Note: Yes, the children's names were taken from Furba or Fruits Basket. It's my favorite anime and an awesome manga which I would recommend to anyone. Congrats to Daydreamer for realizing it, this final chapter is for you.
Ends and New Beginnings
Quatre stayed with Eve for a week before he had to go back to Preventers for an important meeting that he couldn't in good conscience skip. During the week he was there Eve was in and out of consciousness, only able to stay awake for a few hours at a time before she was completely worn out. But she was awake and alive. By the time he had to leave her she was eating on her own and could be out and about for short periods of time which eased his mind. He didn't wanted to leave her but the meeting was important and she wouldn't let him skip out on it even if he tried. "You know Relena could handle this by herself. She even said she could." Quatre said as he finished up his packing, looking over to the bed where Eve lay, supposed to be napping. Of course she wasn't and didn't even make the effort to pretend otherwise since her eyes were wide open and she had propped herself up on her pillows. She wasn't the worst patient he'd ever seen but she was someone who didn't like having other people do things for her. She was always reluctant to ask for his help to do anything.
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"No politician in his right mind is going to buy into this proposal if she's the only one there presenting it. She's a nice person and all but she isn't cut out for going for the jugular political meetings. You aren't really either but you're better at it then she is anyway." pointed out dryly, amused and touched at his reluctance to go. He really was all ga ga over her, Eve thought with a small smile.
"Thanks so much for the vote of confidence." Quatre shot back just as dryly, zipping up his bag before walking over to sit beside her on the bed. "With that kind of support I don't have a doubt in my mind we'll win."
"You'll win just because you should. That and your pretty face with loads of money for extra incentive to fall into line." Eve chuckled as she smirked at him. "And if you don't I'll come down and straighten those over fed bureaucrats out for you."
"Since you have problems doing up your shoe laces I can't see that happening any time soon." Quatre pointed out as he lifted a hand to ruffle her already ruffled hair.
"I can tie my shoe laces just fine, pal. I just like have you kneel in front of me." Eve said with a smirk that grew into laughter when he shot her a surprised and shocked look. "You're very good at doing my laces...and zipping up my coat and helping me get into the bath tub and brushing my hair and...need I continue?"
"Why you little... I should have known better. It's you after all." Quatre said with a faint blush on his cheeks as he watched her grin at him, having to bite back a grin of his own. He'd been played and played by the best. And here he'd been thinking she had been reluctant to ask for his help. Ha, she'd been playing him like a master. "So you've been playing the weak invalid, have you?"
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"Well I did almost die, I might be weaker then I realize." Eve said with a delicate little shrug though her eyes held a touch of mischief. The truth was she'd liked all the attention and she wanted as much of it as possible before he left. No matter what he or anyone said she couldn't see this lasting and so she wanted as many memories as possible. To have when he left and took her heart with him. Funny, she'd thought she'd lost it all those years ago but here it had ended up in the hands of a sweet, blonde haired do gooder. Talk about your irony.
"So once I'm gone you're going to make a miraculous recovery and be as good as new?" Quatre wanted to know as he sent her a rueful look, still mulling over the idea that he'd been so easily played.
"Well not quite. I'm about seventy percent instead of a just fifty." Eve said as she smiled at him then looked over at the clock beside her bed. "And you need to be going or Trowa's gonna come in here and get you. He hates to be kept waiting as you know."
"Don't I know it." Quatre muttered as he leaned forward for his kiss good bye. Kissing her gently he was surprised and pleased when her arms came around his neck, holding him close in a hold that suggested she didn't want to let him go. Reluctantly breaking the kiss Quatre placed one last kiss on her forehead before pulling her into one last hug. "I'll be back soon, stay in one piece till then, okay?"
"I'll try but no guarantees. You know me." Eve said as she nuzzled her face into his neck, breathing in his familiar and comforting scent. "Try not to OD on coffee and give yourself a heart attack working too much until you drop."
"Sounds like a deal." Quatre said as he kissed her on her neck then pulled away, stroking her face with love in his eyes before getting up and heading over to grab his bag. "Now have your nap and get some rest. I love you." Quatre added, looking her dead in the eye before heading for the door.
"Just remember not to give yourself a heart attack...I didn't give you mine just so that you could kill it." Eve called out to his retreating form. Watching him stop and go still, turning around to look at her with a big grin on his face before saluting her good bye. Watching him stroll out of the room, whistling of all things, Eve had to smile as she closed her eyes and decided maybe a nap wasn't such a bad idea.
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"You know I just realized why their names struck me as so odd." Relena said as she sat beside Heero, watching the children play Red Rover in the backyard with the adults supervising from the back porch. "They're all characters from Fruits Basket."
"Their names are all kinds of fruit?" Duo said with a confused look as he took a sip of his drink while he kept an eye on Hana who was the smallest of the bunch and the most likely to be trampled accidentally.
"No, it's a manga and anime series. I read it as a girl actually but it didn't hit me till now." Relena said with a roll of her eyes. "It's all about this family who've been cursed by evil spirits and are doomed to turned into one of the animals of the zodiac whenever they're stressed or are hugged by someone of the opposite sex. The story focuses on this girl who came to live with some of the members of the family and her interact with the other members. It's a really cute but moral story."
"That features people who were born a little different from everyone else." Sally pointed out thoughtfully, turning the idea over in her head.
'Exactly." Annalise said from her seat beside Duo. "They were never given real names when they were in the labs and when they were there they were treated like they were the second coming. They all had big egos and severe superiority complexes when we got a hold of them. They didn't want to give up their numbers and they expected to be treated like royalty by everyone. Nothing we said or told them quite got through to them but then Eve suggested that maybe they should use something as an example of how being different doesn't necessarily mean you're any better or worse then others. Keyda hit on the Fruits Basket idea and they actually sat through the whole anime and took turns reading the manga. They liked the idea of people turning into animals but being the bright little buggers that they are they also clued into the idea that even cool abilities have their draw backs. For the zodiac characters they couldn't be hugged by half the population and always had to fear being found out, just like they do. It wasn't their fault they were the way they ended up but it was up to them to decide who they were going to be. That and Tohru, Yuki and Kyo for a role models really changed their way of thinking." Annalise added with a chuckle. "So to show their love of the series they took their names from characters they liked, whether they themselves were like the character or not."
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"Kisa for instance?" Relena said dryly, the head strong leader nothing like the shy and quiet Kisa from the series.
"Exactly. Kagura would have been the more appropriate choice for her or even Uo but she was stuck on Kisa and once that girl decides something not even God himself could make her budge. Hana fits the character Kisa's shoes perfectly but that wasn't to be. As it was everyone picked out a name and then Hana was left since she didn't say anything as usual. Of the ones left she liked Hana best or at least that's who she pointed to on the list."
"Well it suited her either way." Came a female voice and everyone turned in their chairs to see Trowa and Quatre walking onto the porch with a young woman between them. Keyda Yamachi.
"MOMMY! DADDY!" Came screams from the yard and soon all the children were rushing over, hurrying up the porch steps to surround Trowa and Keyda who both got down on one knee so that they could hug all the children, Hana the only one that hung back, her eyes a mixture of happiness and dread.
"Come here you." Keyda said as she motioned Hana over and slowly the girl came over and hugged Keyda then shocked everyone by breaking into tears, holding onto Keyda 's neck tightly while she cried in great, gulping sobs.
"Hana." Duo said as he leapt to his feet then stopped in his tracks, realizing it wasn't his place to go over and comfort the girl. Her parents had her now, he thought dimly as he watched Keyda rub the girl's back while Trowa stroked Hana's hair.
"It's okay, sweetie. It's okay." Keyda said in bafflement, holding Hana close. Her little girl wasn't one to cry over anything and she didn't think this was a simple matter of missing her a lot. Something in Hana's face when she'd stood apart from them, from the others. Something was wrong and that something was why Hana was crying. "What's wrong, baby?"
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"She doesn't want to come home with us." Kisa said matter of fact. She was pretty sure that Hana wasn't going to be coming with them after she explained the whole thing but she had to do what was best for her charge. That's what a good commander did. "That's why she's crying, Mommy. Because she doesn't want to leave."
"She doesn't want to leave? Why?" Trowa wanted to know.
"Tell them, Hana." Kisa ordered, her voice hard and commanding. The time had come and she wasn't going to just stand there and do nothing. If you left things up to adults they never got anything done. "If it means that much to you then say it. Tell them what you want. If you can't do that then you don't want it bad enough."
Mouth quivering everyone watched as Hana looked from her family, over to Duo and then back again. Taking a deep breath Hana opened her mouth. "St...st...st...stay..he..her...here."
"And why do you want to stay here?" Kisa prompted since all the adults were too busy gapping at Hana to think to ask.
"D...D...D..Duo...st...stay...w...w...wi.th...Du..o." Hana stuttered, slowly but clearly enough that she could be understood. "Pa..pa...pa..peas. Peas me stay?"
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"You want to stay here..with Duo?" Trowa said in surprise, looking over at his friend who looked just as shell shocked. And not just about Hana talking.
"Hana." Was all Duo could mange as he stood there in shock, frozen as the girl who never spoke plea.
"Oh, baby you spoke!" Keyda cried, tears rolling down her cheeks as she hugged Hana close, so happy that her baby was finally coming out of her shell. But in order for Hana to keep doing that...she had to have a reason to. Hana had never spoken before but she was now, was forcing herself to because she wanted something. She wanted it badly enough to peek out of her shell. "You must want to stay with him so much. That you would finally speak. Trowa?" Keyda said as she looked over at Trowa, her eyes questioning. When he nodded she returned the nod. Turning back to a crying Hana Keyda stroked the girl's hair. "Trowa and I love you very much, Hana. You know that. Because we love you so much we want you to be happy and it looks like you won't be if you aren't here. If it's okay with Duo..you can stay here."
"Peas?" Hana said as she wiggled free, walking over to Duo to take his hand. "Peas..Duo?"
"I can't cook...I'm not married and I don't know the first thing about raising a kid." Duo began, not sure what to say but knowing he had to be honest. "I'll likely let you run around in horribly clashing clothes, constantly let you have junk food and...and I'd love to have you if you want."
"Me..have." Hana said as she let go of his hands and through her arms around his waist, latching on tight. "Stay...Duo...al..ways."
)
Everyone heading out of the meeting in good spirits a couple days later there were smiles on almost everyone's faces. Wufei, Heero and Milliardo just weren't the happily smiling types after all. "So Duo, how's it working out with Annalise?" Relena asked as she looked over at Duo. As it had turned out Annalise actually lived only an hour away and since she was a scientist made her own hours. So she'd agreed to watch Hana while Duo was at work and he picked her up after work. Now that he had a kid to go home to he was actually leaving at normal work hours and taking the extra stuff home.
"It's working pretty good. I mean it's a lot of driving but she's a great baby sitter and she can make Hana's medicines so I don't have to worry about that. Heck, Hana's more organized then I am about most things. She even wrote out our grocery list for tomorrow." Duo said with a sheepish look.
"Well the other kids arrived home safe and sound." Quatre said having received a phone call from Trowa to let him know. "They all miss Hana but they're glad she's with you. They all liked you by the way, including Kisa, Duo. Apparently that says something."
"Well I got kinda fond of the little drill sergeant myself." Duo said with a chuckle. "So any word when the wedding is going to be? Trowa told me that they've been engaged for years but were waiting until the bastard Yamachi was out of the way to tie the knot."
"As soon as possible from what I understand." Noin piped up from beside Milliardo who continued to watch her like a hawk no matter how many times she told him to quit it. It was kinda sweet but it wasn't like she was the size of a blimp yet.
"Yeah, Hana's all excited about the idea. I think we might actually have to go shopping for a dress." Duo said with a man out of his element look on his face. "Any help would be appreciated."
"I think we girls should take her shopping. Black is not a wedding color." Sally said with a shake of her head, not even wanting to think about what Duo might pick out. "For that matter we'll all help out in the areas of Hana's clothes and room."
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"Your faith in me is touching." Duo said wearily as they walked into the Preventers parking lot. "Anyway I've got to head on over to Annalise's. She gets testy when I'm late and she can be pretty damn scary when she wants to be."
"Between Hana and Annalise maybe there's hope for him yet." Wufei muttered to Sally who muffled a laugh.
"And speaking of ladies there's one leaning up against your car, Quatre in lovely looking leather." Heero said with a faint smile as he nodded in the direction of Quatre's car. Everyone turning to look it wasn't hard to figure out who the leather clauded lady was. White hair blowing slightly in the breeze, her eyes hidden with dark sunshades she looked like something out of the Matrix. Wearing a short black leather skirt, a slinky white, silk shirt and a long leather coat she was sexy in black and white from head to high heeled boots.
"Now if it weren't for the fact that she'd snap my neck like a toothpick I'd whistle." Duo said with a smirk as he waved in Eve's direction, not really surprised when she ignored him.
"She's still pissed about the tape." Quatre said with a wide grin as he smiled at his friends before saying his good byes. "Well I've got to be going. See you all on Monday." Quatre called over his shoulder as he walked towards his car and his lady.
"What I still don't get is..why Quatre?" Duo said as he scratched his head. "Of all people."
"There's nothing a bad girl loves more then corrupting a good boy." Noin said with a feminine chuckle though she knew that wasn't quite it. She doubted anyone could understand those two but them. Maybe that's the way it was supposed to be. "And besides all that...they just fit I think. Damn if they don't."
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"Hey, Blue Eyes, going my way?" Eve drawled as she watched Quatre walk towards her in one of those preppy business suits of his. When she saw him like this she just wanted to mush him up a bit, Eve thought with a small smile as she pushed away from his car to stand up straight.
"I thought you were supposed to be staying in bed as much as possible, Green Eyes." Quatre drawled back, coming to a stop in front of her. "You're suppose to be relaxing and taking it easy."
"Well we can get into bed shortly since your meetings are over for the day." Eve shot back saucily, laughing when he turned a bright red at her double meaning. God but she'd missed this. Missed him. And that said to her that she would be an idiot to pull out before he did. If he ever did. Because maybe, just maybe there was one decent guy left in the world for her. So long as it was this one. "So shall we blow this joint?"
"Sounds like a plan to me." Quatre said as he pulled her into his waiting arms, where she belonged. "So tell me something, Green Eyes. Where are we going?"
"To our future together, Blue Eyes." Eve said with a wink as she wrapped her arms around out neck, leaning forward for a kiss. "Which starts now."
THE END
Thank you to all my readers and I hope you enjoyed this fic. At this time there are no plans to create a sequel but if you are interested leave a review and I'll e-mail you and let you know should I ever decide to. Thanks again and enjoy your day.