The Legacy of the Rose

By: Ammendiana

Chapter Seven

The days at the academy passed quickly after the first and second days. Her second day classes, including armed combat, basic medical skills, survival skills, basic piloting, and her extracurricular activity, which changed from choir to solo vocal performance, which, to her disgust, Emma Spencer was in as well. Her coloratura soprano grated on Mariemaia's nerves.

Mariemaia became used to living with Milan, who was a neat freak and couldn't even leave a dirty sock on the floor for five seconds before pouncing on it like a rabid wildcat. Granted, it took her awhile, but only because she was much more laid back about clutter. But it did save her from having to clean their dorm room.

Mariemaia also felt growing confusion as Rick pursued her and Alex...well, Alex ran like a bad water heater, hot one minute and cold the next. One minute she thought she saw something more in his eyes than friendship, and it excited her, but other times he treated her simply like an old acquaintance. Rick's interest became more and more apparent with each passing day, and it made her feel more and more confused, attracted, and altogether torn between the two.

First there was Rick with his Winner good looks and disarming manner, and Alex, with his Duo-ish charm and equally good looks.

And one day, in one of the many student sparring rooms, Mariemaia found herself at a crossroads with Rick.

She stood in a fighting stance, sweat dripping from her forehead and soaking her sweatband. She wore nothing but her sports bra and a pair of baggy red silk pajama pants. Her long hair was wound around her head, and she looked like a fiery war goddess in the midst of a small, empty room quite similar to her training room back at her fathers estate. Rick stood across from her, about ten yards away, equally sweaty in nothing but a pair of baggy cotton pants. Her also wore a sweatband around his forehead, and his reddish blond hair spilled over it, nearly hiding it from view. Mariemaia couldn't help but admire his lean, muscular swimmer's physique, and his agility. He must get that from his mother, she thought as he came at her like a wolf, all speed and purpose.

He did a frontward handspring and landed in front of her, trying to surprise her into giving him a opening for the round house he delivered next. She did not fall into his trap, and, grabbing his flying leg, she twisted him in such a way that he was on his back and gasping for precious air before he knew it. She skipped away lightly and, in a mocking gesture, she sat down on the mat and closed her eyes, taking on a visage of complete serenity and peace. It was becoming more and more apparent to Mariemaia that she was more than a match for Rick.

She cracked one eye open enough to see Rick springing at her. As his fist sailed past her head, she tossed him over her by putting both hands on his muscular chest and flipping him over with a powerful upward thrust of her legs. She then flipped onto her feet and walked over to the bench for a drink of water from her water bottle.

"Where did you learn all this!" Rick asked, affronted, as he rose once more from the mat. Mariemaia looked at him mildly and said, "From a good teacher. Apparently, that wasn't the case for someone I could mention, but I won't."

Rick looked especially insulted as he sat on the mat, "I think you're just arrogant, Marie."

"I think you're a baby, Rick," She retorted as she threw him the water bottle, "Take a drink. Babies get dehydrated easily, I hear."

"That was beneath you," Rick replied as he took a swig from her water bottle.

"No, but your skill is," Her rejoinder was delivered with pizzazz and a friendliness that belied the meanness of the observation. Rick, however, did not see this, but became red with anger and got up, nearly shouting, "Where do you get off saying that, Miss Marie?"

"Oh, I think you would know better than me, weakling," Mariemaia said in return, her own anger growing. Rick started to approach her, and she noticed that his muscles were tense with anger. She realized that she had hurt his feelings.

"I'm sorry, Rick. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," She said contritely. Rick became tenser, the opposite of the effect she wanted.

"Oh sorry are you? Bloody practically groveling! Didn't mean to hurt my feelings, did you?" He practically roared as he pounced on her, grabbing her wrists and throwing her gently down on the mat, which gave her the feeling that he had an ulterior motive for his display of 'rage.'

He fell on top of her and said quietly, "Sorry are you?"

Mariemaia stuck her tongue out at him impudently, "Nope."

"Oh, you're not?" He asked mildly as his leaned down until the tip of his nose brushed her lips. Her mouth went dry as a desert.

"Just to let you know, I'm not sorry either."

"Sorry about wh--" She was cut off by his lips touching hers gently, like the kiss of a rose petal, then as he began the kiss her more deeply, more passionately. He let go of her arms, and she couldn't bring herself to fight him off. Her fingers entwined themselves in his hair as she returned his kiss. It became deeper and more passionate and...

"Marie?" Alex's voice asked from the doorway.

Then he saw Rick and Mariemaia on the mat, kissing each other deeply. Mariemaia threw Rick off of her forcefully and looked at Alex, opening her mouth to explain, but finding that she had no explanation. Her heart broke as she saw the betrayed look in Alex's blue eyes. He took a shaky breath and said, "Antonia says that Aunt Relena says you can have that blue dress, but she wants the shoes back. Also, Otto will pick you up at seven sharp on Friday. Milan and...I...will be riding with you. Bye."

Alex practically ran away. Mariemaia jumped up and followed him, rushing out the door so fast she had the grasp the frame to stop herself. "Alex!" She called out to him.

He turned and said, "Well, I guess we know who you want now, don't we?" She saw the tears running down his face like mournful crystals as he ran around the corner.

Rick grasped her shoulder and she jumped in surprise.

She turned to him, "What have I done?" She whispered as she sank to the floor.

Seven sharp came like a knife in her gut as Mariemaia waited with Milan, who had been more understanding than she should have been about Alex and Rick, and Alex, who seemed to not be able to even look at her.

Milan wore an off the shoulder gown of navy blue and cream swirled sporadically. Her hair was pulled back and piled in a ladylike mass of curls on her head, with a few framing her beautiful face and a river of them falling down her back. Mariemaia's hair was done in a similar way, and she wore a dress she had bought only the day before. It was a deep gray blue, strapless, empress waist cut gown embroidered with midnight blue roses and vines on the hems. Her shoulders were covered by a light, navy shawl, and around her slender neck she wore a necklace of platinum and diamonds that her birth mother had once owned, and on her ears a pair of matching earrings. She looked as regal as she ever could.

But her blue eyes held a look of haunting pain.

Alex stood as far away as he could without seeming rude. He wore his hair in the traditional braid, and his finely sculpted, athletic figure was outlined in the formal tuxedo that adorned him. The jacket, with its long coattails, the white shirt, white bow tie, finely tailored slacks, and shiny black dress shoes made him look every bit the fine gentleman. It made Mariemaia ache inside to play and tease with him as they had only a few short days ago. His eyes, like hers, were shadowed with pain.

Milan sat like a rock between them, one that either could lean on and that wouldn't judge.

Otto pulled up in the sleek black limousine, and soon they were all riding to the Dorlian-Yuy estate. The ride was thickly silent of their old, friendly chatter and Mariemaia wanted nothing more at that moment than to hear Alex laugh like he used to. It seemed that she had lost an old friend.

Thanking the Gods that the ride had been short, Mariemaia was the last to exit the limo. Alex was holding Milan like an infant in his strong arms as Otto rolled her wheelchair up. Placing her in it like a precious porcelain doll, Alex stood behind it and started to push her towards the main house. Mariemaia followed, trying to get the thought of a funeral procession out of her mind.

They reached the great doors of the house and Alex rang the tuneless bell, with Mariemaia on his left side, and Milan on his right. Mariemaia could feel his discomfort at being so near her. All she was thinking about was that she wanted to grasp his hand and comfort him. But it was her fault and she didn't know what to do. Rick was the furthest thing from her mind.

So as she entered the huge ballroom she didn't even notice the shining marble, tulle and glittering ribbon decorations, or the scores of happy guests fluttering around the room like colorful butterflies, or Rick approaching her. When she felt his hand on her shoulder, she nearly shouted in surprise, but managed to keep it down to a startled grunt. He smiled and said quietly, "How are you? You seemed kind of...spaced out. Are you still upset about Alex?" He seemed to care only about her feelings and not Alex's, which was sweet and not exactly strange, but it made her angry as she remembered the pain sketched on Alex's face. She answered tartly, "I'm more than upset...I'm..."

But she stopped as she realized that Rick wasn't even looking at her anymore, but at a beautiful, platinum haired woman in a strapless black gown with a long, many seamed train with long strips of gossamer sewn inside each seam, giving it a fairy-like, feathery appearance. Her hair was French braided in three rows: one in the middle of her head and one on each side, each entwined with a black satin ribbon. The remainder of the braids were pinned tightly into a nest like bun at the base of her skull. She wore a long chained silver necklace with a pristine white pearl pendant and simple pearl earrings. Her dark blue eyes were outlined with dark eye shadow, and her lips were coated with shiny lip gloss. Antonia looked more beautiful and graceful than Mariemaia thought anyone could be.

Rick took in a sharp breath as if he hadn't taken one since Antonia appeared. Mariemaia looked at his handsome face, and she, to her amazement, saw the same pain she had seen in Alex's face and in her own painted vividly on Rick's. She thought in wonder, I knew they once dated, but I thought that he dumped her. But, from the looks of it, I was misinformed or he made a big mistake. And I think it's the latter.

"Rick?" She asked as she gave his sleeve a good tug. He shook his head as if trying to clear it and responded quietly, "What?"

"Can I talk to you someplace more private?"

"Ummm...I uh... sure."

He grabbed her hand lightly and pulled her towards a door near the back of the ballroom. As they approached he let go and stepped towards it, opening it smoothly and letting her pass through first.

She turned towards him as he shut the door. The hallway was empty of all life and sound except their own. She started what would be an expectedly painful argument by saying simply, "Rick, I think we made a few really stupid mistakes."

His head shot up and he inquired curiously, "Mistakes?"

"Rick, the only thing I've been able to think about since we kissed in the sparring room is Alex, and how I hurt him. I haven't even thought about you for the past few days. And I," She took a deep breath and sighed, "I saw Antonia tonight."

His visage hardened, "Really? So did everybody else."

"More than that, I saw you seeing her."

He hadn't expected that, "So what?"

"Rick, I saw the way you looked at her, and the way you looked afterwards. You can't tell me you don't still love her, because, after what I saw, nothing could make me believe you." She finished quickly and crossed her arms in finality. Rick stared at her and opened his mouth to retort, but found that he could only work his jaw.

Mariemaia walked up to him and embraced him, whispering, "Rick, you don't have to give me excuses and I don't want them. If you do love her...well, there is no gain without risk, is there? Don't let it pass by you. For me." She kissed his cheek in a regretful, but sisterly way.

As she turned to walk away, he grasped her hand. She turned and looked into his eyes.

"For you, I won't. Or, at least, I'll try not to." Tears ran down his contorted face and Mariemaia realized that there were tears cleansing her own face. Funny that she hadn't felt them. Then Rick bent down to kiss her hand. She withdrew it and looked at him with a wan smile on her watery face. He smiled back, and Mariemaia turned and, without looking back, walked away.

Her spirit was lighter as she stepped back into the bustling ballroom. She searched the sea of faces, but didn't see the one face she wanted to see. Disappointment bloomed inside her chest, but she pulled the weed ruthlessly. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she was going to go into the throng, have a great time, and take care of the Alex dilemma later.

Mariemaia watched her steps carefully as she strolled through the ocean of guests.

"Mariemaia! There you are!" Relena exclaimed happily. It didn't even occur to Mariemaia to ask Relena to call her Marie. She instead returned the beautiful, lavender clad blonde's smile and answered, "How are you, Relena? Have you seen Alex around? I need to speak with him."

Relena frowned and said, "No I haven't. Maybe you'll find him in his old room. Oh, wait, I didn't notice him, but there he is behind you!"

Mariemaia spun around quickly and saw Alex there, looking hurt and dumbfounded at the same time.

"Mariemaia? Mariemaia Khushrenada? No, nononononono, you can't be...You can't!" He nearly shouted as he fled the ballroom by way of the stairs.

She didn't even think as she pulled up her skirts and followed him as quickly as her legs could carry her. Up two more flights of stairs and down countless corridors until, finally, she heard a door slam and, looking around, she saw a sign that said, simply, 'Alex's Room'. There was another door that said 'Rick's Room'. Smiling, she opened Rick's door and found Alex inside, looking chagrined.

And angry.

He looked at her accusingly and waited for her to close the door before shouting, "MARIEMAIA KHUSHRENDADA, HUH? FIRST RICK, NOW THIS! I'M IN LOVE WITH A FUCKING MEGALOMANIAC!"

Mariemaia strangled her rising temper and said evenly, "Alex, if you don't stop shouting I'm going to castrate you."

He was so astonished he couldn't blink.

Mariemaia continued, "Yes, I am Mariemaia Khushrenada. Daughter of Treize Khushrenada and Leia Barton. Whoopdee-fucking-doo. If you really loved me, you wouldn't care who I was. So what, I tried to conquer the Earth! Have you ever heard the term 'brainwashing'? I am really surprised you didn't recognize me. Your parents and sister did. Rick did. Antonia did. Tavvy did. Everybody else did except for you. Besides, my name was kept secret because people might react like you did to my name, and ask that I not be trained as a Preventer. What was I supposed to do, huh? Wear a sign that says 'Mariemaia Khushrenada' written on it?"

Alex looked thoroughly scolded, and said, "What about Rick, Mariemaia? You broke my heart, you know."

"Say it again."

"What? 'You broke my heart.'"

"No, the other thing."

"What other thing?" Alex sounded more than a little exasperated.

"My name, doofus."

Alex opened his mouth and smiled with his old charm, "Mariemaia."

She closed her eyes in bliss and smiled, saying again, "Again."

"Mariemaia," His smile was almost to the breaking point.

Mariemaia walked towards him, and, placing her palms on his chest, she looked up at him and said, "I know that I broke you heart. But I can help you mend it, if you'll let me." She felt tears once again running down her face, and saw their twins running from Alex's.

He looked at her and said, "Why didn't you tell me before? I don't know if I want to take the risk."

"I didn't know before. And, Alex..."

"What?"

"No gain without risk."

He smiled once again and, as he grasped her chin gently between the thumb and first two fingers of his right hand and tilted her face upward, he repeated.

"No gain without risk."

Their lips met in a kiss that more than rivaled any kiss that Rick could give her, and Mariemaia felt her heart exult.

They returned to the party arm in arm. Alex asked her what had happened between her and Rick, and, as she told him, they walked towards Relena's little clique.

"Hello!" Alex and Mariemaia greeted the group. Relena returned their hello just a bit tipsily, and Heero gave them a simple hi. But there were two people in the group she didn't know. One was a tall, filled-out woman with waist-length blue-black hair (with a lock that seemed to fall right in front of one of her eyes), and dark blue eyes that seemed to see everything. The other was the tallest man she had ever been in close contact with. His hair was long and platinum blonde, falling straight to his waist. His skin was tanned and his eyes were an icy blue.

"Mariemaia," Alex began, "These fine-looking people are Lucrezia Noin and Zechs Merquise."

I should have guessed. She thought to herself as she dropped them a curtsy.

"Mariemaia Khushrenada. I don't believe we've ever met," Zechs said in his deep, sexy voice. A smile creased his face. Noin gave him a wife look and said, "We're very pleased to meet you, Mariemaia. Zechs has wanted to meet you for such a long time."

"Yes, I have. May I please steal her for a moment, Alexander?" Zechs asked, "I need to speak with her privately."

Alex held up his hands and said, "I don't own her."

Mariemaia smiled at Alex, then Zechs, to whom she offered her hand. He took it and pulled her away from the group, into the dancing throng.

As they danced he spoke, "I have been waiting to give you something, Miss Mariemaia. Your father gave it to me for you before we parted ways."

"What is it?" Mariemaia asked as they dodged a rather clumsy couple smoothly.

He reached into the pocket of his formal tuxedo and handed her an old, wrinkled envelope with her name written on it in long, elegant writing.

"It's, obviously, a letter. I've never read it. In fact, I didn't even know who it was for until you came along. Treize only told me that you'd make yourself known sooner or later."

Mariemaia clutched the letter and, as the dance ended, stepped up on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you. So much."

Zechs embraced her and told her gruffly, "I think he would be proud of the way you turned out."

"Tell Alex I need a little quiet time, please," she asked.

"No problem." Zechs walked away as Mariemaia walked out of a pair of open French doors and onto a deck. Sitting in a deck chair, she opened the letter and pulled out one piece of paper. Unfolding it, she started to read.

Dearest Mariemaia,

Greetings from your unknown father. I just found out that you were born today. Even though you are only a year old now, I felt that I had to at least acknowledge your existence to myself instead of ignoring it and you.

This letter won't be very long, and I'm sorry for that, but there is only so much that needs to be said. First of all I would like to say that, even though we have never met and probably never will, you are a part of me and always will be. Khushrenada blood runs through our veins, and that alone makes us special.

I would also like to tell you that Dekim Barton will never, ever be your father, and anything that he programs you to do is his own load to bear, not yours.

And please, Mariemaia, don't battle with people just because it's easy. Very little that is easy is worth having.

Love,

Treize Khushrenada

Tears rolled down Mariemaia's face once more as she replaced the letter in its envelope and clutched it to her breast.