The Best Example

"I want a dress that dances."

Dorothy looked up from her half finished dinner and stared at her daughter, while her husband choked on his drink. Halim quickly rose from the chair he occupied next to his father and patted him on the back, trying to help the poor man. Fadilah just kept on eating with all the grace of a four year old aristocrat, not noticing the stares and ignoring her father's coughing. The Duchess was the first to speak.

"Don't you have a nice collection of dresses, sweetie?"

Fadilah put down her fork and looked at her mother like she was asking something ridiculous, which earned her a smirk from the blonde woman.

"But they are not for going to parties. I want a dress that dances! "

"Oh? Let's hear what your father says?" Dorothy turned to look at her husband from across the dinner table, and raised an eyebrow. Quatre just smiled wryly, with tears still adorning his aquamarine eyes. Their girl stared eagerly at her parents' faces.

"I don't think it is necessary, Fadilah," came Quatre's raspy answer, and he took a sip of water from the glass his son was offering.

"Daddy, I really really want a new dress for tomorrow!" The Duchess saw her husband's determination starting to fail, so she stepped in.

"Your father just said it isn't necessary, sweetie. We'll look through your closet and find you something appropriate for the Yuys' party, ok?"

"But Mommy-"

"You should have thought about that when we went shopping, dear."

"But-!"

"There is no need to raise your voice."

"Mommy!"

"No."

Fadilah scrunched up her nose, her beautiful aquamarine eyes beginning to fill with unshed tears, but a tap on her little hand and a quick glance at her brother's face stilled the waterworks. Halim removed his index finger from his mouth, and went back to his seat, all under the vigilant eyes of the Duchess, who silently congratulated her eldest. She tenderly cleaned a lone tear from her daughter's face and the broken sob of the little girl made the blond man flinch, which of course his wife noticed. Dinner ended without further disruptions, and the siblings retired for the night.

Quatre Raberba Winner was sad.

His baby girl had not given him his customary goodnight kiss.


"Darling."

"Mm?" came his broken reply. He had an arm draped across his eyes, but his wife removed it so his eyes were visible. He still had them closed.

"You are upset," said Dorothy, peering down at him from her upraised position on their bed.

"Hmm…"

Quatre felt his wife's lips over his, and his eyes slowly opened to find her staring at him with an amused expression on her sparkling blue eyes, her silky hair falling around them like a curtain. He closed his eyes again, and she actually giggled. His brow furrowed.

"I don't think it's funny. My baby hates me." His arm covered his eyes again, only to be swatted away by his wife.

"Aw, don't be so dramatic Quatre, she's just throwing a tantrum."

"But she hates me. Because of you."

"Oh? Now it's my fault?"

"You said no, not me, why weren't you the ignored one?"

"Darling, you are being silly."

"She was heartbroken! What's wrong with getting her a new dress? It's not like I'll go broke or anything."

"Dearest," ah, that tone again. He opened his eyes and looked timidly at his wife expecting her customary stern face, but she was still smiling. She went on, "Weren't you the one who said to stop pampering the children so much?"

"I-I never said-!"

"Oh, yes, you did. You told me to start giving them a good example. Which I am doing, darling."

Quatre sighed in defeat, raised his arms and brought his wife close to his chest. "I don't like it when you are right."

"Silly space idiot…"

"Hey!"

She kissed his neck and his embrace tightened by a fraction, and he felt her smirk. "I'll go talk to her in the morning."


What greeted Mr. Winner the next morning was the sight of his beloved girl in a cream colored fluffy dress, with see-through puffed sleeves; her golden curls adorned with a lily bounced as she made a straight run for him. He readily opened his arms, and laughed with the child's delighted squeal as he spun them around.

"What are you wearing my sweetest angel? You look like a princess!" Tiny arms hugged his neck, and the girl laughed.

"Daddy! Thank you daddy! I have a new dress, daddy! And it dances! Wanna see?" Quatre eagerly nodded as he put his offspring back on the ground. He heartily laughed when his girl twirled around and around, showing him how the skirt of her new dress swayed. He felt a familiar presence behind him, and he turned around with his bright smile still gracing his handsome face. Dorothy had just stepped out of the shower dressed only in a fluffy white towel.

Fadilah ran to her mother and hugged her naked legs. "Daddy said I look like a princess!"

"That's wonderful, sweetie! I know you do. Now, stay put and try not to ruin your hair, ok? We still have to get ready."

"Yes!" And the girl happily skipped off, nearly tripping once and then stilling herself to a more composed walking, all the while playing with the skirt of her dress. Dorothy giggled and then let a little squeal out as she felt the warm lips of her husband on one of her bare shoulders.

"Thank you, love." His arms came from behind, caressing her pregnant belly and in response she wound her hands on his fair hair, letting his sweet kisses travel all the way up to her neck. As soon as she felt the warm breeze of the desert on her exposed chest she backed away from Quatre, a surprised grin on her face as she pulled her towel up. When had he got so mischievous?

The ex-pilot laughed and hurried to embrace his wife again, only to end up chasing her back to the bathroom.


Halim and his sister had been staring hard at the door of their parents' room when it opened, revealing their father in a dark grey suit and donning a lilac colored tie. He had such a silly smile on his face that the boy arched an eyebrow and peered inside, trying to catch a glimpse of his mother. She wasn't there.

"Where's mom?"

"Uh? Ah-Oh Halim, you are ready? That suit looks so good on you. Is it new?" Halim blushed, "Yes, I know. Your mother went shopping with you two behind my back, right?"

"Er…"

"No, it's ok, really son."

"Mom told you?"

"There was no need to, since your sister came running a while back to show off her new 'dancing dress'." Fadilah giggled and made her dress move.

"Really? Oh, so have you seen mom's dress too? She looks so beautiful, right!"

"Eh?"

Just then, Dorothy came out from the walk-in closet, putting a glittering earring in its place. She was wearing a silk, mid-length, lilac gown with an empire waist, so her belly was almost concealed. Her hair was up in a simple bun, adorned with an amethyst and diamonds orchid hairpin. She wore her neck and shoulders bare and a single bracelet grazed her right wrist. She smiled at Quatre's stupefied expression. Sometimes he could be such an adorable idiot.

"You like it, Mr. Winner?" Quatre nodded, "Good, because I may have gone a little over the budget."

"Dor-!"

"Oh, but your little daughter was so happy! She personally picked this dress for me, because she remembered the color of your tie and she wanted us to match. Isn't she the sweetest thing?" The Duchess hands were dramatically clutched over her heart, and her husband was halfway between groaning and giving a tender smile to his daughter. In the end he settled for the latter and took his girl's little hand in his slender one.

"Thank you Fadilah, you're so thoughtful," a wide smile was his answer, "ok, let's get going or we'll be late."

Father and daughter had just gone a few steps ahead when Halim settled beside his mother and whispered, "But you bought that dress a week ago, Mom. Lying is not good."

"You bought that new videogame instead of the books your tutor requested" The boy watched his mother with a very Quatre-ish expression of wonder in his face, earning him a warm smile and a soft caress on the cheek, "This way, your father won't complain when you ask for more money, and look, he's so happy!" She hurried her pace and took her coat from one of the maids.

Halim just stared in awe. Someday, someday he was going to be as cool and smart as his mom.


Yes, I love to exploit Quatre. Muahahahaha :D

Next chap, the pilots DO make an appearance!