Waking Up In Vegas

Chapter Thirty Five

Emily snapped the phone shut with a click. That had not went like she'd expected it to. Aunt Louisa was... she was *crazy*. That's the only word Emily could think of. That woman was a bloody lunatic. Did she really think she was going to single-handedly prevent an all out war? What exactly did Quatre Winner have to do with it? She groaned.

All she'd wanted to do was go to school in America. Was that too much to ask? Why'd she have to end up waist deep in shit... that was about to hit the fan, no less? She sank down onto the sidewalk, burying her head in her hands. She had a good life, right? Good grades, a wonderful boyfriend who adored her. So why *her*?

She blinked up as a car stopped right in front of her. Anywhere else, she'd have scrambled backwards, ran for dear life. But here, in this town... she didn't even think of running away.

"Midii?" She asked as the window rolled down. Her eyes narrowed. "Go away before I call for the Maxwells to *make* you go away."

"Look, I know you're involved in something. They said there was someone else here in town that knew what was going on. That's you, right?"

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about, Midii. Aunt Louisa never said anything about you."

Midii blinked, her head tilting. "Who? Look, I don't know what kind of sick twisted games are going on, but I was blackmailed into trying to break up Trowa and his boyfriend or whatever that guy is. Believe it or not, I *like* Trowa. Why would I want to hurt him again? Blackmail's over. My life is ruined, now. So's my sister's. So I don't give a damn anymore. Trowa and Quatre's lives are in danger. So are you or are you not involved?"

Emily scrambled up to her feet.

"Aparently I am, whether i knew it or not. I made a big mistake in choosing sides, I think." She skirted around the car to the passenger side, and waited until a confused Midii unlocked the door before slidding in. She looked across at the older woman.

"I think it's time we both try to atone for a few mistakes, Midii. What do you say?"

The brown haired girl nodded, and put the car in gear.

"Let's go set things right."

The first rays of sun were filtering gently into the room, a soft light falling right across the bed.

Duo awoke, blinking his eyes and rolling over so that the light wasn't on his face. They really needed to move the bed to the other side of the room. The first few months he'd enjoyed waking up to the sun on his face and Wufei at his back. Now, after so many years, it was annoying.

"Mornin', love," Duo murmered, placing his lips against the pale gold neck he found.

"Good Morning, Ai ren," Wufei muttered sleepily, tilting his head back, offering more skin up to Duo. Duo smiled and continued his ministrations.

"Mmmm.... Meilan," Wufei moaned as Duo's kisses and touches turned from soft to teasing. "We...we shouldn't."

"She's asleep. And if we're really quiet, she'll stay that way," Duo smiled.

"Mmmm.... m'kay," Wufei offered. Duo moved closer, rolling up, over his lover, never breaking his trail of kisses.

And then, they both heard it, the soft knocking on the door downstairs. Duo glared at the wall above Wufei's head.

"Who could be here this time of morning?" Duo grumbled.

"Three guesses," Wufei sighed. "And the first two don't count."

"Meg," Duo groaned, rolling off the bed. He tossed a robe to Wufei as he pulled a shirt on. "Let's see what she wants now.

Duo shuffled down the stairs and opened the door. The petite blond was standing there, nearly bouncing. The only thing that kept her from doing so was the little boy in her arms, still asleep.

Wufei arrived, already carrying a thick comforter. He grunted a greeting to Meg, and the similarly ladden Alejandro as he spread the blanket across the couch and positioned a throw pillow at each end. Ali gave a sheepish smile as he deposited his slumbering daughter on one end. Megan did the same with Zander, propping his head on the pillow.

Duo glared at the woman when she stood back up, and motioned to the porch door.

"I would ask you if you were crazy," he told her once they were outside. "But since I already know you are, it would be pointless."

"Well, I remembered I had something this evening to do back at the orphanage, so I figured we'd drop by early to help you all get settled."

"Early is not the word for this," Duo muttered. "And you interupted something, y'know?"

Megan flushed red. "Ah. A little early morning nookie?"

"It would have been if not for you," Duo replied. Wufei and Alejandro stepped out onto the porch, each man carrying two cups of coffee.

"My hero," Duo remarked, snatching the cup away from his lover and, despite the steam rising from it, gulping down a mouthful.

Megan shook her head as she sipped thoughtfully at the cup her husband handed her. She'd never understand Duo Maxwell.

"How'd she settle in last night?" Ali asked.

"She never woke up," Wufei snorted lightly. "Duo carried her right up the stairs and put her in the bed, and she's been sleeping since."

Duo blushed a bit. "We've both woken up at least three times each to go check on her. It's kinda... surreal. After all these years... she's really here."

Megan smiled. "She is. And she's going to stay here. You two are going to make excellent parents, Duo."

"You wouldn't say that if you'd know us back when we were in college," Duo pointed out darkly. Megan shrugged.

"I know you now, and that's enough. I don't care how rough you two started out. You love each other deeply. you're devoted to each other... and you're devoted to that little girl. You'll both do just fine," she said with a soft smile. She'd caught just the tail end of their darker days. She'd known that Duo'd attempted suicide about a year or so before she'd met them... but one would never know it by looking at them now. The two had regaled her with tales from their 'glory' days, and Meg could point out small things now. They'd outgrown the out and out fights and debates and settled into a more gentle way of disagreeing. She'd never met any two more gentle, sweet people. Maybe it was true and time and love had tempered both of their bad sides.

"Duo? Wufei?" A sleepy little voice asked.

Both men turned to the door, where little Meilan stood, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She clutched her teddy bear in one hand, and her hair was mussed. Duo reacted first, setting his coffee on the porch railing. His arms went out to the girl, and he picked her up with the ease of practice. She snuggled right up under his chin.

"mornin', Daddy," she mumbled, still half asleep.

All the other three saw the slight widening of Duo's eyes. Meilan had asked the night before if it meant she could call them daddy and papa now. Of course the two had assured her that she could call them whatever she wanted. But it was still rather new, and to hear it as the first thing out of her mouth, with her still asleep...

Duo's eyes softened, and he brushed a hand over her hair. "Good morning, sweet-heart," he greeted, despite the fact she was already fast asleep again.

"Wanna set her down with Zoe and Zander?" Meg asked.

Duo shook his head slightly. "No. I'm good." Megan smiled. She'd expected as much.

"I wanna hold her as much now as possible," Duo said quietly. "Ma and Hilde's not gonna let me near her later. Those two are crazy."

"I'm surprised they're not here yet," Wufei observed. "Maybe we should call them."

"They probably wanted to give you a few hours alone with your daughter," Alejandro said, with a soft glare at his wife, who blushed suitably.

Wufei nodded slightly. "Yeah. You're probably..."

The phone rang, nearly surprising Wufei into splashing his coffee. Wufei and Duo shared a wry grin as Wufei went to answer the phone.

"That's them now," Duo guessed. "Wanting to know when they can come over. And knowing Ma, she's got a million gifts to shower Mei with."

"You're lucky to have such a great family," Alejandro said. "All close and right here together. I'm an only child, and you've seen how seldom Justin is here."

Duo nodded. "Yeah, I am lucky, aren't I?"

At that moment, Wufei dashed backout onto the porch, face ashen as he ran into the yard, looking at the sky on the horizon.

Duo walked slowly over to the railing, worried.

"Fei? Who is it? What's wro..." Duo saw where his husband was looking towards town, the dark clouds on the horizon. Thunderstorm? Duo thought. No... too dark. Too close.... smoke?

His heart dropped in his chest.

Wufei's finger lost their grip on the cordless phone, and it thudded against the wet grass.

"Wufei?" Duo asked, his voice shaking. "What..... who..."

"Trowa's house..." Wufei said. The only thing that kept Duo's knees from buckling was the over-riding sense to protect the child in his arms.

"T...trowa?" Duo asked. "Cathy?"

But Wufei's next words had Duo's world tilting. Megan reached out to grab the girl from his hands as he fell to the floor, Alejandro there to break his fall.

"Cathy was inside... Delana went after her...."