It's been a while! Here's the next chapter. Not much to say, so I'll shut up and get on with it.
I do NOT own Gundam Wing; just Lian.
Gift From the Sea
Chapter Eight
Two weeks later on Thursday morning around 4, Wufei woke up before Lian did and packed his and Lian's clothes. He packed her diaper bag full with blankets, diapers, toys, pacifiers bottles, formula, and anything else he thought she'd need. Whatever didn't fit in the bag he put in the suitcase carrying his shampoo and stuff.
As soon as he finished zipping his last suitcase, Lian's cries echoed through the apartment. He got her up and fed her then he gave her a bath.
"Today you get to go on your first trip," Wufei said to Lian as he washed her hair, careful to not let any shampoo or water in her eyes. "You won't remember it when you get older, but that's ok."
She kicked water all over his shirt he had slept in. "It's a good thing I haven't changed yet," he said in amusement.
"You'll get to meet my old friends when we get to Japan," he continued, now gently washing her tiny feet.
After he finished Lian's bath and dried her off, he carried her, still wrapped in a towel, into her bedroom and layed her on the changing table and got her a diaper and clean clothes. The clothes were a light blue one piece with light blue socks and a light blue stocking hat with little white lions all over it.
He carried her into his bedroom and lay her on the bed before going into the bathroom to take a shower. As always he left the door open so he could hear her if she cried.
He decided to dress in black jeans and a white t-shirt with black hiking boots. He brushed his hair then loosely tied it in a ponytail, some of his bangs falling in his face.
Wufei came back in his bedroom and found Lian asleep again. He gave her a small smile then picked her up gently and carried her into the living room. He put her in her carrier/carseat and strapped her up without waking her. He put her on the couch then left to get the suitcases and her stroller.
Sally came by to pick them up in her truck not too long after. Wufei agreed to ride with her, saying that it would be easier to go in one vehicle than go in two since they were going to the same place. She loaded his luggage in the bed of her truck and Wufei strapped Lian, still asleep, in the middle of the truck seat.
After everything was secure they got in the truck and left for the airport.
They got there two hours later; Wufei had fallen asleep against the door with his forehead resting against the window.
After Sally found a parking spot, she hit the down button on his window to wake him up. He jerked awake, eyes wide. He quickly figured what had happened and glared at her.
"That wasn't funny," he told her irritably. He unlocked the door and got out.
When they had found the right terminal, they only had a 30 minute wait. They found a place to sit and got comfortable.
Wufei looked down at Lian, who had awoken on the elevator when it had started, and considered taking her out or not. He decided not to since it wasn't bothering her to just lay there.
Thirty minutes passed quickly enough and soon they were on board a plane to Japan. Lian got the empty window seat next to Wufei.
Before they took off, Lian looked around wide eyed at the unfamiliar noise of the engines starting, but didn't do anything; however, as soon as the plane left the ground, she started fussing at the strange feeling. Wufei tried to calm her down the best he could without taking her out of the carrier since he wasn't allowed yet. Once he was allowed, he took her out and held her until she fell asleep.
Four hours later the plane landed in Tokyo. Duo and Heero was standing at the gate waiting on them.
"What are you doing here?" Wufei asked.
"Relena tipped us off that you would be here today," Duo said all smiles. "So we decided to be your welcome wagon!"
Duo suddenly grinned wider and jumped at Wufei, hugging him tight. "Wufei! I missed your ranting so much!"
"Let go of me! Damn you, Duo!" Wufei said loudly struggling. "Let...go!" He finally wrenched himself free and shoved Duo away with his free arm.
Heero noticed Wufei holding something covered with a light purple blanket. "Wufei, why are you holding a baby carrier?" he asked simply.
"Hm? Oh! I forgot you don't know about her. This is my daughter," he said motioning to the carrier. "Her name is Lian."
Duo and Heero just stared stunned. Finally Duo spoke up. "You?! Chang "Stick Up My Ass" "All women are weak" Wufei knocked up a girl?!" Duo said in disbelief. He then paled and slowly looked at Sally standing behind Wufei. "Sally, are you-"
"No I am not that baby's mother!" she replied defensively. "I don't even want to think of getting laid by Wufei!" she shuddered.
Wufei blushed horribly. "Sally!" he said trying to shut her up.
Duo laughed. "I can't imagine Wufei screwing anybody." He closed his eyes. "I now have disturbing mental images....Thank you Sally."
"Hey!" Wufeiglared, blushing even worse.
Heero yanked Duo's braid. "Shut up, Duo," he said simply then looked at Wufei. "I would like to see your daughter," he said.
Sally suggested they go to the seats nearby so they wouldn't be in the way. Once there, Wufei put down the carrier and pulled back the blanket revealing Lian fast asleep under a white baby blanket with little yellow ducks with pink ribbons on their necks.
"She's so cute and tiny!" Duo said bouncing up and down.
Heero nodded in agreement. "You said her name is Lian, right?" he asked Wufei who nodded. "Who's the mother?"
"I don't know," he shrugged.
Duo stared at him. "You don't know who you screwed?" he asked earning a smack from Heero for his lack of tact. "How did you come about the baby then? Did the baby appear on your doorstep with a note saying 'you screwed me, I got pregnant, here's the baby.'?" he asked then laughed. "Wow Wufei! You sure have changed in the three years you've been gone."
"That's not what happened!" Wufei said in exasperation. "I didn't screw anyone!" He then proceeded to explain how he really came about getting Lian.
"Wow, Wufei..." Duo said softly then slowly grinned. "So! You're still a virgin, huh?" he said. "I can still tease you about it!"
"Duo..." Wufei growled, glaring daggers at him.
"Ah don't worry! Heero hasn't gotten laid yet either!" he replied slapping his Japanese friend on the back.
"Duo!" Heero warned.
"Ah, I'm sorry Hee-chan!" he said with big puppy eyes.
"You mean you're not together?" Sally asked.
Heero looked at Duo then back at Sally. "That's an insulting question, Sally," he said simply. "Besides, I'm not even gay."
"We're not together, we just share an apartment here!" Duo smiled hugging on Heero who shoved him off.
"Where are you two staying, Sally?" Heero asked looking at Wufei who was leaning over Lian checking on her.
"We're staying in a new hotel in Kyoto. It's called Sakura Dreams Hotel," she responded.
"Ooo, that's a nice hotel," Duo said seriously.
"You should go get your luggage," Heero said suddenly. "I'm sure it's out of the plane by now."
"Right!" Sally said and called for Wufei to come on. He put the blanket back over the carrier and followed.
"So do you think you two could stop by our apartment before you go to Kyoto?" Duo asked as he and Heero helped Sally and Wufei retrieve their luggage.
"Can't," Wufei said unfolding Lian's stroller. He put Lian in it carrier-and-all until he could find a place to stop and take her out. "We have to check in the inn by three."
"Wufei, it's only ten-thirty," Sally said. "We'll have plenty of time."
"We have an hour long train ride to Kyoto," he said. "If we go to the apartment we'll lose track of time and miss our deadline."
"You're no fun, Fei!" Duo said crossing his arms looking genuinely disappointed. "We just met again after all these years and now you're wanting to run off again," he said his voice dripping with sadness.
He stared at his friend for a long time until he finally sighed. "I never said you and Heero couldn't come to Kyoto with us," he said, getting a bright smile from Duo.
"Come on," Heero said. "Our car's outside."
They reached the inn in about an hour and thirty minutes. Once Sally and Wufei checked in they went to their seperate rooms and started to unpack. Heero helped Wufei unpack and Duo helped Sally.
"Do you like having a daughter, Wufei?" Heero asked quietly looking at Lian sleeping on a pillow on the bed. He was hanging up Wufei's clothes in the closet.
"I do," Wufei answered from the bathroom; he was putting his toothbrush and things on the sink. "It's a lot of work taking care of her, but it's worth it."
"Of all of us, you were the last person I expected to ever have a child. Even though you aren't her biological father."
Wufei came into the bedroom. "I don't want you to mention that around Lian. I really don't want her to find out," he said then looked at him. "Please."
"I won't mention it again," he promised.
Wufei smiled warmly at his friend. "Thank you," he said. "Are we done unpacking?" he asked changing the subject.
"Yes."
"Good!" he said in relief. He glanced over at Lian. "Would you like to hold her?" he asked.
"Hold...a baby?" Heero asked looking at her. "I don't think I should. I'll hurt her."
"Nonesense," he replied. "As long as you don't drop her or hold her too tight, you won't hurt her."
"I'll drop her," he said.
"If you knew you wouldn't hurt her would you want to?" he asked.
"I guess so."
"Then sit on the bed," he instructed picking up his sleeping daughter. "You can hold her better if you sit."
Heero did as he was told and Wufei handed him Lian who woke up during the transfer of herself. Wufei almost laughed watching Heero try and hold her properly. Finally he had to show him how.
"She's so light," Heero said looking at Lian who was staring back up at him with huge eyes.
"She's a month old," he said proudly. "She's growing fast. Way faster than I thought she would."
"You really care for her, don't you," Heero said.
"I do," Wufei admitted sitting next to him. "It's odd. I've never cared for anything so much before. When I first decided to take her in, I never expected to love her as I do. Sometimes when she won't stop crying I think to myself 'is Lian worth all the headaches and constant worry?', and then later she'll give me the brightest, happiest smile I've ever seen and I realize that, yes, she is worth it." he said thoughtfully.
"You've changed, Wufei," Heero said handing back the baby. "Three years ago you would have never have told anyone your feelings. The baby has changed you."
"For the better I hope?" he asked not looking up from Lian who was cooing happily and holding one of his fingers in her fist.
"Yes. For the better," he nodded.
R&R please! Constructive criticism is welcomed with open arms!
