Title: The Children of War and Peace* Chapter 2
Author: Quality Paiges (aka Sailor Air)
Ratng: PG-13 (For Swears and Sexual Reference)
Genre: Romance/Drama
I've gotten a response from some readers saying they already know who the father is because of the title. But I have to ask them who it is because I'm not even done with the fic yet (okay I'm on chapter 8 but I have NO time to edit) and I haven't decided yet. What the title really represents is the actual time they were born in. These kids were born in a time when a war was just over and peace is so very fragile. These children also have the potential to start a "war" of words at least and war also means havoc or destruction and it can be interpreted a lot of different ways. So the title really doesn't have reference to the parents (at least not in my eys) and is more of a representation of the timeline they were born in. I just wanted to clear that up! Anywayz I thank everyone who has reviewed my first chapter and all the work I've done so far. I'm glad I'm getting a good response. Onto the real part that you want to read.
Quatre was pouring over his evening paper like he usually did at this time of night along with is cup of nighttime tea. He instantly flipped to the stock page. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down but the Winner Stock kept on going up. It would appear to be a good thing but if it got to high people might sell and then it would crash.
Trowa walked into the room. "How's the Winner Stock doing?" He asked.
Quatre smiled at his husband. "How did you know that's what I'd be looking at?"
"Because that's what you always do this time of night."
"It is getting rather late isn't it?" Quatre stated glancing at the clock which had long since passed midnight.
"Yes, but that won't change your usual habbits will it?"
"Your right, it probably won't."
"Don't forget the ball tomorrow. You'll be up late then as well, you should probably rest."
"Oh I had almost forgotten about that. Thank goodness you reminded me. Wufei's going isn't he?"
"Well that's what Sally said, of course at the lastminute she usually ends up making excuses for him."
"That's true. I hope he comes though we haven't seen him in awhile. But I think I'll stay up a while longer anyway."
"Why don't you read the front page for once, I think you'll be interested in what it has to say."
"Oh really, What does it say?"
"I think it would be better explained if you read it for yourself."
"That's probably true." Quatre flipped to the front page. His eyes slowly seemed to bulge over half the size of his face. The headline read that Relena had lost one of her children. Of course he had known she was pregnant they had seen each other since the war ocassionally, when the time for a decision regarding the Earth Sphere United Nations came around. Relena was always there as was he being so heavily involved with business concerning the colonies. They had worked together for some issues and against each other on others but he had always respected the way she held herself and her ideals. Relena's pregnancy was so, well it was so....unexpected was the only word for it. Relena hadn't even dated anyone that he known of and with the press being on her the way it always was, even if he had never read the front page he would have known. Of course he had asked her about it one day.
*Five Months Earlier*
"Relena you've been so busy lately I haven't had time to talk to you."
"Yes, Quatre I was hoping to speak with you as well. What about Trowa is he home?"
"Oh no he's visiting his circus friends and I thought it wasjust as well to let him go alone as he hardly ever gets to see them. Why do you ask?"
"It's no special reason, just curious. But I know neither of us wanted to idle chat so you may as well tell me what it really is you want, what you wanted to speak to me about."
"You always know exactly what other people are thinking Relena."
Relena looked sad and faraway, she sighed. "No that's anything but true but I can see the obvious. You wouldn't send Trowa away or invite me over for tea when your so busy, if this hadn't been a very poor time for stock I might have believed you, but no even I can see what is so bluntly obvious."
"Well I'm not a very good actor I guess. Yes, I do want you here for a reason and I think you know what it is but since your feigning innocence I'll tell you. I want to ask you about your babies."
"The babies and I are perfectly healthy."
"You know that's not what I mean Relena" Quatre said with a slight edge to his voice.
"I know that Quatre. Ever since the news came out two weeks ago, that's all people want to know. Of course they want to know something that's none of their business."
"I'm sorry Relena but I feel like it is my business. I feel like were friends, you even stood up in my wedding."
"I remember it well Quatre. It was a beautiful ceremony and everyone was there. It was so much fun, everyone danced with everyone even Wufei. It was quite funny to see him dancing with me. Yes, it was a lot of fun. It was the last time we were all together at the same time.Yes Quatre well I'm truely sorry but I can't tell you. It would make things too complicated for everyone involved and now it seems like everyone is involved. I just want peace for the world, for family, for my future children, for everyone. It's all I've ever worked for and now it's all dribbled into fears and questions of these guys." She said pointing near her stomach on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry Relena, they have no right to be persecuteing you like that but you can live through it, I did when I married Trowa. You have to follow your heart. Your battle for peace has not been in vain and so many others have fought for your ideals don't give up."
"I'm so very very sorry Quatre, you and other Gundam pilots fought harder for peace than I ever could. Life just seems so difficult at this very moment."
"Relena, couldn't you even tell me who the father is? I won't even tell Trowa. Do you know who the father is?"
Relena smiled mischievously. "I'm surprised what everyone thinks of me Quatre but I'm most surprised that you think it too. How many possible fathers do you think there are. Of course I know who the father is."
Quatre blushed deeply. "Of course Relena, I'm acting stupid. I just want to make sure you will be okay and your children."
"We will be Quatre. We'll be perfect."
"I hope so Relena, I truely do. But it's probably best we each get going to the Colony meeting, yes?"
"Of course, we can take my car."
A huge sweatdrop appeared behind Quatre's head. "Relena let's go in my car not even I wouldn't show up in that pink thing."
Relena smiled. "We'll go in your car Quatre."
*Back to the Present*
Quatre cleared his throat. "Yes, this is awful. I'm sure Relena is very upset. Maybe we should visit her."
"Yes, perhaps, did she ever tell you who the father was. Of course I would never ask you to break a promise you made to her but maybe you should tell the guy. He may have heard about it but still maybe you can convince him to see her or something. I'm assumeing he hasn't seen her since the pregnancy was announced as anyone who comes withing ten feet of her gets accused of being the father."
"It would be right to do that. But I never made any promises to her because she never told me. I spoke to Noin as well and she said Relena hasn't even told her brother, otherwise I would suggest it to him."
"That woman is either as stubborn as a mule or has a secret that could make the world explode."
"I think it may be a little bit of each." Quatre said ruefully.
"Quatre what I also wanted to show you is on the lower left hand corner of the paper."
Quatre read the title of the article "Doctor Shot in Hospital."
"I don't see your point Trowa, yes this is awful but what does it have to do with us or Relena?"
"The same doctor that was shot was the one that delievered Miss Relena's baby. The nurse that helped the doctor in the delivery room is also missing."
"Could someone have been upset over Relena's dead child and shot that baby or maybe they were mad that he delievered her children at all. Although Relena is much admired she also has her enemies."
"Those are two possibilites but I don't feel it was either."
"I trust in your feelings Trowa but I don't understand what it could be. They could be totally unrelated incidents."
"Thats possible. It's just all too coincidental though don't you think?"
"Yes your right. I think we should visit her soon but for now all we can do is pray for her safety."
**************
Relena was laying quietly in her hospital bed. Noin had left over two hours ago but she hadn't gotten any sleep. Even when they stopped arguing over what Relena should do they're was tension between them. She hated disagreeing with Noin. Noin had always done what she thought was best for me, she's treated me like a sister.
Relena laughed, she wished Noin was her sister but Noin was still Noin and not Noin-Peacecraft. Once she asked her brother what he felt about Noin. Everyone who really knew her knew her feelings for her brother but Millardo's feelings seemed to teeter and totter unsure of how he felt. All he did when she asked him is blush and told her she was young and was seeing something that wasn't there. She got angry at him then one of the few times in her life and told him that if he couldn't even tell her the truth then hecould at least tell it to himself and tell it to the one that she knew he cared about.
"At the very least you should at least tell her, if you don't your only lying to yourself and hurting her."
"Relena....." He said. "You really like Noin don't you?"
"Yes." She replied "I respect and admire her so much. She is a good person and she cares for you with her whole heart and nothing can convince me otherwise."
"The years of war have been over for awhile now but the heart of a warrior is never really at peace. Noin can have a peaceful heart because she's always hated war even when she was fighting in it. The feelings that one should treasure most dearly are so deep inside me that it's hard to make them surface. Please forgive me of this. They will surface in their own way and time."
"Oh Millardo...." She sighed and left it at that.
But that was a few years ago and although she was sure that her brother was closer to realizing and putting into action his own feelings, she was impatient for that to happen. Noin would be the onlyone she could ever accept as a sister-in-law and she hoped for the day when it would happen. Those were the last things she thought of as she fell asleep.
****************************
Millardo paused outside Relena's hospital door. Noin had convinced him quick enough to come see her. Not that he needed that much convincing he was debateing whether or not to come see her. He had really wanted to but wasn't sure whether he should. Would she be mad that he had alienated her for so long? he asked himself. She had every right to be,this was a time when a brother was needed for support not prosecution. He was hurt and upset at her unwillingness to speak to him. He had even accused Noin of keeping things from him even though she wouldn't have broken a promise to Relena she wouldn't lie and say she didn't know anything. That was how upset he was, he was keeping things from a women he cared about. He knew she understood, she always did, but he felt like he was taking advantage of her. All the displays of affection were on her side. Why couldn't he get rid of the ice cold barrier he was surrounding himself with? Now was not the time to think of his own feelings though. He had to think of Relena. Maybe Relena would tell him today. No, no she probably wouldn't but then there was always that small light of hope he would share with her. How could he expect that of her though when he couldn't even tell her everything that was in his innermost heart? No neither of them could give up the barriers they put up to prevent the pain it would cause. The question was could he remember his own beliefs when he went in to see her?
***********************
There was a knock of the door of Wufei's apartment. Sally Po walked in saying "Hey Wufei, we're going to be late if we don't get going soon!"
Wufei struggled with his tie. Damn why did they have to show up at these things anyway. This ball wasn't in the job description of being a Preventer. Of course he had argued with Sally over it.
*One Week Ago*
"Hey Wufei guess what time of year it is." Sally Po said in an upbeat mood she was happy to be rubbing this in his face he presumed.
"I'd rather not talk about this. Since we're not going." Wufei responded.
"What do you mean we're not going. I let you out of it for the past five years if I make an excuse for you again this year my ass will be on the line this time. You've gotten away with it before because you're an exceptionally good Preventer and you know it but this time your not getting out of it! Besides you promised me last year you would go this time. You don't want people thinking your weird now do you?"
"I don't care what other people think."
"Fine. But you don't care about your promises either?"
"Touche' Sally, I'll go but I'm not going next year and that's a promise."
Sally smiled. "Fine then one appearance in five years should be good enough."
*Back to Present*
"Wufeiiiiiiiiiii.........hurry up! You're worse than any girl I've met!"
"Sally!"
"Ha! I knew that would get a response!"
"Tell me again why we're going!"
"We're going because not only is it a ball but it's anannual gathering of important big wigs and it makes them feel good to think they're responsible for such hard working people's motivation."
"So basically we're appeaseing the boss."
"Yeah, basically. They pay our salary. Oh by the way Duo and Hilde are going to be there. I hear they just got engaged!"
"Oh yeah.. no one saw that coming." He commented sarcastically. "How'd they manage to get into such a ball anyway? I thought Duo was still in the salvage business, it is what he loves doing."
"Yeah but the big wigs convinced him to go. They love meeting former Gundam piolets ya know. They say it reminds them of peace, but I think they just want to say they met a Gundam Pilot. Maybe that's whythey were so adament on having you there as well."
"Whatever. Although I can hardly imagine Duo wanting to show up a party like that."
"I spoke to Hilde and I think she convinced him it would be fun. You already know Quatre and Trowa are going. Quatre being so into big business and all. I think Duo might just be in it for the free champagne though."
"Figures."
"Aren't you done yet?"
"Give me a minute." He had now opened the bathroom door and was still trying to figure out how to work this tie, curseing at himself a few times.
Sally quickly walked towards the bathroom and instantly saw what Wufei was working so hard at attempting. Without hesitating she grabbed his wrists and put his arms down at his sides and grabbed the tie and got to work. Quickly without abandon she put the tie into a fitting knot and said. "See that's how you do it. You look great."
Wufei was blushing slightly. His heart at a rate faster than normal. What's wrong with me he thought. Am I sick? No I didn't contact a disease in the two seconds Sally was putting on the tie. He looked at Sally. She was smiling, even her eyes were. He blushed again. Over the years he had become even taller than she was even though she had to look slightly down to talk to him when they first met. Stop being stupid, he thought to himself. He looked at her again briefly as she was looking in the mirror running her fingers through her hair. It wasn't in it usual braids but down and combed out. It was wavy and smooth. She was no longer wearing pants but a long green dress with no straps so that her bear shoulders were showing, and her neck had a single silver star hanging from a long silverchain. "Ummmm.... yeah you too. But I could have done that you know." Was all he could say.
Sally raised an eyebrow and replied. "Maybe. But I did it a lot faster. You could have asked for help you know."
"Uhhhhhh....... welll uhhhh.... thanks anyway."
"No problem." Sally beamed.
There was an awkward moment of silence when the doorbell rang.
"I wonder who that could be?" Sally asked. "And we really have to get going as well."
"I have no idea, it's not like people regularly stop by."
Sally walked ahead of him and opened the door herself. Determined that she would just shoo away whoever was there. Wufei was not going to get out of going this time. She would make sure of that. When Sally opened the door she was surprised to find that no one was there. It's just kids she thought and turned to get Wufei and go but the bottom of her dress had caught on something. She turned around to see what it was that had it caught and her mouth gaped at what she saw.
"Wufei, I think you should come here."
"What is it Sally? I know you want to leave but I have to put on my shoes."
"It's not that it's just that.... well I think you better come here."
Wufei rolled his eyes and walked towards the door. Sally was bent down towards the ground and pulling the bottom part of her dress out of something. He walked over and looked towards the ground. It was a baby. A sleeping baby. Sally looked confused and worried.
"Well..." He said.
"Well what?"
"Is it yours?"
"What!" She yelled! "I was going to ask you the samething. This isn't my apartment!"
"Well then since it's not mine whose is it?"
"How should I know? Have you been going out getting women pregnant to leave babies on your doorstep?"
"What!!!" Wufei blushed as he yelled angrily. "How could you think that? I don't know why the baby is here!"
"What are we supposed to do then. We can't just leave it here while we go out!"
"Why not?"
"Wufei! Of course we can't leave this defenseless child here, a thousand horrible things could happen to it!"
"So..." Wufei said. "Does that get us out of this ball?"
Author's Note: So how'd ya like it? I'd really appreciate reviews! I'm gonna try to put this out as fast as possible but it really takes forever to edit and update and then code into html format! But reader response makes me wanna get it done faster so be sure to leave a review! Oh by the way if your a big Gundam Wing Fan I have a mailing list/discussion group for Gundam Wing. If you wanna join all you have do is e-mail me at SailorScoutB921@aol.com and I'll sign ya up!