Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Childhood Reborn ❯ Dinnertime Conversations ( Chapter 10 )

It was evening when the rumble of a truck signaled the pilots return. Jacinda was busy stirring some stew that was in a pot while Serio and Bastian were setting up the table. When the pilots came in, Heero included, once again covered in grease and dust, did she start laughing.

 

“My God, you all are a mess.” She said.

 

“Mama, they need a bath.” Bastian said putting his fingers to his nose. “You gots to wash your hands before dinner, Mama says so.”

 

The boys blushed sheepishly at their appearance.

 

“Upstairs.” Jacinda said pointing the ladle towards the staircase. “And do not come back down until you are all fresh and clean or I'll take you out back and hose you all down myself.”

 

“He He…no thanks we'll take the traditional method of cleaning.” Duo said.

 

Jacinda turned to Siero

 

“Siero, go with them and see if there is anything they made need or if they need help?”

 

Siero made a face.

 

“You're not asking me to bathe them are you?”

 

“I SHOULD HOPE NOT!” Wufei yelled.

 

“If they need it then yes.” She said. “I don't think they'd be comfortable with me in there. Or I can always call Dr. Ridge…his sponge baths I have heard are quite nice.”

 

“No thank you!” Trowa said as he hurried up the stairs. “We should be fine and we can help ourselves!”

 

And with that all five pilots had disappeared upstairs quickly.

 

Jacinda started laughing as Siero just glared at her.

 

“That was mean you know.” He said. She looked over at him.

 

“You think I was joking?” She said. “I meant it, go on upstairs and just stand by in case they need anything.”

 

“Jacinda…”

 

“Please?” She gave him her cutie eyes.

 

Feeling defeated Siero trudged up the stairs fearing for his life. Jacinda just laughed and turned on the radio…dinner was just going to have to wait a few minutes more.

 

Duo was the first to come out all clean. He saw Siero lurking, but Siero gave him a look that said `Jacinda's orders' so he walked past him and downstairs where he heard music playing and laughter could be heard. He peeked over the railing where he saw Jacinda holding Bastian on her hip as they danced to the music. It made Duo smile as he watched the woman and her son laugh and sing to the music as Jacinda danced and Bastian held on. Bastian turned to the stairwell where Duo was standing.

 

“Mama, Duo here!” He said happily and all at once struggled to get out of her arms. Jacinda obliged and let the boy down and off he ran to the braided pilot who smelled much better.

 

“You sit next to me at the table!” Bastian asked pulling Duo by the hand to the dinner table.

 

“Hold on a second Bastian, the others aren't here yet!” Jacinda scolded gently.

 

Duo just smiled again.

 

“It's okay, you can sit next to me Bastian.” The pilot said. Bastian grinned widely and Duo couldn't help but be reminded of the kids he used to care for on the streets of L2. They used to cling to him and Solo the same way, always wanting the other for themselves because they provided so much love and care in such a bad situation.

 

“You alright Duo?” Jacinda asked. He hadn't realized that his smile had faded a little and he looked deep in thought.

 

“Y-yeah…I'm fine.” Suddenly his nose took control and led his eyes to the oven. “Oh man something smells good!”

 

Jacinda laughed.

 

“Well…it's just my famous chicken and pasta dish.” Jacinda said as she checked a large pot on the stove. “We've also got some rolls and veggies fresh from my garden.”

 

“Mama always makes broccoli, I hate broccoli.” Bastian pouted just as Heero came down the stairs.

 

“It's good for you.” Jacinda said.

 

“That's okay Bastian.” Duo whispered to the boy. “I don't like vegetables either.”

 

Bastian laughed as Duo told him how he used to pretend to eat his vegetables, but had hid them and threw them away. He omitted the fact that Sister Helen 9 times out of 10 caught him and made him eat a fresh plate full of the detested food or he wouldn't get dessert at all for a week. Duo always ended up caving and holding his nose as he forced the food down his throat.

 

“Don't give that child any of your bad habits Maxwell!” Heero scolded.

 

“Heero!” Bastian yelled and ran to the pilot. “You sit next to me too!”

 

Heero blushed as the boy took his hand and led him over to another chair.

 

“I was not giving him any bad habits.” Duo said. “Just agreeing him that vegetables are gross.”

 

Heero shook his head and sat down. Secretly, both boys had been amused at how Bastian took to the other. Duo felt his heart leap when he saw that adorable blush on Heero's face as Bastian led him to the table. Heero smiled when he saw the way Duo interacted with the boy. He also knew that both Sister Helen and Father Maxwell pretty much knew Duo's stunts inside and out and that Duo didn't really get away with much.

 

“Besides you guys don't have to eat the veggies.” Jacinda said as she began putting some dishes down on the table. “Just don't expect any dessert then. Berta made her special triple chocolate cake.”

 

That made Duo and Bastian shut their mouths when it came to the complaints about the food and Heero couldn't help but smirk.

 

Within fifteen minutes each pilot emerged into the kitchen ready for dinner. Bastian had pretty much taken each pilot and showed them where to sit. Quatre felt secretly pleased that Bastian had placed Trowa next to him. Basically each pilot was across from each other while Serio and Jacinda sat at the heads as the food was passed out.

 

“Thanks for the food!!” Duo said and dug in. Something that Duo had learned from Heero once. He had a little trouble pronouncing the actual Japanese saying so he stuck with the English.

 

Heero rolled his eyes and everyone began to eat. The pilots really were basking in the first home cooked dinner they had had in a very long time.

 

“Oh wow this is so good!” Duo mumbled as he forked his dinner.

 

“This is so delicious Jacinda.” Quatre said. “Thank you.”

 

“It's simple stuff.” She said. “You're quite welcome.”

 

“Jacinda's cooking is the best around.” Serio said. “Why do you think I am always here?”

 

“Because you are too lazy to cook for yourself.” Jacinda responded to that one.

 

Everyone chuckled at that one. It was even cuter when Duo showed Bastian how to eat his small helping of vegetables by holding his nose like he used to do.

 

“So where are all of you from?” Jacinda asked.

 

Each boy glanced lightly, but decided it was safe to respond.

 

“Well, we are from each of the colonies.” Quatre answered. “I'm from L4, Trowa from L3, Duo from L2 and Wufei from L5 and Heero L1.”

 

“Wow, so all of you are not only world travelers but from around the universe huh?” She said.

 

“Pretty much.” Trowa said nonchalantly.

 

“Wufei Chang.” Jacinda said turning to him. He had been the quietest so far though that appeared to be his nature. “That's…Chinese?”

 

Wufei nodded.

 

“Was growing up on L5 nice?” She asked.

 

“It was.” He said. “I learned many important things.”

 

Jacinda stared at him as she noticed he seemed kind of far away. A role reversal from before when he had questioned her background.

 

“Oh.” She said. “Like what?”

 

Wufei didn't answer.

 

“Yup that's Wufeers for ya.” Duo said breaking the seemingly heavy silence. “Always the silent type.”

 

“It's Wufei!!”

Jacinda decided to try a shot at Trowa.

 

“Okay Trowa, so what about you?” She asked.

 

“I'm a circus clown.” He said.

 

“I LOVE the circus!” Bastian yelled. “Mama showed me pictures from a book once about the circus! I want to go.”

 

Jacinda laughed.

 

“I promised Bastian when he gets a little older we'll go on a trip together to the circus. Unfortunately the nearest town is a 3 day ride by car, so it's too much of a haul for a three year old in my opinion.”

 

She turned her attention back to Trowa.

 

“You must make lots of people happy.” She said. “That's a wonderful thing, especially now in such a delicate time.”

 

“My friend Catherine and the ring master take care of that, I just help out.”

 

“That's not true!” Quatre stated. “You do make lots of people happy, you are a good performer and you're wonderful with the animals and you've always said that Catherine is like a sister to you.”

 

“Maybe you can perform for us one day Trowa.” Jacinda said. “If you would like to of course. It would be the closest thing to a circus the children have seen in a long time.”

 

Trowa just looked away slightly embarrassed.

 

`Alright 2 down sort of, 3 to go.” Jacinda thought.