Joys of Fatherhood

Day 4 – Daughter-Father Time a.k.a. Relena Isn't Around

Heero had awoken early that morning, not that, that wasn't normal for him. It was just that he wanted to wake up before Hotaru woke up so that he could finish her profile. He headed downstairs, made himself a cup of coffee before setting to work at his laptop. As he typed in silence he found he kept thinking about Hotaru. In the time he had received her, Heero had looked up parenting sites. What he found out was that Hotaru didn't fit the description of a regular baby. Besides the fact the Hotaru kept on growing she was well… quiet. Oh, she would giggle, cause trouble, laugh and say things from time to time, but it wasn't like she cried her head off all time, if she wanted to cuddle she would bug him, if she wanted to play she would make whining sounds and if she was tired she could be cranky and start throwing her cats at him. Speaking of which, the minute Heero finished his work Hotaru woke and started crying for him to get her. (Isn't babies' timing amazing?)

There Hotaru was, sitting up in her crib wailing her head off and waving her arms in the air. Heero looked down at the baby girl. The minute she realized that he was looking at her, she stopped and looked back up at him. He raised a brow. Yep, definitely not your normal baby. Picking her up, Hotaru leaned over his arms, reaching out to one of her dolls. Heero crouched down to where the dolls were, "Which one?" he mentally kicked himself again. He was talking to her like she could understand him.

Hotaru reached out and grabbed the one with blond hair.

Going back downstairs Heero put Hotaru in her highchair. As she played with her doll, Heero looked over his shoulders. Once again the girl had gotten older, by a bit he guessed, it was hard to tell. Maybe he should try to give her some semi-solid foods now. Walking over to the stove, Heero started to make oatmeal for both of them. As strange as it might sound, Heero wasn't really a stranger to cooking. Quatre couldn't cook all the time, Trowa would every once and awhile. Duo, well… put it nicely, the entrance to the kitchen would forever bare the sign "No Maxwells Beyond This Point". Wufei would just refuse to cook, period. The phone rang and Heero picked it up without thinking.

"Hello," he stated.

"Heero, it's Relena," the voice on the other line told him.

Heero carefully positioned the phone between his ear and shoulder, "Relena, did the meeting go well?"

"Put it nicely it went okay…" Relena paused, "Put it bluntly we're lucky another war didn't break out. I'm sorry, but I'm going to be stuck here for a while. Probably until the end of this week."

"Understood," Heero answered.

Relena paused again, "Okay… but I'm trusting you not to turn her into a trigger-happy manic!"

"Now what gives you the idea I would do that?" Heero asked, though he thought that the thought was amusing.

"This coming from the guy who seems to shoot now and ask questions later?" Heero would imagine Relena raising an eyebrow over there.

Heero couldn't help but smirk, "Relena, Hotaru would be in more danger being raised by Duo than by me."

Hotaru called out, "Ma ma?"

"Was that Hotaru?" Relena's voice sounded more cheery.

"Yea… she likes to talk every once and a while," Heero explained.

"Right… and you're right, she could have been put in Duo's care. Anyhow I better be going. Heero, could you do me a favor?"

Heero was surprised, "Yes?"

"Could you please record any special moments of Hotaru while I'm gone? I have a feeling I'm going to miss most of them."

"……… Okay."

"Thank you Heero," with that Relena hung up.

As Heero put the phone back on it's cradle, it occurred to him that he would be alone with Hotaru for quite a while. Turning back to her, he watched as Hotaru waved her doll around. He shook his head, what did he know about being a father? What did it take to be a father? What in the hell was Dr. J thinking?

It turned out that Heero was right; Hotaru was ready for semi-solid foods. In fact she really did like the oatmeal. Okay… so not all of the oatmeal went into her mouth. She actually tried to scoop up some of the oatmeal in her hand and feed it to Heero.

After breakfast though, Heero wasn't sure of what to do with her. Besides the routine getting her dress and ready for the day that is. Then it occurred to him that he should get some more things for Hotaru. If his hunch about Hotaru's growing rate were right, then she would need more clothes. He also needed a camera since he did promise Relena to record her special moments. So, with Hotaru in a stroller and him armed with a list, Heero was ready to set out with Hotaru alone.

Back at the Gates of Time the Senshi were once again watching. They were still dealing with their enemy, but finding the mastermind behind all of this was hopefully close. What had frustrated this new threat was that Hotaru was nowhere to be found.

Minako shook her head with pity, "Poor guy, new at emotions and at parenting and he's all alone."

"This is going to be interesting," Rei added.

"Considering you betted he'll crumble today," Minako pointed out.

"I still say it's a lost cause," Makoto gave her opinion.

Michiru had this strange look on her face, "You know… I wonder…"

"Wonder what?" Haruka asked.

"Nothing, we'll see," Michiru just brushed the thought away, "He's going to be alone for the rest of the week, so we'll see how he does, ne?"

By the time Heero got back to the house he had gotten clothes to fit a growing one-year-old, those military dogtags, a video camera, children's books and a light blond doll, picked out by Hotaru of course. Now all he had to do was survive a few days with Hotaru.

Day 5 – Standing a.k.a. The Walls Are Crumbling

The day started out like any other. Well, almost anyhow. Hotaru was playing with her cats again, and Heero was talking to Lady Une. It seemed that some kind of crisis came up and Lady Une wanted Heero to deal with it.

"Heero, don't you say 'mission denied' to me," Lady Une said in a warning voice, "We need you on this now! Don't forget-"

"Lady Une, with all due respect I cannot take this mission," Heero was watching Hotaru crawl to the couch, "I can give advice if you want, but I will not go out on the field. In fact I won't being going out onto the field for a long time."

Lady Une couldn't believe it, "Are you telling me there's a mission you won't take? Why?"

Heero looked away for a moment, he paused, "Because… there is something more important than the mission."

"More important than the mission? Heero we're talking about the peace of the world here! Did Dr. J give you another mission I don't know about?" Lady Une demanded to know.

Heero thought about it. He could just go on this mission since Lady Une wasn't suppose to know about any of the missions he got from Dr. J, but then what? Who would look after Hotaru? He could leave her with someone until Relena got back, but what if he got killed? He smirked to himself and shook his head. A few years ago the thought of getting himself killed didn't bother him, but then again he didn't have anyone that would miss him. Not that Hotaru would miss him; she was too young to understand. Or was she? Heero frowned to himself, if she was developing fast physically how fast was she mentally? How did he know that she didn't understand the conversation he was having right now?

"Da da?" Hotaru looked at him, watching him. Then taking a grip on the couch she slowly pulled herself up. Heero turned his head to where she was. He would have nearly dropped the phone. There Hotaru was, standing next to the couch. She smiled at him as if she knew that would shock him.

"Lady Une, I'll get back to you," Heero said absently and hung up.

He walked over to Hotaru. Hotaru let go of the couch and held her arms out towards him only to fall on her butt. She pouted, but didn't cry. Kneeling beside her, Heero had this strange feeling in his chest. It was similar to the one when she said her first words, only it was stronger. It was only when he started to smile that he realized what this feeling was flowering inside his chest. Pride.

"You're a fast learner, aren't you?" Heero asked.

Hotaru smiled because even brighter, "Ya, da!"

"Knowing you, you'll be walking really soon. Even tomorrow," Heero picked her up.

She patted his cheek, not saying anything, but the action was stronger than words.

Once again in deep thought Heero thought about Hotaru's fate. If he died during that mission, Relena wouldn't be allowed to raise her. Dr. J would, and despite all of Dr. J's good intentions, he would turn her into a trigger-happy manic.

"She would become like me," Heero thought as Hotaru explored his face, "She looks so innocent now, but what about then? Also would she keep aging like this? Would it be, she would only live for a few months? For those few months in her life to be trained as a soldier?"

He remembered his own training well. He didn't know who this colleague was, but if Hotaru was going to stay with him. She might as well be raised as a normal child right?

Heero picked the phone up again.

"Hello Preventers HQ, how may I help you?"

"I would like to speak to Lady Une," Heero stated.

"Just one moment…"

Lady Une's voice came on, "Lady Une speaking."

"This is Heero," Heero sat down with Hotaru on his lap.

"Heero, now about that mission…"

Heero cut her off, "Lady Une, I told you I can't."

"May I ask why?"

He paused and looked at Hotaru, his eyes soften, "Because… I can't die and leave Hotaru alone."

"Hotaru? Who is-"

"I'll explain in full detail when I make my weekly visit Lady Une. In fact… I'll introduce you to her," and Heero hung up.

Day 6 – Taking The First Step (Towards Humanity)

Heero was typing away at his laptop, hoping to finish his report before tomorrow. Personally he just wanted his business at the Preventers' HQ and leave. He really didn't want to have Hotaru stay there for too long. Suddenly he was hit on the back of the head by something soft. Quickly he turned with his gun pointed. He saw Hotaru standing by the couch. He looked down and saw a black stuff cat.

"Need a nap?" he asked.

Hotaru pouted, "Da da."

"There are better ways than hitting people on the back of their heads," Heero stated dryly.

She let go of the couch only to fall on her butt, again, "Mff."

Heero stood up, "Don't you cry, you're the one that let go remember?"

It was strange, but Heero got use to talking to Hotaru. He refused to give her baby talk. She was a smart girl, and he was going to talk to her like she could understand. As eerily as it sounded, she acted like she could understand, but she was still a baby. He watched as she kept on getting up and falling down. Hotaru got as far as sticking out one foot in front of her. He had to admit, she was persist. Getting up from behind Hotaru he gently picked her up by her hands. With both of her feet touching the ground Hotaru put one foot out in front of her. Finally, one foot after another she started to walk. Without disturbing her, Heero let go. Crouching down he watched as Hotaru shakily walked a few steps and fell on her butt.

He smirked, "That's good, now come here…" he held out his arms.

Hotaru got up and fell.

"You're not going to give up now? Are you?" Heero asked.

She pouted again, getting up she took a few shakily steps before falling into Heero's arms.

"See… not that bad," He murmured picking her up.

Heero never did finish that report. He spent the rest of the day helping Hotaru to walk. For it seemed that Hotaru's first steps, were like first steps for Heero. He was experiencing for the first time the true joys of being a parent. The wonder of what life could give, if you gave it a chance.

All of the Senshi were amazed, Heero was smiling, and he was accepting Hotaru for more than just a mission.

Makoto murmured, "I don't believe…"

"Believe it," Haruka answered.

Minako smiled, "Looks like Ami wins the bet."

Ami watched Usagi, "Usagi?"

"Setsuna…" Usagi turned to the Guardian of Time.

"It seems that I was mistaken… but we need Hotaru back," Setsuna was clearly worried, "What will happen to Crystal Tokyo if she doesn't come back?"

"What will happen to them if she does?" Usagi asked.

Rei put a hand on Usagi shoulder, "We will worry when we think the time comes."

Author's Note: You know… I must be on a streak here. I don't normally come out with another one this soon. Well, here it is. We'll see how long this will last. My muse is back on track! Yay!