Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ A Child's Love ❯ Dinner Conversation ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimers: Don't own. Don't profit. Don't sue. Don't flame.

A/N: Well, I got a *lot* of reviews for chapter ten talking about how much everyone was looking forward to what Hilde is going to do to our 'beloved' Q-bean. So, I decided to take pity on all the souls who are begging for this chapter. Also, the reason my updating has slowed down considerably is the fact that I am currently working on four different, *very* long fics. This is just the only one that is a 1x2 directly. Want to get me to write faster? Review 'Maybe Angels', 'Gundam Diaries', and 'Star Trek: Gundam'. That's how the muses kick me into gear to write!

Dedication: To Angel, for she is just herself, and what more could I ask for? To Arith, because I love talking to you about ACL and SD - besides, you give good ideas, even if you don't know it, and I admire you for your tenacity and writing ability. ~_^ To Enna, for your great reviews of *all* my fics and for making me smile when we talk.

Special thanks: To Duo-chan and Arith for their help with Hilde's German. *hugglz to both* It was INVALUABLE!

Summary of last chapter: Duo, Heero, and Allilon go and pick up Hilde and Mike from the space port, awakening Hilde's mothering instincts. Heero drops Allilon off at Zechs and Noin's house, causing another scene where Duo gets his feelings hurt again. Heero and Duo take Mike and Hilde to go pick out a rental car for their visit, in which Duo's friends get into an argument and Heero and Duo make out a little, in public. Then, Hilde, Mike and Duo go to have dinner with Quatre and Trowa at their mansion.

Symbols: /blah/ thoughts
*blah* emphasized words
*~*~*~* major scene change or POV change
*~~~~~* minor scene change

Dinner Conversation


"Duo! How nice to see you again," Quatre said, running over to hug the braided man. "And this must be Hilde and Mike?"

"Yes, Quatre, and we have a *lot* to discuss," Hilde replied, her eyes narrowing into slits and belying the smile that was plastered across her face.

The blond felt his blood run cold, and his hackles went up in an automatic defense mechanism. Quatre shot a look of concern to his husband, who was standing behind him, and Trowa just shrugged in response. Slowly, he pulled a genuine smile across his face, hoping his diplomatic background would serve him face the obviously upset woman, and taking a deep breath, he spoke again.

"Well, welcome to our home, Hilde." Quatre lifted one of his hands, and felt the other one encased in a familiar, calloused warmth. "This is my husband, Trowa. If you will follow us, dinner is now ready," he said, leading the way into the large dining room that Duo remembered from his three day stay earlier that week.

Duo shot Mike a look. The brown-haired man just shrugged, grabbed Hilde's arm before she could do anything while the Arab's back was turned and led her into the spacious room. Sighing deeply, and cursing the fact that the blond was going to die if Trowa, Mike and himself didn't referee, Duo followed behind the couple. One hand wrapped around the end of his braid as he took his seat between Hilde and Quatre and waited for everyone else to sit down.

The silence was deafening to Duo. It weighed down on the five occupants of the room like a ton of bricks, or a large cloud of smoke that sucked out all the air. If he hadn't almost suffocated on the Lunar Base during the war, Duo would swear that this was what it was like. After ten minutes of watching the German woman shoot dark looks at Quatre, he couldn't take it.

"Why don't you just say what you have to in front of witnesses, Hill? That way, Trowa can protect his husband, and we all can come up with a story before the cops get here," Duo whispered to his friend on his left.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Duo? I am trying to enjoy this *wonderful* dinner that Quatre's staff has prepared for the evening," she answered, giving a sickeningly sweet smile to her host.

"Oh, but Trowa cooked this dinner. In fact, he insisted," Quatre said, beaming at the auburn-haired man on his right.

"Well," Hilde said, some sincerity in her voice for the first time the whole evening. "It's wonderful, Trowa."

"Don't ask for the recipe, Hill. Last time you cooked, we nearly died. Didn't we, Mike?" Duo asked his oddly quiet friend, smiling mischievously.

The hazel-eyed man returned the smile with equal fervor. "Yes, a few days in the hospital was not worth it... Beautiful though she is, a cook Hilde is not. OOF!" He rubbed the spot on his ribcage where Hilde's elbow had been not a few seconds before hand.

Everyone laughed at the hurt expression that Mike gave his girlfriend and the very serious one that was reciprocated. Suddenly, the mood died just as quickly as it had lightened, and the rest of the meal passed in silence.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Heero sat in his car, staring at Zechs and Noin's house as if it was a plague, or an inept OZ solider from the wars. Of course, the house *did* belong to two former-OZ commanders, but that didn't mean either was inept. In Heero's opinion, they were okay; they just fought on the wrong side during the war. They were both Preventers now, working to protect the United Earth Sphere from terrorists and uncommon threats, just like he was. Not only that, but they were the sole survivors of the Peacecraft royal family of the Sanc Kingdom (even is Noin's tie was only through marriage), and they were the aunt and uncle of the little boy that had been entrusted into his care to raise by Relena.

Sighing mentally, Heero stepped out of the car and made his way to the obnoxiously bright, sky blue door of the house. Before he had raised his hand to knock, it was opened by a weary looking Zechs, whose platinum blond hair was everywhere and normally neat Preventer's uniform was more than just a *bit* askew.

"Hey, Heero. Here to pick up one of the 'Tiny Terrorists'?" Zechs asked, ice blue eyes smiling, as the rest of his face tried to remain serious.

Heero responded by raising an eyebrow, but any verbal response was cut off by a blur of brown hair that headed straight for the Japanese man's legs.

"UNCLE HEERO!" Allilon looked around his godfather's body and grinned from ear to ear. "You didn't bring Mr. Maxswell. Good!"

"Guys! Dinner's done! And Zechs, tell Heero he *is* staying for dinner. No arguments," Noin called from the kitchen, which was in the back of the house.

"You heard her... and you know, just as well as I do, how stubborn that woman can be," Zechs quipped, face warring between pride in his wife, and laughing at the surprised look on Heero's face. "Come in, Yuy. We don't bite. Not now, anyway." He ushered the slightly smaller man through the door, and Heero could have sworn that the noise the wooden door made as it closed sounded as if the door to a torture chamber had just been slammed shut.

*~~~~~~~*

"So, Heero, how are Hilde and her beau?" Noin asked as the adults sat down with coffees in the living room. Joshie and Allilon were playing with the Peacecraft's pet, a very obnoxious Chihuahua named Pedro.

"They're fine. After Duo dragged them out of bed at two pm, and she threatened the safety of his hair, we took them out to a car rental establishment," Heero answered, shivering at the memory of the childish behaviour between the visiting company and the kiss that Duo had given him as a distraction.

"I take it you didn't enjoy that," Zechs said, smirk firmly planted across his face.

"Hardly. I'd seen Duo and Wufei behave better during the war, even at each other's throats." He sighed, running one hand through his messy hair, and looked at the black haired woman on his right. "So, do you mind telling me why I was nearly *forced* to stay here and have dinner?"

"Not at all. For one, I wanted to make sure you and Allilon had one more good meal in you before I turn you loose on the world," she said, smiling widely before winking. "Two, Allilon and Joshua were building a fort and playing 'Soldier' out in the back yard, and I didn't want to disturb them. And three, I wanted to talk to you about Duo, Allilon, and yourself."

Heero visible stiffened and a scowl took over his face. "Nani?"

Noin raised a hand in mock-surrender in front of her face. "Nothing like that, Yuy. I wanted to talk to you about the whole way Alli's been reacting to Duo..."

"I know what happened, and I could see how it would make him a little paranoid, but Alli's been acting like a brat. Much like Relena was during the war, before she met Lu, that is," Zechs said wistfully, a sad smile crossing his face before his shook himself.

Noin smiled herself, remembering one of the hardest reformations of her short life, and then stared at Heero. "Well, I have a plan as to how to make things better between those two." Heero said nothing, but raised an eyebrow, signifying he was all ears.

"Well, what if you gave them both no choice, but to get along?" she asked.

"What are you talking about, Lu?" Zechs queried.

"Hmm, does anyone know how long Duo is staying on Earth?"

"No. He has not said anything about returning as of yet," Heero said, scowl deepening at the thought of being parted from his lover now that he had him.

"And you have to go back to work next week, right?"

"Hai."

Noin's face brightened into a wicked grin. "What if you had Duo babysit Allilon for a day? They would have no option *but* to get to know one another, and then Alli would see what a good guy Duo is, without you around to darken the mood."

"Nani?" Heero growled.

"No offense, Heero, but every time he sees you together, that scene is going to replay in his mind, and he is going to distrust Duo. He sees him as a threat. You should understand that," Noin said, giving a look of sympathy.

"I do," was the harsh reply.

"Well, if you let them get to know each other, without you, then Allilon will learn to like Duo again. He will see that Duo *isn't* out to steal you away from him, or try to replace anyone else, like Relena."

"I think it's a good plan, for what my opinion matters to you, Heero," Zechs added, downing the rest of his forgotten, and cold as ice, coffee. "At least give it some thought."

"Fine," Heero said, glancing at his watch. "I should take Allilon home now. It's late and he has school in the morning." He stood from his chair, and walked out into the backyard with the two boys.

"Do you really think that this plan will work, Lu?" Zechs asked his wife, who had a smug look on her face.

"Do you think it won't?" she quipped back.

"We'll just have to wait and see," he answered, going to see what the other males where doing.

"Exactly," Noin said to the empty room, smiling broadening as she heard her son and nephew squeal in the yard.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After the stony dinner was finished, the five adults moved from the dining room to the large parlour that the three visitors had found Quatre and Trowa in when they arrived. Quatre and Trowa were sitting on one loveseat, while Hilde and Mike sat on another, with Duo sitting in between both couples. One part of him was waiting for the fireworks begin, but a *much* larger part wanted to be far, far away when Hilde started in on his blond friend. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he turned to look at his green-eyed friend.

"Hey, Tro, why don't we show Mike around the house?" Duo asked, trying to convey what the real plan was.

Trowa looked at his husband, who was a tiny bit pale, but otherwise fine, and nodded to Duo and the other man in the room. "Come along," he said, standing and making his way out of the room. Mike followed behind, shooting a dark look at Hilde before he left. Duo took up the rear, patting Quatre on the shoulder before departing.

When the three men where in the hallway, they left the door cracked and listened to the 'private' conversation between the Arab and the German girl. The niceties were abandoned and Hilde got right to the point.

"Well, it looks like it's just us now, Wasserstoffblondine.[1]" A feral grin appeared over the woman's face and her blue eyes took on a predatory gleam.

In the hallway, Trowa gave a puzzled look to Duo who shrugged. Mike looked at the other two. "She just said that he dyes his hair blond," he answered nonchalantly. A cough came from Trowa that Duo could have sworn was a negation of that allegation. They all listened intently on the conversation in the other room.

"I have no idea what you just called me, Hilde, but you have been rather cold this evening," Quatre stated in a cool, calm, and collected manner. "Is there a problem?"

"You could say that, Quatre. I heard all about your 'help' with Duo and Heero's relationship. You could also say that I am rather unhappy with my best friend calling me from the surface of the planet while I'm in space, crying to talk about how all your help wasn't help at *all*. There is also the simple fact of the matter that Duo happened to get you back, in a way I would not have suggested - but that's his style, not mine - and all I have to say is that when someone asks, tells, or commands you to stay out of their love life that you should listen. Not become a little busy-body."

"Kettle, meet pot [2]," Duo whispered to the two men beside him, and Mike responded by elbowing him in the ribs.

"Excuse me," Quatre said, his voice dropping all politeness and warmth. "But it seems to me that you are just sticking your nose in another aspect of Duo's life by even talking to me about that. And, in case you seem to have forgotten, Duo is my friend as well, and while I haven't been the best at keeping constant contact with him, I have always been there when he's needed me. Truly needed me." A dangerous smile ghosted across the sitting blond's face. "That is what matters. And as far as butting out when he told me to stop, I did, but I couldn't rearrange the seating for the dinner at the last moment. It's hard enough having over 300 people for dinner without everyone bitching about where they have to sit."

The tone of Quatre's voice and the look on his face made Hilde take a deep breath and fix her eyes on the man before her more pointedly. "I could see how that might be a tiny issue."

"I'm glad that you concede that point to me, Ms. Schebeiker, but I hardly need your approval. Besides, it's not like I heard Duo complaining about having to sit next to the man he loves."

"Touché," Trowa muttered under his breath, and Duo and Mike both struggled to stifle their laughter.

"Excuse me, Mr. Winner, but I think you are missing my point. Stay out of Duo's love life. I really *hate* seeing him cry, and he's been doing way too much of that since he came to this horrid place with you butting in his life and Wufei being a bloody, arrogant bastard," she finished, sitting back against the loveseat and looking at the door.

"You three can return now," she said to the cracked wooden barrier. "We're done, and Blondkopf[3] is still alive, so you can relax, Trowa."

All three men stood up, exchanging nods before entering the room with the now less hostile Hilde and Quatre, sitting down in their previous seats. When Duo was sure that his two friends weren't going to jump over the low table and start trying to strangle on another again, he kicked his feet up on said table and flashed an impish grin, but it never reached his eyes.

"Much as I appreciated the sentiment, Hill, try and be a little nicer to Q. It's really 'Fei that's the lying, bloody, arrogant bastard," he said, flashing a real smile to the woman on his right. "Only quoting you, darlin'." Everyone gave a short laugh, and Hilde and Quatre leaned over the table to shake hands amicably.

"Well, with that out of the way, how 'bout a real tour of this joint, eh? I'm sure Mike wouldn't mind seeing the garage," Duo offered. Suddenly, Trowa's eyes light up and the hazel-eyed man mirrored the expression on the European's face. They were soon leaving the room, talking animatedly (which was odd for Trowa around near strangers) about their shared obsession of antique cars.

"Men," Hilde said, sighing wistfully as she turned on the other two occupants of the room. "So, what else is there to do in this place?"

"There's always the pool," Quatre offered.

"No suit, Blondie."

"Doesn't matter. I'm sure you're about Cathy's size, and she's out... Besides, who said anything about suits?" A blond eyebrow raised mischievously as he left the room, with Duo and Hilde on his heels.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The drive home with Allilon had been quiet, and a look back in the rearview mirror told Heero that the little boy was asleep, his face seeming the innocent angel most people who didn't know him assumed him to be. The Japanese man fought to hide the smile that was threatening to take over his face at the sight, and was suddenly brought back to reality by the sound of a beeping horn behind him. Straightening up and looking ahead, he noticed that the light was now green, and took off from the intersection, letting part of his mind take over the actual driving as the rest of his brain thought over the after dinner conversation he had had with Noin and Zechs.

He could find no fault in the woman's logic. In fact, it seemed the only plausible alternative to the immense near-hatred that his godson felt for the American that Heero loved almost as much as the boy himself. Both of them were too important to him to lose either one of them, but he knew that if he was forced to choose between the two, Allilon would win. Hands down, as Duo would say.

Heero shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts as he pulled his car into his house's attached garage, and sat there as the engine cooled. Allilon was still asleep, but Heero knew that a talk with the boy was imminent. It didn't mean he had to like it.

Taking a deep breath, he got out of the car and walked around to the backseat to remove the boy from his car seat, trying to avoid waking Allilon until they were inside. He had made it up to the door of the house before the small child woke up and wrapped his arms around Heero's neck.

"Uncle Heero?" the tiny voice asked.

"We're home, Allilon," Heero answered quietly.

"'Kay," the boy said, laying his head against the sturdy shoulder near him.

The Japanese man opened the door, and looked around for the puppy that should have tried to trip him. It was then that he remembered that Joey, the wonder-pup, had been staying with a neighbor while Heero and Allilon were away.

/Who names a dog Joey? And then gives the creature the nickname of 'the wonder-pup'?/ he thought sourly, closing the garage door behind him. /Madame Pouley will be glad to give Joey back, no doubt. That dog is almost as hard to take care of as Allilon himself./ He started the climb up the stairs to his godson's room, but stopped when the boy spoke again.

"Can I go to school tomorrow?"

"Yes, you will go to school tomorrow," Heero replied, smiling despite himself.

"Ok... Is Joshie gonna be there too?"

"Yes, Allilon."

"Okay." The boy said no more, and Heero continued the trip up the stairs. He made it the boy's room and inside, placing the child on his bed, before anything else was said.

Walking to the white dresser on the far wall, Heero started looking around at the nightclothes available for Allilon to wear. "Cowboys or space ships?" he asked.

"I want to wear my puppy pjs."

"They are dirty. Your choices are," Heero held out the two different set of pyjamas, "cowboys or space ships. Which one?"

"Cowboys," Allilon said, crossing his arms across his little chest. Heero crossed the room and helped the boy change and get into bed. He placed the dirty clothes in the hamper by the door. About to leave him alone to sleep, Heero placed a hand on the overhead light's switch before the child spoke yet again. "Uncle Heero, do you like Mr. Maxswell?"

Puzzled, Heero turned to see a *very* serious expression on the three year old boy's face, and decided that truth was his best option. "Yes, I like Duo, Allilon."

"Why?"

"He's a nice person, and he likes you, even if you don't like him. He has always been like that," Heero said, remembering times during the war where Duo had deliberately annoyed Colonel Une during an interrogation, and ended up being very badly bruised, but still had nothing but respect for the torn woman.

"Ok," the boy said, yawning and then turning over. Heero stood there until the child's breathing evened out, signifying that he was indeed asleep, and then turned out the light.

/What in the world made Allilon ask about Duo?/ he thought, turning to his own room for a good night's rest, and some time to think over that little conversation with his godson.

TBC...


Notes:
[1] Wasserstoffblondine - German, literally means bottle blond or false blond; here it is used to refer to the fact that Quatre's blond hair might not be natural.
[2] Kettle, meet pot - it refers to an old English saying that actually goes "the pot calling the kettle black". It means that Hilde is accusing Quatre of something she is doing herself.
[3] Blondkopf - German, literally means 'Blond Head'; Hilde uses it to call Quatre 'Blondie', as she has in other chapters.