Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ 2 Reign ❯ Ties That Bind ( Chapter 30 )

Thirty: Ties That Bind

 

“Is your life always this interesting, or did I just manage good timing?” Selena asked as we sat on the couch watching television. Heero, Relena, Hilde, the girls, and Wufei were sitting around us, but we were talking quiet enough that they weren't bothered.

 

“Generally it's this interesting,” I agreed, “But the last two years were just good timing.”

 

She giggled slightly.

 

“I'm glad to be back here, as shocking as it is,” I added, looking my apartment over. I'd never really appreciated how much Relena had thought about me in making it. There were several windows along the outer wall with just enough room to sit in and see the view, the kitchen was well stocked with things I used…and the bedrooms were just fun.

 

“You're so…relaxed now,” Selena muttered, touching my chest slightly.

 

I smiled a bit, digging out my wallet and yanking the picture of Kayla and me from it, offering it to her.

 

She didn't have anything to say as she unfolded it, looked it over, and passed it back to me. She focused wordlessly on the screen again as well.

 

I relaxed back into my seat, “I'm just…happy…is all.”

 

“You have Wufei back,” she agreed—which caught Wufei's attention.

 

“He has you,” Wufei countered with a smile, “He has us both. That's all he ever needs in his life, me and a pretty lady.” he winked.

 

“Wufei,” I muttered mildly.

 

Selena giggled.

 

“Tio, be quiet!” Alex muttered to us.

 

“Sorry.”

 

-

 

“I cleaned up your mess, Heero!”

 

I focused on the door to my apartment as Quatre, Jacob, and Trowa moved through the doors.

 

“Daddy!” nearly identical voices squealed—which sent a small gray ball of fluff flying around the room. At the same time, Hilde jumped to her feet. I'd been sitting next to Hilde, and this sudden motion on her part sent my cup flying.

 

She didn't notice that at all, but hey…

 

“Oh you're back!” Relena cried, emerging from our bedroom and flying across the apartment to pull the three men into hugs.

 

“I'm glad to see you guys aren't hurt,” I muttered, rising as well and crossing to them.

 

Trowa grinned at me, “We even made a pass through First-Rite's territory, they were no where to be found.”

 

I laughed, glancing out the windows a moment.

 

“Where is everyone?” Quatre asked, moving forward to pull me into a brief hug.

 

“In Duo's room, probably,” I muttered with a shrug, “I think Wufei's going to move in over there.”

 

“He hasn't lived alone since Duo lived on the colony,” Trowa agreed, “I can understand that.”

 

“I wonder if he tries to sleep with Duo, though,” I muttered quietly with a grin.

 

Trowa's laughter was evil as he smacked me.

 

 

I laughed as well, grabbing Lea's hand and starting into the hall.

 

“Oh, Shadow!” the little blond squeaked, running back into my apartment.

 

“That's right, you have a kitten now!” Jacob muttered with a grin.

 

“Exciting, isn't it?” Quatre muttered.

 

“Daddy!” Marlea protested, moving to walk with him, “You'll like Shadow.”

 

“He stays awake all night and sleeps all day,” I agreed.

 

Quatre gave me a look.

 

“Tio!” Lea protested, then thought about that and giggled.

 

The cat had taken remarkably well to her. It was draped from her shoulder to her stomach, purring happily as he blinked up at me.

 

“I swear that thing has a death wish for me,” I informed them all as I watched it.

 

“He's a cat, Heero!” Alex protested.

 

I started laughing.

 

-

 

“You're back!” Selena ran across the living room to throw herself into Trowa's arms, “Mr. Trowa!”

 

“What?” I demanded, not sure if I'd heard that or not before.

 

Trowa laughed, giving me a look as Selena moved on to Quatre.

 

“How'd it go?” Duo asked from where he was leaning against the counter across from me.

 

“It went smoothly…as soon as the remnants of Swathe realized they didn't have any backup. You'd think they'd have noticed more than half the city being taken-over.”

 

“You think Newport will go so easily?”

 

“Probably not. They saw what we did to Deniel, they'll be ready for us.”

 

“That's so promising,” Duo muttered with a sigh.

 

“Don't talk politics now,” I muttered at them, pulling Trowa into a hug, “I think we should go out to eat tonight.”

 

“Yeah…that nice little restaurant we hit last time we all went out,” Trowa agreed.

 

“Sounds fine to me.”

 

“What about Shadow?” Lea squeaked.

 

“Shadow will be fine in our apartment,” Quatre reassured her, then met my eyes, “In the bathroom…with the door closed.”

 

I made a face, “I'd rather not think about locked doors, thanks.”

 

Quatre smiled slightly at me.

 

“And then we should start our Christmas shopping,” Selena stated suddenly, looking around at everyone.

She got several uncomprehending looks at that.

 

“It's almost Christmas!” Selena protested, “We've got a month…”

 

“And my birthday!” Lea spoke up, “Dad said we were gonna have me another family party!”

 

“That's right, I did,” Quatre muttered, leaning down to scoop her into his arms. She leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his neck as her cat jumped to the ground and started to explore.

 

Quatre smiled.

 

-

 

“Oh, crap…” I watched one of my earrings bounce off my shoe and under the dresser.

 

“Here, let me…” Duo started, moving in.

 

“No, it's fine,” I reassured him, “You go shower.”

 

“Are you sure?” he asked nervously, focusing on the dresser again.

 

“Yes, hurry up. They're waiting for us.”

 

“All right.”

 

I watched him disappear into the bathroom and wondered at the change in him. He'd always had a gentle side, but how often he'd been an asshole had covered it nicely.

 

I didn't think he'd said an unkind word since we'd reached the palace.

 

I kneeled down carefully, moving my dress as not to wrinkle it—we were having a real night out. Relena had invited a few official jackasses to a supper with us all, and tonight Heero was going to initialize the knighting of at least Trowa.

 

It amused me that he hadn't told Relena that.

 

Of course, Relena always wanted ceremonies to be pretty speeches, where the rest of them liked on the spot and sudden actions…

 

I paused as my hand hit something cold and pulled it out, blinking at the ring.

 

It was a men's ring—one that Duo had worn a lot…and like an unfaithful husband with a wedding ring, he'd always taken it off before going into bars or clubs.

 

Kayla had probably given this to him.

 

I stared at it as I warred again with a dead woman. Duo had loved Kayla, and watching him mourn her loss had torn me apart…but here I was, in his bedroom…

 

How did you fight with a ghost of the past? How were you supposed to measure up to someone who was perfect? They all had thought she was perfect. She'd drank with them before she was twenty-one, she had flirted with them, she had played around with them…

 

Wait a minute—I did those things, too. Not so much the under-aged drinking, but we partied…

 

I stared at the ring.

 

She'd also been meek. She would never have hit Duo, and I started fights with him. She got her way through sweetness, when I just got my way…I was a trained soldier myself, even if Duo didn't want to see that…and I could hold my own against a Gundam Pilot.

 

I smiled slightly.

 

Duo loved me anyway, didn't he? He wasn't looking for another Kayla…

 

“Angel, what are you doing?” he asked in concern, “Did you get your earring?”

 

I focused on his curious brown eyes and giggled at him—he was only wearing a towel.

 

“What's that?” he asked, not bothered by this, focusing on my hands.

 

I offered it to him, letting it lay flat in my palm.

 

He stared at it in amazement before taking it from me, “Where did you find this?”

 

“It was under the dresser.”

 

“Oh…” he almost put it on his finger, but changed instead to set it on the dresser.

 

“You should wear it,” I muttered, “I think she paid a lot for it—you shouldn't keep it hidden.”

 

He focused on me, looking startled.

 

“I have just the thing!” I exclaimed, moving forward and pulling out a jewelry box and pulling out a platinum chain Keith had bought for me years before, “This way…it's both of us.” I smiled slightly, not sure if he'd be comfortable with that.

 

He took the chain from me, then looked to the ring.

 

“Would that bother you, Duo?” I asked quietly, studying his eyes, “Can you love me…and her?”

 

He smiled slightly at that, looking to the things again, “I do.”

 

“Are we getting married then?” I suggested, smiling coyly.

 

He blinked again and I wondered how much of what I was saying was bouncing off. He laughed after a moment, leaning forward to kiss me, “Whatever you want.”

 

-

 

“I was so worried!” Relena muttered to the ambassador of America, her eyes wide, “I knew that this would be dangerous…and then he comes home and starts telling me stories of mortar rounds and flying bullets! I couldn't believe it!”

 

The man laughed.

 

“I had my knights…” Heero started to defend himself, then realized what he'd said—or pretended to.

 

“Knights, Mr. Yuy?” the ambassador asked, “I was under the impression you only had one.”

 

Heero looked from him to Duo, then to the rest of us, “I have five.”

 

Relena blinked at Heero a moment, then looked to the rest of us, meeting my eyes at the end of it.

 

“Five, Sir?” the ambassador's wife asked.

 

“Sir Maxwell has been knighted…but the rest…”

 

“I can't be a knight,” I muttered before I could help myself, “I…I'm…I didn't do anything!”

 

Heero smiled slightly at that, but the expression disappeared before the guests noticed it, “You went up in the helicopter and all fears of sniper-fire vanished from my mind—I hadn't realized how much I truly relied on you…all of you…” he looked us all over.

 

“It's always been one for all and all for one,” Duo muttered, smiling at me in a way that suggested my little argument there had been cute.

 

But Heero hadn't told me he wanted me to be a knight!

 

“During the fighting it is,” Heero agreed, looking from Duo to the rest of us, “But my side of the kingdom wouldn't run without you five…even you, Jacob.”

 

“I'm truly honored to be in the presence of such nobility,” the ambassador muttered with a smile as he met my eyes, “I suggest you all accept the honor.”

 

Selena giggled.

 

“Whatever my king wishes,” Trowa muttered, smirking slightly at Heero.

 

That got him a dark look.

 

“I would never disappoint you, Heero,” Quatre agreed.

 

“I'm honored, Heero…really…” Wufei added.

 

Duo scratched his lip, studying me a moment before grinning, `As you wish.' he mouthed.

 

“As…as you wish…” I stuttered.

 

I even got a dirty look…

 

Relena had her hands over her mouth as she looked us all over and met Heero's eyes.

 

You could see how much she loved him in that glance—it was kinda sickeningly sweet, actually.

 

My parents would finally be proud of me.

 

I looked to Quatre, still stunned.

 

Quatre smiled at me, tipping his glass of wine in a silent salute…to me.

 

-

 

It was dizzying, how suddenly a ceremony was scheduled and how quickly I became one of five knights…how quickly I had a diamond ring on Selena's finger…how quickly Relena announced she was pregnant…

 

It was snowing, the world around me obscured by the feather-touch of angel kisses…

 

By Christmas—by the seventh anniversary of the ending of a war, I had a fiancé, two nephews or nieces waiting to be born, four knights…

 

Kayla was gone, but she had wanted me to love again. Kayla was gone, but she'd live forever in my memories…Kayla was gone, but not forgotten.

 

“Merry Christmas, Kayla,” I muttered into the snowflakes that were drifting down from the dirty-grey sky, closing my eyes as the soft flakes melted against my lips…

 

I received no reply, but I knew there would be none.

 

The old church looked stark and oddly inviting when I finally reached the clearing, moving into the building and pausing a moment to cross myself at the door before moving forward to kneel on the ancient kneeling boards. I didn't pray, I couldn't pray anymore…but there was comfort in this building, comfort in the worn-wood digging into my knees…comfort in the dirty-light shining in through the two windows that shone directly on the alter…in the sense of peace that always pervaded sanctuaries…

 

“I know he came this way, Uncle!”

 

Alexia's voice seemed very near, but oddly distant…

 

“I bet he's in the church!” Marlea agreed.

 

“Maybe we shouldn't bother him, then,” Wufei suggested, “I walked you out here to play in the snow, not to track down Duo.”

 

“The snow's not thick enough, Fei,” Alex brushed that off, “Besides, Relena said we can't open presents until Duo gets back.”

 

“So that means we be patient. Your uncle is doing something.”

 

“He won't mind!”

 

I smiled slightly, listening as Wufei tried to dissuade them from coming into the building.

 

Everything was fine…everything was easy…

 

Everything was right.

 

The doors opened ponderously behind me and I moved instantly to my feet, turning to smile at the three of them…

 

“Uncle Duo?”

 

End.

--

E/N: hehe, yeah. Sorry about he mass update…I just keep forgetting that I have this and know it's a bad time to break off in the middle just because…so here you go. Enjoy.