A/N: Whoa, so, I'm very excited to present to you the final installment of the story that has gone on for over a year about a young father and the journey that he, his friends, and the boy that he has become the legal guardian of go through. Needless to say that I'm also sad that this story is ending, but as the saying goes, every story, even the great ones, have to come to an end so that greater stories may be written. I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to finally get through to this final point in the story, but for some reason (this is the second time I've had to end a multi-chapter story) when I write the conclusions to my stories they take a good while. I just want to make sure that they earn their title of being the end. I would also like to thank my biggest support for this story Beautiful Innocence and my last reviewer mannd1068. And now, without further adieu, I proudly present to you the finale of My Memory of Her.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, it's characters or anything or anyone else mentioned in this story that rightfully belongs to someone else. The plot and the OCs (original characters) do belong to me though. This is being published through a public medium therefore the original components of this story are copyrighted property of myself.
My Memory of Her: My Memory of You
Seth sat down in his seat and kept playing the past eight years in his mind, hell, even the past nine to try and figure out where the hell he went wrong and how the hell his kid ended up with Yuy and not him. But the more he thought about it… he didn't even know how he looked like or what his name was… What kind of a father was that? Seth gulped, the kind that his father was. Fuck.
"What is going on?" Heero asked looking at Dorothy and the guards, though he was ready to be taken down and be sent to jail. But the funny thing is that he would like to see them try, like hell they would be able to even try.
"Yuy just sit down," Dorothy said as she stands by Quatre and glances over to see that Bloom was checking on her brother and rolled her eyes.
"Now, the judge will be coming back into the courtroom and continue the hearing," the sergeant at arms announced standing by the doors to the judge's chambers.
Everyone stood up as the judge came back into the room and scowled at Dorothy, "Miss Catalonia, do I have to ask if it was you who started this whole thing."
"No you're Honor, all I know is that my client is now in danger due to the fact that Martly, who I'm sure you're aware of, or should be, has been spotted and has a vendetta against him for putting him away in the first place," Dorothy said simply as she was tired of all of this drama.
"Very well," the judge said as she took her seat, "now since all this ruckus has occurred, Dorothy and Garret, you two will have to hurry." She was both angry and scared with the outburst, no one had ever brought weapons into her courtroom before nor be in a situation where a witness detective was in her custody.
Dorothy tossed her hair out of her eyes and remained stoic, as usual, while Garret on the other hand became very nervous. He didn't know what was going on, and unlike Heero, Seth was starting to look pale. Not a good sign.
The truth of the matter was that Tracey was unaware of who Heery Yuy was. She had been off to Europe on a family situation and was not around when the news broke out that a rookie cop brought down the criminal known as "Meth Martly." And she had just been briefed right before she entered back into the courtroom. It was a lot to take in. She didn't like that right now Martly was reportedly on the look out for Heero, because he was in her courtroom, now she was in danger.
"Okay, let's make this quick. Martly is reported to be on the look for Mr. Yuy, so we need to finish this soon to get him into protective custody," Tracey said as she began filling out the forms to order it.
Seth went pale at hearing this. This wasn't good. Martly could not be brought in. He would never get a chance to see his son, and his life was so bland and meaningless. He started to get organized for him, he could now sleep at night, and he would wake up looking forward to the day. He regretted his words that night so much, and even more so as everyday went by.
...Flashback…
Seth ran up the stairs to his apartment with his arms full of cases of alcohol. Tonight was a party that he had been wanting to have for some time now. He kicked on the door so that someone would open it for him.
"Got the stuff!" Seth said making the bottles under his arms clank around.
Marie gave him a half-hearted smile and stood to the side to let him come into his apartment.
"Uh, I hate to ask this babe, but is that weird guy you used to hang out with coming?" Seth asked as he stated to put the bottles in the ice chest that was sitting in the kitchen.
Marie's stomach turned. That was an awful thing of him to say.
"No, I didn't invite anyone you didn't tell me to Seth," Marie said in a tone that told him to cut it out.
"Oh, okay," said Seth in a cheerful tone. He never liked Heero. Never did for some odd reason.
…
Heero sat in his unmarked patrol car with his partner. He was still considered a new guy and a rookie, so his partner, who was much older, wanted to still keep him under his wing.
Silent as always, but this time deep in thought. It had been a good while since he talked to Marie. Not really, it had only been about a month. Doing his best not to put too much thought into it, he couldn't help himself.
The last thing he could remember was that they had dinner. He couldn't remember what happened after that, but when he woke up that morning he did have a feeling of general malaise. Thinking nothing of it, he went on about his day and work hoping it wasn't a sign of a tumor or something. That was the first day that he didn't talk to Marie.
"Hey kid, you seem more glum than normal. What's going on?" The big man next to the young nineteen year old asked.
Heero remained quiet and continued to look out the window. He was so focused in thought that he didn't hear Max.
"Hm, girl problems," Max said with a nod as he sipped his black coffee. The man was forty-five, two ex-wives, and two kids that were from his current wife. Saying the man had some relationship experience was an understatement.
Heero just looked up at him, what would he say to the man? He had been kind to him throughout his entrance into his department and took care of him when he did get shot, until Duo was able to fly in.
"It's alright son, I understand," Max said as he nodded. He knew that look that Heero had. Even though the young man always had the same facial expression and his eyes cold, but this time his eyes were a little red and looked like they were in a fog.
Heero kept his eyes out of the patrol car; his thoughts were taking over and swirling around fast and violently.
…End Flashback…
Seth leaned over and whispered into Garret's ear, "What does this mean?"
Garret sighed, "It means we don't have much time left. She wants to get out of here and so does Yuy."
"Fuck," Seth mumbled under his breath. This was going to be hard, especially if they found out about Martly.
…
Martly was driving his blacked out car to make a deal. Supposedly, this was going to be big so he brought three guys along with him for back up just incase.
…Flashback…
Martly walked up the stairs to Seth's apartment. He had just done some business and was carrying then thousand dollars in cash in the pockets of his leather jacket. He loved his job, and soon he had to make another business deal.
Taking the last drag he could squeeze out of his last cigarette, he threw it down and rang the doorbell as he exhaled.
"Hey Martly, come on in," Seth said as he stepped back and closed the door behind his old friend.
Martly looked around and sure enough, there were a decent amount of people that came. And they did look like the teacher type, and if it wasn't for his degree in chemistry, Martly would have nothing in common with these people.
A few hours later, everyone was having a good time and Martly did get a chance to catch up with Seth since he had been spending a lot of time with Marie recently.
"So, how long have you two been together?" Martly asked as he and stood on the balcony. He needed a smoke and for some reason, that bitch Marie made a big thing about it and kicked them out if they wanted to smoke.
Seth sighed, "What I'm about to tell you, you better keep your mouth shut, got it?"
Martly nodded as he tapped off the ash from his cigarette. This was going to be interesting, as Seth was drunk so this could be anything and high chance it would be very interesting.
"Truth is, I don't know. Maybe three months? Shit dude, I've been drunk and high for so long I just don't have a fucking clue," Seth said exasperated and sighing in relief. He liked Marie. He really did, he liked her a lot, but he didn't know how long they had been together. How could she seriously end up with someone like him? He had been dying to get that off of his chest and now that he finally did he felt like he could breathe a bit.
Marie excused herself from their guests in the living room and headed down the hallway and into the bathroom. The party had been Seth's idea and so was the idea of her moving in with him. They had only been together for about two weeks but Marie didn't know what else to do.
She opened the bathroom door and locked herself in and reached behind the toilet carefully and retrieved the white stick that she had placed there fifteen minutes ago.
Absolutely devastated to have her suspicions confirmed, she sat on the toilet seat just staring at the little simple device that told her what she didn't want to hear. Not like this. Not in this situation. It only made her want to protect him even more, he was just a kid. Thankfully Seth was always on something and she would have and maintain the advantage in protecting the ones she cared for. No, that she loved. She loved him.
Putting the stick with the pink tip facing down in her pocket, she headed back out and needed some fresh air. She really needed it with just finding this new discovery.
"Here, have something to drink," Seth said with a drunken grin holding up a glass to her.
"What is it?" Marie asked cautiously. It didn't take her long to notice that Seth was drunk.
"What do you mean, what's in it?" Seth asked in a mocking tone, "it's orange juice." He said with a drunken grin.
"No thank you," Marie said. She knew better than to believe him like this. High, he was tolerable. Drunk, he became unbearable and fast. The drink probably had eighty percent vodka anyway. He always wanted sex when drunk, but she always found a way to never let that happen; especially not now.
"Come back baby, please?" Seth asked in a begging tone as she started to walk away.
"No Seth, I don't want to drink tonight, okay?" Marie said. There was no room for discussion. She was really trying to not set Seth off. She didn't want to risk her health over some idiot and his stupid crap.
He thought she never knew he was high all the time, and boy was he wrong.
"Fine. But give me a good reason," Seth said as he starts to slur his words a bit.
Marie sighed as she mentally crossed her fingers, "I'm pregnant."
It's not like he would remember the following day, make much of it, or take her seriously in this state.
Seth's eyes widen, "Shut up."
"No Seth, I'm serious. So leave me alone," Marie said pushing him away as he had gotten really close.
As Marie was finally walking away from Seth, he turned around to face her and loudly said, "You cheated on me, you fucking whore!"
...End Flashback...
"Now, what I am having trouble understanding is where you come into play," Tracey says starring Seth down.
Tracey was very strict and when someone was brought into her courtroom for not following through with their child support payments, without a word or doubt she gave him or her the heaviest sentence she could. She wasn't a very tolerable person and also had a very strong personality, which is why Dorothy and her clashed and never got along; birds of a feather.
Seth began his defense while looking at his attorney, Garret, to make sure he was saying things properly. After a few nods, Seth felt more comfortable to continue on his own.
...Flashback...
Everyone who was at the party at Seth's were fellow teachers and some of their friends, which unbeknownst to him they were powerful people in the school system. He would be learning that soon.
"You filthy cheating whore!" Seth yelled storming down the hall and to the living room where Marie now was.
Being in shock and caught off guard, everyone stood up and tried to stop Seth, but he managed to slap Marie.
Infuriated beyond words, without thinking twice she punched him square in the jaw after saying rather loudly, "You're always high, you wouldn't know if I had. Or if I ever slept with you."
Her punch was rock solid and sent him crashing to the ground knocking him out cold. His actions and her words would earn Seth a one-way ticket to the unemployment line over night.
"Excuse me," Marie said as she grabbed her purse and left. She had just enough cash to get her to Heero's where she would work everything out. Leaving everything behind, she would never come back to the apartment.
...
Heero had one knee on Martly's spine as he began to handcuff his hands behind his back.
It was a brutal chase that ended up with Max being shot, and in a terrible accident that set Heero off. Martly would receive his wrath and nothing would stop him.
Martly was too high to pay attention to anything and ran off; being numb from all of the drugs in him to his own pain, he ran quite a good distance and didn't know that Heero was sprinting after him. He did graduate at the top of his class and easily beat the previous physical records on the books for the boot camp portion of the exam.
Martly started to slow as he realized he was in a dead-end alley, and before he could turn around he heard a gun shot and went down. Heero had been so quiet during the pursuit in the city, Martly didn't realize what was going on until he felt Heero on him. It was only a matter of minutes before Heero would catch up to him.
Heero had to drag him out of the alley because the bullet that he shot tore through Martly's thigh, giving him the limp that he now had.
…End Flashback…
"So now how do you want to do this?" Martly asked coolly as he approached the black SUV that had three men in suites and pitch black sunglasses leaning against it.
"There will be no negotiations any longer. Your stench has caused us enough trouble."
"What the-" Martly wasn't able to finish his sentence as he pumped full of lead as well as his the men that were with him.
…
Not ten minutes had passed and Duo, Mileshaw, Trowa, and Katherine were astonished to find a bloody corpse that was once Martly surrounded by other men who were in the same condition.
"What is going on here?"
Trowa and Katherine looked up at the familiar voice and were surprised to see that she had actually come all the way here.
"The suspect apparently was going to make a transaction and was gunned down," Trowa said simply in his usually uncaring voice as he snapped off his latex gloves.
"Deal went bad," Katherine added.
"As they tend to do with these things. You shouldn't be too surprised. You took too long to get to him, so someone else beat you to it," said Heero in his stoic voice. He had just scolded two FBI agents in front of their commanding officer with ease.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Duo shouted running up to Heero, happy to see that he was alive but wasn't he supposed to be fighting for Michael?
"Barton, Bloom, Yuy here has a point," the lady that Trowa and Katherine had answered to said as she put her hands on her hips and then put one out to shake Heero's hand.
Heero took her in, she obviously knew who he was. She wore a khaki pant suite with black boots, and her hair in two braids sitting on her shoulders. "Sally Po," Heero said without moving or attempting to shake her hand.
Po put her hand back at her side and said, "Did some research did we?"
"More than I care to discuss. Is that him after all?" Heero asked as he approached the body and making his way through the others that were already looking into the scene.
"Yup. This man is now Swiss cheese. But look at this," Mileshaw said as she was on a knee getting a close look at Martly's body.
Martly lay besides another body. He had bullet holes everywhere and the body next to him had a slit throat and a dragon tattoo on his chest with a carving around and over it. The was a circle and the letters OZ were in it.
"This was no deal that went wrong. This was a setup and a warning," Heero said squatting down next to Mileshaw and the body to get a better look.
"Figures. He had a lot of dirty laundry and now it's caught up with him. Now Yuy, are the rumors true?" Sally Po asked bluntly now standing above him and Mileshaw.
"I don't think that what on in the courtroom and in Yuy's personal life is anything to anyone else Special Agent Po," Mileshaw said standing up to challenge Po's authority. This was her territory, her city, and Heero was her cop.
Duo laughed to himself, he loved Mileshaw. She had balls.
"But I believe it does. There was a suspect that was finally identified with Martly," Sally said in her smooth voice as she crossed her arms and prepared for hearing what Heero would say. If he rumors were true, she could either get the truth or a bullet between her eyes.
…Flashback…
"Your Honor, bottom line is that my client was there for Marie and he had to explain to that little innocent boy that his mother died, he had to potty train him, taught him how to tie his shoes, and was there for every thunderstorm and scrapped knee. He is also going to be there for every broken heart and lonely Valentines Day. Seth wasn't there then, he will not be there now," Dorothy said with enough conviction to make her sound like she was a mother.
The courtroom doors slam open and Aaron and George run in carrying a folder and quickly handed it to Dorothy and then put their hands up as the guards drew their weapons aiming for the two twin assistants.
Dorothy without flinching examined the file quickly, "And I have reason to believe," she said and closed the folder shut, "that Seth was in a partnership with the criminal currently at large known at Meth Martly."
"Excuse me counselor, I will not have anyone, much less your subordinates, barge into my courtroom," Tracey said very upset but then went silent upon hearing what Dorothy said.
Garret looked at Seth utterly shocked and Seth looked very ill. He didn't even look to make eye contact with anyone; he just kept his gaze focused on the marble floor. What am I going to do? This is all bullshit, they don't know anything. I covered all of my tracks too damn good for this to happen! I stopped hanging around him, what the fuck are they talking about?
Seth's breathing became shallower as his thoughts began to eat away at him. He didn't even notice the armed guards approaching him with their guns aimed at him as they read him his Miranda Rights as they cuffed him. The bailiff took the folder from Dorothy and handed it to Tracey, who began to read it quickly.
Heero was at a loss for words. He would have never guessed or made the connection that Martly and Seth knew each other. Seth's record was clean. He had done a background check on the man the day after Marie appeared at his doorstep late that rainy night that would forever change his life.
Tracey couldn't believe the evidence that was inside of the folder, and most disturbing was an image of a cell phone with the image of one of the men that had been murdered during Martly's vigilante spree.
The words that Seth was hearing were empty and convoluted with the thoughts in his mind as he was being taken out of the courtroom forcibly.
Dorothy tossed her long platinum blonde locks out of her face and had a content look on her.
Tracey put the folder down after Seth was gone and she looked right at Dorothy and sighed with a small shake of her head and looked at her with eyes questioning Dorothy's high and mighty stance and presence.
"Miss Catalonia, I hope that the rumors about you are true," Tracey said before standing up and heading to her chambers.
…End Flashback…
Duo, Trowa, Katherine, and Mileshaw looked at Heero for a reaction or response but got none. He remained fixated on the bodied before him, studying them as if he was all alone with the dead.
"Damn it Heero, enough with the fucking case! What happened with you and Michael?" Duo demanded as he grabbed Heero by the shoulder forcibly.
Heero stood up and looked Duo dead in the eye, "It's done."
He walked away as more federal agents and police enforcement arrived as he made his way through them and out of the crime scene.
Duo ran after him but by the time he got through everyone and to the street, Heero was gone. There was no sign of him at all.
…
"Daddy, where are we going?" Michael asked as he looked up at Heero.
That struck a new chord with Heero and it tugged at his heart like never before. It had a whole new meaning to him.
"To a special place," Heero said as he held the little boy's hand.
The last time that Heero had been here he was also with Michael, except he was tiny and in his arms as a little bundle as they walked through the very same path they were taking now.
When Marie went to Heero's after that fight with Seth, they moved in together so he could take care of her as she had no place to go now or any clothes, as well as never had to see Seth ever again.
Heero decided to move back to where she was from when Michael was eight for today. Though, he never thought he would face that day so soon as they were still new to the city, but today that day had come.
…
Dorothy and Quatre were kissing passionately in her office with dimmed lights. Quatre was scared that he or she would be in mortal danger with the case with Heero.
"That was unexpected," Dorothy said breaking the kiss and licking her lips. She loved the flavor of gum that Quatre chewed. Whatever it was, it gave him the taste of strawberry and a hint of mint.
Quatre just smiled, she knew that he had been nervous about the whole thing and was now relieved. They hadn't heard about Marty's death yet, but being that the case was solved already gave Quatre some peace of mind.
The door to Dorothy's office slammed loudly against the wall as it flung open, "Where the fuck is Heero and Michael?"
"I don't know Duo," Quatre said a bit angrily. He was after all trying to have a moment with his wife. She had been very busy with the case and he had been over seas due to business and didn't have much time to talk in between.
"Maxwell, once he left the courtroom after the case was dismissed, it no longer concerns me," Dorothy said simply but annoyed at the fact that Duo stormed into her office and would later bill him for the damage done to the door and wall just to be a bitch, but to show him that her castle was her castle, no one else's.
Duo sighed and as he did so, he gently kicked a bookcase that was next to him and a familiar looking folder fell down open. He looked down and saw that there were papers inside. The one facing the top had Heero's and Michael's name and other information that he couldn't interpret at a glance as the heel of Dorothy's high heel was pressed firmly on his hand that had reached down to pick it up and her other foot covering the rest of the paper.
"Leave it Maxwell," Dorothy commanded looking down at him with her piercing ice blue eyes.
Duo not able to take the stabbing pain for very long removed his hand away as soon as she lifted her foot just slightly.
"Fuck, alright, I'm leaving," Duo said as he held his hand that was already starting to bruise from the force of her heel. He left without another word.
Dorothy closed the door with a sigh; she hated it when people mettle in business that she had under control.
"What was that?" Quatre asked walking to her.
"The paternity test," Dorothy said as she took the folder from Quatre's hand after he picked it up for her.
"You mean you didn't tell him?" Quatre asked.
Dorothy shook her head, "There is no need to tell him something he already knows Quatre. You and I both know that he knows it's his son. Today it just really sank in when the possibility that he could be taken away kicked in."
…
"Michael, my beautiful son Michael. Know that everyday I miss you, but when I hear your laughter or see you smile, it makes me feel better. I love you oh so very much, and that is why I left you in the amazing hands of your father. If you are hearing this or reading this, I hope hearing, but I am proud of you for reading this already. This letter is just for you, and no one else has read it. Heero is probably reading it to you now, if you're hearing it. Always listen to him. He is always right, and he made sure mommy was well taken care of. He's strong, brave, and a man that you should try to be like when you grow up. Just learn to love more. Tell him that I love him.
Remember, listen to him and I love you very much. And one day, only God knows when, we'll see each other soon. You don't know how I look like, but I know how you look like. Until then my beautiful son. I love you more than you can fathom," Heero read aloud as his tears stained the paper and Michael clung tightly to him as he was crying too.
Heero didn't know about this letter but now that when he brought Michael to see Marie's grave so that he could know where it was and that he could come here any time he wanted, no questions asked, there it was underneath a rock that looked ornamental. Heero didn't know that Marie had made arrangements with a nurse before she was prepared for delivery while Heero was filling out paper work, just incase something like this were to happen.
"Michael, this is for you," Heero said as he opened a little jewelry box from his pocket.
Michael rubbed his puffy red eyes with his little hands so he could see.
Heero pulled out a gold chain with a wedding band on it. It was the wedding band that he was going to give Marie that day when Michael was born. He wanted Michael to have it; it was his mother's after all.
"This was your mother's, and I believe you should have it," Heero said as he put it around the boy's neck.
"Daddy, I love you and mommy. I miss her," Michael sobs his heart out, as Heero holds his son tight. His son. Now he could say that without feeling any guilt.
"I do too son. I do too," Heero said as soothingly as he could. He could finally admit to himself that he loved her all over again and reading that she loved him made him love her even more. Michael would forever be his ever-living memory of her.