Chapter Thirty-Seven

Melody sat in a daze amongst the five Colonial representatives, the cabinet – sans Merrick's appointed Defense Secretary, Attorney General, and Secretary of State – Lady Une, and Relena, all gathered around the large rectangular table. With hands folded on her lap, her eyes bore into the wood, the words coming from Lady Une muffled and unrecognizable. She tried to focus on the task at hand, but she was tired. She found that she couldn't sleep last night, but not only that, she was tired of everything else. She was tired of watching the Gundam pilots fight in battle after battle, exhausting themselves and throwing their lives into the fire. She was tired of seeing Lista and Quatre hide and be parted from their families and friends. And most of all, she was tired of being pitted against her father.

She wanted it all to end.

Melody felt a soft hand rest on her shoulder, jarring her from her thoughts. She turned her head to Relena, who was giving her a weak smile, silently asking her if she was all right. Melody only nodded and turned back to Lady Une, who was still in the middle of her explanation.

"From what Preventer has seen, Merrick still does not know of what is happening," Lady Une said, folding hair behind her ear. "His actions have not changed since we've begun speaking with the five of you, to which we can be thankful for the moment."

"For now," Li Sheng spoke up, frowning. He folded his arms over his chest. "We have begun to move forward in the impeachment process. We wish to avoid any further political entanglements, especially after what happened with Miss Di Nevella. We have no desire to throw our government into the fire even further, not while we have still been working to build it back up to what it used to be. We plan to follow every protocol."

"Politically speaking, it will take about a month for us to impeach Merrick from office, maybe longer. We must put it to a vote, not to mention the courts want as much evidence against him as possible so they can convict him of crimes against the Colonies," Gabriel added. "We won't cut corners anywhere. We want to make sure we do this the right way."

"And do we have enough evidence to try my father for crimes against the Colonies?" Melody inquired. "The Senate is taking our words alone to heart and considering them truth?"

"Phone logs have been recorded of his phone conversations," Will Lilienfield replied, clearing his throat to gather her attention. "The Senate members have been presented with them. Merrick's only mistake was that he decided to contact each of us on our business lines, which are all closely monitored. We were able to retrieve those logs from security and handed them over to the Senate. Normally this would be something Preventer would look into, but seeing as they have disbanded from the Colonies' control, the Senate is taking the matter on themselves. They consider these allegations of the most severe variety."

"Well, I should hope so," Relena spoke up with a slight frown. "The Gundam pilots and the Maguanac Corps can only hold off for much longer. They are getting tired, and their mechanics have to do repairs, refuel, and reload the mobile suits on their own without much aid from machines. I would like to see this end diplomatically, of course, but they are our only line of defense from Merrick. We are counting on them."

The representatives and cabinet members turned to one another, saying nothing for a short moment.

"In any case, we're hoping to have the impeachment process complete in about a month, so the Gundam pilots are going to have to hold out until we can take care of this our way," Sheng replied, annoying from the uncomfortable silence befalling the room. "I understand it's a lot to ask, but they are the only obstacles in Merrick's way. If they weren't around to defend the people, then I'm not sure what condition the Colonies would be in."

"I know what they would be in," Melody grumbled. She suddenly pushed herself from her chair, making eye contact with no one even as they stared upon her in question. "They would be engulfed in flames with my father watching over them proudly. And if we don't make this happen faster, that could very well happen."

And with that, she stormed out of the room in a huff, nearly pulling the door from its hinges as she exited. She ignored Lady Une calling out her name. She folded her arms over her chest in aggravation, wishing there were something else to be done, something quicker and more efficient. She despised the fact that Lista was taken from office in a matter of minutes, while her father's impeachment would be done the "right" way. To her, there was no "right" way, and she wasn't sure she approved of their idea of justice or democracy.

A warm blanket of sleep lifted from around her, green eyes opening to the sun peeking into the living room in slivers. Lista's lips parted for a sleepy moan as she studied her surroundings, grabbing her bearings and tracing through her mind for the last memory she had. She couldn't remember falling asleep on the sofa and wondered how she had even gotten there.

Pushing herself into a sitting position, Lista rubbed the sleep from her eyes and recalled the last thing in her mind. Painting the nursery turned out to be more trying than she expected and decided to take a quick rest on the sofa. She figured she must have dozed off on accident and had to wonder just how long she had been asleep.

Peering out of the window, the sun's light hung low. Growing alarmed, Lista stood and walked upstairs to the nursery in search of Quatre to apologize for forsaking her promise to help him get everything squared away for their son's room.

As she turned around the corner into their son's room, eyes widening, she found Quatre on a small stepladder as he carefully fastened a blue and green dinosaur mobile over the white crib, now fully assembled.

Quatre blinked her way, a smile falling upon his lips. "Hi, sweetheart. Did you have a good nap?" He made his descent from the ladder.

Lista frowned. "You knew I was asleep down there and you still let me do it? I wanted to help you do all of this. This is a lot of work for just one person to do."

"I'm sorry. I know you wanted to help, but you seemed exhausted. I sure had no plans on waking you when you seemed comfortable," Quatre apologized, pressing his lips against her cheek. "But either way, I have been rather busy. I have finished a great deal more than I expected. What do you think?" He turned his head, admiring his work.

Lista followed suit, her eyes falling upon the dangling dinosaurs over the white crib he had obviously assembled himself, now sitting in the corner of the fully blue-painted room. There was a matching white toy chest with a large green "W" scripted in the front, sitting adjacent from the crib. The windowsills were painted white and were now dressed with dark blue curtains tied back to let in the sun's light.

"I suppose we still need to get him a dresser, but we have plenty of time to do that," Quatre spoke up, facing her with a grin. He slid his arm around her lower back, pulling her closer to him. "Do you like it?"

Lista released a sigh of air and pressed a palm against the middle of her chest. "I think it's beautiful. I just love it," she gushed, angling her head towards him with a pleased smile. "And I love you. I think he's going to love it, too, especially once he's old enough to know that you put all of your time into it."

She pulled away from him, walking over to one of the windows. She grazed her fingers over the new paint, gently touching the soft fabric of the curtains. She couldn't help but tear up.

Quatre came up behind her, the smile all but glued to his face. "I'm glad you like it. I'm rather pleased with how everything turned out. There are still some other little things that need to be done, but we'll leave it at this for the moment. We have plenty of time to think on some other essentials."

"It's lovely." She craned her head, leaning over to kiss him gently. "Thank you for putting so much care and love into this room. I can see how much you enjoyed doing it. You made it perfect."

Quatre shook his head. "No, I should be thanking you, sweetheart, for giving me a son to dote upon. I will cherish every moment of being a father." He slid his hand over her belly, rubbing in comforting circles. "There is no feeling in this world that could compare to how I feel about knowing our son is inside you, waiting to be born. I can't wait to meet him."

Lista could do nothing to stop the blush from taking over her cheeks at the closeness between them, her arm pressed against his, his hand rubbing her belly. She leaned over to him again, her mouth finding his in what started out as an innocent kiss but quickly grew into a passionate embrace that had Quatre's fingers sifting through her hair and her palm cupping his cheek.

Standing there for several seconds, lips upon lips, soft palm upon pregnant belly, was like being wrapped within a cocoon of something far too positive to be reality. Quatre's aggravation had all but erased for that split moment, forgetting all of his troubling thoughts in a blissful moment of ignorance.

But reality closed in again when Lista was the first to pull away, gasping for air, lips bruised pink, cheeks flushed, and eyes weighed down in passion. Her tongue glided over her mouth, and she released a soft giggle. "I think we should get something to eat," she whispered, her hand falling down to rest on his chest. "I don't suppose you've eaten any dinner."

Quatre shook his head. "No. I haven't." If he had an ounce of sense, he would tell her what thoughts were troubling him. But instead, he chose to cast them into the far reaches of his mind in favor of gazing upon his wife in their afterglow.

"Well, our son would like some dinner, and so would I. Do you have any requests?" she asked, tilting her head as her smile spread contagiously over her face.

Quatre was already shaking his head. "I'll cook dinner tonight. You have been doing it ever since we arrived here."

Lista wagged her finger at him. "Nonsense. You've been working on the nursery all day while I was sleeping. There will be none of that. I'll make dinner. You can take it easy for a little while. You've deserved it. Why don't you shower while I get everything prepared? I'm sure it will feel nice after all the work you've been doing." She patted his cheek gently and sidestepped him, walking from the room without another word.

Sighing, Quatre hung his head, wondering why he was such a coward and couldn't share his troubled thoughts with his own wife, especially since she was the one that caused them.

He continued to tell himself that she was merely feeling lost and her emotions had gotten the better of her, but that excuse could only be used so many times. He sympathized with her far less than he thought he would, especially due to her pregnant state. He preferred happier memories to dark ones and thought it better for him to forget and move on. She would do no more senseless things with him around to stop her, of that he could be certain.

Quatre moved forward to the window, staring out into the sky, now darkening as the sun set for the night. He quickly noticed small speckles of light in the distance, decorating the sky like Christmas lights. But what seemed to irk him within seconds was the realization that they were not stars emerging in the coming darkness, as stars did not move in the sky as quickly as these seemed to.

Eyes widening in realization, Quatre felt his heart skip a beat, his breath catching in his lungs. No, they weren't stars. They were mobile dolls no doubt scouring for them by Merrick's orders. Had they been discovered? Did Merrick know where he and Lista were hidden, and had he come for them?

He shook his head, knowing his thoughts and worries were getting the better of him. He knew they were mobile dolls, but he had no indication that they were looking for them, or that they were in danger. If they were, he was sure the Preventer agents watching over them would have notified them by now. He closed his eyes, counting silently in his head to steady his breath and quickening heartbeat. The last thing he needed was to enter the kitchen in an obvious mood of worry, which would just cast Lista off into one of her own.

In an effort to calm his nerves, he untied the curtains, allowing them to fall over the window and darken the room in the process. Sighing in relief, Quatre turned from the room, shutting the door behind him, and hoping to shut out any further worry for his unborn son as mobile dolls skittered about the colony.

"I don't like this. I really don't like this," Wufei kept repeating, shaking his head in obvious disgust. He turned his head, staring at Heero for him to chime in. He was silent, but Wufei knew the look in his eyes. He was worried and completely disapproving of their new residence.

"I have seen that you have no other option," Relena spoke up. "Preventer headquarters would be destroyed if you stayed there any further, and I have adequate space for all of you to stay here. Your last fight several days ago nearly demolished the building. You cannot seek refuge there anymore. Preventer will have nowhere to conduct their business, and they are already in enough danger as it is with your presence. Where else would you go but here with me?"

Wufei scoffed and said nothing, turning his head away from her.

"The impeachment process has begun, and so far it is running as smoothly as can be expected," Relena continued, ignoring the shrug-off from the Chinese pilot. "Unfortunately, we are required to inform Merrick of the events, so he will come to know of it eventually. I can't be sure when that time will come, but I know the cabinet members siding with us are trying to hold out until further into the process before having a meeting with him."

Duo was already shaking his head. "I don't like that. When he finds out, don't you think he's gonna be going nuts over the whole thing? He's gonna hate that he's losing his power and try to do something crazy drastic about it."

Relena nodded. "Yes, I understand. Melody wasn't too keen on the idea, either. She wanted to wait until the verdict was a little more official before informing him, but she knows as well as I do that we are supposed to inform him of the events surrounding his impeachment."

Duo snapped his head, turning around the room. "Wait a minute. Where is Melody?"

The Vice-Foreign Minister's eyes fell. "She is outside. She has been beside herself since our meeting several days ago about our course of action. I don't think she is feeling too well about this whole prospect. She is concerned that her father is going to do something drastic when he discovers we are in the middle of impeaching him from office, not to mention she does not like how long it's going to take."

"That's the way politics work," Wufei spoke up knowingly. "It's a fact we have to face, as much as we don't like it. But we should be thankful that justice will be carried out in the end."

Duo scoffed, shoving himself to his feet. "Well, I know how she feels. I'm gonna check up on her." And with that, he shuffled out of the room, leaving his companions sitting in silence. He moved to the foyer and grabbed his coat from the set of hangers, swinging it carelessly over his shoulders before thrusting the door open.

He saw the back of her red head as she sat on the set of stairs leading down from the porch. He took several steps towards her, but she didn't move. He stepped next to her, placing himself on the first stair beside her.

"You know, it's cold out here, and you don't have a coat on," Duo spoke up, noticing that she was only clad in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. "Are you trying to catch pneumonia or something?"

Melody shook her head slowly, but didn't look at him. "It doesn't feel that cold out here," she murmured. As soon as her sentence ended, she felt a warm cloak of leather fall over her shoulders. She turned her head in Duo's direction, who was grinning. "What are you doing? Won't you be cold?"

"I'm hot-blooded," he said with a shrug. "And besides, you're shaking. You probably don't feel cold because you've numbed the hell out of yourself. I don't think anyone would really be happy seeing you sick with a cold." He folded his arms over his chest. "So, why don't you spit out what's bothering you? You've been distancing yourself from people. I thought you were past doing that kind of stuff."

Melody frowned. "I'm afraid of what my father is going to do once he comes to know of his impeachment. He's not going to cut any corners, Duo. I can only imagine what he'll do to the Colonies, to all of you, when he finds out. He's going to do everything he can before he is removed from office to do damage." She shook her head, wincing louder than expected. "I just can't bear to think of something happening to any of you. I saw Quatre when he found out about you and Lista being in the hospital. I don't think he could go through that again, and quite frankly, I would prefer not to, either."

"Hey, don't think like that," Duo scolded, planting a broad palm over her shoulder. "We have everything under control. I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about what he's going to do. Him getting angry is only going to make him make mistakes, and that's a good thing on our part."

"Mistakes? I don't think my father would ever make a mistake when it comes to this war," Melody said, scoffing. She grabbed Duo's coat, pulling it around herself. "Duo, do you really think that this impeachment will stop the war? Do you think it's going to be something to stop him?"

"Hell, I'd like to think it would, but I'm not stupid," Duo replied, shaking his head. He rested his arms on his knees, hunching over in a more comfortable position. "I'd like to think it would be that easy, but we all know it's not gonna be. He'll use up every last resource, whether he has political control over the Colonies or not. We're just gonna have to outsmart him. But at least he'll lose some favor when it's all said and done. But no, it won't be over."

Melody lowered her head to her lap. "Yes, that's what I thought, too. I just hope it will be enough to stop him. I don't think I could bear to watch him hurt any more people. And I hate being judged because of him. Everyone thinks that because I'm associated with him, I've helped him, but I didn't."

"Hey, no one really thinks that anymore," Duo pointed out, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You came out against him. They know the truth now. The Colonists really don't have a choice but to face the facts. You did the right thing."

Melody flashed him a grateful but weak smile. "Thank you, Duo. I know I did the right thing, too. But I still don't want—"

Duo clapped his free hand over her moving lips, silencing her regrets. "No. No more of that. Don't feel guilty for everything that's happened. I should smack you around a bit. Don't think I won't, either, just because you're a woman. If it will teach you a thing or two, then I'll do it."

Feeling the heat climbing upon her cheeks, even as his hand pulled away from her mouth, Melody released a feminine giggle. "Okay. Sorry. I'll try to remember your threat in the future."

"Glad to hear someone around here has a lick of sense," Duo said. He pushed himself up, stretching his limbs in a satisfied sigh. "Well, unlike you, I would like to avoid getting pneumonia. We should probably go back inside before someone else comes out here to check up on you and me. They might think we ran away or something, which would probably be the more sane thing to do." He offered his hand to her, aiding her to her feet.

"Thank you, Duo, for coming out here after me," Melody thanked, lowering her eyes as another blush came up on her cheeks. "I'm sorry, though, for making you come out here. I know I haven't been myself the last couple of days, but I suppose it's just because of everything that's been happening with the impeachment and everything. I can't help but worry."

"Don't worry about it," Duo said, waving her off. "Someone was bound to come out after you eventually."

Clutching his leather jacket, Melody smiled, and she knew it was one of the first times it had ever been genuine, not something fake that her father would prompt from her. This was real. She was no longer living a lie. She had people in her life that really cared for her, and she knew that was the truth as she stared into the violet eyes of the braided pilot. "Somehow I think it would have always been you to come out here after me, Duo. It seems like it's always you. I don't think I've ever seen someone as passionate about his friends as you are."

Duo said nothing. Instead, he offered her another grin and opened the front door for her, motioning for her to go back inside. She brushed past him, smiling wide, before entering the foyer. He watched from the porch as she shed his jacket and hung it carefully over one of the rungs.

He turned over his shoulder for a brief moment, watching as snowflakes began fluttering to the ground. Such an innocent moment in time was something precious to all of them, when the reality of blood and massacre continued to swarm around them like angry bees wanting to protect their nest. And just so, Duo was prepared to protect what was important in his life. He entered the house, closing the door behind him, as he allowed such a powerful thought take over every doubt he ever had.

Quatre was staring out of a window from the bedroom, his eyes moving over the darkened sky for any sign of mechanical life. Every single day that had passed since he first noticed the mobile doll activity seemed to suck the life from him. Possible defensive strategies cluttered together in his mind, but none could connect. He knew then that stress was starting to take its toll on him.

Lista was still oblivious to what he was hiding, although he found it a difficult thing to keep from her. He was antsy, more than he wished to be in her presence, and was constantly looking over his shoulder, even if a window was nowhere in sight for him to peer out of. The last thing he wanted was that vile man getting his hands on Lista and their unborn son. He would die first.

He could only hope that Lista wouldn't be quite as observant as he was on what continued to plague the skies of their colony.

"Quatre?" Lista's voice spoke with urgency behind him, prompting him to spin around. His wife stood before him, a modest white nightgown hugging her pregnant curves and her hair pulled into a messy ponytail atop her head. "What's going on with you? You were in your own little world just now. What were you thinking about?"

He lowered his head, avoiding her inquiring gaze. "Nothing. Sorry. I guess I'm just more tired than I thought." He walked towards her, resting a hand against her bare arm. "We should get some sleep. It's getting late." He moved past her, pulling his t-shirt over his head and slinging it carelessly over the back of Lista's vanity chair.

Lista watched him, arms now folded under her breasts, as he pulled back the thick comforter on their bed so he could climb in. "You're not that tired. I can tell that something is bothering you. Why don't you just make it easier on the both of us and tell me what's going on?"

Quatre looked up at her, a displeased frown overtaking his features against his will. "It's nothing, Lista. Just go to bed." He shuffled into the bed, pulling the blankets over his body, and said nothing else.

She watched him in near shock at his dismissiveness. "And people say I'm the stubborn one," she muttered as she walked over to their bed. She started pulling the blankets back, and as soon as she placed one knee on the mattress, Quatre grabbed her arm, yanking her onto the bed next to him. "Quatre, what are you doing?" Her voice was laced with aggravation.

"Lista, please just stop talking and let me hold you," he said. His arms moved around her back, a leg curling around hers, and he closed his eyes, releasing a deep sigh.

Lista opened her mouth to rebuke, wishing to know what was going on with him, but decided to leave it as it was. She closed her eyes and settled against his body, noticing how taut his muscles were, how they refused to let up even as he tried to fall asleep.

The last thing she wanted was to accept defeat, to demand answers from him, but she figured it could wait for the morning as exhaustion grabbed at her, pulling her into a slumber she wasn't quite ready for.

Relena pulled her hair into a thin hair tie, tightening the new ponytail just slightly as she pulled away from her bathroom mirror. Fingers curling over the edges of the sink, she stared at herself for a moment, thinking about everything she had gotten herself into since she returned from her political tour on Earth.

She should have known her life would never be boring, especially when she had former Gundam pilots as friends, not to mention being hopelessly in love with one of them.

Sighing, she flipped the lights off and walked into her bedroom, shedding her silk bathrobe from her shoulders. When she looked up from her feet, she gasped loud and jumped back. Heero was standing at the edge of her bed, eyes set on her. "Heero, I didn't even know you were in here. You scared me."

He was in his Preventer uniform, his jacket unzipped, with his hands deep in his pockets. "I don't like us all being here. We're endangering you," he said, his tone crisp.

Relena shook her head. Leave it to Heero to get right to the point. "I thought we had this discussion already. I don't mind all of you being here. I wanted all of you to stay here. Where else would you go?"

"We had this discussion with everyone else around. That's not the same as the two of us having a private conversation on the matter," Heero pointed out. "I don't like it. We should leave."

"And where would you go?" Relena asked, a brow curving in curiosity. She folded her arms over her chest. "There is no secure place in the Colonies that all of you could hide your Gundams. Merrick would find you. You would have no way of knowing when he'd be coming or how to defend yourselves."

"We defend ourselves fine," Heero interrupted. He stalked towards her, closing the distance in a matter of steps. Relena didn't falter, only stared up at him with bright eyes. "We have to defend you. Merrick will target you."

"I thought he already was," she countered with a frown. "You worry far too much about me, Heero. It's going to give you a heart attack one of these days. Everything is going to fall into place just fine."

"If you think it's that easy, then you're being a ignorant," Heero said. He cupped a hand behind her head, pulling her closer to him. "Merrick isn't going to settle until he sees someone die. He'll make sure one of us goes before this ends, and I don't want it to be you."

"It won't be. I have too much to accomplish before my time comes," Relena assured him, resting a hand on the plain of his t-shirt clad chest. "I'm not afraid to die, Heero. I have been prepared for it for a long time. Merrick doesn't scare me as much as you might think he does. If he knows that I fear him, then he can use it against me. I won't give him ammunition to use."

"You're lying," Heero said, shaking his head. "You admitted yourself that you were afraid of him when he confronted you in the elevator. What do you think would have happened had I not arrived?"

"Nothing. Merrick wouldn't have done anything. He's not that stupid, Heero. We were in a very public place. He couldn't have done anything to me," Relena pointed out. "You see? This is what I'm talking about. You're over-protective."

Heero's brows furrowed into his already darkened eyes. "Over-protective? You don't think I have a right to protect you?"

"I never said that!" Relena exclaimed. Her fingers curled over his shirt. "I want you around me, Heero. After what we shared, did you really think it would be any different?"

The creases in Heero's face faded behind a sigh. He moved his fingers through the honey-colored locks of hair falling over the middle of her back. "You should get some sleep. We all have a busy day tomorrow. Merrick's not going to take kindly to finding out about the impeachment, and somehow I have the feeling his anger might be directed towards you."

Relena smiled. "His anger will not be directed at just me, so I don't think I'll be alone in that," she replied. Her hands moved up to his shoulders, her hands under his jacket as she pulled the article of clothing away from him. "Come to bed with me. Please?"

Heero said nothing. Instead, he shook the jacket from his back, slinging it on the end of Relena's sleigh bed. They moved to either side of the bed, climbing under the blankets. Relena was quick to shuffle into Heero's side, resting her head on his chest. She moaned contently and closed her eyes, feeling herself lulled into a restful, protected sleep in the arms of one of the most dangerous soldiers ever known.

Resting her hand over her belly, Lista chuckled, the phone pressed close against her ear. "I'm sure we can make arrangements for your security clearance into the colony. Lady Une wouldn't mind having you come here to check on me and the baby, Calia," Lista said, rubbing her palm in soothing, slow circles over the area her son continually kicked.

"I didn't think it would be a problem, but I thought I would call you first. I normally don't make at-home visits, but considering you're my patient, not to mention under strict house arrest, I really don't have a choice. After everything your body has been through, I don't wish to take any chances," Calia Vale's voice rang in Lista's ear. "I can bring some portable equipment with me to do your exam. There shouldn't be much of a problem."

"Thank you, Calia. I'm sorry for putting you out like this," Lista apologized, her smile fading.

"Nothing to worry about. I would feel better myself after examining you. It's been awhile since I've been able to check you, and to be honest, it's a little too long for my comfort," Doctor Vale confessed. "But we'll take care of everything. I'll contact Lady Une and discuss arrangements with her. Once we can set up a time, I'll get back to you and let you know."

"Okay, that sounds good. I'll let Quatre know," Lista replied. "Thanks for everything."

"Not at all. I'll be in touch. Take care, Lista."

"I will. Bye." Lista heard the doctor bid her farewell before turning the phone off and placing it back in its base unit. She pushed herself out of her chair and walked towards the room Quatre had chosen as his office, where he had been perusing over his company's files.

When she walked in the room, she found him at his desk, papers and manila folders scattered in all directions. He turned around at the sound of her footsteps. "Hi, sweetheart. What are you up to?"

"Just got off the phone," she answered. She placed her hand on his shoulder. "All work has been suspended for the company, and you're still going over paperwork. I'd like to think you're a bit of a workaholic." Her lips curled into a teasing smile.

"I don't wish to be too behind when all projects get restarted," Quatre replied. "I would like to keep myself up to date while I have the opportunity to. Goodness knows I won't have much time after the baby comes. I need to make time to do everything, or I'll drive myself insane."

"Everything will be fine. You're a good multi-tasker," Lista said, squeezing his shoulder. "And besides, I have a feeling that all of your sisters are doing the same thing in their confinement. They are rather devoted to the business, just as you are. I'm sure everything will work out smoothly when this is all over." She chuckled. "And really, you'll eventually have our son to help out."

At the mention of their unborn baby, Quatre turned around in his chair. "Are you sure you're all right with that?"

Lista tilted her head to the side. "All right with what?"

"Our son being a part of the business," Quatre elaborated. "He will be the one to take it over when I decide to retire from it. He's going to be a big piece to the puzzle, and I wasn't sure whether you were really okay with that."

Lista flashed him a comforting smile. "Of course I'm okay with it. Why wouldn't I be? It's his family as well as yours, and I think he would take pride in fulfilling his grandfather's legacy to spread pacifism and help out those in need, just as you do. If anything, I'd like to think we will teach him everything we know about helping others," Lista explained.

Quatre returned her smile, relieved. "I'm happy to hear you say that. I just didn't want to put him in the same position I was once in, when I felt like I was a mere tool of my father's for the sole purpose of having a male heir to his company." He turned back to his desk, folding his hands together atop the paper-covered surface. "I resented him for so long because I felt like he created me just so he would have someone to take over in his stead when his time came. He built an empire and expected me to run it for him when he no longer could. I hardly want our son to feel as I did, only a mere tool created for the sole purpose of running a company."

Lista's eyes widened, and she recoiled as if he'd struck her. He didn't seem to notice, however, as his eyes lowered to his lap. She clapped a hand over her mouth, remembering that Quatre still thought of himself as a test-tube child just like the rest of his sisters.

Zayeed Winner's journal. She could prove to him that he was the product of his parents' love for one another, just as their son was for them. She could end his inner turmoil, even though he claimed that it no longer bothered him. Somehow Lista had the idea that it still ate at him, just not as much as it used to.

But she didn't have it. Heero did, carefully hidden somewhere unknown. She could still try to tell him the truth, but she didn't think he would believe her. He would be skeptical, to be sure, convinced she was only trying to make him feel better. So until she had the evidence in her hands, she would have to wait to prove the truth of his birth to him.

"Your father loved you, Quatre," Lista spoke up, prompting him to look up at her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her mouth against his ear. "You will always be his son. A parent can't help but love their children. I know he worried about you, that he cared for you more than he could ever care for anyone in his life. You are his only son, so I think that makes you even more special than your sisters. You will always be one of a kind to him, to me, and to our son."

Quatre craned his head, smiling appreciatively. "Thank you, Lista. That means a lot to me. I only hope that I can teach our son that we both will love him endlessly and that no one will be more important than him in our lives."

"Somehow I think he already knows that," Lista said, smiling. She patted his shoulders and pulled away from him. "You can get back to work now. I know you have a lot you would like to accomplish."

Quatre shook his head. "No, it can wait for another time. Would you like to do something together? Perhaps practice a bit on the piano? I'm sure our son would like to hear of your progress."

Lista mirrored him, shaking her head as well. "No, that's all right. We can do it later. Really, I came in here to tell you that I talked with Doctor Vale on the phone. She is going to make a home visit to exam me and the baby since we're not permitted to leave. I thought you would be relieved to hear that."

"I am," Quatre admitted with a nod. "I will have to make sure to have lunch and refreshments for when she arrives. It will be a relief to have her check on you and the baby after everything that's happened. I have been so worried that the baby was hurt when you rushed into battle. So far, everything has been fine. I didn't know if it would be or not."

Lista felt pain strike her heart at his words, but she forced on a fake smile. "Well, we'll know what's going on when she gets here. She has to make arrangements with Lady Une, and then she will let me know. So in the meantime, don't be worrying about anything. I've felt fine, and he kicks just as much as he always did. That's always a good sign."

Quatre nodded, but said nothing. Instead, he turned back to his paperwork, shuffling the papers into a neater stack. "Well, glad to know. Since you're all right with it, I'll get back to my work. I'll come and find you in a little while to see how you're doing. Make sure you get something to snack on. It's been awhile since we've had breakfast, after all, and I would like for you and the baby to get your nourishment."

"I know, Quatre," Lista said. She turned on her heel, walking to the door. "I'll make sure I take care of our baby. You have nothing to worry about." Feeling hurt, she walked from the room, shutting the door behind her. She rested against the wall and sighed loudly, running her fingers through her hair.

She was aggravated that Quatre assumed she couldn't take care of herself and their baby without him hovering above her, reminding her to eat, to drink, to rest. She knew all of those things. She didn't study pregnancy books endlessly for nothing, after all. She released a constrained groan, his words echoing unwanted in her ears. She wanted to walk back in and let her feelings known, but she knew her anger would get them nowhere. So instead, she forced herself away from his office, trying her damnedest to push her temper down and away.

It was a losing battle so far.