Sorry for the delay, guys, but I've been on vay-cay. And since I kinda need to get these out for everyone to read, you're getting a windfall! Enjoy!
* * * * *
Past, Present, Future
by Grace Musica
Chapter Three
Personal Thoughts and Meal Plans
* * * * *
Trowa sat on the edge of the bed, watching his niece sleep. After a bath and a clean change of clothes, she was definately looking less chocolatety, and not one bit more or less adorable. He brushed an errant tendril of her hair out of her face, his heart aching at the fact that she would never know her mother or father. Well, personally that was--he had vowed to himself that his little niece would hear every story he knew about her parents, and would be able to recite them from memory by the time she was eleven.
She looks so much like Catherine... She even laughs like her. Trowa kissed her forehead and left, shutting the door quietly. He leaned up against the door and slid to the ground for the second time of the day, wrapped his arms around his knees and put his forehead on his arms. Oh, I miss you, Cath. I miss you a lot.
This gig gets hard, as Duo would say. Really hard. But I guess the real reason why I miss you so much... I don't have anyone to really talk to. I mean, I've got Quatre, and Duo, and the others, but none of the really understood me like you did. Not to mention the fact that they mostly have their own families to put up with...
But I don't regret the fact that I'm raising your daughter. Hell, if you were still alive, I'd proably practically be living with the three of you, I'd be over so much. She's growing up wonderfully. I know you're proud of her. I certainly know I am.
But... I don't know. I'm proably being foolish... We lonely old fools can get sentimental when we've had a shock like I had today.
* * * * *
Thank God for Quatre and Liz Winner's genrosity, Trowa thought to himself as he set dinner down in front of his adopted daughter. Six months ago, Trowa had finally quit the circus, looking for a better job and to support his niece in a way that was more permenant than the gypsy-esque life they had lead until then. Quatre had suggested the still war-scarred Earth, and he and his wife had even gotten him a nice-sized house close to were they lived. Despite Trowa's protests, they had talked him into it, but he had promised to pay them back eventually.
"Don't worry," Lizzy had joked. "We'll only charge you about 50% interest on it."
But, unemployment was high, and it was Winner money that was paying for their food, water and electricity for the time being. And while Trowa knew Quatre would be quite content to continue to do so until one of them died, Trowa was desperate to break free. He absolutely hated the idea of being so dependant on a friend, although he knew he would do the exact same thing, had the positions reversed.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"... That lady you saw today... What was she wearing?"
"It's a uniform, for an organization called Preventer. It's the one Uncle Wufei and Aunt Sally work for, too."
The words sounded odd in his mouth, and he smiled a bit as he said them. The two dropped in regularly, asking for his help with this, that and the other. Alex, being Alex, had immediately assumed they were family from Trowa's ease with them and had started calling them 'Uncle' and 'Aunt' within twenty minutes.
"So she's a good person?"
Trowa chewed on both his food and her question before answering. "Yes, Alex, she's a good person."
"I thought so," Alex replied immediately. "I liked her."
"Really?" Trowa raised an eyebrow and his voice took on a teasing tone. "And you said, what, all told of about twenty words in front of her?"
Alex crossed her little arms. "And you did better?"
Trowa chuckled and turned his attention back to his food. "Precautious brat."
* * * * *
Meanwhile, back at the Winner house, Liz, Quatre, Midii and the kids were having a slightly more elegant dinner. Thomas and Natalie had matching punishments, while Audrey took turns teasing her siblings and playing with her niece. Marianna, meanwhile, was playing with her food.
Quatre shook his head, watching the kids. At least she hasn't gotten the bright idea to throw it yet.
Midii was staring blankly at her plate. Lizzy looked at her friend quizically. "Somethin' wrong, Mid?"
"Oh! Oh... No, not really..."
Lizzy looked at Quatre, eyebrows raised.
Are you a total idiot? Quatre mentally asked his wife calmly. Didn't you see the looks Trowa and Midii traded?
Yes... Wait. You mean--?!
Exactally. And what are you going to do about it?
Lizzy smiled, slightly evily. Exactally what you think I'm going to do.
Quatre sighed as a spoonful of food flew through the air.
* * * * *
* * * * *
Past, Present, Future
by Grace Musica
Chapter Three
Personal Thoughts and Meal Plans
* * * * *
Trowa sat on the edge of the bed, watching his niece sleep. After a bath and a clean change of clothes, she was definately looking less chocolatety, and not one bit more or less adorable. He brushed an errant tendril of her hair out of her face, his heart aching at the fact that she would never know her mother or father. Well, personally that was--he had vowed to himself that his little niece would hear every story he knew about her parents, and would be able to recite them from memory by the time she was eleven.
She looks so much like Catherine... She even laughs like her. Trowa kissed her forehead and left, shutting the door quietly. He leaned up against the door and slid to the ground for the second time of the day, wrapped his arms around his knees and put his forehead on his arms. Oh, I miss you, Cath. I miss you a lot.
This gig gets hard, as Duo would say. Really hard. But I guess the real reason why I miss you so much... I don't have anyone to really talk to. I mean, I've got Quatre, and Duo, and the others, but none of the really understood me like you did. Not to mention the fact that they mostly have their own families to put up with...
But I don't regret the fact that I'm raising your daughter. Hell, if you were still alive, I'd proably practically be living with the three of you, I'd be over so much. She's growing up wonderfully. I know you're proud of her. I certainly know I am.
But... I don't know. I'm proably being foolish... We lonely old fools can get sentimental when we've had a shock like I had today.
* * * * *
Thank God for Quatre and Liz Winner's genrosity, Trowa thought to himself as he set dinner down in front of his adopted daughter. Six months ago, Trowa had finally quit the circus, looking for a better job and to support his niece in a way that was more permenant than the gypsy-esque life they had lead until then. Quatre had suggested the still war-scarred Earth, and he and his wife had even gotten him a nice-sized house close to were they lived. Despite Trowa's protests, they had talked him into it, but he had promised to pay them back eventually.
"Don't worry," Lizzy had joked. "We'll only charge you about 50% interest on it."
But, unemployment was high, and it was Winner money that was paying for their food, water and electricity for the time being. And while Trowa knew Quatre would be quite content to continue to do so until one of them died, Trowa was desperate to break free. He absolutely hated the idea of being so dependant on a friend, although he knew he would do the exact same thing, had the positions reversed.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"... That lady you saw today... What was she wearing?"
"It's a uniform, for an organization called Preventer. It's the one Uncle Wufei and Aunt Sally work for, too."
The words sounded odd in his mouth, and he smiled a bit as he said them. The two dropped in regularly, asking for his help with this, that and the other. Alex, being Alex, had immediately assumed they were family from Trowa's ease with them and had started calling them 'Uncle' and 'Aunt' within twenty minutes.
"So she's a good person?"
Trowa chewed on both his food and her question before answering. "Yes, Alex, she's a good person."
"I thought so," Alex replied immediately. "I liked her."
"Really?" Trowa raised an eyebrow and his voice took on a teasing tone. "And you said, what, all told of about twenty words in front of her?"
Alex crossed her little arms. "And you did better?"
Trowa chuckled and turned his attention back to his food. "Precautious brat."
* * * * *
Meanwhile, back at the Winner house, Liz, Quatre, Midii and the kids were having a slightly more elegant dinner. Thomas and Natalie had matching punishments, while Audrey took turns teasing her siblings and playing with her niece. Marianna, meanwhile, was playing with her food.
Quatre shook his head, watching the kids. At least she hasn't gotten the bright idea to throw it yet.
Midii was staring blankly at her plate. Lizzy looked at her friend quizically. "Somethin' wrong, Mid?"
"Oh! Oh... No, not really..."
Lizzy looked at Quatre, eyebrows raised.
Are you a total idiot? Quatre mentally asked his wife calmly. Didn't you see the looks Trowa and Midii traded?
Yes... Wait. You mean--?!
Exactally. And what are you going to do about it?
Lizzy smiled, slightly evily. Exactally what you think I'm going to do.
Quatre sighed as a spoonful of food flew through the air.
* * * * *