Motivated by Love
Wufei slowly regained consciousness to find himself on one of the beds in the medical wing, with his gut feeling like someone had used it as a punching bag. His head was also pounding like Duo had set off explosives too. Dammit, everything hurt. Groaning in pain he slowly opened his eyes to see Noin leaning over him with a relieved look on her face. What was going on and how had he ended up here, Wufei wondered as he tried to sit up then though better of it. "How did I get here?" Wufei muttered to her and to himself aloud.
"Heero and Duo carried you over." Noin said as she gently stroked his hair back, glad that he was finally awake. After all, he had collapsed onto a marble floor and his head was only so hard. "Bet you have quite the headache, huh?"
"They carried me?" Wufei repeated, horrified at the idea. The last thing he remembered was coming here to see if Noin was okay and Sally saying something about Lucrezia being..pregnant...with triplets. Losing what little color he'd had Wufei looked at Noin with a combination of emotions that varied from horror to recovering shock.
"No, I'm not pregnant, much less with triplets." Noin said with a chuckle, reading his face easily enough. "She just said it as a joke not realizing that if she were serious you'd be the future daddy. She's the reason your chest's likely hurts like a rotting tooth right now. She socked you pretty good when she put two and two together."
"Damn, onna." Wufei cursed, relieved and pissed at the same time. Oh he and Sally were gonna go a round over this. Definitely. After his ribs were in less pain.
"Well I explained to her that it was all my fault that she'd been left in the dark and so she's sorta sorry for punching you and calling you names. She's doing your meeting alone right now as a sort of apology." Noin said as she grinned down at him and the way he was struggling with varying emotions at once. She could only imagine what kind of shock Sally had delivered to poor Wufei's system. She'd have fainted too for that matter. "Anyway when you're up to it I'll take you home if you want."
"I'm fine." Wufei said as he tried to sit up again and grinching his teeth stayed in a sitting position. He'd be damned if he'd let another woman send him home to bed because he wasn't up to working. Over his dead body.
"How did I know you were going to say that." Noin said with a shake of her head as she watched him to turn to get off the bed. For that matter she took it as a real sign of his feelings that he let her help him off and onto his feet. Watching his face Noin bit back the smart comments and instead walked at his side as they headed out, just in case he needed help. "Can I at least drive you home tonight?"
"I suppose so." Wufei said with a shrug and tried not to smile over the fact that the silly onna insisted on walking him back to his office. Letting her nag him into taking painkillers, he let her fuss then watching her go, a smile showing for a second, disappearing just as Duo and Heero walked through his door.
"Well look who's back and among the living." Duo said as he strolled in with a devilish gleam in his eyes. He'd been waiting for Wufei to wake up for what seemed like hours. "How's the rib cage?"
"Fine. Thank you both..for your help." Wufei said stiffly from his seat, having no doubt what was to come. The two obviously knew and Duo had come to play twenty questions.
"Congratulations about you and Noin." Heero said with his hands in his pockets, a faint smirk on his face as he watched Duo spin around to glare at him. It had been so obvious that Duo had been planning out how to best drag Wufei over the coals and he enjoyed destroying those plans.
"No fair, Heero! I was gonna lead up to that and tease him about it. Now you've ruined that by letting him know that we know! Why don't you ever let me have any fun?" Duo groused, obviously pouting. He'd been looking forward to twisting Wufei up in knots and now Heero had gone and ruined it all. On purpose too.
"Because when you have your fun you show everyone how stupid you really are and that reflects badly on me as your friend." Heero said with a casual shrug. The truth was it was one of his small pleasures to bug the hell out of Duo, not that he'd ever admit it to anyone. "And just so I don't get lumped in with this idiot, Trowa and I knew a long time ago and just didn't say anything."
"Because you're big, mean jerks who don't tell your best friends anything important." Duo added in with dark looks for Heero and Wufei. "And I don't get it, Wo man. Why didn't you tell anyone that you were Noin's boyfriend? If you had then I could have been watching all the girls in Preventers collapse in horror when they realized they've been fantasizing over you. As it is as one of your best friends I should have been told." Duo added in a childish pout.
"And the fact that you tell everyone everything wouldn't have applied?" Wufei pointed out dryly, not surprised that Duo was taking it personally. Duo took most everything personally though Quatre was just as bad. "But as it was we didn't want any interference at first and then when we decided to tell our friends Milliardo had to go off on another of his workaholic binges. Noin insisted he be told first, otherwise you'd have been told weeks ago."
"Oh..well then I'm a little less angry at you." Duo said as he considered what Wufei had said. It made sense to him even though he was still a little hurt at being left out of the loop when everyone else knew. Then again Sally hadn't known and she was like Wufei's best friend and his partner. For that matter Milliardo didn't even know yet. He didn't know yet..uh oh. What was Milliardo going to do to Wufei when he did know?
"So exactly how did you two get together if you don't mind me asking? Trowa and I have been speculating about it with Quatre." Heero asked, amused at the fact that Duo was so obviously off in la la land now. He was such an open book sometimes.
"It's a long story and hers to tell if she wishes. Simplified she needed my help, I gave it and we ended up becoming closer friends and then more." Wufei answered as he shifted slightly in his seat, wincing at the pain that that caused. Okay, moving was no longer a good idea unless absolutely necessary.
"You know if Sally actually hit you..what's Milliardo going to do to you?" Duo finally said, speaking his thoughts out loud. "He might try to stomp on you with some Gundam he's got hidden away or maybe skewer you with one of his fencing swords. He's a lot bigger then you are but you're meaner, so maybe that evens things out?"
"Your concern is heartwarming." Wufei said dryly then nearly jumped when the phone on his desk began to ring. Holding onto his rib cage with one hand Wufei picked up the phone. "Lieutenant Chang, what can I do for you?"
"Hello, sweetie, how are you?" Came his grandmother's cheerful voice, the sound of a piano being played faint in the background. "I hope you're well?"
"I'm fine, grandmother. And you?" Wufei said as he settled back into his seat with a wince. God but the woman had fists like bricks.
"Oh, when am I not well. Anyway I got the message you left on my phone and I had the most marvelous idea. Why don't I just come to Italy and then this young lady of yours can spend Christmas with you and her family. I'll just get a hotel room nearby and then we can spend time together and I can see this girl you must be in love with for you to be willing to reschedule a visit with your poor, old grandmother." Wufei's grandmother said with a good natured chuckle, always enjoying teasing her only grandson. "Now how does that sound?"
"Well it sounds perfect." Wufei said with a faint smile though there was a hint of pink to his cheeks at her teasing, which was good since he'd been pale to begin with. "If it wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience to you."
"Nonsense, you know I enjoy traveling and Italy is a lovely place. Anyway can you give me this Lucrezia's mother's number? I'd like to call her to ask her opinion on where I should make reservations." Wufei's grandmother continued, a sly smile coming over her face. One didn't live as long as she had without knowing how to manipulate people, especially her too proper for his own good grandson. He wouldn't deny her anything and they both knew it.
"Uhm, okay." Wufei said as he gave her the number, wondering why he was getting the feeling he was being played. When it came to his grandmother you could never really tell what she was up to since she was tricky and too sly for her own good.
"Wonderful. Anyway you're at work saving the world and I'm sure you're busy so I'll call you later when you aren't. Love you and make sure to eat a good dinner, bye." She said quickly, hanging up on her grandson before he could even say good bye to her.
Looking down at the number she'd just written down. Dialing the new number she smiled when a friendly voice on the other end came on. "Hello, I hope I'm not interrupting anything, Mrs. Noin. My name is Lazuli Chang, I'm Wufei's grandmother."
"Well what a wonderful surprise, it's so nice to finally talk to you. I just adore your grandson." Noin's mother said as she took a seat, knowing instinctively that this was going to be a nice, long chat.
"I do too, and I'm sure I'm going to adore your Lucrezia once I get the chance to meet her. My Wufei is notoriously picky and exasperating, your girl must be quite the woman to handle him so well." Lazuli replied with a cheerful laugh, having no problem bad mouthing her grandson since he was family and that's what family was for. "Anyway the reason I called was because Christmas is coming up and that means family get togethers. Wufei and I usually get together where ever I am at the moment but this year he is, of course, in a bind since your daughter naturally wants to come home for Christmas. To make a long story short I hit upon the idea of me simply coming to your hometown for the occasion so that I can spend time with Wufei and meet your daughter. I was hoping you could recommend a hotel or inn nearby?"
"Nonsense, with my boys moved out there's plenty of room here, you must stay with us at the house. I insist."
"Are you sure that wouldn't put you out? I'd hate to be a bother." Lazuli began though this was going exactly how she'd wanted it to. After all, you could learn a lot about a person by their family and the dynamics of that group. Only the best would do for her little boy after all. From what her sources had told her this Lucrezia Noin seemed like the perfect match for Wufei but that would be for her to decide. So far she was getting the image of a steady, kind, tomboy with courage, guts and the drive to succeed in a world dominated by men. She'd always appreciated gutsy women and considered that an essential quality in anyone who might think to someday marry her grandson. Of course it was her grandson's decision, but she could still put her two cents in.
"Not a bother at all." Marta insisted from the other end, delighted at the idea that Wufei would be coming for Christmas as well as his grandmother. After all, it was obvious that the woman would know all about Wufei's life before Lucrezia had met him. Her baby wasn't the type to gossip and Wufei didn't talk about himself much which meant she knew little about his past.
Soon the two women were chatting away like old friends and it was well over an hour before they hung up, both satisfied that their respective missions had been a success.
"How's the ribs? Still tender?" Noin asked as she snuggled close, her head on Wufei's shoulder and an arm casually laying across his bare chest. Smiling she enjoyed the sound of his heart under her ear, its rhythm lulling her to sleep "Did I kiss them all better good enough?"
"You did a thorough enough job." Wufei assured her with a faint smirk, stroking her bare back under the sheets. "But I'm going to buy some of those brownies you women like so much and eat them all in front of her without sharing in revenge."
"That's so mean. And she'll beat you up to get them, you know. We like them that much." Noin informed him as she nuzzled her face against his skin, glad that he wasn't in pain anymore. She'd practically had to beg to get him to take the painkillers before they'd gone to bed. "And speaking of Sals, I've got a question for you." Noin began, the question having been turning around in her head all day. "If I had been pregnant with triplets..what would you have done? After you regained consciousness I mean."
"Funny. Well, I suppose I'd start planning on how to convince you to move in here or me move in with you. If I asked you to marry me for that reason you'd turn me down so it would more sense to at least live together so that the children would have both parents in the same house."
"Sounds like a good plan to me, not that it applies." Noin said with a smile, pleased by the answer. He knew her well. She'd never marry someone for that kind of reason. No child should have to live in a household knowing that the only reason his parents were married was him. If they didn't love each other enough to get married without the kid than that couple had no business getting married because of said kid. Not that that would be the case with Wufei. Even if he only asked her because of the child or children she'd say yes because she loved him enough.
"Good night, Wufei." Noin added sleepily, drifting off to sleep now that she had her answer.
"Good night, Lucrezia. Wo ai ni." Wufei whispered quietly, turning his head to kiss the top of her head before following her into slumber.
The next day Noin sat at her desk, pondering the latest question on her mind. What the hell did Wo ai ni mean? She was sure now that Wufei had said that at least twice to her but he always said it when she was barely conscious so she was never awake enough to ask him about it. She was pretty sure this was deliberate and just as sure he'd play dumb if she asked him about it. She couldn't even look it up because she didn't know how to spell it! She was pretty sure it was Chinese too but it could always be another language, it was Wufei after all. Maybe it was an endearment and he was just too shy to say it to her in a language she could understand? Or something important? Dammit! Either way it was driving her nuts and she wanted to know and she wanted to know now. If she asked Sally though than Sally would know it was something Wufei had said and whether it was bad or good she doubted Wufei would appreciate it. Wait a minute..Trinity! Heero's partner. She was the daughter of diplomats and she spoke several languages. Deciding to give it a shot Noin headed out of her office and soon managed to track the girl down to the office she shared with Heero, who was thankfully absent. "Hey, Trin. Mind if I come in?"
"Sure, no prob. I can always use a distraction. What's up?" Trinity asked as she looked up from her computer with a questioning look. The commander looked nervous, interesting, Trinity thought to herself as she tilted her head in curiosity.
"Actually, I was wondering if you could translate something for me. Wo ai ni? I think that's how you pronounce it. I think it might be Chinese?" Noin asked hesitantly, taking a seat on the edge of Trinity's desk.
"What context was it said in?" Trinity wanted to know, pretty sure that she knew what it meant though she wanted to make sure. That and she wanted to know who's said those three words to Noin though she had a pretty good idea who. Heero had been dropping enough hints in that area after all and she wasn't stupid. How cute.
"Uhm...well...swear you won't tell anyone?" Noin asked hesitantly, taking a deep breath when Trinity nodded her agreement. "My boyfriend says it before I go to sleep..and I want to know what it means. Is it another way of saying good night? I've been studied Chinese a bit and I didn't recognize it."
"Uhm no, it isn't." Trinity said with a wide grin on her face, her romantic side all mushy at the idea. Who'd known that Chang had it in him though he'd likely done it more as an easy way out then anything else. After all you couldn't get put on the emotional hot spot if your significant other didn't know she needed to. "And you'll be pleased to know that Wo ai ni is Chinese and it translate to Wufei saying that he loves you, girl. It means I love you."
"He said...are you sure?" Noin stared at Trinity, her brain short circuiting and everything fading away into the background, including Trinity's conformation. Wufei loved her. He'd said he loved her. Okay so maybe not in a language she could understand but he'd still said it. He'd been telling her he loved her and she hadn't even known it.
Walking out of Trinity's office in a daze, without even saying good bye, Noin made her way back towards her office, the day suddenly seeming brighter and just about the most perfect day in all of history. Changing direction automatically Noin ended up in front of Wufei's office doorway, the love of her life working away at his desk with a frown on his face, his hair pulled back and a don't mess with me aura about him. He'd never looked so gorgeous in her eyes. Walking over silently she spun his chair around and hopping into his lap, locked lips with a heat that could have put the sun to shame. Wrapping her arms around his neck she wasn't even aware that Heero and Relena had followed her.
"Hey, Noin I need you to...Oh my God!" Relena said as she stood in the doorway, watching Wufei's hands slide over to caress Noin's butt while Noin's fingers were busy threading their way through Wufei's now undone hair. Feeling light headed Relena didn't even realize she was in the process of fainting from the shock as she fell backward.
"Here we go again." Heero muttered as he caught her before she hit something. Slugging her over his shoulder Heero closed the office door behind them and walked towards the medical wing so that she could stretch out until she woke up. Then he was going to have to explain the whole mess or better yet, make Sally do it. Yeah, he liked that idea much better.