When I walked in, Hiro~ was busy repairing his gundam. Does he ever keep it fixed for more then one day? Wu Fei and Trowa where drinking cups of coffee. I bowed in acknowledgement before I made my call. Then I came back to them. "If anything comes for Bo~ken, I'm to accept it. Please call me if something comes. I'm going to take a rest." I told everyone before I wandered into the dormer. Duo was lounging on his bed in a T-shirt and boxers. I pulled off my vest and shirt and kicked my shoes under the bed. Then flopped down on my back on the bunk next to his. "Hi."
"You're staying here?" He propped up on his elbow, his hair hung loosely down his back.
"Yes. Bo~ken asked me to do something for him." I looked at him, he smiled softly when I called Bo~ken a him. "But then, of coarse, you know Bo~ken as a woman. You couldn't sleep with her and still say 'he' could you?"
"You ok? You look upset." Duo gave me a moment before he pressed any further. "Is something up between you and Bo~ken? Did she do something to you?"
"No. I just...You wouldn't understand." I looked away before my eyes betrayed me.
"Try me. Quatre?" Duo sat up and reached over, resting a hand on my shoulder.
"Promise me you will not tell anyone." I sighed.
He made the motion of zipping his lips. "Not even my alternate personality will know."
I smiled a little. "Ok. Remember when Bo~ken first came in? It was my birthday. Well after I brought you back and I went back home, she came to tell me that everyone was safe. She had been cut up and passed out from lack of blood. That's when I found out that she was a she. Well, after that, I guess it just developed without me realizing it..." I felt my face get hot and I trailed off.
Duo looked like he was going to choke me. "You can't just stop, that isn't fair!"
"I'm in love with her and she either won't listen or I loose my nerve every time I try to tell her. The only time I did, I was drugged beyond humanity. Now I have a feeling that she's not coming back." I teared up.
"Where did she go?" Duo's eyes where sympathetic.
"To fight Zechs over some things. Zechs is powerful and his honor is riding on her death. I don't want her to die." I rolled over on my stomach and pushed my face into the pillow. I just felt plain depressed.
"Just so you know, I didn't sleep with her, her husband was there and I was assigned to someone else." Duo told me before he changed the subject. "The news is coming on soon, shall I fill you in or are you going to watch it?"
"Watch it I guess." I sat up on my knees and smoothed my hair back. Then I followed him into the other room.
We settled in front of the TV and watched a woman report on the terrorist bombing (one of Hiro~'s missions) and the report that some prisoners had escaped from a prison transporter. Then there was a bulletin flash. "...This just in, at the Military outpost on the edge of the state, a soldier went AWOL and was executed in broad day light. The following material may not be suitable for younger viewers..." A video of the base came up on the screen. Someone on a motorcycle came bursting through a window and into the street. Zechs appeared in the window with a detonator. The motorcycle exploded along with the woman that rode it. The figure of Bo~ken was obliterated before the shocked boys' eyes. "...The body was identified as that of twenty one year old Nadia Reno..."
"No! Bo~ken!!!" I grabbed my chest and fled from the room. It felt like my heart was being ripped from my body. I made it to the bathroom and fell to my knees in front of a toilet. I was violently ill. When my stomach was empty, I sat back on my heels and choked on sobs larger then I could handle. I felt empty and alone.
Duo came in quietly and picked me up off of the floor. He dragged me over to the sink and splashed me with cold water. He pushed me to sit on the edge of the sink and slapped a wet towel on my neck. I hick-upped pathetically. "Poor guy, you need to calm down. Listen to me, the people looking for Bo~ken are here. If you give me the papers, I can handle what ever it is."
"No!" I snuffed feebly. "Just tell them I will be a minute." I turned to look at myself in the mirror. I looked very bad. I splashed some water on my face again and drank a few mouth fulls. Duo left me as I straitened myself up. I went back through the bunkroom and pulled on my shirt and vest. Finally I felt presentable and went out to meet them.
"Bo~ken Tenjina?" One of the two men asked when I appeared.
"Quatre Raberba Winner. I have the papers for the transaction." I reached into my pocket and pulled out the envelope. "Please, step into the computer room with me so that we can do it in private." I ushered them into the small office room.
One of the men took the envelope from me and took out the papers. After a minute of silence, he nodded to his companion. The other pulled out a stack of papers from his briefcase and handed them to me. "The top two are legal contracts that you will provide for the child until Bo~ken Tenjina takes the child or the child turns eighteen. The next one with the three carbon copies are adoption papers Tenjina-sama requested. Please be sure that they reach..."
"They where for me. The last page in the envelope is the testament. We can go ahead and get it out of the way." I sat down at the desk and picked up a pen, scanning the pages quickly.
"And the name changing forms?" The man asked hesitantly.
"Correct." It made sense to change her name for protection. I signed the first two pages, then handed them back. "On this page do I put her old name or her new one?" I held up the adoption papers for them to view.
"Old name."
"Ok." I went back to writing. I tossed that set of papers across the desk, then I read over the next. "This says I need a witness, is that besides you?"
"Yes."
I finished filling out the page and called La Sheed into the room. He basically filled the small space beyond comfort. "Please sign this." I handed him the paper and the pen. He raised an eyebrow at me. "It is just a formality, nothing will be expected of you." He didn't bother to read it, he just scrawled his name across the page and handed it back with a bow. Then he left. I signed the last space and handed it over. "Anything else?"
"The Five hundred dollars for transportation, name changes, and processing." One said as he stuffed the papers back in the briefcase and stood. I handed him the money Bo~ken had given me. It was enough that I had a hundred-dollar bill left. "Alright Mr. Winner, ready to go meet your daughter?"
I just stood and followed them out. We went outside where a woman stood taping her foot. She looked annoyed. A little girl sat under a tree and played with a teddy bear. The two men walked over and spoke to the woman quietly. She looked relieved. They went over to the car. One of the men took out two large suitcases and brought them over to me. "She's all yours." Then they drove away.
Rei looked up in surprise as the car left her. "Rei, come here." I called her softly. She looked up and smiled brightly at me. She came over and held her arms up with out hesitation.
"Pick me up, please." When I did, she put her hand in my hair, the other held tight to her bear. "Your hair is just like mine. You're my real daddy aren't you?" She smiled at me like it was the cleverest thing ever thought of. I was so surprised that I stared at her. "I'm glad I get to be with you now. I didn't like being all by myself. I've never seen anyone else with hair colored like mine, that's how I know you're my daddy."
If you can resist the blond curls and big blue eyes, then you are just plain insensitive. Add to those two endearing traits such a simple and sweet mind and your heart is a goner. I never had a chance. She had a cute smile and had a little roundness to her face. It was scary, but she did look like me. I had no clue as to how to start, so I just let my mouth go to town. "Rei, you get a new name today, because you are starting a new life. Your new name is Kirei Shizuka Winner. It means "beauty at peace"."
"Kirei, Kirei, my name's Kirei, Shizuka!" She made a singsong chant and smiled happily. She was obviously going to be an easy child. I sat her down and picked up her bags.
"What have you got in here, a herd of elephants?!" I asked as I hefted them inside.
"No, silly!" She giggled. "There is only one!"
I didn't expect her to come back with that. I hoped with laughter after a two-second delay. I dropped the cases and scooped her up again. "Then what's in the other one, Kirei?"
She thought for a moment before smiling. "A hippo."
"I see." Duo came around the corner and ground to a halt. "Man, either you have been cloned or you have a kid."
"The later of the two. This is Kirei. Kirei, this is Duo." I said, stifling a grin at Duo's face.
"Hello Mr. Duo. I'm Kirei Shizuka Winner. Are you my daddy's friend?" She chirped.
"Mr., Your kid called me Mr." He looked like it was a bad word.
"Get a grip, you're twenty two years old. Being called Mr. shouldn't scare you so much."
"One time I was afraid of monsters and I got some monster repellant spray. Maybe you need some Mr. repellant spray." Kirei said trying to be helpful.
Duo chuckled. "Now I know it's your kid. Innocence oozes from her." He looked Kirei over for a moment. "You're pretty neat, kid."
She held her arms out to him. He looked at me and I shrugged. He took her and tossed her up in the air a little ways. She shrieked with laughter. "Don't drop her. I'm going to get some things from the workroom, then I'll be back. Give me seven minutes." I wandered off. I went to the bathroom and picked up the stuff from the workroom. I came back to Duo and Kirei tossing the bear back and forth like a ball.
I walked down the road to the nearest phone booth, my hands full of suitcases. Kirei skipped down the road next to me. She was innocent of the world that so horribly robbed her of her family. Now how would I fill that void? I was so young and barely understood things myself.
"Hey, Mr. Winner, need a ride?" A sweet voice called from behind me. I turned and found Ms. Peacecraft's pink limo. She was leaned out the window and waving at me.
I walked up to her, Kirei shadowing me. "Do you really want to take me all the way to the Plaza Hotel Ms. Peacecraft?"
"Of coarse. It's been quite a while. We need to catch up. Go back and load that stuff in the trunk." She rolled up the window without waiting for a replay.
I wasn't in the mood to argue, so I did as she said. When I climbed in and sat across from her, I noticed for the first time how long her legs where. I decided I had just never seen them from that angle before. She had on a short skirted business suit. I lifted Kirei up and buckled her in beside me. I pulled the door closed and fastened my own belt. "How have you been doing with the new treaty?"
"Alright I suppose. The whole process is crawling but it is a whole new way of life to estate. How is Hiro~?" She asked, looking a little more eager then she intended.
"He is as well as he ever is. He hasn't attempted to blow himself up sense just after you came back to earth." I told her as I watched Kirei play quietly with her bear. I smiled at the simple act. The only toys I remember having had where blocks that my teacher made me reconstruct bases with.
"I see."
"Should I tell Hiro~ that you asked after him?"
"No." She looked out the window, keeping her eyes from meeting mine. "I don't want to make him feel guilty."
"Princess Relina, I don't understand you two, but I will acknowledge one thing, I know how it is to be ignored by someone you love. If you would like to see him, tomorrow is his day off and when he is free, he goes to the Barrier by the sea. It's isolated. He thinks of you a lot, but you didn't hear any of it from me." I winked at her. She just smiled.
"Daddy, when am I going to see Mommy?" Kirei suddenly asked me.
"I don't know Kirei. I hope it will be soon, but I don't know." I told her, silently praying that she lived. "Try to be patient Kirei."
"Quatre, you are her father?" Relina sounded completely surprised.
Who wouldn't? I would have been gaping at anyone who had said it the day before. I wanted to say 'No, she is your niece, your brother's daughter. But sense he killed Rei's mother, the only woman I've ever loved, I have to protect the child.' But how could I? "Yes. She is my first." I spoke with more heart in it then I really had.
"What's her mother's name?" She smiled at Rei.
I looked out at the sky, it was darkening. "Yoake." I named her daybreak. What would anyone be able to say even if they knew otherwise?
"That's a beautiful name." She looked at my cloudy face.
"And a beautiful woman. But is it one who will come back to me?" I whispered. Kirei had slipped into sleep, but I dare not wake her.
"I'm sure." She reached across and took my hand. "Anyone as gentle and kind as you will never be lonely."
We pulled up in front of the Hotel. I kissed her hand. "Do~mo arigato~ gozaimasu." Then I went and pulled the bags from the trunk. I took off my belt and strapped it around the handles. Then I gathered Rei and the bear in my other arm. It was enough to make me groan when I was forced to pick it up and put it down repeatedly to push the elevator buttons and put the key in for the penthouse suit. When I got us into my room, I was out of breath. I could have asked for help, but I was in the mood to be independent. I put Kirei on my bed and sat next to her and rested.
"Master Quatre?" Shika peered into my room.
"Yes?" I asked her softly.
"May I be of any service to you?" She stepped into the room and bowed. She had on a long white robe.
"Please unpack the cloths in these suitcases and put them in my dresser. I'm going to order something to eat, would you care for anything?" I yawned at the end of the sentence. I was sleepy.
"No thank you." She went to work unpacking for me.
I had the kitchen send up something suitable for a child and something for myself. Then I took out my pajamas and put them on the sink in the bathroom so I could take a shower before I retired for the night. Kirei had more things then most grown men ever owned in their life combined. She had nearly three dozen dresses and eight nightgowns, twelve pairs of shoes and hair ribbons galore. She also had a gold vanity set and make-up. "I didn't know that little girls wear make-up. I thought that didn't start until the teen years." I looked in surprise at the nail polishes, compacts, and lipsticks.
"Just proving that she's a Winner. Only someone in your family would have so much stuff." Shika held up a small bag. "Where do you want toys?"
"Um...On the desk, I guess. I don't have a lot of stuff, so how can you say it proves she's a Winner?" I frowned at her.
"For a man, you have an ungodly amount. Compare you to your friends. They have two pairs of shoes and four outfits. You have four pairs of shoes and at least a dozen outfits. That isn't normal." She poked me in the side. "Normal people don't color co-ordinate their underwear with their pajamas."
I blushed, shocked that she knew that and was bold enough to say it. There was a knock at the door and I went to answer it. I grabbed the food and gave the guy a fat tip. Then I woke up Kirei. "Hey kid-o, you hungry?"
"Yes sir! I'm very hungry. I could eat a whole moose." She declared.
"Will chicken nuggets work?" I chuckled.
"Yep." She sat down and we ate. Shika left us to go back to bed. I got Kirei into her nightgown and watched her brush her teeth. She went and hopped back in my bed. "Tell me a story. Please Daddy, please?" She batted her eyes at me.
"What story?" I asked.
"One you know, or read me one."
I didn't know any stories, but there was a bible in the room. I started at the beginning and read. I read a creation story and about man and woman being tricked by a snake. They got kicked out of a garden and I ended there. I told her to go to sleep, then I went and took a shower. I kept thinking of Bo~ken and how Zechs had killed her. I kept thinking of how I was going to tell Kirei. There would never be a gravesite that I could even take her to. "Why'd you go? You knew you would die..." I whispered quietly to the ceiling. When I got in bed, Kirei curled up next to me and put her arm around me. "Good night Kirei."
"Good night Daddy."
********
"Quatre." I whispered his name and covered his mouth with my hand. He sat up, eyes opening as he did so. "Shuuh." I shushed him. His eyes nearly popped out of his head, then he passed out. "That didn't work well." I frowned. I patted his cheek. "Hey, wake up."
He opened his eyes again. "You are supposed to be dead."
"I kind of traded a clone Une's cloths with mine and Zechs blew her up." I whispered. "I told him about Rei and he let me go. Sorry I didn't plan it out first. Are you mad at me?" I asked him.
"What do you think?" He pulled me down into a kiss. When I resisted he let me go. "Sorry, I..." He blushed.
"You where being emotional, don't worry about it." I tried to slow my heart. "About Rei..."
"I adopted her and gave her a new name. She is Kirei Shizuka Winner."
"I want to be with her. I have permission to assume a woman's life. Will you let me pose as one of your concubines?" I asked him trying to look impartial.
"I don't want you to be a concubine." My face fell, but he lifted my chin. "I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?" I made a squeaky sound, like I couldn't breathe. Of all the things I had imagined, that wasn't one of them. "I'm sorry, I had no right to ask you." He turned away, hiding his face from me.
"Quatre, did you really mean that?" I asked.
"I've meant it sense I brought you breakfast that day in the palace. I love you." He was still facing the wall. "It isn't your obligation to feel anything for me."
"But I do." I whispered in his ear. "I just didn't know that you did. I will marry you if you wish." I wrapped my arms around his waist. "It will take a while to get everyone to agree though."
"I wish you could be my wife now." He pulled me down to sit beside him. He kissed me lightly on the cheek.
"Well, if you have a computer I can go on line with, I could maybe arrange it."
"Kirei thinks I'm her father and I guess she will find out that I'm not. To bad, I kind of liked being a parent." He smiled over at my baby.
"Where were you turned thirteen?"
"Why?" He looked at me questioningly. "The L4 Colony, I went to train after my birthday that I spent with my father. Then I came to earth with the gundam."
"Hum...I was there around that time. I bet I could rig it so we got married back then. Coming up with a back ground for myself shouldn't be hard. I just need a fist name. Oh and did you use to get on the Internet?"
"You first name is Yoake, and yes I did."
"Alright. That is where we met and fell in love, works?"
"Ok...Can you really pull this off?" He got out of the bed and pulled on a bathrobe. "Fooling earth and the colonies is a little harder then just a few people."
"Yes. Have you heard of the Tsurara house?" I stood up. He turned looking surprised.
"Of coarse. Aete is a friend of mine. We've been friends sense...I was nearly thirteen." Quatre kind of smiled at me.
********
I finished the last document and printed out a copy of our faux marriage certificate. I put it in the drawer of the bed side table. Then I ruffled through Quatre's stuff until I found some pajamas. I changed into the shorts, tying the button up shirt under my bust, and put my cloths neatly on a chair. Then I snuggled up to Quatre and went to sleep.
********
I woke up with Bo~ken sleeping against me. My heart did four cartwheels. I felt so happy I could have hugged her to death, but settled for watching her sleep soundly. "Daddy? I'm hungry!" Kirei came in from the bathroom. She was brushing her hair. "Can I call for breakfast?"
Bo~ken opened her eyes and looked up at me in confusion for a moment, then smiled at me. "Hum?" I realized Kirei was talking to me. "Oh, breakfast. You can call by yourself?"
"I'm in first grade, of coarse I can!" She sounded indignant. "Do you want anything Daddy? Is that Yoake, my mommy?"
"Yes; coffee and some cereal. This is your mother." I smiled softly as she threw herself at the groggy woman and hugged her.
"Mommy, Daddy, now I have both of you! Are you going to stay?" She begged.
"Yes Kirei, I'm going to stay." She hugged her back. I wrapped my arms around the both of them on a whim. Kirei stayed there for a second before wiggling free, leaving Yoake in my arms still half-asleep.
"Hello?" I smiled as Kirei picked up the phone and began jabbering. "Hi! My name is Kirei and it means pretty but actually it means something else that also means pretty but I don't remember what it is and my daddy said that I could order breakfast cause I'm hungry and I'm four years old so I can do it all by myself. And I want bacon and eggs and hash browns with ketchup cause ketchup is really yummy and did you know it's made out of tomatoes? My teacher told me that and she told me that we need to eat out of the four food groups but I don't want salad for breakfast cause salad tastes really icky and I don't like it cause I like candy so can I have some candy cause I was a good girl and I took a bath when my daddy told me to and it was a bubble bath and I like bubbles do you like bubbles? cause bubbles are really fun and you can make fun pictures with them and I'm really hungry so can you send my breakfast up right away and send some for my daddy too, and for my mommy cause my mommy is here now and she's really pretty and I love my mommy just because so can you send lots and lots of food but not too much cause then we can't eat it all cause it's too much food but I'm really hungry so do send a lot, and take a bubble bath when you can cause they are really fun and thank you! And I'll tell my daddy to pay cause I don't have any money cause I'm only four and thank you I'll be waiting okay! Byebye!! Have a nice day to okay?!"
"Kirei, hand me the phone." Yoake held out her hand.
"Okie dokie mommy." She told her. "My mommy wants to talk to you and I think she is the most wonderful mommy in-the-whole-wide-world," Kirei began to speed up, "and-she-is-so-nice-snd-I-love-her-more-than-anything-else-even-more-than-my-teddy-bear-and-I-really-like-my-teddy-a-lot-cause-he-is-so-nice-and-huggy-and-I-love-my-mommy-even-more-and-I-love-her-thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much!" She spread her hands wide trying to show the man on the other end of the phone line how much she loved he mother...but in the process dropped the phone. "Oh no! Mommy I dropped the phone I dropped the phone I dropped the phone I dropped the phone I dropped the phone I dropped the phone!!!!!!!!!!!! The world is gonna DIIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Yoake smiled and picked up the phone. "No darling, the world isn't going to die because you dropped the phone."
"YESS IT WIIIILLLLL!!!!!!!! 'Cause if the phone brokes then comm-une-ee-kae-shuns might broke, then no body could talk to no body else and then people would get mad and not know why and then they might fight each other and then everything to eat would be gone and then the world would DIIIIIEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The child was inconsolable until I handed her a teddy bear in panic.
Then I scooped her up and gave her a hug. She calmed down immediately, sniffling softly. "Hello? Oh good, you are still there. I would like to order a fruit salad, a scone, 2 hot chocolates, one coffee, a glass of milk, and a bowl of fruit flavored cereal. Did you understand what my daughter wanted?" She laughed at the reply. "That will be fine. Thank you." She hung up.
Yoake rolled over and kissed me on the cheek before hopping out of the bed. I admired her as she picked up a backpack from a corner and took it into the bathroom. My pajama top looked a whole lot better on her then on me. I was worried suddenly as I wondered about her make-up habits. "Bo~... 'y the way Yoake, go light on make-up."
"You think I look like that all the time?"
"Don't know, just making sure."
"Mommy?" Kirei wiggled out my arms and padded into the bathroom after Yoake. "Are ya gonna put on make-up cause make-up's pretty and that's my name but you know that and I'v got make-up too can I put it on with you if you help me 'cause I can do it almost good all by my self but some times I can't do the lipstick on my lips 'cause I'm only four but you know that 'cause your my Mommy and not my Daddy cause my Daddy has to be a boy and can I have a sister or a brother?"
I choked on air. I had never actually thought that far ahead with Bo~ken in mind. I had never thought about having children in a positive way and my suddenly daughter decides I need another? And I'd never even had sex... "Kirei, let's take this one day at a time. Daddy and Mommy have never had children before, so lets be a family for a little while before we decide on if we want any new babies to come." Yoake saved the day. I had turned kind of pail at the idea of more then one jabber jawed kid.
"Okay. Door bell, I'll get it!" She said as the buzzer was pushed. "Hello! I'm Kirei and did I talk to you on the phone?" I followed her, getting ready to save the poor delivery boy.
"Hi. Everyone liked you so much, they sent you a special gift." The man said handing her a box wrapped with pink and purple ribbons. He wheeled breakfast into the main room and bowed. "Good morning sir."
I gave him the money and set up breakfast for the three of us.
***
I wandered down the beach, the sun warm on my body. Relina was sitting ahead of me on the sand in a short sundress. One strap had slipped off of her shoulder luring my attention to the bare skin. She stood and came up to me with a soft smile on her face. The look in her eyes was one I felt must have reflected in my own eyes but I made it a point to ignore the feelings that ran through me. "Hiro~!" She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and stood just a few feet away with her head cocked to the side ever so slightly.
"Relina." My voice sounded a little to yearning for my liking so I refused to speak again.
She opened her mouth, then bit her lip, showing some indecision. Then before I knew what was going on, she had her arms around my neck and her lips pressed against mine. My body responded without my mind's permission, drawing her small body into mine and deepening the kiss. "Hiro~..." She moaned my name into my mouth, making my body ache. I broke the kiss breathlessly, feeling slightly panicked. :I'm alright, Relina would never hurt anyone, including me.: I made myself relax as she took up my hand and kissed it before pulling me back to where her blanket lay. I sat down with her, trying to convince myself that I was ready for it.
I pulled off my shirt and leaned against her nervously. I kissed her. We fell over, he coming to rest on top of me. I panicked and shoved her away and ran. "Hiro~!" She called after me. I forced myself to stop and face her. She clutched my T-shirt to her chest as tears ran down her face. I shook my head before leaving.
***
Duo remarked that he had seen Relina in town and she had looked sad. I felt miserable. I wanted her so badly, but when she was on top of me I had lost it. She hadn't meant to scare me I reasoned with myself. Quatre was on duty and Kirei was at a friend's house, so I went to Bo~ken. She let me in and gave me some tea. I explained what had happened.
"So tell her you are afraid and you need her to be patient." Bo~ken said reasonably.
"I can't talk when she's around." I shook my head in embarrassment.
"I'm afraid of dark water. Every day I go and stand as deep as I can deal with and then take another step until I am ok with that and can take another. Maybe you just need practice trusting." With that she knocked me onto the floor and pinned me down. I struggled wildly. "Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you." I tried, but I couldn't so she allowed me to shove her off. I sat in the floor shaking and she rubbed my back and handed me my tea to relax me. "I see. So take top and don't let her roll you over." She gave the best idea she had.
I turned bright red, mostly from how badly I had reacted to Bo~ken, but also to her bold advice. "Maybe..."
"And flowers are always a good thing." She added as she helped me to my feet. I calmed myself and left her with a word of thanks.
I crept onto the property easily and up to her bedroom. I locked the door and removed my cloths before whispering in her ear. "Relina." She opened her eyes and looked at me in surprise. I picked up one of her hand and laid it against my chest. Her eyes grew large as she looked me over and I suddenly felt like it was a mistake. I drew back, embarrassment flushing my face.
She sat up and caught my wrist. "Hiro~..." I looked at her sharply as she released me and stood up. She pulled off her cloths before sitting back down and holding her arms out to me. I didn't loose my nerve and run away. I waited until she fell asleep before easing out of her arms and leaving my gift for her. I hid and waited for her to wake and find the flowers before smiling and leaving her to happily fuss over her eleven pink roses. I figured they didn't fully admit love or devotion like a dozen red would.
~~~~THE END~~~~
"You're staying here?" He propped up on his elbow, his hair hung loosely down his back.
"Yes. Bo~ken asked me to do something for him." I looked at him, he smiled softly when I called Bo~ken a him. "But then, of coarse, you know Bo~ken as a woman. You couldn't sleep with her and still say 'he' could you?"
"You ok? You look upset." Duo gave me a moment before he pressed any further. "Is something up between you and Bo~ken? Did she do something to you?"
"No. I just...You wouldn't understand." I looked away before my eyes betrayed me.
"Try me. Quatre?" Duo sat up and reached over, resting a hand on my shoulder.
"Promise me you will not tell anyone." I sighed.
He made the motion of zipping his lips. "Not even my alternate personality will know."
I smiled a little. "Ok. Remember when Bo~ken first came in? It was my birthday. Well after I brought you back and I went back home, she came to tell me that everyone was safe. She had been cut up and passed out from lack of blood. That's when I found out that she was a she. Well, after that, I guess it just developed without me realizing it..." I felt my face get hot and I trailed off.
Duo looked like he was going to choke me. "You can't just stop, that isn't fair!"
"I'm in love with her and she either won't listen or I loose my nerve every time I try to tell her. The only time I did, I was drugged beyond humanity. Now I have a feeling that she's not coming back." I teared up.
"Where did she go?" Duo's eyes where sympathetic.
"To fight Zechs over some things. Zechs is powerful and his honor is riding on her death. I don't want her to die." I rolled over on my stomach and pushed my face into the pillow. I just felt plain depressed.
"Just so you know, I didn't sleep with her, her husband was there and I was assigned to someone else." Duo told me before he changed the subject. "The news is coming on soon, shall I fill you in or are you going to watch it?"
"Watch it I guess." I sat up on my knees and smoothed my hair back. Then I followed him into the other room.
We settled in front of the TV and watched a woman report on the terrorist bombing (one of Hiro~'s missions) and the report that some prisoners had escaped from a prison transporter. Then there was a bulletin flash. "...This just in, at the Military outpost on the edge of the state, a soldier went AWOL and was executed in broad day light. The following material may not be suitable for younger viewers..." A video of the base came up on the screen. Someone on a motorcycle came bursting through a window and into the street. Zechs appeared in the window with a detonator. The motorcycle exploded along with the woman that rode it. The figure of Bo~ken was obliterated before the shocked boys' eyes. "...The body was identified as that of twenty one year old Nadia Reno..."
"No! Bo~ken!!!" I grabbed my chest and fled from the room. It felt like my heart was being ripped from my body. I made it to the bathroom and fell to my knees in front of a toilet. I was violently ill. When my stomach was empty, I sat back on my heels and choked on sobs larger then I could handle. I felt empty and alone.
Duo came in quietly and picked me up off of the floor. He dragged me over to the sink and splashed me with cold water. He pushed me to sit on the edge of the sink and slapped a wet towel on my neck. I hick-upped pathetically. "Poor guy, you need to calm down. Listen to me, the people looking for Bo~ken are here. If you give me the papers, I can handle what ever it is."
"No!" I snuffed feebly. "Just tell them I will be a minute." I turned to look at myself in the mirror. I looked very bad. I splashed some water on my face again and drank a few mouth fulls. Duo left me as I straitened myself up. I went back through the bunkroom and pulled on my shirt and vest. Finally I felt presentable and went out to meet them.
"Bo~ken Tenjina?" One of the two men asked when I appeared.
"Quatre Raberba Winner. I have the papers for the transaction." I reached into my pocket and pulled out the envelope. "Please, step into the computer room with me so that we can do it in private." I ushered them into the small office room.
One of the men took the envelope from me and took out the papers. After a minute of silence, he nodded to his companion. The other pulled out a stack of papers from his briefcase and handed them to me. "The top two are legal contracts that you will provide for the child until Bo~ken Tenjina takes the child or the child turns eighteen. The next one with the three carbon copies are adoption papers Tenjina-sama requested. Please be sure that they reach..."
"They where for me. The last page in the envelope is the testament. We can go ahead and get it out of the way." I sat down at the desk and picked up a pen, scanning the pages quickly.
"And the name changing forms?" The man asked hesitantly.
"Correct." It made sense to change her name for protection. I signed the first two pages, then handed them back. "On this page do I put her old name or her new one?" I held up the adoption papers for them to view.
"Old name."
"Ok." I went back to writing. I tossed that set of papers across the desk, then I read over the next. "This says I need a witness, is that besides you?"
"Yes."
I finished filling out the page and called La Sheed into the room. He basically filled the small space beyond comfort. "Please sign this." I handed him the paper and the pen. He raised an eyebrow at me. "It is just a formality, nothing will be expected of you." He didn't bother to read it, he just scrawled his name across the page and handed it back with a bow. Then he left. I signed the last space and handed it over. "Anything else?"
"The Five hundred dollars for transportation, name changes, and processing." One said as he stuffed the papers back in the briefcase and stood. I handed him the money Bo~ken had given me. It was enough that I had a hundred-dollar bill left. "Alright Mr. Winner, ready to go meet your daughter?"
I just stood and followed them out. We went outside where a woman stood taping her foot. She looked annoyed. A little girl sat under a tree and played with a teddy bear. The two men walked over and spoke to the woman quietly. She looked relieved. They went over to the car. One of the men took out two large suitcases and brought them over to me. "She's all yours." Then they drove away.
Rei looked up in surprise as the car left her. "Rei, come here." I called her softly. She looked up and smiled brightly at me. She came over and held her arms up with out hesitation.
"Pick me up, please." When I did, she put her hand in my hair, the other held tight to her bear. "Your hair is just like mine. You're my real daddy aren't you?" She smiled at me like it was the cleverest thing ever thought of. I was so surprised that I stared at her. "I'm glad I get to be with you now. I didn't like being all by myself. I've never seen anyone else with hair colored like mine, that's how I know you're my daddy."
If you can resist the blond curls and big blue eyes, then you are just plain insensitive. Add to those two endearing traits such a simple and sweet mind and your heart is a goner. I never had a chance. She had a cute smile and had a little roundness to her face. It was scary, but she did look like me. I had no clue as to how to start, so I just let my mouth go to town. "Rei, you get a new name today, because you are starting a new life. Your new name is Kirei Shizuka Winner. It means "beauty at peace"."
"Kirei, Kirei, my name's Kirei, Shizuka!" She made a singsong chant and smiled happily. She was obviously going to be an easy child. I sat her down and picked up her bags.
"What have you got in here, a herd of elephants?!" I asked as I hefted them inside.
"No, silly!" She giggled. "There is only one!"
I didn't expect her to come back with that. I hoped with laughter after a two-second delay. I dropped the cases and scooped her up again. "Then what's in the other one, Kirei?"
She thought for a moment before smiling. "A hippo."
"I see." Duo came around the corner and ground to a halt. "Man, either you have been cloned or you have a kid."
"The later of the two. This is Kirei. Kirei, this is Duo." I said, stifling a grin at Duo's face.
"Hello Mr. Duo. I'm Kirei Shizuka Winner. Are you my daddy's friend?" She chirped.
"Mr., Your kid called me Mr." He looked like it was a bad word.
"Get a grip, you're twenty two years old. Being called Mr. shouldn't scare you so much."
"One time I was afraid of monsters and I got some monster repellant spray. Maybe you need some Mr. repellant spray." Kirei said trying to be helpful.
Duo chuckled. "Now I know it's your kid. Innocence oozes from her." He looked Kirei over for a moment. "You're pretty neat, kid."
She held her arms out to him. He looked at me and I shrugged. He took her and tossed her up in the air a little ways. She shrieked with laughter. "Don't drop her. I'm going to get some things from the workroom, then I'll be back. Give me seven minutes." I wandered off. I went to the bathroom and picked up the stuff from the workroom. I came back to Duo and Kirei tossing the bear back and forth like a ball.
I walked down the road to the nearest phone booth, my hands full of suitcases. Kirei skipped down the road next to me. She was innocent of the world that so horribly robbed her of her family. Now how would I fill that void? I was so young and barely understood things myself.
"Hey, Mr. Winner, need a ride?" A sweet voice called from behind me. I turned and found Ms. Peacecraft's pink limo. She was leaned out the window and waving at me.
I walked up to her, Kirei shadowing me. "Do you really want to take me all the way to the Plaza Hotel Ms. Peacecraft?"
"Of coarse. It's been quite a while. We need to catch up. Go back and load that stuff in the trunk." She rolled up the window without waiting for a replay.
I wasn't in the mood to argue, so I did as she said. When I climbed in and sat across from her, I noticed for the first time how long her legs where. I decided I had just never seen them from that angle before. She had on a short skirted business suit. I lifted Kirei up and buckled her in beside me. I pulled the door closed and fastened my own belt. "How have you been doing with the new treaty?"
"Alright I suppose. The whole process is crawling but it is a whole new way of life to estate. How is Hiro~?" She asked, looking a little more eager then she intended.
"He is as well as he ever is. He hasn't attempted to blow himself up sense just after you came back to earth." I told her as I watched Kirei play quietly with her bear. I smiled at the simple act. The only toys I remember having had where blocks that my teacher made me reconstruct bases with.
"I see."
"Should I tell Hiro~ that you asked after him?"
"No." She looked out the window, keeping her eyes from meeting mine. "I don't want to make him feel guilty."
"Princess Relina, I don't understand you two, but I will acknowledge one thing, I know how it is to be ignored by someone you love. If you would like to see him, tomorrow is his day off and when he is free, he goes to the Barrier by the sea. It's isolated. He thinks of you a lot, but you didn't hear any of it from me." I winked at her. She just smiled.
"Daddy, when am I going to see Mommy?" Kirei suddenly asked me.
"I don't know Kirei. I hope it will be soon, but I don't know." I told her, silently praying that she lived. "Try to be patient Kirei."
"Quatre, you are her father?" Relina sounded completely surprised.
Who wouldn't? I would have been gaping at anyone who had said it the day before. I wanted to say 'No, she is your niece, your brother's daughter. But sense he killed Rei's mother, the only woman I've ever loved, I have to protect the child.' But how could I? "Yes. She is my first." I spoke with more heart in it then I really had.
"What's her mother's name?" She smiled at Rei.
I looked out at the sky, it was darkening. "Yoake." I named her daybreak. What would anyone be able to say even if they knew otherwise?
"That's a beautiful name." She looked at my cloudy face.
"And a beautiful woman. But is it one who will come back to me?" I whispered. Kirei had slipped into sleep, but I dare not wake her.
"I'm sure." She reached across and took my hand. "Anyone as gentle and kind as you will never be lonely."
We pulled up in front of the Hotel. I kissed her hand. "Do~mo arigato~ gozaimasu." Then I went and pulled the bags from the trunk. I took off my belt and strapped it around the handles. Then I gathered Rei and the bear in my other arm. It was enough to make me groan when I was forced to pick it up and put it down repeatedly to push the elevator buttons and put the key in for the penthouse suit. When I got us into my room, I was out of breath. I could have asked for help, but I was in the mood to be independent. I put Kirei on my bed and sat next to her and rested.
"Master Quatre?" Shika peered into my room.
"Yes?" I asked her softly.
"May I be of any service to you?" She stepped into the room and bowed. She had on a long white robe.
"Please unpack the cloths in these suitcases and put them in my dresser. I'm going to order something to eat, would you care for anything?" I yawned at the end of the sentence. I was sleepy.
"No thank you." She went to work unpacking for me.
I had the kitchen send up something suitable for a child and something for myself. Then I took out my pajamas and put them on the sink in the bathroom so I could take a shower before I retired for the night. Kirei had more things then most grown men ever owned in their life combined. She had nearly three dozen dresses and eight nightgowns, twelve pairs of shoes and hair ribbons galore. She also had a gold vanity set and make-up. "I didn't know that little girls wear make-up. I thought that didn't start until the teen years." I looked in surprise at the nail polishes, compacts, and lipsticks.
"Just proving that she's a Winner. Only someone in your family would have so much stuff." Shika held up a small bag. "Where do you want toys?"
"Um...On the desk, I guess. I don't have a lot of stuff, so how can you say it proves she's a Winner?" I frowned at her.
"For a man, you have an ungodly amount. Compare you to your friends. They have two pairs of shoes and four outfits. You have four pairs of shoes and at least a dozen outfits. That isn't normal." She poked me in the side. "Normal people don't color co-ordinate their underwear with their pajamas."
I blushed, shocked that she knew that and was bold enough to say it. There was a knock at the door and I went to answer it. I grabbed the food and gave the guy a fat tip. Then I woke up Kirei. "Hey kid-o, you hungry?"
"Yes sir! I'm very hungry. I could eat a whole moose." She declared.
"Will chicken nuggets work?" I chuckled.
"Yep." She sat down and we ate. Shika left us to go back to bed. I got Kirei into her nightgown and watched her brush her teeth. She went and hopped back in my bed. "Tell me a story. Please Daddy, please?" She batted her eyes at me.
"What story?" I asked.
"One you know, or read me one."
I didn't know any stories, but there was a bible in the room. I started at the beginning and read. I read a creation story and about man and woman being tricked by a snake. They got kicked out of a garden and I ended there. I told her to go to sleep, then I went and took a shower. I kept thinking of Bo~ken and how Zechs had killed her. I kept thinking of how I was going to tell Kirei. There would never be a gravesite that I could even take her to. "Why'd you go? You knew you would die..." I whispered quietly to the ceiling. When I got in bed, Kirei curled up next to me and put her arm around me. "Good night Kirei."
"Good night Daddy."
********
"Quatre." I whispered his name and covered his mouth with my hand. He sat up, eyes opening as he did so. "Shuuh." I shushed him. His eyes nearly popped out of his head, then he passed out. "That didn't work well." I frowned. I patted his cheek. "Hey, wake up."
He opened his eyes again. "You are supposed to be dead."
"I kind of traded a clone Une's cloths with mine and Zechs blew her up." I whispered. "I told him about Rei and he let me go. Sorry I didn't plan it out first. Are you mad at me?" I asked him.
"What do you think?" He pulled me down into a kiss. When I resisted he let me go. "Sorry, I..." He blushed.
"You where being emotional, don't worry about it." I tried to slow my heart. "About Rei..."
"I adopted her and gave her a new name. She is Kirei Shizuka Winner."
"I want to be with her. I have permission to assume a woman's life. Will you let me pose as one of your concubines?" I asked him trying to look impartial.
"I don't want you to be a concubine." My face fell, but he lifted my chin. "I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?" I made a squeaky sound, like I couldn't breathe. Of all the things I had imagined, that wasn't one of them. "I'm sorry, I had no right to ask you." He turned away, hiding his face from me.
"Quatre, did you really mean that?" I asked.
"I've meant it sense I brought you breakfast that day in the palace. I love you." He was still facing the wall. "It isn't your obligation to feel anything for me."
"But I do." I whispered in his ear. "I just didn't know that you did. I will marry you if you wish." I wrapped my arms around his waist. "It will take a while to get everyone to agree though."
"I wish you could be my wife now." He pulled me down to sit beside him. He kissed me lightly on the cheek.
"Well, if you have a computer I can go on line with, I could maybe arrange it."
"Kirei thinks I'm her father and I guess she will find out that I'm not. To bad, I kind of liked being a parent." He smiled over at my baby.
"Where were you turned thirteen?"
"Why?" He looked at me questioningly. "The L4 Colony, I went to train after my birthday that I spent with my father. Then I came to earth with the gundam."
"Hum...I was there around that time. I bet I could rig it so we got married back then. Coming up with a back ground for myself shouldn't be hard. I just need a fist name. Oh and did you use to get on the Internet?"
"You first name is Yoake, and yes I did."
"Alright. That is where we met and fell in love, works?"
"Ok...Can you really pull this off?" He got out of the bed and pulled on a bathrobe. "Fooling earth and the colonies is a little harder then just a few people."
"Yes. Have you heard of the Tsurara house?" I stood up. He turned looking surprised.
"Of coarse. Aete is a friend of mine. We've been friends sense...I was nearly thirteen." Quatre kind of smiled at me.
********
I finished the last document and printed out a copy of our faux marriage certificate. I put it in the drawer of the bed side table. Then I ruffled through Quatre's stuff until I found some pajamas. I changed into the shorts, tying the button up shirt under my bust, and put my cloths neatly on a chair. Then I snuggled up to Quatre and went to sleep.
********
I woke up with Bo~ken sleeping against me. My heart did four cartwheels. I felt so happy I could have hugged her to death, but settled for watching her sleep soundly. "Daddy? I'm hungry!" Kirei came in from the bathroom. She was brushing her hair. "Can I call for breakfast?"
Bo~ken opened her eyes and looked up at me in confusion for a moment, then smiled at me. "Hum?" I realized Kirei was talking to me. "Oh, breakfast. You can call by yourself?"
"I'm in first grade, of coarse I can!" She sounded indignant. "Do you want anything Daddy? Is that Yoake, my mommy?"
"Yes; coffee and some cereal. This is your mother." I smiled softly as she threw herself at the groggy woman and hugged her.
"Mommy, Daddy, now I have both of you! Are you going to stay?" She begged.
"Yes Kirei, I'm going to stay." She hugged her back. I wrapped my arms around the both of them on a whim. Kirei stayed there for a second before wiggling free, leaving Yoake in my arms still half-asleep.
"Hello?" I smiled as Kirei picked up the phone and began jabbering. "Hi! My name is Kirei and it means pretty but actually it means something else that also means pretty but I don't remember what it is and my daddy said that I could order breakfast cause I'm hungry and I'm four years old so I can do it all by myself. And I want bacon and eggs and hash browns with ketchup cause ketchup is really yummy and did you know it's made out of tomatoes? My teacher told me that and she told me that we need to eat out of the four food groups but I don't want salad for breakfast cause salad tastes really icky and I don't like it cause I like candy so can I have some candy cause I was a good girl and I took a bath when my daddy told me to and it was a bubble bath and I like bubbles do you like bubbles? cause bubbles are really fun and you can make fun pictures with them and I'm really hungry so can you send my breakfast up right away and send some for my daddy too, and for my mommy cause my mommy is here now and she's really pretty and I love my mommy just because so can you send lots and lots of food but not too much cause then we can't eat it all cause it's too much food but I'm really hungry so do send a lot, and take a bubble bath when you can cause they are really fun and thank you! And I'll tell my daddy to pay cause I don't have any money cause I'm only four and thank you I'll be waiting okay! Byebye!! Have a nice day to okay?!"
"Kirei, hand me the phone." Yoake held out her hand.
"Okie dokie mommy." She told her. "My mommy wants to talk to you and I think she is the most wonderful mommy in-the-whole-wide-world," Kirei began to speed up, "and-she-is-so-nice-snd-I-love-her-more-than-anything-else-even-more-than-my-teddy-bear-and-I-really-like-my-teddy-a-lot-cause-he-is-so-nice-and-huggy-and-I-love-my-mommy-even-more-and-I-love-her-thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much!" She spread her hands wide trying to show the man on the other end of the phone line how much she loved he mother...but in the process dropped the phone. "Oh no! Mommy I dropped the phone I dropped the phone I dropped the phone I dropped the phone I dropped the phone I dropped the phone!!!!!!!!!!!! The world is gonna DIIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Yoake smiled and picked up the phone. "No darling, the world isn't going to die because you dropped the phone."
"YESS IT WIIIILLLLL!!!!!!!! 'Cause if the phone brokes then comm-une-ee-kae-shuns might broke, then no body could talk to no body else and then people would get mad and not know why and then they might fight each other and then everything to eat would be gone and then the world would DIIIIIEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The child was inconsolable until I handed her a teddy bear in panic.
Then I scooped her up and gave her a hug. She calmed down immediately, sniffling softly. "Hello? Oh good, you are still there. I would like to order a fruit salad, a scone, 2 hot chocolates, one coffee, a glass of milk, and a bowl of fruit flavored cereal. Did you understand what my daughter wanted?" She laughed at the reply. "That will be fine. Thank you." She hung up.
Yoake rolled over and kissed me on the cheek before hopping out of the bed. I admired her as she picked up a backpack from a corner and took it into the bathroom. My pajama top looked a whole lot better on her then on me. I was worried suddenly as I wondered about her make-up habits. "Bo~... 'y the way Yoake, go light on make-up."
"You think I look like that all the time?"
"Don't know, just making sure."
"Mommy?" Kirei wiggled out my arms and padded into the bathroom after Yoake. "Are ya gonna put on make-up cause make-up's pretty and that's my name but you know that and I'v got make-up too can I put it on with you if you help me 'cause I can do it almost good all by my self but some times I can't do the lipstick on my lips 'cause I'm only four but you know that 'cause your my Mommy and not my Daddy cause my Daddy has to be a boy and can I have a sister or a brother?"
I choked on air. I had never actually thought that far ahead with Bo~ken in mind. I had never thought about having children in a positive way and my suddenly daughter decides I need another? And I'd never even had sex... "Kirei, let's take this one day at a time. Daddy and Mommy have never had children before, so lets be a family for a little while before we decide on if we want any new babies to come." Yoake saved the day. I had turned kind of pail at the idea of more then one jabber jawed kid.
"Okay. Door bell, I'll get it!" She said as the buzzer was pushed. "Hello! I'm Kirei and did I talk to you on the phone?" I followed her, getting ready to save the poor delivery boy.
"Hi. Everyone liked you so much, they sent you a special gift." The man said handing her a box wrapped with pink and purple ribbons. He wheeled breakfast into the main room and bowed. "Good morning sir."
I gave him the money and set up breakfast for the three of us.
***
I wandered down the beach, the sun warm on my body. Relina was sitting ahead of me on the sand in a short sundress. One strap had slipped off of her shoulder luring my attention to the bare skin. She stood and came up to me with a soft smile on her face. The look in her eyes was one I felt must have reflected in my own eyes but I made it a point to ignore the feelings that ran through me. "Hiro~!" She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and stood just a few feet away with her head cocked to the side ever so slightly.
"Relina." My voice sounded a little to yearning for my liking so I refused to speak again.
She opened her mouth, then bit her lip, showing some indecision. Then before I knew what was going on, she had her arms around my neck and her lips pressed against mine. My body responded without my mind's permission, drawing her small body into mine and deepening the kiss. "Hiro~..." She moaned my name into my mouth, making my body ache. I broke the kiss breathlessly, feeling slightly panicked. :I'm alright, Relina would never hurt anyone, including me.: I made myself relax as she took up my hand and kissed it before pulling me back to where her blanket lay. I sat down with her, trying to convince myself that I was ready for it.
I pulled off my shirt and leaned against her nervously. I kissed her. We fell over, he coming to rest on top of me. I panicked and shoved her away and ran. "Hiro~!" She called after me. I forced myself to stop and face her. She clutched my T-shirt to her chest as tears ran down her face. I shook my head before leaving.
***
Duo remarked that he had seen Relina in town and she had looked sad. I felt miserable. I wanted her so badly, but when she was on top of me I had lost it. She hadn't meant to scare me I reasoned with myself. Quatre was on duty and Kirei was at a friend's house, so I went to Bo~ken. She let me in and gave me some tea. I explained what had happened.
"So tell her you are afraid and you need her to be patient." Bo~ken said reasonably.
"I can't talk when she's around." I shook my head in embarrassment.
"I'm afraid of dark water. Every day I go and stand as deep as I can deal with and then take another step until I am ok with that and can take another. Maybe you just need practice trusting." With that she knocked me onto the floor and pinned me down. I struggled wildly. "Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you." I tried, but I couldn't so she allowed me to shove her off. I sat in the floor shaking and she rubbed my back and handed me my tea to relax me. "I see. So take top and don't let her roll you over." She gave the best idea she had.
I turned bright red, mostly from how badly I had reacted to Bo~ken, but also to her bold advice. "Maybe..."
"And flowers are always a good thing." She added as she helped me to my feet. I calmed myself and left her with a word of thanks.
I crept onto the property easily and up to her bedroom. I locked the door and removed my cloths before whispering in her ear. "Relina." She opened her eyes and looked at me in surprise. I picked up one of her hand and laid it against my chest. Her eyes grew large as she looked me over and I suddenly felt like it was a mistake. I drew back, embarrassment flushing my face.
She sat up and caught my wrist. "Hiro~..." I looked at her sharply as she released me and stood up. She pulled off her cloths before sitting back down and holding her arms out to me. I didn't loose my nerve and run away. I waited until she fell asleep before easing out of her arms and leaving my gift for her. I hid and waited for her to wake and find the flowers before smiling and leaving her to happily fuss over her eleven pink roses. I figured they didn't fully admit love or devotion like a dozen red would.
~~~~THE END~~~~