heero nodded.
"After you tell him. From their you take it and run with it." Trowa nodded.
Heero sighed and stood up straight. "You made it all so simple. I've been thinking on how to handle this since Zander asked me if he could stay."
"Sometimes you need anothers out look on it to help it make sense." Trowa snorted. "Cathy taught me that."
"I'll take your word for it." The two worked in a comfrotable silence after that.
"Done!" Nora chimmed, looking over her shoulder at them. She and Marrie had turned to sit Indian style on the counter, potatoes in between them.
Heero looked over her shoulder at their work. "Very nice. Clean cut too." Nora absolutly glowed under his praise. "You." He tapped her lightly on the nose. "I will have to get to help in the kitchen more."
She giggled. "Kay!" Marrie snickered as Trowa lifted her off of the counter. Heero pulled two chairs over to the stove. "You two stir." Heero placed Nora on one of the chairs. "And we will cut up the potatoes to make your dish my lady." Nora giggled and took the offered spoon.
Trowa and Heero began to slice the potatoes, mindful eyes glancing at the children now and then. When the potatoes were sliced, Heero and Nora placed them along with cheese and milk into a glass dish. Nora nodded and watched as Heero placed the dish in the oven. She had Trowa help her off of the chair and she crouched in front of the oven and watched it cook.
Heero and Trowa worked around her chuckling as Marrie held out her arms. Heero set her on the ground and she crouched beside Nora and watched.
"Strange." Trowa muttered to Heero. The Japanese teen snickered. The time passed quickly. Screams and war cries drifted in from the living room now and then not before long the sound of pillows and cushions hitting the wall sounded off. Trowa and Heero looked at each other wearily.
Wufei stummbled into the kitchen. "You do know that there is a war going on in your living room right?"
"I figured." Heero sighed.
"Where's-?" Trowa was cut off by a shout from the hallway.
"NO!" Zokuri shouted and promtly screamed. "Attack! I'm in a war free zone SARAH!" He shouted. "NO! LET GO! FEI!" They heard the loud crash and then the groan. "No! Sarah!"
Wufei looked to the door. "Dear god."
Zokuri came into the kitchen dragging Sarah. She laid on the floor clutching his ankel. He collapsed onto the floor. "SAFE!" He shouted.
"AW!" She pouted but didn't release him. "PAPA!"
The blonde came around the corner grinning. "Oh what do we have here?"
"NO!" Zokuri shouted. "I am in a free zone!"
Teal eyes gleamed. "We'll have to change that." He grabbed Zokuri's other ankle and pulled.
Zokuri clutched at the doorframe. "NO! I am in a free zone! I plan to STAY in the free zone!"
Quatre pulled on his leg. "Damnit. MICHEAL!" The boy came running into the kitchen.
"Don't you dare." Zokuri hissed.
Micheal laughed manically and helped Quatre.
"DAMNIT! WHAT IS WITH YOU?!" Zokuri was pulled from the doorframe. Quatre drug him from the kitchen cackiling.
"Wufei." Heero stated.
"You might want to save him." Trowa snickered.
Wufei was out of the room in a heart beat. "GET THE HELL OFF OF HIM WINNER!"
Zokuri must have gotten free because he was back in the kitchen, diving behind Heero. "Dear god." He panted. "Physoctic blondes will haunt me now." Heero let out a laugh.
"I only want to play with him Wufei!" Quatre shouted as he ran into the kitchen trying to find the missing person.
Wufei growled and tackled the blonde to the floor. They went down screaming. "Don't bring him into your freakish games!"
"I'm only playing with him! You can have him back after!" Quatre shouted into the floor.
Trowa and Heero broke into laughter.
"NO! I want him unharmed! Physically and mentally unharmed!"
"Where's the fun in that?!" Quatre turned to look over his shoulder at the teen that was currently stradiling him.
"I have fun with him! You don't need to!" He hissed. "It's what you have Trowa for!"
Heero laughed harder as three of the adults blushed at once. None of them being Wufei.
"Oh." Trowa groaned.
"My." Quatre gasped.
"God!" Zokuri shouted.
Wufei glared. "Stay away from him. Drag Alanso into your freakish fantasies. Leave my man alone."
Wufei pushed off of Quatre and stalked from the room in a huff. Heero snickered. "That brings a question to mind." When all three of his friends turned to him he grinned. "Who tops?" Zokuri paled before flushing brightly and running from the room. Heero laughed at the mans reaction.
Nora and Marrie sat on the floor staring up at the three, gaping.
Trowa seemed to notice them first and flushed brightly. Quatre and Heero followed his gaze and both turned lovely shades of red. Heero coughed and turned his head away from them. "Dinner." He grunted and removed the cheesy dish from the oven.
Nora squeeled and ran from the room to let everyone know dinner was ready. Marrie grinned and her eyes sparkled. She held out her hands and Trowa handed her the stack of paper plates. He snorted as she ran from the room. Heero and Trowa took out dishes of food while others helped set up the table.
Once everything was in the dinning room, everone sat down and dug into the food.