Ah, finally, we have managed to get chapter two done! We will have chapter three soon! Read and Enjoy!
We do not own G.W. If we did, Lali would be able to stay on campus this summer as she takes US History and Japanese.
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Chapter Two: Nothing Else I Can Say
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Preventer Headquarters: Une's Office
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"You came all the way here, after only having just got back, for a set of blue prints? Trowa, I swear, you let the little guy push you around too much." Une chuckled, shaking her head.
Trowa only gave a small smile, and slipped down into the seat before the woman.
"It's not like that at all. I was glad to come. Especially after who arrived just as I was leaving. Zechs and Noin pulled up to the front steps. I don't foresee that going so well, between Quatre and them, for obvious reasons."
"Ah, yes, I'm sure." Une chuckled lightly. "But didn't you feel betrayed when you found out? And yet you're still by his side."
Trowa straightened in his seat, and raised an eye brow at the woman.
"Excuse me? Quatre and I…" The brunette sputtered in his defense, only to be interrupted by the phone going off.
Lady Une quickly rose a hand to him as she reached for the receiver with the other.
"Une speaking." She answered, smiling at the flustered man.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH IT!"
The shrill, panicked voice made both Lady Une, and Trowa who sat several feet away jump in their seats. The woman let out a quiet groan, and rubbed at a temple.
"Mary Ann, calm down... There's no need to be in hysterics, as I don't even know what 'IT' is." She replied to the frantic woman patiently.
Trowa on the other hand stared intently at the device pinned to the woman's ear.
"I know you have it… just give it back!" The woman pled, voice still carrying through the office. "Please, we cannot live without it! We went nearly twenty five years without it! PLEASE! Have mercy on us and return it!"
Seeing no end to the mindless yammering on the other end of the line, Lady Une only sighed and went with the one solution possible.
"Goodbye Mary Ann." She muttered, and swiftly hung the phone up, removing the cord from the back as she went.
"Wasn't that a tad bit over kill?" Trowa chuckled slightly as he watched the woman.
"Not in the slightest..." She huffed, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Relatives?" He questioned, cocking his head.
"In a ways... That screeching harpy of a woman is one of only two living relatives of one Treize Khushrenada. Outside of Mari that is." She sighed, reaching for her coffee. "Mary Ann and her brother drive me nuts, on a daily basis." She shook her head sadly. "They're a thorn in the side of society; I can understand now why Mr. Ein had them sent to that god forsaken colony to begin with. Ah, but you are here for the blue prints, not the horrors of my personal life, shall we get them?"
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Peacecraft Manor: Quatre's Quarters
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"Thank you Trowa..." Quatre smiled, tossing the rolled tubes the man had brought him upon his desk. "I suspect Duo will be around shortly to confirm that I'm doing as he asked. Currently, I believe he's cleaning up a bag of spilt potato chips, by demand of Hilde. She's bought me some extra time." he laughed, stretching as he slumped down into the desk chair.
"Ah Duo... makes a mess wherever he goes. Should have seen Howard's face when he detailed Deathscythe's cockpit when we were up in space getting ready for Libra. He had a few choice words about it then as he pulled on the elbow length rubber gloves..." The brunette chuckled, leaning up against the desk.
"I can only imagine." The blonde smiled, removing masses of papers from the tubes. "Now, let us see what we have here..." Quatre murmured, unrolling the blue prints.
He stared down at them briefly before sitting down at the desk, and grabbing a pad of drafting paper from a drawer. He then returned to the sheets and began to quickly sketch copy them until...
"Um… Trowa? Have- have you taken a look at these lately?"
Fearing the dread in the blonde's voice, he sighed, and shook his head.
"No, I haven't taken a good look at them since construction on the manor started at the end of January. What's wrong?" Trowa asked, leaning over the desk to look at the pages in question.
Not seeing anything obvious at first, he met the blonde's eyes.
Quatre scowled down at the pages, and crossed his arms.
"There have been alterations. Alterations that I did not make myself… nor approve!" He muttered, shaking his head. "How, and when could this have happened I don't know, but I want an explanation. There will be hell to pay if these alterations were made other than post construction." He hissed, glaring down at the supposedly altered building plans.
The brunette sighed, and the corner of his mouth twitched as he fought back a small smile.
"Are you absolutely sure that alterations have been made? Perhaps you simply forgot that you included certain things. You did say earlier that you didn't know the entire building by heart, perhaps these things you forgot?"
Quatre glared at him.
"No, it is NOT possible! Trowa, don't you think I know my own plans? That I know what I would, and would not do, and why? There is no sense in any of these changes. They would ruin the architecture senselessly, and the man hours spent on these would be a waste of money, and let's not forget the materials!" He squeaked.
"How senseless could they possibly be? Nothing is done without purpose."
Quatre's eyes narrowed, and with a sigh, he reached into the desk drawer and pulled out the sticky arrows, and began to place them over several locations on the many pages of blue print.
Humoring the blonde, Trowa went over each destination point.
Much to his surprise, several points on the first floor showed that the walls had been expanded by five or so feet in some locations, and as big as small rooms in other areas. Trowa lifted the sheet and scanned his eyes across the second floor as well, and noticed the same pattern with slight variations. He checked the four sheets after that and then he looked up at a fuming Quatre.
"There are several walk-in closet type areas, and petite offices...but no entrance to them."
"SENSELESS!" The blonde roared, throwing his hands into the air. "Three guesses as to whose work this is, but you'll only need one." he growled, sipping at his tea.
"You're really going to pin this on Heero? Isn't it more likely that some of your hired hands fudged up?"
"Yes I am, and no, it's not. They would NEVER disrespect me so. They followed plans! They ALWAYS follow the plans! It was either Heero Yuy, or plain sabotage! Either way, I must find out if these were followed, and have a few choice words with the culprit and acquire an explanation!"
"I don't see how this is hurting anyone... the manor looks fantastic. Relena loves it. So what if there are some hollow walls?"
"I want Heero Yuy in my office. Stat. Pronto. TONIGHT!" Quatre huffed with finality.
"But, Quatre... he's not due to arrive until at least tomorrow evening. And who knows when exactly he'll show up. This IS Heero we're talking about." Trowa stated, shaking his head at the blonde.
"I don't give a camel's front hump! If he's not in my office by the end of tonight, I'll break his neck, and pray to the Gods of architecture to burn his soul in a Relena-less hell… NOW GET YUY!"
Trowa could not help but laugh.
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Peacecraft Manor: Dining Room
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Later that evening, the atmosphere around the dining table was, if anything, Hell.
Relena closed her eyes for a brief moment, willing the tension in the room to dissipate before she reopened them. Upon doing so, the scene before her was one that could only be described as a two man standoff between her brother and Quatre.
It was as if the younger blonde had stolen the older blondes play toy.
Relena glanced at Noin, who was trying to keep Milliardo in check and apologizing to Quatre at the same time, and fiddled with the edge of the table cloth.
"Quatre," Relena started, attempting to break the icy feeling of the room, and the blond looked up at her with a half-smile. "I heard that you paid a visit to Ms. Noin and Milliardo, when they were stationed near Mars. How was that visit? I'm surprised that I've heard nothing on the matter."
At this, Quatre's face fell, and a faint blush crept across his cheeks.
"Everything went well..." He murmured hastily as the blush turned crimson.
"Oh yes, the visit went fine and dandy, until I caught the boy with Noin." Zechs muttered. "Then he left."
Relena's eyes bulged, and she nearly tipped her water over at this development. She was glad that Duo and Hilde had eaten earlier in the day, and had turned in an hour prior to this conversation.
Anything the two were currently doing in private was preferable to the scene Duo would have made of her dinner table.
"Again, it was I who made a move on him." Noin said glaring at Zechs. "It was a spur of the moment decision, and it just happened. You promised me that you wouldn't do this, Zechs."
"Some things are meant to be broken." He huffed, standing up and throwing his napkin upon the table. "I'll be in my room, IF you need me." He shot Noin an unreadable look, then stormed from the room and disappeared.
"Ms. Relena, Quatre, I'm sorry about this... I'll go take care of it." Noin hung her head in apology, and quickly took off after the man.
The two watched her exit the room, and Quatre covered his face with his hands.
"What did you do?" Relena asked after a few long, silent moments.
Quatre sighed and slowly turned to her.
"It was nothing... absolutely nothing." The blonde shook his head sadly. "He wasn't exactly affectionate with her the entirety of their time in space, and she was feeling rather unwanted and helpless. We were deep in discussion, and she just...she kissed me… and I wrongfully didn't stop her. Zechs happened to step into the room during this and things just... blew up. I've felt so horrible about the whole situation, and Zechs has been angry with the two of us since. If that wasn't enough on my plate, who knows what would have happened had he not walked in to the room? I was so caught up in it... I was- well, happy?" He murmured, shaking his head. "I shouldn't have let things happen the way they did."
"Oh Quatre... I know..." Relena smiled sadly, and patted the young man on the shoulder.
It was sure to be a long night for the entire current household.
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Lords of the Manor Hotel
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"Oh sweet glorious hospitality..." The man chuckled as he laid draped across the king sized four poster bed, sipping at his red wine.
He sighed contently, running a hand across the smooth silk sheets, basking in the morning sunlight as it drifting in past the open curtains.
"I've missed this, indeed I have..." He murmured.
With a groan, he slipped his legs over the edge of the bed, and shuffled across the wooden floors towards the wall length mirror.
"I look a right mess..." He muttered, grimacing as he ran a hand through his honey brown hair, and then reaching down to graze it against the stubble forming across his chin.
How long had it been since he escaped?
Several days he supposed...
"No wonder...if I weren't so pressed for time, I'd work on appearance..." He muttered, shaking his head.
But if his sources were correct, they'd be there today... and who knew when they would return?
No, he had to take advantage of this day... he had to get to safety, before they somehow took action.
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Preventer Headquarters
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Noin stepped out of the washroom, completely showered and dressed. She was heading to Preventers Headquarters to spend the morning completing the final paper work on the Mars Terri Formation Project. It was not her ideal chosen morning activity, but everyone else at the office this particular morning was busy with their own projects, due to several employees taking their vacation, and, besides… other than Zechs, only she was capable of completing the task at hand..
She looked over at the slumbering form of Zechs and sighed. The man lay with one arm dangling over the edge of the bed. She had always loved watching him sleep… he looked so content, almost happy with the world when he slept, like an angel.
She leaned against the door frame and shook her head sadly.
'If only he were like that when he was awake, life would be far simpler.' She frowned, shaking her head.
She was tired… tired of everything. Tired of arguing with the blonde, of wondering if he truly cared or not. Tired of making excuses for herself when it came to Quatre, tired of pleading with the man to hold her, to make her feel as though everything would be okay, that they could get through this, and she was tired of fighting with him to let Relena live her life the way she wanted to live her life.
Harping about how terrible Heero Yuy was for the girl was not helping the situation at all and she truly felt bad for the girl. Her own brother against her while trying to cope with her love and heart ache, and a man with a personality chiseled in stone, with the attitude to match. Relena and the pilot weren't the slightest bit involved with one another, and yet any time she brought up that fact, Zechs ignored her.
With one last glance back at her conflicted lover, she left the room and headed for the stairs. She knew that this morning was going to be a long one, especially after the night she had had, but she had to get the paper work done and in before she forgot about its existence. The sooner things were finished, the sooner she could start her paid vacation for an unspecified amount of time.
Maybe she and Zechs would finally be able to live together like a couple, perhaps get married, even start a family. The possibilities were endless, but regardless, things could not stay as they were.
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Peacecraft Manor
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Duo lay sprawled across the lawn chair in front of the manor, a glass of iced tea in one hand, and a comic book in the other, as he let the sun beat down on him. The day was a day of relaxation, and he fully intended to enjoy warm and toasty outside, with his sunglasses on, hair let loose, and his rugged cowboy hat resting nicely atop his head.
Hilde on the other hand had wanted to stay indoors on this fine day, protesting that she'd look unsightly in her wedding dress with the complexion of a lobster.
It wasn't his fault she didn't tan nicely. He was blessed otherwise.
At the very least she had Relena to keep her company.
The radio at his side blared on, and he bobbed his head to the beat to pass the time.
The other members of the current household were no use for company either.
Quatre had been in a sour mood all morning, and much to his disappointment, the blonde had merely mumbled such things as Zechs, walls, Heero, and none of your business, so he was none the wiser to the situation on his end.
Zechs hadn't left his room all day, and when he'd even tried to pry him from his man-cave, he'd gotten the door slammed in his face.
Trowa had disappeared, and was nowhere to be found.
Probably with Quatre, he reasoned, but left it at that before his imagination got the best of him.
And Pagan was off doing his daily butlery things, so no sombrero there either.
So there he sat, alone with his comic book for company… and life was good.
Until the sun suddenly disappeared.
With a frown, Duo pulled the shades from his face, and glared up at the monstrous gold hummer that was now blocking his rays.
"Ya know, that's a 'No Parking Zone' lady." He huffed, eyes narrowing at the heel clad woman coming up the walkway.
The blonde paused before him and smiled at him smugly.
"I see no sign. I'm afraid you'll have to deal Mr. Maxwell."
He sighed and rubbed his temples slowly as he sat up.
"What's your business for being here anyway. Last I checked, no one invited you to come visit. No one likes it when you crash a party." He muttered, glaring up at Dorothy, and her too short dress.
"You call this a party?" She asked, glancing around with a chuckle. "Fancy that…"
"Get to the point, I'd hate to stare at you all day." He snorted.
"I'm here to see Milliardo. That is all. No need to get your swim trunks in a twist." She laughed lightly, but noticed quickly that Duo's glare did not falter.
"Is he expecting you?"
She sighed and batted a hand at him.
"One should think so, but probably not."
Duo slumped his shoulders than sighed.
"Fine. I'll escort you then… Quatre would have a fit if I let you run wild in the halls. Can't blame him. You'd probably shred the drapery."
"Ha, ha Mr. Maxwell." Her eyes narrowed, but followed after the man all the same.
Duo pushed open the front doors, and shuffled down the hallways barefoot with Dorothy close behind him. Pagan looked up from dusting a vase briefly before carrying on with his work. As they reached the main stairwell, they met Trowa on his way down. The brunette cast a worried glace towards Duo, who only rolled his eyes, before carrying on to his destination. Dorothy smirked at the man before heading up the stairs behind Duo.
Trowa shook his head in agitation, before turning away and rounding the corner.
Once clearing the stairs, Duo darted down the hall way towards Zechs' room, casting a quick glance back at Dorothy who was only just reaching the top of the landing. He rapped on the door frantically, and heard the blonde growl from within.
"What is it?" Zechs called out, but made no move towards the door.
With a sighed, Duo forced the door open and glared at the blonde.
"Should have locked the door…" He muttered before placing his book on the nightstand. "Do you have no concept of privacy?"
Duo sighed and shook his head.
"Man, you've got a visitor. Don't jump down my throat."
Zechs paused, and stared at the brunette.
"Visitor? Who?" He stood, and moved closer to the door, trying to glance past Duo.
"Dorothy Catalonia. Flew in on her horrendous gold broom stick. She and her monkeys are making their way down the hall as we speak. I think she plans to steal your shiny mask and gold plate it for her collection." he chuckled.
Zechs however seemed completely unamused.
"What the hell is she doing here at a time like this…" The man muttered. "Very well…Send her in, and get the hell out of here. Mind your own business for a change."
Duo gaped at the man briefly, before moving away from the door to allow Dorothy passage.
"Ass…" He hissed, walking back toward the stairs.
He watched as Dorothy disappeared into the man's chambers, and watched as Zechs slammed the door. The only comfort he received, was the bickering that erupted behind the closed door.
As he made his way down the hallway, he sighed, stopping just before the steps.
"Might as well go hang with the girls, since Miss Witch blocked the sun with her rhino of a car…" He huffed, glancing down the hall at Relena's door.
With finality, he sighed, and made his way towards the room, still giving off the appearance of a kicked puppy.
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Khushrenada Estate: Une's Office
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"She's been recovering nicely." Lady Une smiled as she spoke with Noin on the phone.
She stretched back into the chair and stared lazily at the office ceiling. She could hear the television on in the other room, where she suspected Mariemaia was currently enjoying herself.
"That's good. How is she adjusting? More so, how is Trent adjusting?"
Une chuckled to herself.
"Quite well actually. He's only seven months old; that works for him. He'll always view her as his sister, and know nothing different. As for Mari, she's enamored with him."
The Italian woman sighed contently on the other line.
"That's good. I'm glad they're good with one another. How is her health going?"
"The doctor is still not sure if she will be in the wheel chair permanently or not and I don't want to tell her that, not quite yet. She has made progress though; we have managed to get her to start moving her legs on her own, even if it is at the knee, and rather minimal." Une gazed out the window briefly, watching the groundskeepers go about their business. "I never thought I'd be a mom at twenty one, especially to a seven year old." She sighed and gave a weak smile.
"She's almost eight. Does she ask questions?"
Une nearly choked on air.
"God no. Isn't she a bit young?" She gasped.
Noin on the other hand broke into laughter on the other end of the line.
"Don't freak out on me yet, Une. We have a few more years till we have to cross that road. I meant about Treize… in general"
"A few. Some I can answer, others I cannot." Une paused a moment. "How do you explain to a seven year old that her father was truly a good man when no one else is painting him as such? Anyways, she asked me to take her to his grave. I'm doing that later this afternoon." Une blushed and gave a relived sigh.
"Closure?" Noin asked gently.
"I'm thinking so." Une said quietly.
She herself had been so lost in the last year, especially after she found out that she was pregnant with Treize's child. It was horrible timing. She had just formed the Preventors, dealing with the most obnoxious relatives in history, and she was still mourning the death of Treize. Now she was faced with being the mother of both his children and she honestly… couldn't be any happier.
"Well, I'll let you go. You have plenty to do, and things to talk about. Let me know how things go."
Une placed the receiver on its hold, and sighed.
Noin was a fine woman. It was too bad she hadn't noticed sooner.
She smiled as Mariemaia's laughter erupted from the other room, and she grabbed
her coat.
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Peacecraft Manor: Residential Hallways
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Quatre sighed, and hung his head in his hands. He'd expected things to get easier now that everyone was settled in at the manor, but things had been even more strained then before. Zechs and Noin were still on the rocks, he assumed due to his own stupidity.
He should have never let Noin kiss him... never let them get into that sort of situation, now that the Lightning Count had returned. Prior to the Mariemaia incident? Sure, he'd have been content... but he knew very well that her heart belonged to the other blonde, even if they had hit a rough patch in their relationship. He had no right to step in on the other man's turf.
It was eating away at him... and to top it all off, Noin had still seemed rather...close... to him, the previous day. Although there was a possibility that he was just over thinking the situation, using past events to cloud his judgment when it came to simple moments of her kindness... he couldn't help the panic that had enveloped him as she'd wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and creatively demanded that he continued playing.
For a moment, it had almost seemed like one of Duo's raunchy videos were playing out before him... and he'd been momentarily fearful that his piano playing scene would end with him playing Noin... on, or even under the piano.
He shook those thoughts from his head furiously, his face flushing crimson at the mere thought of it.
No...he had much self-control...he knew that much. He would NEVER let things get so out of hand... but that didn't stop the mental images... not at all.
No, the only thing he could do, to stop his own mind from wandering, and fix the rift he'd created in the couple's relationship, was to apologize to the man... no matter how terrifying the thought of being alone with the man was...
With finality, he sighed, and made his way down the hall to the man's chambers, mustering up enough nerve to confront the man. With determination, he reached for the doorknob, not even bothering to knock, and was fully prepared to wrench the door open until-
"Really now?"
The blonde froze, and stopped his breathing as he listened.
He was almost positive he'd heard a woman's voice come from within.
His heart raced, and he pressed his ear against the door, silently hoping, praying that the man was simply watching the television... but alas, it was not meant to be...
"Mmm.. Yes, right there..."
His heart sunk.
Yes, there was indeed someone in there... someone he knew rather well... and he was rather sure that the woman was not suggesting the proper placement of a piece of furniture...
He let out a quiet whine.
'No... Zechs wouldn't do that to Noin... would he?' He furrowed his brow in frustration.
Perhaps they were in there talking? Maybe he was... giving her a massage? It was wrong to accuse without proof, wasn't it?
With a strong moment of determination, he drew in a deep breath, and slowly, quietly, turned the brass knob, pushing the door open a few inches, enough to see inside.
He closed it once more immediately...
No...
He was...and she was... and they were...
He shook his head frantically, hoping to remove the images from his memory.
"How could he?" he murmured, glaring at the large mahogany door.
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St. Gabriele's Cemetery
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"Why couldn't we bring the baby?" The girl asked as Une pushed her through the grass.
They had arrived at the cemetery in good time, and were now slowly making their way to their destination. Une was overwhelmed with sudden sadness as they passed row after row of the marble graves. How many had she caused to be buried here in her time as an Oz soldier? At a time, she had been as lost and unstable as the poor girl in front of her had been. Perhaps, she thought, that was why she had been able to relate to the uniform clad red head who had been hell bent on taking over the galaxy.
They went on a few more rows before Une could speak.
"I don't think Trent is ready to come here quite yet." Her voice sounded light as she answered. "He is much too young to appreciate," She paused a moment, suppressing a sob. "Such a visit. He will when he is old enough… to understand who your father was… and what he meant to all of us."
A shadowed figure watched them from behind as they went, unknown to the two walking ahead.
The man leaned against one of the mausoleums and watched the two with confusion, and intrigue.
The way the woman had spoken, it was a voice he didn't recognize... He had always known that Une had always had a habit of switching between persona's to protect her mental stability in her war ridden life, but this voice... it was a new one..
She sounded almost... motherly. Calm, collected, caring... emotional. It was as though both personalities had finally merged and found a common ground.
It boggled his mind as he watched the two.
Who was this little girl? Furthermore, who was she to her? Why was the child reduced to sitting in a wheel chair? And why... why did Lady Une look at her as if she were her own when that was clearly not the case?
He sighed in frustration, and ran a hand through his unkempt hair.
He had to find out more...
He quickly made a move from the mausoleum, and cursed as he missed his footing and cracked a fallen tree limb.
Une had turned around at the noise, and just barely missed catching a glimpse of him as he barrel rolled behind a head stone.
"Wow, was that him?" the girl asked, staring at the tall statue that adorned the elaborate mausoleum.
Une turned back towards the girl wearily, and gazed up where the child was pointing. She gave a sad smile and nodded.
"Yes, that was your father." She murmured, a slight edge in her voice.
'Father?' The man blinked in confusion.
He backed up against another statue and leaned against it heavily as he watched them. He, too, looked up at the statue and raised an eyebrow.
There was no mistaking it.
The statue was of none other than... himself.
'That is impossible...' He gaped, now studying the child closely. 'This... girl couldn't possibly be Une's! She looks to be somewhere between the ages of six and eight... This couldn't possibly be the child they informed me about. There's no possible way that she's my- Unless…'
He tensed, and immediately thought back, picking through his memories.
Nearly eight years ago... he and Leia Barton had...
"He was very handsome." The girl smiled, her voice bringing the man out of his daze.
"I agree." Une sighed, and a single tear slid down her cheek.
The man sunk to the ground once more, still in shock.
He... Treize Khushrenada, had been a father, all this time...
The man was floored as he watched the two in wonder.
And here he thought the biggest shock was himself, still being alive...
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They had sat there silently for some time. Une was thankful that Mariemaia hadn't turned to look at her. The tears had been spilling down her face as she memorized every curve, every surface of the marble statue before her. She let loose no sobs. The statue was a perfect replica of her fallen leader, her lover, it hurt to see him cast in stone, but she was thankful that the people had done such an honorable thing as erect it for him. She would never get used to visiting this grave...it brought back so many memories, the good and the bad...
She pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at her face.
"How did he die?" Mariemaia asked suddenly, turning her head to look at Une.
She was not prepared for this question. She would have sworn they had told her how her father had passed... They had to have told her, she deserved to know...
But, alas, if she was asking, Dekim had clearly kept that from her.
Une withheld a growl.
Of course they would have hid it from her...otherwise the Second Eve's War would have likely not gone down. The knowledge of him sacrificing himself in the name of peace would have turned Mariemaia off of the idea of destruction...kids were so convincible, they wouldn't have risked it.
Mariemaia sensed she wasn't about to get an answer...
She could tell whenever she brought up her father, Lady Une went quiet almost like she was lost in thought, or another world or in a different time perhaps. Mariemaia was sure she had loved him dearly with the way she held his memory close to her. They did have a child together, even if he never had the chance to know about him. He'd never known about her either...Dekim had made sure of that.
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Preventer Headquarters: Noin's Office
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"Ms. Noin, there is a Mr. Luccedio Noin for you." Noin nearly leapt out of her seat as her secretary came in over the intercom.
"Put him through, Celia." Noin sighed shifting some papers on her desk.
"Hello Lucrezia." Came the deep voice of her eldest brother from the doorway to her office.
She lifted her head from her paperwork and stared at the tall raven haired man and slowly a huge smile broke across her face. She stood up from her desk and ran over to him throwing her arms around him.
"Luccedio!" She laughed upon colliding with him.
He wrapped his free arm around her shoulders, and balanced a huge tray in his other.
"God I've missed you." She murmured.
"I've missed you too!" He smiled, gazing down at her. "Mom sent over some pasta, trying to pass it off as Rigatoni, but we all know what it truly is, Mostaccoli, fresh from the soon to open Sanc Branch of Ristorante Di Mostaccolini."
"They aren't in town are they?" Noin asked pulling away from her brother.
"I'd be lying if I said they weren't. They want to open the restaurant themselves, apparently they don't trust Mario and I's talent for special occasion openings." He chuckled.
"God, Luccedio." She pulled away and sulked over to her desk. "Why? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Momma and Daddy but there is only so much, 'Lucrezia, when a you going to get a married?'"
"And Dad going, 'Aw Laura, leave the kids alone.'" Luccedio chuckled.
" 'But Antony, when a we a were their age, we already had sette bambinos.'" She rolled her eyes.
" 'Laura, you already have grandchildren, from Mario and Lizzie.'" Luccedio laughed.
"Enough ragging on them… Point is, I don't want to subject my friends to them; they've seen enough death and destruction." Noin laughed as she sat down at the desk and finished up the last piece of paperwork she was on and set the pile on the corner of her desk. "How have you been, Luccedio?"
"Quite well. Been taking care of Dad the last few months." Luccedio shook his head. "The surgery took a lot out of him but he's now pretty much back to normal."
"How's Villa di Mostaccolini?" She asked leaning back in the chair.
"All the excitement that can be expected of a Noin household."
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Peacecraft Manor: Yuy Chambers
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"Subject's name, James Fitzgerald. Date of birth, After Colony 170. Native to Britain. Graduated top of his class from Oxford University, After Colony 192. Record, clean. Chance of threat? Four point two percent. Level of protection supplied to one Relena Darlian-Peacecraft? Minimal..."
Heero sighed and leaned back against his chair, stretching as he went.
Although threats had been on the down low since Christmas, he couldn't help but feel anxiety when dwelling on the future and things to come. Although peace had returned to the galaxy, humans were just that…only human. With that thought in mind, he had no doubt that turmoil would erupt once more, whether it be tomorrow, or ten years from now. Regardless, he'd be ready.
"Lady Une is becoming careless… allowing someone incapable of protecting even themselves to work beside Relena and judge how she should act in the public eye. They'd be better off employing some of Quatre's men." He huffed, rubbing a temple.
He'd have a word with Une at a later time.
A shrill beeping sounded from his right, and his head whipped around to face the monitor at his side.
"Speaking of Une." he mumbled, pulling up a view of the Khushrenada Estate's front gate.
He searched for the cause of commotion within the security system, and paused as a loan figure made his way up the property, and watched as the man cautiously approached the Victorian iron gates.
He frowned, and crossed his arms across his chest as he observed.
"Forty-five degree rotation to the right…" He watched as the screen rotated downward. "Zoom at one hundred fifty times." The screen zoomed in on the target, this caused the image to become pixilated and difficult to decipher what or rather whom was trying to enter the property. "Pause. Enhance clarity." The screen instantly cleared to show the face of the intruder.
He studied the man's face intently, tapping his fingers on the desk in agitation.
Surely he must be mistaken?
He eyed the man cautiously, taking in his rugged appearance slowly. But despite how hard he focused, and how hard he tried to deny the obvious facts, underneath the shaggy unkempt hair, and the scruff lining the man's chin, there was no doubt about it.
"Disarm. Passage granted." He muttered shaking his head.
He hoped to god he was making the right decision, letting the man onto the property. After over a year's worth of absence, one could change so drastically. Zechs had been the perfect example.
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Khushrenada Estate
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The fact that the security had been minimal worried him... If he were able to break into his own home despite security revisions, then clearly one Lady Une was not safe living there alone.
He sighed as he walked through his old den, marveling at how little had changed despite the move in of the woman. It seemed that no matter where he went in his old manor, nothing had changed, save for spare bedrooms being converted into full time living chambers... and his own, being occupied by the woman herself. Still, as he stepped into his own bedroom, little had changed. Lady Une's clothes now occupied the drawers, and a few personal belongings of hers littered the room, but for the most part, the room remained intact, just as he had left it.
Upon further examination, he was able to conclude that the little red headed child was living in the manor as well. A lift had been installed in one stair well for the child's convenience, and he found her living quarters with no problem. The room accommodated her well.
He was just ready to leave Mariemaia's room, when a cry sounded down the hall. He beamed knowingly, knowing full well that the small crying baby was exactly who he'd been wanting to see since he'd been informed of its existence.
However, just as he nearly entered the room, he ducked down and out of sight as an apparent nanny came speeding down the hall. He watched in amusement as she bolted into the nursery, immediately cooing, praying for the silence to return. She departed the room once the child had calmed. He, in turn, left his position and entered the room.
'He looks like my mother.' He mused staring down at the sleeping blond child. 'He has Lady's nose.' He smiled.
He wished he had been there for her, to witness his son being born. He knew the boy was his, even without proof. He could tell just by some of the boy's features alone. He wondered idly if she would even forgive him, for not being there, for not contacting her… if she would still be in love with him, if she would marry him, be the mother of all of his children…
The baby began to stir again and he instinctually lifted the child up and smiled as the baby cuddled against him.
"Attention, that is all that you wanted. I'll be firing your nanny, she isn't doing her job." He chuckled, rocking the child gently to keep him from crying out once more.
The little boy lifted his head and looked up at the man that held him and the man looked back down at him. He was shocked to find the oddness of the boy's eyes, one sapphire and the other chocolate, like his mother's. He then wondered if the boy was as stubborn as Lady Une.
The child reached up and touched the man's face and smiled as if he knew the man who held him was his father. The boy giggled happily and lied his head back down on the man's chest.
Without warning, and much to Treize's horror, the nanny stepped back into the room, and he met her eyes. The bottle in her hand fell to the ground and she was seemingly frozen until…
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The scream that emanated from upstairs echoed throughout the house as Une and Mari stepped into the manor. Une whipped her gun out and ran frantically up the stairs. Dreading what could have occurred as the scream originated from the direction of the nursery. Upon reaching the top of the stair case, she was nearly knocked back down by nanny diving down the stair well.
Panic setting in, she flew to the nursery, and threw the doors open with such a force the walls shook.
There the baby sat giggling in his crib. Une swayed on the spot, her pulse racing.
What could have spooked the woman so greatly?
"Woman's lost her mind…" She muttered slipping her arms around her son, pulling the baby into a tight hug. "Nearly gave me a heart attack… the nerve…"
With a sigh, she placed the baby back into his crib, and she braced herself against the side of it to steady herself.
The man behind them had had enough of stalling. He approached them carelessly now, not hiding his presence in the slightest.
Une had visibly tensed up at the sound of his approaching footsteps,
"Lady Une?" he called to her, pausing.
Perhaps he should have announced himself better?
Lady Une whipped around in the blink of an eye, gun out, unlocked, loaded, and pointed at his chest.
And then she fainted.
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Preventer Headquarters
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Noin had left Une to do her own thing. The woman was honestly still mourning. It was prevalent in her actions, speaking, and the way she had avoided pointed questions from Mariemaia. Hell, that entire year before Mari had been a roller coaster for the woman. Finding out she was pregnant, dealing with prank calls, meeting Treize's only living relatives who belonged in mental institution, creating the Preventers, having the baby and then all of sudden having to try and stop a seven year old from taking over the world. She hadn't had the time to grieve properly.
She could empathize, she, herself, had mourned the loss of Zechs in the worst ways before deciding that there was no way the man could be dead. Even still, she hadn't been able to fully get rid of her doubt. There had always been that good chance that the man was truly dead. She wanted to see a body. She wanted proof that the man was dead. She wanted to know for certain that she had lost the man she had loved for so long. She had it in her mind that no one could take his place, at least that was how it was in the beginning, but it grew harder and harder to believe the lie as the year wore on, and that was due to another blonde who had entered into her life.
When Une had informed her that her dear Lightning Count lived, she'd been ecstatic, and had raced to his side.
At that moment, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her friend.
Une and she had only become close after the war had ended. Shortly before Une had found out she was with child, they had formed the Preventers together, with the help of Sally Po, an ex-Guerilla. Things had only just started to brighten up when Une had called her in hysterics. She hadn't been surprised in the slightest when she had told her that the late Treize had been the father. She'd seen the deep connection between the two that was very like her connection with Zechs. Even if the Oz leader himself did not realize that he was in love with her until it was nearly too late, he had at least shown her he had cared.
Noin had gladly helped her through the pregnancy, and had even taken to briefly babysitting the little blonde boy whenever Une had needed a break. At times she had stared down at the child in wonder. Thinking of how it might have been if the child had been hers and Zechs'...the blonde hair of the child gave her glimpses of those thoughts. The child's odd eyes, one blue, one brown, would remind her that he wasn't however, and that there never could be a child born of her from the Lightning Count. Those simple hopes had been resurrected along with the man himself.
Some may think it silly of her to wish for her own children at such a young age, but she had come from a large family that had been rather close. She only wanted that closeness herself.
With all the thoughts of Zechs, she decided that while Une was off visiting the resting place of her own love, she would visit Zechs at home. She had received a care package from her mother the earlier in the day (delivered by her loud mouth brother) so she felt that she might as well bring a portion of the large pasta tray she'd received to the man. She was sure that no one in that house cooked while she was gone, and that homemade Italian would be a nice change from constant greasy take out.
So, she had packed her bags, and prepared to spend the weekend at home. At Peacecraft Manor (or Peace Manor, as Duo had dubbed it at one point) visitors were always expected. Duo felt the need to visit whenever he pleased, whereas Quatre would visit Relena and her on weekends, and Heero, she suspected, was truly always there, even if no one knew.
She'd hopped on her scooter and sped towards the large property in record time. Her Preventer's office was not located far from the manor, as she had realized early on that she was at work far more often than she was home. She arrived within ten minutes, food in hand.
"Hello Ms. Noin." Quatre greeted her from the bottom step.
She found it odd that the boy had just been sitting there, almost as if he had been waiting for her, as if he knew she was going to be walking in the door at any given moment. But she had informed no one of her decision to come home for the weekend. She smiled at him none the less as she entered the foyer. He rose to his feet as she came up to him and smiled brightly at her.
"Hello Quatre." She answered, returning his smile.
Pagan slowly came up to them. The man was getting on in years, and even after he'd nearly died in the previous years due to the attack on Relena, he refused to give up his job as her care taker. She admired the man for that. She handed her coat to him and gave him a small smile.
"Would you happen to know where Zechs is?" She asked them as they walked through the halls.
Quatre blanched and stared at the floor as they walked.
"I'm not sure." Quatre said rather quickly, and he headed towards the sitting room. Noin raised an eyebrow, she had never seen the boy act so oddly before and was unsure of his behavior. She shook her head and looked to the aging butler.
"He is upstairs in his chambers, Madam." Pagan said stiffly.
"Thank you..." She gave the older man an odd look, and glanced off to where Quatre had retreated.
The men in the house were acting weird.
She made her way up the long decorated stair cases and down the low lit halls towards Zech's room. Why he'd be locked in there so early in the day, she'd never understand, but he had always been a private man. She knocked on the ornately decorated door before entering, but heard no response.
She frowned.
Well, he had to be in there, as Pagan would know if he had left. She shrugged it off and turned the knob, stepping into the room, shifting the food onto one arm.
"Zechs, I've brought you some…" She stopped short, seeing the scene before her, and who exactly was in the bed. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!" She screeched at him.