Author's Notes: this chapter a kind of short but significant, nonetheless. It will focus more on the major external conflicts developing… or at least, the beginnings of one. Since in the Renaissance period titles were almost everything, I am also getting more in-depth with the characters' titles and their social ranks in society… These 'positions' affect the characters, as you will see, as you read more. With that said, please sit back, relax, and read the second chapter of Beauty & the Beast.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the characters of G-Wing. Please do not sue, I repeat: Please. Do. Not. Sue.

Beauty and the Beast

-Chapter 2: Seeds of Conflict-

"I'm pregnant."

There was a stunned pause (Lucrezia expected as much), but soon followed a sequence of elated reactions. Her six-year old son, Lucas, was the first to break the silence, with his all-at-once inquiries of the 'baby growing in Mum's tummy.' Then, there was the sister-in-law cracking a knowing smile. And lastly, her spouse planting a kiss on her forehead and blessing her with an embrace.

"So that was your little secret…" Relena remarked, the grin still on her face. The blonde recalled Lucrezia's enigmatic behavior earlier that day.

"Yes, it was. I had a hunch I was carrying another baby, but wasn't entirely sure. Sally confirmed it when I went for my visit."

"That would explain your morning sicknesses… I can't believe I hadn't realized it sooner. Nonetheless, I am very glad of this news, Lucie."

"Me too!" piped up the young lad with platinum blonde hair and dark blue eyes. "I think I shall tell Marimeia 'bout it, when I see her tonight. We're still going to Master Vladimir's Theatre, aren't we, Father?"

Milliardo nodded. "We are, Lucas."

"But first," Lucrezia added. "You, son, must finish up your carrots and peas!" she scolded in a motherly fashion.

"Yes, ma'am," the youngster said, obediently.

Relena looked on longingly at the quaint family. If she were still with Jonathan, wedded him like planned, she'd probably with a child as well, and–

The lady cut off her thoughts abruptly. 'There will be no talk of that,' she chided herself. The young maiden hated such petty ideas and self-pity… she loathed them, and felt utterly disgusted when she caught herself thinking such thoughts. The blonde sighed, causing her three relatives to look at her.

"Are you alright, Relena?" questioned the elder Peacecraft.

"Yes. I'm fine, brother. No worries here." She forced a reassuring smile. Relena then stood up from her place at the table and said, "I ought to freshen up for our outing later on. Lucie, I promise I will be down as soon as possible to help clean up. Now, please excuse me..."

"Take your time, dear," the dark-haired woman gently told her.

As Relena made her way up the stairs, she could hear her nephew's faint voice ask innocently, "Why does Aunt Relena look so sad? Does she still miss him?"

The honey-blonde felt her body shudder. She wondered the very same thing, herself.


"..For never was there a story of such woe / than that of Juliet and her Romeo," Vladimir's character concluded the tale. The curtains closed as the audience applauded, admiringly.

After the show, friends of the performers stayed behind in hopes to personally praise them on a job well done. William Shakespeare's piece Romeo & Juliet had become so vastly popular, other theatres across Europe began to take on the script and performed them, as well. For weeks, the Blooms and their theatrical 'family' (so they called each other) worked on the play, and that night proved to everyone in town the extent of their hard work.

"Oh Catherine, you were marvelous tonight! Many compliments to you, for your excellent portrayal of Juliet," Relena gushed. A/N: Please don't get the wrong idea: Relena is NO freakin' suck-up. She's just super, genuinely NICE, mmkay folks?

The actress blushed. "You are too kind, Relena… I thank you."

Meanwhile, Dorothy's green orbs traveled to where her future husband was: beside his best friend, Trowa Bloom (who acted as Benvolio, that night). With them, Midii was present, trying her charms on the silent gentleman.

"There she goes, again" Meiran spoke up, also noticing the trio in the distance. "Flirting."

"I daresay, Catherine, when shall your brother start courting Midii?" Dorothy inquired, and amused smirk decorating her features. "They appear to adore each other, enough."

The brunette sighed. "It's… complicated, you see."

The raven-haired woman of the group nodded. "I can imagine. What, with social ranks and all."

"In my opinion, that's not such an enormous obstacle as it really seems. Neither are betrothed to any other individual and Midii's family is quite understanding in terms of… marrying below one's position," Relena reasoned.

"Unfortunately, the rest of society isn't as understanding," Catherine pointed out, quietly.

"Cynical, dear?" said the blonde Catalonia, laying a hand on the actress' arm.

"No, she's merely being honest and realistic," Meiran answered for her.

"Oh, Relena," Dorothy began, switching topics. She remembered, "I heard news today of your sister-in-law's pregnant state. True or false?"

"She is bearing another child, yes," Relena confirmed.

"Who will be her mid-wife? Ms. Sally?" the amber-eyed female questioned, watching her own child being entertained by Marimeia and Lucas.

The Peacecraft nodded. "Of course. Ms. Sally was Lucie's mid-wife when Lucas was conceived, so naturally she'll be the one to take care of this second newborn."

"It's a shame Ms. Po-Chen's husband died so suddenly. Dr. Jiaguo Chen was highly respected — a genius, many described him to have been," Dorothy informed them.

"They say Ms. Sally is just as smart as he was," commented Relena. "If not, smarter."

"Maybe. Though, I highly doubt most men would agree, seeing as that, women are still supposedly 'below males,'" Merian scoffed.

Catherine let out a laugh. "The lot of us sound like a bunch of gossiping, flighty women, you know, ladies."

Meiran sparked defensively, "Not so!"

Dorothy flashed a small smile. "On the contrary… Catherine's quite right."

"Ugh," said the other female, in disgust, and began talking animatedly about other things. Like her son.

Relena giggled inwardly. Ooh, was it ever comforting to have her friends' company. They all led busy lives, and she treasured the time she spent with them. With everyone getting married, having families, and/or living their passion (Catherine, for example), it was quite lonely for Relena Peacecraft. Life was not so simple, anymore...


"Did you hear?"

"Hear what?" an aging peasant male, by the name of Quinze, countered.

"The Countess Noin-Peacecraft is pregnant with her second child!"

News traveled fast amongst the village of Cinq, especially when the news concerned any of the nobles in town (there were five families respectively, dwelling in Cinq).

"Hmph," grunted Quinze. "Is that so? Don't tell me that Po-Chen widow is going to tend to the Countess, again."

"She is! Though, I don't see why… Surely, the Peacecrafts must've heard about her treachery."

"Yes. Word has it Sally Po-Chen practices the black arts an' bewitches her patients wit' her potions, incantations, an' things of the sort."

A third person chose to offer in the conversation. "D'you really believes all o' that, Mr. Quinze? They're just rumors…"

"Of course, I believe! An' they not just rumors, they the TRUTH! Don't be stupid, girl, don't ya remember her husband's death some years ago?"

"Yeah… but that was just an accident, wasn't it?"

"That's what they say; 'tis a lie. We all know she vexed him," stated Quinze, gulping down his liquor.

"How we know that?"

"Sally Po-Chen wanted ta study medicine, like her spouse, Dr. Jiaguo Chen. But she was a woman, so o' course she couldn't! There was a strain on their marriage, 'cause of that. It was also known that the Po-Chen woman had loved – I think, lusted, after 'nother…"

"Wufei Chang? The merchant?" another individual offered.

"The very same," clarified the man. "So o' course, the wench killed Dr. Chen! She had ev'ry reason to! I'm surprised she hadn't tried castin' a love spell on Sir Chang, or even worst, poisoned his wife an' son." The listeners gasped hearing this.

"If that's th' truth," a disbelieving young one started. "Why do th' Peacecrafts an' Kushrendas go to her, for their health?"

"Pah!" spat the elder man. "Them nobles are too nice for their own damn good. An' prob'ly more than just a bit gullible, I reckon. It's likely they're thinkin', 'Ms. Po-Chen would never do such a thing.' Those families live such a sheltered life, what would they know? They always thinkin' they knows 'cause they gots all that money. It's either that, or they, too, are under her wretched spell. I don't know… but all I can tell the lot o' ya, is that we all best be careful, else that woman will curse us all, like she did her husband. An' I should know - both my sons fell victim to her, and died under her care!"

Appalled and suddenly fearful, the tavern became silent, watching the old man Quinze stalk out into the lonely, bitter night.

-tbc-

A/N: Obviously, the tiny passage I used for the 'play' is from Shakespeare's very own Romeo & Juliet. Which, by the way, I didn't like too much. P My thinking is: it was sad, but in such an insanely stupid way. I wanted to use Shakespeare's other piece, The Tempest, however I am not so familiar with that story, so… Yeah. That factor kind of killed it. Oh, and the whole ordeal with 'woman were not even allowed to perform on stage' thing during the old times, has CLEARLY been altered in my 'fic. Haha. Ain't I bitch for rewriting history? PP

Nope, no Heero, or Duo&Hilde, or SOLO, or Pagan (er?) yet! Sorry fans… thou must await for the next chapter, you see. -dodges rotten tomatoes- ehehehe… HEY, I'm a Heero and Duo&Hilde fan too, ya know. In time, they will ALL make their appearance…