He struggled to awaken, feeling warm and secure; feelings he hadn't
felt in a long time. Against his back, Quatre felt fingers dance, idly
moving back and forth in a gesture that was both comforting and tickling.
He nuzzled the warm solid chest he laid against, and sighed deeply when he
felt Trowa kiss his hair.
"How do you feel?"
He smiled blindly before stretching and settling in. "Warm, safe, and still very sleepy."
Above him, Trowa chuckled. "Good, wouldn't want you to be sleepy and cold at the same time."
They laughed for a moment, before Quatre decided it was time to sit up. Raising his head, he took in the beautiful sight of Trowa's sleep tousled form. His hair was a disheveled mess, but his eyes were bright and cheerful.
"Good morning." He said; Trowa chuckled. "Merry Christmas.um Eve."
"I don't think you're supposed to celebrate Christmas Eve."
Disgruntled, Quatre dropped his elbows and allowed his body to crash on top of Trowa's. "If not, then why's Duo having a party?"
"I think it's most likely because if he had a party on Christmas day, no one would come."
"We'd come."
"We don't celebrate Christmas."
"Oh."
Together they laughed; the sound was beautiful and at once peaceful, sending Quatre's high spirits even higher. With soft fingertips, Trowa traced the lines of Quatre's face. Leaning into the touch, Quatre mewed softly for his lover to continue.
In time, Trowa broached the unfortunate subject. "You got a fax last night." He closed his eyes and nodded. "Do you want to see it?"
"Just tell me what it said."
Trowa took a deep breath. "'Done. Merry Christmas, Master Winner.' That's what it said. There was a single piece of paper that explained the codes needed to access the account."
Quatre nodded, snuggling closer at the sudden chill he felt. "Trowa? Do you think I did the right thing?"
Sudden strong arms pulled Quatre so he was half lying on top of Trowa, while long fingers danced comfortingly across his back. "You did the only thing you could have. They weren't going to stop. I'm glad you stood up for yourself."
Quatre smiled. "Finally. You forgot to put 'finally' at the end of that sentence."
Trowa grinned, caught. "Maybe, but I've learned it's best not to antagonize you."
A lingering fear passed over Quatre and he had to know what Trowa thought. "What-what about Cijen? Did I do the right thing by not including her with the others?"
Trowa was silent for a moment as he considered. "I have a new.respect for your sister. Since watching that vid, seeing how she protected you, I have to feel a sense of thanks for the ways she took care of you. If the things Sekurra said are true-which I think they are-then Cijen was doing little more than what Catherine did all those years ago when you tried to take me from the circus." Quatre tensed in his arms, and Trowa noticed, rubbing his back soothingly. "I didn't mean to upset you, but do you understand? It's like I saw the things she was doing from a different perspective-her perspective-and I understood. She wanted the best for you. I saw Koeran on the vid and I understand why she approved of him. Up until only a little while ago, Quatre, I wasn't even capable of taking care of myself, not really. Cijen must have seen that, and compared to Koeran, I didn't really measure up."
"Trowa, that's not true. It's not even fair to compare you and Koeran. You're roles were entirely different. I was being taken care of by Koeran, but I was the one taking care of you. If anything Cijen should have compared you and I, then at least it would have been fair."
"No, Quatre. I'm the one that's taking care of you now, and it's a fair comparison, I'm just afraid that even now, I don't quite measure up. That's not a plea for praise or reassurance, just the honest truth."
And what could Quatre say? Trowa didn't compare to Koeran, he couldn't-the two men were made of entirely different things. Koeran had been built to command and lead, Trowa had been designed to sneak and follow. They weren't the same, should never be compared as the same, and yet poor Trowa thought that they had to be, that he needed to measure up to a man he could never measure against. It was like apples and oranges, husbands and wives.
"Trowa," he had to say something to quell the insecurities he knew Trowa was experiencing. "I'm not the best person to remain impartial about such things. I loved Koeran as much as I could, as much as a boy-man could. But you I love as a man, a partner for life. The both of you were what I needed you to be when I needed you to be them. I've been very lucky, extremely lucky. I had Koeran when I needed protection, and I have you now, when I need to protect."
There, he'd said it, would Trowa understand?
His lover looked down at him, a faint look of confusion in his eyes before Quatre shifted his away to take in the.setting sun?
"Trowa? What time is it?" He swung around to look at the clock just as Trowa began to chuckle. The display read eight fifteen, and he breathed a sigh of relieve until he remembered the sun had been setting.
Suddenly he sat bolt up right and looked incredulously down at Trowa. "Trowa, it's after eight o'clock! I slept the whole day away." His partner only laughed and nodded his head. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"You needed your sleep. Killa's empathic storm last week, those newly discovered terror emotions from your childhood, and then the empathic storm you had last night, Quatre you could hardly blame me for killing anyone that tried to wake you up today."
And Quatre smiled tiredly before lying back down on Trowa's chest, letting his lover soothe the memories. "I guess I was tired. You didn't stay in bed with me all day, did you?"
Trowa shook his head, but Quatre didn't see it. "I got up earlier and took the kids to Duo and Heero's, they're there now. I checked the fax and then grabbed a bite to eat before coming back to bed. Don't feel too bad. Killashandra got wiped by the storm as well; she slept later than Shingam, and when I woke up at three, Corinne still hadn't checked in. All the empaths on base got the day off thanks to you, and I think they may be throwing you a party, but not until their headaches stop, Sally's been treating them all day."
He groaned. "Oh great, one guy has a bad day and the whole place shuts down."
"It was more than just a bad day, Quatre. It was horrible what they did to you."
Knowingly, Quatre agreed with a nod of his head. "I guess I just wish my personal problems would stop affecting everyone! I'm turning out to be more trouble than the terrorists we're supposed to be fighting against. And I know what my sisters did was bad, I'm just trying to forget about it. I wish I could just erase it from my memory." He smiled at Trowa, letting him know he was only kidding. "So what happened to all my things?" He purposefully didn't ask about the AI, he hoped someone had the decency to destroy it, or mail it back to his sisters.
"Heero and Wufei moved them into storage after Sally knocked you out last night. They're there if you ever want to look at them. I had them keep the mirror and the rocking horse for Shingam and Killashandra, but if you'd like I'll have them taken away before you see them."
He shook his head. "No, I gave them to the children. They really were special to me as a child, being the only toys my mother had acquired for me before her death."
Hesitantly, Trowa spoke. "I don't think I've ever asked before. How did your mother die, Quatre?"
He smiled painfully into Trowa's chest. "Cancer. All the medical breakthroughs in the last two hundred years still haven't eradicated that stupid mutation of our own genes. My sisters told me-Cijen told me-that my mother was very kind to all my sisters, but had taken a special liking to her. She told me my mother was bedridden towards the end of my tube cycle, but that my mother had talked non-stop about how beautiful I would be, how smart and brave." He laughed. "Cijen said some of my sisters were even jealous of me before I was born. I guess my mother asked Cijen to take extra special care of me, and that we were special brother and sister, special because we had to look out for each other. It's rather tragic, but I guess my father brought me in so my mother could see me right after I was born; she died less than five minutes later. It's nice to think she got to see me once. I wish I could remember her."
Softly, Trowa rubbed his back. "Thank you for telling me."
He nodded, not trusting his voice for a moment. Trowa noticed and they laid in silence for a while, simply resting in each other's presence.
Eventually Quatre giggled at a remembrance. "You know, when you were telling me how you'd already gotten up, you said you'd 'taken the kids to Duo and Heero's'. Do you realize how you said that, 'the kids'? Has it hit you yet, Trowa? We're going to be parents. I mean, we are, parents, that is. It seems right somehow, doesn't it? After the holidays I can have my lawyers draw up all the paperwork. The formal adoption will probably take a little while, but until then I can have us listed as their legal guardians."
But Trowa didn't seem excited and as Quatre looked up, he saw the troubled look in Trowa's eye. Fear settled over him, but he knew they both had to agree or this wouldn't work. "Trowa? Have-have you changed your mind?"
Trowa looked startled for a moment, before shaking his head and offering a weak smile. "I haven't changed my mind. As long as it's within my power to give you what you want, you know I'll try and honestly, I like the idea of raising them both, but there are things we still need to talk about."
"Like what?"
His lover took a deep breath, and Quatre found he was holding his own. "To anyone normal, this would sound like a strange request, but I think it's safe to say neither of us are normal." Trowa waited for Quatre's nod. "I figured you'd eventually ask me to adopt the children, and that's fine. I wish we were a little bit older, but you can't always decide these things. But Quatre, neither one of us had a healthy childhood, and I won't allow our children to be subjected to demons from our pasts." The unspoken words were there, Trowa didn't want them to beat or rape their own children.
"Oh Trowa, we could never be like our parents-and I use that term loosely. We're smarter than that, and we know how bad it is." But Trowa was shaking his head.
"I looked it up. Do you know how many abused children grow up to be abusive parents? The numbers are staggering and I refuse to allow any possibility that it could happen to us, or our children."
"What do you suggest?"
Trowa was quiet for a moment before continuing. "Counseling. Parenting classes for sure. Besides what we've read in good stories we have no idea what it really means to be good parents. But we have to find out, Quatre. Our children will only have the best and that means from us too. We've already figured out that we play uncle fairly well, but can we play dad? I don't know."
Quatre hugged him then, wrapped Trowa in strong arms and held on tightly. "You're the most wonderful, giving, caring, and loving man I've ever known. There isn't anyone in the world I'd rather raise two beautiful children with. I agree. We could go to the classes on the base, one of the parents runs it. Lady Une mentioned it a little while ago as a passing thought. I'm sure we could get tons of advice there, not to mention hear how other parents are dealing with problems. As to the other stuff, we'll have to believe in our selves, believe that we'll do what's best for Killa and Shingam, but beyond that I think you're right. Both of us should talk with someone specifically about this, really get into the deep dark places in our past and beat the shit out of those skeletons." He and Trowa laughed, a happy sound that lifted Quatre's spirits.
"You know, we can't confuse them anymore. If we're going to be parents we'd better start acting like parents."
"What do you mean?" He looked down at Trowa, perplexed.
"Well unlike Marieminna, most children call their parents by titles, like father or dad. What do you think?"
Quatre smiled and laughed. "You mean which title do I want? What about you? Will you take, Dad, or how about Daddy? I can just see Shingam calling you Daddy."
Trowa smiled but shook his head. "The French term for father will be just fine for me. Papa. I think I make a decent, Papa."
He nodded. "I think you look excellent as a Papa. I guess I'll stick with Father. There's something therapeutic about allowing the children to call me that. Maybe it's unhealthy, but to know that I took my father's title and am going to be a hundred times better than he was at it, well, it just makes me happy." He felt those fingers return to his back and he arched his spine to get more contact.
"They'll say we're only children ourselves."
"Let them say whatever they want, we've never listened to them before, why start now."
"Just checking."
* * *
"There you are, Quatre! Shingam and Killa have been worried about you, but I told them not to worry, that Trowa was taking care of you!" Marieminna was already in his arms as he entered Duo and Heero's living room and was surrounded by dozens of soldiers and technicians.
"Is that so? Well, I'd better find Shingam and Killa then." He turned to smile at Trowa who had placed a warm arm about his shoulder and tickled Marieminna under her chin. "By the way sweetheart, when did you get back? And where's you're mom?"
"I got back really late last night, but Wufei picked me up. Mom's in some really important meeting. Wufei told me that Zechs called last night and Mom's been in the office since then. I tried to go have lunch with her today, but she said she really, really had to concentrate. That was ok, because Wufei took me to lunch in town, and then we went to play on the jungle gym in the garden before he took me back to my room to get dressed for the party. But guess what! I got to go early, and Duo took me and Shingam and Killa to church with him and I got to see a real mass! It was really neat! Wufei didn't go 'cause he's not Catholic, but that's ok 'cause he stayed with Heero. I had a lot of fun and so did Shingam and Killa, we were really quiet too!" It was two hours past her bedtime, and she was probably high on sugar and candy canes. So much energy, Quatre wished he could tap into for just a moment.
"Well, it sounds like you've had a busy day."
"Yep!"
"There you guys are! I thought we were going to have to party without you!" Duo moved from a group of people he'd been talking with to hug Quatre soundly.
"Fashionably late." He smirked at Duo. "Anyway, what's this I hear? You took my children to mass?" It was only a joke, but at once Duo looked worried and immediately sorry and regretful.
"Hey, Quatre, I'm sorry about that. I didn't think it was a big deal. But Heero needed sometime to get ready, and I had to go to church tonight anyway, and the kids were already with me.gosh, I didn't think you'd mind."
Hurriedly, he rushed to fix the mistake. "No, no! It's fine. I was only teasing. Actually, Trowa and I haven't had much of a chance to talk about it yet, but I'd really like them both exposed to numerous religions, that way they can make their own choices. In fact, I'd be grateful if you'd teach them a little bit about Christianity; maybe Heero could even teach them about Buddhism, or Wufei about Taewism. I want them to learn about the Islamic religion, but I want them to have choices."
Duo smiled, but strangely his smile held a look of pain and silent suffering. "Hey, don't sweat it. If I had kids I'd do the same thing. Have them baptized Catholic and then run them through the religious gambit of the world. If I had kids."
Quatre felt it immediately, the pain and sorrow radiating off of Duo. He tried to reach out to his friend, was about to say something when Marieminna shifted and he lost his chance as Duo moved away. The next thing he knew Shingam was vying for his attention, Killashandra was begging with body language to be picked-up, and Marieminna was asking if she could have another cookie. When he got the children all settled down, Duo had moved across the room and Trowa was talking quietly with Sally and Wufei.
The next time he managed to find Duo, bringing up the host's personal problems wasn't appropriate. It wasn't until nearly ten o'clock, once all the guest had gone, that he and his friends were able to sit quietly together for a moment.
Shingam and Killashandra were perched on top of his and Trowa's laps, and Killashandra slept peacefully in Trowa's arms. Marieminna sat between himself and Trowa, trying her hardest not to nod off. Sally and Wufei sat close together in one of the loveseats, their hands intertwined together until you couldn't tell whose fingers were whose. And then Duo sat with Heero; Heero's arm thrown carelessly about the back of the couch, Duo leaning slightly into Heero's solid body. Duo had just finished reading the Christmas story, complete with baby Jesus and angel sound effects, and then the poem, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". Now Duo rested silently and Quatre ached to discern how to help ease his best friend's pain.
Shingam's voice was soft when he spoke to Duo. "I liked the story about baby Jesus. They told that story in church today but it sounded different."
Duo seemed to perk up and he smiled brightly at Shingam's innocent question. "Actually they are different. It depends what Apostle wrote the story, on how it sounds. But the story I read to you is the accepted story of the birth of Jesus Christ."
"Are there more stories about Jesus? He was just a tiny baby and yet he was really important, otherwise why would we be talking about him all this time later, right? He's like Heero Yuy, really important." It was amazing how much Shingam could pick-up, and how well he articulated himself for a five year old.
Duo took it all in stride. "There are tons of stories about Jesus. In fact, Jesus himself told stories as ways of teaching his apostles. He also loved children, little children like you three." He gestured to Marieminna who sat now in rapped attention, Shingam who was likewise, and the sleeping Killa. "Jesus even yelled at his friends once because they tried to keep some children from seeing him."
"Did Jesus have any children?"
Duo's face fell then and his shoulders seemed to slump a little. "No, Jesus didn't have any children. He was killed before he had a chance to have any. He was only thirty-three when he died. Too young, far too young." Duo trailed off, and Heero took on a concerned expression as he pulled Duo more securely into his frame.
Quatre looked at Trowa and saw concern there as well. He wasn't the only one that thought something was wrong with Duo. He would have checked by now, but his mind was so exhausted by all that had happened in the last week that he simply didn't have the energy. He wished he did.
Sally's chipper voice sounded then, drawing attention away from Duo in hopes of lightening the mood and setting Duo to happiness again. "Well, this is probably the last chance we're going to have before New Years to be together quietly and Wufei and I have something to tell you that won't wait until then." She smiled, beaming at Wufei who returned her smile with a secretive one of his own. "You tell them, it's only right." Her smiled didn't fade as all eyes in the room focused on Wufei and the intertwined hands he moved from the couch to his lap, stroking Sally's with his free hand.
The proud man cleared his throat and then smiled adoringly at his fiancé before turning to look pointedly at each of his friends, before looking away almost sheepishly. His voice was soft when he spoke, but there was more pride in Wufei's voice then, than any of them had ever heard him use before, ever.
"Sally is pregnant. We're going to have a baby."
There was silence for a spit second before absolute pandemonium began. Congratulations were handed out across the board and Trowa even handed Killashandra to Quatre so he could hug the two new parents.
Questions were thrown about, and it was soon discovered that Sally had been pregnant for almost two months. That meant that her break down on the tarmac before Wufei had asked her to marry him had been due to raging hormone levels and not just fear and terror. She hadn't known until after Quatre and Trowa had settled things between them. When she'd told Wufei, they'd both agreed to wait to tell everyone because of an old superstition. They'd also decided not to marry until Sally could fit into a wedding dress. Laughingly, Sally had told them, she had no fear of not being married in exactly nine months; Wufei was too honorable to back out of a commitment that entailed their child.
The laughter and good will continued, even after Quatre noticed that Duo did not participate as much as would be expected. He laughed and joked at all the right times, but there was something missing in it all, some part of Duo that wasn't present at this joyous occasion. Quatre noted that Heero also seemed to be hanging back, his arm still about Duo's shoulders, sensing his partners discomfort.
Marieminna giggled in her childlike way. "Does that mean I'm going to get to baby-sit?!"
Sally looked from Wufei, who looked back at her, before she smiled down at the little red haired girl. "Well of course! Who else would we trust? And you've been so good at watching Shingam and Killashandra, we wouldn't dare look anywhere else for a great babysitter."
They continued on, but again Quatre found he couldn't enjoy the occasion as he kept sensing Duo's underlying sadness. Finally, an intercom beeping interrupted them.
"Sally this is Une. Report to my office right away. That's an order." There was a cold steel in Lady's voice and Quatre felt the immediate tension in all of them at hearing it.
"Mom, are you going to come and get me?" Marieminna's voice was quiet; she'd noticed her mom's voice as well.
There was a pause and then, "Wufei, please take Marieminna back to our quarters." That was all, and then the com beeped, and Marieminna looked sullen. Wufei rescued her.
"Come on, Daughter Dragon. I'll practice tucking you in for later." It was so amazing to see this new and sweeter side of Wufei. They'd all assumed he'd be a hard-ass for the rest of his life; it seemed imminent parenthood suited him well. Marieminna nodded and he looked to Sally.
"I'll meet you in Une's office." The mother of his child nodded her head and together they said their good-byes and good nights. Marieminna made Duo promise to wake her up early tomorrow for presents and to see if Santa had eaten the cookies in their private dinning room. Half-heartedly, Duo agreed, and then the new family-plus Marieminna-were out the door, Merry Christmas on their lips. The door was barely closed when Quatre accosted Duo. "What's wrong?"
Stunned at being caught-at his mask failing-Duo tried to laugh it off.
"Wrong? Nothing's wrong, I'm fine. You guys want anything to drink? Still hungry?" With that he was shifting about the room, picking up cups and left over dishes. Busying his hands to keep his mind from working.
Heero stopped him, grabbing the dishes out of his hands before taking him by the shoulders. "I thought you never lied?" His voice was so soft, so sincere. In that moment, Quatre realized that his two friends were connected, perhaps not in the way that he and Trowa were, but no less profound or real.
It was like watching a balloon deflate, Duo just seemed to collapse into Heero's arms. The next thing they knew he was struggling to keep his tears in check. Heero's strong arms wrapped about him securely and tugged him over to the couch where he sat, pulling Duo to rest in his lap.
"What's hurting you, Koi?" Quatre remembered that 'koi' was a Japanese endearment, very personal, and though Heero was making immense progress in expressing his emotions, Quatre had never heard him use any kind of endearment when talking to Duo.
And like the floodgates were lifted, Duo began to sob. Great gasps of breath that shook them all to the core. More than Quatre, more than even Trowa, Duo was abhorred to crying; he'd learned a long time ago, boys don't cry.
But there he was, wrapped tightly in Heero's arms, sobbing his heart out. His voice was broken at best, his sobs making it hard to understand him.
"Not.be like this! We're.first! Quatre.two. Wu--.Sally.one! God.hate this!" Struggling for breath, Duo pulled away from Heero's neck and tried desperately to dry his eyes. Like a mask falling into place, he melted back into a jester.
"Man look at me, I'm a mess. Stupid tears! Man I feel so stupid! I'm just going to go-"
"Sit. Explain." Heero's few words seemed to break through Duo's mask, and again tears were cascading down his face.
He sniffled. "We were supposed to be the first ones. You and me! Now Quatre and Trowa have two kids, Wufei and Sally have one on the way, Hell, even Lady Une beat us too it! I was supposed to have like four kids by now, Heero, four! Does it look like I have any kids? It's fucking Christmas and I bought presents for four children and none of them were ours! I hate it! I hate it! I know we're young, I know that! But look around! Everyone's got kids except us, Heero! Everyone! Even Zechs and Noin! Shit, Treize is dead but he still managed to have a kid! And I'm here, twenty-fucking-one and what do I have to show for it? I've got our four bedroom apartment, a nice car, and you! I just don't-I hate knowing that they all have something we don't."
It was the honest confession of a man who'd been holding onto his feelings for far too long. Duo had always wanted children, always. Half a dozen if he could manage it. To be the last, to know that everyone his age was now starting a family and he wasn't; in the part of his soul that had just cracked and oozed out, he wanted a family of his own, perhaps even more than Quatre.
Holding Duo close and pressing a silent kiss into the bangs that covered his forehead, Heero spoke softly and seriously, but with more compassion then they'd ever heard-it was a night of firsts.
"When we talked before, I failed to notice how much it was hurting you to wait on our family. I was too excited to realize that you even wanted one with me to see that you didn't want to wait. I forced you to postpone and I'm sorry."
Duo interjected. "It's not that Heero. I really was willing to wait. But now it seems like there isn't a point. Everyone we know has kids except us, and I'm so jealous I could die. I mean I took the kids to church today and all I could think was, 'These people think all three of them are mine,' and I couldn't stop grinning. I even made us stay after to show them off! And when I buckled Killa and Shingam into the safety seats, God Heero, I can't explain the longing I felt. I know I'm not being rational, but I can't help it! I know we said we'd wait, but I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able too, especially if everyone but us already has kids." There was desperation in Duo's voice, and Quatre understood, understood better than anyone.
"Boy or girl?" Heero's voice was hard but gentle at the same time, causing Duo to look up at him with confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you want to have a boy or a girl?" It was so simple for Heero. Quatre could feel Heero's resolve; Duo hurt, that was unacceptable. Duo wanted a child; all that was left was to determine the sex. Duo was Heero's world, and Heero would do anything to make him happy; especially if it was to have a child. Quatre quickly realized that Heero hadn't wanted to wait to have children either, that they'd failed to communicate what they'd both wanted, children, then and now.
Duo's eyes lit up in realization. "You're serious, aren't you?"
"Hai."
"Just like that? You'd make us parents just like that?"
"Hai."
"Why?"
No hesitation.
"Because I love you."
Duo smiled and threw his arms around Heero's neck, before kissing him thoroughly and soundly.
"You want to be a Daddy with me?"
But Heero shook his head, causing Duo's face to fall. Then Heero smiled.
"I want to be Dad. You be Daddy."
Ten minutes later, after much apologizing by Duo and much begging off of apologies by Quatre. He and Trowa returned to their apartment. Together they exchanged party clothes for PJ's and tucked both children into bed, smiling the entire time at how lucky they were to have such beautiful children.
At the door, Quatre heard Shingam's sleepy voice call his name.
"Quatre?"
"Yes?"
"Duo and Heero want to have children?"
He smiled. "Yes, Shingam. Very much so."
"Do you think they'll get other children?"
Perplexed he moved back to the bed and tucked a piece of unruly dark brown hair behind Shingam's ear. "They've been talking about adopting for a while now, so I think they'll probably adopt a child. Just like Trowa and I are going to adopt you and Killashandra."
"Why don't they just raise their own child?" Shingam shifted, looking behind him at Trowa who'd moved up to stroke the child's hair. Something in Shingam seemed off, but Quatre was too exhausted to probe, and attributed it too Shingam's hectic day.
"Shingam partners like Duo and Heero, and even Trowa and I can't have our own children. It isn't possible. Science hasn't found a way to do that yet. But I'm sure they'll love the child they adopt just as much as they would their own child."
Weakly Shingam nodded his head before turning and wrapping Killa into a tight hold, burying his face in her curly hair.
Not knowing what had caused Shingam to act so sadly, Quatre figured it had to do with the lateness of his sleep, it being past ten o'clock. He kissed Shingam's head one more time and then moved with Trowa out the door, past the living room and into the bedroom.
"That was strange."
Trowa nodded.
Together they readied for bed before snuggling in together.
Smiling, Quatre stroked Trowa's hair as his head rested against Quatre's chest.
"I can't wait to give you you're present tomorrow. I know you're going to like it."
Trowa chuckled. "You already gave me billions of dollars in stocks, not to mention two beautiful children, and a family. What else could you possibly come up with?"
"You'll see tomorrow."
Trowa laughed. "Good night, Quatre."
"Good night, Beloved."
It was going to turn out to be a very restless Christmas Eve; and as the bells tolled the dawning of Christmas day, their lives were never going to be the same again.
"How do you feel?"
He smiled blindly before stretching and settling in. "Warm, safe, and still very sleepy."
Above him, Trowa chuckled. "Good, wouldn't want you to be sleepy and cold at the same time."
They laughed for a moment, before Quatre decided it was time to sit up. Raising his head, he took in the beautiful sight of Trowa's sleep tousled form. His hair was a disheveled mess, but his eyes were bright and cheerful.
"Good morning." He said; Trowa chuckled. "Merry Christmas.um Eve."
"I don't think you're supposed to celebrate Christmas Eve."
Disgruntled, Quatre dropped his elbows and allowed his body to crash on top of Trowa's. "If not, then why's Duo having a party?"
"I think it's most likely because if he had a party on Christmas day, no one would come."
"We'd come."
"We don't celebrate Christmas."
"Oh."
Together they laughed; the sound was beautiful and at once peaceful, sending Quatre's high spirits even higher. With soft fingertips, Trowa traced the lines of Quatre's face. Leaning into the touch, Quatre mewed softly for his lover to continue.
In time, Trowa broached the unfortunate subject. "You got a fax last night." He closed his eyes and nodded. "Do you want to see it?"
"Just tell me what it said."
Trowa took a deep breath. "'Done. Merry Christmas, Master Winner.' That's what it said. There was a single piece of paper that explained the codes needed to access the account."
Quatre nodded, snuggling closer at the sudden chill he felt. "Trowa? Do you think I did the right thing?"
Sudden strong arms pulled Quatre so he was half lying on top of Trowa, while long fingers danced comfortingly across his back. "You did the only thing you could have. They weren't going to stop. I'm glad you stood up for yourself."
Quatre smiled. "Finally. You forgot to put 'finally' at the end of that sentence."
Trowa grinned, caught. "Maybe, but I've learned it's best not to antagonize you."
A lingering fear passed over Quatre and he had to know what Trowa thought. "What-what about Cijen? Did I do the right thing by not including her with the others?"
Trowa was silent for a moment as he considered. "I have a new.respect for your sister. Since watching that vid, seeing how she protected you, I have to feel a sense of thanks for the ways she took care of you. If the things Sekurra said are true-which I think they are-then Cijen was doing little more than what Catherine did all those years ago when you tried to take me from the circus." Quatre tensed in his arms, and Trowa noticed, rubbing his back soothingly. "I didn't mean to upset you, but do you understand? It's like I saw the things she was doing from a different perspective-her perspective-and I understood. She wanted the best for you. I saw Koeran on the vid and I understand why she approved of him. Up until only a little while ago, Quatre, I wasn't even capable of taking care of myself, not really. Cijen must have seen that, and compared to Koeran, I didn't really measure up."
"Trowa, that's not true. It's not even fair to compare you and Koeran. You're roles were entirely different. I was being taken care of by Koeran, but I was the one taking care of you. If anything Cijen should have compared you and I, then at least it would have been fair."
"No, Quatre. I'm the one that's taking care of you now, and it's a fair comparison, I'm just afraid that even now, I don't quite measure up. That's not a plea for praise or reassurance, just the honest truth."
And what could Quatre say? Trowa didn't compare to Koeran, he couldn't-the two men were made of entirely different things. Koeran had been built to command and lead, Trowa had been designed to sneak and follow. They weren't the same, should never be compared as the same, and yet poor Trowa thought that they had to be, that he needed to measure up to a man he could never measure against. It was like apples and oranges, husbands and wives.
"Trowa," he had to say something to quell the insecurities he knew Trowa was experiencing. "I'm not the best person to remain impartial about such things. I loved Koeran as much as I could, as much as a boy-man could. But you I love as a man, a partner for life. The both of you were what I needed you to be when I needed you to be them. I've been very lucky, extremely lucky. I had Koeran when I needed protection, and I have you now, when I need to protect."
There, he'd said it, would Trowa understand?
His lover looked down at him, a faint look of confusion in his eyes before Quatre shifted his away to take in the.setting sun?
"Trowa? What time is it?" He swung around to look at the clock just as Trowa began to chuckle. The display read eight fifteen, and he breathed a sigh of relieve until he remembered the sun had been setting.
Suddenly he sat bolt up right and looked incredulously down at Trowa. "Trowa, it's after eight o'clock! I slept the whole day away." His partner only laughed and nodded his head. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"You needed your sleep. Killa's empathic storm last week, those newly discovered terror emotions from your childhood, and then the empathic storm you had last night, Quatre you could hardly blame me for killing anyone that tried to wake you up today."
And Quatre smiled tiredly before lying back down on Trowa's chest, letting his lover soothe the memories. "I guess I was tired. You didn't stay in bed with me all day, did you?"
Trowa shook his head, but Quatre didn't see it. "I got up earlier and took the kids to Duo and Heero's, they're there now. I checked the fax and then grabbed a bite to eat before coming back to bed. Don't feel too bad. Killashandra got wiped by the storm as well; she slept later than Shingam, and when I woke up at three, Corinne still hadn't checked in. All the empaths on base got the day off thanks to you, and I think they may be throwing you a party, but not until their headaches stop, Sally's been treating them all day."
He groaned. "Oh great, one guy has a bad day and the whole place shuts down."
"It was more than just a bad day, Quatre. It was horrible what they did to you."
Knowingly, Quatre agreed with a nod of his head. "I guess I just wish my personal problems would stop affecting everyone! I'm turning out to be more trouble than the terrorists we're supposed to be fighting against. And I know what my sisters did was bad, I'm just trying to forget about it. I wish I could just erase it from my memory." He smiled at Trowa, letting him know he was only kidding. "So what happened to all my things?" He purposefully didn't ask about the AI, he hoped someone had the decency to destroy it, or mail it back to his sisters.
"Heero and Wufei moved them into storage after Sally knocked you out last night. They're there if you ever want to look at them. I had them keep the mirror and the rocking horse for Shingam and Killashandra, but if you'd like I'll have them taken away before you see them."
He shook his head. "No, I gave them to the children. They really were special to me as a child, being the only toys my mother had acquired for me before her death."
Hesitantly, Trowa spoke. "I don't think I've ever asked before. How did your mother die, Quatre?"
He smiled painfully into Trowa's chest. "Cancer. All the medical breakthroughs in the last two hundred years still haven't eradicated that stupid mutation of our own genes. My sisters told me-Cijen told me-that my mother was very kind to all my sisters, but had taken a special liking to her. She told me my mother was bedridden towards the end of my tube cycle, but that my mother had talked non-stop about how beautiful I would be, how smart and brave." He laughed. "Cijen said some of my sisters were even jealous of me before I was born. I guess my mother asked Cijen to take extra special care of me, and that we were special brother and sister, special because we had to look out for each other. It's rather tragic, but I guess my father brought me in so my mother could see me right after I was born; she died less than five minutes later. It's nice to think she got to see me once. I wish I could remember her."
Softly, Trowa rubbed his back. "Thank you for telling me."
He nodded, not trusting his voice for a moment. Trowa noticed and they laid in silence for a while, simply resting in each other's presence.
Eventually Quatre giggled at a remembrance. "You know, when you were telling me how you'd already gotten up, you said you'd 'taken the kids to Duo and Heero's'. Do you realize how you said that, 'the kids'? Has it hit you yet, Trowa? We're going to be parents. I mean, we are, parents, that is. It seems right somehow, doesn't it? After the holidays I can have my lawyers draw up all the paperwork. The formal adoption will probably take a little while, but until then I can have us listed as their legal guardians."
But Trowa didn't seem excited and as Quatre looked up, he saw the troubled look in Trowa's eye. Fear settled over him, but he knew they both had to agree or this wouldn't work. "Trowa? Have-have you changed your mind?"
Trowa looked startled for a moment, before shaking his head and offering a weak smile. "I haven't changed my mind. As long as it's within my power to give you what you want, you know I'll try and honestly, I like the idea of raising them both, but there are things we still need to talk about."
"Like what?"
His lover took a deep breath, and Quatre found he was holding his own. "To anyone normal, this would sound like a strange request, but I think it's safe to say neither of us are normal." Trowa waited for Quatre's nod. "I figured you'd eventually ask me to adopt the children, and that's fine. I wish we were a little bit older, but you can't always decide these things. But Quatre, neither one of us had a healthy childhood, and I won't allow our children to be subjected to demons from our pasts." The unspoken words were there, Trowa didn't want them to beat or rape their own children.
"Oh Trowa, we could never be like our parents-and I use that term loosely. We're smarter than that, and we know how bad it is." But Trowa was shaking his head.
"I looked it up. Do you know how many abused children grow up to be abusive parents? The numbers are staggering and I refuse to allow any possibility that it could happen to us, or our children."
"What do you suggest?"
Trowa was quiet for a moment before continuing. "Counseling. Parenting classes for sure. Besides what we've read in good stories we have no idea what it really means to be good parents. But we have to find out, Quatre. Our children will only have the best and that means from us too. We've already figured out that we play uncle fairly well, but can we play dad? I don't know."
Quatre hugged him then, wrapped Trowa in strong arms and held on tightly. "You're the most wonderful, giving, caring, and loving man I've ever known. There isn't anyone in the world I'd rather raise two beautiful children with. I agree. We could go to the classes on the base, one of the parents runs it. Lady Une mentioned it a little while ago as a passing thought. I'm sure we could get tons of advice there, not to mention hear how other parents are dealing with problems. As to the other stuff, we'll have to believe in our selves, believe that we'll do what's best for Killa and Shingam, but beyond that I think you're right. Both of us should talk with someone specifically about this, really get into the deep dark places in our past and beat the shit out of those skeletons." He and Trowa laughed, a happy sound that lifted Quatre's spirits.
"You know, we can't confuse them anymore. If we're going to be parents we'd better start acting like parents."
"What do you mean?" He looked down at Trowa, perplexed.
"Well unlike Marieminna, most children call their parents by titles, like father or dad. What do you think?"
Quatre smiled and laughed. "You mean which title do I want? What about you? Will you take, Dad, or how about Daddy? I can just see Shingam calling you Daddy."
Trowa smiled but shook his head. "The French term for father will be just fine for me. Papa. I think I make a decent, Papa."
He nodded. "I think you look excellent as a Papa. I guess I'll stick with Father. There's something therapeutic about allowing the children to call me that. Maybe it's unhealthy, but to know that I took my father's title and am going to be a hundred times better than he was at it, well, it just makes me happy." He felt those fingers return to his back and he arched his spine to get more contact.
"They'll say we're only children ourselves."
"Let them say whatever they want, we've never listened to them before, why start now."
"Just checking."
* * *
"There you are, Quatre! Shingam and Killa have been worried about you, but I told them not to worry, that Trowa was taking care of you!" Marieminna was already in his arms as he entered Duo and Heero's living room and was surrounded by dozens of soldiers and technicians.
"Is that so? Well, I'd better find Shingam and Killa then." He turned to smile at Trowa who had placed a warm arm about his shoulder and tickled Marieminna under her chin. "By the way sweetheart, when did you get back? And where's you're mom?"
"I got back really late last night, but Wufei picked me up. Mom's in some really important meeting. Wufei told me that Zechs called last night and Mom's been in the office since then. I tried to go have lunch with her today, but she said she really, really had to concentrate. That was ok, because Wufei took me to lunch in town, and then we went to play on the jungle gym in the garden before he took me back to my room to get dressed for the party. But guess what! I got to go early, and Duo took me and Shingam and Killa to church with him and I got to see a real mass! It was really neat! Wufei didn't go 'cause he's not Catholic, but that's ok 'cause he stayed with Heero. I had a lot of fun and so did Shingam and Killa, we were really quiet too!" It was two hours past her bedtime, and she was probably high on sugar and candy canes. So much energy, Quatre wished he could tap into for just a moment.
"Well, it sounds like you've had a busy day."
"Yep!"
"There you guys are! I thought we were going to have to party without you!" Duo moved from a group of people he'd been talking with to hug Quatre soundly.
"Fashionably late." He smirked at Duo. "Anyway, what's this I hear? You took my children to mass?" It was only a joke, but at once Duo looked worried and immediately sorry and regretful.
"Hey, Quatre, I'm sorry about that. I didn't think it was a big deal. But Heero needed sometime to get ready, and I had to go to church tonight anyway, and the kids were already with me.gosh, I didn't think you'd mind."
Hurriedly, he rushed to fix the mistake. "No, no! It's fine. I was only teasing. Actually, Trowa and I haven't had much of a chance to talk about it yet, but I'd really like them both exposed to numerous religions, that way they can make their own choices. In fact, I'd be grateful if you'd teach them a little bit about Christianity; maybe Heero could even teach them about Buddhism, or Wufei about Taewism. I want them to learn about the Islamic religion, but I want them to have choices."
Duo smiled, but strangely his smile held a look of pain and silent suffering. "Hey, don't sweat it. If I had kids I'd do the same thing. Have them baptized Catholic and then run them through the religious gambit of the world. If I had kids."
Quatre felt it immediately, the pain and sorrow radiating off of Duo. He tried to reach out to his friend, was about to say something when Marieminna shifted and he lost his chance as Duo moved away. The next thing he knew Shingam was vying for his attention, Killashandra was begging with body language to be picked-up, and Marieminna was asking if she could have another cookie. When he got the children all settled down, Duo had moved across the room and Trowa was talking quietly with Sally and Wufei.
The next time he managed to find Duo, bringing up the host's personal problems wasn't appropriate. It wasn't until nearly ten o'clock, once all the guest had gone, that he and his friends were able to sit quietly together for a moment.
Shingam and Killashandra were perched on top of his and Trowa's laps, and Killashandra slept peacefully in Trowa's arms. Marieminna sat between himself and Trowa, trying her hardest not to nod off. Sally and Wufei sat close together in one of the loveseats, their hands intertwined together until you couldn't tell whose fingers were whose. And then Duo sat with Heero; Heero's arm thrown carelessly about the back of the couch, Duo leaning slightly into Heero's solid body. Duo had just finished reading the Christmas story, complete with baby Jesus and angel sound effects, and then the poem, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". Now Duo rested silently and Quatre ached to discern how to help ease his best friend's pain.
Shingam's voice was soft when he spoke to Duo. "I liked the story about baby Jesus. They told that story in church today but it sounded different."
Duo seemed to perk up and he smiled brightly at Shingam's innocent question. "Actually they are different. It depends what Apostle wrote the story, on how it sounds. But the story I read to you is the accepted story of the birth of Jesus Christ."
"Are there more stories about Jesus? He was just a tiny baby and yet he was really important, otherwise why would we be talking about him all this time later, right? He's like Heero Yuy, really important." It was amazing how much Shingam could pick-up, and how well he articulated himself for a five year old.
Duo took it all in stride. "There are tons of stories about Jesus. In fact, Jesus himself told stories as ways of teaching his apostles. He also loved children, little children like you three." He gestured to Marieminna who sat now in rapped attention, Shingam who was likewise, and the sleeping Killa. "Jesus even yelled at his friends once because they tried to keep some children from seeing him."
"Did Jesus have any children?"
Duo's face fell then and his shoulders seemed to slump a little. "No, Jesus didn't have any children. He was killed before he had a chance to have any. He was only thirty-three when he died. Too young, far too young." Duo trailed off, and Heero took on a concerned expression as he pulled Duo more securely into his frame.
Quatre looked at Trowa and saw concern there as well. He wasn't the only one that thought something was wrong with Duo. He would have checked by now, but his mind was so exhausted by all that had happened in the last week that he simply didn't have the energy. He wished he did.
Sally's chipper voice sounded then, drawing attention away from Duo in hopes of lightening the mood and setting Duo to happiness again. "Well, this is probably the last chance we're going to have before New Years to be together quietly and Wufei and I have something to tell you that won't wait until then." She smiled, beaming at Wufei who returned her smile with a secretive one of his own. "You tell them, it's only right." Her smiled didn't fade as all eyes in the room focused on Wufei and the intertwined hands he moved from the couch to his lap, stroking Sally's with his free hand.
The proud man cleared his throat and then smiled adoringly at his fiancé before turning to look pointedly at each of his friends, before looking away almost sheepishly. His voice was soft when he spoke, but there was more pride in Wufei's voice then, than any of them had ever heard him use before, ever.
"Sally is pregnant. We're going to have a baby."
There was silence for a spit second before absolute pandemonium began. Congratulations were handed out across the board and Trowa even handed Killashandra to Quatre so he could hug the two new parents.
Questions were thrown about, and it was soon discovered that Sally had been pregnant for almost two months. That meant that her break down on the tarmac before Wufei had asked her to marry him had been due to raging hormone levels and not just fear and terror. She hadn't known until after Quatre and Trowa had settled things between them. When she'd told Wufei, they'd both agreed to wait to tell everyone because of an old superstition. They'd also decided not to marry until Sally could fit into a wedding dress. Laughingly, Sally had told them, she had no fear of not being married in exactly nine months; Wufei was too honorable to back out of a commitment that entailed their child.
The laughter and good will continued, even after Quatre noticed that Duo did not participate as much as would be expected. He laughed and joked at all the right times, but there was something missing in it all, some part of Duo that wasn't present at this joyous occasion. Quatre noted that Heero also seemed to be hanging back, his arm still about Duo's shoulders, sensing his partners discomfort.
Marieminna giggled in her childlike way. "Does that mean I'm going to get to baby-sit?!"
Sally looked from Wufei, who looked back at her, before she smiled down at the little red haired girl. "Well of course! Who else would we trust? And you've been so good at watching Shingam and Killashandra, we wouldn't dare look anywhere else for a great babysitter."
They continued on, but again Quatre found he couldn't enjoy the occasion as he kept sensing Duo's underlying sadness. Finally, an intercom beeping interrupted them.
"Sally this is Une. Report to my office right away. That's an order." There was a cold steel in Lady's voice and Quatre felt the immediate tension in all of them at hearing it.
"Mom, are you going to come and get me?" Marieminna's voice was quiet; she'd noticed her mom's voice as well.
There was a pause and then, "Wufei, please take Marieminna back to our quarters." That was all, and then the com beeped, and Marieminna looked sullen. Wufei rescued her.
"Come on, Daughter Dragon. I'll practice tucking you in for later." It was so amazing to see this new and sweeter side of Wufei. They'd all assumed he'd be a hard-ass for the rest of his life; it seemed imminent parenthood suited him well. Marieminna nodded and he looked to Sally.
"I'll meet you in Une's office." The mother of his child nodded her head and together they said their good-byes and good nights. Marieminna made Duo promise to wake her up early tomorrow for presents and to see if Santa had eaten the cookies in their private dinning room. Half-heartedly, Duo agreed, and then the new family-plus Marieminna-were out the door, Merry Christmas on their lips. The door was barely closed when Quatre accosted Duo. "What's wrong?"
Stunned at being caught-at his mask failing-Duo tried to laugh it off.
"Wrong? Nothing's wrong, I'm fine. You guys want anything to drink? Still hungry?" With that he was shifting about the room, picking up cups and left over dishes. Busying his hands to keep his mind from working.
Heero stopped him, grabbing the dishes out of his hands before taking him by the shoulders. "I thought you never lied?" His voice was so soft, so sincere. In that moment, Quatre realized that his two friends were connected, perhaps not in the way that he and Trowa were, but no less profound or real.
It was like watching a balloon deflate, Duo just seemed to collapse into Heero's arms. The next thing they knew he was struggling to keep his tears in check. Heero's strong arms wrapped about him securely and tugged him over to the couch where he sat, pulling Duo to rest in his lap.
"What's hurting you, Koi?" Quatre remembered that 'koi' was a Japanese endearment, very personal, and though Heero was making immense progress in expressing his emotions, Quatre had never heard him use any kind of endearment when talking to Duo.
And like the floodgates were lifted, Duo began to sob. Great gasps of breath that shook them all to the core. More than Quatre, more than even Trowa, Duo was abhorred to crying; he'd learned a long time ago, boys don't cry.
But there he was, wrapped tightly in Heero's arms, sobbing his heart out. His voice was broken at best, his sobs making it hard to understand him.
"Not.be like this! We're.first! Quatre.two. Wu--.Sally.one! God.hate this!" Struggling for breath, Duo pulled away from Heero's neck and tried desperately to dry his eyes. Like a mask falling into place, he melted back into a jester.
"Man look at me, I'm a mess. Stupid tears! Man I feel so stupid! I'm just going to go-"
"Sit. Explain." Heero's few words seemed to break through Duo's mask, and again tears were cascading down his face.
He sniffled. "We were supposed to be the first ones. You and me! Now Quatre and Trowa have two kids, Wufei and Sally have one on the way, Hell, even Lady Une beat us too it! I was supposed to have like four kids by now, Heero, four! Does it look like I have any kids? It's fucking Christmas and I bought presents for four children and none of them were ours! I hate it! I hate it! I know we're young, I know that! But look around! Everyone's got kids except us, Heero! Everyone! Even Zechs and Noin! Shit, Treize is dead but he still managed to have a kid! And I'm here, twenty-fucking-one and what do I have to show for it? I've got our four bedroom apartment, a nice car, and you! I just don't-I hate knowing that they all have something we don't."
It was the honest confession of a man who'd been holding onto his feelings for far too long. Duo had always wanted children, always. Half a dozen if he could manage it. To be the last, to know that everyone his age was now starting a family and he wasn't; in the part of his soul that had just cracked and oozed out, he wanted a family of his own, perhaps even more than Quatre.
Holding Duo close and pressing a silent kiss into the bangs that covered his forehead, Heero spoke softly and seriously, but with more compassion then they'd ever heard-it was a night of firsts.
"When we talked before, I failed to notice how much it was hurting you to wait on our family. I was too excited to realize that you even wanted one with me to see that you didn't want to wait. I forced you to postpone and I'm sorry."
Duo interjected. "It's not that Heero. I really was willing to wait. But now it seems like there isn't a point. Everyone we know has kids except us, and I'm so jealous I could die. I mean I took the kids to church today and all I could think was, 'These people think all three of them are mine,' and I couldn't stop grinning. I even made us stay after to show them off! And when I buckled Killa and Shingam into the safety seats, God Heero, I can't explain the longing I felt. I know I'm not being rational, but I can't help it! I know we said we'd wait, but I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able too, especially if everyone but us already has kids." There was desperation in Duo's voice, and Quatre understood, understood better than anyone.
"Boy or girl?" Heero's voice was hard but gentle at the same time, causing Duo to look up at him with confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you want to have a boy or a girl?" It was so simple for Heero. Quatre could feel Heero's resolve; Duo hurt, that was unacceptable. Duo wanted a child; all that was left was to determine the sex. Duo was Heero's world, and Heero would do anything to make him happy; especially if it was to have a child. Quatre quickly realized that Heero hadn't wanted to wait to have children either, that they'd failed to communicate what they'd both wanted, children, then and now.
Duo's eyes lit up in realization. "You're serious, aren't you?"
"Hai."
"Just like that? You'd make us parents just like that?"
"Hai."
"Why?"
No hesitation.
"Because I love you."
Duo smiled and threw his arms around Heero's neck, before kissing him thoroughly and soundly.
"You want to be a Daddy with me?"
But Heero shook his head, causing Duo's face to fall. Then Heero smiled.
"I want to be Dad. You be Daddy."
Ten minutes later, after much apologizing by Duo and much begging off of apologies by Quatre. He and Trowa returned to their apartment. Together they exchanged party clothes for PJ's and tucked both children into bed, smiling the entire time at how lucky they were to have such beautiful children.
At the door, Quatre heard Shingam's sleepy voice call his name.
"Quatre?"
"Yes?"
"Duo and Heero want to have children?"
He smiled. "Yes, Shingam. Very much so."
"Do you think they'll get other children?"
Perplexed he moved back to the bed and tucked a piece of unruly dark brown hair behind Shingam's ear. "They've been talking about adopting for a while now, so I think they'll probably adopt a child. Just like Trowa and I are going to adopt you and Killashandra."
"Why don't they just raise their own child?" Shingam shifted, looking behind him at Trowa who'd moved up to stroke the child's hair. Something in Shingam seemed off, but Quatre was too exhausted to probe, and attributed it too Shingam's hectic day.
"Shingam partners like Duo and Heero, and even Trowa and I can't have our own children. It isn't possible. Science hasn't found a way to do that yet. But I'm sure they'll love the child they adopt just as much as they would their own child."
Weakly Shingam nodded his head before turning and wrapping Killa into a tight hold, burying his face in her curly hair.
Not knowing what had caused Shingam to act so sadly, Quatre figured it had to do with the lateness of his sleep, it being past ten o'clock. He kissed Shingam's head one more time and then moved with Trowa out the door, past the living room and into the bedroom.
"That was strange."
Trowa nodded.
Together they readied for bed before snuggling in together.
Smiling, Quatre stroked Trowa's hair as his head rested against Quatre's chest.
"I can't wait to give you you're present tomorrow. I know you're going to like it."
Trowa chuckled. "You already gave me billions of dollars in stocks, not to mention two beautiful children, and a family. What else could you possibly come up with?"
"You'll see tomorrow."
Trowa laughed. "Good night, Quatre."
"Good night, Beloved."
It was going to turn out to be a very restless Christmas Eve; and as the bells tolled the dawning of Christmas day, their lives were never going to be the same again.