Chapter Two
Where's The Closest Bar?
A groan of exquisite relief. The smooth pillow case, cold and soft against his cheek. Moans from an overworked, broken body sinking into the mattress. Gentle hands caress his long, platinum colored hair. He smiles, sensing her warmth.
"They're all fast asleep. They were so tired." She starts rubbing his back.
"Good."
"You should get some sleep too, I bet you need it more than those kids."
"They're driving me nuts."
"I know. Get some sleep."
She patted his back and got up. Soon after he heard the shower water running. Flipping over, he stared at the ceiling for a while. Slowly his eye lids grew heavy and closed. The tension had just left his bones when he felt someone beside him. He opened his eyes to find Relena on the bed, clutching her doll with its head taped back on.
"I can't sleep. Can I sleep with you?" She asked timidly.
"Yeah, come on."
She snuggled against him, giggling when he tickled her pulling up the covers. He wrapped his arm around her, bringing her close.
"So tell me, my dear little sister, why can't you sleep?"
"Duo was snoring too loud."
Milliardo laughed, "oh was he?"
"Uh-huh, and Heero kept scaring me."
"Don't worry, I won't let him scare you again tonight. Try to sleep, okay?"
"Umh-ha . . ." Her little fist closing around his shirt.
Milliardo kissed the top of her golden-brown head. "Good night, Relena."
Noin stepped out of the bath half a hour later dressed in a loose t-shirt and gym shorts.
"Aw, how sweet." She said to herself when she caught sight of the sleeping prince and princess. "No matter what his mood, he tries so hard to be nice to her,' Noin marveled. "He really does love her."
Peeking in on the five boys, she found Wufei sitting up crying.
"Wufei, what's the matter?"
He sniffed. "I . . . miss . . . mommy."
"It's okay sweetheart. "She cradled him, wiping away the wet drops with her finger.
"Where, where is she?"
"I don't know. I wish I did, but I don't."
This made the sensitive little soul cry harder. He rested his chin on her shoulder, hugging her tightly.
"I want my mommy." He choked.
"I know, I know. Shhh . . . it's okay."
She took Wufei out of the room and placed him in her bed. Understanding that she wasn't going to leave him, he curled up against a pillow.
"I want my red blankie." He whispered, swallowing the last of his tears.
Noin smiled and went to get the blanket. She returned with the small red article in her hand. Wufei stuck out his small arms to take it. He was calmer now and starting to fall asleep. Noin laid down beside him. The young pilot grasped her hand, rubbing it for comfort.
Poor little guy . . . her thoughts became lost in slumber.
"Zechs. Zechs. Zechs. Zechs, are you awake?"
Milliardo stirred.
"Zechs. Zechs. Zechs. Come on! Zechs."
"Mmnh . . . What?" He grunted, burying his head in the pillow.
"Okay, Trowa, he's awake now." Duo smiled evilly.
Trowa stepped up, his green eyes sparkling. He drew a deep breath and began. "I want to slide it in, right to the top, slide it in, I ain't-"
"Who taught you to sing that?" He cut off.
"I learned it all by myself," said Trowa taken aback.
"But where did you hear it?"
"In your room before we left." Innocence dripping off each word. Milliardo propped himself up as the boy continued. "You know, when you and Noin were jumping on the bed."
Forcing himself to exhale. "You saw us jumping on the bed?"
Trowa nodded, biting his nails. "It looked like Noin was stuck to you."
Completely flustered. "Oh, uh, eh, um . . . shit . . . it's a special way of jumping for adults because we're too tall, we'd hit our heads on the ceiling otherwise."
"Oh." Trowa searched his face meticulously, then decided he was telling the truth. "Then why were you stuck together?"
Milliardo's normally tan face paled. How on earth was he to answer that? "Well, uh, well we had a bottle of super-super glue, it got on us and we got stuck."
"Then what about your clothes?"
"Body suits. We were wearing skin colored body suits."
Duo glared at him suspiciously. "I didn't know you had skin colored suits."
"We don't."
"But you just said-" Duo started, flailing his arms.
"We had to throw them away because of the glue."
"That's dumb." Trowa said crossly.
"Yeah, you should know better than to jump on a bed with a bottle of super glue." Duo said, taking hold of Trowa's arm. "Come on, Trowa, let's go. And people say grown ups are smarter than kids, puh-leeze."
Relena put her arms around her brother's and squeezed it. "Milliardo, are you sick?"
"No. I'm fine."
"What were you, Duo, and Trowa talking about?"
"Something they'd have had to pick a lock to know about." Her stomach growled, and he smiled at her. "Hungry?"
"A little."
Taking his sister up. "Let's go get some breakfast."
-A few hours later-
"They asked all that?" Her midnight eyes showing much surprise.
"Yes."
"What did you tell them?"
"A bunch of b.s. about body suits and super glue."
"And they actually believed you?"
"Go figure." A loud screech interrupts him. "What the hell?"
Quatre runs past them laughing happily.
"Oh my! Quatre, where are your clothes?" Noin takes off after him.
Milliardo sighed and looked to the balcony, suppressing a frustrated scream. Relena and Trowa were busily throwing food onto anyone who was unfortunate enough to walk by.
"Both of you stop that!"
Leaping up, he pulled them away from the window. Trowa frowned and threw himself into a tantrum. Relena, taking the opportunity to squirm free of her brother's grasp, joined Heero and Wufei in jumping on the couch.
"Aw, damn it!" Milliardo yelled when he saw Duo painting the wall with peanut butter. "Stop that right now."
Startled, the young Duo dropped the jar and started to bawl.
"Aw, damn it, stop that right now!" Heero said, imitating him.
"All of you had better settle down right now, I'm warning you."
"I'm warning you. I'm warning you. I'm warning you." Heero chimed, bouncing as high as he could.
"Or else what, girl?" Retored Wufei.
Milliardo pulled out his gun and shot a hole in the wall next to Wufei's head. The child's eyes went wide as he collapsed in fear. Relena screamed and covered her ears. Duo cowered quietly in a corner, his eyes brimming with tears. All movement ceased, except for Heero who kept shouting at Milliardo to kill him.
He worries me, Milliardo thought.
Noin came back in carrying a dressed Quatre and stared at the scene in shock.
"They're petrified, what did you do?" She caught sight of the gun, then the wall. "You shot at them! You shot at little children! Oh my God . . . Milliardo Peacecraft, what were you thinking? You weren't thinking."
"I . . ." He stammered.
"Aw, damn it. Aw, damn it." Heero sang at the top of his lungs.
Milliardo glared at him. "Shut up."
"Milliardo." Noin said crossly. "Heero don't swear."
"Bite me." Heero continued jumping.
Noin sighed. "Here, Quatre and I went to the gift shop and bought some playing cards, why don't you play a game."
"Strip poker?" Asked Duo.
"No." Noin snapped.
"Why not?" Heero inquired.
"Because she doesn't want to see Zechs and Duo's boobies." Answered Wufei, feeling brave.
"I am not a girl!" Duo jumped up and started hitting him.
"Duo stop." Noin clasped Duo in her free arm.
Wufei stuck his tongue out at him, which made the braided boy squirm more, trying to get at him.
"Where's Trowa?" Noin asked, looking around.
"He said he wanted to get the bird." Relena said shyly.
"What do you mean 'get the bird'?" Her brother asked. In reply, she simply pointed out the window.
"Wow, he's high." Quatre said in amazement. Trowa could be seen half way up a palm tree and climbing higher as security guards were trying to get him down.
"Pack up. We're leaving as soon as security catches Trowa." Milliardo said, throwing some things in a suitcase.
"Sure you can drive?" Asked Noin, watching as he cradled the wine bottle he had started nursing.
"No. Can you drive?"
"No problem. Come on kids, lets get ready to go."