Title: Hers, Yours, and Mine 5/?
Author: Steven King? Nope. John Grisam ? Nope. Jane Austen ? Nope. Sony_Mouse? YES!!!!
Parings: As if you don't know by now…1+2+1 (I refuse to put up that 'other' pairing, because she's not even IN the story anymore, but for those who love that pairing, it'll be back up next time :)
Warnings: ANGST (maybe Muahaha...ok yes there's angst), OOC, LANGUAGE with a capital F.
Disclaimers: Not mine, but I think they are, and that's why I still use them :) But Lizzy, Nate and Duo are my original characters. WHAT!! You don't believe me? Fine, I guess Duo MIGHT be part of the Gundam Franchise, but only because they got him first grrrrrrrrrrrr
NOTE: I should probably thank Lady Shinigami, she helped discuss a lot of the plot with me, and improved on some of my bad ideas. Go LADY SHINIGAMI.
Sports Note: I get to write one of these cause I'M the author and you're not. I just want to say I support the Toronto Raptors in their first series win, and hope they go all they way. Not surprisingly I ALSO support the Toronto Maple Leafs, love them forever, and hope THEY go all the way. The Toronto Rock already won second place in the whole world so I'm happy.
Part 4: What was, What could've Been, and What Happened…
"Alright, alright I'll try...b-but you better not leave me. I'm serious, you can't even die on me, I don't except compromises. I'm Shinigami; not even you could hide from me in death. Understand?"
Bringing the compliant boy up to his lips, Heero gave the first real smile he could ever remember giving and kissed the person he loved the most in the world, softly on the lips.
"Understood!"
His life had finally begun now, and he wasn't going to let it end. He finally had Duo, his Duo, and he was never letting go.
**********************************************
Part 5: Endless Waltz…
P.S. Sorry for the really bad pun…it had to be done
Present Time
Lizzy was staring down at the pathetic sight before her. It was Duo. He hadn't come upstairs last night, and was now lying sprawled on the couch with a bottle of some smelly alcohol in his hands.
Huffing to herself, she grabbed the offending bottle, ran outside and threw it as far as her little arms could manage. Going back into the house, she found the still open cabinet that contained all of Duo's Alcohol collection and taking the bottles one by one, she emptied them into the outside drain, before throwing them in the neighbor's garbage can.
She was found of Duo, and didn't like seeing him act this way, even if she didn't really understand why he did it the first place.
Nate, who had been watching all this from the upstairs window, was squealing with delight. He loved it when his sister was mad at somebody. It always meant a good show, with usually very few words.
Soon after, Lizzy quickly ascended the stairs and grabbed one of the never before used blankets from her bed, before walking downstairs and placing it over the soon to be hungover Duo's body.
That done, she got her little brother and headed to her favorite area of the house, the TV room. There was nothing like some good morning cartoons, before Duo woke up.
It was hours before Duo felt the need to leave his precious couch. He had an incredible hangover, and knew why too. It had seemed like a good idea at the time to get as drunk as possible, an easy way to forget what he was remembering. But in the end it only helped the memories rush back and left him with a hang over that would kill a horse.
Groaning as he got up, he went straight for the kitchen, in search of some more alcohol. Nothing got rid of a hangover faster than just an inch of some hard liquor. After five minutes of searching the cabinet, Duo finally realized it was empty, and slumped down to the ground in defeat.
"Oi, the little devils have gotten to my alcohol stash. There against me, I tell you, there all against me." But Duo wasn't really mad, just tired. It was better they had hidden the alcohol, then him having to do it himself. He would always just find it again when he felt like crap. They had done him a favour.
Duo chuckled to himself thinking about how proud Quatre would be to hear he had no alcohol in his house anymore. The young Arabian had always joked that it would be his undoing. Well he was wrong, Duo thought bitterly to himself, it was Heero instead.
Not liking where his thoughts were taking him, Duo quickly remembered about the gathering tonight. He felt his stomach fall at the thought of being in such a public place with so many people, and especially in THAT ballroom of all places. Duo even considered not going, but as soon as the thought came to his head, he heard the laughter of the kids coming form the TV room, and looked up to the now empty alcohol cabinet.
He would go, and he would go for them, he'd lost his whiskey, so they were his only lifelines left. And he wasn't about to lose them to a former battle enemy.
**************************
Duo attacked the messy brown hair without mercy. If it was the last thing he did, he would bring Nate's hair under-control. After another surprisingly vicious attack, Duo settled the brush down as Nate looked up into Duo's eyes and laughed. The hair had won again.
Putting Nate aside, Duo stood up in frustration. "That's it, I am NOT going to be beat but that inherited messy, uncontrollable hair from hell. If mine can look nice, so can yours."
Running into the nearby bathroom, Duo immerged with a bottle of super hold gel. Sitting Nate between his legs again, Duo squeezed half the bottle into his hand and was about to smear it in Nate's hair when he heard laughing from the side of him.
"Oh Duo, what are you doing now??"
Smirking at the laughing Quatre, Duo pouted at his old friend. " I had to put up with this hair with Heero, but I'm not going to put up with it now."
"I thought you liked his hair?"
"Yeah, well that doesn't mean I like it anymore."
Quatre just started laughing again as Duo tried to grab the squirming Nate, who was running away from Duo's clutches.
"Duo, that really doesn't justify putting half a bottle of hair gel in a five-year-olds hair. Besides all kids that age have messy hair, I'm sure he'll grow out of it."
Releasing the happy boy, Duo glared up at Quatre. "Sure just like he'll out grow pulling my braid. Next you'll be trying to tell me ALL five-year-olds like to pull hair."
"Well yes they do, but Duo..."
Really joking now, Duo put up his hand for Quatre to stop talking. "Shh Quatre, I have my next victim to take care of, ohhhhhhhhhhhhh Lizzy time for your hair to get spiked."
Quatre swatted Duo gently on the top of his head. "She's with Trowa downstairs, trying to get her dress on, she hates it. It's a nice pink dress. I thought most girls loved pink, but apparently blue's her favorite colour."
Walking to the bathroom sink, Duo began to wash all the gel off his fingers. "Ah don't sweat it Quatre, she's just not happy about going. I asked her earlier, and she said that she had already attended way too many of them. They're boring, there's no other kids, and she has to be on her best behavior. I told her that I agree 100%. But when I said I was coming she changed her mind in a second. I've still got the Maxwell charm on my side."
Before Duo could return, he heard a loud gasp from the bedroom. "What is it Quatre?"
There standing in the doorway was a very unpleased girl in a bright pink dress. Her arms were crossed and she wore a very familiar pout that before, only Duo could master.
"Speaking of the Maxwell charm, there's one aspect of it now. I thought you said you were never going to share the secret of the "Maxwell Pout" with anyone!"
Duo held up his hands in defense. "I didn't, both her and Nate picked it up on their own. Hey Lizzy come over here, let me brush your hair."
Lizzy walked past Quatre sending him a glare, which again she must have picked up from her father. Sitting down between Duo's legs, she let him softly brush her hair.
"Um Duo speaking about the kids, what's with this 'Lizzy' and 'Nate' thing?"
"What! You didn't really think I would call them Elisabeth and Nathaniel did you? Besides they don't mind, do ya Lizzy?"
Turning her face defiantly away from Quatre she agreed with Duo's statement. "Nope!"
"See! She didn't like it at first, but I think she's grown used to it."
"Yep!"
Quatre burst out laughing at the scene before him and gave up the argument. "Okay Okay I give up. It doesn't matter what you call them. I was just asking, that's all."
Finishing with the knots in Lizzy's hair, Duo brought his attention back to her. "So how would you like your hair today? Like how you had it before or up in a bun? Or something else?"
Lizzy played with her hair a bit before bringing up her shy eyes to meet with Duo's. "Can I have it in a braid...like you do?"
Duo dropped his brush before reality hit him once more. "Umm sure, in fact braids are what I do best. See Quatre, I told you she liked me."
"Yep!"
"Oh you two are hopeless, just meet us downstairs in five minutes. Lets get this show on the road."
**************************
The whole limo ride over Duo had had his hands gripping the car seats for dear life. Nate was on his lap, and Lizzy was snuggling up beside him, with her small hands cupped over one of his.
By the time they got there, it took both of Quatre and Trowa to literally pull the young man out of the car. Once out, Quatre turned to the driver and told him to drive on. Leaving Duo with no immediate escape root.
Reverting to his pout, but only as a means to hide his fear, Duo spoke in unconvincing cheerfulness. "I'd say you guys where enjoying this."
Trowa smiled at Duo and told him the truth. "You have no idea how much. We've waited years to be able to force you to some event."
"Well I'm here to please I guess, you sadist." Trowa smirked at Duo before taking Quatre's arm in his own and walking up the steps, leaving Duo behind with the kids."
Nate was being held in Duo's arms, and Lizzy still had her hand in Duo's. After waiting five minutes, Lizzy noticed that Duo wasn't moving, nor had any intention of doing so.
"Umm I guess we should be going inside."
Duo remained frozen. "Yeah, inside..."
"It's kinda cold out here...don't ya want to go inside? We don't have to, we could go to the movies instead."
The thought of going into a cramped movie theatre with people crowded around him, didn't appeal much to Duo, but neither did this ball."
"Yeah it's cold..."
"Com'on Duo, Uncle Milliardo's inside, he'll want to see us."
At the mention of the regent, Duo found the courage needed to ascend the stairs and enter the mansion, which brought him so many bad memories. It wasn't the one the kids had been raised in, but it was the only one Duo had ever seen, the one where he and Heero had...
"Ok lets go, some party's not going to scare Shinigami. Hell I invented the word party." Lizzy laughed at Duo's cockiness, while Nate looked worried that Duo had mentioned the secret name Shinigami in public. Leading them on, they entered a part of Duo's past.
***********************************
Once inside it didn't take long for the mass crowd to effect the way Duo was feeling. At the door Milliardo was politely welcoming all his guest. And s soon as he spotted the kids, his face broke into a huge grin.
"Ahhhhhhhh Duo, I'm so glad you came. It really means a lot to me that you were willing to bring the kids."
Duo refused to answer as the kids ran up to hug their uncle. "UNCLE MILLIARDO!"
"Oh how are my little munchkins doing. Is Duo treating you nicely?"
"Yes Uncle, he's been great. *I* taught him how to walk outside."
Taking the opportunity to stop Lizzy before she gave away anymore, Duo walked up to his old enemy.
"So 'ZECHS', long time no see. How's the country."
"Please Duo, the war's over, can't you call me Milliardo?"
"No!"
"Well the country's doing fine. I must admit I am not found of this type of work, but feel it as my duty to Relena and her children. I can't wait for the day that I may retire and pass it all on to Elisabeth."
"Well Zechs, this conversation is fascinating and all, but I must be going now. Places to go, people to do, you know how it is."
"Yes, yes I understand. But please try to enjoy the evening. It really is in your honor. To make amends for the past and the present. Enemies becoming friends is how wars are ended."
"Don't mention it, now if you need me I'll be over at the buffet table. Buh buy Zechsy."
Instead of heading towards the food, Duo found himself searching for the darkest part of the room to hide in. Finding such a place, Duo sat down on the bench and tried to hide from the offending public.
He thought that the kids would desert him at the first sign of familiar faces, but instead they stayed. Nate in particular looked upset. He was just like when Duo had first met him, eyes looking at his feet, and shy to be near anyone except for Duo.
Duo just figured that the familiar people were bringing back memories of Nate's dead parents. Why else would he be so solemn? Allowing himself a quick laugh, Duo thought it could just be the Yui genes kicking in.
It wasn't long before the invited reporters caught sight of the only children in the room, and recognized them as the heirs to the throne.
Duo could feel his pulse going erratic as the groups tried to crowd in on him and ask too many questions. Again he froze up and stared at them, hoping they would just go away.
Lizzy took the initiative and stood up in front of Duo, crossing her arms, and protecting him against the evil mob.
"Please go away, my uncle does not want to talk to you."
"Sir, sir can you tell us who exactly you are, and if you are raising the kids."
"He's my uncle, now go away."
The reports thought that the eight-year-old was being cute and ignored her as they tried to ask Duo more questions.
"Sir, sir!!"
From behind the mob, a strong voice was heard.
"I believe the young lady told you to leave him alone. If you have any problems understanding her words, I would be happy to clarify them."
Looking at each other, the group of reporters made their getaway, not wanting to aggravate a former Gundam Pilot.
Duo jumped out of his seat and glomped his old friend Wufei. "Wu-man, am I ever happy to see you."
Smirking at his old friend, the war of tongues began. "Well look who it is. Finally decided to join the land of the living. Thinks he can just desert us for a decade and then expect us to have a laugh with him."
"You havn't changed at bit, you know that Wu-man."
"Oh its Wu-man is it. Funny how you can't remember my name after all these years. Now what was yours, was it 02, or BAKA!"
"Awwww you didn't forget me! And you even developed the art of sarcasm. I'm so proud. I feel like my protégé has finally learned a few things."
"KISAMA, Maxwell where the hell have you been all these years?"
Duo would have answered with some joke but his eyes caught the sight of a horrified Nate, trying not to cry. Lizzy also seemed to be trying to stay calm.
"What's wrong little buddy. Me and Wufei here were just joking. We always fight like that. It's how we say hello."
While Duo was trying to comfort Nate, Lizzy was still looking at Wufei with that old fire in her eyes. "Why'd you yell at him, and how did you know his name. But why'd you yell at him, what'd he ever do to you?"
Wufei looked surprised at the turn of events and tried to think of a reply. "We're old friends, we-we've always yelled at each other."
"NO! Not Duo, Nate, why'd you yell at Nate."
Both Duo and Wufei turned to the girl in disbelief."
Duo left Nate alone for a moment and put his hand on Lizzy's shoulder. "Wu-man wasn't yelling at Nate, he was yelling at me. Why would you think otherwise?"
Now it was Lizzy's turn to look confused. "B-b-but you said Maxwell...that's Nate's name. It's what Dad used to call him. When we were alone, he called us both by our middle names."
Duo felt like someone had just punched him. Heero had named Nate after him, Nathaniel Maxwell Peacecraft...or Yui. How was it that no one had bothered to mention this little piece of information?
In Duo's state of shock, Wufei took over the conversation. "I'm sorry Elisabeth, I didn't mean to offend you or your brother. Duo's last name is Maxwell, I did not know your father had named Nathaniel after him."
Understanding dawning in both her and her brother's eyes, she smiled back at him. "Sorry about that, we didn't know."
Nate on the other hand was starting to jump all over the place with happiness. HE was named after THE Great Shinigami Man; it was like a dream come true.
Deciding now would be a good time to talk with Duo alone, Wufei convinces the two happy children into paying some of their other uncles a visit.
Sitting down beside the still unmoving Duo, he lightly kicked him to get him on his feet. Struggling to stand up, he sat down beside Wufei and just shook his head in disbelief.
"Oh Wufei, I think I need a drink, a very, very strong drink."
"I'm guessing you didn't know?"
"No, no one bothered to tell me."
"I don't think it was by choice. I work at the Preventers headquarters, we were in charge of all their documents, and I still didn't know."
Trying to keep a grasp on the situation, Duo turned to face his friend.
"Wufei, can I ask you something?"
"Sure Maxwell, what is it?"
"What was he like before he died? Was he happy, or sad, or did he do anything to show that he was going to kill himself?"
Not wanting to look into Duo's eyes, Wufei turned and glanced at the crowd.
"He was miserable. Every time I came to visit, it was like he had returned to the old Heero, who was cold and didn't want to be found."
"But the kids, the way they talked about him, I would have thought he was a new man."
"Oh with the kids he was. I always thought that Relena would turn out to be the most possessive of the two, but she wasn't, Heero was. From the moment of Elisabeth's birth, Heero took it upon himself to raise her. He never slept in Relena's room unless he had to, which isn't too unusual for royalty, he slept in the same bed as his children. I remember Relena used to complain, every single time I came to visit, that Heero spent all his time with the kids. And you could watch him from the window, he would be running with them, playing games, and even laughing. But as soon as he was away from them, he returned to the old Heero. He even refused to let them go to day care, he just didn't trust anyone with his kids, not even Relena."
Duo looked up at Wufei with confused eyes, but didn't stop the man from talking.
"She was jealous of the kids, and of Heero. She wanted to spend more time with both, but couldn't because Heero was always taking them away. He wouldn't even go out with Relena, because that would mean letting someone else watch after his kids for the night. Looking back, I think he was just afraid they would slip though his fingers...like someone else. But the kids didn't seem to mind the attention; in fact they loved it. He didn't let them have maids or anything, but he more than made up for that, by always being with them. And whenever the kids were forced from him, usually by Relena, he would come to this house for some reason. Relena thought it was because it reminded him of the war, but I'm not to sure, I thought maybe you'd know why. But in the end Relena always loved him, and the kids, so she let it all slide. Probably one of the biggest mistakes she ever made."
Duo could feel the tears threatening to spill over but kept them inside. "D-d-did you see him before he died?"
"Yes just a few days before, but I don't think you want to hear any of this, it's upsetting you even more."
"No, please, please tell me!"
"From the beginning of the marriage, when every I came to visit, be it for work or just to check up on him, he always asked the same question first, 'How's Duo?' And each time I told him how you were getting worse and worse. The last time I talked to him, he came up to me and asked a different question. "Do you think he'll be ok?" And I told him the truth, though it may have been a bit harsh, and I regret every word of it now, you don't know how much, but I was bitter at the time, we all were, bitter and worried about you."
"What did you say?"
"I told him that I didn't think you'd been ok in a long time, and that I didn't think you were ever going to be ok again. I swear Heero flinched at my words and just stood up with this sad look on his face before leaving the room. I never saw him again."
Duo leaned back against the cold wall, shutting his eyes to prevent the tears from escaping. "Well Wufei, what can I say to that?"
"I don't know."
"I…I think I miss him."
TBC……………………
OK There it is hope you liked, I was planning on having Nate's middle name be Duo, but that didn't' really makes sense, and someone wrote me in saying it should be Maxwell, and they were right ( I just wish I remembered who it was).
Anyways I would REALLY like your opinions on this one. Sony_Mouse@hotmail.com
