A Strawberry and Vanilla Swirl

Chapter 7





Relena didn't even wait for anyone to open the door for her. As soon as the limo stopped, she jumped out. Quatre quickly grabbed Destiny, because she wouldn't be able to move that fast, and followed Relena into the hospital.

Once inside, she asked the receptionist where Pagan's room was and they all got on the elevator to get to the second floor. The got off and went down three doors to the left. Relena went in to see Pagan lying on a bed. He didn't look well at all.

"Pagan!" Relena came up next to him and he opened his eyes.

"Miss Relena," he said with surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"I came as soon as I heard. You have to get better."

Pagan chuckled lightly, followed by a few coughs. He cleared his throat and turned to her. "Miss, I have watched over you since you were young. I have watched you grow from a child to a strong woman. You've become so smart and made me very proud. Just as I know you would make your parents proud. You were just like a granddaughter to me," he glanced over to Destiny. "And so were you, Miss Destiny."

"Mr. Pagan, what's wrong?" Destiny asked. She rested her chin on the edge of the bed and gave him a sad look.

Pagan inhaled and exhaled very deeply for a while before offering her a smile. "I told you not to call me that."

"You call me 'Miss'."

"Heh heh. To answer your question – I'm just getting old... it's time for me to go."

"Pagan!" Relena cried. "Don't talk like that."

"I'm sure I'll be leaving you in good hands." He looked over at Quatre. "You're such a kind boy, I know you will watch the girls." Quatre solemnly nodded as came closer to the bed and gave him a sad look that could almost match Destiny's. Relena was holding back tears with little avail. Then, Pagan's head laid back. His eyes closed and a last breath escaped him.

"Pagan, no!" Relena yelled. But, the thin line going across the heart monitor proved that her yells didn't help. She couldn't hold back or minimize her tears anymore and began to cry. Quatre wrapped his arms around her in a hug. She didn't mind the comfort and allowed the embrace.

"Did Mr. Pagan go to sleep?" Destiny asked. This question only made Relena cry harder, burying her face into Quatre's shoulder as her own shoulders shook. Quatre shook his head in reply to Destiny's question.

"I'll explain later," Quatre told Destiny, "but... for now I'll say, he won't ever wake up."

Destiny frowned deeply as if she understood what he meant. She walked over and hugged Relena from the side. Quatre smiled and pulled her in for a group hug.

***

Flashes of cameras filled the air, but Relena seemed to be in her own world. She was just staring at Pagan's grave. It wasn't that she had forgotten how terrible death was. She remembered how bad it was when he father died. And now it was terrible, yet again, as the last person she had known since childhood died. She shook her head in sorrow as she remembered when she was younger and even recent times with the now dearly departed.

Quatre, however, was looking around slanting his eyes at the unwanted and unneeded press. It was getting so, if you were famous, you couldn't even bury someone without the press all over you like some terrible blood hounds looking for an unknown story that you can't give because it's not there.

Relena exhaled. Out of nowhere she said, "He did take very good care of me – even when I wasn't the kindest of people. He was like a grandfather."

Quatre looked over at the grave and thought for only a moment before he replied, "He was a good man." 'Pass tense,' he added in his mind. 'Too bad people only say good things about other people when they've passed away.'

Relena nodded and looked down to the ground. They had left Destiny at home because Relena didn't want her to witness this. Quatre reached his arm out and wrapped it around her torso, pulling her to him.

'Quatre,' Quatre mentally scolded himself. 'Knock it off. You know you can't take Heero's place.' He looked over at her. 'Heero, hurry up and get back... no one can cheer Relena up by just showing up like you can.'

***

Quatre had realized how much stress Relena had been going through lately. He spent a couple days making calls and acting weird. Almost a week later he approached her.

Relena were playing house with some dolls and a dollhouse. Quatre had come in, flashed a smile at them, and asked if he could talk to Relena. She followed him out to the hall where he turned to her. He waited for one maid to walk pass and go into another room before finally saying anything.

"Relena, I think you need a break from everything. Are you doing anything this Friday?"

"I don't think so..."

"Well, if not, would you like to spend it with me... out on the town?"

Relena smirked. "Quatre, are you asking me out?"

"No," he said defensively, "I'm asking you to relieve some stress. Please? I think an evening away from it all would do you some good."

"I..."

"Go out with Quatre, Mommy!" Came Destiny's cry from the room. Quatre and Relena smiled at each other.

"Yes, I'll go. But, how will we make sure no one will find out?"

Quatre knew whom she meant: any news reporters or press related people. He nodded. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

***

"New assignment! Here, here, here, here!"

Wufei stopped in his tracks and walked backwards to the desk he had just passed. He snatched the paper out of the blonde's hand and gave her a look. "Ms. Catalonia, is there another way you would have gotten my attention?"

Dorothy smirked. "Yes, but I didn't want to yell your name so loud they could hear me on the top floor."

Wufei looked down at the paper in his hands and skimmed over it. He felt a hand on his shoulder and a friendly 'Good luck.' He looked up to see Sally's retreating back. "Hey," he called. She stopped and turned around. "What is this?" He shook the mentioned paper.

"Did you read it?" she asked with amusement.

"Yes, I red it. Who assigned me this?"

Dorothy cleared her throat. "Take a guess."

"That Une woman," Wufei growled. "She just can't leave me alone. And she always waits for me to get back before giving me a new assignment, like it wouldn't save time for me to get a new assignment while I was already out. All the women here are difficult. And, I am not babysitting."

Now that today's rant was over, Sally broke in. "You're right, you're not babysitting. You're protecting an important person."

"Important my a – "

Sally sighed. "Wufei, it's not that difficult. I really need to get you out more... get you on a date or something. You have so much tension."

He was disgusted by the amount of sarcasm in her voice. But he did have one hope. "Tell me you're my partner in this."

She shook her head. "I have a different mission. Well, like I said, good luck!" She turned and walked away.

Wufei turned to Dorothy. "Who is my partner?"

"Well..."

The door flew open and Wufei turned his attention to it. Black boots, blue jeans, a Preventer jacket over a navy blue t-shirt. He didn't even have to look at the person's face, he only knew one person with such tasteless fashion.

"Hey, Wufei! Ya ready for the mission?"

Wufei's eyes widened. He turned back to Dorothy. "Please don't tell me it's with him!"

"It's with him," Dorothy replied as Duo walked over.

"This is not fair! You are just getting me back for that time at the last Preventer meeting!"

Dorothy smirked evilly. "Am not. I didn't even do it, it's just what the computer chose."

"Yeah, I bet," Wufei glanced over at Duo and back to Dorothy.

"Yeah," Duo said. "We're really sorry you can't have your man – "

Dorothy stood up. "He's not my man! We don't like each other at all! Stop saying that!"

Duo put his hands up in defense. "Sorry, sheesh."

"I don't believe this," mumbled Wufei who wasn't paying attention to their conversation and was still on the fact that Duo was his partner for the current situation. "I want a new partner, now."

"Sorry, can't. It's too late," Dorothy sat back down. "That's the way the fortune cookie crumbles."

Before Wufei could reply, Duo tried to push him out before anyone else started staring at them. "Let's go Wufei."

"Stupid secretary," Wufei growled as he left, Duo following behind him.

"I'm a receptionist," Dorothy called after him. She turned back to her computer. "And he is not my man," she muttered under her breath.

There was an awkward silence between Duo and Wufei as Wufei drove down the road they were on quite fast. Duo glanced over at him and saw his sour expression. "Me working with you isn't that bad, is it?" he asked.

Wufei shook his head. "It's not that. I was just hoping I'd get a woman so she could watch the child. I didn't join this place to be a babysitter."

"Not big on kids, are ya Wufei?"

"I lost my patience a long time ago. I'm not planning on a child – or getting married – at all." Duo nodded and looked down. Now it was Wufei's turn to look at him. "What about you? Why aren't you staying with your woman?"

"Are you kidding?" Duo looked over at him with wide eyes. "I'm going to try to propose to her. I can't see her everyday knowing this."

"Did you join this mission to get money to buy a ring?"

Duo smirked. He revealed a bag he had been holding in his hand and held it out to Wufei. "Peanut?"

"No."

Duo shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Wufei raised an eyebrow at the roads. "So, what's your status on the albatross?"

"Lost," Duo said, before he tossed some peanuts into his mouth. Wufei nodded in understanding. When the albatross didn't want to be found, it would hide well. Very well.

***

"Are you going to look really pretty, Mommy?' Destiny asked from her spot atop Relena's bed. Relena held her hair up so Destiny could zip her dress up for her.

"No dear, I can't." She felt the zipper go to the top and let her hair fall. "I have to keep a low profile. I don't want anyone to know who I am."

"Why?"

"Because... Mommy doesn't like bad rumors spread all over about her."

"What's a bad rumor?"

"It's something said about someone that isn't true."

"Oh. You know what Mommy?"

Relena looked at her daughter's reflection in the mirror. "What, dear?"

"I think you look pretty no matter what."

Relena smiled. She turned around and hugged her. "Oh, thank you, honey. And you are such a pretty little girl, too." Relena gave her a kiss on the tip of her nose.

"Mommy, who's gonna watch me?"

"Oh, I don't know. Quatre said he had that covered... and had that funny look on his face."

Destiny giggled. "Am I gonna wear a nice outfit for the people that are watching me?"

"Isn't what you have on okay? You're not going to leave the house or anything."

"Okay. When will you be home?"

Relena couldn't believe all these questions she was getting. "Oh, you'll be asleep before I get home, don't worry."

Destiny got a rather serious look on her face. "Are you guys going to kiss each other?"

"No!"

Destiny nodded. "Good, because Daddy wouldn't like that." Her hands flew to her mouth immediately.

Relena got a shocked look on her face. "What did you say?"

Destiny glanced around before she jumped off her mommy's bed and said, "I have to go." Then she ran out of the room fast.

Relena went to the doorway and looked both ways to which she didn't see Destiny anywhere. "Destiny Peacecraft Darlian, come here!" Her yell did not do any good, for Destiny didn't come back.

Destiny did a good job of hiding from Relena for the rest of the day. So, a couple hours later, when Relena eventually did find her she didn't quite remember what happened. Either that or, for some reason she didn't want to bring it up. So Destiny and Relena just sat and watched television for a while. Which consisted of flipping between the news and some animated cartoon. Once a maid came in, but quickly realizing the two together, she left.

"I'm ready," Quatre's voice came down the steps. He walked down the steps and over to them. Relena and Destiny turned around to look at him. Destiny grinned.

"Wow Quatre, you look pretty like Mommy does."

Quatre smiled at her. He was dressed in white shoes, white pants, a white shirt with a vest over it, a white jacket over that, and a white bow tie around his neck (I'm sure you've all seen that picture).

Relena looked down at Destiny and gave her a small smile from what she said. She looked back to Quatre and gave him a surprised look. "I'm not half as dressed up as you," she said. She got up and walked over to him. "You said not to be so dressy."

"I said for you not to be so dressy. No one will notice me... I don't think. Just about everything you wear complements your beauty."

Relena straightened his bow tie slightly. "Thanks for the compliment Quatre."

"Sure."

"Okay, you watch the infant and I'll watch the house."

"Oh, jeez, Wufei. She's not that difficult. In fact, she'll be glad to see you."

"Sure." Wufei glared at Duo as they stepped up to the house. He turned to the door and bounded on it.

Duo rolled his eyes. "They made doorbells for a reason, ya know."

Nevertheless, a butler opened the door. It wasn't Pagan, but another man. This one was slightly younger than Pagan was.

"Yes?" The butler asked. He raised an eyebrow when he noticed the Preventer jackets.

"We're here to watch the vice foreign minister's child." Wufei stated. Duo added an innocent grin to the end.

The butler opened the door more and stepped to the side to allow them to enter.

"Thanks," Duo said cheerily as he followed Wufei inside. The-man-who-was- not-Pagan closed the door behind them.

Destiny immediately noticed the two men enter the living room. She grinned and jumped off the couch and ran over to them.

"Uncle Duo! Uncle Wufei!" She yelled as she ran over and hugged Duo.

Duo grinned and picked her up. "Hey, I haven't seen you in so long! What has it been... two weeks?"

Quatre walked over with his own big grin. "Hey guys, thanks for coming."

"You owe me big for this," Wufei mumbled to the blond boy, who nodded in return.

Relena came over with a smile. "Nice to meet you all again. How have you been?"

Duo shook his head. He reached out and hugged Relena to him. "I'm alright."

"Could be better," Wufei replied grimly.

Destiny reached out to Wufei. "I haven't seen you in a long, long time, Uncle Wufei."

Wufei raised an eyebrow and reluctantly took her into his arms. "Didn't you just have a birthday?"

"Nope, that was a long time ago. It's almost my birthday now."

"Oh... well your birthday was the last time I saw you." Destiny nodded in agreement. It was true he hadn't seen her in almost a year. Unlike most people, though, Wufei wouldn't comment on how much she'd grown or how different she looked or how cute she was. In fact, she was quick to se her down on the ground.

"Um... you met Arthur," Quatre said, indicating the mad who opened the door. "He will be leaving shortly. We gave everyone else a day off. Just fix her a small cup of milk. Make sure she's in bed by eight thirty, no later than nine." Quatre looked over at Relena. "What would you like to put in?"

Relena shrugged. "I think that's it. Just be sure she brushes her teeth before she goes to sleep, and she might want a bedtime story. And if we're not back by midnight, send a search party."

Wufei nodded and Duo grinned at Relena's last statement. Duo looked down at his watch, checking to see how many hours they had before they had to get Destiny to sleep. Four-and-a-half, not long.

"All right, well you two have fun." Duo told them cheerfully as Quatre helped Relena get her coat on.

Quatre smiled back. "Same for you two." Arthur opened the door for him and nodded for the two to leave before him.

"Good-bye, honey," Relena called to Destiny.

"'Bye, Mommy!" Destiny yelled back waving.

Quatre waved to the other two, before he left the house. Arthur, with his coat in hand and hat on his head, nodded to the two men before leaving.

As soon as the door shut, Wufei and Duo looked at the little girl in front of them. She smiled and cocked her head to the side. Duo looked over at Wufei.

"We have to make her food? We can't order pizza?"

"No," Wufei replied as he turned his back on him and walked to the kitchen.

Duo looked back to Destiny. "You watch television, okay Destiny?" She nodded and he followed Wufei into the kitchen.

Wufei was rummaging through the cupboards. "Do you know how to cook anything?" He asked, slightly sarcastically as Duo entered the kitchen.

"Uh... French toast."

Wufei looked surprised. "You know how to make something?"

"Well, once Hilde said I couldn't remember anything, so I memorized a French toast recipe."

"You two argue over odd things," Wufei mumbled as he pulled up a frying pan. "Okay, what do we need?"

"Uh... two eggs. Now, that means you put the whole egg in and beat it, right?"

Wufei blinked. There was no way he was going to cook with someone who did not even know the basics of cooking. He put the pan back where he got it. "Let's use something canned."

"'K," Duo replied as he looked through the cupboards along with Wufei.

Carrots, corn, peas, asparagus, and spinach – nothing Duo came across looked rather appetizing to him. Next to him, Wufei pulled something out. It was a can on chicken noodle soup.

"How about soup?" he asked. "All you do is microwave it."

Duo shrugged. "Okay." He grinned at Wufei, who was looking for a can opener. "Catherine would sure be proud of you making soup, Wufei."

"Catherine?" Wufei said absently as he finally found what he was looking for.

"Yeah, ya know, Trowa's sis."

"Oh," Wufei said as he took the lid off and sat it aside. "Get me a bowl to put this in."

Duo nodded. "Right."

A little while later, the two watched the little girl slurp some noodles off her spoon. She pushed the bowl away. "I'm full."

"Now, Duo," Wufei said. "You go watch some movies with her for awhile."

"Um... okay," Duo said, scratching his head. "For how long?"

"Mr. Cuddles wants to watch a movie with me!" Destiny proclaimed and ran to get her teddy bear.

"Until her bedtime," Wufei told him.

Duo smirked after the girl. " I can't wait 'til Heero finds out she named that thing 'Mr. Cuddles'. I still remember when he found out what Relena called it."

"Duo," Wufei said sternly. "I don't want to hear you say the 'H' word around her. I respect the idea of not telling her. It's hard to talk about something that isn't there."

"Right, Wufei, whatever." Duo left him in the kitchen as he headed to the living room.

***

Relena wasn't really looked at her menu. She was looking over it at her surroundings. It was a very fancy place and she felt slightly under dressed. Surprisingly enough, Quatre was right. No one had noticed her yet. Even if they did, she would just say she looked like the vice foreign minister, that was all.

"I can see why you had to make so many calls," she said to Quatre.

Quatre had been glancing at her over his menu as she looked around. When she turned to look at him, he blushed and hid behind the menu. "It's nothing, really," he said, trying not to let his voice quiver. He tried to stop his whole face from turning deep red, but couldn't help it. "Um, what are you ordering, Relena?"

"I'll have this expensive meal right here."

"Which one?" He smiled when she giggled.

"The one about clam chowder, salad, and spaghetti."

"Ah," Quatre replied. All of that together didn't sound good to him, but if Relena was going to get it, then it couldn't be too bad. "I guess I'll have that, too."

Relena smiled. "And what should we drink, Quatre?"

"Some wine or champagne," Quatre mumbled under his breath.

"Pardon?"

"Uh... I don't care, anything," Quatre said quickly, trying to rhyme the new words with the ones he mumbled before.

"Oh," she said. "Well, since this place is so fancy we'd probably have to get something real expensive."

"Non-alcoholic," Quatre said as he sat his menu down and looked at her.

She smiled. "Yes."

"Orders agreed?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Soon the waiter came over. "Yes? Vhat vould yu like?"

"Um..." Relena looked over at Quatre. "Go ahead."

"Oh, we would like the spaghetti, salad and clam chowder dinner."

"Very vell, and to dvink?"

Quatre studied the menu for a moment. "How about... some... Loire?" Then he flashed a smile at Relena.

The waiter nodded and took the menus. Now that he could see Relena's face, he looked surprised. "Has anyvone ever told yu how much you vook like the vice foreign minister?"

Relena smiled modestly. "I've heard it a couple times."

He nodded, bowed, and quickly left. Quatre couldn't help it anymore and began to chuckle. Relena looked over at him and raised and eyebrow. "What's so funny?"

"You, Ms. Clam Chowder, tricked him easily – almost too easily."

She smiled. "Yes, I guess so." She reached for her glass of water and brought it up to her lips. "But I'm not the one who ordered the Loire wine now am I?" She quickly took a sip to hide her smirk.

"Hey," he said in defense. "I'm of age, you know. I've been of age for years. Besides, I didn't know what else to order. Do not tell anyone, but wine isn't my best subject. I know rich people should know their wine, but come on; I met Trowa, Duo, and the other guys when I was fifteen. What do you expect from me?"

She shook her head. "You know, Quatre, this is nice of you to take me out. All those phone calls... you must have created quite a night. Is this an early birthday present for me?"

It was all too true that April was getting closer and that Relena's birthday wasn't too far away. However, that was the last thing on Quatre's mind at the moment. And he explained to her, that he was just doing this so she could enjoy herself.

"I appreciate your generosity, Quatre," Relena said with a bright smile.

"Don't mention it, Relena." Quatre reached over and rested his hand on her own. He felt a sudden wave of emotions. Fright, tense, worry. He looked up and saw that pool of emotions in her eyes. His face turned red again. He pulled his hand away quickly, knowing that was a bad move.

Suddenly something struck him: was he flirting? Was he flirting with the mother of one of his friends' child? Now this was getting ridiculous. He couldn't help but look at her all the time, but... Every time he gave her that smile, and said something that way... was he flirting?

The two suddenly felt uneasy and there was an awkward silence until the waiter came back with their food. So then, the food served as a reason for not talking. Then, Quatre knew he could break the sudden ice and get Relena to start smiling again. And he was going to take her there right after dinner.

***

Duo and Destiny had watched one too many sing-along movie... that is what it felt like. Somewhere around the fourth one, they both fell asleep, sprawled out on the floor. Duo found the little 25-minute movies far too boring.

When Destiny woke up, the television was black because the movie ran out. She sat up and looked over to Duo. He was laying on the floor, still asleep, his head at the foot of the coach to his feet that reached the coffee table. Destiny looked over his form and saw Mr. Cuddles lying on the other side of him. She bit her lip and tried to reach over to it. Afraid she would fall on him, she stopped. She got up, making sure not to step on his braid. She leaned over him and stretched her arm out to grab a hold of the bear. Again she stopped, afraid she would fall on him and wake him up.

She got as close to him without touching any of his body part as she could. She leaned over, reaching her arm out as far as she could. She was able to grab the bear's arm and pull it to her. She hugged it to her tight as she stepped away from unconscious Duo on the floor. She leaned over and turned the television off. Double-checking, to make sure Duo wasn't awake, she stepped back a couple steps and left the room.

Destiny walked down the hall, looking for Uncle Wufei. She looked in each room as she passed, until she came to the library. She looked in and saw him sitting cross-legged on the ground, reading a book. She grinned and went in.

"Uncle Wufei!" Her sudden outburst startled him. He looked away from the book at her and narrowed his eyes at the interruption. "What 'cha reading, Uncle Wufei?" She walked over and stood in front of him with her hands behind her back.

"A book you wouldn't understand, he replied.

She got a bright smile on her face. "Will you read me a book, Uncle Wufei?" Before he could reply, she went over to the bookcase and pulled out a little picture book from the bottom shelf. With Mr. Cuddles tucked under her arm, she carried the book over and gave it to Wufei.

Wufei gave a look at the rainbow colored book that had a picture of a hippo and a robin on the cover. He opened it to the first page and began to read: "happy Hippo and Bud Bird were good friends. One was big. One was small." He stopped and looked at her. "Spare me."

She blinked in confusion. "You didn't get to the part where Happy's in the water and – "

Wufei closed the book. "Is there anything else I can read to you?"

"'Billy, Meg, and their pet dragon'?"

Wufei looked at her for a moment, pondering it, before he sighed. "Okay."

"Yay!" She skipped to the bookcase and pulled out another little book. Then she carried it back over to him, and gave it to him happily. He took it and inspected the cover.

This cover had a little boy, a little girl, and a baby dragon on the cover. He cleared his throat and opened it to the first page. He felt a large weight and looked down to see her sitting on his lap. She hugged Mr. Cuddles to her tightly and smiled at him. Wufei shook his head and began to read her the story.

***

Quatre pushed the hat on his head up so he could see where he was going. He was still wearing his dressy outfit and everything; only the big hat that covered half his face was different. He opened the door to the building in front of him and turned to look at Relena. Even though it was in the evening, she was wearing sunglasses, to hide her face from anyone who might recognize her. After the close call at the restaurant, they were trying to hide themselves.

Quatre offered her a smile, which did not help her. She went in with the same frown she'd had for a while. He, too, frowned and followed her inside.

"So what's this place, Quatre?" Relena asked, glancing around. When Quatre closed the door behind him, she took a few more steps away. She had been keeping her distance.

"You'll see," Quatre replied mischievously. He led her farther inside until they heard music in the air. They stopped in front of a curtain that Quatre pushed away. Relena gaped at the sight that welcomed her.

To the left were tables; just like the dinner tables in the restaurant they had just left. There were people sitting at the tables getting their orders from waiters and waitresses. To the right, was a large wooden floor, which had people dancing on it. A small orchestra was playing in front of them all.

Relena took her sunglasses off to take in the view better. Quatre grinned at the astonishment on her face. He took his hat off and stuffed it into his coat pocket. He then led her inside. He got them a table and she looked around, still astonished.

"What is this?" She asked breathlessly. "I've never heard of this place before."

"It's a classy place for 'unclassy' people. Regular people that just want to have fun."

A waitress walked over to them, a legal pad in her left hand, and a pen in her right. She chewed on her gum as she looked at Quatre and asked, "What can I get you, honey?"

"Oh, nothing, thanks. We ate before we came here," Quatre replied. The waitress nodded back at him and left.

Relena looked at Quatre confusedly. "If we're not here to eat or anything, what did you bring me here for?"

Quatre got up and stood in front of her. He gave her a small bow and extended his arm. "Miss Relena, would you care to have this dance?"

Relena looked at him for a long period of time. She tried not to let his smile get to her, give him her own smile, and say 'yes.' She was wary of him at the moment. Nevertheless, he was being so mean by giving her a dazzling smile and a pair of big blue eyes. She sighed and took his hand. "Alright."

She allowed Quatre to pull her out onto the dance floor. As soon as they got there, slower music began to play. Relena gave an irritated sigh and wrapped one of her arms up to his shoulder. Just so she wouldn't get scared again, he slowly wrapped his arm around her waist. She nodded to him that that was fine so he moved his other arm up and grasped her hand in his. She nodded again and urged him to go ahead and start dancing, so he did.

"Miss Relena," Quatre began. She noted his formality – a sign he was being cautious with her. "Please don't be mad. I... I'm taking you out tonight to relieve stress, not build more. You are my friend and I don't want you to be angry. Especially at something I did."

Relena looked into his eyes for the first time since they went to the restaurant. "What was that you did, anyways? Why?"

Quatre knew what she was asking. She wanted to know what it meant. He also knew he couldn't answer – he wasn't even sure what the move meant. He could privately admit to himself that he'd had a crush on her for a long time. But he knew better than to tell her, and he tried not to show it just because Heero was away. So, he said the first thing that was comforting. "I was just trying to be comforting."

She gave a single nod. Deep down she had know he wasn't trying to make a pass at her. He was too sweet for that. She could understand what he meant. "I kind of thought that. I don't think you would do that with a certain something in mind."

"Well... I bet any person would. You're wonderful." Quatre mentally kicked himself. What was he doing? How could he say that? Well, no matter what he thought, Relena thought it was a comment.

"You flatter me, Quatre," she gave him a smile as they twirled around slowly.

Quatre figured if he'd gotten this far, why not push it? "In fact, you are probably the most beautiful woman I've ever met. Heero's lucky."

Their dancing slowed. They kept staring into each other's eyes. Quatre held his breath for a moment; he didn't know what to do. He couldn't hear the music, just her lovely voice echoing in his head.

"Quatre..." she whispered. Quatre leaned into her, caught up in the moment. The hand that was rested on her shoulder moved down to wrap around her waist. He moved in for a kiss. He breathed heavily against her skin. When their lips were only a few centimeters away, Relena's eyes opened wide. "Quatre, Heero."

"Hm?" Quatre mumbled, still caught up in the moment.

"Heero," she repeated, pulling away from Quatre. That word alone made him jump back into reality and let her go. He knew he should stop. "I want to go home," Relena said, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Miss Relena..."

"Now."

***

"Please can I go outside?"

"No," Wufei repeated for the hundredth time, it seemed.

It had been about two hours since Duo fell asleep. Wufei tried to wake him up earlier, but Duo slept like a rock so Wufei gave up. Now, Destiny was sitting at the dining room table and Wufei was baking brownies.

"Why?"

Wufei sighed, rather annoyed. "I told you why the thirty-fifth time you asked. It's about ten degrees outside and I am not going to stand outside and freeze just so you can frolic around."

"Aww," she pouted, crossing her arms. "I want to go outside."

"No. Don't throw a tantrum."

"I'm not throwing a tantrum."

"I'm making you brownies, so stop complaining."

Destiny got quiet and watched him pull a pan out of the oven. He stuck a toothpick in it, pulled it out, and studied it. "It's done," he stated as he sat the pan off to the side. "Don't touch it, give it a half hour to cool."

"Okay," she replied. She slid off the chair and grinned. "What are we going to do now, Uncle Wufei?"

"I don't care... go watch television."

Her smile faded to a frown. "Aren't you going to do something with me?"

"No."

"You say 'no' a lot Uncle Wufei."

Wufei rolled his eyes. "I'll play a card game with you, I guess. Then you eat a brownie," he checked his watch. "And then go to bed."

"That doesn't sound very fun."

"It doesn't matter how fun it sounds, now go get some playing cards. What games do you know?"

"'Go Fish'."

Wufei waited for her to list some more, but she didn't. He sighed, "Go get some playing cards and hurry up."

So, Wufei and Destiny played cards for about twenty minutes. He allowed her to win every game so she wouldn't whine or do and of those annoying childish habits. When the twenty minutes passed, Destiny got bored of winning every game, so she asked for some brownies.

Wufei cut the brownies into twelve squares. He took one out and sat it on a paper towel. He laid the paper towel on the table before her. "Hurry up and enjoy."

She smiled at him. "Uncle Wufei, you forgot my milk."

"Milk? You drink milk with everything. Can't you go without it?"

"But I'll get thirsty," she said in a warning tone.

He marched over to the refrigerator and yanked the door open pulling out the milk carton. Destiny watched him pour her milk for her with a large grin. He brought the pink cup over to her and sat it down near the brownie.

"Anything else, Your Highness?" he asked sarcastically. She shook her head and took a big bite of the brownie. Wufei rolled his eyes and went to check in on Duo.

He realized Duo was still asleep, going on his third hour now. Wufei was upset and disgusted that he had to watch this child while Duo did nothing. Plus, Duo would probably try to make up for it so he could get some money to buy Hilde a ring.

"Poor pathetic, braided, idiot," Wufei mumbled. He walked over behind the couch and looked down at Duo, who was still sprawled all over the floor.

He was lying on his side mumbling something every once in a while. He rolled over on his back. "Hilde," he mumbled in his sleep. He had a big smile on his face and, judging by the size of his pants, Wufei didn't want to know what he was dreaming about.

"That is pathetic," Wufei commented. He shook his head, not bothering to try to wake him up. He turned and headed back to the kitchen.

Quite a few minutes later, Destiny was in her pajamas and ready for bed. She and Wufei were standing in the bathroom, by the sink. Wufei was reading the directions on the toothpaste tube to her.

"'Children under 6 years'," he glanced over at her. "How old are you? Three?"

"Four."

"Ah." He looked back at the tube. "'To minimize swallowing use a pea-sized amount and supervise brushing until good habits are established.'" He looked at her again. "Are your good habits established?"

"What's that mean?"

"It means can you brush your teeth by yourself."

"Oh, yup."

Wufei sat her toothbrush and toothpaste down in front of her. "There you go."

She looked at them for a moment and then looked at Wufei. She was obviously quite confused, which confused Wufei.

"What?" he asked.

"Mommy or someone puts the toothpaste on the brush for me." Wufei did as she said, handing her the toothbrush with toothpaste on it. "Thank you," she said and began brushing her teeth.

At the door, Wufei could see Duo saunter up to the doorframe. He yawned and scratched the side of his head. Wufei narrowed his eyes at the braided boy.

"It's about time you woke up."

"Yeah," Duo said. "Watching a kid is hard work."

"And how would you know? You were asleep for almost all of it!"

Duo shrugged. His eyes widened as he heard a sound come from outside. It was the sound of a car pulling up. He gave Wufei a frantic look. "Wufei, Quatre and Relena are here! Destiny was supposed to be in bed ten minutes ago!"

"Well, that's not my fault," Wufei snapped. "You try helping a child get dressed." He walked pass Duo, saying nothing more than, "You put her to bed."

Duo looked surprised. "What? Me? Why me?"

"Because you weren't very helpful," Wufei called from down the hall. "And you have to work if you want to get paid."

Duo sent him a sour look before he turned to the girl who was looking at Duo out of the corner of her eye as she spit in the sink.

***

When Wufei reached the ground floor, he was half way to the living room when he heard the sound that signaled a very pissed off woman: the sound of a door slamming open and then slamming shut. He had gotten used to that sound all too well. He peered inside the room to see Relena, fumbling with the buttons on her coat. Quatre – whose coat was already on the hanger – walked over to her and reached a hand out.

"Let me help you with your coat, Miss Relena," he said, shakily.

"I can get it myself," she snapped.

Wufei was surprised at how she left so happy and came back so upset. Nevertheless, he decided to approach the scene in front of him with what he had to say.

"Well, I'm off," he said as he tried to pass the two. Quatre grabbed his arm as if pleading him not to go.

"Why such a rush, Wufei?" Quatre asked him in a friendly tone.

"I get a new mission every working day, it seems," Wufei replied sarcastically.

Quatre gave Relena wary glance as he pushed Wufei from the door. "Please stay for awhile, Wufei. We hardly get to see you."

"I can't, really," Wufei tried to explain. "I should do or – "

"Could I interest you in a cup of tea?" Quatre smiled and patted Wufei's shoulder. "Doesn't that sound good, Wufei? A nice cup of tea? Come on!" But before he could drag Wufei to the kitchen, Relena stopped them.

"Where's my daughter?"

"Well, Maxwell should have her in bed by now." That was all he had to say before Relena left to go to Destiny's room. Quatre then acted like he'd exhaled for the first time since he and Relena left. He turned to Wufei with a big frown.

"Wufei, I'm in trouble. I made some bad moves while we were out."

Wufei blinked once. "How bad were the moves?"

Quatre rested his head in his hands. "I just hope Heero doesn't find out so he won't kill me."

"That bad, eh?" Quatre sighed and Wufei continued. "Well, look Quatre, I have to go back to Preventers Headquarters, plus I'm not very good with women. Why don't you ask Duo?"

Quatre nodded. "Alright, are you leaving right now?"

"Yes, right now. Tell everyone 'good-bye' for me."

"Um... are you just going to leave Duo here?"

Wufei gave him a look and shrugged. "On the way here he said he wanted to stay."

"Any particular reason?"

"He said you should know."

Quatre slowly nodded his head, trying to think of what that might be. He couldn't decide but, much to his surprise, he noticed Wufei heading for the door.

"Good-bye, Wufei."

Wufei stopped as he opened the door. "Yeah, good-bye," he said quickly. Then, just as quickly, he left the house, closing the door behind him.

Quatre sighed and decided to go ahead and enter the lion's den. He climbed up the stairs and walked down the hall to Destiny's room. Duo was standing outside the room fingering his braid.

"Duo," Quatre greeted.

Duo glanced over to his blond friend and gave a small smile. Then he glanced inside the room and Quatre followed his gaze.

Relena was sitting on the edge of Destiny's bed. She was talking to her quietly, probably so the boys couldn't hear. As Relena talked, she smoothed the girl's hair. Quatre wished he knew what was being said but it was obvious they wanted privacy.

"She's pretty pissed," Duo said. "What happened?" Quatre cleared his throat and looked to the floor. This made Duo even more curious. "Come on, Quatre. I'm your friend, you can tell me."

"Duo... how do you think I feel about Relena?"

"Truthfully?" Duo shrugged. "I think you've got the hots for her. Why?"

"Am I that obvious?" Quatre picked his head up to look at his braided friend.

"Yes, very."

Quatre sighed. "I tried to kiss her."

"What?"

"I know she loves Heero, deep down inside he loves her too. I don't know what came over me, I feel so terrible..."

Duo gave him a sympathetic look. "Don't worry, Quatre. She'll understand soon. Now, uh, I was wonderin' if I could stay here tonight."

"Sure, I suppose. You can get that guest room down there," Quatre nodded to his left. "And I heard there is a reason for this and I should know. But... I don't. What is it?"

"I'll, uh... I'll tell ya later." Duo nodded, agreeing with himself and went to find the guest room Quatre mentioned.

Quatre watched Duo leave before turning the opposite way and heading to his own room.

A couple hours later, Quatre found himself staring up at the ceiling from atop his bed. He couldn't sleep. It had been about three hours since he went t his room, and couldn't sleep. So he just lay in bed, looking up at the ceiling. Suddenly he heard his door creak. He turned his head to the sound.

There in the doorway stood Destiny, barefoot and in her pink unicorn nightgown. She closed the door behind her and scampered over to Quatre's bed. She quickly climbed onto it and crawled over to him. Quatre smiled and welcomed her warmly.

"Bad dream?" he asked in a soft voice as he pulled the covers over her. She nodded in reply and snuggled against his bare chest. "Want to tell me about it?"

"It was him again, Quatre. He was being mean again. He had a gun in his hand and looked scary."

Quatre frowned. "You usually don't dream about him unless you can feel him... did you feel him?"

"Uh huh. I forgot to tell you, Quatre. When we were in space I felt it."

"Where were you?"

"In the car with Uncle Duo, but it didn't last long. Quatre, is my daddy as mean as he feels?"

"No, Destiny, he isn't. Remember how I told you your hearts were connected so you feel the pain in his heart? Well, that's just what it is. He tries to let it go, but it's very difficult for him. Remember, what I told: he's the soul of outer space. He has a great burden and it's very hard on him. But you'll see, the day you meet him, it will all be all right. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Anything else you should tell me?"

"I almost told Mommy about Daddy today. It was an accident."

"You caught yourself though, right?"

"Uh huh. But tonight she asked me about what I meant. I told her I guessed he wouldn't like it."

"Good, because she can't find out you know about your daddy. It's too hard on her to think of him. We don't want to hurt Mommy, do we?"

Destiny shook her head. That look in her eyes showing she was thinking. Finally, she looked up at him with all her innocence. "Will I ever see Daddy?"

"I...I hope so. But for now we'll just have to wait for him to find himself. No matter how long it will take, I can bet your mother will wait for him. Now, go to sleep."

"'Night, Quatre," she mumbled.

He ran his hand down her hair, straightening it. "Good night, Angel."



The End of Chapter 7



Okay, sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. I got way behind and this is almost two weeks longer than when I wanted to get it out. Sorry! Anyways, as for the chapter… Yeah yeah, I'm sorry HYxRP fans. You'll never see a scene like that again. I was bored in Algebra class and that whole restaurant and dancing scene was written then. But hey, if you like the QWxRP pairing, then there ya go! I know there was a lot of confusion in this chapter, especially around Wu-man and Duo. Don't worry; all of your questions will be answered in later chapters! But, stay tuned for the next chapter, which is all about Heero! Yay, we're going to catch up on him after 4 ½ years! Anyways, as always, thanks for reading!