Author's Notes:
Gomen nasai… very sorry minna!! Yes, I know it's been awhile, but here it is at last – chapter 2! However, I must warn you that this is not an all kawaii-ness and fluff chapter, and the story won't be either, although I thoroughly approve of both those things and will have huge doses of them now and again. Enough blabber from me though… read on!
Just a couple reminders for ease of reading:
… indicates thoughts
~~~~~ indicates change in scene/location
***** indicates change in perspective (POV)
And once again, sorry for any phrases in other languages which I have misused.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of the characters or anything else from GW... but, everything else is mine!
Best Friends : )
PART ONE
Chapter 2: Our Dance Begins
Somewhere Outside The Vrede, Central Europe
Fabian Noin turned over, trying to relax. He needed the rest, but couldn't seem to fall asleep. Although the carrier had transported their troops as far as Graz, it had been needed to return to Verona to convey more waiting troops. As a result they had had to trek the rest of the way to The Vrede. They had been lucky to be transported as far into Austria as they had been; troops following later would likely have an even longer journey on foot. Still, the way had been long and though the fighting might not happen at all, it could also start at any time so he needed to catch any rest that he could while he still could. Yet, now camped outside The Vrede with a potential battle looming, he found that he couldn't sleep. He wished for his photo and the comfort that it had brought him on so many campaigns, but consoled himself with the fact that it was bringing comfort to his little girl. Gazing up at the stars, he wondered what she was doing at this very moment. Was she thinking of him? In all his years as a soldier, there had never been a conflict so important. Whether they ended up fighting a bitter battle or simply making a symbolic stand, it would determine the fate of the world as they knew it and he was grateful to be a part of it… but it would also be more dangerous than any other campaign he had ever been on. Or perhaps that was just his overactive imagination at work. It was not as if he didn't realize the danger he could be facing every time he was called to keep the peace Each time he left, he thought about the possibility that he might not return to see his baby girl again. But soldiering earned decent pay, keeping food on their table and the two of them in the little house that he'd built for his sweet Genevieve… and it was all that he knew. Turning over yet again, pushed the thoughts from his mind for the umpteenth time – what was done was done, and there was nothing to do about it now. But perhaps, when he returned this time, he would consider resigning his commission – he'd figure something out, if only for his Lucy. Coming to a conclusion at last, Fabian fell into a light, troubled sleep.
********
Vienna, Central Europe
It was cold out, the morning chill and grey with the dawn light. Wrapping her shawl more closely around herself, Elisandra Wheaton continued to walk the silent streets of her neighbourhood. As she watched her breath steam the air, she choked back a bitter sob. It wasn't fair… everything here reminded her of him. She quickened her steps, hurrying to get somewhere, anywhere, so long as it wasn't filled with memories of him.
It had been two weeks now, since the accident, and every night since she'd found herself unable to sleep for thinking of him. At last, this morning, she'd succumbed to the need to get of the house, the little house where they'd lived for almost eight years together, before she went mad from the memories – they were everywhere.
********
Vienna, Central Europe
"Shh…shh baby," Ilyse crooned, cradling the tiny girl in her arms. "It's okay baby. Mama's here." She rocked her daughter softly, trying to calm her, but the girl would have none of it, crying all the harder every time she tried to hand her over to the maid. "Oh, I knew it was a bad idea to go to that dinner last night!" Ilyse let out, frustrated. They were going to be late soon if they couldn't get Relena to calm down.
But the girl was being unusually obstinate today, considerably unlike her usual sweet-tempered baby self. She hadn't liked being left alone the night before, with both her parents and Zechs gone, and only a stranger watching over her. She cried harder.
"Maybe we shouldn't go to the social bit… after all, we did attend the formal dinner last night. Perhaps Relena will have calmed down by the time the real conference starts," Stefan suggested.
"No, Stefan," Ilyse smiled at her husband for his thoughtfulness and selflessness. "You need to be there – who knows what notion the other representatives will get into their minds if you don't show up for the rounds of customary chit-chat. Besides, you know this is when you'll best be able to feel out where everyone's leaning. This peace is going to need all the support it can get if it's to survive. And we must make it last."
"Then I'll go first, and you can come later," he tried again.
"No… I won't be able to go into the conference chamber with you, so if I go later, I won't be able to support you." She paused, eyes lightening with love, "Which is the reason why I'm here after all." She smiled again, looking down at Relena tenderly, "We'll just have to bring Baby with us." Bouncing the girl gently, Ilyse asked her, "Well, what do you think of that, my dear?" For the first time in 2 hours, the baby girl stopped crying, giving a happy gurgle.
Stefan laughed, eyes crinkling with genuine humour, "Methinks we have our answer!"
********
Somewhere Outside The Vrede, Central Europe
He was feeling tense. Today was the day that the peace conference would officially begin, and standing guard around The Vrede, Fabian couldn't help but feel on edge. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that he'd had since he'd woken up at dawn this morning, and it was making him jumpy.
********
Near The Vrede, Central Europe
She'd been walking for awhile now, how long she didn't know, but she supposed it must have been for quite some time since the sun had long since risen, and the streets were bustling with people.
At last, Elisandra found herself at the bottom of the steps leading up to The Vrede. She didn't know how she'd ended up here… somehow her feet had brought her here, and now, seemingly of their own volition, they carried her on up the stairs. She climbed them slowly, steadily, until she reached the top. For the first time, she noticed that people were beginning to gather all around her, and there appeared to be guards inside the entrance and soldiers all about. It struck her then, what day this must be.
The peace conference? It's beginning… today, the realization was slow in coming to her, as if her mind couldn't quite remember how to function. Oh, how Jarreth would have loved to be here! This desperate thought left her even more forlorn than before. Before his death, he'd been a respected surgeon… and a wonderful man. She couldn't have asked for a better husband – he'd been generous to a fault, and always so concerned about others, yet fully aware of the world around them. This peace conference… he'd been talking about it for months, and he'd wanted to be here, to see this momentous occasion. He'd boldly declared that it would decide the fate of the world as they knew it… and she'd laughed her agreement softly, delighted with his enthusiasm.
She'd never been very interested in the politics of the world… or any politics, at that. But she steeled herself to enter the building; she'd do this… for him.
********
The Vrede, Central Europe
"Isn't she darling!" another matron cooed for the umpteenth time.
"Simply adorable!"
"Absolutely gorgeous!"
"Utterly charming!"
"Wholly enchanting!"
"Entirely delightful!"
"And altogether, wonderful!"
A flock of surrounding matrons and diplomats' wives chorused together, not to be outdone. They were all truly captivated by Relena, with her head of silky honey-blonde hair, her sky-blue eyes, and her sunny smile – each woman endeavoured to capture the baby girl's attention.
Relena, on the other hand, was having the time of her life, being the center of such adoring attention. Her mother smiled down lovingly, as she watched her daughter wave her hands, bubbling and burbling away. At long last, Relena seemed to tire, burbles sandwiched by little baby yawns, and Ilyse shooed the last of the matrons away.
"Alright, I think it's time that she rests," she hinted none too subtly. Turning to Relena, she added, "Sleepy, are we?" The women left reluctantly.
Ilyse hid a smile. "Now, let's go find Daddy, shall we dear?"
********
The Vrede, Central Europe
Elisandra approached the wide, oversized double-doors and the two pairs of soldiers standing guard around it. They gave her an intense look, but left her free to pass through, and so she did, holding her breath as she did so. Inside, there were representatives and leaders in full dress regalia circling the large, domed hall with their wives on their arms. A rich red brocade rope sectioned off an area leading from the entrance, where she supposed that the citizens were allowed to watch from. Ranks of soldiers in varied colours and styles of uniforms stood in uniform rows separated the sections, guarding the diplomats as they circled. She moved toward the marble bench that lined the curved wall of the citizens' area, and sat down to watch the diplomats. She still wasn't sure why she was here – after all, it wasn't as if she would be able to enter the chamber when the conference officially began – she just knew that Jarreth would have wanted to be at the heart of things, no matter that he wouldn't have been able to partake of things. She turned her attention to the richly-clad individuals who would, a short time from now, attempt to make world peace a reality.
She watched for a time, seeing but not really absorbing anything, before her gaze landed upon a woman standing slightly apart, near the curved wall just a bit down and across from where she was. The woman was beautifully dressed in a simple and unassuming, but elegant pale yellow sundress, and her hair was swept loosely back in a matching chignon. The woman herself was gorgeous, stunning – simply put, she could have worn a shapeless sack and she would have looked stylish. Yet it was not the woman's beauty that caught Elisandra's eye, but the child in her arms.
As she looked on, she saw the woman glance up from the baby and smile. Out of the crowds, a tall fair-haired man dressed in an impractical, yet impossibly spotless, white suit strode up toward them, arms outstretched. The baby seemed to sense him, and turned her head, stretching her arms toward him, and he picked her up, lifting her high above his head. Although she couldn't hear it over the noise of the crowd, Elisandra knew the girl laughed, for her entire face was lit up with the most beautiful smile. Unbidden, tears came into her eyes, filling them until she could no longer see the wonderful couple and their baby.
I wish… the longing was strong in her heart, but it was not to be. In the nearly eight years that they had been married, she and Jarreth had never had any children. She had never conceived. For the first few years, they hadn't wanted children yet, wanting to have some time just for themselves. Afterwards, no matter how hard they'd tried, it hadn't happened. And now… now Jarreth was dead. She choked back a sob, wondering not for the first time, whether they were being punished for their selfish desire for those first few years. It was irrational and foolish, but she couldn't help but feel that way.
********
The Vrede, Central Europe
Ilyse looked around for Stefan and saw him on the other side of the hall speaking with two diplomats that she vaguely recognized. From the Netherlands...? Not wanting to disturb him at his work, she moved off to the side, telling Relena teasingly, "Guess Daddy will have to wait. You'll just have to put up with this here Mama for now."
The little girl merely yawned again, closing her eyes and settling down for a nap in her Mama's arms. Smiling, Stefan watched her daughter sleep. It was going to be a long day, and she was glad to have Relena with her. She settled herself to wait, preparing to tackle the other wives who would surely be circling by soon.
Sometime later, after finishing chatting with one of the more pleasant ladies, Ilyse found herself alone once more. She glanced up to see Stefan coming toward her. A genuine smile spread across her lips and her eyes glowed, all fatigue fading away. He came through the surrounding crowd with graceful ease, arms stretching out towards the two of them.
Like magic, Relena woke, and as if sensing her approaching Papa, turned. Upon seeing him, she cooed sleepily, eyes still droopy, and spread her own chubby baby arms out to him.
Reaching them, Stefan laughed and picked up his baby daughter, lifting her high up into the air before bringing her back down to cradle in his arms. "And how are my two best girls?" He tickled Relena's tummy before grinning lovingly at Ilyse, placing a chaste kiss on his wife's lips.
"Oh, you!" Ilyse pretended to swat him, her eyes dancing with love and merriment.
His grin merely widened as he caught her about the waist, drawing her close. The look in his eyes suddenly soft, Stefan uttered quietly, "It's almost time for me to go in. Wish me luck."
Stefan's eyes softened with matching tenderness. "Always." They paused a moment looking at each other, and then he handed Relena back to Ilyse, kissing his daughter's forehead lightly before turning towards the doors where the other diplomats had already begun to gather.
"Stefan?" she called. He turned, two steps from her, and watched as she opened her mouth to say something. But he never found out what that something was, for at that moment, a massive explosion rocked the air all around them. Whirling, they both caught the acrid smell of burning flesh and clouds of black smoke billowing in through the massive hole that had been the north wall only moments before. Stunned, they could do nothing but stare disbelievingly at each other while all around them people began to shriek, hysteria and general panic setting in. Seconds later, a second much closer explosion knocked them, along with a great number of the screaming people, to the smooth marble floor. Despair swept through them even as they collapsed, and then there was nothing but the darkness swiftly enveloping them.
Yes, I know… evil cliffhanger. But, you can't deny that it's the perfect place to end a chapter… and such perfectness just called out to me. Anyways, I hope that you have enjoyed this chapter (I know it's shorter than the last one) even though there isn't any ZxN action at all. Still, I think it's a very important chapter and the next few chapters will be elaborating on the events set into motion in these 1st couple chapters. If you would like to more about this story, please check out my profile page.
Also, I'd just like to thank The Highwaywoman, karina, chibi noin, and d e E b a K a, for all their lovely reviews – it was really encouraging. Actually, signing in for the first time in awhile today and seeing a new one was what made me decide to just go for it and post this chapter. Thanks guys!
Please take the time to review if you can.
Thanks,
Faradayne : )