"And then the cowns rode by on the un-cycles and..."
LeAnn was just rambling on and on to Trowa while she sat on his knee. They were all at Quatre's house for the BBQ. LeAnn was telling Trowa all about the circus, because she had forgotten he was in the show. Kaylee was watching from the kitchen doorway, and she had to smile when her niece had trouble with the words. Hey, she was only four. Poor Trowa didn't know what to do. He had never been good with kids, and LeAnn was bubbly to boot. He looked at Kaylee, 'help' registering in his eyes. Kaylee wandered over and picked up LeAnn off his knee.
"Why don't you go help Uncle Duo and Uncle Quatre set the picnic table?" she said to the girl.
"But I neber finished my 'tory," LeAnn pouted.
"I'm sure Aunt Kaylee will tell me for you," Trowa said quickly.
"O.K!" LeAnn said and bounded off.
Trowa leaned back on the couch and sighed with relief. Kaylee laughed and went to sit on his lap. Her arms went around his neck and his around her waist. It was completely natural for them to do this. It was the way their relationship always was, relaxed and comfortable. It amazed Kaylee that even though their personalities were different, they never really had many fights.
"I take it that means we aren't looking into having kids anytime soon." Trowa just gave her a 'look' causing her to laugh again.
"Where are Wufei and Sally? Weren't they bringing Cathy?" she asked.
"Wufei will never cease to amaze me. He wanted to stay a while with the lions, so Cathy agreed to show him around before they came here," Trowa said. Tyler came bounding down the stairs.
"Where's Skylar?" he asked.
"I haven't seen him sweetie, but maybe he's outside with LeAnn," Kaylee said. Tyler ran outside but came right back in.
"I can't find him. LeAnn was just chasing a frog around the side of the house."
For only being 7, Tyler was a very serious child most of the time. Maybe that's why Skylar and he were such good friends. They were so much alike.
"Vamos, I help you look for him," Kaylee said to the child. "You just relax," to Trowa. Tyler went back outside and Kaylee grabbed a pitcher of ice tea to set on the table on the way out.
Trowa was half asleep when he heard a crash. He sprang off the couch, soldier instincts kicking in. Looking onto the patio, he saw Kaylee standing in the middle of the broken glass and tea, her hands shaking as she looked at a piece of paper. Tyler just started at her, wide-eyed. Trowa walked up behind her, guiding her to a chair, and taking the paper from her. Quatre and Duo had come up, and Tracy, Hilde and Jen were looking out from the doorway. Trowa read the note quickly:
I have your two children. You will give me what I want and they will not be killed. Do not involve the authorities, or no good will come out of that mistake. Do not make your children suffer for your mistakes, and if you don't co-operate, they will die. I will keep in touch.
Quatre and Duo also read the note. Trowa heard the front door open and Sally, Wufei, Cathy, Heero, Relena and Robert all came in, the women chattering all at once.
"It's so funny that we ended up here at the same time." Cathy said.
"I thought I would never get Wufei away from the lions." Sally said.
"Hush, onna." Wufei glared. Sally just smiled.
"Domo arigato gozaimasu (Thank you very much, in Japanese),, Robert," Relena said politely.
"For what?"
"Picking us up," She said.
"It was no trouble."
Heero still didn't say much. Some things never change. He was the first one to notice the stricken looks on the faces of the people on the patio, and walked that way. The others followed.
"Robert..." Tracy barely uttered out, and went to his outstretched arms. Trowa kneeled down to Tyler.
"Where did you find this?" he asked, trying to keep his anger at the kidnappers out of his voice so as not to scare the boy.
"Around the side of the house." Tyler answered quietly. He wrapped his arms around his father's leg.
"Did I do something wrong, papi? What's going on?" Quatre picked up the boy.
"No, hijo (son), there is nothing to worry about."
"Oi, Tyler, help me in the kitchen," Jen said to her son, in an attempt to keep calm.
Trowa walked outside, Wufei and Heero right behind him. They looked everywhere but couldn't find any evidence that a bird couldn't have caused. Not even a footprint.
"Hey, muchachos (guys/boys)! Rapido (fast)! Dr. J is on the screen." Duo called. By now Kaylee had stopped shaking and was trying to ignore her own feeling and provide comfort to Tracy and Robert.
"Stupid machine!" Duo said as he smacked the crackling laptop.
"BAKA! Cut it out! It will work if you just leave it alone!" Wufei ordered. Then Dr. J came on the now clear video screen.
I'm sure by now you all know there is a new terrorist organization. We don't know their names yet. But they are intent on taking revenge on you pilots. What we do know is that they are a take off from Alpha. I wouldn't expect to have your children back for a while.
Tracy groaned a slumped into a chair. Kaylee started out soft but her voice grew to a shout:
"You asshole. You fucking BASTARD! You knew the children would be taken and you did jack shit!" She rushed at the laptop but was caught up in Trowa's arms.
"Kaylee, please! Your language." Quatre said.
"Screw my language Quatre! He knew all about this!"
But now Kaylee, I never finished. We didn't find out till about 2 minutes ago. By then it was to late to save the kids. I'm truly sorry. This organization is insanely secretive. But we will do everything to help get them back.
The video feed faded out. Convinced the laptop was in no more danger, Trowa let go of Kaylee.
"I'm sorry, Quatre. I didn't mean to yell at you." she said.
"No problem. No harm done." he smiled at her.
"What's going on? I thought Alpha was gone?" Jen said from the kitchen doorway. "Did they really spend these last 6 years rebuilding?" No one said anything, because they didn't know. Then Jen grabbed Quatre's arm. "What if they come for Tyler?"
"They wont, my love. I wont let them."
"Well, so much for a BBQ." Duo said, trying to lighten the mood. It earned him a few wry chuckles but that was it.