::cheers:: Yea! ^.^ I have chapter 11 up! Wow, this is really starting to get along good now. ::does happy dance:: Ahh..so many more chapters to this story ^^" And I hope to get MORE reviews! ::gives chibi eyes:: More reviews please ^^;;

Have fun reading this chapter. ^_~"

AUTHORS NOTE: I was originally planning on ending this story as soon as the marriage takes place, but obviously after reading this chapter I might not. I might end up making it go a few chapters longer then that. I don't know. I could always do a sequel. ^^" There is a lot of foreshadowing in this chapter. ^^"

~Relena Peace


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CHAPTER ELEVEN:

"You wanted to see me father?" Relena bowed slightly than kissed her father's hand. The King smiled at his daughter and motioned for her to sit down. Relena kept her eyes on her father intently. She had never done so intently before, but Prince WuFei was sitting next to them and Relena did not want to look at him at all. She'd rather look at the King.

"Good evening Princess." He said standing while helping her sit down. Relena tried to keep her eyes focused on her father as Prince WuFei's strong hands took hers and led her to her chair. "Good evening." She said glancing up at him and giving him a wooden smile, one that she reserved for her father mostly.

"I wanted to talk to you two about the dowry that you will be receiving." Picking up his wine glass the King took a sip then just gazed out at the window to the gardens below. Frowning Relena noticed that he didn't offer her any or Prince WuFei any. Not that she'd want some. But he wasn't even polite enough to offer a drink to his own daughter. Sighing silently Relena poured two more glasses of wine. Even if she wasn't going to drink it she could at least pour herself some and Prince WuFei some. Just in case she might change her mind. She didn't like Prince WuFei at all. But she still had to appear to like him in front of her father. "I do not think that you will be needing much of a dowry." King Peacecraft said right when Prince WuFei went to take a sip of wine.

Sipping his wine carefully Heero thought fast. This was not good. Definitely not good. He quickly looked over at Prince WuFei and Sir Duo, who were standing at one side of the room. They had heard what the King said. It was so obvious. Duo's mouth was dropped open and Prince WuFei's eyes blazed with something. It appeared to be a mixture of fear, worry, and anger all in once.

This was not good for Myena. They were planning on using the dowry to hold the Kingdom off until Duo had done his job. WuFei looked over at Duo who was collecting himself and whispered something in his ear. Turning back towards Heero, WuFei nodded. "Why do you say that?" Heero asked King Peacecraft.

The King waved his hand casually. It was a habit for him. "I didn't think you two would need much of one with all the money that you have." Heero inwardly groaned. Thanks a lot King Chang. He thought bitterly. "I would be not giving you one at all, but I must think of my daughter here. And what she wants I will provide. And I know that she wants a dowry of some form to be given. And that is what I will do."

Heero looked at the Princess who was studying her nails on her lap. She wasn't much interested in the conversation. It didn't really serve much importance to her. She looked up and smiled at the mention of her name. It was again, that fake smile that she used so often around her father. Her eyes glittered. She still had a lot of control over her father. Despite his low opinion of women.

"I was pondering for a while on what sort of dowry to give. I could give it in cattle, servants, fine clothing, expensive jewelry, or gold." He leaned back in his chair and looked out the window lazily again. "But then I thought again. You already have all of those things." He looked back at his daughter and smiled. "So I decided to give you something that you will need but have not yet. I will give you all of Relena's current possessions and to add to her belongings I will give you anything that she will require."

Heero's heart sank. This was not what they had in mind when him and King Chang had talked. "What else would go along with other things that she might require?" Heero asked early in hopes it was something like jewels for her neck or fingers. Something that could be pawned.

Princess Relena glared at Prince WuFei, but he didn't notice. 'Just like father.' She thought. 'Only interested in the material possessions and whatnot. Always eager for the extra coin to rattle in his leather purse.' Pressing her lips together Relena stopped fidgeting with her nails and started paying more attention to the conversation.

"The dowry will consist of all of Relena's possessions that she owns now. Plus her personal maids. I believe that there are three of them that tend to her. She has her own horse, which you will be taking along with you. And she has her own carriage. The other things that she does not have and that will probably be required in the near future will be things to do with children." Heero's eyes flickered and Relena turned pale.

"Children your majesty?" Heero said slowly, letting this new idea sink in. King Peacecraft nodded sharply. "Yes Prince WuFei. Children. I expect you two to have many children. I want grandsons! I've always wanted a boy but was cursed with a daughter instead. So I want grandsons."

Relena held her chin up and tried to ignore the familiar slap of an insult her father gave her. It was common knowledge that her father held a grudge towards Relena's dead mother for providing him with a daughter instead of a son. And then dying while trying to give birth to a son that never got a chance to live.

Heero's eyes scanned Relena's face. How could King Peacecraft be so heartless? To say something like that alone is horrible, but to say it right in front of Relena's face...that was purely evil. He felt a little pity for the girl who sat next to him. No wonder she had such a mean streak in her. She had reasons to.

"I do not think that we should be talking of having children right now father." Relena said crisply and sharply. "The Prince here and I are not yet wed. Talking of things such as that now is unproper."

The King waved his hand in her direction telling her to be quiet. "Now, now Relena dear. Don't think on it. Thinking is a man's job. You just sit there and look lovely like always. Prince WuFei here and I will talk while you just sit." Relena's eyes narrowed but she didn't say anything. In truth she didn't trust herself to say anything. So the rest of the conversation was with her in silence as Prince WuFei and King Peacecraft talked and bartered about the dowry.

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"This is going to pose a problem Lord Heero." WuFei said when all three of them were in the guest chamber that was for the Prince. "Our Kingdom is in great poverty, much like this one. But one difference stands. This kingdom has the money to make this land great and then some. Ours does not. My father was hoping that the dowry given would be rich. But it is not." Sitting down on a chair WuFei rubbed his temples. "This whole thing is getting confusing. Do you realize what position this puts us in?"

"A position to be screwed over?" Duo sarcastically put in sitting down on the floor and leaning himself on a wall opposite of where Heero was sitting.

"No." WuFei said irritably. "It puts us in a dangerous position. Lord Heero here tried to haggle with King Peacecraft about the dowry. Obviously it didn't work because King Peacecraft had to bring up the point that we are so much more wealthier then they are. Well, so he thinks we are. He might become suspicious if we do anything to allow him to think differently about our wealth. And that, Duo, puts us in danger."

"I think we will get some good money from Princess Relena's wardrobe." Heero said calmly. "They are all very expensive and fashionable. Not only that but we can sell her horse and carriage. She doesn't need one of her own when she is in Myena. At least we can use some of the money from that."

"Still." WuFei cautioned carefully. "This is a difficult situation that we are in. Princess Relena hates you. King Peacecraft is giving us next to no dowry. The only things that we could pawn are her dresses and the horse with carriage.

And those three thieves that the Princess has doing things for her also pose a threat. We are by far, not on any welcome ground. Lord Heero," WuFei's eyes washed over Duo's face and landed on his cousin. "you are going to have to talk to King Peacecraft and try to press the wedding date. The date is not yet set, but we need to get this done as soon as possible."

Heero smirked. "I don't think that will be a problem. From the way he was talking today he seems like he wants to get rid of her as soon as possible."

Duo smiled. "True. Hey Heero, how many kids do you plan on having?" He laughed when Heero gave him a dark glare. But stopped when a pillow collided with the side of his head. WuFei had thrown it.

"Shut up Maxwell." Prince WuFei growled.

Duo stopped laughing and sighed. "Yes your highness. Sorry, won't happen again." Prince WuFei glared at him.

"Let us not talk about having children right now. I'm still trying to get the girl to talk to me in a civilized manner. I doubt she will let me touch her even after the wedding vows are said." Heero frowned, obviously angered by this. "That is going to pose a problem with me."

Duo smiled. "Sorry about that, Heero buddy. Looks like you were in the dog house before you even met her."

"What do you two think about King Peacecraft's attitude towards his daughter?" Heero said changing the subject. "He seems to want to please her but at the same time seems as if she is a burden to him and wants to get rid of her."

WuFei shook his head. "The King, from what I have seen so far, is a very dishonorable man. He was very unjust today when he spoke of wanting a son and Princess Relena being a curse. That man has no honor."

"It kinda explains a bit to the reason of the Princess's attitude. Raised by her handmaidens mainly all her life. Without a mother, and a father who couldn't care and who just wants to get rid of her. Or give her stuff to make her happy and out of his hair." Duo shook his head. "Sounds like a very bad way to grow up if you ask me. Her dad has serious problems."

"You don't need to worry about that Maxwell." WuFei gave one of his rare smiles. "I think that you should do your job right after the marriage. Probably a day or two after."

"Right after?" Heero spoke up. "Why so soon Nataku?"

"Because of money issues." WuFei shook his head. "We thought that King Peacecraft would give a dowry large enough to hold the kingdom off for a while, but he isn't going to do that."

Duo smiled and pulled absentmindedly on his braid. "And that will be his downfall."
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Dun, dun, dun! ::dark music fades in background:: Ohhhh..I wonder what is going to happen! ^^" Heh, HEERO WITH CHILDREN! AHH...LoL, I had to put that in. I just had to! ^^ ::sweatdrop:: It just sounded so fun to add.

Okay, I am soooo sooooo soooo begging you guys here. I totally need reviews! ^^" I need you all to review and give me inspiration, ideas, anything for some of the upcoming chapters! I know what I want to happen in some spots. But there are spaces that I need to have fill in! And I LIVE for reviews and your reviews help me decide what to do! ^^" So please, please, PLEASE review! ^.^ Thank you!

~Relena Peace