Disclaimer: I do not own The Matrix.
There was a loud knocking on the door what woke Trinity from her peaceful sleep. It had been a while since she had gotten a full night's sleep and she wasn't too happy about being woken up early. The knocking came again, this time sounding more urgent. Trinity looked over at Neo who was beside her, his arms draped around her middle, sleeping soundly still. Lena was on the other side of her, with Trinity wedged comfortably between the two. She wasn't exactly sure how she was supposed to get out of the bed without knocking one of them out. They both must have been tired as well since neither had even so much as stirred at the sound of the knocking.
Trinity managed to shimmy down the bed, bending her legs uncomfortably to get off as quietly as possible. She didn't want to disturb either Neo or Lena as they both could use the sleep as well.
Trinity walked over and just as the person began to knock again, she opened the door slowly. Peering out carefully, since the mob had taken to waiting outside the door for some part of the last evening, Trinity's eyes fell upon Link. He beamed when he saw Trinity.
"Hey there! Good morning! I didn't wake you did I?" he asked with an animated voice.
Trinity only yawned in response making Link frown.
"Sorry," he said sounding sincere, "I was wondering if Lena wanted to help me out today."
Trinity narrowed her eyes at Link, suspecting more to the story. If Link genuinely needed help he certainly wouldn't ask an inexperienced fourteen year old girl. Link seemed to pick up on her skepticism and launched into a reluctant explanation.
"You see…" he began, choosing his words carefully, "I promised her I'd let her try out this new program and I just finished it. I could really use her help to work out the kinks."
Trinity was about to tell him to turn right around and leave when she saw Lena's face in her mind. She would be so excited to work with Link again. Trinity also got the feeling Link liked having Lena around. He and Zee had never been able to have children and it only seemed natural that he would form a bond with Lena so quickly.
"I'll send her over to your place when she wakes up," replied Trinity with a small smile.
Link seemed to be anticipating a different answer and he looked at her surprised and ecstatic.
"Thanks Trin, I really appreciate it!" he said, using her nickname which made Trinity smile again, before closing the heavy steel door as lightly as she could.
She turned around and looked over at the digital clock on the dresser. It was almost nine in the morning, hours later than they usually slept on the Neb.
She decided they should probably get up, lest they mess up their sleeping patterns for when they boarded again the next day.
Walking over, Trinity gently nudged Lena. Lena breathed heavily and stretched out her arms, blinking open her eyes groggily. She looked up at Trinity who smiled down at her.
"I have a surprise for you," whispered Trinity, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Lena opened her eyes a little wider, sitting up slightly, clearly intrigued.
"Link just came by. He said he finished the new program and he wants you to help him out. I said you'd go over later."
Trinity barely had time to finish speaking when Lena bolted out of bed, ran past Trinity, and into the bathroom, slamming the door. She opened it quickly to pop her head out and say loudly, "I'll be ready in exactly one minute!" before slamming it shut again.
Trinity rolled her eyes, turning back to Neo who had been woken up from Lena slamming the door and yelling.
He groaned as he turned over to face Trinity and looked to the bathroom door.
"What is it now?" he asked, pretending to be annoyed.
Trinity knew that his annoyance these days, like hers, was usually only in joking. They were both so happy to have Lena with them. It was like finding a part of them that had been missing all those years.
"Lena's going over to work with Link today," said Trinity, getting up to grab some clothes for Lena.
Trinity had washed her clothes from the Neb and had folded them on top of the dresser. They were a little too big, but Trinity had managed to stitch them up the night before so they fit Lena a little more snugly.
"Oh?" asked Neo, sounding pleasantly surprised, "so it'll just be me and you then?"
Trinity stopped what she was doing to turn around and look at Neo, a smile playing on his lips as he looked up at her from the bed. Trinity hadn't thought about that aspect. It had been a couple days since they had the privacy to be together. Trinity felt a jolt of electricity and thrill run up her spine as she thought about them having the day to spend together here in bed.
"I guess so," replied Trinity, slowly walking over to the bed and lying down beside Neo, curling up against him. She sighed as he put a hand to her cheek and kissed her deeply. She was just getting into the kiss when the bathroom door opened and Trinity could hear Lena clearing her throat loudly.
"Jeez, at least wait until I leave!" she said in exasperation with her arms crossed, before changing the subject, "where did you put my clothes?"
Trinity turned back to Neo and kissed him once more before getting up out of the bed and heading over to the dresser. She picked up the pile of clothes and handed them to Lena.
"Thanks Mom," replied Lena before disappearing in the bathroom once more.
Trinity stood where she was, smiling to herself. It felt so nice to be referred to as 'mom.' Trinity had never realized how much she would love being a mother. She only hoped the good feeling would last and that Lena wouldn't become too much trouble. Unfortunately, Trinity could foresee Lena's slow ascension to becoming more strong willed and adventurous every day.
Neo had gotten up and was about to pull on some clothes when Trinity stopped him.
"What are you doing?" she asked playfully from across the room, "I'll just have to take them off again."
Neo smiled and put the shirt back into the drawer, wearing only the thin pair of pants that he slept in.
Lena came out of the bathroom once more, wearing her old clothes that were now more tightly fitting on her slim body. They consisted of a pair of thin black pants and a faded light blue sweater. She held out her arms and looked at Trinity smiling.
"They fit now!" she exclaimed happily.
"They look much better," replied Trinity, walking up to hug her tightly.
She kissed Lena's forehead before she pulled away and looked down at her.
"Are you ready to go now?"
Lena nodded her head and made for the doorway, stopping to hug Neo quickly.
"Bye Dad," she called behind her as she opened the door and walked out.
"Bye Lena," said Neo softly, smiling at the open door.
Trinity walked by him and grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently. He kissed her on the lips, pulling her in with his hand around her waist.
"Let's go!" yelled Lena from the outside the door.
Neo pulled back and smiled into Trinity's lips.
"She sure does take after you," he said, before dodging Trinity's punch into his shoulder.
Trinity walked out into the hallway and closed the door behind her. She looked over to see Lena already heading out of the building about thirty feet away. God, that girl was impatient.
"Lena, wait," said Trinity in mild irritation as she jogged to catch up to her.
They walked out into the cool air of Zion and down the stairs, people looking up at they went by. Trinity was worried Lena would become uncomfortable again but she seemed to be alright. Perhaps she'd already gotten used to it as had Neo and Trinity. Lena just smiled lightly as they walked along, completely ignoring the continued stares and whispers.
Trinity led them down just a two minute walk to another unit of living quarters. They weren't quite as nice as the ones Trinity and Neo were in, but they were the closest thing. Link and Zee had managed to move in after the war.
They walked up to the door and Trinity let Lena knock as she had already moved to do so. She stopped her however after about twelve powerful knocks, pushing her hand down swiftly but not hard.
"Was that really necessary?" asked Trinity in scorn.
Lena just smiled up at her and giggled mischievously.
Zee answered the door and smiled at Trinity before looking over at Lena warmly.
"You must be Lena," she said kindly, "it's nice to meet you. I'm Zee. Please come in."
She moved so they could both enter and Lena noticed Link standing about five feet away, smiling at Lena.
"You made it!" he said happily.
Lena nodded enthusiastically before looking back at Zee.
"It's nice to meet you too," she replied politely.
Trinity smiled. It was nice to know Lena was at least polite with others, even if she was a little demanding and meddlesome with her and Neo.
"You look just like your mother," said Zee with a voice of quiet reflection.
Trinity felt a small blush creep onto her cheeks with the mention, though also a bit of pride.
"That's what I hear," replied Lena, clearly not moved by the sentiment. She was looking around the apartment now with interest.
"I don't see any computer equipment," she said, narrowing her eyes speculatively.
"We'll have to go over to the Neb where it's docked. It's all on there," replied Link right away, as if expecting this question.
"I sure hope you don't mind. You really don't need to worry about keeping her busy," said Trinity, looking more at Zee than at Link.
"It's alright," replied Zee, "Link and I had the day to ourselves yesterday. I don't worry so much when he's gone anymore. I also know he hates being cooped up her all day. It was actually my idea for the two of them to work together today."
"Oh," said Trinity, genuinely but pleasantly surprised, "alright. Thank you. I know Lena appreciates it, don't you Lena?"
"Oh, of course," said Lena as Trinity looked down at her expectantly, "thank you."
"I'll walk her home later," said Link, walking past Trinity and opening the door for Lena to follow.
"Alright, bye you two," said Trinity as her and Zee watched them leave.
"Would you like something to drink?" asked Zee.
Trinity knew Neo would be waiting for her but she didn't want to seem rude so she politely accepted, walking over to sit down at their small table.
"Link told me about what happened on the Neb… about Sphinx," began Zee in a quiet fearful voice, "Lena seems alright though."
"Yes," replied Trinity, taking the drink Zee handed her, "I think she'll be fine."
"It must be a little scary," said Zee, sitting down across from Trinity, glass in hand, "becoming a mother overnight like that."
Trinity noticed the hint of sadness in Zee's voice. She felt guilty all of a sudden. Here Zee had wanted children for so many years, and Trinity had one handed to her unexpectedly. More than that, perhaps watching her husband go off with another woman's daughter might be more difficult that Trinity had imagined. Poor Zee, it seemed so unfair. Trinity decided to choose her words carefully as she answered so as not to seem ungrateful.
"Yes, it was," replied Trinity slowly, "but I've grown attached to her so quickly. I couldn't imagine not having her in my life again. I always thought Neo and I were not the parenting type, but… I guess I was wrong."
Zee smiled at her from across the table, and Trinity's uneasiness faded. Zee was strong and she had forgotten just how much pain Zee had endured with the war and losing Tank and Dozer.
"I think Link has grown attached to her as well," said Zee warmly, "I'm glad he has the opportunity to bond with her."
"Me too," replied Trinity, "it's good for Lena as well to have someone else there who cares as much as he does."
Zee smiled again and finished her drink. Trinity suddenly remembered Neo waiting for her.
"Zee, I'm sorry I really should go. Neo's waiting for me," said Trinity, genuinely sorry to have to leave, "thank you for the drink."
"Anytime," said Zee, standing up to show Trinity out, "Lena too. She's always welcome here."
"Thank you," replied Trinity, exiting the open door, "bye Zee."
"Goodbye Trinity," said Zee kindly before closing the door.
Trinity sighed deeply as she walked back to their home. She felt the familiar tingles in her body as she thought about being with Neo. Even after all these years he still had the same effect on her.
This chapter was a little slow plot wise, but it'll get exciting again soon I promise!