Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

A/N: This chapter was probably the most fun to write because I based these scenes off of actual moments in my day-to-day life as the SAHM of a 28 month old. In fact, I had my baby come in and repeat the lines (he would normally say) for me, so I could try to get the spelling right. In other words, these are really things he says and does, so if you find it cute, I'll take it as a compliment, and if you think he's obnoxious, he really does get that from his dad. =D

"Please," Hilde pleaded, squeezing her eyes tightly shut and massaging her temples firmly. "Just. Eat. Your. Breakfast."

"Behfuss?"

"Yes. Eat it. Now."

The boy wrinkled his brow. "I wah pamaha! Iss uhtare," he pointed to the top of the fridge.

"Banana? No. You have eggs."

"No! I no wah ess! I wah pamaha."

Hilde groaned. "I said no. You need more protein in your di—"

She was cut off by an unexpected knock at the door. She sighed.

"You stay," she warned in a stern tone, walking away from the child at the table. "Yes ma'am?"

"Nesh mam, Mama."

As she disappeared around the corner, he called for the dog. "Missi Eeb? Eah!" The dog scurried over, dancing on her back paws as he dropped the scrambled eggs to her, one small handful at a time.

"Coming," Hilde called ahead of herself and she hurried down the hall. She pushed her blue-black bangs out of her face, thanking God she'd kept her hair short. She knew that her face, her big blue eyes, showed only the strain of childrearing on this, coffeeless, morning, and not the joy. Hopefully the impression she made on her visitor wouldn't matter; or perhaps they'd understand from raising their own little angels.

"Maxwell resid—" Her voice trailed off as she pulled the door open.

Relena cocked her head, happily meeting her girlfriend's gaze with her hands folded neatly in front of her. Heero stood half a pace over her right shoulder, arms folded across his chest, scowling at the hostess.

"Oh, my God," Hilde squealed in excitement, hurrying to open the screen door. She threw her arms around a surprised and unprepared looking Relena before leaning up on her tiptoes and planting an unwanted kiss on Heero's cheek. "We weren't expecting you! I can't believe you're—"

Suddenly a thought winded its way through Hilde's mind and she began to panic. "Oh, my God," she said, again, in a dark, nervous tone, bringing her fingertips to her lip. "What are you doing here? Together?"

Relena's surprise melted away and she broke into a girlish giggle. "Just visiting," she answered. "Really."

"Oh," Hilde replied, clearly relieved. "Okay. Well, come in!"

The young mother bit her lip, turning into the home to find a messy little boy standing halfway down the hall taking in the conversation. The toddler had his spoon in one hand and nothing but food residue in the other. His curly brown hair was matted around his perfectly round head, as big, violet, mischievous eyes studied his guests. His oversized grey t-shirt hung to his hip bone, allowing his visitors a clear view of exactly what he was not hiding in a diaper or pair of underpants.

When Relena caught sight of the boy, she sniggered, and Hilde brought her palm dramatically up to her forehead, making a loud smacking sound. "Where is your underwear?"

"I nee uh-whai-oh."

"I can see that."

"I peepee. I go pahee."

Before she could respond, he turned and ran for the bathroom, pounding his chunky, bare feet hard on the wooden floors.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to her guests as she skulked down the hall to the kitchen. As she had expected, there was a small pair of cartoon decorated, boys' underpants lying near the doorway, drenched in urine. She shook her head as she picked them up by the elastic rim and started for the laundry room. "I'm sorry," she repeated, as she stepped around Relena, who'd followed her through the house. "He is mostly potty trained, I swear. Sometimes he just chooses not to go."

Relena smiled warmly. "It's fine," she replied, clearly amused by the situation at hand.

Hilde walked back into the kitchen with a disinfectant spray in hand, and grabbed some paper towels from a roll, stored on a baker's rack by the entryway. As she squatted to clean up the residue, she glanced at the dog sitting under the table. "Mississippi Eve?" The dachshund looked particularly guilty when Hilde's eyes turned on her. Hilde closed her eyes, again, and sighed, standing to observe the tabletop with the soiled rag in hand. Sure enough, the plate of eggs was clean, and she knew instantly that her son hadn't, in fact, eaten breakfast.

Relena and Hilde both turned when they heard the boy's voice making an announcement as he came out of the bathroom. "Yay," he shouted. "I go pahee. Gooh shobb!"

Hilde only had to force her tired smile a little bit, to offer the praise he needed. She clapped her hands lightly and replied, "Good job, Jordan."

"I washo hans?"

Relena understood the request and placed her hand gently on her best friend's arm to assure her that she was willing to handle the task. With a few short strides, the boy's godmother had swept him up and was holding him over the sink, allowing him to rub his hands together under warm, running water. She laughed giddily as she placed him on the floor and watched the energetic little devil run off.

Looking around she noted Hilde standing over the sink, washing the breakfast dishes. She leaned elegantly straight in the doorway, folding her hands over her elbows as she waited for her dear friend to finish her ritual. Something about just being in this house, as busy as it was, gave her great joy. She felt stronger, already.

Her mind wandered back to the ornery little child and it put a deep and genuine smile on her face. Exhausting as he seemed to be, the idea of having a son or daughter to love and teach just warmed her heart.

And then a cold wave of doubt ran through her body. If she was forced to undergo chemotherapy or radiation, which she probably would be, would that mean she couldn't have children anymore? She was already increasing her risks substantially, taking these few months. Waiting out a pregnancy was impossible.

Her sad eyes glanced longingly down the hall to the opening of the parlor that Heero had disappeared into, when they first came in. Would she never make him a father? He, of all people, deserved to be a father. That kind heart should never be put to waste. She smiled sadly, picturing him meeting his daughter's boyfriend for the first time. He would be a gentle, but firm father.

He would, she thought as a frown marred her face.

"What's wrong, babes?"

Relena turned back to Hilde, startled. She's been so entranced in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed the water had stopped running and the smaller girl had walked up next to her, wringing her hands dry in a kitchen towel.

"Oh," Relena said in an amused tone. "Nothing. I was just thinking about work." She gave her friend a fake smile to seal the lie.

If Hilde saw through it, she chose not to say anything. She just nodded and led Relena to the parlor where Heero was standing silently, watching Jordan play with cars on the floor.

"Haiyo, I nee do geh cars," Jordan said, looking up at his godfather for approval.

Heero smirked slightly, nodding at the boy.

"Did he just smile?" Hilde whispered.

Heero's gaze darted to her threateningly.

"Shhh," Relena responded. "Pretend not to notice." She gave a full, genuine smile as the girls fell into a soft giggle at Relena's soldier's expense.

Hilde took a deep breath, changing the subject. "So," she said loudly, looking back and forth between her best friend and her husband's. "We only have one guest room. Who's sleeping on the couch?"

Heero's eyebrows lowered minutely for a split second, before he raised one to silently question Relena on how she wanted to handle this. Relena nodded to him, then turned to Hilde, wrapping her slender fingers around her arm and leading her toward the guest room.

"Well, really, hon," she smiled as her voice cracked slightly with giddy excitement. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

Relena glanced over her shoulder, down the hall to make sure Heero wasn't going to change his mind on leaving the matter in her hands. She was relieved to see nothing. She already had a big enough secret and didn't want Heero to be another.

The girls sank onto the bed with Hilde eying her curiously. "Well?" She asked.

"Well," Relena said slowly. "Things have changed."

"Changed how?"

"Um—no one has to sleep on the couch?"

Hilde cocked an eyebrow. "You're both going to stay here?"

Relena nodded.

"In this bed?"

She shook her head, again.

"Together?"

Relena grinned, blushing with embarrassment.

Hilde's eyes bulged. "OH, MY GOD!" She screamed.

Relena threw her hands up, gesturing with her words. "Shhhh! Calm down," she laughed.

"Are you kidding me?" Hilde's voice dropped to a loud, strained whisper. "How can I be calm? We've been trying to get you two together since—forever!"

Relena's face heated up, still more.

"When did this happen?" Hilde finally truly whispered in a calm tone.

"When we were staying with Quatre," she admitted, wincing shyly.

Hilde laughed airily, covering the "O" shape of her mouth with her fingers. "Does Quatre know?" She pressed.

Relena shook her head no. "I don't think so. It's such a big place, no one noticed, but you can never know with him. He's so—perceptive."

Hilde's hand dropped to reveal a childlike grin. "I'm so happy for you," she said with a tender look in her eyes.

Relena folded her hands, dropping her head with a coy smile.

"Can I tell Duo?"

"Well, he is going to notice Heero's not sleeping on the couch, isn't he?"

"I see your point," Hilde answered.

Relena sighed happily, rolling back onto the bed. Life was tough, lately, but being with people she loved was giving her relief, right now.

A sudden twinge of fear and anger urged her to touch her corrupted breast. She unconsciously lifted her loose right fist to the bottom of her sternum in response.

Leaving them was going to be hard. It just wasn't fair.