~*~ November 22, AC 219 ~*~

~*~ Peacecraft Manor's Main Dining Hall ~*~

~*~ 7:43 PM ~*~

Zechs took his wife out on the dance floor. It was their twentieth wedding anniversary, and surrounded by friends and family, it was a happy one.

Évangalie, now nineteen, had developed into quite the flirt. Her strawberry-blonde hair was worn down past her waist. Éva's body had matured beautifully, making her an envy of most of the girls in the country. The girl had also perfected her talent of convincing her father and uncle to let things go her way rather than her cousin's or brother's. She was currently showing off her elegant near-perfect dance steps to an elderly statesmen who had asked for a dance.

Calé, who had so far lived live up to his father's premonition, had never let Zechs down. The baby of the "Peacecraft Three", consisting of Éva, Kiro and Calé, he was also the hardest worker. Only fifteen, he already achieved many great feats. He was already taller than his sister, and gaining on his mother. He had gotten perfect marks in school since he entered at the age of five. Calé had been the perfect combination of brains and brawn, obviously a trait inherited from Zechs. Also like his father, he had a love for outer space. Calé held the title of Chief Representative of Colonial Relations to the Cinq Kingdom.

"My dear," Trey said as her husband expertly led her around the ballroom.

"Yes, Angel?" Zechs answered.

"Our son seems to be missing. You work him too hard," Trey half-scolded her lover.

"No, he works himself to hard. I'm sure he'll be here soon." Zechs assured his wife.

Across the room, Heero danced with Relena. Their only child sat looking out the window, awaiting Calé to return.

Because of the closeness of their ages, Kiro and Calé became best friends. The three new Peacecrafts, even having so much in common, had very differing personalities. Kiro was very outgoing around his parents, uncle, aunt, and cousins, but in public he was tremendously shy. It seemed Zechs' offspring made up for it. Évangalie was quite the converse, in fact. Social in public, the girl was very quiet in the company of her father or uncle, except when trying to talk her way out of an argument. Then there was Calé. Social all around, Calé was the mirror image of his father, save the gray eyes. Still determined from birth, Calé's stormy grey eyes often portrayed the seriousness that he let his job leak into his childhood.

Kiro's deep blue eyes lit up as he saw a black limo drive by the window. Moments later Kiro towering cousin ran into the room, his long platinum hair whipping behind him in it's ponytail. Just coming home from work, Calé was in his usual navy blue suit, white shirt and blue tie. He skidded to a halt as he approached his parents and bowed.

"Happy anniversary, Mother, Father," Calé said, catching his breath. It was rare that Calé, the most serious of the family, save his Uncle Heero, created such a comical scene. The boy stood straight up, and his smile faded.

"Oh, what is it, Calé?" His mother said worriedly. He put a hand on Trey's shoulder and shook his head.

"Don't worry Mother, it is nothing major, Father," Calé said, turning to Zechs, " May we speak?"

"No. This can wait until later," Zechs said to Calé's surprise. Calé's grey eyes narrowed.

"Father. Something happened! We need to -," he was cut off by his older, yet shorter sister.

"Dear brother! Behave and stop bothering Papa! Besides, you promised to dance with me," Éva said, dragging her brother away from their parents.

Calé got a good look at his sister. The young prince's expression mixed confusion, disgust and offense. Évangalie wore a dark green gown. Tight and low cut, the dress perfectly matched her flirtatious personality.

"Father let you wear that here?" Calé said as he waltzed with his sister.

"Once Papa saw me, it was too late for me to get changed," Évangalie said innocently.

"I'm amazed you are still in the family, dear sister," Calé laughed.

"And I'm amazed you don't work yourself dead, dear brother," Évangalie countered.

"And I'm amazed you two haven't said 'hello' to me all night, dear cousins," Kiro scoffed at his cousins.

"I am sorry, dear cousin," Calé apologized to Kiro, "You see, I was in a rush to get home, and then I was arguing with my father. Then Éva took me to dance. And I didn't see you lurking in the shadows. You probably should -"

"Apology accepted, Calé. Don't get carried away now," Kiro said, scratching the back of his head. It was habit he'd picked up, scratching the back of his head whenever he was nervous or trying to be diplomatic. Évangalie hated it when he did that.

"Kiro, dear cousin," Éva tried to compose herself, "Do you have head lice?"

"No, Éva," the dark hair boy replied.

"Then stop scratching your head!" she cried. The boy laughed and continued their partying.