A/N And here we are, the final chapter of Promises. Please enjoy and let me know what you think.

Promises

Chapter 10

Wufei watched her, his expression blank. His chest lurched with the overwhelming revelation of fatherhood. He spoke in a trembling voice. "That's why you ran."

Megan said nothing, staring at him in mute shock. He stopped closer. She made no move to stop him until he reached her and held out his arms, gesturing for the baby. "Give her to me, Megan."

She shook her head, at last finding her voice. "No."

Wufei frowned. "What?"

"No, Wufei. You're not taking my daughter." She spat the words at him, her anger at last overcoming her surprise.

He shook his head. "You don't understand. I'm not going to take her."

"Damn right you're not. If I wouldn't let my fathers take her what makes you think I'd let you near her." She attempted to scoot around him. He moved closer, arms shooting out the block her escape.

His voice was like ice. "Don't be ridiculous, Megan." He stared at her for a moment before his gaze was drawn back to the tiny bundle that was still whimpering nervously. "What's her name?"

Megan released a strangled sob. "Let me go, Wufei."

"No. I think you owe me an explanation." He retorted sharply.

Gray eyes flashed defiantly. "I don't owe you anything. Leave, leave now or I'll scream."

"You won't scream, it'll scare our child."

"My child." She snapped instantly, shifting the baby to her shoulder, protectively bracing a hand at the little girl's neck. "You told me you never wanted to see me or hear from me again. I fully intended to make that happen."

His heart broke when he realized in that moment, just how much damage he'd done. He pressed down the sadness, "You stole my child, you were never going to tell me, were you?"

Megan responded by averting her gaze. Something in Wufei snapped. In the next second, his lips were on hers in a rough kiss. She whimpered against his mouth as he moved his hands, slipping one around her waist and the other to cup the back of her head. She opened her mouth against his, more than likely in protest. He took the opportunity to deepen the contact, plundering her mouth. She couldn't push him away and he intended to take full advantage of that.

When he released her several long moments later, his anger had dissipated somewhat, however the kiss had left him more frustrated than he'd intended for it too.

"Wufei." Megan's voice was soft.

He ignored her and claimed her lips once more, this time gently, giving her all that he'd taken in the previous encounter. The baby's squeak of protest brought him back to reality.

He broke away once more. Megan stared at him, gray eyes impossibly round. "Wufei."

He arched a brow in question. Her words were the last thing he'd expected to hear. "Let me go."

He exhaled heavily and stepped back, releasing his grip on her. She stared at him, bewildered before speaking again. "Leave, Wufei. Leave us alone and never come here again."

Wufei ignored her demand and reached out to touch his daughter's head, only to find his hand roughly slapped away. "Don't touch my child."

"MY child." He snarled at her, anger rising once again. "How dare you? You… you lied to me. You lied to me, Megan."

"She's not yours!" Megan responded instantly.

"Oh? You've been out fucking other men who just happen to have my same heritage?"

"Maybe I have." She spat angrily. "It's no concern of yours."

"She's my child, Megan. Don't keep lying to me." He demanded, his anger rising. Damn but no one could set off his temper quite like Megan.

"You may biologically be her other half, but you won't get near her."

He gritted his teeth. "Don't insult my intelligence, Megan. You remember what happened last time you insulted me." He stepped closer again, leaning to whisper in her ear. "How many times did I make you scream my name?"

She shook beneath his lips, from rage. When she spoke her voice was weak. "Please Wufei, just go."

He lifted his head and took a step back. "You're never getting rid of me again, Megan. Mark my words, I will have my daughter and I will have you for my wife. Whether you agree or not, I will have you."

Her face twisted in outrage. "Marriage? You miserable excuse for a man. What makes you think I want anything to do with you?"

Wufei snorted. "Three things, Meggie." The pet name rolled easily off his tongue. "It's this simply." All anger was gone from him as he spoke, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "First and foremost, once you truly love someone, you never stop loving them. You said it yourself. You loved me, you still love me. Secondly, you could have ended the pregnancy and you didn't. You love our child. Thirdly, I love you."

It was that simple. Megan froze, fully expecting him to pull some speech about honor out of his ass. "Don't lie to me, Wufei." She spoke again, her voice weak. "I can't take any more lies."

"I've NEVER lied to you, Megan. And I wouldn't start now. I love you. Why the hell else would I follow you halfway around the world for 6 months looking for you. I've been half-crazy with worry and sick at the thought that something had happened to you. When I pulled you off that plane you were almost dead. And believe me, if I had realized it was you, I'd never have let them take you away."

"Plane…" She frowned. "You… you were there?"

Wufei nodded. "Yes. I've been one step behind you for months now. I came here expecting to find this place empty and you gone. I was ready to take off to some god-forsaken colony in the butt crack of nowhere to find you again. Why would I do that if I didn't love you?"

She sniffled. "I don't know… honor demanded that you bring me home to my family."

Wufei shook his head. "Screw honor. And screw what your parents think. This isn't about them, or about the age difference. Megan, I want to be with you and with our child."

She hesitated. "This is… a lot to take in at once Wufei."

"I know. I wasn't expecting it to go quite like this. You really threw me for a loop with...her." He gestured to the infant who'd fallen asleep only moments before.

"Lily." Megan spoke softly. "Her name is Lily." She moved the baby from her shoulder and took a step towards Wufei. "You say you want us, both of us. Honestly?"

"Yes." He stared at her unblinking. The next thing he knew, the baby was being pushed into his arms. He held her carefully as Megan spoke. "Her name is Lily Catherine Chang."

His head snapped up at the sound of his daughter's full name. "Chang?"

"Well… let's face it." Megan snorted. "Lily Catherine Chang-Hanahan-Barton-Winner. It's a bit much."

"Not that Lily isn't a beautiful name, but mind if I ask where you got it?" He backed away and lowered himself into one of the chairs at the table.

Megan joined him a moment later a sad smile on her lips. "Because, Lily is the name of the woman who saved our lives. I'd love to tell you about her."

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Quatre paced the floor of the living room. Trowa watched him with no small amount of amusement in his eyes. "You're going to wear a hole in the marble, you know."

"It's not funny. Duo said it was important. He said they would be here promptly at noon. It's five past." Quatre turned and began yet another lap around the broad expanse of the formal room. "I just hope it's not another close failure."

"He said it was good news. That must mean something. Duo wouldn't get our hopes up like that, love." Trowa smiled at Quatre.

The front door opened and Duo's voice called out. "Marco!"

Quatre spun, automatically responding with "Polo." It was a game they'd played long ago when Quatre and Trowa had first moved into the massive estate.

The braided man appeared in the doorway, his spouse in tow. Quatre arched a brow. "Well? What was so important?"

"I have a surprise for you." Duo smirked.

Trowa chuckled. Quatre faltered. "Good surprise or bad surprise."

"Well, a little of both I should think. But a surprise none-the-less." Duo stepped inside, dragging Heero behind him. "Okay, come on in."

Trowa's eyes widened as Megan stepped in behind them. He bounded from the sofa and moved quickly, sweeping his oldest child up into his arms. He spun her around in a broad circle before settling her back on her feet, still hugging her tightly. Beside him Quatre was still standing, shell-shocked. Trowa squeezed her so hard he almost feared she would break.

Quatre at last made a noise. He squeaked happily before releasing an ecstatic yell and launching himself at his husband and daughter. He pulled Megan physically away from Trowa, clasping her tightly to his chest. He held her for a brief moment before grasping her by the shoulders and pulling away, carefully inspecting her for damage. He pulled her tight once more. Trowa slipped his arms around his happy husband and sobbing child, not caring how this miracle had come into being, only that it was happening.

It was several long minutes before he dared to move away. It was as though someone had flipped a switch in Quatre. He flittered about Megan in a circle, poking her here and there, commenting on how thin she'd become. Trowa merely smiled and basked in the euphoria of his reunited family.

He turned to see Duo with his arms around Heero, unabashedly wiping a tear away. Trowa at last found his voice, rough though it was. "How did you find her?"

"She found us." Heero replied. "We were in Hong Kong, following up on some stuff when she knocked on the door of our hotel room."

Duo grinned. "And that's not all. She wasn't alone. This is… uh… what might be the bad part."

Trowa wondered what on earth could be bad. He followed Duo's gaze to the door of the living room. Quatre too, fell silent, not releasing his grip on Megan. Wufei stood in the doorway, holding a baby carrier tightly in one hand. There was a small smile playing at the Chinese man's lips. Trowa broke into a smile.

Quatre spoke first, however. "Wufei. What are you doing here?"

Wufei lifted his chin proudly. "I'm here for Megan."

Quatre's expression was cold. "You aren't getting near her ever again, Wufei. Put the baby down and get out of my house. You aren't welcome here."

Trowa frowned. Megan gently pried Quatre's fingers from her arm. "Babu, please… give him a chance to explain."

"Explain what? He hurt you. He violated you." Quatre's disbelief was obvious.

"No." Megan spoke firmly. "Babu, listen to me. No, don't look at Wufei. This has very little to do with him."

"What?" Quatre sputtered indignantly.

Trowa crossed his arms over his chest as he observed his daughter. There was something different about her. A quiet confidence that radiated from her. She smiled sadly at Quatre. "Babu, I love you."

She spoke the words simply. Quatre opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again when Megan shook her head. "I'm sorry for hurting you and Papa. I can't put into words how badly I feel about it. What happened between me and Wufei… it's just that. It's between me and Wufei. Papa, Babu… I'm not going to ask for your blessing. I don't need that. I'm happy. For the first time in a very long time. I'm truly happy with my life. If you can't be happy for me, I'm sorry."

"But…" Quatre began to speak.

Megan cut him off once more. "Wufei is the father of my child. He's your family now too, in every legal sense. We're adults, consenting adults. He didn't violate me. He's never hurt me. I let myself be hurt. I hurt him far worse than he could ever have hurt me. As far as I'm concerned, I'm the lucky one."

"But…" Trowa stepped forward and clapped a hand over Quatre's mouth, watching their daughter expectantly.

Megan crossed to Wufei and took the baby carrier from him. Trowa realized in that moment he'd never seen Wufei smile so affectionately at anyone. Megan knelt in front of the carrier and unbuckled it, lifting the baby out. She put the child on her shoulder and returned to where her fathers stood. She wordlessly placed the baby in Trowa's arms. Quatre stared without speaking.

Trowa could feel Quatre's breath catch in his own throat. Megan spoke again. "Babu, Papa… this is Lily Catherine Chang. She's your granddaughter. If you want to have her in your lives, then you have to accept Wufei as well. He is a part of her. And I don't care if I was five years old and making foolish wishes. I love him and I love her and we're a family."

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Quatre stared at the baby, all he felt from her was pure innocence. There was nothing but the secure feeling of being completely loved and safe. It was what he strove for in his own children. He reached out and gingerly lifted the newborn from Trowa's arms, cradling her into the crook of his neck. He licked his lips and whispered a prayer, a blessing in Arabic, into her ear.

Recognizing the same blessing he'd prayed with each of their children, Megan's tears finally spilled over. As he inhaled the scent of his first grandchild, Quatre closed his eyes tightly. It was an entirely different feeling than holding one of his own children. The love filled him near to bursting.

He released a chuckle that came out as a strangled sob. He was a grandparent. Unbelievable. How had he gone from a naïve orphan fighting in a war to save his home to being a grandparent escaped him. He wasn't old or at death's door, but it did make the impact of the intervening years all the more real. He'd never thought when he saw that tiny scrap of a child sitting in his office that she'd be the one to teach him everything he knew about love.

He was a parent, it was his job and duty to protect his family. But the one time he thought he'd failed, truly failed, was when he was given one of the greatest blessings in his life. The tears rolled down his face unchecked. He couldn't for the life of him figure out why he was crying. Perhaps this was the one lesson he'd never really understood as a parent. And now to be faced with it so abruptly hurt almost unbearably. The truly heartbreaking thing about children was letting go.

Megan was still his child, his baby in many ways. She'd always need him, he knew this for a fact. But somewhere along the way, when he'd been preaching to Trowa about giving her the freedom she needed to grow, he'd forgotten the very important fact that he'd be letting her go too.

He gave Lily a lingering kiss on the top of her head and moved to Wufei. He felt the Chinese man tense in front of him. He acted on instinct, carefully placing the baby in her father's arms. He did not speak, but instead gazed at Wufei.

Wufei's heart swelled within his chest as he held his firstborn tightly. He understood all that Quatre was entrusting him with, and accepted it with all that he was.

Quatre stepped back and pulled Megan too him tightly He whispered four words in her ear. "I love you, Megsie." He felt her nod against his shoulder as she returned the embrace just as fiercely. He released her and stepped back, chuckling as he wiped his face on the back of his cuff. "Who's hungry? Margie made roast."

And thus life continued, and dear reader, this author is happy to report… that they lived happily ever after.

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Fin

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