Standard disclaimer: I don't own
any of the Gundam Wing characters that are used in this story.
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Marimeia's Engagement
By West Wind
Chapter 3 ~ Telling the Family
They walked into the house. Apprehension, excitement,
and joy ran through Marimeia. She could not wait to tell her mother the
news, but she still did not know how she wanted to inform Anna.
"Mom?" Marimeia called out after entering the front door.
At first there was no answer so she called again as she
and Heero wandered farther into the house. This time their was a muffled
response from down the hall. They started in the direction of the voice
when Lady Une emerged from one of the rooms with a smile on her face at
her daughters visit.
"Marimeia," she greeted joyfully and gave her a quick
hug, "I thought you might show up today."
"How?" Marimeia asked.
"When Duo returned without Heero," she stated with a gesture
to her returned missing Preventer, "I inquired where he was. Once I learned
Duo dropped Heero off at your place, the most probably way for him to get
back was for you to bring him."
"It was a last minute decision," Heero informed his supervisor
and future Mother-in-law.
Heero had known when he asked Marimeia to marry him that
Lady Une would become his Mother-in-law, but the reality of it had not
actually registered before now with her standing before him. That thought
almost caused Heero to look shocked.
"Have you had lunch?" Anna inquired.
"No," replied Marimeia.
"I have a pot of soup simmering on the stove it you would
like some," she informed the couple.
"Sound good," Heero responded.
The three made their way to the kitchen where Anna fished
out three bowls and started dishing out the soup while Marimeia got the
spoons and crackers. Heero caught Marimeia's eye as she sat the things
on the table and encouraged her to tell her mom. Marimeia sat beside Heero
and waited for her mom to sit down after placing the bowls of soup before
them before telling her. She knew she would have to tell her soon or Heero
would. She was beginning to feel antsy waiting for Anna to sit.
"You would not believe what happened yesterday," began
Marimeia in a conversational tone once Anna was seated.
"What?" asked Lady Une.
"Heero and I went out to dinner and on the way back he
proposed and I accepted," rushed out of Marimeia's mouth followed by a
sight of relief.
"I wondered when he was going to get around to asking,"
stated Anna before taking a bite of her soup. "He asked my permission months
ago."
A shocked look engulfed Marimeia's face at her mother's
comment before she slugged Heero who just smirked at her with mischief
dancing in his eyes.
"YOU didn't tell me that," she accused.
"I told you everything would go just fine," he replied
to her accusation.
"Is there anyone else that knows that you neglected to
tell me?" she asked with mock hurt in her voice.
"No," he stated.
Lady Une laughed at their antics.
"Congratulations," she offered to forestall any further
retribution Marimeia might direct at Heero. "May I see the ring?"
With joy radiating from Marimeia's face, she extended
her left hand for her mother to examine.
"It is very elegant," Anna informed Heero.
He nodded his acceptance of her complement.
"Have you talked about a date, yet?"
"We did on the way here," informed Marimeia. "We are looking
at the fourth of June after I graduate."
Anna only nodded as Marimeia continued to inform her of
the plans she and Heero made on the drive here. She approved of Trowa giving
Marimeia away and she knew he would accept the responsibility. There was
no one more like a father to Marimeia than Trowa. There were many details
yet to be worked out but Anna knew they would get there in time. Soon the
topic of conversation drifted to other things.
"Quatre and family are in town," Anna informed them. "They
arrived yesterday."
"That's right," said Heero. "With everything else going
on, I did not realize they were coming this weekend."
"Relena is planning a get together at her place this evening,"
Anna informed them as they cleaned up from lunch.
"Who is going to be there?" asked Marimeia.
"The usual crew," responded her mother. "The pilots, their
wives, their children, and myself."
"Sounds like a perfect opportunity to announce our engagement,"
said Marimeia with a twinkle in her eye.
Later in the afternoon, Marimeia took Heero home. She
pulled into the drive and before they could get out, they were surrounded
by children joyfully calling Marimeia and Uncle Heero. Heero and Marimeia
stepped out of the car and the children quickly latched on to them. Marimeia
picked up the two year old Olivia and Jacob caught her free hand. The little
blond looked up at her and started chattering to her. She smiled warmly
down at him while Olivia tightly wrapped her arms around Marimeia's neck.
Chrisy and Nathan latched onto Heero, one on each hand and were a buzz
with questions and tales of their exploits. The parents were soon attracted
by the commotion of their children.
"Marimeia! Heero!" greeted Relena when she saw who the
children were clinging to.
Relena gave Marimeia a hug which was followed by one from
Catherine.
"You have not been home in a while. It is good to see
you," said Relena.
Marimeia smiled her greeting to Quatre rather than giving
him a hug since his arms were full with his year old daughter, Kate. The
reddish-brown haired child was curled up fast asleep in her fathers arms.
Trowa gave Marimeia a brief hug. The greetings continued and conversation
abounded on all sides as both adults and children talked. Olivia squirmed
and wanted down so Marimeia set her down while conversing with Relena and
Quatre. As she put Olivia down, Trowa noticed the new addition to Marimeia's
hand. He looked at Heero and slightly raised one eyebrow questioningly.
A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of Heero's mouth in reply. Trowa
acknowledged his understanding with a slight nod.
"What are you two up to?" asked Catherine as she caught
the brief exchange between her brother and Heero..
The two looked at her blankly.
"Spill!" Catherine demanded.
Trowa looked at Heero and received a nod.
"Heero and Marimeia have something to tell us," answered
Trowa.
All eyes turned to the two expectantly. Smiles blossomed
on Quatre and the girls faces as they anticipated what Marimeia and Heero
would tell them. Heero meet their gazes while Marimeia adjusted to the
sudden change of subjects.
"We're engaged," said Heero with no embellishment, just
stated the fact.
A wide silly grin stretched across Marimeia's face as
Heero told the news to their friends/family.
"Heero, you make it sound like any other daily activity,"
teased Relena before she gave him a congratulation hug. "Congratulations,"
she whispered in his ear, "and it's about time you asked her."
Relena pulled away from Heero with a twinkle of mischief
in her eyes then waited to congratulate Marimeia. Hugs, handshakes, and
congratulations were given from each member of their little party and the
children moved around with excitement once they figured out what was going
on.
"We were going to announce it at tonight's get together,"
pointed out Marimeia as they all entered the house.
Of course all the regular questions came up, who, what,
when, where, etc. Heero and Marimeia informed them of the plans they had
sketched out so far. When they started talking about who would do what,
Marimeia looked at Trowa.
"Trowa, will you give me away?" she asked and waited for
his reply.
A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth at the question.
"I would be honored to," he answered truly touched by
her request.
They continued to ask Quatre and Catherine to be in the
wedding party and they accepted. Christy and Jacob were excited that they
were going to be in the wedding as well and were anxious for it to come.
Nathan placed a small hand on Marimeia's arm and looked up at her with
large green eyes.
"I want to be in the wedding too," he said.
Marimeia pulled him into her lap.
"There will be something for you to do in the wedding
too," reassured Marimeia. "I just don't know what yet."
A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth at her
reassurance.
Before they knew it the others were arriving for dinner
and another round of welcomes and how are you doings was preformed. Since
Duo, Hilde, Wufie, and Sally were the only ones who did not know, Heero
and Marimeia decided to tell each couple when they came in.
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TBC … Next Chapter ~ The Weed
Author's Notes: Now the 'family' knows. Thank's
for being patient with me to post this part. Between grass that needs mowed,
other yardwork that needs done, finals to study for and the a lack of inspiration,
the story is coming along slowly. I did try to make this chapter longer
than the last.