Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing in the Wild Wild West ❯ Welcome to San Francisco ( Chapter 10 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 10: Welcome to San Francisco
“Look, Mommy! We're going up into the mountains!”
The mountain range had been visible all day and now the train was finally starting to chug its way up.
Zechs stepped to the window and leaned out next to Alexa. “We're climbing pretty fast. It's beautiful the way the mountains just rise up out of the plain like this.”
“It's beautiful the way his hair streams out in the wind,” Treize sighed dreamily from his seat on the couch. He leaned on one hand and stared at Zechs.
Duo fidgeted. “If any more sexual tension builds up in this car it's going to explode.”
“Those beds are a little cramped,” Quatre said primly. “And there are children present.”
“Those kids could sleep through an earthquake,” Duo pointed out. “And it's not like they don't already know what's going on.” Duo snickered. “Or is it that you need more room to really get into it?”
Quatre flushed. “I think we can drop the subject now.”
“That's probably it,” Heero said grumpily. “He was the one who invented that position we were all trying on Mount Olympus. My hip still hurts from doing that.”
“I did not invent it!” Quatre protested. He pointed at Trowa. “It was all his idea!”
“But you let him do it.”
“I… I…”
“Give it up, Quatre,” Duo laughed. “We all know you're easy we're Trowa's concerned.”
“I am not easy!”
“But you're dang cute,” Trowa interjected.
Quatre stuck out his lower lip. “You're all picking on me.” His big blue eyes got bigger and bluer. “I'm hurt.”
Trowa's eyes went soft. He got up and took Quatre's hand. “Come out on the rear platform with me. I'll apologize.” He led Quatre out through the rear door of the train car.
Duo started snickering again. “Apologize, he says! Every day I learn a new euphemism for doinking.”
“Isn't doinking a euphemism?” Wu-Fei wondered idly.
“I'd say so,” Treize agreed.
“What's doinking?” Hadeya asked in confusion.
“They're talking about fucking,” Heero said irritably.
Hadeya blushed furiously. “But, um, is it safe to be doing that on the platform? It is rather small.”
“I'm sure Trowa will come up with something creative,” Heero grumbled. “He won't risk any harm to his precious Quatre.” He pulled a knife out of somewhere and started twirling it on his palm.
“You seem mighty foul-tempered,” Wu-Fei remarked.
“It's because he's not getting any,” Duo noted sagely. “I'd take care of him, but I doubt he'd fit in me right now with this dang baby filling up my interior.”
“Don't be such a wuss, Duo,” Treize said. “Pregnant women have sex all the time.”
Zechs turned from the window. “I hear it can sometimes precipitate labor when a woman is close.”
Duo's eyes lit up. “Really?! Ok, Heero and I get the rear platform next.”
Roku lifted his head and looked toward the front of the car. “I think Mr. Jefferson is coming back.” He sat up and shifted back into his human form. “How am I supposed to air out my fur if he keeps coming back?”
“Yeah, you'd think it was his car or something,” Duo laughed.
“If you didn't change back,” Zechs remarked, “I doubt he'd return for the remainder of the trip.”
“Really?” Roku's eyes brightened.
“You know, if Quatre were here he'd probably say no to that,” Wu-Fei said casually. He blew a thin stream of fire into the air. “Maybe I should singe his goatee so he doesn't notice the tiger in the car.”
“I imagine that would distract him,” said Treize.
“If we want to get rid of him,” Heero growled, “why can't I just gut him and dump him out the window?”
“Gutting him first would be messy,” Zechs said.
“But I can still dump him out the window?” Heero brightened visibly.
“No,” Treize said sternly.
Heero's shoulders slumped.
The front door opened and Jefferson stepped into the car. “Good day, gentlemen and lady.”
Alexa pulled her head in. “How come you never say ladies?” she demanded. “I'm a girl, too!” She glared at him.
Jefferson blinked in surprise.
Zechs put a hand on Alexa's shoulder. “That's right. You have been snubbing my daughter. I think I should be offended on her behalf.” He tipped his head to one side and regarded Jefferson with a sultry frown. “I wonder what the newspapers would have to say about a man who snubs little girls.”
Jefferson's mouth worked silently for several seconds. “I meant no offense!” he burst out.
Alexa lifted her little chin. “You should apologize and offer me something. I'm a future voter, you know.”
Treize put his hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh.
Jefferson looked like he was going to faint. “Well… ah… I could… have George make you a cake. How would you like that?”
“Well…” Alexa pursed her lips. “If that's the best you can do, I suppose it will have to do. But it better be chocolate.”
“I'll… just… go do that,” Jefferson stammered and he retreated hastily from the car.
Everyone immediately burst out laughing.
“That's probably the best outcome we could have hoped for,” Treize said, wiping his eyes. “He didn't get terrified, singed, gutted or thrown out the window.”
“Speak for yourself,” Heero muttered.
Trowa and Quatre returned not too much later looking somewhat flushed but rather content.
“My turn!” Duo immediately announced and he tried to stand up. But the chair he was sitting in was plush and kind of deep and his first attempt failed. “Umph!” He scooted forward a little and tried again. Grasping the chair arms, he pushed up firmly. He teetered for a moment in a half-folded position and then gravity took over and pulled him back into the chair. “Dang it!” he grunted.
The other pilots tried desperately to suppress their laughter, but a few titters escaped. Even Heero had an expression that one might interpret as amused.
Duo glared. “Quit laughing at me and help me up, dammit! Do you think I can't hear what you're thinking?”
“We're sorry, Duo!” Wu-Fei gasped. “But you really have gotten huge. I think you've grown since yesterday.”
“Do you think I haven't noticed?” Duo complained. “I told you the baby is filling up my whole interior. I know where my internal organs are supposed to be and they aren't there. I think everything's embedded in my spine.”
“Quatre and I understand, Duo,” Zechs said sympathetically. “Some of us have been through the same thing.” He strolled over and held out a hand to Duo. “Allow me.”
Duo grasped his hand and was pulled to his feet. “I'm glad to see there's at least ONE gentleman in the room,” he said archly.
“But you did look kind of funny, Papa Duo.”
“Et tu, Roku?” Duo dramatically flung the back of his hand against his forehead.
Roku giggled and trotted over to hug Duo around the waist with his giant tiger paws. “My little sister is going to come out soon, Papa Duo. She's starting to feel squished.”
“She feels squished?!” Duo exclaimed.
“Roku,” said Quatre, “how do you know she feels squished?”
“More to the point,” Wu-Fei interrupted, “how do you know she's coming out soon?”
Roku pressed his nose against Duo's tummy. “I can just tell.”
“That's creepy,” Heero muttered.
“How soon?” Duo demanded.
“Pretty soon.”
“That answer is insufficiently definitive.”
“She'll come out when she's ready.” Roku returned to his place on the rug and began cleaning between his toes, which required him to extend his claws to their full seven centimeters of gleaming sharpness.
“Come on, Heero.” Duo grabbed him by the hand. “We're going outside so you can explain to this baby why she's ready to come out now.”
“Huh?”
“Let's go!” Duo dragged him to the rear door and out onto the little platform.
“The kid's gonna get brain damage if he starts jamming that thing into Duo,” Wu-Fei muttered.
Hadeya's cheeks turned bright red.
“That's what the soft spot's for,” Treize murmured.
Zechs frowned at him. “Had a lot of experience fucking pregnant women, have you?”
“Oh… ah… that's just what I've heard!” Treize said quickly.
Zechs continued to frown at him.
“Maybe you better take him out on the rear platform next,” Wu-Fei suggested.
Hadeya put his head in his hands. “I thought the soft place on a baby's head was to facilitate its passage from the mother's body,” he said in a mournful voice.
“It is,” Quatre said.
“And anyway,” added Trowa, “a woman would have to be ready to give birth before even a really big man could penetrate far enough to poke the baby.”
“I don't know,” Wu-Fei said doubtfully. “Have you seen Heero's…”
“That's enough!” Quatre interrupted. “Poor Hadeya is going to sink into the floor.”
“I'm all right, Uncle Quatre,” Hadeya said faintly. “I should be used to this by now, I suppose. But I think perhaps my mother sheltered me just a little.”
Roku rolled to his feet and padded over to Hadeya. “Don't feel bad, Hadeya. When you start being naughty, you won't blush as much.”
All the color drained from Hadeya's face and a look of utter mortification came over him. “Being naughty…?” he rasped and his voice faded away to nothing.
“Ok, now that we're rendered Hadeya speechless, it must be time for lunch,” Treize said.
“Yay! Lunch!” Alexa shouted. “I want roast chicken and boiled potatoes and leek and onion pie and corn bread and cabbage and beet salad and green beans with garlic and apple pie!”
“Yeah, and a ham and a roast beef and boiled carrots with honey and kippers and a plum pudding!” Roku added.
“What? No roast turkey with stuffing?” Zechs asked sarcastically.
“Yeah, that too!” the children cried in unison as the sarcasm flew right over their hungry heads.
“The train will run out of food before we reach San Francisco.”
“Don't worry,” Roku said gleefully. “I can get more.”
“You have more food in your storage space?” Quatre asked.
“Not right now.”
“So how…?” Quatre stopped himself. “I probably don't want to know.”
“I know I don't want to know,” Trowa said.
Hadeya stood up, still looking a trifle pale. “I will go tell George that we would like lunch prepared.”
“But make sure I still get my cake!” Alexa exclaimed.
“Yes, cousin.” Hadeya left the car.
“I think Hadeya is getting more shy, not less shy,” Treize remarked. “It seems odd since I don't recall the heroes in Valhalla being particularly reticent about their sexual appetites. How did he manage to grow up so innocent?”
“He did say Freya sheltered him,” Trowa said.
“She was probably trying to keep Brunhilde out of his pants,” Wu-Fei said.
“That sounds like Freya,” Treize said.
“You seem to remember her quite well,” Zechs said in a neutral tone.
Treize hung his head. “I'm going to stop talking.”
“Cut Treize some slack, Zechs,” Trowa said. “Your temper wasn't exactly smooth when you were expecting. It's only natural he might spend a little time in someone else's company.”
“His temper isn't all that smooth now,” Wu-Fei murmured.
“I suppose you agree with them,” Zechs said to Treize in a chilly tone.
Treize buried his face in his hands. “Even silent I get in trouble. The gods must hate me.”
“I know one who doesn't,” Trowa said innocently.
Zechs sniffed.
Treize flinched. “You're killing me.”
Zechs' lips twitched. Then he sat down next to Treize and put an arm around him. “I'm just teasing you, beloved.” He lifted Treize's chin with his fingertips and stared deep into his dark eyes. “I know I'm the only one you can see.”
Treize paled and drew in a ragged breath.
“Before this turns into something kinky,” Quatre spoke up, “maybe I should remind you that there are other people present, including children.”
“Right,” Treize whispered. “Aren't Heero and Duo done yet?”
“See?” said Wu-Fei. “I knew they needed to step outside. Who needs to be a mind-reader?”
The rest of the journey through the Sierra Nevada went more or less like that. Poor Mr. Jefferson ultimately spent almost no time in his own car, because Heero's constant glower made him fear for his life, which was probably a reasonable reaction, given that Heero spent a lot of time sharpening big knives and looking grumpy. But Jefferson did remain in the car long enough one evening to allow Duo to divest him of the rest of his money in a long card game during which Duo cheated so outrageously that even Roku was rolling his eyes.
Alexa spent a lot of time hanging out the window and exclaiming at how pretty everything was. They traveled along the sides of sheer mountains, under long wooden sheds designed to protect the tracks from snow, over wide canyons on frail-looking trellis bridges that had Hadeya clinging to the walls, past rushing water falls that foamed under the bridges and through long dark tunnels choking with sooty smoke from the engine. But at long last, the train wound down out of the mountains and chugged into a broad valley thick with fog.
“This should be the Central Valley of California,” Treize noted. “It is well-known for producing fogs so thick that you can barely see your hand in front of your face.”
“I think this qualifies,” Zechs said.
The engineer let out a long blast on the steam whistle.
“What do you suppose that means?” Duo asked.
“I think we must be approaching Sacramento,” said Treize.
“How can he tell? You can't see two feet from the train.”
“I'm sure he's familiar with the route.”
At that moment, the train began to slow.
“I can see buildings,” Alexa announced.
“It smells,” Roku said, his whiskers twitching. “There's a river and it's not all that clean. We're not getting out here are we?”
At that moment, the front door opened. “We are arriving in Sacramento, my friends!” Jefferson exclaimed expansively. “We'll be laying over here for a few hours to take on coal and water. You can step out and stretch your legs if you like.”
“The last time we did that you stranded us,” Duo groused. He glowered at Jefferson. “Why don't you step out this time?”
“Well, my dear,” Jefferson began and then his eyes fell on Roku, who was standing on his hind legs with his front paws propped on the windowsill. His long tail was lashing back and forth as he stared out the window. Jefferson's mouth fell open. “Is that a… a… tiger?”
“Just a little one,” Quatre said with a straight face.
“But… but…”
“He's been here the whole time,” Wu-Fei said brightly. “Didn't you see him?”
“I… uh…”
Roku looked over his shoulder and yawned widely, with his wide pink tongue lolling out and revealing all of his sharp white teeth.
Jefferson staggered backward. “If… you'll…excuse me,” he gasped and fled the car.
“Sorry I didn't hear him coming back, Mama.”
“That's all right, Roku. I was tired of him anyway.”
They relaxed through the layover in Sacramento and then the train let out another long whistle blast to announce it was time to depart. They left Sacramento and chugged back into the fog, where the train formed its own tunnel from the heat of its engine. On the far side of the valley, they wound back into mountains, but these were smaller than the great mountain range behind them. At long last, though, they crested a final ridge and the San Francisco Bay opened up before them.
“Oh, look!” Alexa squealed. “Water!”
Everyone crowded to the windows to look out as the train descended from the last slopes and made its way to the waterfront. Again the engineer let out a blast on his whistle. When they finally pulled into the station, they arrived at a platform where a conductor was shouting at the top of his lungs:
“Alameda! Alameda Station! End of the line!”
“But Mommy, doesn't the train go all the way to San Francisco?”
“Not yet, sweetie. We'll have to take the ferry.”
“What?” Duo exclaimed. His face was pinched. “I was hoping for a comfortable hotel room with a wide bed. My back is killing me.”
Quatre stared at him. “How long has your back been hurting?”
“Since we got to Sacramento.”
Quatre stepped over and put a hand on his belly. “Have you been having contractions?”
“How the hell should I know? Everything hurts.”
Everyone crowded around.
“Is Uncle Duo having his baby now, Uncle Quatre?”
“He might be, Alexa. Do you mind if I get a little personal, Duo? The rest of you turn around.” Everyone did so and Quatre stuck a hand into Duo's pants. After a minute, he grinned at Duo. “You're dilating. Looks like our little girl's on the way.”
“What?!” Heero exclaimed. “Now?!”
“Yup. But I'd say we have a little time. How quick can the ferry get us to San Francisco, do you suppose?”
“I don't know, but let's ask Hieronymus for help,” Treize said. “Maybe he can facilitate our crossing. You'd better change, Roku.”
“Ok.”
“I'll get him,” Hadeya volunteered and he dashed out of the car. He returned almost immediately with Hieronymus in tow.
“I was on my way to ask you what your plans might be when this young man said you needed my help,” Hieronymus said with a slight bow.
“We need to get to San Francisco within the next hour,” Treize said. “Can you help us?”
Hieronymus smiled. “Indeed I can. A good friend of mine owns a boat and he enjoys making a little extra coin ferrying passengers to San Francisco. He's cheaper than the public ferry and faster.”
“Perfect!” Quatre said. “Roku give me some money.” Roku handed Quatre several gold coins. Quatre handed four of the coins to Hieronymus. “Two are for you and two are for your friend. There's that much again for both of you if we're across the bay and checked into a nice hotel before Mrs. Yuy here gives birth.”
Hieronymus' eyes widened, but there was no telling if it was because of the gold our Duo's impending childbirth. The coins disappeared into his pocket. “I am glad to be of assistance!” he said and zoomed out of the car.
“Just when the hell did Duo become my wife?” Heero demanded.
“You've been hovering over him like a jealous husband for days!” Quatre snapped. “And anyway, people in this time were still quite provincial about unwed motherhood. We don't want them to think Duo is a whore.”
“Duo IS a whore!”
“Is that any way to talk about the mother of your child?” Trowa said with a straight face.
“How do we know the kid's not yours?” Heero demanded. “We all fucked him!”
“I didn't,” Treize said.
“Neither did I,” Zechs added.
“Can we focus on me for a minute?!” Duo cried.
“We are focusing on you, Duo,” Wu-Fei said.
“Ok then, focus on the damn baby! Ow!” He pushed back in his chair and grunted.
Quatre put his hand on Duo's belly. “Good contraction. I can really feel the muscles tightening down.”
“Oh, great!” Tears squeezed out of Duo's eyes. “I think Heero should hold my hand.”
Heero looked at where Duo's clenched fingers were currently digging deep furrows into the chair arm. “I don't think so.”
“Ow, ow, ow!” Duo cried. Then he went limp. “Oh, thank god! It stopped.”
“It will happen again,” Quatre said cheerfully.
“I hate all of you!”
Hieronymus returned. “I have secured our passage!” he exclaimed breathlessly.
“That was quick,” said Treize.
“As it happens,” Hieronymus wheezed, “I had telegraphed my friend previously about my imminent arrival, so he had planned to meet me. He is more than anxious to fulfill his contract with you. He is on his way now to signal another friend to meet us with carriages on the other side. If you'll all follow me, I'll take you to his boat.”
“Excellent.” Quatre looked at Heero. “You better carry your wife, Heero. Walking may speed up labor.”
Heero frowned, but he scooped Duo up without any effort and the party left the train. It was only a short walk to the dock where the ferries were moored. Hieronymus led the way to the end where a rather tatty looking sailboat was tied up. Three sailors were swiftly preparing the boat to make sail. One of them jumped onto the dock when they neared.
“Welcome aboard, my friends!” he cried. “Captain Jim at your service.” He bowed quickly. “We'll get under way just as soon as you're on board.”
A short gangway extended over to the dock from the side of the boat, so they all marched straight onto the deck. Captain Jim didn't waste any time. He started shouting orders and the boat was soon putting out into the bay. In seemingly no time at all, they were across the water and bumping up against a long quay on the San Francisco shoreline. Two open carriages were waiting for them.
Quatre smiled. “Thank you for the quick service, Captain.” He gave the Captain three more gold coins. “Here's a bonus for arranging the ground transportation.”
Captain Jim's face split into a wide grin. “Always glad to be of service to real gentlemen! Please let me know if you need to make any more trips across the bay.”
Once they were into the carriages, the driver of the lead carriage spoke up. “There are a number of lesser quality hotels near the waterfront. The higher up we go, the better the quality gets. What kind of accommodations did you have in mind?”
“Some place that doesn't smell!” Wu-Fei said instantly. He was holding his nose against the reek of rotting fish, garbage and excrement that wafted up from the water lapping against the quay.
“Very good, sir!” The driver lashed the horses and they started up the street.
“Unh!” Duo grunted.
“Shit!” Heero exclaimed. “Where the hell did all the water come from?”
“Duo,” Quatre said matter-of-factly. “His water broke. We'd better get him inside soon.”
Fortunately, San Francisco of that era was not all that spread out. They arrived at a hotel fairly quickly and hustled Duo inside. Treize got rooms for them and they raced upstairs, but everyone crowded into the room that Duo, Heero and Wu-Fei would be sharing.
“I need warm water, a shallow basin and towels,” Quatre said with professional efficiency.
Roku produced the desired items without a word.
And while everyone watched, Quatre helped Duo push his new daughter out into the world.
“She's cute!” Alexa exclaimed as Quatre bathed the infant in the basin. “What's her name?”
“Yeah, Duo,” Trowa said, “what are you going to call her?”
“How about Bowling Ball?” Duo groaned.
“Something more feminine would be nice,” Zechs said.
“Oh fine! How about Jett?”
“Jett?” Everyone looked at the little girl. She had thick black curls all over her head and wide dark eyes. She regarded them with a curious stare with one fist shoved into her mouth and one foot stuck up into the air. “Jett works,” they all agreed.