Waking Up In Vegas
Chapter Eight
Quatre laughed as Trowa pointed out different flowers around the yard.
"Begonia. And that's Fuchsia. Those yellow ones on the stems are Columbines. And those big purple and green elephant ear looking things are Caladiums. Of course, next to them are Day Lilies."
Quatre held up his hands. "Wait, wait, slow down!" He laughed. "Do you know *every* type of flower or plant there is?"
Trowa chuckled. "Cathy's a teacher remember? She's high-school science. Plants and stuff are her specialty. I kinda just picked it up after her."
Quatre shook his head in amusement. They'd returned from the store an hour or so ago, but with nothing else to do, Trowa had opted to show Quatre around the yard and town. They were currently walking alongside someone's very long driveway, with Trowa pointing out different flowers that bloomed in a small garden to their right. To the left, a large fenced in pasture was nice and clean. In the distance, a pretty white plantation house sat, cloistered by a stand of age-old trees. Very southern-belle, Quatre thought. Very 'Tara'-esque.
Quatre had been worried at first that someone would get angry that they were just strolling down their driveway, but Trowa had laughed that off.
"Trowa!" Quatre turned towards the sound. In the distance, coming from up the driveway, were two figures on horseback. Quatre watched as they trotted up to him and Trowa. When they were closer, Quatre could tell they were two women. Well, one woman and a girl about the same age as Maia. The woman, somewhere in her forties Quatre guessed, had chestnut-brown hair in soft, loose curls falling to her shoulders, framing a fair, heart-shaped face with very bright indigo eyes. She dressed in a pale blue flannel shirt with he sleeves rolled up almost to her elbows and faded blue jeans. The teenager had her midnight black cut to mid-back, arrow straight with choppy bangs and a bright red ribbon tied around her hair, a sweet bow tied to the side. She wore jeans and a t-shirt, with a brilliantly happy smile lighting up her sapphire blue eyes as she slowed her palomino stallion to a halt.
"Trowa!!!! Mrs. Henderson said that Maia was down for the summer! Can she come over today? Mama got me the OVA for Kyou Kara Maou yesterday, and I want Maia to watch it with me."
Quatre's husband chuckled. "Of course she can, Vanny. In fact, you might be rescuing her. Cathy's got her fishing. They're probably down at the creek."
"Mama?" The girl questioned the woman next to her. The woman gave a small smile.
"Yes. Be careful, though. And Vanessa... no galloping once you get Marimaia. Artemis isn't built to carry two people at a gallop. And remember to brush him down when you get back. Just set'im loose in the pasture, though."
"Yes, Mama," The girl grinned before turning her horse and taking off at a break neck speed. The woman let out a rueful chuckle as she stared after her daughter. Trowa patted the blue roan's neck. The coat so dark it almost seemed black.
"Luna's looking well," Trowa commented as the horse snuffled at his bangs.
"Very well. You should come up to the barn and see Diana. Delana's putting her over a few fences and warming her up. She's coming along well... they both are."
"I think I may do that... that is if you don't mind, Quatre?" Trowa looked at the blond, who stared in wonder at the horse. "Quatre? Do you want to go see the horse?"
"Hmm.. wha? Oh, sure. Of course."
The woman laughed. "Trowa, I think introductions are in order. I would dearly love to properly meet your husband."
"Huh? What?" Emerald eyes narrowed at her. "How the hell did you know that, Mama?"
She laughed all the harder, looking down at the two. "Oh, dear. Trowa, I'm a *mother*. I know everything. And between the fact that you're both wearing wedding bands, and that Blondie here feels safe enough to hide behind you when presented with a frightening horse? Easy Peasy. Simple math."
Trowa shook his head, confusion turning to mirth. "Oh, my. Mama, you are something else. But keep this quiet for now, okay? I don't mind people know Quatre and I are together, but I want to try to keep the marriage part low key for the moment."
"Gotcha, Tro. But I'm still waiting for that introduction."
"'Mama'?" Quatre questioned, turning curious, confused eyes to Trowa. "I thought you said your mother died?"
Trowa chuckled. "God, woman. I can see where Vanny and Hilde get it from. Fine. Cecilia Maxwell, meet Quatre Raberba Winner, my husband. Quatre, meet Cecilia Maxwell. The girl that just ran off was her younger daughter, Vanessa- though mostly I call her Vanny. Hilde, her second youngest daughter, is probably down at the auto shop helping her father, Howard . The horse currently searching my pockets for sugar cubes is Luna. The gold one was Artemis. Diana, the one we were talking about just now, is Luna and Artemis's daughter. And Delana is one of the twins; she's Cecilia's oldest."
"Cecilia Maxwell?" Quatre asked in awe. "You jumped in the World Cup fifteen years ago, right? My father loved watching horses... and I remember that."
She laughed, nodding. "Not very well, but I did jump. That was back in Luna's hey-day. She stretched a ligament that last round and hasn't been able to jump since. But her daughter's got the potential to be great. Delana's doing very well, and I hope they get the chance to go to the Internationals."
"Cecilia isn't my real mother," Trowa explained to Quatre's earlier question. "But me'n'Cathy are like adopted kids to her. We were over at her house all the time, even before my parents passed away."
Cecilia nodded, nudging the mare into a slow walk, with Trowa and Quatre walking alongside. "Clare Barton was not 'mama'," she stated. "Clare Barton was 'mother'. I loved the woman like a sister, but there is a fine line between 'mother' and 'mama'. We just had one big family, my kids and hers. She was the 'mother', and I was the 'mama'."
Quatre thought about that as he followed the two. It really made sense. Soon, the driveway branched off and they took the branch that lead to the stables. A small pasture was set up with fences and haystacks, much like a jumping course. Quatre almost swallowed his tongue at the sight of a magnificent gray horse propelling itself from the ground, landing almost daintily on the other side of a four foot fence.
"Wow..."
Trowa chuckled.
"Hey, 'Lana! Trowa's here!" Cecilia called. The horse slowed to a stop, veering away from the next jump. Hands came up to remove the helmet, and Quatre's mouth opened wide. Pale skin, heart-shaped face, framed by chestnut bangs, with a long braid trailing over one shoulder. An upturned nose and indigo eyes. That's why Cecilia had looked familiar. He'd seen those features once or twice before.
"Duo!" he gasped.
Hazel eyes had watched the two young men leave from the store, a frown upon the young girl's face. Something was up, something was not right.
Her cell began to ring.
"Emily speaking," she asked, snatching it up. Her eyes narrowed.
"Of course, Sei. I know, they just walked out of the store a few minutes ago. Of course. I will. Bye."
TBC..........
~*~*~*~
Mwahahaha!!!! I'm so evil, aren't I? It's like two cliffhangers in one chapter!!!! *evil grin*
Please review! I love me some reviews!!!!