Chapter Seventeen
Leila stared up at the ceiling, restless. She just couldn't go to sleep. She'd tried and tried, but every time she closed her eyes, they popped back open. Next to her, Quatre mumbled something unintelligible and rolled over on his side. She gave him a slightly annoyed look. Hmph, she thought. Nice to know someone's getting some sleep. She folded her arms up above her head and stretched, toes pointing straight out. She couldn't stay in the bed another minute, so she slipped out as quietly as possible.
She was filled with a manic energy and just had to do something. Dressing quickly, she picked up the tiny CD player that she had completely forgotten was in her luggage. Maybe a brisk jog around the garden, she was thinking, until her eye fell on a small bundle at the bottom of her suitcase. Perfect. She grabbed it as well and crept out of the room.
Quatre sat up as soon as the door had closed. He hadn't been sleeping; far from it, he had been only pretending. Leila's restlessness had affected him too. He couldn't help but to wonder where she was going this late at night. He tossed on a pair of faded jeans and a white t-shirt and hurried after her. At the bottom of the stairs, he stopped and looked around. Which way had she gone? A whisper of breeze down the hallway was his first clue. She had opened the patio doors leading out into the garden. He followed at a distance.
The full moon overhead bathed the garden in an eerie radiance, providing enough light to see by. Leila had just headed into the garden. As soon as he stepped off of the patio, Quatre grimaced. He had forgotten to put on his shoes and the grass was wet with dew. Ignoring the damp chill on his bare feet, he entered the garden as well. A strong breeze stirred the leaves on the trees lining the pathway, causing a crazy pattern of shadows to swell and recede. Quatre ignored the play of moonlight and concentrated on not losing Leila's trail. He came to a T in the path and stopped. Which way had she gone? He stood uncertainly, listening hard, hoping for a clue as to which way she had gone. All he could hear was the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind.
Then, ever so faintly, he heard music. It was coming from his left. He followed the sound until he came to a clearing. He knew where she was now. It was what Relena referred to as "the picnic spot", an open clearing shaded by an enormous oak tree. There was a small fountain and several concrete benches arranged there to form a sitting area. He paused at the edge of the hedge wall and peered out.
Leila was there, tying a length of iridescent green material to each of her wrists. She picked up something off the bench and slipped them onto her fingers. Quatre squinted but was unable to make out what it was in the dim moonlight. He looked up to see a cloudbank obscuring the face of the moon.
She hit a button on the CD player and a new song started, pulling his attention back from the sky. Quatre watched, unable to move. She raised her hands above her head and moved her fingers. A sweet chime rang out and he realized that what she had on each hand was finger cymbals. The music was hauntingly familiar, but he couldn't place it. Soon, he lost all interest in the music and had eyes only for the dancer.
She moved slowly at first, as the music wound along. The scarves at her wrists fluttered gently as she swayed and the occasional chime of the finger cymbals rang out in the clearing. The music picked up tempo and she moved faster, scarves swirling around her body.
A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn
Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones
It's there that my heart is longing for
All for the love of you
Quatre was unable to even blink. He had to remind himself to breathe. This was without a doubt the most sensual thing he had ever seen. Leila's hair was unbound and fell in a shimmering curtain to her waist. It swirled and flowed every bit as fluidly as the long scarves. She was barefoot as well, dressed only in a midriff baring halter top and a low slung pair of shorts. He could see the muscles in her stomach undulating as she moved to the music.
A painting hangs on an ivy wall
Nestled in the emerald moss
Eyes declare a truce of trust
And then it draws me far away
Where deep in the desert twilight
Sand melts in pools of the sky
Darkness lays her crimson cloak
Your lamps will call, call me home
She turned and writhed, eyes closed, lost in the music and the movements. He was sure she wouldn't even notice if he stepped out in the open; she was so caught up in her dancing. Each movement was graceful and sure, perfect to the last step. He couldn't help but to wonder where she had learned to dance like this. He was fairly sure her father had not included belly-dancing on his daughters' curriculum.
And so it's there my homage's due
Clutched by the still of the night
And now I feel, feel you move
And every breath, breath is full
So it's there my homage's due
Clutched by the still of the night
Even the distance feels so near
All for the love of you.
He inhaled sharply as she leaned backwards at an almost impossible angle, her hips swaying to the beat of the music. Quatre shifted slightly as his jeans began to feel quite uncomfortable. Her hands rose over her body to dip and glide, making complicated arabesques that caused the scarves to trail delicately over her bare stomach.
A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn
Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones
It's there that my heart is longing for
All for the love of you *
She slowly slid to her knees as the music faded and the last notes trailed away. Head bowed, she breathed deeply, her body recovering from its' unaccustomed exertion. She blinked sweat droplets out of her eyes and shivered slightly as the cool night breeze caressed her damp skin. She pulled off the finger cymbals and let them drop to the grass beside her with a tiny clatter. This was exactly what she had needed to relieve her tension, she thought. She'd be able to sleep now. With a sigh, she fell back onto the dew-covered grass, enjoying the cool moisture against her warm skin. A movement in the shadows near the tall hedge made her tense warily.
"Who's there?" she called out, keeping her eyes on the area. A quick flash of golden blonde hair told her all she needed to know. "Quatre?" She sat up quickly.
He stepped out from behind the concealing hedge, unable to look away from her clear green eyes. They flashed with a spark of anger for only a second before becoming emotionless again. "You followed me," she stated flatly.
"Yes." He moved to stand over her, his eyes shadowed. "I couldn't sleep either. When you left, I was curious." She tipped her head back to look up at him, a breeze stirring her hair out behind her. Quatre knelt, reaching out to touch the strands moving in the wind.
"I never knew you could dance," he said softly, running his fingers through her unbound hair.
Leila swallowed the nervous lump in her throat. There was something different about Quatre. His steady gaze was almost… predatory. "We've danced. At parties in London."
A wry smile ghosted across his face and was gone. "True. But that was very formal. There's not much innuendo in a waltz. Or sensuality for that matter." He ran a finger down the column of her neck.
She blinked. He had seen her. Now the question was, had he approved or was he angry about it? She averted her eyes, looking at the grass. As her eyes traveled the length of his body, she noticed that at least one part of him approved. She smiled, catlike, at that thought. It also gave her the courage to proceed with the half formed plan in her head.
She stretched again, the bottom of the halter top rising until it was almost even with the underside of her breasts. Quatre's mouth went dry as she fell back onto the grass to gaze up at the moon. "It's beautiful out here," she said softly. "It feels like we're all alone in the world. Just you, me and the moon." Her hand moved slowly across the grass until it found his. Almost unconsciously, Quatre turned his hand and laced their fingers together. He moved to sit next to her and she rolled to her side, resting her head on his thigh. She smiled as his free hand began to rhythmically stroke her hair.
"Quatre?" She looked up at him, aware of how close they were. She felt an ache in her chest. There was so much she wanted to tell him, to hear him say. She sighed; it wasn't time yet for those words. Perhaps someday, in the future…
Her resolve firmed as she looked up at him. Maybe she couldn't say the words, but she could show him with her actions. She pulled her hand from his, rose to her knees and kissed him firmly. She felt a moment of dread when he stiffened; she thought she might have offended him by taking the initiative. Then his arms wrapped around her and pulled her closer, his mouth opened and he deepened the kiss.
Leila's eyes slid closed as she surrendered to him. She ran her hands up the smooth skin of his back, enjoying the feel of his skin beneath her palms. He moved away from her just long enough to tug off the impeding shirt and toss it away. Then he grasped her hips and pulled her up to straddle his lap. She shuddered as his warm mouth found the sensitive skin of her neck. His teeth scraped gently as he pulled at the tie on her top with them. She tossed her head, moving her hair out of the way and baring more of her neck at the same time. Quatre gave a yank and the halter top slid down to her waist, baring her breasts to the moonlight.
He caught them in his hands, his long, sensitive fingers moving to toy with her nipples. Leila gasped, her head falling back. He laughed softly and found her lips again with his. She returned the kiss passionately, their tongues dueling in a most sensual battle. Leila moved her hips suggestively, feeling the bulge of his erection through the fabric of his jeans. Quatre's hands snaked around her back, then up into her hair, holding her firmly as he leaned over to lower her to the ground. She shivered as he knelt over her, looking like a vision in the moonlight. She reached for him, and he caught her hands, holding them firmly above her head. Grinning ever so slightly, he lowered his head to her breasts, his tongue making a damp trail down the valley in between and on down to her stomach. He stopped when he reached the waist of her shorts and the bunched up shirt. Releasing her hands, he went to work on the interfering garments, tossing them over to join his shirt.
He paused a moment to look down at her, naked in the moonlight. He just couldn't believe how beautiful she was, lying there in the grass. If he were an artist, he thought, he would paint her just like this. Completely uninhibited and wild, like this for only him. He felt a small sting of jealousy at the idea of anyone else ever seeing her like this. Shaking his head to dispel the notion, he saw her looking up at him, luminous green eyes full of desire.
Quatre took a deep breath and stretched out on the grass next to her. He ran gentle hands down her body, looking at her with a strange expression that she couldn't decipher. Leila arched to meet his hands as he ran them over her breasts again. His mouth soon followed the path of his hands and she moaned softly, the sound hanging over them. He smiled at her response and continued with his exploration of her body.
He moved up to kiss her again, enjoying the way she ran her hands down his chest. Trailing kisses down her neck, he teased her nipples with his tongue, amused at the way it made her writhe against him. He became aware of her fingers attempting to work their way into the waistband of his jeans and moved away with a small grin. He placed a finger on her lips to silence her half-formed protest and distracted her by running his hand down the flat surface of her stomach. She arched up when his fingers touched her mound and slipped in to rub at her swollen nub.
"Quatre!" she gasped, closing her eyes. It felt so good when he did that and it only got better as he continued. She let out the breath that she hadn't even been aware that she was holding when he penetrated her with a gentle finger.
He watched her carefully, making sure she was enjoying his ministrations. He was determined to make sure that she derived as much pleasure from their lovemaking as he did. Her eyes were closed tightly and her hands curled into little fists as he continued to stroke her. He moved around until he was kneeling between her open thighs, then quickly removed his jeans. Still kneeling, he pulled her up to straddle his lap. Leila sighed as he entered her. This just felt so right to her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as his hands moved up her back to tightly grasp her shoulders.
Quatre's breath hissed out from his clenched teeth as they began to move together. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he fought for some semblance of control. He wanted to make this last as long as possible. Leila's face was only inches away and he could see the passion on her face. Their lips met and they kissed deeply. Quatre slid one hand up into Leila's hair, holding her closer to him. Their harsh breathing echoed back from the green walls surrounding them and Quatre's grip on his lover tightened as he felt his control slipping away. With a strangled moan, he crushed her slender body against him, throwing back his head as he orgasmed. Leila's fingernails bit into his shoulders as she let out a sharp, brief scream, joining him in his pleasure. Once he was able to think clearly again, he realized that his thighs felt like jelly and he toppled over onto his back, still holding Leila tightly.
Breathing heavily, Leila lay where she had collapsed atop Quatre's sweat-slickened chest. His arms circled her, their warmth contrasting with the touch of the cooler breeze that had begun to blow. Quatre sighed heavily, staring up at the moon that was now directly overhead. Leila moved just enough to look at him. She felt completely boneless and didn't think she would be able to move anytime soon.
"Damn…" Quatre said softly, his breath stirring her hair. "That was… indescribable…"
Leila managed a weak chuckle. "Are we going to do this every time we have a fight?"
Quatre snorted. "I hope not. I'd hate to have to pick fights with you on a regular basis." Leila sputtered, than laughed softly. "But if that's the only way…"
"Quatre!" She pushed herself up on her forearms to stare down at him, making him grunt at the pressure on his chest. He grinned, glad he was still able to tease her. "Oh, you!" she exclaimed, catching the mischievous gleam in his eyes. She swatted at his nose, unable to keep from grinning back at him. Quatre laughed aloud and hugged her to him.
"I still want to know where you learned to dance like that," he said, running a lazy hand up and down her rapidly cooling back. "I'm pretty sure your father didn't sign you up for classes."
She looked at him wryly. "You think?" She relented and gave him a smile. "Melan taught me, actually. She said all the women in her family learned from an early age. Since she had no daughters, she taught me. Ilona is learning too. Melan said that it's a dying art, because the young women now don't want to learn." She frowned. "It's sad really, because it's such a beautiful form of expression."
"Have you ever danced for anyone?" Quatre asked, wrestling with a little flare of jealousy.
Leila gave him an odd look. "Of course not. My father would have had a fit if he'd known. Besides, it's not exactly the kind of dancing you do for just anyone or any reason."
"And what was your reason tonight?"
She huffed, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. "I couldn't sleep. And I didn't want to wake you." She eyed him suspiciously. "Were you even sleeping?"
"Not really," he admitted. "I couldn't fall asleep either. I had a lot on my mind."
She considered that as she rested her head on his chest again. She was glad that he was so honest with her. She didn't think she could ever bear it if he lied to her. The trust that he had in her was a precious thing.
The wind picked up and she shivered, goosebumps popping up all over her body. Quatre sat up, holding her as he did, so that she was in his lap. "We can't stay out here all night," he said. "It's starting to get cooler." She nodded and started to reach for her clothes. A tug at her wrist sent her back into Quatre's lap. She blinked up at him, startled. He smiled tenderly, a strange light in his clear blue eyes, then gave her a slow, sweet kiss that made her tingle all the way down to her toes. When it ended, she sighed, missing his lips already. He gave her a hand up, then stood himself, dusting at bits and pieces of grass and leaves adhering to his skin.
Leila grinned as she tugged on her clothes. He was so fastidious. It had surprised her that they had remained on the ground as long as they had. Then again, she had never in her wildest dreams thought that they would ever make love in the grass under a full moon. She collected her things and waited while he wrestled with his jeans. He reached for her hand and they started for the house. At the hedge, Quatre paused to look back, a pleased smile on his face as he looked at the flattened grass. He pulled her closer and kissed the tip of her nose.
"Leila," he whispered. "Do you ever think that, one day, you would dance for me?"
Her smile was the mirror of his own. "What makes you think I wasn't tonight?"
It was with light hearts and happy smiles that Quatre and Leila made their way downstairs to breakfast the next morning. No-one said anything about yesterday's events, as they could all see that everything was now fine with the young couple. Peygan came in to report that Miss Relena had called in the wee hours of the morning and was on her way back to Earth at that very moment. After breakfast, Quatre took Leila into town to purchase a mobile phone as he had promised yesterday.
They stopped for lunch in a little sidewalk café, Hakeem joining them for a light meal at Quatre's insistence.
"Master Quatre," the older man objected. "I'm supposed to be your bodyguard, not your lunch guest. If anything happens to you or Mistress Leila on my watch, Rasid and the others will do worse than kill me!"
Quatre waved aside his objections, knowing as he did Hakeem's tendency to exaggerate. Leila carefully hid her smile. "But Hakeem, how can you guard us if you faint from hunger?" Quatre asked reasonably.
"At least order a sandwich and a drink," Leila added. "They have coffee here." She grinned when he snorted at that idea.
"They don't make it strong enough," he said disdainfully.
"In other words, you can't float bricks in it," Quatre said with a laugh. "Come on, Hakeem. Sit down and eat something." With a sigh that conveyed much suffering, Hakeem complied, taking a seat where he could keep an untrusting eye on the surrounding area. Leila shook her head at their antics and opened her menu. She was hungry after several hours of window shopping. She had seen several things that she had liked, but nothing that she felt she really needed. The charms on her bracelet brushed against her wrist and she smiled again, flicking one of them with her finger.
Quatre watched Leila playing absently with her bracelet as she read over the menu and smiled. He was glad she liked his gift. He thought about the new charm he had hidden in his pocket and how to surprise her with it. He had seen it in a small jewelry store in town and had managed to get Hakeem to distract her long enough for him to purchase it.
Leila was enjoying her outing. The people here were so different than the people back home. She watched a group of girls in school uniforms giggling as they walked by and she smiled. I wonder what it would have been like to go to a public school, she wondered idly. She pushed the thought aside when the friendly waitress came back for their order. Quatre ordered a pot of tea, looking over at her for confirmation. She nodded, then pointed out what she wanted off the menu.
"The chef salad, please, with Italian dressing. And an order of breadsticks, too," she said, closing her menu and handing it to the waitress.
Quatre tilted his head as he considered his options. "I'd like the chicken strips, please, with a small salad. French dressing on that. Hakeem?" He looked over at his large man who was frowning as he studied the menu.
"Just a roast beef sandwich. And a glass of water, please." The waitress nodded as she wrote down the orders, taking their menus with a bright smile. She left to turn in the order and Leila went back to watching all of the people going about their business on the clear, sunny day. Quatre couldn't help but to smile at her obvious interest in everything around her. When they finally went home, he was going to speak with Iria and make sure that Leila got to go out as much as she wanted. He didn't want he to be shut up in the house all of the time. Besides, with a family as large as his, she was sure to have plenty of companions willing to go anywhere with her. Not to mention the Maganac Corps; if they were all like Hakeem, she'd have a troop of bodyguards where ever she went.
Quatre didn't like the idea of surrounding her with guards anytime she went anywhere, but he was a realist. His position, as well as her father's, made her an ideal target for the unscrupulous. A look of anger briefly crossed his face, then he composed himself. This was not something that he wanted to consider, but he knew he'd have to face it sooner or later. He'd discuss it with Rasid when they next met.
"Quatre?" Leila's voice reached him and he quickly looked up. She was giving him a slightly worried look and he smiled, trying to set her at ease. "Is something wrong?"
"No, not really," he said, reaching for her hand. "I was just thinking, that's all. I have a lot to take care of when we go home." He grimaced. "The first thing, though, I have to arrange a family gathering to introduce you. If I put that off too long, it'll make them think I'm snubbing them." As if on cue, the tiny mobile phone in his pocket rang. He answered it quickly, not wanting the sound to disturb the other diners. "Quatre speaking. Oh, hello, Rasid. You what? WHAT??" His shout caused several heads to turn in their direction, but he didn't even notice. "You're sure. I'm sorry, Rasid, of course you're sure. Did Iria or Zahra find anything? Oh? Yes, send it to my laptop." He listened to the other man for several minutes. "Good idea. I'll tell Hakeem to expect them, then. Right, no chances. I don't have to tell you that I don't like this. Who would have ever thought… Right, right. I'll let you know when we're coming home. Good, see to it then. Thank you, Rasid. Tell Iria that I'll be in touch. Goodbye." He punched the button savagely and stuck the phone in his pocket. Hakeem and Leila exchanged a worried look as Quatre stared down at the table, deep in thought.
The waitress chose that moment to bring their food. She smiled as she distributed the plates to each of them. "Thank you," Leila said, giving her a smile as well. When she had left, Quatre finally looked up. "What's wrong, Quatre?" she asked softly, picking up her fork and poking at her salad. She looked down at the perfectly prepared dish and suddenly didn't feel like eating anymore.
Quatre speared a piece of lettuce and chewed resolutely. "Remember what I told you about last night?" She nodded. "It seems I was right after all." He looked over at Hakeem, who was listening intently. "Ahmed's disappeared off of the station." Hakeem frowned. Rasid had advised him on the situation and he was well aware of the feelings that Ahmed had toward Quatre. He himself had overheard a few comments from the man that had made him extremely suspicious of his intentions. "Rasid's sending Taariq and Muraad to help you out, Hakeem. He said he'd be in touch with you soon."
Hakeem nodded. All of the members of the Maganac Corps were good men, but Taariq and Muraad were two of the best. He could think of no-one else he would rather work with. He picked up his sandwich and began to eat. After all, one could never tell when they might have to miss a meal. It was always best to eat whenever possible.
Leila shrugged and followed his example. Quatre would tell her what she needed to know at the first opportunity. If not, well, then she would just tease it out of him later. She smiled slightly and applied herself to her meal.
Chapter Eighteen
Later that afternoon, everyone was outside when Peygan brought word that Relena was on her way home. "I wonder why she didn't call one of us to come and pick her up?" Zechs wondered aloud. Peygan had said Relena had evidently called en route. The men were out on the patio, looking over diagrams of the new mining suit that Quatre's company was developing. Duo was especially interested as the suits were using several innovations he had personally designed.
"I've spoken with the head of R&D," Quatre said. "He's got a crew working on the full sized models even now. The new cooling system is completed and all the tests are green." Duo nodded, unable to conceal a smug grin. Quatre grinned back and continued. "We've also had inquiries from several mining companies. They're all interested in the new suits. Especially the Mars base. They've had a lot of problems with the atmospheric conditions there." Zechs grimaced wryly; he had firsthand experience with those problems. Laughter from the pool caught their attention and they looked over at the women floating in the shallow end. Hilde and Noin were in odd contraptions that looked like chairs with the bottoms missing. It supported their heads and shoulders, but left the rest of their bodies free to float in the water. Leila was sprawled in an inner tube that was big enough for at least three people. They waved at their respective husbands when they noticed them looking, then went back to their discussion.
Quatre raised an eyebrow. "I wonder what those two are telling Leila now. I'm beginning to think they could be a bad influence."
"Hilde? A bad influence?" Duo said in a shocked tone of voice. "Whatever could give you such an idea?" Zechs snorted and actually grinned at the idea.
Noin lifted her sunglasses in order to get a better look at the three on the patio. "Huh, Zechs is smiling. I wonder what they're up to now?"
Hilde rolled her eyes. "I just hope that Duo isn't giving Quatre any more marital advice. He's the LAST person qualified for that." They all laughed at that. "He means well, he really does, but he always manages to mess something up." Leila smiled and started to say something when she heard strange voices approaching. She craned her head in an effort to see who it could be. Noin and Hilde also tried to lift up enough to see.
Relena soon came into view, laughing as she came up the path. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled with happiness. Behind her, a slight smile still on his face, was none other than Heero Yuy. Duo and Quatre exchanged an "uh-oh" look as the two approached. Zechs leapt to his feet and strode toward the obvious couple. Relena saw her brother coming and halted, waiting for him to reach them. Heero stepped up beside Relena and placed a hand on her shoulder in a very proprietary attitude that was not lost on the others.
Cursing under her breath, Noin struggled out of her float and began to ponderously wade toward the wide steps. Leila and Hilde were right behind her, ready to help her out if need be. Noin was determined to avert any fighting between the two men. Quatre was waiting when she finally made it to the side of the pool. He extended a hand to help her as she sloshed up the steps.
"Stay back, please, Miss Noin," he said softly, politely offering her a towel. "If there's any trouble, Duo and I will handle it." He ignored Duo's astonished face and kept his eyes on Noin. She opened her mouth to protest, then closed it, realizing that she couldn't do much in her current condition. Eyes troubled, Hilde placed a comforting hand on Noin's arm.
"What is he doing here?!" Zechs asked harshly. He glared at Heero as if the force of his gaze could drive the younger man away.
"I asked him to come home with me," Relena replied forcefully. Her chin lifted stubbornly and her hand came up to cover Heero's. They exchanged a quick glance.
Quatre felt like cheering when he saw that. He didn't know how, or when, but Relena had managed to break through to Heero. There was something in his eyes when he looked at Relena, an emotion purer than any he had ever seen there in the past. He stifled a chuckle. Zechs didn't have a snowball's chance.
Relena faced her brother calmly, secure in her feelings. "Before you argue any further, Milliardo, hear me out." She took a deep breath. Threats and ultimatums weren't easy for her, but she was determined. "I love Heero. I have always loved Heero. And I love you and Noin too. Please, don't put me in a position where I'll have to choose. Because I'll follow Heero right out that door." She pointed to the house and the open patio doors. Noin gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. She had known for a long time that this day would come and she was secretly proud of Relena for following her heart. Zechs looked as though he had been punched in the stomach.
"Relena," Heero said softly, moving around to face her. "Don't do this. Not for me."
Eyes blazing, she stepped up to him. "If not for you, then who?? All I'm asking for is a little bit of happiness. Is that too much?"
Heero pulled her stiff body into his arms, rubbing her back until she began to relax. "Of course not, Relena, but not at the expense of your family."
"Relena." They both turned at the sound of Zechs' voice. "All I've ever wanted was for you to be safe and happy. But it seems that the two don't often go hand in hand." Relena smiled wryly at that bit of honesty. Zechs gave Heero another glare but it lacked the venom of his earlier one. He sighed, then turned away.
"Zechs." Heero nodded at his one-time rival. "I'll do my best."
"You'd better," was his reply as he strode into the house. Quatre couldn't help but to breathe a sigh of relief that a fight hadn't broken out.
"Well, well," Duo said softly, clapping Quatre on the back. "What'd you make of that?"
"That it's about time," Quatre replied. Duo nodded in agreement. It may have taken half of forever, but Heero had finally found what he needed, and Relena exuded a newfound sense of peace.
Noin smiled at the two and winked. "Just don't let him catch you sneaking out of Relena's room at night, Heero," she said, shaking a finger. "I always knew you'd find your way." She slipped into an oversized button front shirt and found her sandals by the door and gave everyone a final smile before heading inside.
"Noin always was a romantic," Relena said fondly, looking after her sister in law. She moved to greet her friends, then, glad to be home. "Quatre, Leila, it's so good to see you again. I'm glad you could make it." She held out a hand to each of them. Quatre grasped her hand firmly, giving her a quick hug. Feeling a bit shy, Leila shook her other hand.
Relena frowned suddenly and Leila was worried that she had done something wrong. "Quatre is one of my dearest friends," Relena said firmly. "More like family, actually. So I don't want you acting formally around me." She rolled her eyes. "God knows I get enough of that at work. We're friends now." Speechless, Leila nodded and Relena gave her a warm hug.
Quatre couldn't help but to smile at Leila's stunned reaction. She was going to have to get used to the fact that most of the people he knew enjoyed casual contact. Hugs and the occasional peck on the cheek were not uncommon. He moved to her side when Duo and Hilde came to greet Relena and Heero. Duo even went so far as to grab Heero and give him a playful noogie. With an attitude of long suffering patience, Heero put up with Duo's antics.
Hilde was telling Relena about the pictures that Leila had brought with her, exclaiming how good a photographer Ilona had turned out to be. That reminded both Quatre and Leila that there were some pictures still waiting to be seen. They exchanged a conspiratorial smile and Leila went inside to find them. She was in the bedroom looking through her carry-all bag when she heard the first stirrings of commotion outside. Puzzled, she poked her head out the door to find Noin clutching the banister at the top of the stairs, a pained look on her face.
"Miss Noin!" Leila moved quickly to her side, noticing as she did, the puddle of liquid trickling down the stairs.
"Leila," Noin said with a strained smile. "I'd say Heero and Relena made it back just in time." Leila pried Noin's fingers off of the railing and led her over to the roman style couch that was against the wall.
"Zechs!!! Peygan!!!! Anyone around!!!" Leila shouted at the top of her lungs. A door slammed open at the other end of the hallway, and Zechs came barreling out. He took one look at his wife and his face went white.
"Noin!" He reached out to catch her hand. "Is it—is it time?"
She nodded, beads of sweat beginning to form on her forehead. "I think so. Don't forget my bag, okay? It's in the hall closet." Zechs ignored this and swept her up in his arms.
"I'll go tell Peygan to have the car brought around," Leila said quickly. "And I'll get your bag, Miss Noin, don't worry." The older couple nodded and Leila darted down the stairs.
Peygan was coming out of the old servant's quarters just as Leila reached the grand foyer. "Miss Leila!" he exclaimed. "I thought I heard someone call me."
She skidded to a halt, breathing deeply. "Yes. Zechs is on his way down with Miss Noin. They need the car brought around." Peygan's eyes widened, and without another word, he rushed for the door. Leila turned and headed for the patio.
Everyone was seated out on the patio when Leila came tearing outside. "Leila!" Quatre leapt to his feet and reached for her. "What's wrong??"
She grinned widely, excited by the impending event. "Noin and Zechs are having the car brought around. She said that you and Heero made it back just in time, Relena!" Everyone started talking all at once, becoming excited as well.
"I need to change!" Hilde exclaimed. "I can't go to the hospital in a swimsuit!" It was only then that Leila realized that she was still in her swimsuit as well.
She laughed and shook her head. "I'm glad you mentioned it, Hilde! I completely forgot!" They all headed inside, wanting to catch Zechs and Noin before they left.
They all made it to the front door just as Noin was being settled into the car. Relena ran out to them, flinging her arms around her brother, who managed to catch her in the nick of time. "We'll be there as soon as we can," she said, hugging him fiercely. He gave her an answering squeeze and she turned to lean into the car and give Noin a peck on the cheek. "We'll be there soon," she repeated. Noin nodded, smiling, giving Relena a pat on the shoulder. She then moved back to let her brother climb in and she closed the door firmly. She gave a thump on the roof of the car and stepped back as it moved out quickly. Heero moved to her side as she anxiously watched the car speed away.
"C'mon," he said softly. "The sooner we change clothes, the sooner we can join them." With a grateful smile she nodded and they all went back into the house.
Four hours later, the entire group were settled into a waiting room at the end of the labor and delivery ward of the hospital. Relena was using Quatre's phone to call Sally Po. In the hurry, she had forgotten to bring her own and Quatre volunteered the use of his. Hilde and Duo were in the room, visiting Noin. Her OB had limited the number of visitors to two at a time and they were all taking turns. Leila had run to the other end of the hall and was bringing back drinks for everyone. Quatre and Heero were talking quietly in the corner of the room. Quatre hadn't wanted to bring up his problems at a time like this, but he had noticed that Heero was looking a bit uncomfortable and he decided that Heero would be better for something to think about.
Leila slipped in through the door carrying a cafeteria tray with cups and a few cans loaded on it. She offered Relena a cup of coffee before moving to offer drinks to Quatre and Heero. Quatre accepted a cup of tea and Heero reached for a can of soda. "Thank you, Leila," Quatre said with an appreciative smile. She nodded and sat down, picking up a tattered magazine. She thumbed idly through the pages, not really reading, just trying to keep occupied. She looked up as Duo and Hilde came back into the room, both a bit pale.
Relena's eyes widened. "What is it? Is something wrong?" She started to get to her feet, but Duo put a hand on her shoulder.
"Nothing's wrong, Relena," he said, his voice a bit strained. "It's just, well, reading about it is one thing, but to actually see someone going through labor, well, that's another matter." His glance at Hilde was slightly worried. She gave him a small smile and leaned against him.
Relena grinned at the two. "Not quite what you expected?"
"That's an understatement," Hilde said with a grimace. "Quatre? Noin said for you and Leila to come and see her. Everyone's been in but you two." Quatre and Heero both looked up at Hilde's voice, identical looks of consternation on their faces.
Relena gave them a suspicious glare. "And just what are you two up to over there."
Quatre walked over to perch on the arm of Leila's chair, trying for a suitably innocent look. "Just business, Relena." Leila shot him an odd look and he patted her arm. "We'll be back in a few minutes," he said, pulling Leila to her feet.
"There's drinks on the table," Leila called back as Quatre almost pulled her out of the room. Once they were in the hallway, he slowed, easing his grip on her arm. "What were you talking about with Heero, Quatre?"
"The Ahmed situation," he said, lowering his voice as they walked down the echoing corridor. "He's going to try to see if he can help in any way." Leila nodded thoughtfully as they reached the door of Noin's room. Quatre knocked, then pushed the door open. The room wasn't what either of them were expecting. The lights were soft and the walls were painted a soothing pale shade of beige. Decorated border and framed prints furthered the soothing effect. The bed on which Noin lay looked nothing like a hospital bed. It had no railings and the foot of the bed had an odd round shape to it. Piano music could be heard from the speaker overhead and the only piece of medical equipment was a small monitor at the head of the bed. Zechs sat in a chair next to the bed, a cup of ice chips on the table next to him.
Noin smiled at them as they entered. "Come in, you two." She was absently rubbing the mound of her belly in a circular motion, one eye on the monitor.
"How are you feeling, Miss Noin?" Quatre asked as they sat down in the two chairs at the side of the bed.
"Not too bad," Noin admitted. "The epidural took care of the pain. Now all we have to do is wait." One the heel of her words, the door swung open and a tall, Nordic looking woman entered, clipboard in hand.
"I see you have more visitors, Lucrezia," she said with a smile. "You've got quite the cheering section out there."
"Hello, Dr. Sorenson," Noin smiled back at the OB as she moved to check her pulse and blood pressure. Zechs contented himself with a nod.
The doctor moved to check the monitor at the top of the bed, turning up the volume on the device so that she could hear better. A rapid swoosh-swoosh-swoosh sound filled the room.
"What's that?" Quatre blurted out before he could catch himself. The doctor gave him an indulgent smile.
"That," she said while making a notation on her chart, "is the baby's heartbeat. It sounds good. Very strong and not a bit stressed. I'll come back in a few minutes and see if you've dilated any farther." She gave everyone a nod and left as quickly as she had come in.
Zechs reached up to turn the volume down on the fetal monitor, giving Quatre a wry grin. Quatre, for his part, was amazed. He'd never heard anything like that in his entire life. Leila hid a grin at his astonished face. She too had been surprised by the sound but was hiding it better. After a few more minutes of chatting, the couple had rose to leave, but promised to come back later.
"Relena's probably off of the phone by now, and eager to see you," Quatre said from the doorway. "Want me to send her this way?' Noin and Zechs both nodded.
The curtains of the nursery were open as they left the room and Leila couldn't resist looking in at the newborns. She sighed in wonder as she looked in on the tiny babies in their bassinets. There were only three in at the moment, two boys and a girl, all wrapped up snugly in their blue or pink blanket with a soft knit cap covering their heads. The nurse inside smiled at the young couple peering in.
"They're so little," Leila said softly, her face up against the glass. "Just look." Quatre smiled as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She rested her head against his shoulder and they stood there like that for several minutes. A buzzer sounded and broke into their reverie. A young woman in a purple robe and soft slippers was leaning against the door, pushing what appeared to be a doorbell. The nurse inside pushed a button and the door unlocked with a click. The woman turned the knob and entered. Quatre and Leila watched as she showed the nurse the identification bracelet on her wrist. The nurse smiled and shooed her to sit in a chair, before turning to go back into the nursery. The nurse picked up one of the male infants, cradling it to her shoulder. She brought the baby to the young woman who smiled and held her arms out. The nurse began to explain something to her, making gestures and motions as she spoke. The new mother nodded, pulling a curtain that block any outside view. The nurse disappeared behind the curtain for several minutes before back out to check another of the infants.
"I wonder what that was about," Quatre said, curious. He started to say something else when he noticed a sudden rush of personnel into Noin's room. "Something's going on." He and Leila moved quickly down the hall to meet Duo and Hilde.
Hilde greeted them with a smile. "It seems Noin's labor is progressing faster than they thought it would. The doctor thinks she was in labor most of the day. Noin told me earlier that she'd been having contractions since this morning, but she thought it was just Braxton-Hicks contractions." At Quatre's blank look she added, " You know, false labor."
Quatre nodded. "Where's Relena?" he asked, seeing Heero hovering in the background but no sign of Relena.
"She's inside. Noin wanted her to be there too," Duo said, drumming his fingers on the wall a bit nervously.
"Well, standing out here isn't helping anyone," Hilde said, shifting from foot to foot. "Let's go back to the lounge."
"You okay, babe?" Duo asked, sounding slightly anxious.
Hilde gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. You know my ankles swell if I'm on my feet too long. That's all." Duo couldn't get Hilde to the lounge fast enough. Quatre and Leila hid smiles at his suddenly nervous behavior.
There was a recliner in the lounge and Duo made sure that Hilde was propped up in it comfortably before going to fetch her a drink. "We might as well get comfortable," Hilde said. "No telling how long we'll be here."
Meanwhile, on L-1, Rasid and Iria were poring over the records of all the phone calls that Ahmed had been making from his office in the month before he had been transferred. "Something about this one bothers me," Iria said thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her bottom lip. Rasid moved to look at the paper in her hand. "Cryo-tech. I know I've heard the name somewhere. I just can't think of where." She shot him an annoyed look. "Why is it when you need something, you just can't remember?" Rasid let out a chuckle at that statement and gave her shoulder a squeeze.
"Call Zahra," he suggested. "If that company is doing anything less than honest, the Preventers may know something about it."
"Now why didn't I think of that?" Iria wondered aloud, reaching for the phone.
"You're sure that you'll be placed in control of the company once Quatre Winner is out of the way?" asked a gravelly voice.
Ahmed smirked as he leaned back in the well sprung chair. "They'll have no choice. My cousin has no heirs and my father is too old. I'll be the only Winner male left." He reached for the drink on the table before him, sipping greedily. It was good to be back in civilized surroundings, Ahmed thought lazily as he eyed the man on the viewscreen. Once he was head of the family and the business, he planned on living even more luxuriously. Perhaps even take a wife or two. His cousin's new bride was attractive enough, but he wouldn't keep her. Never again would he take the leavings from Quatre. Although he supposed he would have to find some way to keep a grip on the Summer dealings. He didn't want an alliance that lucrative to slip away.
"Where is he at now?" the voice from the videophone pulled his attention back to the here and now.
"He's on Earth at the moment. But I know my cousin. As soon as he comes back to the colony, he'll throw a party to show off his trophy bride. That would be the perfect time to try. The house will be full of people and staff going in and out. A few more bodies won't be noticed," Ahmed stated with certainty.
"That's not a bad idea," conceded his partner. "I'll send you the necessary men. You know the house and the surrounding area. They'll have the equipment to do the job right. They'll be with you in about two weeks." Ahmed nodded, his smirk developing into a pull grown sneer.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you. I'll be in touch." Ahmed reached out and cut the connection.
The man on the other end of the line leaned back in his chair, thinking. "Sir," came the voice of the man at his elbow. "Ahmed Winner is an idiot. We can't trust him."
"I know he's an idiot, but at the moment, he's useful. Why should we get our hands dirty when he'll take care of it for us? Besides if he screws up and gets caught, the paper trail will lead right back to him. We need Winner Enterprises out of the picture or in our pocket. Either way, that means getting rid of Quatre Winner."
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(Author's Note: Unfortunatly, I'm still trying to outrun writer's block. Any and all feedback will be much appreciated. * - The song is The Mystic's Dream by Loreena McKennitt. I HIGHLY recommend her music. It just sets the mood perfectly!)