A/N: Sorry this update took me a while, but things are getting a bit hectic but hopefully they should calm down a bit and thank you for stopping by to check out the update. I'd like to thank all those who read and reviewed! You guys are awesome! Thanks, Beautiful Innocence, XxMeli J NightlyxX, shortslover911, and Kat Cora. I also have an announcement to make. I will be having a competition with this story. In this story, the entire thing, not just this chapter, I have and will continue to put references to the anime discreetly but they're there. When the last chapter gets posted, I'll make another reference to this competition and I won't again until then. Not every chapter will have something, but if you look for them, they're there, and I think they tend to stand out a bit. The reward from PMing me or emailing me the references is that I will write a fiction of the winner's choice and of their fandom, IF I am familiar with it enough to write a good story. I will reveal details the next time that I do mention the contest again, oh, and if someone sends me the references but has not reviewed this story not even once, I will not honor their submissions. It's only fair after all. Thanks for reading this long author's note and I hope y'all keep your eyes peeled from here on out and do some back tracking to make sure you haven't missed anything. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, it's characters, General Motors, or Wendy's. I do own Michael though, he is my OC.
My Memory of Her: A Small Good Thing
"Yuy, Maxwell had me worried sick. You could've at least gotten shot or something," said Dorothy from the bar in her kitchen as she poured Heero a glass of Iced Tea.
"Yeah, I want to get shot and leave Michael alone," snorted Heero as he glared at her although her back was turned to him as she put the pitcher of tea away.
"Okay, you have a good point there but you know how I am when it comes to violence. It's hot, what can I say," she said with a slight chuckle as she handed Heero the tea.
"I know. I don't know how Quatre does it."
"Anyway, I can go get him if you like. He fell asleep in our bed, just let me know when you're ready to go," said Dorothy as she sat on a stool in front of Heero wondering if he was okay with what happened to him and now that he has to worry about Michael even more now given his job. It was strange for her to care for someone else, aside from Quatre that is, but they've all sort of become a family, none of them after all had any living relatives left.
"I think we should go, I have to explain to him why Duo had to drop him off," said Heero as he swirled his tea in his glass staring at it as if it would give him the right thing to say to Michael.
"Don't worry about that, I took care of it. I told him that you just had so much work to do that you needed Duo's help and that I always love having him here so I called you to get Duo to see if he would like to visit. He was very happy with that, given Duo didn't exactly know what to say when he got here," she said getting off of the stool and walking towards the staircase that would take her to her and Quatre's bedroom. Heero followed silently.
As Dorothy opened the big redwood doors, Heero couldn't bear to wake Michael up from his nap, even though it was already in the evening, he just looked so peaceful.
"Don't wake him. I'll take him like that," said Heero as he walked in and scooped Michael up from off of the red and black silk sheets and feather soft pillows. Michael recognized his father's scent and drew closer and held his father securely as a small smile graced his lips. Dorothy couldn't help but "aww…" in thought, as she would never verbalize such thoughts about anyone, unless she was being sarcastic.
"Thanks Dorothy," said Heero as he made his way out carefully to not disturb his son's pleasant slumber.
"No problem Heero, not at all. Bring him anytime and if you would like, one of us can take care of him while you're at work now that you're back on the streets," said Dorothy as she walked Heero out of the house.
"I'll keep in touch."
Now that Heero was on the streets working as a detective again his office hours changed from having to be at work at seven to having to be there at nine and he could bring his paper work home to be able to focus on the case at hand. But Heero wasn't one to sleep in and was up by seven, and was about to open up his refrigerator to see what he would make for breakfast when Duo gave a loud and sudden snore that even caught him off guard. Heero shook his head while making a mental note to get Breathe Right strips on his way back from work.
The smell of food being cooked awoke the sleeping Duo and he sauntered to the kitchen and plopped himself down at the table.
"Watcha makin'?" he asked through a loud yawn.
"Pancakes and eggs."
"Ooooh! I want!" said Duo now fully awake at the thought of eating soon.
"Hn. What about that figure of yours," said Heero as he poured the batter on the skillet.
"Eh, I'm switching from modeling pants to underwear so I have to get a little thicker," said Duo mock-seriously.
The two heard the sound of a toilet flushing and knew that Michael was now awake and as Heero turned around, he saw him walking in the kitchen while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes in his pajamas, which were a blue sleeping shirt and matching blue boxer shorts. Heero had a loose t-shirt and pajama bottoms and Duo only had boxer shorts on.
"'Morning Daddy, 'morning Uncle Duo," said Michael and got into a seat next to Duo.
"'Morning Michael," said Heero as he placed a plate with warm pancakes, butter, syrup, and a helping of eggs in front of him.
"'Morning Macky!" said Duo as he gave his nephew a nuggie.
Michael squirmed as he did his best to resist his uncle's attack and Duo eventually put Michael down as Heero slide Duo's plate to him across the table.
"Daddy, why didn't you go to work today?"
"I am, I just get to go in later because of a case that I'm now working on."
"Oh, okay. Do I get ready after breakfast?" asked Michael wondering what his dad's new case could be about and if he would go to the office with him.
"Yeah," said Heero wondering if Dorothy would be able to watch Michael today.
…
"Michael, Dorothy's here!"
Michael scampered from his room and got his shoes on and walked with his father outside to greet Dorothy.
"Hi Michael, do you want to help me buy a gift for Quatre today?" asked Dorothy while squatting to be at eyelevel with Michael.
"Yeah! Quatre's always so nice."
"Good, but it has to be a secret between you and me, okay?"
"Okay!" said Michael enthusiastically as the thrill of keeping an adult secret.
Dorothy stood up and hugged Heero. A bit out of character for the both of them but given they're each other's family, it seemed somewhat proper for certain occasions and this one was for a secret.
"Remember what I told you and don't be late and don't tell Maxwell anything," whispered Dorothy sternly as she gave Heero the hug and then ended the embrace to hold Michael's hand to escort him in her limo as her chauffer held the door open for them.
Heero waved to the blackened window in hopes that Michael would see him as the limo drove off.
…
Heero sat at his desk and was checking databases to see if he could find anything based on the marking the agents had discovered and couldn't find anything since he had gotten into the office. The symbol hadn't even been entered into any database yet and aside from that annoying Heero, his frustration was making him want to go out and check things out for himself. It was already three o'clock and he was still where he was when he first started.
"Maxwell!" answered Duo very exuberantly.
"Duo, have you done your bust today?"
"No, I was just about to. What's up?" asked Duo curiously.
"I want to go. I can't find any leads on the databases and I want to check out the field."
"Ah, no problem. Meet me outside at my truck in five."
"Roger that."
Duo parked on a side walk and was waiting for his back up to arrive while Heero finished strapping on his bullet proof vest and looked up to see a few cars park away from sight of their target house. It looked like an ordinary house, a green front yard, nice brick on the outside, an American car in the driveway, and in a quiet neighborhood to top it off. Boy, they'd be in for a rude awakening thought Heero as he finished checking the vest to make sure it was snug.
Duo got out of the truck and Heero followed as other police officers got out of the vehicles and had their guns ready to go.
"You seem tense, why don't you knock down the door?" said Duo with a grin on his face.
Heero silently accepted the offer, and as the police officers and Duo waited around the door. In one motion, he kicked down the door as Duo yelled, "Freeze!"
Several people scampered to and fro but they were soon under arrest but Heero swore he saw a familiar face and was following him around the large house while Duo was watching him just incase he needed cover.
"Jack!"
The man turned and Heero's suspicions were confirmed. This was the man he never wanted to see again. For him not having much emotion for anything, he felt extreme rage and disdain for this man and without his knowledge he began firing warning shots with his handgun as the chase went out of the yard and over some small fences that Heero easily leaped over.
Duo panicked and ran as fast as he could to keep up with his brother while trying to get his attention but nothing could get through to him as he was on a roll and Duo feared he would be unstoppable at this point.
"Leave me alone, I didn't know what was going on! I swear!" the man yelled back as he struggled to keep up the speed from the pursuit of the state known infamous Heero Yuy.
Heero fired another shot but this time was a lot closer to the man's leg than all the other ones were and as he was about to fire again when he was tackled down to the ground and was about to pistol whip whoever it was who got him until he heard Duo's voice.
"What is your problem! He didn't threaten your life and all you had to do was get him to stop not kill him! Don't think I couldn't tell where you were aiming. You're lucky no one else followed you," said Duo as he kept a firm grip on Heero on the ground so that he couldn't fight him off easily and had one hand firmly around Heero's hand that held the gun.
Heero didn't move. He just watched as the man faded from his vision. Heero managed to still move his fingers despite Duo's grip on his wrist and aimed the gun and pulled the trigger. Click. Click.
"Heero talk to me!"
…
"What do you think about this one?"
"I like it and it's so big too!" said Michael as he did his best to try and hop off the bottom rail of the vehicle.
"I think so too Michael," said Dorothy as she got off the vehicle making sure that Michael was safely on the ground. She gave it one more inspection before looking at the sales person and said, "I'll take it, under one condition."
"What would that be ma'am?"
"I want it in black, trimmed with gold and the interior has to be grey leather with white trim."
"Oh, but we don't have anything like that ma'am. That would be a custom job and we don't do that here," the salesman said regretfully.
"Then make a phone call or two. I could get it done, but I am buying it from you after all."
"Yes ma'am but we—"
Dorothy cut off the salesman by picking up her silver briefcase she had with her and opened it on top of the vehicle's hood to show a case full of cash which was more than the price of the vehicle and more than what it would cost to get the customization she wanted.
"Will take a couple of hours to get it done," continued the salesman with a gulp.
"I thought so," said Dorothy with a smile as she closed the briefcase, "Oh, and call me when it's done and you have until four o'clock to call me."
Dorothy offered her hand to Michael, who took it, as they both walked back towards the limo, "Are you hungry?"
The boy nodded, silent in front of strangers, but would wait until he was far away from the salesman to feel comfortable to talk again.
"Do you want to have a snack or are you really hungry?" asked Dorothy as she helped Michael get into the limo.
"Um, I'll go for a snack," said Michael remembering that dinner was going to be huge.
"Good, me too. Where would you like to go?" asked Dorothy sweetly.
"Wendy's?"
"Oh, that sounds good! I could go for a frosty," said Dorothy as she reached for a button near the door's armrest.
"Wendy's."
…
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Shit, well, that explains it but still Heero," said Duo as he ran his hand through his bangs. "I just can't imagine that he was there, doing business, and that you of all people were there to see him. It's just really fucked up if you ask me, but then again, I don't know what could've possibly ran through your head."
"Killing him."
"Well, that's a given!" said Duo as he threw his arms into the air from his desk as Heero sat with his arms crossed in the chair in front of him.
"Hn. Anyway, let's go, I have to get some things from the store."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, come on."
…
He took out his keys from his scrubs pocket and put them in the door and turned it. He looked around and saw that the lights were off but there was a glow coming from the kitchen doors that led to the pool. He tossed some of his blond bangs out of his hair to try and get a better look around.
"Dorothy?" asked Quatre as he placed his car keys on the table next to the front door and toed off his sneakers and padded down the wooden floors and headed towards the glow from the kitchen. He flicked on the light switch--
"Surprise!"
"Ah!" yelled Quatre as he nearly fell over from the shock of having Dorothy, Duo, Heero, and Michael pop out from every which way from the kitchen.
"Happy birthday Quatre!" yelled Duo as he went up to hug him.
"Heh, thanks," said Quatre a little awkwardly wondering if they had been drinking before he got home.
"Happy birthday babe," said Dorothy seductively as she pushed Duo away from Quatre as she gave him a teasing kiss on the lips.
"Happy birthday Quatre," said Michael as he looked up at the blond after he and Dorothy parted.
"Michael bear!"
Quatre picked the boy up and gave him a hug, "How have you been? How was Europe?"
"I'm great! Oh, it was cold but fun too."
"That's great! I'm glad you didn't catch a cold, but if you did, I could've seen you earlier!"
Michael smiled at the attention but then remembered he had to give something to Quatre, "Oh, here Quatre, it's from Dorothy and I."
Michael pulled out a little black jewelry box from his pocket and handed it to Quatre who took it with interest.
"Oh, what's this?"
Quatre opened the box and saw a key and a couple of remotes next to it.
"Press this one," said Michael as he pointed to a button on the squared remote.
Quatre pressed it and the sound of an engine could be heard coming from near where they were and when he looked in the direction of the sound he saw headlights shining from the pool patio into the kitchen.
"Oh my God!" said Quatre as he made his way over and opened the backyard doors still holding Michael in his arms and looked at his new gift wrapped with a big red bow with the number twenty eight standing on the roof of the vehicle.
"It's a Hummer! And in my favorite colors!"
Quatre opened the driver's door and was in awe at the attention to detail that went into the ins and outs of the vehicle. It even had a "Q" in chrome for where the standard gas cap was supposed to be.
"We knew you'd like it," said Dorothy with a smile on her face.
"Thank you so much!" said Quatre as he went to hug her with Michael squished in the middle and after they broke the hug Michael took a deep breathe to make up for the air that was squished out of him.
"Oh sorry about that Michael bear," said Quatre as he put Michael back down.
"It's okay," he said with a smile.
"As much as I love seeing Quatre getting some, I'm hungry, can we eat please?" whimpered Duo.
…
"Jeeze, I had no idea you all had planned something. I guess I should've known something was up when Dorothy didn't call to see what I was going to do for lunch, but I just thought she was busy so I didn't think anything of it. Thanks guys!" said Quatre as he finished swallowing his food.
"Ah, no biggie, it's the least we could've done. I just think it's funny that you and Heero are the same age again." said Duo as he bite into a biscuit.
"Plus, everyone likes it when people take interest enough in someone's life to throw them a birthday party dear. It's not like I've never done it before," said Dorothy as she put her wine glass back down on the table.
"I know, but still, you guys really made my day. A couple of patients just really gave me a hard time today."
"What happened? Did they not want to get better?" asked Michael a little sleepily.
"Well, sort of like that Michael," said Quatre as he looked up at Heero and mentally told him that maybe he should go to bed soon.
Heero nodded and looked at Duo was now making the biscuits have some sort of social gathering and it looked like they were dancing. Duo was drunk and Heero would have to drive and thankfully Dorothy and Quatre had some bottles of sparkling water to give younger guests when they had visitors so that they don't feel left out or start asking to have some of the adult's drinks.
"I think we should get going now," said Heero as he stood up.
Quatre and Dorothy got up as well and walked Duo, Heero, and Michael to Heero's truck and waved them off as they drove away.
"It was so good to see them again," said Quatre.
"Yeah, but we'll see them again, so for now, let me see some more of you," said Dorothy seductively as she pulled Quatre by the collar of his scrubs back into the house and closed the front door as he let out an "eep."