Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ A Home in Common ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

I make no claim to any of the Gundam Wing characters. This story is written for my, and hopefully others' enjoyment and not for monetary profit. A huge thanks to Diane for the beta.

A Home in Common
by Michalyn

Warnings: 13x5, 2+4
Rating: MA

Chapter Three of Five

 

"Baba, can Marie come with us to the aquarium on Saturday?"

"What's that?" Wufei asked, reaching for another shirt. He and Yi Jie were in the living room folding laundry. The clothes were hot out of the dryer and the sweetness of fabric softener rose up as Wufei shook out a yellow tee shirt of Yi Jie's and began folding it into a neat square.

"I told her we were going to the science museum too, and she really wanted to come. Is it okay, Baba?"

Yi Jie shared Wufei's love of learning and every weekend they planned a new expedition. Last week they discovered the Impressionists. The week before that had taken them on a seaside tour of the area's old lighthouses, where they marvelled at the workings of the bee-hive Fresnel lenses [1]. None of their outings were expensive since most of the museums offered free or discounted admission for students, as did the educational tours. Sometimes Wufei and Yi Jie packed a picnic lunch and simply lounged in the park, practicing on little watercolor pads for the painting class they took together. They always had fun and Wufei suspected he enjoyed their little excursions even more than Yi Jie for the time it allowed them to spend with each other. If she wanted to invite a friend along it would only make the experience richer, and Wufei told her so.

"Thanks, Baba." Yi Jie grinned, clearly excited.

"You and Marie seem to have become good friends."

Yi Jie nodded sagely, "Uh huh. Marie's really cool. She knows all sorts of stuff. Did you know she's been to Paris, Italy and Greece?"

"Is that so?" Wufei reached across the table and Yi Jie handed him the towel he was looking for. "She's a lucky girl."

"Mm hmm, I thought so too. Plus she's so pretty. She said her Dad travels alot so they get to go on lots of trips together."

Wufei's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Treize. It was more than two weeks since he had seen the older man. In that period Wufei convinced himself that his interest in Treize was a passing fancy and that the older man was of no importance to him other than as the father of his daughter's friend. Wufei had had a long time to think about why Treize's insinuation had so offended him, and finally, he emerged with a number of reasons -- somewhat jumbled even in his own head -- but valid, Wufei felt, nonetheless.

That Treize could even speak of choosing necessity over pleasure was at the heart of the matter. It highlighted the gulf between their lifestyles and the utter absurdity of Wufei's attraction. Bringing two single parents together was difficult enough without the added complications of them being men and the fairly traditional town they lived in. After years in Sunville, even an acknowledged couple like Duo and Quatre tended to be discreet. Throwing class differences into the mix was a recipe for disaster.

For Wufei, the ease with which Treize had spoken of transitioning out of his company had cut him to the quick. A good deal of that pain stemmed from envy at the imperious control Treize could exercise over his fate. Even at Wufei's most optimistic, he knew he had fifteen, at worst over twenty years ahead of him at the insurance company before he could even contemplate retirement. He did his best to be as attentive as possible, but time would not wait for him. In fifteen years Yi Jie would be twenty-four and Wufei's present difficulties a fond, but distant memory. Perhaps Yi Jie would be considering a family of her own. And what of Wufei? What would become of her aging, redundant father? There was a time Wufei had craved solititude, but now it was the thing he feared most. Yi Jie was his world and put simply, Wufei would have moved heaven to have Treize's flexibility -- to have more lazy Friday afternoons like this.

Lastly ... lastly ... perhaps Treize's comment hit a little too close to home. Weren't Duo and Quatre always pushing him to be more social -- to go out and mingle? They claimed Wufei had too strictly defined himself as a parent. "You are young," they insisted, "go out, have fun." Was that what Treize meant by his question, or was he hinting at something else? A jibe perhaps at Wufei's gaucheness?

For the first time in years, Wufei considered the possibility of a sexual relationship. The thought alone made him uncomfortable. He supposed it was possible to juggle work, fatherhood and a vibrant sex life but Wufei had never been much of a social creature and given a choice among the three it was easy to let the latter languish. He had not been entirely celibate, but Wufei did not like bringing lovers to the house and many of the men he met were equally uncomfortable with the fact that he had a daughter. In the end, his encounters, always infrequent, became fewer and farther between. Truthfully, aside from the occasional twinge of loneliness, Wufei did not miss it. Romance only made his life more stressful instead of producing the happiness it was supposed to bring.

They finished up the laundry and Yi Jie bounded towards the phone. "I'm going to call Marie now, okay?"

"All right." Wufei lifted the laundry basket and carried it upstairs. He set Yi Jie's clothes on her bed and then moved to his room, where he placed his own items in the dresser. Returning to the living room, Wufei was just in time to overhear a snatch of Yi Jie's conversation.

"Yup." She twirled the phone cord about her finger. "I just know we're going to have an awesome time! Uh huh ... mm hmm. Your dad? Uh huh.... I mean if you feel bad leaving him alone you can tell him to come. Yeah ... I know. Hmm mm ... of course I'm sure. My dad said the more people the merrier so it'll be great if your dad can come too."

Panic seized Wufei. "Yi Jie--"

"Uh huh ... okay. Well, I better go. See ya." Yi Jie set the receiver back onto its cradle. "Yes, Baba?"

Too late, Wufei pressed a hand to the bridge of his nose. What on earth had he gotten himself into? What was worse, he could see no way around it. Yi Jie would only be confused if he suddenly insisted that Treize could not come. And his reasons-- Wufei shook his head. Well, needless to say, they were not explainable. He could only hope the other man would be sufficently bored by the idea of spending the day at a children's museum to want to stay away.

"Nothing, I just wondered if you could help me in the garden."

"Sure thing!" Yi Jie raced to get her cap and Wufei reminded her to put on some sunblock as she hurried past. She joined him in the vegetable garden, breathless not so much from having rushed as from her excitement.

"Marie can definitely come with us on Saturday," Yi Jie panted. "She said her dad had invited her to go for ice-cream and she felt bad turning him down to meet with us, so I told her what you said about more people being more fun and she said she was going to try to convince Mr. Khushrenada to come."

"Isn't that great, Baba? Now you'll have a friend too."

"I suppose so," Wufei murmured. A friend--if only it were that simple.

Wufei's trowel turned the dark soil aside. He had begun the garden the previous summer to occupy him on the evenings Yi Jie had violin lessons. At first, it was just a way to while away the hours, but despite the strenuous work, Wufei found gardening surprisingly enjoyable. Soon, it was more than an occasional pastime. Looking outside the window as he washed the dishes, Wufei would think of planting one herb and then another, until the dishes were forgotten and he was pottering around outside. Initially only a few sparse sprouts of parsley pushed up from the dirt; now, tomatoes and rows of carrots, lettuce, peppers and rose-like cabbages skirted the kitchen fence. Wufei reached for the packet of seeds as Yi Jie brought him the hose, still chattering about Saturday's adventure.

Sighing, he sprinkled a few seeds into the ground and folded the earth back over them, hoping that here at least, the fruits of his labor would be much more predictable.

o-o-o

Wufei packed the last of the spring rolls in the picnic basket. Looking into its neat compartments, he pressed his lips together. He had cooked too much. Sleeping badly and waking this morning gripped by nervousness, Wufei found himself in the kitchen before dawn. He was a firm believer that one should never buy food at movie theaters, concerts and tourist attractions because invariably, it was expensive and not half as appetizing as something homemade but this was excessive, even for him.

Wufei had contemplated cooking only for three, as though he could compel the gods not to send Treize along. Should the heavens decide to ignore him, however, the embarrassment of having to explain to Treize why he had not been provided for quickly brought Wufei back to his senses. At the very least, he would not give the other man the satisfaction of knowing Wufei was affected enough by him to want to spite him, so he had cooked. He prepared enough for four and his nervousness provisioned another two. He deep fried spring rolls, and grilled chicken skewers. For snacks, there were brittle rice cakes to be dipped in tamarind sauce, while for the main meal he served up sesame beef on fluffy white rice. Wufei did not stop there. He threw in sweet oranges for dessert, and packed water and juice in anticipation of their thirst.

Surveying the meal a final time, Wufei hefted the basket off the counter. For the sake of his pride it was probably best to conceal it in the trunk until lunch instead of shocking his guests by lumbering about with it now. It would do no good to announce to Treize just how much he unsettled Wufei. Not that there wasn't a very strong possibility Treize would not show, he reminded himself. Still, one should always be prepared. Wufei stepped into the morning air and moved towards the car. Yi Jie was just stirring when he returned to the house and he heard the shower go on as he began to prepare breakfast. They were a little early, but Wufei thought they would arrive just in time to avoid the lines.

"Morning, Baba," Yi Jie yawned and rubbed sleepy eyes. For all her excitement, his daughter was not a morning person and it usually took breakfast and the car ride to their destination before she was fully awake. She tottered past Wufei, squinting like an old woman who had lost her glasses.

"Good morning, Yi Jie. Your breakfast is on the table and there's milk in the refrigerator. Did you have a restful night?"

"Uh," Yi Jie mumbled something unintelligible and bit savagely into her toast.

Shaking his head, Wufei took his seat next to where she was hunched over the table. This close, he could see the faint outline of the straps crisscrossing her shoulders and he was jolted. Oddly, as demanding as the past weeks had been it was this subtle evidence of Yi Jie's blossoming that brought home to Wufei that his daughter was growing up. Sitting there at the table, with Yi Jie nodding over her breakfast Wufei knew with sudden clarity that she would never be completely his. The blind umbilical cord connecting fathers and daughters, always fragile for never having the solidity of mother's flesh, and yet paradoxically more stubborn for its invisible root, was wrenched away from Wufei then, leaving him gasping. The sensation was not unlike physical pain. Still, Wufei was proud. To be proud he had spotted his daughter's bra strap seemed so foolish, yet, that is exactly what Wufei felt. It was a moment of recognition--the adult spirit in him had encountered its kin in Yi Jie and acknowledged it. If there were a rupture between them, something new and healing had also welled in its place.

Wufei's throat was burning. He wanted to reach over and take Yi Jie's hand. Instead, he nibbled on his toast, poured himself some coffee and hid behind the morning paper.

o-o-o

They had cleaned up downstairs and Yi Jie was checking to make sure that all the doors and windows were locked when the doorbell chimed.

"That's Marie!" she shouted from the living room and Wufei, who was closer to the entrance nodded.

"I'll get it." The bell chimed again and he hurried forward, the house slippers he wore making soft flapping sounds against the tile. "Sorry to keep you wait--"

"Mr Chang," Treize's grin was dazzling. "I hope you have room for one more?"

Inside, Wufei muttered a litany of curses. He even surprised himself with a number of hybridized expressions combining Mandarin, English and the smattering of German he had learned as a youth. To Treize, however, he said, "Of course, please come in," and welcomed him and Marie (who was pretty in shorts and a pale blue tee shirt) into the foyer. Her father, Wufei rankled to note, was actually the more fetching of the two in a crisp cotton shirt and pressed slacks. Treize's feet were ensconced in comfortable loafers which he left at the door.

Sunville had been given its name for a reason. Even in mid-fall as they were right now, the sun was warm overhead and a pleasant breeze rustled the leaves. Still, Wufei thought with annoyance, this late in the year, there was no reason the bastard should be as perfectly tanned as he was. Treize was as sun-browned as a sailor and in the darkness of his skin, his blue eyes seemed even more brilliant.

"What a lovely home you have here, Wufei," Treize observed with genuine pleasure. His hair was tousled and it fell into his eyes as he turned to Wufei.

"Thank you," Wufei murmured, and an awkward silence ensued. He was grateful when Yi Jie, who was practically vibrating with excitement appeared and she and Marie, arm in arm, began chattering like two magpies. More subdued, the adults ambled toward the cars, but Treize was so attractive, so impeccably decked out that Wufei in his khaki shorts and sensible running shoes felt self-conscious. Anticipating a day on his feet, Wufei had favored practicality over style but now he wished he had given a little more thought to aesthetics. Certainly, there was noting objectionable about his appearance. His hair was neat, his shirt carefully tucked and his shoes unscuffed. The problem was, while the white cotton and khaki shorts detracted nothing from his appearance, they equally did nothing to compliment it. He was, Wufei grimaced, shamefully ordinary. As he unlocked the car door, he thought he felt Treize's mocking glance on his calves.

"Papa, can Yi Jie and I ride together?"

"Of course, my darling. Will you ride with me or Mr. Chang?"

"Mmm," Marie frowned, considering, "what do you think, Yi Jie?"

"Umm...," Yi Jie's eyes slid over to Wufei. She was trying to be diplomatic, but Wufei saw the hungry look she cast at Treize's gleaming BMW.

"Yi Jie, why don't you go with Mr. Khusrenada?" Wufei offered.

"Can I ?"

Wufei nodded.

"All right!"

Treize opened the back door and the aroma of fine leather enveloped them in its embrace. Yi Jie and Marie scrambled inside and Wufei watched as they pulled out of the driveway.

Waving once, he walked back to his own four-door sedan and slid into the driver's seat. He checked his mirrors and pulled on his seatbelt as the car hummed to life. A sweet, nostalgic tune was playing on the oldies station and Wufei turned up the music, humming softly under his breath.

 

o-o-o

 

"Wufei, that was a fantastic meal." Treize stretched his legs out in front of him with a sigh.

The girls, sprawled against the picnic blanket like two puppies exhausted from play, made grunting sounds of agreement. Marie patted her stomach. "Mr. Chang, that was great." She giggled. "I don't think I can walk anymore."

Wufei laughed. "Well, I believe that was a compliment. Thank you, Marie. I'm very glad you enjoyed it."

"Baba is the best cook in my entire family," Yi Jie informed them proudly, "I want to be as good as he is when I get older."

Marie turned over to peer at Yi Jie. "Can you make anything yet?"

"Mm hmm," Yi Jie counted on her fingers, "Brownies, pancakes, noodles, scrambled eggs, white rice ... I even made a cake once."

Marie seemed to ponder this. "That's great for a nine year old, but if you ever want to get as good as your dad, I think you have a lot, a lot of cooking to do."

"You think so?"

"Pretty sure," Marie answered and she and Yi Jie began to debate the finer points of cooking and "just exactly" how long it took for one to no longer be considered a novice. While they argued, Treize helped put away the dishes, an unobtrusive presence at Wufei's side, for which he was grateful. They had had a long day and as much as Wufei enjoyed it, he no longer had the relentless stores of energy Yi Jie and Marie seemed to call upon. They had studied luminous jellyfish, learned about the mating habits of seahorses and collected brochures and ticket stubs for scrapbooks. In the end, Wufei realized these trips really were more fun with other people, and Treize and Marie were genial guests. He had been so uncertain about the entire excursion, but Wufei thought he just might ask them to tag along next time. For now, however, he was thankful for the moment of rest and he sensed Treize felt the same.

The girls stopped talking and they stood now with pleading eyes.

"What is it?" Wufei and Treize asked in unison.

"Geez, we haven't even said anything yet," Marie muttered.

"Sixth sense." Treize tapped his temple. "Now, what'll you have?"

"Well, there are a lot of shops around here...."

"And we didn't have a chance to see many of them," Yi Jie finished, "So...."

"I'm okay with it as long as Mr. Khushrenada allows Marie to go as well, but remember we leave at four." Wufei checked his watch. It was just after two.

"Papa--" Marie extended her lower lip, eyes twinkling and Wufei was surprised when she grabbed Treize's hand and spoke to him in rapid Russian. "Please?" she finished.

Treize laughed and kissed her. "All right, my love, you may go."

"Okay!" Yi Jie grabbed Marie's hand and they wove through the crowd.

Wufei shook his head, watching them go. "I didn't know Marie spoke Russian," he said after a moment.

"Oh, you recognized it?" Treize asked in surprise.

"Not enough to understand it," Wufei rubbed a blade of grass between his fingers, "but I had some good friends in college who were from Moscow. We lost touch though."

"Ah," Treize made a sympathetic sound. "Marie's mother was Russian. I met her on a business trip to Saint Petersburg. She was beautiful, I was still a bit of a playboy then and really it was a disaster from the start."

Wufei crossed his arms over his knees, not knowing why Treize was sharing this with him, but understanding all the same. Something in the other man's voice told him that he needed to say it, perhaps had never said it to anyone else and was tired of the weight of carrying it alone. Wufei thought he knew what that felt like.

"I knew I was bisexual and had never hidden it from her, so it wasn't that. Apart from the sex we just weren't compatible. In fact, we mostly had sex after these terrible, terrible fights. The things we said--" Treize shook his head. "Anyway, we were both there on business and were both determined to go our separate ways after the meetings were over. I left first and then two months later Leia called to tell me she was pregnant." Treize laughed. "Well, needless to say, I was pretty devastated. I was in the middle of a relationship with a male dancer at the time and a child was the farthest thing from my mind. So I visited her, gave her a rather large sum of money and told her I would stay in touch. I think back on it now, and I can hardly believe I was that person." He sighed.

"Still, I kept sending the money, she happily kept receiving it and I thought everything was pretty well taken care of. Just before Leia was due to give birth I decided to go back to visit her. I had to be in Dubai the next month and knew I wouldn't be there for the birth. Neither of us was expecting her to go into labor then. Right away the doctors could tell things were looking pretty bad. Still, they thought there was a good chance for both Leia and Marie. Nobody had counted on eclampsia [2]." Treize rubbed his eyes. "She died just after two in the morning, but, they told me, the baby had survived."

"Leia didn't get along with her family and they never approved of me, so when she told them she was going to have my child, they were not pleased. Said they wouldn't lift a finger to help her. Of course this was only about four months into the pregnancy, the news was still fresh and tempers were pretty volatile. It was more anger talking than anything else, but hurt and never one to be bested, Leia packed her things and left. She was a business woman first and of course, knowing my assets arranged right away for me to be declared the baby's legal guardian in case anything should happen to her. Gruesome business, but practical and done in a bit of spite too, for she told her parents as soon as we finished the paperwork. Of course they had been expecting to play an important role in the baby's life in every way imaginable. Time passed, things cooled down and she moved back to a condominium near her parents' house. Things were going so well it seemed foolish to dredge up the issue of guardianship and it was not like there was any rush. It could all be taken care of after the baby was born."

"Well, it couldn't and it wasn't and suddenly I was responsible for this tiny new life and I was so scared I couldn't even think straight. Yet, the longer I held Marie, the more I knew I wanted to take care of her." Treize sighed again, deeply. "And that's the long and short of it. Of course her parents tried to take her from me, and I guess I don't really blame them, but by then I had grown to love Marie and there was no way I was giving her up. It turned ugly -- fast -- and took a long time to heal, but now we visit regularly. I think we've finally developed a kind of peace between us for Marie's sake and the sake of Leia's memory."

Treize smiled. "And I've been talking your ear off for over fifteen minutes. Forgive me."

"Oh no," Wufei shook his head, "I'm happy to listen."

"Thanks." Treize nodded, thoughtful. "Would you like to go for a walk?"

"Sure," Wufei rose, dusting off his pants.

Not far from the aquarium was a massive wildlife exhibit managed by the same company, which was meant to mirror a real jungle. Heavily wooded and with winding paths, hidden niches and animal exhibits cropping up in the most unexpected places, it was the closest one could come to the real thing. Treize and Wufei headed there now, not because they wished to be part of the crowd of awestruck families but because they sought the privacy of its simulated shade.

They walked, stopping in a sheltered niche away from the press of the tour groups.

"So," Treize turned to Wufei, "what's your story, if you don't mind me asking? How did you and Yi Jie come to be together on this lonely raft called life?"

Wufei hesitated, looking into Treize's eyes. He couldn't say why he felt compelled to share the deepest parts of himself with this man, any more than Treize could probably explain why he had chosen Wufei. Call it a sense of timeliness, perhaps a feeling of comfort he had felt with no one else, but Wufei told him about the strictures of his family, about Meiran, about Yi Jie and the life they had built together. When he was done, Treize touched him on the shoulder.

"That's quite remarkable Wufei, especially at so young. At twenty-three I still believed the world owed me everything I wanted."

Wufei shrugged. Unable to help himself, he said, "Not bad for an insurance man, right?"

Treize grimaced. "I did offend you."

Wufei was silent, then he admitted slowly, "Yes ... yes, I was offended. We don't all have the luxury of choosing our circumstances and I was insulted you could not see that and instead described it as a matter of pleasure." Wufei frowned. "I felt that you were judging me, which you were, and had no right to do after only one meeting. I would not try to tell you how to live your life or raise your daughter and you should not presume to tell me how to live mine."

Treize flushed. "You are right. I'm sorry, I just ... damn it!" He raked a hand through his hair. "I was out of line that night, but by the gods I never meant to hurt you, Wufei. I was just so nervous and you seemed so cool and collected, so I began babbling like a dolt," Treize gave a short laugh, "rather like I am right now." He shook his head. "I am an idiot. I sat there thinking, Khushrenada, you're going to charm the pants right off of him." Wufei raised an eyebrow at that and they both laughed, easing some of the tension between them.

"Well, I did not mean it figuratively at all." Treize smiled. "I wanted you, hell, I still want you and quite badly at that but then I opened my mouth and knew I'd said the wrong thing. Before I could even think to repair the damage, you were bundling Yi Jie up in that business-like way of yours and the two of you were out the door like there was a demon on your tails. I felt horrible." Treize sighed. "It's a poor state of affairs, Wufei when I hijack a children's outing as an excuse to get close to my love interest. I'd been pining for you all these weeks, then this morning, you were as cool as ever. Like you hadn't even given me a second thought! It maddened me, you maddened me, Wufei."

It was then that Treize kissed him, gently at first, then with increasing ardor. Wufei did not think to resist; all of the past weeks' anger, frustration and nervous energy had been in anticipation of this.

Treize's hands strayed to Wufei's bottom, cupping him gently. He guided their bodies together, bending to meet Wufei, while tightening his arms so that Wufei was forced to rise on tip toe to meet the taller man half-way. So many men had tried to snare him into their beds with invitations ranging from crude intimations of how well they would fit together, to arch jokes, to the sestina he had once received from a tortured poet, but no one, no one until Treize had thought to say it with touch alone, skin on skin, breath hot against his temple. Wufei's head spun. Treize's thigh slipped between his and their pelvises locked together. He was so close Wufei could see the shadow's growth of beard on his cheeks, could smell the musky soap-sweat scent of him after a day spent in the sun. Treize's body was like a brand and it had been so, so long that Wufei found himself trembling. His own moan ricocheted off the dark foliage, tangling with the panting of the beasts prowling their cages.

"Mi ... Mr. Khushrenada," Wufei gasped, pulling away on unsteady feet, "I'd like to know where we stand. I think it is fair to say that I have been receiving a lot of mixed signals from you and-- " Wufei took a deep breath, "and before this progresses any further, I would like to know once and for all what your ... intentions are." Wufei noted there had been no "if" to his statement. It was as though he knew instinctively they would come together, perhaps separated by days, weeks, months, even years, but nothing could prevent the slow turning of the circle.

Treize took Wufei's hand. He traced Wufei's soft palm and stroked the pulse point at his wrist. "If you're asking if I'm courting you, then the answer is yes."

Something about the old-fashioned turn of phrase plucked the bottom right out of Wufei's stomach. "Treize..." he began. Wufei shifted, closed his mouth, opened it again....

And Treize claimed it. Wufei shivered, anticipating the warm slide of the other man's tongue against his, but it never came. Treize only traced the sensitive rim of his lips and nibbled on him as delicately as a cat with its favorite treat. Wufei's knees wobbled and he tottered in Treize's grasp like a child taking his first steps. He had never been so overcome so quickly and Wufei could only think that he must escape and find himself on sure footing again.

"We should go back--" he moaned in desperation and Treize pulled him closer with a hand cupped behind Wufei's neck. His eyes were dark as he lowered his head to Wufei's, keeping them both trembling on the cusp of another kiss.

"Not yet," he murmured, "not yet. Just let me hold you for one minute more, and then I'll let you go."

o-o-o

Notes:

[1] Fresnel lenses: The Fresnel lens is the 1822 invention of French physicist Augustine Fresnel who invented a lens that would make his name commonplace along the seacoasts of Europe and North America.... The lens could be as tall as twelve feet high with concentric rings of glass prisms above and below a center drum section to bend the light into a narrow beam. Later designs incorporated a bull's eye design into the center of the lens shaped like a magnifying glass, so the concentrated beam was even more powerful. (http://www.michiganlights.com/fresnel.htm)

See also: http://www.lanternroom.com/misc/freslens.htm

[2] Eclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy and is characterised by convulsions. Usually eclampsia occurs after the onset of pre-eclampsia though sometimes no pre-eclamptic symptoms are recognisable. The convulsions may appear before, during or after labour, though cases of eclampsia after just 20 weeks of pregnancy have been recorded. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclampsia)