Waking Up In Vegas
Chapter Fifty-Six
#
"It's not over yet," Dorothy said, speaking up.
Heero's eyes opened to glare at her, and Duo snorted.
"Way to ruin the moment," the braided man sighed.
Dorothy shrugged. "Sorry, but it's the truth. Yes, the reason behind the war is gone... but not our enemy."
"Tsubarov, Quinz, Dekim," Heero mused. "Dorothy? Do you know where they are?"
Dorothy glanced back at the obliterated door. "We won't need to find them. They'll find you."
Emily cast a worried glance around. "We should be careful, too. The Serpents are not going to give up so easily. I wouldn't doubt it if my aunt came here herself."
Dorothy twirled, spearing the brunette with a blue gaze. "Aunt?" she repeated. "Louisa Lovecraft is your aunt?"
Emily nodded. "And I have severely ticked her off by helping the people she wants dead. I presume I am on her list, as well, now."
Dorothy shook her head. "The British accent. I should have guessed you'd be a Lovecraft."
"Should have figured you were working for Dermail. So now we're even," the English girl scoffed. "All I wanna do is get this all over with and go back to watching my grandparent's store and going to school. I wanna fight with my boyfriend, and make-up. I wanna read manga and watch anime and laugh. I wanna be a normal person, doing normal things. Enough of the family secrets. Enough of the assassinations. Enough of these war games."
The blond's eyes softened. "Me, too, Em. Me too. So what do you say we have ourselves this one last grand battle, then go back to Cool Water Springs. Back to the way things were. I liked the lie. The friends, the slow pace of life. I liked it a lot."
"I liked the lie as well," Emily whispered.
"Alright then," Duo grinned. "So... war's not over yet. Let's go get the back guys and all head home. I don't know about you guys, but I'm missin' my family right about now."
Treize nodded. "I confess to some confusion," he admitted, "But apparently my fiance' has a sister who has the answers I need. And... if what she says is true, then your enemies are the one's responsible for trying to hurt me and my family. And my daughter is still missing."
"Maia is missing!" Duo's eyes jerked around to the older man.
Treize looked at Duo, eyes wide. "You mean... you didn't know?"
"We've been locked in a tiny cell for a while," Wufei interupted. "Now what don't we know?"
"Apparently whomever was at your farm kidnapped Maia and Vanessa. My daughter and your sister are missing, Duo."
Duo's face went pale, and he turned frantic indigo eyes to Wufei. "Nessa..." he whispered, his eyes meeting his husband's.
"Are you sure?" Wufei asked, catching Duo before he could collapse. "Treize, damnit, are you sure?"
"I spoke with Cecilia herself," Treize nodded.
"It's true," Heero said softly. "Trowa talked with your mother."
Emily gasped, looking towards Heero. "Sei took those girls! I can't believe that. But Sei will be coming to kill you and Quatre..."
Duo's eyes hardened. "And so Sei has my sister. That bitch won't be killing anyone. That bitch is dead."
#
Sky blue eyes stared out over the night darkened ranch. Moonlight and starlight filtered down, casting eerie shadows across everything, the horizon turned a faint hazy purple-pink with false dawn.
Delana watched her from the doorway for a moment or two before she walked out onto the back porch. The woman never even heard her walk up. She startled when Delana bumped her with her hip.
"The morning is beautiful, huh?" Delana asked with a smile. "It's my favorite time, watching the dawn."
"Hm-mm," Relena nodded, then looked at Delana. "Should you be out of bed?" She questioned, motioning down to Delana's leg, where the bandaging still wrapped around the skin.
"Probably not," Delana grinned. "Ma would kill me if she found me up and about. So no snitching on me, kay?"
Relena laughed slightly. "Wouldn't dream of it, Ms. Maxwell."
"My name is Delana," the brunette said lightly, turning around to lean back on the railing that Relena was braced on. "I like people to use it. You included."
"The call me Relena. No more Ms. Darlian or anything of the sort, alright?"
"It's a deal. So now that we're all chummy and buddy-buddy, mind telling me why you're out here sulking and brooding?"
Relena blinked at the girl. Her face was still slightly stained with the red of fading bruises, wounds were still healing. Her hair was in a braid, but sleep-tousled and wild. "How can you stand there, laugh and joke with me when I'm the reason you're sister was kidnapped?"
Delana looked confused. "Huh?"
"I didn't tie that girl up right," Relena shook her head. "Heero left her in my care, and I couldn't even do that. It's my fault she escaped. My fault those sweet little girls are kidnapped."
"What?" Delana laughed. "My, my. You've got a guilt trip going on, huh? I don't blame you," Delana said seriously, reached out to touch Relena's shoulder. "I don't blame you anymore than I blame Heero for leaving her here. I blame Vanessa."
"But..."
"Trust me. I know my sister. She wouldn't have been kidnapped so easily. The child's a spitfire. She's got a scream on her you can hear for miles. She's got a kick that can break bones. And she can bite hard enough to break skin. You don't just surprise her and stuff her in a trunk. If Vanny was kidnapped, then either I don't know my sister or that girl was one hell of a fighter."
Relena hummed. "Well, I guess..."
"No. I know. My sister is okay. No doubt about it..."
"Aunt Lana?"
Delana turned to look at the door, where a sleep rumpled Mei stood, black curls mussed and black eyes still half closed.
"Oh, sweetie. Why are you up so early?" Delana moved to pick the girl up, grunting in pain as the move stretched stitches and pulled at bruised muscles. Re-thinking things, she moved and dropped gingerly into a chair, cradling the young girl on her lap
"I had a bad dream," the girl sniffled.
"Oh, what was it about?"
"Daddy," she whispered. "When is Daddy coming home? I miss him. I miss them both."
"Oh, baby," Delana whispered, tears forming in her eyes as she hugged the girl to her chest, resting her chin on soft onyx curls.
"I don't know..." she said. "I just... I don't kno..."
*ring, ring*
Delana looked to Relena.
"Can you grab that before it wakes anyone up?"
Relena nodded, going in search of the the phone. She found it sitting on a table in the livingroom, and she glanced at the number... and nearly dropped the phone in her haste to answer it as she recognized the cell number displayed.
"Heero?" She asked breathlessly.
"Nope. Who is this?"
Relena blinked. "Um... this is Relena Darlian."
"Ah... kay, babe. Can you put someone that lives there on please?"
"Um, yes, of course..." Relena walked back outside.
"I think it's for you," she said confused as she held out the phone to Delana. Blinking, the brunette shifted her burden enough to reach out and take the phone.
"Maxwell Residence. Delana speaking."
"Hiya, Sis!"
"Oh My God! DUO!" Delana's shriek startled the crying Mei, causing her to jump in fright. It even scared Relena, who jumped back a few steps.
"Geeze, I know you miss me an' all, but leave me a little hearing, kay?"
"Oh, God, Duo," Delana cried, tears falling down.
A soft chuckle came through the phone. "Listen, 'Lana. I can't talk for very long. I'm calling from that guy Heero's phone, and I've sorta been... tied up... for a while. Tell Ma that I've heard about Vanny, and tell her me and Wufei are alright for the time being and not to worry too much."
"I will, Oh, Duo. You've had us all so worried. I have someone who wants to talk to you."
She pulled the phone and quickly shoved it into Mei's hands, putting it to her ears.
"Say hello, Mei," she said softly.
"Hello?" Mei asked, confused.
"Meilan?" Duo had to blink back tears.
"Duo-daddy?" she asked, immediately perking up, eyes sparkling.
"Yeah, baby. It's Daddy. Oh, my Mei. I've missed you so much, darlin'."
"You disappeared," the girl sniffled.
"Me and Wufei had a few things to take care of baby, but we'll be home soon enough."
"When?"
"I don't know, my darling. But soon. I promise you that... soon it'll all be over."