Waking Up In Vegas

Chapter Ten

As the truck came to a final halt, Quatre found his eyes torn away from those of his 'husband'. Aqua eyes went wide at the sight before him. Trowa's house was... homey, comfortable. Cecilia's plantation manor had seemed earthy yet historical. This place was almost.... out of place, yet completely at home.

Nestled in between the thick-standing oaks, the clean lines and boxes of the Prairie style house simply blended in. The warm red of the bricks, the way the wide eaves over shadowed the long porch that seemed to wrap around the house, the second story that only took up part of the roof of the first. The dark windows, the cement round flower-box by the front steps, the rows upon rows of begonias that lined the waist-height solid brick wall around the porch. A matching short wall and rows of flowers lined what looked like a second story deck.

It was so crisp and modern, much more than anything he'd seen in the small town so far, but like everything else here, it had that feeling of being a 'home'. From the flowers, to the homemade swing hanging from one of the trees... to the pair of bright green flip-flops tossed carelessly by the front steps. There were three vehicles already there. A classic, well-restored black and white '67 Shelby Mustang was pulled up into one of the two slots in the two-car detached garage; a simple dark red Ford Explorer sat in the slot next to it. Another old Mustang, this one candy-apple red with the the convertible top let down, was pulled up behind them.

Quatre shook off his trance, following- a bit more undignified than the horse rider- as Delana jumped out of the truck. Trowa and Cecila opened their doors and got out as well, even as a banging was heard. The front door of the house was thrown wide, clanging back against the outside of the house. A girl, maybe in her late teens, with dark black hair and sapphire blue eyes dashed out.

"Trowa!"

She took the front steps two at a time, running out to hug the tall man.

"Hilde, it's nice to see you. I assume your brothers and your father are inside?"

"Yup! Dad's tinkering with the computer. I think Wufei crashed it again," she giggled, then she saw Quatre, standing back, behind Delana and Cecilia.

"Oh! That must be the 'blondie' Duo was talking about. Wow, he's cute!"

Quatre blushed. What was it with all the women in this town thinking he was 'cute'?!?! 'Cute' was not a term one used to describe a male. Delana laughed at the expression on his face, then looked towards the house as the door opened again.

Duo... looking the exact same as Delana with his braid, T-shirt and jeans... stepped out onto the porch.

"Hilde, let'm go. 'Fei's got the food already out on the deck." Duo glanced around the gathered group. "Where's Vanny?"

Delana laughed heartily. "Mama got her that OVA she's been wanting for so long. She kidnapped Maia, and they're prolly holed up in the den, watching it on the big screen while eating 'tater chips!"

Duo shook his head. "That child is entirely too obsessed with anime."

Cecilia shrugged, teasing her son good naturedly. "I seem to recall a certain little boy years back that couldn't be drug away from his video games."

"Still can't," said a voice from behind Duo.

"Shit, 'Fei! You scared the daylights outta me!"

A wry little chuckle followed, and Wufei stepped beside his lover, the door held open. "Duo, would you mind letting the guests in? The food is ready, and all we have to do is pry Father from the computer."

"Yeah, yeah! Come on, you all know where it's at!" He looked at Quatre. "Except, you, Cattie. Glad you could make it." Quatre skipped over the nickname, deciding to compliment the house.

"Thank you for inviting me. And your house.... it's amazing. It's not a Wright design, is it?"

Duo blushed. "No. It's not a Wright design, but thank you."

Wufei laughed, bumping his lover with his hip. "'Duo is an architect. It's *his* design."

Duo blushed even harder, and opened his mouth to speak when a ringing could be heard from inside.

"I'll get it!" he volunteered, rushing away.

Cecilia chuckled. "He has this thing with praise and compliments. He gets all flustered and everything."

Wufei smiled at her. "Come on, we'll go let you all wash up in the kitchen, then head up to the deck while he's on the phone. Chances are he'll be there for a while."

Delana smiled ruefully, knowing full well how her twin loved to talk. She pushed Quatre ahead of her, up the porch and into the house. Quatre blinked, surprised to see how roomy and open the house was. From outside, it looked like the inside would be clean, simple, and straight. But the angles of the the outside here meet with soft curves, the warm tones blending in, from the bamboo plank floors, to the mahogany foyer table, to the plush, rich-toned red and brown sofa. It was all warm and comforting and inviting. Some of the furniture spoke of modern tastes, some of antique tastes, but the colors and the soft curves continued, unbroken. An architect and interior designer, Quatre thought, as he followed the Chinese man through to the state-of-the-art kitchen, decorated with black marble counter-tops, a black and silver tiled floor, oak cupboards, and matching silver and black appliances. So far, the entire place spoke of taste and wealth.

"I understand, Megan..." Quatre and the others all turned. Duo was pacing up and down the hallway, the phone clutched to his ear. "No, no. Of course I don't. Neither of us do. We knew what we were getting into. We knew it wouldn't be easy. No, thanks, Meg. Sure, of course. Yeah... talk to you later. Of course... Bye."

Wufei was across the room before the phone was ever clicked off, catching his lover in a tight embrace, heedless of Quatre's confused look or the knowing ones of the family.

"It's okay, love," Wufei whispered into Duo's hair. "Victoria knows what she's doing. Everything will work out."

Quatre looked curiously at the others, who stepped around the pair and drug him through the house.

"Um... what...."

"It's a long story. I'll tell you some of it later, but Megan is the counselor at an orphanage in Nashville," Trowa said quietly. "Victoria is the lawyer trying to get Duo and Wufei custody of one of the orphans."

"Oh....."

TBC.....

~*~*~*~

AN: 'Wright design' in this chapter is referring to Frank Loyd Wright, who was an architect who developed what we call the 'prarie' style house. I love these houses... just look on to see some pictures of them!

Also... please check out the video for this fic, and some of my others, on YouTube. They're all either by me, 0DayAfterDay0, or by Animechan123, who goes by yamiyugiangelofdarkn.

Under hers, there's one for Vegas, and my Apathy series,the Rhythm Emotion Cycle. ^_^ Huggles for Emily!!!!! Under mine, there's one for How To Save A Life, All The Right Reasons, Apathy, and one for Violet-Eyed Demon's 1x2 fic, Waking Nightmares.

Thanks for reading! And remember.... Reviews make my day!!!!!!!

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