[Pulls a Duo-ish move of banging knee on keyboard drawer] Damn, I'm too tired for this but I'm doing it anyway because THIS IS IT!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
This is it, boys and girls, the conclusion to Book One, AC 206: The Change Time Brings, belonging to what I have decided to call the Threads of Destiny saga (I am not knowingly stealing this name from anyone. If I am, please tell me and I'll change it.) These 14 chapters (the equivalent of 101 computer-typed pages) have been my obsession for, oh, the past seven or eight weeks in which I have composed this. That is incredible for me. I hope I can use that talent when I'm writing my thesis, ohoboy.
If you REALLY need an update, Heero and the gang have just gotten word that Milliardo and Noin have been kidnapped, executions scheduled. It's a jail bust. Just previous, it looks like they've all been caught . . .
AC 206: The Change Time Brings (Part XIV)
Reunion
"Updating our orders," Heero said calmly. Calm down guys.
"What's your authorization?" The guard asked, suspicious
"Lt. Shaw. I just got orders to bring two prisoners to the General on the colony. I'd heard there had been a scuffle down there, so I'm making sure those orders hadn't changed outside my knowledge. That's standard procedure."
The guard lowered his rifle. "Oh, I'm sorry Lieutenant. Go about your business." He stalked away, looking embarrassed.
"Guess people don't normally wear these suits around inside the base," Quatre grunted. "Let's get going."
~~@[~*~]@~~
Milliardo Peacecraft winced as bright white light invaded his dark cell. He could just interpret the two dark shapes outlined in the doorway as men with guns. "Get up," one said.
"Where are we going?" he asked, putting his hands behind his head cooperatively.
"No questions," said the other. He could've sworn he'd heard that voice before.
They led him down the hall, into the elevator, and out of the prison section. They passed through gray hall after gray door after gray hall, and it was impossible to tell where he was. Two semi-automatics in his back led him aboard a large freighter ship, definitely not standard military issue.
"In there," one said, shoving into another dark room. As the door slammed shut, he tripped on something and fell into a hammock. That would've been fine with him, except that there was already someone in it.
"Milliardo?" A voice asked as he struggled to climb out. He stopped. It was Noin.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Guards brought me aboard. There's nowhere to go— stay here."
She ran her fingers across his shoulders and he relaxed against her. It felt good to be close to her again, although it was strange they would be put together like this all of a sudden. "Any idea about what's going on here?" He asked her.
"I have a feeling we're being taken to higher authorities."
"Why put us together? That doesn't seem to make sense."
"I don't know, okay Milliardo? Just stop asking questions."
They lay in silence for a while, lost in each other's quiet company, until there was a loud noise below them. It sounded like something being loaded into the cargo bay with engines running, air rushing past.
"What was that?" he asked when they both could hear again.
"Sounded like an air-docking, like they loaded cargo in midair. That's very difficult to do— these guys must be in a hurry."
Only a moment later, the ship rocked from an impact, throwing them both to the floor. "That's like that blast we felt when those people captured us. They're firing energy weapons at this ship, Noin." Milliardo stood and raised his fist to pound on the door, but she grabbed him.
"Causing a commotion now might just get us into more trouble later," she told him as the ship rocked again. Someone ran past outside, swearing.
"You're probably right," he conceded as another blast slammed them both against the wall. He slid into a sitting position in the corner. "Though I wonder who's shooting at us."
It doesn't take long to put one and one together, and if you're careful it doesn't take much longer to come up with three. Milliardo jumped up and slammed the glowing panel. The door opened easily.
"Come on, I think we're safe," he told her, grabbing her hand. He ran in what he hoped was the direction of the cockpit of the space freighter. After a minute, he heard voices.
"— feels good to take off that helmet. It's so stuffy," someone said
"Yeah, well, the sacrifices you make," said a second.
"Are we clear?"
"Once this baby get's goin', she's fast. How're our special guests doin'?
"I recognize that inflection," Noin whispered.
A third voice spoke up. "I'm debating how long I should keep them in the dark
"Literally or figuratively?"
"Both."
"Milliardo, it's—"
The door slammed shut. Milliardo peered carefully around the corner and saw a semi-familiar face looking back at him. He was no longer a boy, and he looked very strained. It was the first time Milliardo had seen him up close in a long time. "Heero . . ."
"You don't have to thank us," he told them. "You two have saved our lives dozens of times over. Consider this an act of gratitude."
Noin smiled for the first time in days. "Humble, as always."
"We're going home. I don't know where that is for you guys, but everyone's anxious to see his family and take some time off. This has not been a pleasant trip."
Milliardo nodded in understanding. "We realized that. Of course, we'll go without complaint. If I could ask, Heero, if I could see Relena . . ."
"I'm sure we can work something out. We have a couple of days before we get home. You might want to rest up, clean up et cetera. The rec room and showers are down that way. You know where the bunks are."
"Thanks a lot, you guys."
"No problem."
~~@[~*~]@~~
"Nice house, Heero," Noin said, looking around the entryway. "I see why you like it."
"Hello?" Relena's voice called from the other room.
"It's me," Heero called back. He motioned them forward.
She was curled up with a blanket, reading. Milliardo ran to her. "Relena!"
"Big brother," she said, returning a heartfelt embrace. "It's good to see you again. Please, you two, sit down!"
Milliardo sat beside her, unable to look away. "You barely look like the girl I knew," he told her.
Relena took his hand and touched it to her stomach. "A lot has changed, Milliardo, even in just the past few months."
"Oh . . ." Noin couldn't help the exclamation. Relena had been hiding it well.
"My second," she told them both. "I've been so anxious about you knowing, but now I don't know why."
"Who—?"
"Milliardo!"
"No," Relena said quickly, "it's all right." She turned around but Heero had gone.
A second later, however, he returned. "Isn't there any food in this house?"
"You're wondering if I cooked at all while you were gone? Are you kidding?"
"Guess not, but there's nothing in the pantry."
"It's all in the garage. Heero, come here."
Heero perched himself on the arm of the couch. "What?"
"I haven't seen you for weeks and you aren't even going to say hello?"
"Where's Akiko?"
"School, I presume. It's Thursday, Heero!"
"Is it?"
She looked at him. He wasn't joking around. There were bags under his eyes, his hands were cold and there were lines that hadn't been there a few weeks ago. "What happened out there?" she asked him
"Too much," he told her. "I . . ." he shuddered violently, his eyes shut tight against memory demons.
She brought his hand to her belly, much as she had done with Milliardo. He relaxed, and even smiled when he felt the baby kick. "This makes it all right," she whispered to him.
Milliardo and Noin watched in silence, startled by both Heero's sudden downcastness and the discovery of his relationship with Relena. He'd seemed all right during the long trip home, although weary, as anyone would have been. Always-protective-older-brother Milliardo felt a little stupid at not figuring things out sooner, and Noin took advantage of the moment to slip her arm around him. "Let them alone," she said quietly.
The four of them sat together, saying nothing, knowing exactly what they would have said. Milliardo kept looking back at his sister, cuddled with Heero, an expression of amazement on his face.
"There's ten times as much change between fifteen and twenty-six than between twenty and thirty-one," Noin counseled him almost inaudibly. "She looks more like you than she used to."
"Is that necessarily a good thing?"
"Sure it is."
~~@[~*~]@~~
Sophie woke up to find Duo's arms wrapped around her shoulders. He must have gotten home some time during the night. She shook him gently, but he didn't wake. He must be exhausted.
He, in fact, slept until well after noon. The first thing she was asked as he walked into the kitchen was an urgent "You all right?"
She chuckled. "Duo, I'm fine. Honest to God, you worry more than my father sometimes."
"You would too, if you saw what I did out there. So . . . what's for lunch?"
"Whatever you feel like fixing."
"Aww . . ."
"Are you eight months pregnant?"
"Guess not." He grinned and pinched her shoulder affectionately. "I was just joking around, you know."
"Yeah, I know."
Duo dug into the pantry. "Eww, what's this?"
"So I haven't had time to go to the store."
"It's moldy. You could've thrown it out."
"Find something else, if you're going to complain."
Duo put his hands into a half-empty chip bag and crunched on those. "I guess I can wait until dinner."
"I'm ordering out."
"Sounds good to me." Duo put his arms around her. She knew he was feeling depressed, even if he himself refused to admit it. "We can sit down, eat Chinese and watch a movie, huh?"
"I was thinking pizza."
"You're right, Wuffie would probably choke me." Duo buried his nose in her curly black hair as she snorted at his pathetic attempt at a joke. It felt good to be home.
~~@[~*~]@~~
Wufei embraced his wife, not even saying hello. Phailin blinked, a little shocked. He didn't usually act that way. "What's up with you, Chang?" she asked, his shoulder muffling her voice.
Wufei shushed her, gripping her waist tight. The memories of the violence at the colonies still haunted him.
"Wufei . . ."
"Where do you want to go?" He asked suddenly
"What?"
"On our honeymoon. Where do you want to go?"
She thought for a moment. There wasn't any place she particularly wanted to go, but she got the distinct impression that he needed to get away, to somewhere exotic maybe. Where would be somewhere he could cut loose?
"How about Hawaii? That'll be a nice change."
"Let's pack." Wufei said. "We leave first thing in the morning."
If that's what you need, she thought.
~~@[~*~]@~~
Heero leaned against the chain link fence, watching the children play. They were all so carefree. It almost made him jealous. A cool breeze rustled through the blooming-cherry tree branches, which were starting to grow new buds after the long, harsh winter. He couldn't believe it was spring already. For once in months, he was able to stop thinking heavy thoughts.
The security guard approached him. Heero was surprised the school even needed one. "Sir, there are laws against loitering on school grounds."
Heero smiled softly, as not to pose a threat. He gestured to his child. "See her, the one in the red sweater? She's my daughter, Akiko."
"Oh, are you Akiko's father?" the guard looked surprised. "She's been gone so much recently we've been wondering if she's one in a family of ghosts!"
Heero turned back to watch her. "Both her mother and I travel quite a bit. We have to either take her with us or leave her with my parents, and we let her choose most of the time. It's a good experience for her to have."
The guard shifted. "You know, Mr. Yuy, her teacher's been wanting to speak with you and your wife about her absences. I daresay she's free right after school. It would probably be a good idea to take up the offer, because we do keep careful track of our students and if you don't you might find yourself being investigated. I won't keep you, and I need to be on my way. It was nice talking."
"Same here." Heero nodded to the guard and once again turned back to watch the children. A few minutes later the final bell rang and they all grabbed their backpacks, which were lying in a pile on the grass. Akiko was heading for the bus when Heero called to her.
"Daddy, you're home!" she cried happily, throwing herself into his arms. That smile made that hour of driving worth it.
"I have to talk to your teacher," he told her. "Where's your classroom, honey?"
She grinned at what she obviously thought was a special visit and showed him.
"Convenient. Close to the playground, eh?" he asked, reaching down to tickle her stomach.
"I'm not complaining," she answered, giggling, crouching down to avoid his fingers.
"Miss Heartwood?" Akiko stuck her head into the classroom before she let her father see it. "My dad's here to see you."
A young woman, probably about his age with dark skin and a slight build stood up from her desk. "Oh, Mr. Yuy?"
Heero nodded. "You wanted to see me about Akiko's absences?"
"Oh, how did you know?"
"The security guard told me a few minutes ago." Heero stepped inside, letting his daughter drag her to her desk.
Miss Heartwood smiled and approached them. "I was just concerned for her. Has she been sick?"
Heero shook his head. "Oh, no, she's perfectly healthy. These past months her mother and I have been traveling quite a bit and we think it's important for her to be with us sometimes, is all."
"What do you do?"
"My mom's a politician, and my dad's a pilot!" Akiko said.
"We're both heavily involved with the government," Heero explained. "She's young, but she's quite bright and we think she should learn about these things as early as possible."
"Yes, she is very smart. If her grades weren't down because of participation points I'm sure I would have thought about passing her up to the next grade. She's done splendidly on her make-up work." Miss Heartwood studied them both. "I suppose I should stop worrying quite so much about her absences. I wonder, Mr. Yuy, if I could meet Akiko's mother?"
"I'm sure we could work something out. The school's a bit far of a trip for us, is all. I've just been gone for nearly a month and a half, so I came to pick her up special for today."
"You're a pilot, Mr. Yuy?"
"Yes."
"That must be dangerous work."
"Not as dangerous as you might expect, considering the conditions given. We make do."
"I have to say, Mr. Yuy, that I'm not quite comfortable with this. Please forgive me, but I must ask— Akiko, you don't feel unloved when your parents aren't home for long stretches of time?"
"Why would I think that?" Akiko looked at her teacher in confusion. "I know they both mean well for me."
"But you don't fell attention-deprived?"
"Of course not! They do everything they can to make sure I don't live in times when the human race is torn in half. Dad, why does Miss Heartwood think you're abandoning me?"
Heero looked at her, feeling a little hurt at Akiko's teacher's mistrust. He did, however, understand her suspiciousness. "We spend every free moment of our time with her. You said yourself she's a bright child, Miss Heartwood, and she understands that what her mother and I do is necessary to ensure a good future for her. We are important figures and we can't just disappear to raise our children. In fact, I think that would only hinder the significant progress we've made in making her a great person—"
"You know, you could have asked me, first," Akiko interrupted him, clinging to his leg. "Isn't knowing how I feel important too?"
Heero put his hand on her small shoulder. "Go ahead, say it honey."
"As much as I hate not having my mom and dad around all the time, I hate to think of what it would be like without all the changes they've made so that as I grow up I won't face the same problems they did. Miss Heartwood, my dad tells me stories of the war, and he goes through a lot to keep another one from happening. I know he's tired and I know he's afraid for me, and I'm glad I have a father that would sacrifice his own security for mine. There's nothing you need to worry about between us. I would tell you if there was, I promise."
Miss Heartwood looked at the little girl, holding on to her father as if trying to protect him. She looked up at Heero, strained and exhausted and who had seen too much bloodshed, and saw the lines on his face vanish as he smiled at the child's speech. "I don't suppose I should worry too much," she sighed. "I admit I'm feeling much better. Are you going to hold to that promise, Akiko?"
"I will." Akiko said, hugging her father ever tighter.
Heero stroked her cheek gently. He could tell she was worn with worry over him. "I don't suppose you have children of your own, Miss Heartwood?"
"Someday I hope to."
"When you do, you realize that there is a whole new horizon beyond what you thought you saw before. You can't believe how much love you can feel for one person. It's beyond comparison. It's beyond words. I would give my life for her without a second thought, even if I sensed that she was in danger. You can't stop thinking about them. I used to be so cold, so moody, but the moment my wife told me she was carrying our child, I changed. It's impossible to describe how, but I did. I'd stop time if I could, just so I could spend more with her."
Miss Heartwood blinked. "That's all I needed to hear. That's a great relief, Mr. Yuy. Thank you endlessly for coming in. Is there anything else you need to speak with me about? Any concerns at all?"
"None. I'm very satisfied with Akiko's progress. You seem to be an excellent teacher."
They bid each other polite goodbyes and Heero gathered his daughter in his arms for the walk out to his car. "Again, aijou, you're just full of surprises. That talk went quite well, thanks to you."
She smiled and hugged him again. "If you go to all the trouble to protect me from the danger you're not even sure is there, how can I let that security and confidence be broken because somebody didn't understand why?"
~~@[~*~]@~~
Akiko stopped in the doorway. "More old friends?" she asked her father.
Milliardo turned toward the sound of the voice, looking amused. "Heero, your daughter?"
"My name's Akiko! I get so sick of it when nobody asks me!" Akiko stalked up to him, not the least bit intimidated by the blonde man's six foot-plus height. "My name's Akiko, and he's my dad and she's my mom!"
Relena looked at her husband. "I'll explain later," he mumbled out of the corner of his mouth. "You might want to introduce her before she starts to dislike them."
Relena nodded almost invisibly. "Akiko, this is your Uncle Milliardo, and, uh—"
"Noin's fine."
"— Noin."
"Like a real uncle?" she asked, mouth open and eyes wide in absolute astonishment.
"Yes, he's my brother."
Akiko looked back to Milliardo. "Can I call you Uncle Millie?"
Milliardo laughed. "Sure, if I can call you Akki."
"Not fair, your name's too hard to say all the time!"
Still grinning, Milliardo scooped her up. "Call me whatever you want, sweetie."
"I was going to anyway . . ."
Noin watched her lover in surprise. They'd never been around children before. She didn't realize he took to them that much. Akiko spotted her expression. "Are you Uncle Millie's girlfriend?"
". . . Yes," she said slowly, shooting a glance at Heero and Relena, who gave her a go-ahead. "My name's—"
"Noin. Yeah. That's a cool name."
"I should hope so, because she's my favorite grown-up friend," Milliardo said playfully.
Akiko giggled. "Who's your favorite kid friend?"
"You, of course!"
"Am I your only kid friend, too?"
"Well, you'd have to be."
"That's too bad. You should meet my friend Chon. She's from the Korean Territory, you know, and she's really nice . . ."
The two new adults that Akiko would be seeing on a fairly regular basis were instantly in her favor. Relena watched with a sudden interest; Noin was hinting to her brother, and not all that subtly. Akiko caught on to what she was doing before Milliardo did. "Are you two gonna have kids?"
Milliardo stammered suddenly and looked at Noin, who gave him a very suggestive look. "Not right now," she laughed, and he relaxed.
Relena put her arm around her husband. "Our little girl's so sharp, Heero."
He held her gently, albeit a little awkwardly because of her shape. "Don't you feel proud we're doing things right?"
She smiled and watched her brother and daughter tease each other as Noin chided them lightheartedly. "I'd be proud if she was dull, but yes, I do."
Heero grunted and stood up. "I'd better start moving the food back into the house if I'm cooking anything tonight . . ."
"Thank you for volunteering."
"It goes on my sheet, right?"
"Familial service is five points up."
"Right."
~~@[~*~]@~~
Relena awoke in the middle of the night for no reason. She wasn't anxious, and she wasn't going into labor. It puzzled her for a moment, but then she settled back down. The moonlight shone through the window, casting deep shadows on Heero's peaceful form. [There's a little metaphor there, if you caught it.] He himself was fast asleep.
She watched him for a while, remembering the times they had spent together.
On her twentieth birthday, almost two years after she'd hunted him down, he'd treated her to a romantic night out, the first time since the night after he'd confessed his love to her. It had stuck in her mind, it being one of those rarest of occasions where he'd go out in public with her. Later, he'd taken her to a cabin on the beach, and they'd spent hours by a real wood fire. She could still feel that soft real-fur rug against her bare skin as they'd made love; a sweet reminder of his deep passion for her had burnt hot like those logs. She was sure Heero himself hadn't forgotten, no matter how much he toyed with her.
Akiko's birth was another blissful snapshot in her mind, a joyful and unforgettable moment that would probably come as close to Zen as anything she could think of. Relena knew she'd never forget that look he gave her at the sight of his firstborn daughter, pink-faced and wonder-eyed. He'd been first to hold her, breathing raggedly and distracted so completely that he forgot himself and started spouting "I love you"'s. That instant had changed him forever, she knew. She'd never seen him so openly happy. She'd never seen him grin.
He was so fragile a man, yet wouldn't reveal it to anyone, least of all himself. He was so easy to break, so difficult to get to know. I really am lucky, she thought as she had so many times before. She touched his outstretched hand, and at the contact his fingers curled around hers, unconsciously, as an infant's would.
He lived his lost childhood through his daughter, and it only made him a better father. He'd watched Milliardo and Noin so carefully when they were with Akiko, calculating any harm at all that could possibly come to her and observing every movement, every gesture for any trace of ill intent, always the overprotective shadow hovering behind his own flesh and blood.
Lost in a sea of wonderful memories and pleasing thoughts, Relena slept once again, fingers entwined with her husband's in a gesture that meant more than a thousand words.
~~@[~*~]@~~
Wufei stared across the dark room, listening to Phailin's soft voice, hanging on to every word as if trying to commit the meaningless pillow talk to memory. She lay on his chest, fingers tickling his collarbone in time to her syllables. He no longer felt half as depressed as he had when he'd arrived at the Bangkok airport around noon the previous day (it was well after midnight). His concerned wife had seen to that.
She was muttering in her own language now, too exhausted to try and translate mentally.
He smiled as he felt his own eyelids droop. Before they knew it, the morning would be upon them. "What would I do without you, my love?" he whispered.
"Hn?" she sighed with a questioning tone.
Wufei continued to talk to her in the Chang language, which he hadn't spoken since the last time he'd visited what was left of the shattered clan . . . years ago.
"Romantic words, Chang," she told him before falling silent. She spoke the language of his people nearly as fluently as he did . . . a true sign of a woman who wished to understand her enemies.
~~@[~*~]@~~
Trowa and Quatre looked out the window into the rain. It was monsoon season in India.
Jobel, behind them, sighed. "I guess this is goodbye, huh Quatre?"
"Yeah . . ." The two of them spent an awkward moment looking at their feet. Quatre picked up the last box. "Good luck with the guard. I heard you did really well on the exams."
"Sure did. The messenger said the commander was looking optimistic." Jobel picked up his own box. "I'll see you around."
"Hey, Jobel?"
He turned back. "What?"
"You'll still be there, right?"
"Call me anytime. I'll get my new number to you."
They balanced their belongings and shook hands.
Quatre turned out the lights in the apartment after taking one last long look. So much has changed, he thought. I wonder, is that's for better or for worse?
~~@[~*~]@~~
Sitting together on the couch a day or so later, the two loverboys received news of the worst.
"Uncle Trowa!" Mariemaia burst into the room, red-gold hair shimmering like a shower of blood.
"What are you doing home?" Trowa asked her, startled.
"We were sent home," she said, sounding angrier than he'd ever seen. "They had to clear out the base. Trowa, the problem colonies just declared war."
********************************************
Owari of Book One, AC 206: The Change Time Brings.
Hope that was long enough for ya! For whoever complained about not having any cliffhangers, her you are. I'm just going to have to keep you in suspense for a while until I get all my schoolwork back on track (Yes, I do have a life outside my computer desk, sadly enough). Stay posted for my continuation; Book Two: AC 207: The Hands of Fate. Expect it sometime around mid-March, earlier if I can possibly push it.
Oh yeah, I'm thinking of tacking on an extra segment here (that has nothing to do with furthering the story - don't panic!). If you had any trouble understanding the mentality of my story (i.e., the reasoning behind why the characters did what they did) send me a quick note at ItsumademoRelena@aol.com and I'll explain it in "Chapter" 15. I've had to do this to a couple of people already, so don't feel stupid or anything (my mouth's shut!)
Ja ne! I enjoyed sharing this with everyone! I'll get that next Book posted as soon as my grades pick up! Mission Complete (for now) [Thumbs little red button and decides to wait until I have this fic finished]
-ItsumademoOtaku
[BOOM] . . . Oops, new monitor for me, heh heh . . . heh . . . . .